What makes my skin crawl even more than these two projects themselves is an implicit assumption by the people behind Project 2025 and its secret admin document. By centering so much power into the presidency, they must be counting on eliminating the two-term limitation. Otherwise any election could be a setback for all their hard work.
We are no longer voting for a qualified candidate; it's all celebrity Cult of Personality theatrics: we are now voting for or against a policy that would make Russia and China look almost democratic in comparison. Even they don't dictate policy like this for the masses. Once this madness is voted in, it will literally take a war to stop it. There are no 'saviors' - neither person or policies will save us. We have to save ourselves. It starts with Critical Thinking, something I'm not sure that many citizens of this and other western countries know how to do anymore. Remember that who's at the top aren't the politicians; they're only the enforcers. Even billionaires are the puppets of the real Owners. We may never know the names and faces of who truly owns and controls everything. That is the scariest part to me, since they now have unlimited power. This and all future votes are for policies, not people.
Thanks for your thoughts. I’m quite a lot more positive now. We have a lot of work to do but I think the energy and hope are pointed in the right direction.
I wish I were as optimistic as you. For me, the problem is this naive 'hope' I'm seeing in my liberal friends, and all that goes with that. Can't blame it all on the politicians or even the makers of policy if we fall for the many traps set for us. I was never a democrat, except when I had to declare a party to vote in a primary; that always pissed me off that I had to. I was a Progressive but there were no boxes to check for that - I guess I'm a radical now.
It's mindset - not just politics - that has to change. People must be taught to think again - from childhood on. Bring back Critical Thinking in the schools, start early. Follow up with philosophy when kids get a little older. Teach people how to politely and respectfully debate without going emotional - something which I need myself. I get emotional and react. We are being conditioned to obey or react. Both don't involve any real thinking. Teach adult classes in philosophy and critical thinking. That's the only solution I can offer. Then maybe sanity would prevail again.
I almost quit so many substacks over political posts. I have already left many substacks because they got political, even when we all were trying to unify over the health/medical freedom issue. Both 'sides' are guilty of these grave errors. What was done to us all around the pandemic opened my eyes and now I can't close them again.
I don't apologize for my views, but I truly am sorry it has all come to this for the people and for our planet, and that I can't add my own hope or positivity to the subject of politics. I hope the Great Awakening happens - whatever that is - though I'm not holding my breath waiting for it. I sincerely hope all the optimists are right and that all will be OK. I think that depends on how much obedience we'll put up with until we finally say 'no' and stand up to all of it. For me, this is not the time to be 'obedient' to narratives that are psychopathic. Project 25 is one such narrative, but it's not the only one.
I'll leave it there. I'm sorry and you are welcome to remove this comment; I would understand. I have been mostly silent on any political posts. Best I go back to that and focus on the gratitude.
My naive hope is that we have learned a lot in the past few chaotic years and we’re starting to remember the values we want and are willing to stand up for … with our time, money, energy and determination. This will never be a straight line nor simple as we try to navigate a course with 330 million rowers surrounded by 8 billion others rowing their own directions.
As long as we keep talking, listening, and sharing our thoughts though, we have a chance. Your voice is always welcomed.
Thank you, Joyce. Your substack is one of the few where I want to keep reading for its many gifts, and don't focus on the despair I feel - so thank you for the lifeline. It's a worthy thing to row the course no matter what.
Dan Zimmerman's educational video on Project 2025 is excellent. His language is clear and direct. The graphics carry a message that is clear and easy to follow. Thanks for sharing.
Now if someone could do something similar for the Harris agenda, because there is not much out there about her priorities other than that she is a woman of color and her VP guy is a nice man and they both laugh a lot at rallies and Trump is a monster and JD Vance is weird.
I too am waiting for the Harris agenda; I hope she has one. So far, the only candidate giving details on an actual platform is RFK Jr. I keep hoping someone will stand up to Netanyahu. So far, no one will, including RFK Jr.
I have many reservations about JD Vance as Trump's VP pick, and why, if Trump dies, I don't want Vance as president. All you have to do is a few internet searches. Of course, you would have to actually READ things:
Do internet searches on: Ambrosia, Peter Thiel (his billionaire handler, backer, and mentor - and what Thiel is involved with, including Palantir), his ties with Silicon Valley and big tech. Here are a few breadcrumbs:
Good point … I’ll start looking for specifics. However, it seems like she's headed mostly in the same direction as the Biden Administration has traveled over the past almost four years. So that's mostly good ... it will be interesting to see where she wants to add her own spin.
The Democratic convention hasn´t happened yet and that´s when the policy platform gets confirmed. I imagine she doesn´t want to do anything to preempt that process. We do know she´s been quite vocal about reproductive rights and working with Central and South American countries to stem the refugees - something that has already born fruit. Her speeches this week have been supporting unions and policies that support the working class - not that you see MSM covering them.
This is the same crap they pulled on Clinton, saying she has no policies when she was constantly talking policy. They just wouldn't cover it because they deemed it boring.
Very succinct and to the point video, Joyce. Thanks so much for sharing. I've just shared it, specifically to my nephew who works in DC in digital marketing and is working w/ 140 influencers (each have at least 1 million followers) taking them to the WH where they meet w/ staff to better understand what's at stake in election (this was before July 21 but they are still quite involved, 20 get to go w/ him to Chicago convention). Thanks for posting!!
What makes my skin crawl even more than these two projects themselves is an implicit assumption by the people behind Project 2025 and its secret admin document. By centering so much power into the presidency, they must be counting on eliminating the two-term limitation. Otherwise any election could be a setback for all their hard work.
Robin … I hadn’t thought of that but it makes perfect sense. We have to stop this.
See what they are planning behind the scenes at https://www.democracynow.org/2024/8/16/project_2025_undercover_video
Jim … thanks for that link. Project2025 is not going away and that is an excellent read.
We are no longer voting for a qualified candidate; it's all celebrity Cult of Personality theatrics: we are now voting for or against a policy that would make Russia and China look almost democratic in comparison. Even they don't dictate policy like this for the masses. Once this madness is voted in, it will literally take a war to stop it. There are no 'saviors' - neither person or policies will save us. We have to save ourselves. It starts with Critical Thinking, something I'm not sure that many citizens of this and other western countries know how to do anymore. Remember that who's at the top aren't the politicians; they're only the enforcers. Even billionaires are the puppets of the real Owners. We may never know the names and faces of who truly owns and controls everything. That is the scariest part to me, since they now have unlimited power. This and all future votes are for policies, not people.
Thanks for your thoughts. I’m quite a lot more positive now. We have a lot of work to do but I think the energy and hope are pointed in the right direction.
I wish I were as optimistic as you. For me, the problem is this naive 'hope' I'm seeing in my liberal friends, and all that goes with that. Can't blame it all on the politicians or even the makers of policy if we fall for the many traps set for us. I was never a democrat, except when I had to declare a party to vote in a primary; that always pissed me off that I had to. I was a Progressive but there were no boxes to check for that - I guess I'm a radical now.
It's mindset - not just politics - that has to change. People must be taught to think again - from childhood on. Bring back Critical Thinking in the schools, start early. Follow up with philosophy when kids get a little older. Teach people how to politely and respectfully debate without going emotional - something which I need myself. I get emotional and react. We are being conditioned to obey or react. Both don't involve any real thinking. Teach adult classes in philosophy and critical thinking. That's the only solution I can offer. Then maybe sanity would prevail again.
I almost quit so many substacks over political posts. I have already left many substacks because they got political, even when we all were trying to unify over the health/medical freedom issue. Both 'sides' are guilty of these grave errors. What was done to us all around the pandemic opened my eyes and now I can't close them again.
I don't apologize for my views, but I truly am sorry it has all come to this for the people and for our planet, and that I can't add my own hope or positivity to the subject of politics. I hope the Great Awakening happens - whatever that is - though I'm not holding my breath waiting for it. I sincerely hope all the optimists are right and that all will be OK. I think that depends on how much obedience we'll put up with until we finally say 'no' and stand up to all of it. For me, this is not the time to be 'obedient' to narratives that are psychopathic. Project 25 is one such narrative, but it's not the only one.
I'll leave it there. I'm sorry and you are welcome to remove this comment; I would understand. I have been mostly silent on any political posts. Best I go back to that and focus on the gratitude.
My naive hope is that we have learned a lot in the past few chaotic years and we’re starting to remember the values we want and are willing to stand up for … with our time, money, energy and determination. This will never be a straight line nor simple as we try to navigate a course with 330 million rowers surrounded by 8 billion others rowing their own directions.
As long as we keep talking, listening, and sharing our thoughts though, we have a chance. Your voice is always welcomed.
Thank you, Joyce. Your substack is one of the few where I want to keep reading for its many gifts, and don't focus on the despair I feel - so thank you for the lifeline. It's a worthy thing to row the course no matter what.
Dan Zimmerman's educational video on Project 2025 is excellent. His language is clear and direct. The graphics carry a message that is clear and easy to follow. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you liked it … I thought he hit an informative balance.
I know nothing about anything concerning politics in my country or your country and any country for that matter
Now if someone could do something similar for the Harris agenda, because there is not much out there about her priorities other than that she is a woman of color and her VP guy is a nice man and they both laugh a lot at rallies and Trump is a monster and JD Vance is weird.
We need details to make informed decisions.
I too am waiting for the Harris agenda; I hope she has one. So far, the only candidate giving details on an actual platform is RFK Jr. I keep hoping someone will stand up to Netanyahu. So far, no one will, including RFK Jr.
I have many reservations about JD Vance as Trump's VP pick, and why, if Trump dies, I don't want Vance as president. All you have to do is a few internet searches. Of course, you would have to actually READ things:
Do internet searches on: Ambrosia, Peter Thiel (his billionaire handler, backer, and mentor - and what Thiel is involved with, including Palantir), his ties with Silicon Valley and big tech. Here are a few breadcrumbs:
https://www.fastcompany.com/91157500/companies-jd-vance-invested-in-as-a-vc
How Peter Thiel and Silicon Valley Funded the Sudden Rise of JD Vance:
https://www.ft.com/content/408fb864-5831-4b1d-beef-fd1966b3beed
Peter Thiel:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2024/07/16/jd-vance-and-peter-thiel-what-to-know-about-the-relationship-between-trumps-vp-pick-and-the-billionaire/
https://www.forbes.com/profile/peter-thiel/
Palantir:
https://www.ft.com/content/27eddb59-1770-4ad8-a07f-6a940e20e00c
this outlines the hypocrisy, especially since Thiel's Palantir is a surveillance tech company.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/10/jd-vance-blake-masters-peter-thiel-and-their-anti-big-tech-hypocrisy/
Ambrosia: (where 'young blood' is injected into older people's veins at $8,000 a pop - supposed to be a fountain of youth thing:
App Harvest:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/workers-allege-nightmare-conditions-at-kentucky-startup-jd-vance-helped-fund/ar-AA1oI2nJ
Good point … I’ll start looking for specifics. However, it seems like she's headed mostly in the same direction as the Biden Administration has traveled over the past almost four years. So that's mostly good ... it will be interesting to see where she wants to add her own spin.
The Democratic convention hasn´t happened yet and that´s when the policy platform gets confirmed. I imagine she doesn´t want to do anything to preempt that process. We do know she´s been quite vocal about reproductive rights and working with Central and South American countries to stem the refugees - something that has already born fruit. Her speeches this week have been supporting unions and policies that support the working class - not that you see MSM covering them.
This is the same crap they pulled on Clinton, saying she has no policies when she was constantly talking policy. They just wouldn't cover it because they deemed it boring.
Very succinct and to the point video, Joyce. Thanks so much for sharing. I've just shared it, specifically to my nephew who works in DC in digital marketing and is working w/ 140 influencers (each have at least 1 million followers) taking them to the WH where they meet w/ staff to better understand what's at stake in election (this was before July 21 but they are still quite involved, 20 get to go w/ him to Chicago convention). Thanks for posting!!
Thanks for sharing ... and thanks to your nephew ... sounds like he is doing great work.