This is an important and loaded question, Joyce - and so astute. You are so spot-on to think about drawing a bigger circle of inclusion around anyone on the outside, or 'othered.' I have some answers to the why and how we got here for some of it, but I'm not sure that now is the time for them or how they would be received. there are many and complex areas to explore and understand.
I can't say I was ever a loyalist to the Democratic party, since I voted for the individual, not the party. But I was a progressive. I also understood at 10 years old that if a president didn't do what some very rich and powerful people above them wanted, they'd be murdered (JFK).
Without a 3rd party, and with Citizens United allowing big money to buy elections, that seemed the culmination of even a pretense that we can effect things in presidential elections, since the top two candidates are groomed and selected because they are expected to fulfill the aims of the people at the very top who really own and control things.
We watched the DNC betray us over and over again, and were disgusted long before this election. The trouble with groups is that sooner or later, they become exclusive.
Your thought to draw a bigger circle is a solution. Wholesale attack on even someone as despicable as Trump only alienated liberals from hearing why and how Trump supporters got groomed and sucked in. His brilliance is in manipulation so he used it, as did an always-unified Republican party.
After Sanders was betrayed by the DNC, the dems lost a ton of their base. Then... the pandemic. I won't go into that hornet's nest but bigger circles of inclusion were NOT drawn. Lines and chasms were drawn and millions of lives were ruined and lost.The behaviors I saw in our own little so called liberal enclave shocked even me - and I don't shock easily. The repub party never fractured like the dems did. They stayed unified and loyal to the party winning. I didn't see that same unity in the dems. The vaccine and mask mandates were the end for so many people. There are too many factors to explain here but a circle of inclusion and genuine discourse could have avoided some of this. Probably not all of it.
Because... understand... this election, Trump was going to win no matter what. It was ordained from 'on high.' People who felt betrayed, both on left and on right, turned to him without the benefit of intelligent discourse and the inclusion of being listened to, heard.
. Some out of anger and spite toward the Dems, voted for Trump. That's too bad. Some, because he sold himself to them as a populist, and political memory is as short as a tweet on X. Kamala Harris was put into an impossible situation with no real time to get her feet under her. I feel for her, even though I voted third party. In a state where you know the state will go 'blue' pr whatever your party of choice is, that is the one time to use your voice, in protest, or to choose a better selection. Some of us did that. That's what I did. And I voted my whole ballot. Others voted straight democrat all the way. Others still, didn't bother to vote at all because they think the system is so corrupt and broken they refused to partake. I can't say what is right, but I can say that there were a LOT of circles of exclusion and then pressure from many liberal friends to 'vote blue' without even wanting to have a real dialogue about it.
Your admission and insight is profound, and trustworthy. We have to learn to build trust, and it requires inclusion and a genuine curiosity to know how someone thinks. I so wish more people thought and reflected as you do! We are going to need to include and listen more than ever. We can begin to start that now. If nothing else, what that will do is help us take care of each other through everything that is coming down the pike, and soon.
It will be interesting to see what Trump is really allowed to do. That will give an indication of the kind of people running things. Elon Musk supposedly just acquired Fox. It's going to be a fight. Pick your battles. We have people - near and far. I have tried all along to hear people's viewpoints, and have had some surprising discussions with people. Right wingers are NOT stupid. Some are really thoughtful and we are all groping our way in the dark. I'd love to see the exclusion and othering stop. I'd love to see people meet each other as individuals all with something to teach each other or broaden our horizons. Those are the people I'm reaching out to on all 'sides.' We need to stay humble in these times. So many things were mishandled. The repercussions of that are worldwide. If these are the end times(or aren't), it's so important to keep practicing kindness, tolerance, genuine desire to know where people are. Sorry this is overly long.
I didn't go into the stuff we're all afraid of; all legitimate fears - but right now we need to pan for gold - truth. And know that AI will be used more and more to distort or even hide real truths. We have to trust ourselves and ask for guidance from whatever is greater than us. I know you already do all of this, Joyce. You are so appreciated and loved and respected. I wish I could give you a hug..
I would take your hug in a heart beat and you have reminded me that we desperately need to do something about the money thing. I hope someone tallies up the billions that have been poured into this election. I’m sure it must be startling. I appreciate your independent view and it broke my heart when Bernie was sidelined.
Joyce, I think you missed your calling! You should have been a political analyst! The work you've been doing is so insightful. And truly, one of the earlier pp in this post--about a woman standing hot, tired, worried about bills--so correct. After the results last week, I couldn't help but recall Bill Clinton's go to line to remember for his volunteers and staff, "It's the economy, stupid."
Jeanine … thank you so much for the kind words. I’m not sure my heart is strong enough … I’m sure a lot of this the economy but I think a major factor is the uncertainty that surrounds us … wars and conflict, major climate disasters, and not having a place to go where “everyone knows our name.”
Joyce, thanks for the reminder that we can draw a bigger circle. That helped. 💕
This is an important and loaded question, Joyce - and so astute. You are so spot-on to think about drawing a bigger circle of inclusion around anyone on the outside, or 'othered.' I have some answers to the why and how we got here for some of it, but I'm not sure that now is the time for them or how they would be received. there are many and complex areas to explore and understand.
I can't say I was ever a loyalist to the Democratic party, since I voted for the individual, not the party. But I was a progressive. I also understood at 10 years old that if a president didn't do what some very rich and powerful people above them wanted, they'd be murdered (JFK).
Without a 3rd party, and with Citizens United allowing big money to buy elections, that seemed the culmination of even a pretense that we can effect things in presidential elections, since the top two candidates are groomed and selected because they are expected to fulfill the aims of the people at the very top who really own and control things.
We watched the DNC betray us over and over again, and were disgusted long before this election. The trouble with groups is that sooner or later, they become exclusive.
Your thought to draw a bigger circle is a solution. Wholesale attack on even someone as despicable as Trump only alienated liberals from hearing why and how Trump supporters got groomed and sucked in. His brilliance is in manipulation so he used it, as did an always-unified Republican party.
After Sanders was betrayed by the DNC, the dems lost a ton of their base. Then... the pandemic. I won't go into that hornet's nest but bigger circles of inclusion were NOT drawn. Lines and chasms were drawn and millions of lives were ruined and lost.The behaviors I saw in our own little so called liberal enclave shocked even me - and I don't shock easily. The repub party never fractured like the dems did. They stayed unified and loyal to the party winning. I didn't see that same unity in the dems. The vaccine and mask mandates were the end for so many people. There are too many factors to explain here but a circle of inclusion and genuine discourse could have avoided some of this. Probably not all of it.
Because... understand... this election, Trump was going to win no matter what. It was ordained from 'on high.' People who felt betrayed, both on left and on right, turned to him without the benefit of intelligent discourse and the inclusion of being listened to, heard.
. Some out of anger and spite toward the Dems, voted for Trump. That's too bad. Some, because he sold himself to them as a populist, and political memory is as short as a tweet on X. Kamala Harris was put into an impossible situation with no real time to get her feet under her. I feel for her, even though I voted third party. In a state where you know the state will go 'blue' pr whatever your party of choice is, that is the one time to use your voice, in protest, or to choose a better selection. Some of us did that. That's what I did. And I voted my whole ballot. Others voted straight democrat all the way. Others still, didn't bother to vote at all because they think the system is so corrupt and broken they refused to partake. I can't say what is right, but I can say that there were a LOT of circles of exclusion and then pressure from many liberal friends to 'vote blue' without even wanting to have a real dialogue about it.
Your admission and insight is profound, and trustworthy. We have to learn to build trust, and it requires inclusion and a genuine curiosity to know how someone thinks. I so wish more people thought and reflected as you do! We are going to need to include and listen more than ever. We can begin to start that now. If nothing else, what that will do is help us take care of each other through everything that is coming down the pike, and soon.
It will be interesting to see what Trump is really allowed to do. That will give an indication of the kind of people running things. Elon Musk supposedly just acquired Fox. It's going to be a fight. Pick your battles. We have people - near and far. I have tried all along to hear people's viewpoints, and have had some surprising discussions with people. Right wingers are NOT stupid. Some are really thoughtful and we are all groping our way in the dark. I'd love to see the exclusion and othering stop. I'd love to see people meet each other as individuals all with something to teach each other or broaden our horizons. Those are the people I'm reaching out to on all 'sides.' We need to stay humble in these times. So many things were mishandled. The repercussions of that are worldwide. If these are the end times(or aren't), it's so important to keep practicing kindness, tolerance, genuine desire to know where people are. Sorry this is overly long.
I didn't go into the stuff we're all afraid of; all legitimate fears - but right now we need to pan for gold - truth. And know that AI will be used more and more to distort or even hide real truths. We have to trust ourselves and ask for guidance from whatever is greater than us. I know you already do all of this, Joyce. You are so appreciated and loved and respected. I wish I could give you a hug..
I would take your hug in a heart beat and you have reminded me that we desperately need to do something about the money thing. I hope someone tallies up the billions that have been poured into this election. I’m sure it must be startling. I appreciate your independent view and it broke my heart when Bernie was sidelined.
It is disappointing when things don't go the way we hoped and when that happens we need to take a breath accept what is and carry on the best we can
Fear rules the WORLD and we are its minions. And people say they want freedom, yet they really want control…
Joyce, I think you missed your calling! You should have been a political analyst! The work you've been doing is so insightful. And truly, one of the earlier pp in this post--about a woman standing hot, tired, worried about bills--so correct. After the results last week, I couldn't help but recall Bill Clinton's go to line to remember for his volunteers and staff, "It's the economy, stupid."
Jeanine … thank you so much for the kind words. I’m not sure my heart is strong enough … I’m sure a lot of this the economy but I think a major factor is the uncertainty that surrounds us … wars and conflict, major climate disasters, and not having a place to go where “everyone knows our name.”
Yes, you’re right. And then the lies that were pushed. Plus so much going on overall.