What he said, aggghhhh ! ............... it feels like a tsunami is coming....the water is receding daily .... and you can't stop a tsunami ... hmmmm......we have to get to higher ground ! : ) Maybe things will look clearer there... to figure this nightmare out ?....or something is there, we have never seen or used before. If it's now a stacked uphill battle, we might as well be on new higher ground.
Thank you, Diane. Your 'detective' skills are just what the doctor ordered. You foster a deeper understanding of our chaotic world and are much appreciated.
Thanks for this gut-wrencher, as clarifying as a good dose of food poisoning. I voted in my first presidential election in '72, and voted for the loser, so I've been around a while. I've seen some things go down, Diane. I should've finished reading Hunter Thompson's book on the subject before that election (instead of last year), so at least I wouldn't have been surprised when Nixon ran away with the deal. I couldn't believe what was coming back then. I read from the edges now. I look around. I'm not surprised anymore. Wealth concentrates into fewer and fewer hands. Debt, and the edge of poverty comes to visit more and more households. The Jordan Acquifer here continues to diminish, measurably. The ground here gets drier. The glaciers continue to melt away. The vindictive cruelty toward our 'lessers' continues to rise. The number of modestly-priced dwelling units (Here! in a modest Midwestern river town) deteriorates and diminishes here and everywhere. The number of un-housed here increases. The other thing that increases are the number of excuses for why we can just shrug at the fates of those 'not like us'. I'm reading Camu's "The Plague" and DeBord's "Society of the Spectacle" and Bonhoeffer's "Letters from Prison". So, when I found myself watching the trailer to that new Bonhoeffer film out this fall, I was only a little surprised when I found myself quietly sobbing at the visuals of the story. I'm not surprised anymore, and certainly not by this spate of cruelty passing for 'governance'. I'm not making excuses, either. Thanks for your continued sharing of your insight and knowledge.
it's too late to avoid the repetition of German history, that now happens at two places,
in America with taking over institutions, in RuZZia with preparing and orchestrating imperialism.
It is now as well not the time to analyse mistakes and shortcomings that occurred.
What for?
That can then hopefully be done in time when time is right - in a few generations - and social sciences came to reconcile what they have been meant to be for.
It is NOW urgently the time to look out for the last remaining rocks in that torrent downwards,
rocks to hold on, rocks to stabilise, rocks from which there one day can be a way out.
And here there is a finally a major difference to Germany at the time:
There IS an transnational organisation, that works.
That still stands up for liberty, freedom, human rights and human dignity, freedom of press, fight against lies and corruption and fight for the planet.
An institution that one day CAN be for America what America till last week has been for freedom aspiring people of the world.
An institution, that is now in the crosshairs of the Kremlin, the CCP AND US.
The European Union.
Not at least Elon Musk will work overtime to in concert with his puppet masters take apart the EU.
JD Vance's farcical threat of withdrawing NATO support for Europe if the EU continues investigating Musk tells all.
But if the EU prevails,
if ALL that see what is going on, not really difficult to understand,
if ALL that aim to not give up on freedom and human rights,
if ALL those NOW, yesterday, do everything they can,
to convince everybody in Europe that has in some way something to say or to contribute to the EU,
to now put aside the tiny little nitty gritty things that convolute the perception of the EU,
but to invest in the bold things the EU stands for and can achieve,
to "sacrifice" a little bit, Ukraine aid over all budgets today "costs" the average European taxpayers 5 diners per year, without aperitif and champaign, why not 5 per month ???,
THAN the EU can easily rescue Ukraine,
embrace Ukrainians and enjoy getting a boost by them,
and BE the single one REAL beacon and haven of hope - not at least for investors, that will struggle to find safe conditions in US. Europe will THEN provide THEM, as well as American dissidents, stability, rule of law, safety, superior infrastructure.
An inverse repetition of history.
Europe can in that way return America what it received mid 20th century.
Thank you Diane for this posting. You always tell it like you see it and I appreciate your perspective. I hope you are wrong but fear you are not. Please keep up the good work!!!
When the political Left is allowed to go as far as it has (and continues to), with cult-like beliefs around things like the "Climate Con" and "transgender rights" (today I identify as an 18 year old girl.... I think I'll enter that swim race), and places more important issues such as national security on the back burner, then one should not be surprised when the reaction takes us further to the Right than we might be comfortable with.
With respect to the Trump Administration, we'll have to wait and see. Many of their announced policies seem like common sense to me.
Thanks for identifying some dots that need connecting. It seems that Thiel, Musk, and Yarvin feel that they qualify as the philosopher kings that deserve to rule in an approximation of Plato's ideal oligarchy.
Brilliant exposé Diane, truly enlightening / frightening. Being Canadian it has been easy for me to sit back and watch the assembling administration as a bit of a clown show. But your analysis has opened my eyes to the sinister plan behind it all. It is going to take an enormous demonstration of will by the American people to take back their democracy.
Being Canadian, I fear they will withdraw from NATO, and then come for our water and other resources. We will be 'Ukraine' to their 'Russia". We are an ocean away from any other member so hoping someone to come to our defence will likely be futile.
Thank you Diane for connecting the dots; you do it so well. Like many of your readers, I'm feel sick and frightened Trump & Co will be successful. They are ready to rob the US treasury / citizens blind. I believe those tech billionaires spread disinformation to millions of unsuspecting Americans who were gullible enough to believe Trump, their newly minted Jesus (OMG). Let's hope they turn on each other.
Where are all the other clear thinking billionaires to challenge Trump, Musk, Thiel, Yarvin, etc...?
Let's hope it's not too late for those who had no idea what they were voting for to start a rebellion. Musk warned Americans that the changes would hurt for a while. Easy for him to say when his net worth exceeds the GDP of many countries. Trump not only sexually assaults women, doesn't pay his suppliers/lawyers and now he's ready to financially assault many Americans.
Looks like it is time to re-read Aristotle's Politics and those Federalist debates. It's clear that the Obama era is over; his coalition is dead. Not sure whether Trump is anything more than a transition slot to a new plutocratic paradigm.
The critical thinking amongst us have had an absolute gut full of the woke ideology pushed in to every crevice of life from sympathising with barbaric terrorists, to the never-ending rule changes about bathrooms and pronouns, to DEI over merit, to over-empathising with criminals committing crimes over and over with no consequences.
Even though unpalatable, Trump was the only choice.
Common sense needs to return, and some Javier Milei-inspired policy initiatives are desperately needed.
The world watches on and I hope the USA's reputation can be restored and her GDP : debt ratio can be rebalanced.
Very revealing Diane and thanks. Recently Sam Harris in his podcast called Elon Musk's X a 'cesspool'. Spreads lies and distortions. I fear what he will do to federal bodies. You are so right to point out failure of the Dems: 'The Democrats were in the grip of the “squad” and “progressives,” who convinced the party to be more concerned about pronouns and political correctness than about fixing the border or stoking the economy.' They made the Ugly American Trump victory happen.
Very revealing thanks Diane. And frightening. The Dems deserved to lose as had no policies other than to try to please everyone and promote Woke. So we have an admirer of dictators and liar running America with Musk, Kennedy and the pro-Assad and pro-Putin Gabbard for Dir Natl Intel. Frightening. And wait for an influx of illegal immigrants to Canada as Trump, from a German immigrant family, acts to remove them.
Jesus! Not much to look forward to is it. Apart from Rubio, Waltz & Wiles, I don't have any faith in any of Trump's other choices. Wonder how long everybody will last? Maybe the Democrats will concentrate on what really matters next time (if there is a next time)and not stocking fillers.
Holy shit Diane, I was having a good day until now. But good job. Typical Diane, well researched, consise, hits the heart of the matter. Don't you think the Citizens United Supreme Court decision has contributed to this? I believe there are some on the left who entertained too much power but not in the age of Trump. It is funny, the word "fascist" is thown around all the time. One of the primary attributes of Mussolini's original and authentic version of fascism was the merging of corporate interests and political power. Sounds familiar doesn't it?
I had a chance to listen to Bari Weiss interview Peter Thiel on her "Honesty"t podcast. Thiel observed how many of the "smart" presidents were educated in Ivy League colleges acknowledging that both Trump and Vance are Ivy League grads. The United States has alway reeked of elitism; it is what makes it exceptional. Let's see if the Republican elities can achieve what they intend.
Well - there goes my breakfast.
What he said, aggghhhh ! ............... it feels like a tsunami is coming....the water is receding daily .... and you can't stop a tsunami ... hmmmm......we have to get to higher ground ! : ) Maybe things will look clearer there... to figure this nightmare out ?....or something is there, we have never seen or used before. If it's now a stacked uphill battle, we might as well be on new higher ground.
Thank you, Diane. Your 'detective' skills are just what the doctor ordered. You foster a deeper understanding of our chaotic world and are much appreciated.
Thanks for this gut-wrencher, as clarifying as a good dose of food poisoning. I voted in my first presidential election in '72, and voted for the loser, so I've been around a while. I've seen some things go down, Diane. I should've finished reading Hunter Thompson's book on the subject before that election (instead of last year), so at least I wouldn't have been surprised when Nixon ran away with the deal. I couldn't believe what was coming back then. I read from the edges now. I look around. I'm not surprised anymore. Wealth concentrates into fewer and fewer hands. Debt, and the edge of poverty comes to visit more and more households. The Jordan Acquifer here continues to diminish, measurably. The ground here gets drier. The glaciers continue to melt away. The vindictive cruelty toward our 'lessers' continues to rise. The number of modestly-priced dwelling units (Here! in a modest Midwestern river town) deteriorates and diminishes here and everywhere. The number of un-housed here increases. The other thing that increases are the number of excuses for why we can just shrug at the fates of those 'not like us'. I'm reading Camu's "The Plague" and DeBord's "Society of the Spectacle" and Bonhoeffer's "Letters from Prison". So, when I found myself watching the trailer to that new Bonhoeffer film out this fall, I was only a little surprised when I found myself quietly sobbing at the visuals of the story. I'm not surprised anymore, and certainly not by this spate of cruelty passing for 'governance'. I'm not making excuses, either. Thanks for your continued sharing of your insight and knowledge.
Your last three sentences resonate. Thank you.
it's too late to avoid the repetition of German history, that now happens at two places,
in America with taking over institutions, in RuZZia with preparing and orchestrating imperialism.
It is now as well not the time to analyse mistakes and shortcomings that occurred.
What for?
That can then hopefully be done in time when time is right - in a few generations - and social sciences came to reconcile what they have been meant to be for.
It is NOW urgently the time to look out for the last remaining rocks in that torrent downwards,
rocks to hold on, rocks to stabilise, rocks from which there one day can be a way out.
And here there is a finally a major difference to Germany at the time:
There IS an transnational organisation, that works.
That still stands up for liberty, freedom, human rights and human dignity, freedom of press, fight against lies and corruption and fight for the planet.
An institution that one day CAN be for America what America till last week has been for freedom aspiring people of the world.
An institution, that is now in the crosshairs of the Kremlin, the CCP AND US.
The European Union.
Not at least Elon Musk will work overtime to in concert with his puppet masters take apart the EU.
JD Vance's farcical threat of withdrawing NATO support for Europe if the EU continues investigating Musk tells all.
But if the EU prevails,
if ALL that see what is going on, not really difficult to understand,
if ALL that aim to not give up on freedom and human rights,
if ALL those NOW, yesterday, do everything they can,
to convince everybody in Europe that has in some way something to say or to contribute to the EU,
to now put aside the tiny little nitty gritty things that convolute the perception of the EU,
but to invest in the bold things the EU stands for and can achieve,
to "sacrifice" a little bit, Ukraine aid over all budgets today "costs" the average European taxpayers 5 diners per year, without aperitif and champaign, why not 5 per month ???,
THAN the EU can easily rescue Ukraine,
embrace Ukrainians and enjoy getting a boost by them,
and BE the single one REAL beacon and haven of hope - not at least for investors, that will struggle to find safe conditions in US. Europe will THEN provide THEM, as well as American dissidents, stability, rule of law, safety, superior infrastructure.
An inverse repetition of history.
Europe can in that way return America what it received mid 20th century.
Thank you Diane for this posting. You always tell it like you see it and I appreciate your perspective. I hope you are wrong but fear you are not. Please keep up the good work!!!
When the political Left is allowed to go as far as it has (and continues to), with cult-like beliefs around things like the "Climate Con" and "transgender rights" (today I identify as an 18 year old girl.... I think I'll enter that swim race), and places more important issues such as national security on the back burner, then one should not be surprised when the reaction takes us further to the Right than we might be comfortable with.
With respect to the Trump Administration, we'll have to wait and see. Many of their announced policies seem like common sense to me.
Thanks for identifying some dots that need connecting. It seems that Thiel, Musk, and Yarvin feel that they qualify as the philosopher kings that deserve to rule in an approximation of Plato's ideal oligarchy.
Brilliant exposé Diane, truly enlightening / frightening. Being Canadian it has been easy for me to sit back and watch the assembling administration as a bit of a clown show. But your analysis has opened my eyes to the sinister plan behind it all. It is going to take an enormous demonstration of will by the American people to take back their democracy.
Being Canadian, I fear they will withdraw from NATO, and then come for our water and other resources. We will be 'Ukraine' to their 'Russia". We are an ocean away from any other member so hoping someone to come to our defence will likely be futile.
So hope I am wrong.....
Thank you Diane for connecting the dots; you do it so well. Like many of your readers, I'm feel sick and frightened Trump & Co will be successful. They are ready to rob the US treasury / citizens blind. I believe those tech billionaires spread disinformation to millions of unsuspecting Americans who were gullible enough to believe Trump, their newly minted Jesus (OMG). Let's hope they turn on each other.
Where are all the other clear thinking billionaires to challenge Trump, Musk, Thiel, Yarvin, etc...?
Let's hope it's not too late for those who had no idea what they were voting for to start a rebellion. Musk warned Americans that the changes would hurt for a while. Easy for him to say when his net worth exceeds the GDP of many countries. Trump not only sexually assaults women, doesn't pay his suppliers/lawyers and now he's ready to financially assault many Americans.
Looks like it is time to re-read Aristotle's Politics and those Federalist debates. It's clear that the Obama era is over; his coalition is dead. Not sure whether Trump is anything more than a transition slot to a new plutocratic paradigm.
Thank you Diane.
The critical thinking amongst us have had an absolute gut full of the woke ideology pushed in to every crevice of life from sympathising with barbaric terrorists, to the never-ending rule changes about bathrooms and pronouns, to DEI over merit, to over-empathising with criminals committing crimes over and over with no consequences.
Even though unpalatable, Trump was the only choice.
Common sense needs to return, and some Javier Milei-inspired policy initiatives are desperately needed.
The world watches on and I hope the USA's reputation can be restored and her GDP : debt ratio can be rebalanced.
Very revealing Diane and thanks. Recently Sam Harris in his podcast called Elon Musk's X a 'cesspool'. Spreads lies and distortions. I fear what he will do to federal bodies. You are so right to point out failure of the Dems: 'The Democrats were in the grip of the “squad” and “progressives,” who convinced the party to be more concerned about pronouns and political correctness than about fixing the border or stoking the economy.' They made the Ugly American Trump victory happen.
Very revealing thanks Diane. And frightening. The Dems deserved to lose as had no policies other than to try to please everyone and promote Woke. So we have an admirer of dictators and liar running America with Musk, Kennedy and the pro-Assad and pro-Putin Gabbard for Dir Natl Intel. Frightening. And wait for an influx of illegal immigrants to Canada as Trump, from a German immigrant family, acts to remove them.
Jesus! Not much to look forward to is it. Apart from Rubio, Waltz & Wiles, I don't have any faith in any of Trump's other choices. Wonder how long everybody will last? Maybe the Democrats will concentrate on what really matters next time (if there is a next time)and not stocking fillers.
Holy shit Diane, I was having a good day until now. But good job. Typical Diane, well researched, consise, hits the heart of the matter. Don't you think the Citizens United Supreme Court decision has contributed to this? I believe there are some on the left who entertained too much power but not in the age of Trump. It is funny, the word "fascist" is thown around all the time. One of the primary attributes of Mussolini's original and authentic version of fascism was the merging of corporate interests and political power. Sounds familiar doesn't it?
One man's fascism is another's techno-dictatorship
Yep
I had a chance to listen to Bari Weiss interview Peter Thiel on her "Honesty"t podcast. Thiel observed how many of the "smart" presidents were educated in Ivy League colleges acknowledging that both Trump and Vance are Ivy League grads. The United States has alway reeked of elitism; it is what makes it exceptional. Let's see if the Republican elities can achieve what they intend.