@sistermoon I do apologize for my tone. I am as frustrated as you are, and that does occasionally leak through my posts.
On the other hand, it strikes me that there are far too many people who want change *now* and assume that since the current President is a Democrat, he can simply wave his magic Democrat wand and it will all change for the better overnight, and since he hasn't done so, then all Democrats in office are to blame for the failure to progress. I am tired of hearing what the D's have been unable to accomplish - without any hint of irony - much less recognizing that they can do nothing with the current situation in the Senate. How much reporting has there been on the successes of this administration? Where is the reporting/recognition that the deficit, which ballooned incredibly under TFG's administration, will be cut by over a trillion dollars by the end of the year? Why did no one talk about the Build Back Better plan except to complain that "it won't work" - except it did, and it has, and it will continue to.
Where are the positive things, i.e., the proper and swift COVID response; the incredibly rapid growth of the economy with unemployment numbers lower than they've been for over 50 years? Why do we not talk about those? It's almost as if mainstream democrats *want* the D's to fail, yet at the same time they bemoan how terrible things were (and would be again) under a Republican administration.
I realize that the biggest problem is the media. It was exciting for them under TFG because the stories wrote themselves! They didn't have to do any actual reporting or engage in real journalism to fill the headlines. They got lazy and complacent, and now that they have to work for it again, they're taking the easy way out and reporting only the negative things, which they got accustomed to doing under TFG because it was easy. It's always easier to see the darkness than the light, and for better or worse, the 24-hour news cycle in the media drives the narrative here and elsewhere.
As I said, I apologize for my tone, but let's please stop blaming the ones who are trying to help for being prevented from doing so by the opposition.
Right now, I feel like i can’t see beyond our noses. There are so many things that have the support of the majority of Americans, but being blocked by a minority. It is not fair, and sometimes I feel like we are screaming into the void.
That said. I have been clinging to a thought running around in my head about SCOTUS. Whether it is intuition or just hopeful thinking, I will not hazard to guess. But it is my little bit of light right now.
What the Alito draft has proven is that SCOTUS can choose to overturn any previous ruling. Alito could not come up with any real legal reason to overturn RvW, so he wrote a bunch of BS hoping no one would question it. Even legal scholars who read the draft indicated it was a reach (kind of like the fake elector scheme).
I believe that within a decade, these corrupt decisions will be overturned. I have to cling to that idea, that belief.
A lot can happen between now and 2032. But ultimately, that is the blink of an eye in universal time.
I think the SCOTUS ruling on guns, and whatever mess they make of Roe, is having the effect of waking people up to how crazy the court is. People on the right have been keyed-in to the court for decades, mostly because there's been such a focus on trying to move it to the right, but most others, including liberals, have been asleep. Even after Bush v. Gore (which was an outrage) most Americans approved of SCOTUS. That's changed, and that's a good thing.
We need to remember that the people who "open carry" are not all there, if you know what I mean. I don't mean legally insane, but think of the kind of personality that feels the needs to carry a gun around in public? I can tell you that if that starts to happen in NYC, or in other large metro areas where people aren't use to that nonsense, people aren't going to be too happy, and unhappy people fuel change. Change takes time, but it doesn't happen by itself, it needs a spark and some gas. SCOTUS is paving the way.
I live in NYC and I'm not feeling freaked out about the ruling. It's another brick in the new road we need to take and part of the "turning."
This tweet from Sherrilyn Ifill, President of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, really resonates with me this morning, among all the tumultuous events happening around us:
https://twitter.com/Sifill_LDF/status/1540309888609443841
"Remember that we have never seen the America we’ve been fighting for. So no need to be nostalgic. Right on the other side of this unraveling is opportunity. If we keep fighting no matter what, take care of ourselves & each other, stay strategic & principled, & use all our power."
Yesterday I kept hearing Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 in major op. 92- II, Allegretto pop into my head. I have noticed when I start to randomly hear this melody play in my mind, it can mean something ominous is about to occur. I made note of it.
Here is the song.
It does become a bit lighter after the beginning and at the end, the melody is repeated but altered a bit so it is less heavy. At least there is that.
But I only was hearing the beginning part yesterday which is the normal way I am presented with this song as a foreboding warning.
Lovendures, I love that movement known as a funeral march. And I can't help but think that you are tapping into the SCOTUS decision as a catalyst for the end of the era of despots. Napoleon had just been defeated in France and it was the end of a despotic era for him. Ironically, Beethoven had written Eroica (the third symphony) earlier as a celebration of Napoleon who many thought was going to be democratic leader to take place of the monarchy. But he turned out to be a despot.
Anyway, I think the SCOTUS decision is the beginning of the end for the Trumpian billionaire era, and your thoughts of Beethovan's seventh symphony funeral march reflect that it's going to be curtains for this SCOTUS and for Trump, the way it was for Napoleon.
@jeanne-mayell I really hope so. Even knowing today was coming, it feels unbearable today.
@jeanne-mayell Hopefully things turn around before uber conservative SCOUS and red-controlled states start banning contraception... there are already rumblings about that as the next step...
Regarding the SCOTUS's two decisions on guns and abortion, I keep thinking of my 2013/14 timeline visions that showed the crash in late 2019/2020 followed by a gradual spiralric climb to new life, new progressive government by 2028. Progress, as Obama said, is not a line. Nor is climate change. It's all a spiral and two steps forward, one step back. No one ever imagined in 1950 or even in the 1960's that we'd elect a black president in 2008. SO hang on. Keep the faith.
I know it's hard to have hope when we are in the midst of darkness. When I was sick earlier this month, I could not see myself getting better, but I did get better, and I even emerged from that illness with more clarity and light than before I got sick.
It is the same with our collective sickness. Each time we fall lower, we later emerge stronger, clearer and more determined. And the negativity causes more people to join the progressives.
Take stock of our collective, not just those in the dark. You are light, our community is light. And there are thousands of us. And there are millions more of progressive people working day and night for change. I don't discount the pain we are in, but it's going to be okay. I just know it.
I hope that this will somehow get the current jerks in the Supreme Court thrown out.
@april it’s funny you should say that April, I’m not intuitive at all unless it’s my children, but I suspect that at some point down the road the ricochet of the GOP holding up a seat along with the calibre of judge placed on the bench 2016-2020 will result in almost every case being revisited. Even before today’s decision the Roberts court has essentially become a laughing stock and in essence is making it up as it goes along.
At the end of the day Roberts legacy will be in tatters.
In 25 years crime rates in the US will rebound, as it’s already been shown it’s not “tough on crime” that reduces crime, it’s having an environment where the child is honestly wanted. This gives lie to the often argued statement that there are people that want those children. Nope, very few have what it takes, despite best intentions. Of course I would hope the harm caused by this would mostly be in Red states, where life is only valuable at the end of a p**** and not a gun, but that won’t be the case.
While I wonder on trends, I like to see silver linings. There were predictions here that about now Kamala would start to be more involved. Maybe it directly is her, maybe it’s symbolic of the hard return of feminism, real feminism, maybe a combination.
Movements don't ignite themselves. SCOTUS and their retrograde majority are colliding with a rising generation of young and diverse Americans. Thomas' unnecessary but ultimately helpful reference to past cases that legalized birth control and same-sex marriage is gratuitous and mean, but as I said, ultimately helpful. It's his call for litigation to overturn these two rights (and who knows what else) but it's also a giant scream to the women, the gay community, and their allies: WAKE UP. And it won't be ignored.
The horrible majority of 6 have gone full YOLO. They will try to move as backward as fast as they possibly can while they have the numbers. The next few years are going to be bumpy, but if people organize and mobilize we might remember these days as the start of a better country.
This decision is going to bite the thugs in the ass SO hard.
The majority of women, even those who disapprove of abortion on a personal level, like me, do NOT appreciate being told they have no control over their own body.
We knew this was coming but the fight is far from over.
@jeanne-mayell I haven’t been vocal on the Forum in many months but I always come here to keep up w predictions and esp to seek optimism in dark times. First, let me say I’m sorry you were struggling w illness and am happy to hear you’ve recovered. This Forum is a gift.
Roe v. Wade has been overturned.
And this is actually the best thing that can happen for us.
No, I am not talking about the terrible harm that it will inflict on women. Never think that.
But this is good because finally we have both the drive and the means to change the direction of this country.
As we know, this country is divided into red states and blue states, with red states clustered in the south and west whilst the blue states are in the northwest along the coast and the northeast. Twenty six states will likely prohibit abortion completely.
This is good. Because it will do several things.
First, red states will become even poorer than they already are. Many red states (Tennessee included) have terrible health care systems and fewer resources than their blue counterparts. Many younger people will migrate to blue states because of greater opportunities. Also, the climate change problems will cause more and more people to leave red states anyway, so red states will lose more power in the coming decade, particularly when it comes time for the next census.
Second, republicans in red states can no longer hide behind excuses. They passed their laws to placate their crazy base, but were shielded from responsibility because they could hide behind the Supreme Court decision. But now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, they must answer to the general public. So when women are dying in alleyways and raped women are being forced stay pregnant (at great mental and emotional harm to them), who are Republicans going to blame then?
And what will happen when women start crossing state lines to get abortions? Are red states going to stop them? How? Keeping women in red states and forcing them to keep unwanted pregnancies sounds like a form or government bondage to me. Abortions (and deaths) will go up, not down, and many of these so-called pro-life people will realize that their destruction of people's rights resulted in the opposite affect.
Third, every single republican must now answer questions about their stance on women's rights. They can no longer hide. As the anger builds (as well as the threat of more rights being taken away grows), these republicans will be voted out. It is one thing to be afraid of a possible threat, but it is quite another to be afraid when the threat becomes real. No one will trust people like Collins anymore. They are done.
Finally, the republicans on the federal level are about to fall into a trap. Biden and democrats will certainly try to pass a bill making abortion a constitutional right, and republicans will have to vote on the measure one way or another. I suspect this will occur in August or September. Republicans will be forced to make public their vote to deny women the right to choose. This might help Democrats in the midterm elections.
We knew this was coming. And we are ready to fight. So let Republicans celebrate their victory. Methinks it may very well be their last one for a long, long time.
Two thoughts,
1) FUCK!!!!
2) When you're going through Hell, KEEP GOING.
I agree with Jeanne. The contradictory rulings by the Supreme Court on guns vs abortion and the States' rights to create and enforce laws has exposed the Court as a purchased political body supporting minority rule. This won't stand for long. The general public did not understand what was/is going on in our government. Now, they will.
It's going to be bumpy, to say the least. It's going to take awhile. We haven't lost our Republic yet. If we KEEP GOING, we won't.
We absolutely cannot afford to give up. Use the power we have and VOTE THEM OUT!! Then, we can deal with the corrupt Supreme Court.
The song I've been stuck on this week is Supertramp's "Crime of the Century" And I honestly didn't put that together until I came here to post, yet it's just screaming out in plain text title what was on tap. (Not to mention the lyrics and mournful, poignant melody.)
Love you all! Let's keep going.
I'm sitting in my backyard to ground myself a bit, and just saw my first Monarch butterfly of the season. This bodes well for where we're headed.
@luminata Your thought 1 comes to mind daily. Am trying to get past 6am before saying it. 🤗
TFG is a Russian-owned, criminal seditious traitor who nominated religious fanatic, bold-faced liars.
Kavanaugh's debt. Justice Kennedy's sudden resignation. Barrett's cult. Thomas' wife. Alito's opinion pulled from medieval times.
The court majority is rotten.
There was a prediction made some time ago about the SC becoming irrelevant and the power going to the states. I wish I could find it.
I've been reading here-not posting much, but as most of you know, I've also had my hands full in the last few months. Hospitals, rehabs and such. That has not changed, nor has the fact that I keep seeing my parents together in dreams-an omen of what is coming. Yesterday's SCOTUS ruling was nonsensical. It was tone-deaf. It also came on the day I had to attend a meeting where my father was told that he couldn't return to his assisted living apartment. He'll have to go into skilled nursing. We were all shocked at his acceptance-no anger, no hurt, no disappointment. I had to go and pack up his apartment. On the way home, I was in tears, knowing that his reaction meant he's giving up. That's why my dreams are coming as they are. I also knew that today's decision was going to arrive. I wasn't prepared for how livid it would make me, even knowing it was coming.
That said, as I angrily vacuumed and ruminated, two thoughts kept popping in my head. The first was a prediction here (I think by @jeanne-mayell ) that the SCOTUS would no longer matter. Things would be more locally overseen. I am fortunate that in my purplish state (where some of the worst gerrymandering in the US has occurred), we still have a level-headed governor. He promptly issued a statement to tell women that in this state, their health and reproductive rights will remain intact with every intention of protecting that right.
The SCOTUS has never had such a low opinion in history as today. Yesterday's polling showed an approval rating of just 25%. I'm sure if the poll were to be repeated today, those numbers are optimistic. If Thomas wants to know why there is no longer respect for the court, he just needs to look in the mirror. I have also noted here previously that when this decision would be handed down, it would be the darkest day of the court since the Dred Scott decision. It will vie for the top spot on the worst decision ever list. The repercussions will be staggering in many ways. I can see this awful miscalculation on the court's part forcing legislation to codify rights that the SCOTUS has either taken away or threatened. I hope it is before midterms, so that those who voted for senators who refused to convict TFG during impeachment, and those who voted to ensconce such jurors in the court will have to vote-stand up and be counted for the historical records. This is coming on the heels of the Jan 6 hearings, where the world is being told how one political party has tried to undermine our Constitution for the sake of keeping power. It won't end well for them.
The second thing that I kept seeing visions of, was the mother from Uvalde- the one who stormed the school and brought her children out to safety. The macho men hiding in the hallways with armor, guns, and 'training' stood by and did nothing. Yet she went into the school and did exactly what the so-called experts said couldn't be done. This tells me that it doesn't matter that we are often unarmed, smaller, or weaker-women are at the end of their patience, and we are willing to stand up to those who are cowardly hiding behind things like today's decisions, guns, protocols, etc., and do what is right and necessary. This was the match to light the powder keg. Dred Scott was one of the matches that ignited the Civil War. While I don't 'see' a physical war, the battle of the sexes has been lighted once again, and I don't think those who are fanning the flames are ready for the ultimate outcome.