Great reporting as always, but I also always appreciate the level-headed analysis of the facts laid out in front of us. It's important that these incidents aren't viewed as simply the actions of crazed, perhaps "mentally unwell", individuals, but as the actions of people who have been pushed to the brink by a system that's failing people at best and actively murdering them at worst.
He does seem to have a lot in common with Luigi. I don’t think he’ll be the last. Between Gaza, the Epstein Files and now the Iran war — people feel like their government just doesn’t represent them, or even care what they think — and people are fed up.
Change through the system feels impossible. When that’s the case, you see extremism develop in the population. You see political violence start to happen more and more. That seems to be where we are at.
“When you read his manifesto, he hates “Christians,” Trump told Fox News. “He hates Christians, a hatred.” A blizzard of unnamed “administration officials” echoed this Trump claim in major media outlets.”
Brilliant investigative journalism! I had read earlier that he attended CalTech and was a devout Christian at some point in his life—social media posts, but not the extensive history and analysis you just provided in the manifesto itself and through your research and analysis: Bravo 👏
And as for Trump stating that the guy hates Christians? Was anyone expecting a different result? It’s a classic move; getting ahead of the story, and we’ve seen this movie before and it’s getting old; Barr—Mueller Report, for one and Kirk’s assassination for two!
“The only question is if anyone will ask why increasingly normal people feel the political system is so unresponsive to their concerns that they resort to violence.”
Brilliant question, and perhaps a follow up should be whether we will start to see an epidemic of these type of assassination attempts—if this chaos continues in the long-term?
Bottom line, we are entering uncharted territory.: Wars no one wants or this country can afford. A grift by our president and his cronies so grand; it makes Nixon, The Teapot Dome scandal and every other scandal in US history—pale in comparison.
Not to mention, the AI disruption that is starting to affect millions of high paying jobs and will eventually be more destructive to white collar workers, than automation and robotics did to blue collar jobs.
In addition, we live in a mixed economy, in which 10% of this nation is accounting for more than 50% of all the consumer spending; while the rest of the country, including veterans, are losing Medicare and Medicaid benefits—with social security on the chopping block—soon. Moreover, 20 million Americans just lost their ACA subsidies and can no longer pay for affordable insurance.
Bottom line, when people’s finances and employment opportunities dry up—life is going to get increasingly hard and become desperate for many—especially affecting our nations youth; all at a time when the government is spending more on Immigration enforcement, inflation on the rise, and the military and tax cuts for the rich, while simultaneously reducing government services for the most needy.
Sad that the shooter reached the conclusion he did. Unfortunately, in a society that too often believes punishment and violence are solutions, there may be more people reaching the same conclusion. I have not yet read Malcolm X on the topic, but I believe as he got older he realized that violence would not work and thought more favorably about MLK''s approach.
Our political system is so unresponsive to our concerns, normal people of some amount are certain to turn to violence, as did this young man. The system, two parties controlled by essentially the same elites, is not only unresponsive (60% or more of us do not support U.S. wars on Iran/Cuba/Venezuela/Gaza/Lebanon). The U.S. empire is the number one purveyor of instability and terror outside our borders; a hegemonic, predatory rogue state.
It is soul crushing to see images day after day of death, buildings in rubble and lives ruined. Processing all this suffering requires controlling feelings of powerlessness, sadness and anger combined. Thus it requires a massive amount of stamina to not act outside legal, conventional parameters and somehow remain sane.
(And, of course, Trump lies. And lies and lies and lies . . . like a kid breathlessly telling the folks about the size of the fish he caught in the drainage ditch.)
Them crazy Christian terrorists again causing mischief.
What is perhaps the most perplexing element of this story to me is that some guy with a Mechanical Engineering degree from Cal Tech decided that the best plan for his assassination fantasy was to run past armed guards at an indoor crowded dinner. No matter how much a persons' intelligence is compartmentalized, I never fail to be bewildered when I am presented with another egregious case.
So Allen could justify not liking Trump, and therefore violence was his proposed solution? Clearly a very “spiritual” person. Human beings can find infinite self justification. But as Robert Frost wrote, “ I am a liberal. I do not take my own side in an argument.” Trump is a severe stress on people’s well-being. Many have succumbed to his attacks. This incident will end up being a distraction, or possibly even helping Trump and his supporters. Allen unfortunately did not think that through.
There was a shooting in DC. How was your day?
Envisioning our way past violence and the "High Drama-Low Buddha" American Psyche
"spiritual" was in quotes because Allen apparently grounded himself in Biblical interpretation, and used it to justify his actions, allegedly. I'm wary of sanctioning violence as somehow "divinely ordained" or justified. It doesn't seem healthy or enlightened to me to externalize and enact your distress by harming another. We need to slap some frontal lobe on that bad boy, not give it a pathway. We all have to deal with aggressive impulses and drives. Reason, compassion, and relationship - including relationship to teachers and guides - help us cultivate more creative ways to resist tyranny. Violence is ultimately not very creative, I think.
as usual, ahead of the pack. this is terrific reporting, Ken.
thank you! and thanks for subscribing :)
Great reporting as always, but I also always appreciate the level-headed analysis of the facts laid out in front of us. It's important that these incidents aren't viewed as simply the actions of crazed, perhaps "mentally unwell", individuals, but as the actions of people who have been pushed to the brink by a system that's failing people at best and actively murdering them at worst.
I have been reading and watching the news all day and your essay is the first to give background AND the truth!
He does seem to have a lot in common with Luigi. I don’t think he’ll be the last. Between Gaza, the Epstein Files and now the Iran war — people feel like their government just doesn’t represent them, or even care what they think — and people are fed up.
Change through the system feels impossible. When that’s the case, you see extremism develop in the population. You see political violence start to happen more and more. That seems to be where we are at.
“When you read his manifesto, he hates “Christians,” Trump told Fox News. “He hates Christians, a hatred.” A blizzard of unnamed “administration officials” echoed this Trump claim in major media outlets.”
Brilliant investigative journalism! I had read earlier that he attended CalTech and was a devout Christian at some point in his life—social media posts, but not the extensive history and analysis you just provided in the manifesto itself and through your research and analysis: Bravo 👏
And as for Trump stating that the guy hates Christians? Was anyone expecting a different result? It’s a classic move; getting ahead of the story, and we’ve seen this movie before and it’s getting old; Barr—Mueller Report, for one and Kirk’s assassination for two!
“The only question is if anyone will ask why increasingly normal people feel the political system is so unresponsive to their concerns that they resort to violence.”
Brilliant question, and perhaps a follow up should be whether we will start to see an epidemic of these type of assassination attempts—if this chaos continues in the long-term?
Bottom line, we are entering uncharted territory.: Wars no one wants or this country can afford. A grift by our president and his cronies so grand; it makes Nixon, The Teapot Dome scandal and every other scandal in US history—pale in comparison.
Not to mention, the AI disruption that is starting to affect millions of high paying jobs and will eventually be more destructive to white collar workers, than automation and robotics did to blue collar jobs.
In addition, we live in a mixed economy, in which 10% of this nation is accounting for more than 50% of all the consumer spending; while the rest of the country, including veterans, are losing Medicare and Medicaid benefits—with social security on the chopping block—soon. Moreover, 20 million Americans just lost their ACA subsidies and can no longer pay for affordable insurance.
Bottom line, when people’s finances and employment opportunities dry up—life is going to get increasingly hard and become desperate for many—especially affecting our nations youth; all at a time when the government is spending more on Immigration enforcement, inflation on the rise, and the military and tax cuts for the rich, while simultaneously reducing government services for the most needy.
In my opinion, it’s a recipe for disaster!..:)
Excellent reporting, Ken. I am not hopeful MSM will report the truth.
Sad that the shooter reached the conclusion he did. Unfortunately, in a society that too often believes punishment and violence are solutions, there may be more people reaching the same conclusion. I have not yet read Malcolm X on the topic, but I believe as he got older he realized that violence would not work and thought more favorably about MLK''s approach.
Agreed
Our political system is so unresponsive to our concerns, normal people of some amount are certain to turn to violence, as did this young man. The system, two parties controlled by essentially the same elites, is not only unresponsive (60% or more of us do not support U.S. wars on Iran/Cuba/Venezuela/Gaza/Lebanon). The U.S. empire is the number one purveyor of instability and terror outside our borders; a hegemonic, predatory rogue state.
It is soul crushing to see images day after day of death, buildings in rubble and lives ruined. Processing all this suffering requires controlling feelings of powerlessness, sadness and anger combined. Thus it requires a massive amount of stamina to not act outside legal, conventional parameters and somehow remain sane.
Trump's manifesto:
I am great
Greed is good
Punishment is my prerogative
If I receive a good idea, it is my idea
Responsibility is for others
Everything looks better with gold
The government is of by and for me
The law takes a back seat to my sense of morality
What I say today erases what I said yesterday
I cannot be wrong.
Hope this gets picked up, Ken—great job.
Helpful and interesting. Nicely done.
(And, of course, Trump lies. And lies and lies and lies . . . like a kid breathlessly telling the folks about the size of the fish he caught in the drainage ditch.)
Guess the idf sweater photos were as bullshitty as they felt. Though it would have been hilarious to hear the spin.
Them crazy Christian terrorists again causing mischief.
What is perhaps the most perplexing element of this story to me is that some guy with a Mechanical Engineering degree from Cal Tech decided that the best plan for his assassination fantasy was to run past armed guards at an indoor crowded dinner. No matter how much a persons' intelligence is compartmentalized, I never fail to be bewildered when I am presented with another egregious case.
So Allen could justify not liking Trump, and therefore violence was his proposed solution? Clearly a very “spiritual” person. Human beings can find infinite self justification. But as Robert Frost wrote, “ I am a liberal. I do not take my own side in an argument.” Trump is a severe stress on people’s well-being. Many have succumbed to his attacks. This incident will end up being a distraction, or possibly even helping Trump and his supporters. Allen unfortunately did not think that through.
There was a shooting in DC. How was your day?
Envisioning our way past violence and the "High Drama-Low Buddha" American Psyche
https://sunmoonlight.substack.com/p/there-was-a-shooting-in-dc-how-was
Do you believe all violence "unspiritual?"
"spiritual" was in quotes because Allen apparently grounded himself in Biblical interpretation, and used it to justify his actions, allegedly. I'm wary of sanctioning violence as somehow "divinely ordained" or justified. It doesn't seem healthy or enlightened to me to externalize and enact your distress by harming another. We need to slap some frontal lobe on that bad boy, not give it a pathway. We all have to deal with aggressive impulses and drives. Reason, compassion, and relationship - including relationship to teachers and guides - help us cultivate more creative ways to resist tyranny. Violence is ultimately not very creative, I think.
I am not surprised. The evils we witness are stunning,
Thank you Ken, for your excellent and quick reporting on this!!