This wonderfully-written column puts forth the radical notion that it's not partisanship which fuels revolutionary change; but goodness and common decency. This brilliant and bracing piece also has me believing my recent bouts of optimism are not ill-founded.
Just imagine, if all that treasure spent on arms and yachts and hotel investments and legal fees against charges of pedophilia for the corrupt actually might be used by the everyday people, law abiding people, who earn everyday wages and pay everyday taxes?!? That's talking fantasy island, sure.
As I commented in this thread, your statement & PoV should be the most oft repeated criticism of both the Epstein Administration AND MAGA GOP politicians in the run-up to the 2026 midterms. That will resonate and motivate even low-info and non-ideological voters to 'vote the bums out' who are most closely associated with supporting 'President Epstein': MAGA GOP Reps and Senators, and Speaker Mike Johnson.
The last thing the elites would ever want is anything resembling a true democracy, where men and women and all ethnicities might enjoy actual free speech, fair play, equal opportunity and God forbid decision making regarding war and peace.
The framers of the US Constitution and its Bill of Rights were duly wary of both authoritarian power and popular delusion. Unfortunately their safeguards have been compromised; or as Franklin put it: "A Republic, if you can keep it."
Would love to believe so, but--Mao was right. Power ultimately only comes from the barrel of a gun. Which is exactly why the pricks are fully deploying it.
Of course, I will be AI monitored by US "intelligence" agencies as of now.
Amazing hope-filled article. People who care for people are coming out in droves and changing the entire narrative and the results. Finally the powers that be are taking note, while the masses are bagging their well earned evil scalps.
Now, if we can stop Trump going full on Bush-Cheney with Iran it will be a triple delight.
Also, as someone who was involved in shutting down the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Seattle in 1999, the elites and media never saw it coming too. It was funny seeing their astonishment at us peasants getting uppity.
I like Ken’s point that We the People deserve credit for the ICE withdrawal from Minneapolis.
It does, however, seem a bit optimistic to think that Prince Andrew’s arrest presages any modicum of accountability in the United States, where it remains entirely absent—not only for complicity with Epstein and his various crimes, but also for the corruption that has long defined Washington across both of the corporate political parties.
At the end of Ken’s article, he makes the point that Chuck Schumer was certainly not responsible for anything we might be inclined to celebrate. Given Schumer’s public complicity with Trump’s agenda, the idea seems even more outrageous. https://shahidbuttar.substack.com/p/senate-sellouts-enrage-democratsbut
Less anyone imagine that this co-optation is limited to the Senate, the Democratic House leadership has also been long compromised, yet bizarrely lionized by legions of nonprofit leaders and reporters disinclined to hold corruption accountable when it emerges from what they imagine is the Left. https://shahidbuttar.substack.com/p/pelosi-finally-retires-after-forcing
I understand that, in fact, ICE is still in Minneapolis and are changing tactics. Yes, the Dems are unlikely to overcome their allegiance to corporate donors and their discomfort with the working class and the vast rural areas of the country.
For some reason, I thought of Emily Dickinson while reading your column, i e., “Hope is the thing with feathers”. Dare I hope that a member of American royalty will be arrested? The answer is NO. Heck, Karen Bass et al., can’t even get the chairman of the 2028 Olympics Organizing Committee, Casey Wasserman, to resign, despite his creepy email exchanges with Ghislaine Maxwell.
Front and center to credit for the end of our ignorance is non-commercial media such as Ken provides. Unlike "free" media supported by advertising, truth telling media requires readers and viewers to pay for what it provides. This isn't new, it's simply another example of nothing of value being free.
By the nature of what they do, whistleblowers cannot be supported directly. What they need most is outlets for the information they can provide, another good reason to give to independent media.
Unfortunately the far right disinformation machine of 'independent' influencers is much more lucrative. In part because they will accept advertising too unsavory for legacy media.
:)
Protecting children from sexual abuse is a unifying issue
Wasn’t that the QAnon “unifying issue” too…?
What if it was?
Only for us humans. Psychopaths and demons unify the other direction it
seems
I needed this today
The victory in MPLS was a whole lot more than nothing, but let’s acknowledge the cruelty didn’t stop.
This wonderfully-written column puts forth the radical notion that it's not partisanship which fuels revolutionary change; but goodness and common decency. This brilliant and bracing piece also has me believing my recent bouts of optimism are not ill-founded.
They aren't. Good and decent people just arrested a royal. It's our turn to take out the trash. ✊
Bury the elites, all of them. Now.
With votes and dollars, Euros, yuan and non- purchasings, of course.
Can't raise arms against a heavily weaponized noxious "democracy" or "people's republic."
Interesting, how similar they have become, no?
Just imagine, if all that treasure spent on arms and yachts and hotel investments and legal fees against charges of pedophilia for the corrupt actually might be used by the everyday people, law abiding people, who earn everyday wages and pay everyday taxes?!? That's talking fantasy island, sure.
As I commented in this thread, your statement & PoV should be the most oft repeated criticism of both the Epstein Administration AND MAGA GOP politicians in the run-up to the 2026 midterms. That will resonate and motivate even low-info and non-ideological voters to 'vote the bums out' who are most closely associated with supporting 'President Epstein': MAGA GOP Reps and Senators, and Speaker Mike Johnson.
The last thing the elites would ever want is anything resembling a true democracy, where men and women and all ethnicities might enjoy actual free speech, fair play, equal opportunity and God forbid decision making regarding war and peace.
The USA is owned and managed by the Business Party, which has two wings.
It's always and only about them; not "us."
Such a sad sad thing when the arsenal of democracy is turned against democracy.
The framers of the US Constitution and its Bill of Rights were duly wary of both authoritarian power and popular delusion. Unfortunately their safeguards have been compromised; or as Franklin put it: "A Republic, if you can keep it."
Oh happy day! May we the people keep up our resolve so there will so many more to come!
The People will always hold the power.
Would love to believe so, but--Mao was right. Power ultimately only comes from the barrel of a gun. Which is exactly why the pricks are fully deploying it.
Of course, I will be AI monitored by US "intelligence" agencies as of now.
People have the power to reclaim the work of fools”
Amazing hope-filled article. People who care for people are coming out in droves and changing the entire narrative and the results. Finally the powers that be are taking note, while the masses are bagging their well earned evil scalps.
Good news indeed Ken.
Now, if we can stop Trump going full on Bush-Cheney with Iran it will be a triple delight.
Also, as someone who was involved in shutting down the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Seattle in 1999, the elites and media never saw it coming too. It was funny seeing their astonishment at us peasants getting uppity.
I was there too ✊
Thanks for your service Mark.
I like Ken’s point that We the People deserve credit for the ICE withdrawal from Minneapolis.
It does, however, seem a bit optimistic to think that Prince Andrew’s arrest presages any modicum of accountability in the United States, where it remains entirely absent—not only for complicity with Epstein and his various crimes, but also for the corruption that has long defined Washington across both of the corporate political parties.
At the end of Ken’s article, he makes the point that Chuck Schumer was certainly not responsible for anything we might be inclined to celebrate. Given Schumer’s public complicity with Trump’s agenda, the idea seems even more outrageous. https://shahidbuttar.substack.com/p/senate-sellouts-enrage-democratsbut
Less anyone imagine that this co-optation is limited to the Senate, the Democratic House leadership has also been long compromised, yet bizarrely lionized by legions of nonprofit leaders and reporters disinclined to hold corruption accountable when it emerges from what they imagine is the Left. https://shahidbuttar.substack.com/p/pelosi-finally-retires-after-forcing
I understand that, in fact, ICE is still in Minneapolis and are changing tactics. Yes, the Dems are unlikely to overcome their allegiance to corporate donors and their discomfort with the working class and the vast rural areas of the country.
All power to the people.
💪
For some reason, I thought of Emily Dickinson while reading your column, i e., “Hope is the thing with feathers”. Dare I hope that a member of American royalty will be arrested? The answer is NO. Heck, Karen Bass et al., can’t even get the chairman of the 2028 Olympics Organizing Committee, Casey Wasserman, to resign, despite his creepy email exchanges with Ghislaine Maxwell.
Thanks for this bit of hopeium Ken!
Front and center to credit for the end of our ignorance is non-commercial media such as Ken provides. Unlike "free" media supported by advertising, truth telling media requires readers and viewers to pay for what it provides. This isn't new, it's simply another example of nothing of value being free.
By the nature of what they do, whistleblowers cannot be supported directly. What they need most is outlets for the information they can provide, another good reason to give to independent media.
Thanks Clif!
Unfortunately the far right disinformation machine of 'independent' influencers is much more lucrative. In part because they will accept advertising too unsavory for legacy media.
Yuk