Why We Don’t Need to Tax the Rich

It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so. (Maybe) Mark Twain (but probably not) As regular readers know, I spend most of my time writing about Trumpism, politics in general, Bigger Home Bases, and Universal Basic Income. But just as important to my overall project proposal, if not more so, is Modern … Continue reading Why We Don’t Need to Tax the Rich

Why the Voter Fraud Myth is the Core of Trumpism

Noncitizens are not permitted to vote in state and federal elections. It’s a federal crime for noncitizens to register or vote in federal elections, and it’s a crime under every state’s laws. So it should come as no surprise that every legitimate study ever done on the question shows that voting by noncitizens in state and federal elections is vanishingly rare. Brennan Center for Justice Trump … Continue reading Why the Voter Fraud Myth is the Core of Trumpism

Trumpism’s Big Problem: Trump

In a democracy the people choose a leader in whom they trust. Then the chosen leader says, ‘Now shut up and obey me.’ People and party are then no longer free to interfere in his business Max Weber Like many liberals, I spend an inordinate amount of time trying to crawl inside the headspace of Trump supporters, attempting to figure out what, if anything, could … Continue reading Trumpism’s Big Problem: Trump

The Weirdness of American Crony Plutocracy

Our society will always remain an unstable and explosive compound as long as political power is vested in the masses and economic power in the classes. In the end one of these powers will rule. Either the plutocracy will buy up the democracy, or the democracy will vote away the plutocracy. Irving Fisher Under Trumpism, we have entered a new age, but it’s a peculiar … Continue reading The Weirdness of American Crony Plutocracy

Trumpism After Trump

In a democracy the people choose a leader in whom they trust. Then the chosen leader says, ‘Now shut up and obey me.’ People and party are then no longer free to interfere in his business. Max Weber In our current plot position of “Trump 2: Revenge of Trump,” the question heard with increasing frequency is, “can this guy last another three years?” His erratic … Continue reading Trumpism After Trump

The Revolutionary Potential of Modern Money Theory

SCOTT PELLEY: Is that tax money that the Fed is spending? BEN BERNANKE: It’s not tax money. the banks have — accounts with the Fed, much the same way that you have an account in a commercial bank. So, to lend to a bank, we simply use the computer to mark up the size of the account that they have with the Fed. So it’s … Continue reading The Revolutionary Potential of Modern Money Theory

Deadly Farce: Our Tragi-Comic Cosplay Regime

A society that presumes a norm of violence and celebrates aggression, whether in the subway, on the football field, or in the conduct of its business, cannot help making celebrities of the people who would destroy it. Lewis Lapham Being an American in these times is a bewildering and exhausting experience. The current Trump regime is both ridiculous and lethal at the same time, providing … Continue reading Deadly Farce: Our Tragi-Comic Cosplay Regime

Cracking the MAGA Nut: Can the Outrage Machine be Disabled?

Unquestioned beliefs are the real authorities of any culture. Derrick Jensen Amidst the accelerating chaos that even has GOP senators and reps spooked, a couple things jumped to my attention this past week. First, even with Trump’s overall approval rating down to 36%, with the disapproval number at 60% (from Gallup), his support among Republicans remains almost 90%. And in trying to understand how 90% … Continue reading Cracking the MAGA Nut: Can the Outrage Machine be Disabled?

Empire vs. Plutocracy: JD Vance’s Stephen Miller Problem

We build be adding, by growing, not by tearing down….We can love each other despite the disagreement. JD Vance – Turning Point speech, Dec 21st, 2025 We live in a world in which you can talk all you want about international niceties and everything else, but we live in a world, in the real world…that is governed by strength, that is governed by power. These … Continue reading Empire vs. Plutocracy: JD Vance’s Stephen Miller Problem

Is Democratic Socialism Even Enough?

It is easier to imagine the end of the world than the end of capitalism. Fredric Jameson I am writing on the last day of 2025, a year that has been truly breathtaking, in its pace of social and political upheaval. The sheer breadth of offenses churned out by Donald Trump and his Project 2025 ghouls is staggering, leaving libs, Dems, and the American populace … Continue reading Is Democratic Socialism Even Enough?