I would like to offer a topic for your consideration.
The rise of Donald Trump and his successful conquest of the affections of the uneducated in the Republican base has left the GOP hostage to them both at the national level. Most of the media reportage of the Trump indictment and the behavior of the GOP has been framed in terms of criminal enterprises and autocratic movements. While applicable, American history offers another example that may be more apropos. I find that these circumstances very closely resemble the model of political "boss-ism" so prevalent in American cities in an earlier time.
In developing American cities in the 19th and 20th centuries, political power often coalesced into the hands of a single party dominated by a "political boss." Men like William "Boss" Tweed, Mayor James Curley, Mayor Richard Daley, Ma and Pa Ferguson, and the Vare family all succeeded in locking down political power for decades by providing patronage to uneducated immigrants flooding into their cities in exchange for their unquestioning political loyalty. They established sophisticated political machines that guaranteed their long-term control of the political landscape by suppressing opposition, flagrant voter-fraud, distributing favors and employment, passing laws that favored their political outcomes, and occasionally brutal physical intimidation. They were infamous for the amount of corruption and graft with which they were associated and by means of which they locked down personal wealth and power. Old-time political bosses often involved their families in the enterprise, and so politics and its associated corruption became the family business. Education and the dissolution of ethnocentric neighborhoods, coupled with criminal indictments, whittled away the power of political bosses and their machines.
In the 21st-century in our country, social and mass media have provided the means to create political machines at the state and the national level. (Huey Long may have been the first example of this.) Governor Scott Walker's gerrymandering of Wisconsin gave his political machine a lockdown on Wisconsin politics for nearly two decades. Governors in red states around the country followed that lead, with each and every one of them fearing to provoke Donald Trump; the de facto "boss" of the Republican party at the national level. Even while he is under indictment, ambitious Republicans fear his disapproval. This is because of his command of the loyalty of the voters they need. I find all of this is highly reminiscent of the American history of "boss-ism" in our large cities.
Great analogy; Douglas. I agree with your parallelism. Let’s add Boss Pendergast in Kansas City, who played a material role in the rise of Harry Truman as a politician and, eventually, as President.
Major city bosses stayed in power in part because they filled a life-critical vacuum of social services for the poor. FDR started to cover that gap in the 1930’s with overlapping anti-Depression initiatives, including the advent of Social Security. Plus, Frances Perkins made it her life’s mission to elevate everyday workers and their safety/well-being. Easily identifiable “bosses” very slowly fell by the wayside.
Trump as a “boss” and the GOP as his “machine” follow a well-worn path fueled by free social media. You are right on that the targets are the same, as well as the methods and messages. We have been here before, and we educated ourselves out of it (as you point out). Time to strap on our teaching gear!
One of the things that drew me to this comparison was that the political bosses had no political philosophies or policies to offer. Their rule was based purely upon loyalty, reward, and punishment. Quid pro quo was the law of the day, and watching the GOP flailing in Congress is a stark reminder of the similarities.
This is gonna sound wack, but fueld by Sunday morning coffee, I sent out a Tweet thread in the spirit of reprising the Andra Day/Common activism (Stand Up For Something) that involved a host of phenomenal folks- I'll attach related VOX article.
Anyhow, given the torrent of absurd tyranny being hurled in our direction on nearly a daily basis, it is time to come together, not just on the basis of weapons bans, of protecting Trans rights or reproductive rights, but of defending all rights, shoring up humanity itself.
It is time to get loud and stand together.
I'm talking Live Aid loud.
Enough.
This could be pie-in-the-sky, but we need this, we are ready, and we can self rescue.
There is no better group to jumpstart this project than this and similar communities as lead by wisdom, fierceness, diligence and humor.
Please let me know your thoughts, Jay and everyone.
Please find below the referenced article, as well as the first paragraph of my Tweeted thread.
I am so happy that you are in London celebrating with George the wonderful success of your amazing show, Allegiance! I am also very happy that you are spending time with your sister and brother-in-law. You need to be celebrated, uplifted and cherished! Sending you all good thoughts, always.
Good that you take time to refresh that tired body, vibrant spirit, and brilliant brain, Jay. We do depend on you, and we'll all support each other in what will likely be the heady but frazzling weeks and months ahead.
Jay, I know you're going through a lot and I want you to take all the time you need to just *be* and spend time with your loved ones and recharge and refresh and reset. When you get back to work, will you please, either on your own or with George, address the topic of miscarriage. So many people deal with miscarriage, but discussion of the the topic has been rather sparse due to cultural norms regarding timing of pregnancy announcements. This attempt to ban Mifepristone will undoubtedly affect more miscarriage patients than abortion seekers. This safe reliable drug is needed! I haven't seen or heard much about how this ridiculous Comstockery will affect doctors and patients dealing with miscarriage. Thank you.
I have a suspicion that all these outrageous political moves are a screen for the real agenda of resetting the world economy. The dollar is on its last legs and there is a group that wants world control by way of changing the reserve currency to a digital version that can track and control everyone. I'm not sure what to do about it, but I'd like to hear the thoughts of those smarter than me on what the grandstanding is hiding.
Not sure that I'm smarter than you, but I think you're probably wrong about the dollar and world economy. I do think there are moves afoot by those who have the most say (i.e., most money andvpower), but their interests are to keep as close to the status quo as possible, so while I do expect some changes, I think they'll be slight tweaks. Let's hope those tweaks benefit those who need the most crumbs to survive and thrive.
I hope I am wrong, but most places are creating digital currencies https://cbdctracker.org/ and the World Economic Forum has plans for the Great Reset (that's the book title) which involve everyone renting instead of owning, everything.
I would like to offer a topic for your consideration.
The rise of Donald Trump and his successful conquest of the affections of the uneducated in the Republican base has left the GOP hostage to them both at the national level. Most of the media reportage of the Trump indictment and the behavior of the GOP has been framed in terms of criminal enterprises and autocratic movements. While applicable, American history offers another example that may be more apropos. I find that these circumstances very closely resemble the model of political "boss-ism" so prevalent in American cities in an earlier time.
In developing American cities in the 19th and 20th centuries, political power often coalesced into the hands of a single party dominated by a "political boss." Men like William "Boss" Tweed, Mayor James Curley, Mayor Richard Daley, Ma and Pa Ferguson, and the Vare family all succeeded in locking down political power for decades by providing patronage to uneducated immigrants flooding into their cities in exchange for their unquestioning political loyalty. They established sophisticated political machines that guaranteed their long-term control of the political landscape by suppressing opposition, flagrant voter-fraud, distributing favors and employment, passing laws that favored their political outcomes, and occasionally brutal physical intimidation. They were infamous for the amount of corruption and graft with which they were associated and by means of which they locked down personal wealth and power. Old-time political bosses often involved their families in the enterprise, and so politics and its associated corruption became the family business. Education and the dissolution of ethnocentric neighborhoods, coupled with criminal indictments, whittled away the power of political bosses and their machines.
In the 21st-century in our country, social and mass media have provided the means to create political machines at the state and the national level. (Huey Long may have been the first example of this.) Governor Scott Walker's gerrymandering of Wisconsin gave his political machine a lockdown on Wisconsin politics for nearly two decades. Governors in red states around the country followed that lead, with each and every one of them fearing to provoke Donald Trump; the de facto "boss" of the Republican party at the national level. Even while he is under indictment, ambitious Republicans fear his disapproval. This is because of his command of the loyalty of the voters they need. I find all of this is highly reminiscent of the American history of "boss-ism" in our large cities.
Great analogy; Douglas. I agree with your parallelism. Let’s add Boss Pendergast in Kansas City, who played a material role in the rise of Harry Truman as a politician and, eventually, as President.
Major city bosses stayed in power in part because they filled a life-critical vacuum of social services for the poor. FDR started to cover that gap in the 1930’s with overlapping anti-Depression initiatives, including the advent of Social Security. Plus, Frances Perkins made it her life’s mission to elevate everyday workers and their safety/well-being. Easily identifiable “bosses” very slowly fell by the wayside.
Trump as a “boss” and the GOP as his “machine” follow a well-worn path fueled by free social media. You are right on that the targets are the same, as well as the methods and messages. We have been here before, and we educated ourselves out of it (as you point out). Time to strap on our teaching gear!
One of the things that drew me to this comparison was that the political bosses had no political philosophies or policies to offer. Their rule was based purely upon loyalty, reward, and punishment. Quid pro quo was the law of the day, and watching the GOP flailing in Congress is a stark reminder of the similarities.
Exactly right! I really appreciated your sound thinking on this. You gave me hope for a way out of our current quagmire.
I’m so envious you could stay up all night partying… I remember those days. Happy for your success!
I thought those days were behind me, too!
Yes!!!
Dance therapy!!!
P.s.
This is gonna sound wack, but fueld by Sunday morning coffee, I sent out a Tweet thread in the spirit of reprising the Andra Day/Common activism (Stand Up For Something) that involved a host of phenomenal folks- I'll attach related VOX article.
Anyhow, given the torrent of absurd tyranny being hurled in our direction on nearly a daily basis, it is time to come together, not just on the basis of weapons bans, of protecting Trans rights or reproductive rights, but of defending all rights, shoring up humanity itself.
It is time to get loud and stand together.
I'm talking Live Aid loud.
Enough.
This could be pie-in-the-sky, but we need this, we are ready, and we can self rescue.
There is no better group to jumpstart this project than this and similar communities as lead by wisdom, fierceness, diligence and humor.
Please let me know your thoughts, Jay and everyone.
Please find below the referenced article, as well as the first paragraph of my Tweeted thread.
https://www.vox.com/culture/2018/3/5/17079786/common-andra-day-stand-up-for-something-oscars-perfomance-activism
1/ @common
@AndraDayMusic
@BlmBoston
@TaranaBurke
@DoloresHuerta
@VO_StandingRock
@AlabedBana
@eji_org
@cecile
@janetmock
@WCKitchen
@sandyhook
#standupforsomething
All:
It is time.
The urgency and condition of our country eclipses all boundaries and divisions...
I’m in 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Rest and enjoy the success you deserve.
I am so happy that you are in London celebrating with George the wonderful success of your amazing show, Allegiance! I am also very happy that you are spending time with your sister and brother-in-law. You need to be celebrated, uplifted and cherished! Sending you all good thoughts, always.
Good that you take time to refresh that tired body, vibrant spirit, and brilliant brain, Jay. We do depend on you, and we'll all support each other in what will likely be the heady but frazzling weeks and months ahead.
So glad you were there with them. Now some rest.
Rest well, Jay 💗
Sleep well and awake rested. You deserve it! I love all that you do, Jay!
Congrats, Jay 👏👍❤️
A hefty dose of fun is needed periodically! Sleep well!
Jay, I know you're going through a lot and I want you to take all the time you need to just *be* and spend time with your loved ones and recharge and refresh and reset. When you get back to work, will you please, either on your own or with George, address the topic of miscarriage. So many people deal with miscarriage, but discussion of the the topic has been rather sparse due to cultural norms regarding timing of pregnancy announcements. This attempt to ban Mifepristone will undoubtedly affect more miscarriage patients than abortion seekers. This safe reliable drug is needed! I haven't seen or heard much about how this ridiculous Comstockery will affect doctors and patients dealing with miscarriage. Thank you.
Great minds like similarly! Here is a piece in our new publication that addresses the crisis of miscarriage care in light of the loss of abortion rights and access. Please do subscribe or even take out a paid subscription to The Big Picture to help out work in this and other key topics: https://open.substack.com/pub/thinkbigpicture/p/strict-abortion-laws-affect-miscarriage?utm_source=direct&r=1zr8b&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thank you! I don't know how I missed this 💗
I often wonder whether you ever sleep. Still not sure.
Me neither if today was any guide
Travel is to energy depleting. Takes rest, exercise and sunshine. You are surrounded by caring and loving friends 😉.
Enjoy your day of rest.
Peace.
I have a suspicion that all these outrageous political moves are a screen for the real agenda of resetting the world economy. The dollar is on its last legs and there is a group that wants world control by way of changing the reserve currency to a digital version that can track and control everyone. I'm not sure what to do about it, but I'd like to hear the thoughts of those smarter than me on what the grandstanding is hiding.
Not sure that I'm smarter than you, but I think you're probably wrong about the dollar and world economy. I do think there are moves afoot by those who have the most say (i.e., most money andvpower), but their interests are to keep as close to the status quo as possible, so while I do expect some changes, I think they'll be slight tweaks. Let's hope those tweaks benefit those who need the most crumbs to survive and thrive.
I hope I am wrong, but most places are creating digital currencies https://cbdctracker.org/ and the World Economic Forum has plans for the Great Reset (that's the book title) which involve everyone renting instead of owning, everything.