Mental gymnastics, the way of things. Maybe it has always been this way. Is is worse now because it is our effort to train for, or atone for?
FDR. If there were ever a man I would like an hour with, he would be the top of my list. I agree, he made changes because to not have made dramatic proposals would have impacted the 'real' lives of the wealthy.
I share your admiration for FDR, Stacy. He, Lincoln and LBJ (for his domestic policy achievements) built the "America" we take for granted and that is disappearing due to our common neglect.
I see absolutely no one on the horizon with the right vision and persona and style to break through and ignite a truly progressive movement. That scares me.
There is so much despair and so little to inspire in today's political world. FDR confronted worse problems and solved them for his country. History rhymes, so there must be a poet somewhere on deck. Trumpism too shall pass.
Thanks Mitch. FDR was only "allowed" by the oligarchs of the day (who hated him) to make big changes because they were afraid the whole economic system was about to implode. The same dynamic probably applies to our current situation.
Great essay Mitch. Glad we're spreading the wit and wisdom of FDR. Most people have never heard a politician speak like that.
I agree that "both sides" have little to offer. The left talks about income inequality but has no intention of doing anything about it because they serve the same corporate masters as the right. Ugh!
People get conditioned to believe they’re “less than” or that the system is just how things have to be even when it clearly isn’t fair. I mean, the mental gymnastics people do to convince themselves they belong at the bottom or that they’re somehow “better” than others just to survive… It has to be exhausting Baird.
We keep hearing the same warnings but never quite figure out how to actually change the system.
Well done, Baird. There's an excellent piece in the recent New Yorker by Evan Osnos about American oligarchy that I recommend.
Thanks Jesse. I’ll look for it (if I can get around the paywall!).
Dang! So much to quote here. Your take is incisive and smart and cogent and REAL. Love this.
Thanks for your kind words, Kira. Glad you enjoyed my experiment in satire!
Mental gymnastics, the way of things. Maybe it has always been this way. Is is worse now because it is our effort to train for, or atone for?
FDR. If there were ever a man I would like an hour with, he would be the top of my list. I agree, he made changes because to not have made dramatic proposals would have impacted the 'real' lives of the wealthy.
I share your admiration for FDR, Stacy. He, Lincoln and LBJ (for his domestic policy achievements) built the "America" we take for granted and that is disappearing due to our common neglect.
I wonder if I will be alive to witness the next FDR or LBJ or Lincoln movement.
I see absolutely no one on the horizon with the right vision and persona and style to break through and ignite a truly progressive movement. That scares me.
Baird, thank you, that quote sent me to the full speech, which is here: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/address-constitution-day-washington-dc
There is so much despair and so little to inspire in today's political world. FDR confronted worse problems and solved them for his country. History rhymes, so there must be a poet somewhere on deck. Trumpism too shall pass.
Thanks Mitch. FDR was only "allowed" by the oligarchs of the day (who hated him) to make big changes because they were afraid the whole economic system was about to implode. The same dynamic probably applies to our current situation.
You inspired me to stick his speech on Medium, here's a shared draft link: https://medium.com/thought-thinkers/an-88-year-old-speech-responds-to-trumpism-3624b948a20a
I suspect the world economy is on the edge today. And I'm worried about "solutions" from the left and right, both.
Great essay Mitch. Glad we're spreading the wit and wisdom of FDR. Most people have never heard a politician speak like that.
I agree that "both sides" have little to offer. The left talks about income inequality but has no intention of doing anything about it because they serve the same corporate masters as the right. Ugh!
What a wonderful quote from FDR!
Truly!
People get conditioned to believe they’re “less than” or that the system is just how things have to be even when it clearly isn’t fair. I mean, the mental gymnastics people do to convince themselves they belong at the bottom or that they’re somehow “better” than others just to survive… It has to be exhausting Baird.
We keep hearing the same warnings but never quite figure out how to actually change the system.
Happy Saturday friend.
The people who most want to change the system have the least power to do so. And so it goes.
Have a great OC weekend, Neela!
Thank you so much friend 🤗
Many nails hit on the head in this clever piece!
A good experiment indeed, in taking chances, to coin a phrase. 😊
Ha! Thanks Julie. Glad you enjoyed it. Bit of an experiment in snark for me!