Democrats had every political advantage imaginable, yet by surrendering their party to ideological extremes, they're handing Republicans the greatest midterm comeback opportunity in decades.
The centrist democrats have let us down for years so a paradigm shift is needed. The old playbook like you are referring to will not work anymore. What you keep referring to as socialists are just real people who want to represent us without corporate or AIPAC backing to bring wealth equality and rule of law back. Any other outcome will inch us towards civil war since the GOP and trump are destroying this country and our place in the world
You have it exactly right too Howard. We need younger leaders who can explain what it is we need. Mamdani is a good example of that. They pour on the blather and the filth about him and he just keeps smiling . They say one of the toughest jobs in the country is being mayor of NYC. I am with him 100%
Michael I can't even read this piece ..The tittle alone made me laugh. "When Extremists Take Control " That is rich ..you must be kidding all of us .. Who do you think is in control of our country right now. So once again another person in Trumps orbit, that being you, is performing for an audience of one Donald J. Trump.. Don't concern yourself with the democrats. If we lose because the country is willfully ignorant so be it.
mer t Thanks, exactly to what end? If Trump throws him a crumb he will be lucky . And at the same time that he throws him a crumb he will humiliate him unmercifully.
All these people are betting that his power will always be .. but I think not. Americans will get fed up at some point and they will fight for our country. At least I am hoping so.
“America works best when nobody gets everything they want.” This single line, a mere nine simple words speak the loudest to me in what you have written this morning. In my eyes, we the people, are currently in the midst of a political catastrophe, brought on by trump’s natural inclination towards chaos. There hasn’t been a day with trump at the helm, that I haven’t asked myself - so what is it going to be today - civil war on our land, or World War III? By my gut feelings and from what I understand, trump is a malignant narcissist, a bully of the worst kind, a manipulator of the most terrifying yet “successful” kind. And he lives his life not by any recognizable set of values of goodwill to others. His power lies not in compromise, nor in goodwill towards others. It appears trump’s #1 goal is to get what he wants, at any given moment, and based not on goodwill towards others, but always set on a goal of getting even, getting over, and stomping on others, and sucking the very life out of others. There is no compromise on anything: he simply lives his life, by a very simple and ugly motto: you are either with me, or against me. And he puts his finger on people through threats, blackmail, coercion; and without any value of the rule of law and common good towards others. Republicans and Democrats alike are buckling under the sheer ugliness of it all. What will put the breaks on our roll towards an absolute meltdown, is the majority standing up and against trump, simply because it is the “right thing” to do.
So Democrats are not focused on issues that matter most to voters? Good one, Michael. Republicans are in charge of everything. What are they focused on? None of the things you say Democrats should be focused on. Only on keeping the orange criminal happy. You are really reaching on this one. Sad.
It really is difficult to read your posts lately. In the strict definition of the word, this is definitely an “opinion” piece. If you had posted statistics along with it, it would have had great value. Lacking that, it has none....in my opinion.
The current administration significantly shortened and fast-tracked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) training programs to accelerate a massive hiring push.
There are legal limits to when a federal immigration agent can pull over a vehicle, stop people on the street, or forcibly enter homes. The Trump administration, however, has adopted expansive interpretations of ICE’s authority and relies on technical loopholes to evade these limits.
Vehicle stops have become increasingly common, with authorities often relying on apparent racial profiling. Federal agents’ recklessness in stopping vehicles has led to high-speed chases, crashes, and deaths.
DHS has eliminated most oversight, gutting its own Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the body in charge of investigating alleged abuses committed by immigration authorities.
There are legal limits to when a federal immigration agent can pull over a vehicle, stop people on the street, or forcibly enter homes. The Trump administration, however, has adopted expansive interpretations of ICE’s authority and relies on technical loopholes to evade these limits.
Vehicle stops have become increasingly common, with authorities often relying on apparent racial profiling. Federal agents’ recklessness in stopping vehicles has led to high-speed chases, crashes, and deaths.
DHS has eliminated most oversight, gutting its own Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the body in charge of investigating alleged abuses committed by immigration authorities.
Trump is becoming a dictator. Not only does Trump oppose democracy, Trump has succeeded in rolling it back and weakening it, perhaps fatally. Trump and his supporters in the Supreme Court have launched an all-out assault on the principle of equality, another bonding material for democratic countries. They have even undone the most important law in the history of American democracy, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ,the legislation that finally made the US an equal democracy under Lyndon Johnson. These graphs which show Black voter registration rates, representation and economic power tell us how important the VRA was. Its conscious destruction in 2026 by the Supreme Court tell us, as one commentator put it, that the problem in Trumps’ America is not one of “polarisation” but “authoritarianism, extremism, oligarchy, and racism”.
I don’t believe an independent is going to avoid voting Democrat bc of progressive policies and ideology. Independents may fear voting for the far right who already have a track record. Michael, as an independent what are your views on the defining issues of right wing ideology that will crush the democrats?
As moderate democrats or centrists, do you take any blame for a 13% approval rating of the democrats, pre recent progressive positions? Did Carville et al help you get there? Your Democratic Party is dead. You can’t argue that away.
What is starting fresh are progressive ideas for the people. And the people are responding. The Democratic Party has always been about the people.
The loudest democratic socialist is like the loudest MAGA. People ignore them. It is the fundamentals of the progressives that will define a new and improved Democratic Party.
I don’t need to remind everyone what Michael’s fear is of progressives. His real concern. I now consider Schumer, Jeffries and Cohen as examples of the type of thinking that needs to go.
In the 2018 midterms, Democrats targeted 31 Republican-held seats that Trump had won by less than five points. Due to aggressive redistricting, there are only 14 such vulnerable seats in 2026.
If the Democrats allow their frindge (for example Woke) to be the loudest voice in the room the Independents may have trouble identifying with them.
Trumps push to centralize control, bypass traditional legislative processes, and reshape federal agencies reflects authoritarian tactics. Trumps verbal attacks on the judiciary, intelligence communities, and the free press are efforts to weaken democratic guardrails and accountability. Trumps public admiration for foreign strongmen and authoritarian leaders are evidence of an underlying preference for centralized, unchecked personal power.
If the GOP wins the midterms Trumps authoritarian regime will remain in power into the future and democracy will die. That should be enough to scare anyone into voting democratic.
The so-called Social Democrats in US would probably be called "center-left" in most of the wealthier G7 countries. Those countries rate far higher in term of "quality of life" than the US. The US falls far behind in health care, access to quality affordable child care, education. Taxes in those countries are for the needs and wants of the majority of the people, not for the multi-wealthy to have even more money, , as in US.
Dirty money has taken over in US.
Socialism is still capitalist. It's not Communist. People seem to get confused by those two terms. Meanwhile, the US is steadily moving into a far-right authoritarian regime. And the wealthy have the funds for all the propaganda they want. Not far from the Nazi regime, in terms of lies, propaganda, targeting specific groups of people as being " the problem". We know how that turned out.
My opinion, of course, but also the opinion of many, far more knowledgeable than I am.
I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Today's post is depressing. For our democracy to continue, a Democratic majority in Congress is imperative. Our government is indeed based on constructive disagreements. It doesn't work well if only one party is in charge. I see the blue wave disappearing because the Democrats are not focusing on what needs to be done. I am liberal, but not to an extreme. The far left is as bad as the far right. We need to offer candidates that are left of center, but not off the continuum. We need a government that can roll back Trump's executive orders (which is the way he governs). If he stumbles and does something right, it won't be enough to fix us. The methods that Trump uses are unacceptable. I will state every day, if I have to, that the ends do NOT justify the means. Your reconciliation with him is generally a good thing. It's not our concern if it is on a personal level. But he has committed so many crimes that I wouldn't hire him to collect my garbage. I don't understand how you can support him politically. Everything he has done benefits the wealthy and screws the poor. He has used his power to grift the country out of so much money that has ended up in his and his family's pockets. And the money also goes straight to the wealthiest people in the country. If the Democrats screw up this election, we are doomed.
I totally agree. I am pessimistic as I would rather be pleasantly surprised instead of disappointed. That said, I also think that many voters (that voted for our Orange Menace) are starting to get what that vote really meant. It’s gotta happen before the election. I’m trying to be positive, but it isn’t easy…
Joanne, my mom was like you. I think it brought her a lot of stress in her life.
But also know Personalities become set.
I am not Blue Sky Everything is Wonderful Person either! But I do believe in Better Days, Hope, Goodness, Decency, etc. I also Believe you have to do what you can to get there, too.
But if you Watch the Elections and Polls in the past months, you can see the Shift.
Don't have to Love the Democrats, but they are the ONLY option for Democracy and that Message is getting across to Americans.
The ONLY option, as you state correctly, is a Democrat victory. As far as optimistic vs. pessimistic, I don’t think it is a choice. I think a person is born with tendencies one way or the other. Their life experiences then lead them to what they become. Just my opinion!
Hi Dawn, Just to be fair, I don't think it's that simple re: Republicans = dictatorship and Democrats= Democracy. It think there are lots of Republicans who value decency, kindness, etc, but have a different approach. (Not so much maybe in the Senate or House, though, maybe, unless they are afraid of speaking up. Of course, they could be also be protecting their families from death threats, I don't know). And not all Democrats are great. Look into the ones in New Mexico who were protecting Jeffrey Epstein.
Deb, both Parties have their issues. Nor do I think "all Democrats are great."
We have no Choice. Those remaining Republicans are not Standing Up and taking a Lead in Congress, are they? The Republican Party really doesn't exist. Or shall I say, it is not Functioning.
And if it is Fear, they need to Step Down. If it is the loss of Financial Gains, they need to Step Down.
As to Voting, Democrats are Democracy. No matter what your issue is with the Democratic Party, Voters must Vote Democrat to Save Our Democracy.
Nice Joanne. "Everything he has done benefits the wealthy and screws the poor. He has used his power to grift the country out of so much money that has ended up in his and his family's pockets." Michael, these are things you "used to" speak against. Sad. I miss "The Real Michael Cohen".
Aye, that is what sells. The extreme right is what is running this Country now! Unfortunately extremism is what catches the headlines and sells, Left or Right.
Exactly! Can anyone define what the Democrats are and are not? If they fail to clarify their key messages and have those messages reach their key audience, the GOP will do it for them. It will not be a flattering rebrand that is for sure. Yes the GOP is hugely unpopular right now. But if they can paint the Democrats in an hysterical and ridiculous communist/ socialist hue people will believe that. Just like they fell for " I'll end that war in one day", or "no more wars"...Americans are gullible, largely uneducated and completely ignorant to any other world views outside of it's own. Americans need to vote this fall, but if doubt and fear about voting Democrats has been planted, the response may be low turnout or a vote for the GOP.
Everything all of you are saying about Trump is true. I believe there is no debating that. And yet, he's won 2 elections. He is as extreme in his far right ideologies as the progressive Democrats are in theirs. I'm a centrist Democrat. I don't necessarily believe that everything should be free, like Healthcare, child care, college education. These things will never truly be free because someone has to pay. They work until the money runs out. Your taxes would skyrocket and the quality of these benefits would be poor. If the government pays for everything, we will bankrupt this country. Trump is doing a fine job of that on his own without helping anyone but himself. We must have checks and balances in our country. The Founding Fathers knew that. Many opposed political parties and ideologies that were too extreme. Having said this, I believe that Democrats must come up with a message that resonates with the majority of us and that is practical so if they overtake the majority, their policies can actually be implemented.
My only hope for Democrats and Republicans are that the silent majorities have spoken. However, having spent a vacation in an Icelander's house their democratic socialism works for them and they are proud of their constitution and their democracy. But the main thrust of DS in the US appears to be getting free stuff over maintaining democratic ideals.
What's interesting Susan is that I had this conversation with a person I know from the Indivisible group I belong to who told me about a young man with cancer who received fabulous benefits in Findland, I believe. What bothers me is not that this person received these benefits which helped him recover but that everyone seems to be comparing universal healthcare in other countries that are smaller, with less people and are different than the United States. What works for them may not be practical in the US. I believe that healthcare is a human right. I just feel that we need to come up with a practical solution that benefits everyone in OUR country because every county is different. We can do this but instead of campaign slogans, we need to get people who are knowledgeable about healthcare, (doctors, nurses, administrators), CEOs of businesses that offer Healthcare to employees, healthcare plan representatives, etc, to meet together to discuss healthcare. They need to identify waste and fraud in the system and eliminate it. Then they need to design a comprehensive, affordable and efficient Healthcare strategy that works for our country and our citizens. Trump’s healthcare plan, to throw money at people and tell them to purchase their own plans, is the stupidest idea I've ever heard of. Most people have trouble understanding how to do this and have no idea what they need. Thid approach would be disastrous. Many seniors have trouble even navigating Medicare websights. I worked for 20 years as an employee benefits manager for a major automotive supplier, so I have some insights into these problems.
Our healthcare system is so broken. I don't see how it can be fixed. It should be torn down and rebuilt. That isn't possible. I know that in Canada, for example, the first tier of healthcare is universal. The problem arises when you need a specialist. The wait time for that is not acceptable if you are looking for treatment that will save you. I have a g/f in Vancouver. She went to her doctor and was referred to a specialist. Had she gotten an appointment, what turned out to be cancer would have been curable. However, by the time she got her appointment, it was too late, and she will now die. I live two hours from the Canadian border. There are so many Canadians who come to the States for doctor's appointments. The other problem is that trying to find a country like ours to compare healthcare options is problematic. I can't think of a country like ours. I agree with you; the way it is now does not work. Trying to navigate through our system requires a college degree!!
Hi Johanne, Most of the people I know seem to have doctors who, if they suspect something serious, will send the person, right away, for further tests. If the tests show problems, the person will get to see a specialist fairly quickly.
If a person has an emergency health crisis ( heart, stroke, accident), they get help right away and surgery quickly. That happened to both my sister and father. No costs attached. No bills.
Our health care system in Canada has taken a downward climb, unfortunately. We currently don't have enough doctors or nurses. Hoping that will change.
The centrist democrats have let us down for years so a paradigm shift is needed. The old playbook like you are referring to will not work anymore. What you keep referring to as socialists are just real people who want to represent us without corporate or AIPAC backing to bring wealth equality and rule of law back. Any other outcome will inch us towards civil war since the GOP and trump are destroying this country and our place in the world
You have it exactly right too Howard. We need younger leaders who can explain what it is we need. Mamdani is a good example of that. They pour on the blather and the filth about him and he just keeps smiling . They say one of the toughest jobs in the country is being mayor of NYC. I am with him 100%
Michael I can't even read this piece ..The tittle alone made me laugh. "When Extremists Take Control " That is rich ..you must be kidding all of us .. Who do you think is in control of our country right now. So once again another person in Trumps orbit, that being you, is performing for an audience of one Donald J. Trump.. Don't concern yourself with the democrats. If we lose because the country is willfully ignorant so be it.
You hit it on the nail Mary - look at where we are now with extremist crooks and cons in power
I’m with you. Michael is shooting himself in the foot… to what end??
It all changed around the time this anti-weaponization fund was announced. I think he honestly thinks he'd get a share of that.
mer t Thanks, exactly to what end? If Trump throws him a crumb he will be lucky . And at the same time that he throws him a crumb he will humiliate him unmercifully.
All these people are betting that his power will always be .. but I think not. Americans will get fed up at some point and they will fight for our country. At least I am hoping so.
Extremists are in control, thus the title
“America works best when nobody gets everything they want.” This single line, a mere nine simple words speak the loudest to me in what you have written this morning. In my eyes, we the people, are currently in the midst of a political catastrophe, brought on by trump’s natural inclination towards chaos. There hasn’t been a day with trump at the helm, that I haven’t asked myself - so what is it going to be today - civil war on our land, or World War III? By my gut feelings and from what I understand, trump is a malignant narcissist, a bully of the worst kind, a manipulator of the most terrifying yet “successful” kind. And he lives his life not by any recognizable set of values of goodwill to others. His power lies not in compromise, nor in goodwill towards others. It appears trump’s #1 goal is to get what he wants, at any given moment, and based not on goodwill towards others, but always set on a goal of getting even, getting over, and stomping on others, and sucking the very life out of others. There is no compromise on anything: he simply lives his life, by a very simple and ugly motto: you are either with me, or against me. And he puts his finger on people through threats, blackmail, coercion; and without any value of the rule of law and common good towards others. Republicans and Democrats alike are buckling under the sheer ugliness of it all. What will put the breaks on our roll towards an absolute meltdown, is the majority standing up and against trump, simply because it is the “right thing” to do.
Well said
So Democrats are not focused on issues that matter most to voters? Good one, Michael. Republicans are in charge of everything. What are they focused on? None of the things you say Democrats should be focused on. Only on keeping the orange criminal happy. You are really reaching on this one. Sad.
Michael Cohen,
It really is difficult to read your posts lately. In the strict definition of the word, this is definitely an “opinion” piece. If you had posted statistics along with it, it would have had great value. Lacking that, it has none....in my opinion.
We are done with Schumer writing stern letters and Jefferies unable to say abolish ICE - we demand change
The current administration significantly shortened and fast-tracked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) training programs to accelerate a massive hiring push.
There are legal limits to when a federal immigration agent can pull over a vehicle, stop people on the street, or forcibly enter homes. The Trump administration, however, has adopted expansive interpretations of ICE’s authority and relies on technical loopholes to evade these limits.
Vehicle stops have become increasingly common, with authorities often relying on apparent racial profiling. Federal agents’ recklessness in stopping vehicles has led to high-speed chases, crashes, and deaths.
DHS has eliminated most oversight, gutting its own Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the body in charge of investigating alleged abuses committed by immigration authorities.
There are legal limits to when a federal immigration agent can pull over a vehicle, stop people on the street, or forcibly enter homes. The Trump administration, however, has adopted expansive interpretations of ICE’s authority and relies on technical loopholes to evade these limits.
Vehicle stops have become increasingly common, with authorities often relying on apparent racial profiling. Federal agents’ recklessness in stopping vehicles has led to high-speed chases, crashes, and deaths.
DHS has eliminated most oversight, gutting its own Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the body in charge of investigating alleged abuses committed by immigration authorities.
Trump is becoming a dictator. Not only does Trump oppose democracy, Trump has succeeded in rolling it back and weakening it, perhaps fatally. Trump and his supporters in the Supreme Court have launched an all-out assault on the principle of equality, another bonding material for democratic countries. They have even undone the most important law in the history of American democracy, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ,the legislation that finally made the US an equal democracy under Lyndon Johnson. These graphs which show Black voter registration rates, representation and economic power tell us how important the VRA was. Its conscious destruction in 2026 by the Supreme Court tell us, as one commentator put it, that the problem in Trumps’ America is not one of “polarisation” but “authoritarianism, extremism, oligarchy, and racism”.
I don’t believe an independent is going to avoid voting Democrat bc of progressive policies and ideology. Independents may fear voting for the far right who already have a track record. Michael, as an independent what are your views on the defining issues of right wing ideology that will crush the democrats?
As moderate democrats or centrists, do you take any blame for a 13% approval rating of the democrats, pre recent progressive positions? Did Carville et al help you get there? Your Democratic Party is dead. You can’t argue that away.
What is starting fresh are progressive ideas for the people. And the people are responding. The Democratic Party has always been about the people.
The loudest democratic socialist is like the loudest MAGA. People ignore them. It is the fundamentals of the progressives that will define a new and improved Democratic Party.
I don’t need to remind everyone what Michael’s fear is of progressives. His real concern. I now consider Schumer, Jeffries and Cohen as examples of the type of thinking that needs to go.
In the 2018 midterms, Democrats targeted 31 Republican-held seats that Trump had won by less than five points. Due to aggressive redistricting, there are only 14 such vulnerable seats in 2026.
If the Democrats allow their frindge (for example Woke) to be the loudest voice in the room the Independents may have trouble identifying with them.
Trumps push to centralize control, bypass traditional legislative processes, and reshape federal agencies reflects authoritarian tactics. Trumps verbal attacks on the judiciary, intelligence communities, and the free press are efforts to weaken democratic guardrails and accountability. Trumps public admiration for foreign strongmen and authoritarian leaders are evidence of an underlying preference for centralized, unchecked personal power.
If the GOP wins the midterms Trumps authoritarian regime will remain in power into the future and democracy will die. That should be enough to scare anyone into voting democratic.
The so-called Social Democrats in US would probably be called "center-left" in most of the wealthier G7 countries. Those countries rate far higher in term of "quality of life" than the US. The US falls far behind in health care, access to quality affordable child care, education. Taxes in those countries are for the needs and wants of the majority of the people, not for the multi-wealthy to have even more money, , as in US.
Dirty money has taken over in US.
Socialism is still capitalist. It's not Communist. People seem to get confused by those two terms. Meanwhile, the US is steadily moving into a far-right authoritarian regime. And the wealthy have the funds for all the propaganda they want. Not far from the Nazi regime, in terms of lies, propaganda, targeting specific groups of people as being " the problem". We know how that turned out.
My opinion, of course, but also the opinion of many, far more knowledgeable than I am.
Well said Deb.
I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Today's post is depressing. For our democracy to continue, a Democratic majority in Congress is imperative. Our government is indeed based on constructive disagreements. It doesn't work well if only one party is in charge. I see the blue wave disappearing because the Democrats are not focusing on what needs to be done. I am liberal, but not to an extreme. The far left is as bad as the far right. We need to offer candidates that are left of center, but not off the continuum. We need a government that can roll back Trump's executive orders (which is the way he governs). If he stumbles and does something right, it won't be enough to fix us. The methods that Trump uses are unacceptable. I will state every day, if I have to, that the ends do NOT justify the means. Your reconciliation with him is generally a good thing. It's not our concern if it is on a personal level. But he has committed so many crimes that I wouldn't hire him to collect my garbage. I don't understand how you can support him politically. Everything he has done benefits the wealthy and screws the poor. He has used his power to grift the country out of so much money that has ended up in his and his family's pockets. And the money also goes straight to the wealthiest people in the country. If the Democrats screw up this election, we are doomed.
Joanne,
It is very simple.
Democrats=Democracy.
Republicans=Dictatorship.
Americans are waking up. I believe Voters will bring America back to a Better Democracy.
Despite Establishment Democrats.
Americans deserve better.
I totally agree. I am pessimistic as I would rather be pleasantly surprised instead of disappointed. That said, I also think that many voters (that voted for our Orange Menace) are starting to get what that vote really meant. It’s gotta happen before the election. I’m trying to be positive, but it isn’t easy…
Joanne, my mom was like you. I think it brought her a lot of stress in her life.
But also know Personalities become set.
I am not Blue Sky Everything is Wonderful Person either! But I do believe in Better Days, Hope, Goodness, Decency, etc. I also Believe you have to do what you can to get there, too.
But if you Watch the Elections and Polls in the past months, you can see the Shift.
Don't have to Love the Democrats, but they are the ONLY option for Democracy and that Message is getting across to Americans.
Americans deserve better.
The ONLY option, as you state correctly, is a Democrat victory. As far as optimistic vs. pessimistic, I don’t think it is a choice. I think a person is born with tendencies one way or the other. Their life experiences then lead them to what they become. Just my opinion!
Joanne, I think you missed what I said, "But also know Personalities become set." I didn't disagree with you.
Yes, A Democratic Victory is essential.
Americans deserve better.
I didn’t think we were disagreeing. I just restated it with different terms. We agree on most things, IMO.
Hi Dawn, Just to be fair, I don't think it's that simple re: Republicans = dictatorship and Democrats= Democracy. It think there are lots of Republicans who value decency, kindness, etc, but have a different approach. (Not so much maybe in the Senate or House, though, maybe, unless they are afraid of speaking up. Of course, they could be also be protecting their families from death threats, I don't know). And not all Democrats are great. Look into the ones in New Mexico who were protecting Jeffrey Epstein.
Deb, both Parties have their issues. Nor do I think "all Democrats are great."
We have no Choice. Those remaining Republicans are not Standing Up and taking a Lead in Congress, are they? The Republican Party really doesn't exist. Or shall I say, it is not Functioning.
And if it is Fear, they need to Step Down. If it is the loss of Financial Gains, they need to Step Down.
As to Voting, Democrats are Democracy. No matter what your issue is with the Democratic Party, Voters must Vote Democrat to Save Our Democracy.
Americans deserve better.
Nice Joanne. "Everything he has done benefits the wealthy and screws the poor. He has used his power to grift the country out of so much money that has ended up in his and his family's pockets." Michael, these are things you "used to" speak against. Sad. I miss "The Real Michael Cohen".
Theresa,
Michael Cohen has left the building................
Americans deserve better.
Aye, that is what sells. The extreme right is what is running this Country now! Unfortunately extremism is what catches the headlines and sells, Left or Right.
Exactly! Can anyone define what the Democrats are and are not? If they fail to clarify their key messages and have those messages reach their key audience, the GOP will do it for them. It will not be a flattering rebrand that is for sure. Yes the GOP is hugely unpopular right now. But if they can paint the Democrats in an hysterical and ridiculous communist/ socialist hue people will believe that. Just like they fell for " I'll end that war in one day", or "no more wars"...Americans are gullible, largely uneducated and completely ignorant to any other world views outside of it's own. Americans need to vote this fall, but if doubt and fear about voting Democrats has been planted, the response may be low turnout or a vote for the GOP.
I agree that divided government is best. I worry that the Democrats are too confident they will win. And I worry about what Trump will do if they win.
In my opinion, the extremists are already in control and our society is being destroyed by them.
Doreen,
I have faith in the American People.
They are Speaking Out and Standing Up.
We will Save Our Democracy and make it a Better Democracy.
Americans deserve better.
I love your optimism! We definitely need optimism. Thank you.
Everything all of you are saying about Trump is true. I believe there is no debating that. And yet, he's won 2 elections. He is as extreme in his far right ideologies as the progressive Democrats are in theirs. I'm a centrist Democrat. I don't necessarily believe that everything should be free, like Healthcare, child care, college education. These things will never truly be free because someone has to pay. They work until the money runs out. Your taxes would skyrocket and the quality of these benefits would be poor. If the government pays for everything, we will bankrupt this country. Trump is doing a fine job of that on his own without helping anyone but himself. We must have checks and balances in our country. The Founding Fathers knew that. Many opposed political parties and ideologies that were too extreme. Having said this, I believe that Democrats must come up with a message that resonates with the majority of us and that is practical so if they overtake the majority, their policies can actually be implemented.
Lauren,
Democrats =Democracy.
Republicans=Dictatorship.
That is the message for MidTerms!
Too early to debate the Structure.
A Democratic Socialism with a Touch of Capitalism?
Our change doesn't have to conform with Systems of the Past, huh?
Our Democracy will most likely be uniquely American.
Some Examples:
Mixed Economy: A system blending private enterprise with state intervention and social welfare.
The Nordic Model: A specific, real-world framework combining free-market capitalism with a robust social safety net.
Social Democracy: A political ideology supporting economic and social interventions within a capitalist framework.
American Voters will lead the Change.
Americans deserve better.
My only hope for Democrats and Republicans are that the silent majorities have spoken. However, having spent a vacation in an Icelander's house their democratic socialism works for them and they are proud of their constitution and their democracy. But the main thrust of DS in the US appears to be getting free stuff over maintaining democratic ideals.
What's interesting Susan is that I had this conversation with a person I know from the Indivisible group I belong to who told me about a young man with cancer who received fabulous benefits in Findland, I believe. What bothers me is not that this person received these benefits which helped him recover but that everyone seems to be comparing universal healthcare in other countries that are smaller, with less people and are different than the United States. What works for them may not be practical in the US. I believe that healthcare is a human right. I just feel that we need to come up with a practical solution that benefits everyone in OUR country because every county is different. We can do this but instead of campaign slogans, we need to get people who are knowledgeable about healthcare, (doctors, nurses, administrators), CEOs of businesses that offer Healthcare to employees, healthcare plan representatives, etc, to meet together to discuss healthcare. They need to identify waste and fraud in the system and eliminate it. Then they need to design a comprehensive, affordable and efficient Healthcare strategy that works for our country and our citizens. Trump’s healthcare plan, to throw money at people and tell them to purchase their own plans, is the stupidest idea I've ever heard of. Most people have trouble understanding how to do this and have no idea what they need. Thid approach would be disastrous. Many seniors have trouble even navigating Medicare websights. I worked for 20 years as an employee benefits manager for a major automotive supplier, so I have some insights into these problems.
Our healthcare system is so broken. I don't see how it can be fixed. It should be torn down and rebuilt. That isn't possible. I know that in Canada, for example, the first tier of healthcare is universal. The problem arises when you need a specialist. The wait time for that is not acceptable if you are looking for treatment that will save you. I have a g/f in Vancouver. She went to her doctor and was referred to a specialist. Had she gotten an appointment, what turned out to be cancer would have been curable. However, by the time she got her appointment, it was too late, and she will now die. I live two hours from the Canadian border. There are so many Canadians who come to the States for doctor's appointments. The other problem is that trying to find a country like ours to compare healthcare options is problematic. I can't think of a country like ours. I agree with you; the way it is now does not work. Trying to navigate through our system requires a college degree!!
Hi Johanne, Most of the people I know seem to have doctors who, if they suspect something serious, will send the person, right away, for further tests. If the tests show problems, the person will get to see a specialist fairly quickly.
If a person has an emergency health crisis ( heart, stroke, accident), they get help right away and surgery quickly. That happened to both my sister and father. No costs attached. No bills.
Our health care system in Canada has taken a downward climb, unfortunately. We currently don't have enough doctors or nurses. Hoping that will change.
Heathcare is a mess everywhere. I’m sorry that your healthcare is getting bad. Ours has become dysfunctional.