Thank you for this. I think we've been a little spoiled by recent successes, and an administration that was largely supportive. But the movement has a long history of battling entrenched powers. We know how to do that, and we will.
One of the dominant fantasies on "our" side is that renewables can reduce or replace FFs in the global growth economy. On the other side of the political divide is absolute determination to increase FF supply to deadly levels to meet growing energy demand regardless of consequences. Both positions lead away from critical thinking and rational action. I do not share Bill's optimism, what's left of it.
I think things are going to get so bad, so quickly that many (not all) people who voted for Trump will wish, deeply, that they had not. Huge tariffs on anything imported from anywhere? The dismantling of the ACA and a return to preexisting conditions not being covered? A ballooning of the national debt caused by extremely costly efforts (never mind the cruelty) to deport millions of undocumented immigrants who have built families and community ties in this country? At some point, the reckoning will come and this country will find its way forward.
Yes, even his supporters will suffer. As in trickle-down economics, damage and harm will descend on everyone. And a sinking political climate lowers all boats...
Got to somehow pay for those further tax cuts for the rich and more big handouts to big pharma and to big oil, there goes any chance of saving climate, half the populace made sure of that
It's the ill-educated I suppose. They fell for the culture war lures, hook, line and sinker and apparently don't give a fig for the disastrous climate changes.
Narrow minds breed ignorance and the machismo that those that did not want to see a very capable first woman president and one of color and white women who voted for Trump despite the fact, there were those that wanted to protect access to abortion rights, hence women's health care protected, so go figure, in many cases it boils down simply to racism
Yeah, I am feeling that too. But with misinformation, I wonder if people will be capable of attributing the blame in the right place. Of course, Harris is being unfairly blamed for inflation and so there is a good chance that there will be a blue wave in the next election. That said... I don't think the Dems should just count on that. There is a lot of work to be done in the meantime. What is that work? That's what I think we all need to support each other in figuring out.
At this point, I'm too exhausted and disheartened to think about the work that will need to be done. I need to nurture myself for awhile--I'm gardening and watching birds and thinking narrowly about how my husband and I can best take care of ourselves and the people we love through the difficult period to come. But I'm grateful for anyone who is ready to think about and begin doing the work of correcting our course, and I will certainly pitch in when the time comes. We'll need strength to do that, though, and I need to do all I can to gather that strength right now.
Will hear things like, I wish I had known, I would have never voted for Trump, I say really? no! they that voted for Trump, they knew what they were getting and voted for him anyway, it's so sad really, so when any do come crying, you were warned, so too little, too late.
It is sad that such an ignorant person surrounded by equally ignorant people with no sane thought among them can hoodwink over half the population to follow their ideas. Even more frightening is that they did not hoodwink them but that they are believers.
It is interesting that I was thinking to myself this morning that something is really over and we have to start over and create the world we have been longing for. In a way I feel relieved that we can stop seeking unity with MAGA oriented individuals. They will not be a part of the solution we need to transition to a healthier way of life and the culture that will sustain it. Thanks for all you do. 💙
I’m not convinced that’s the case, Maria. I’m confident that some GOP voters will be willing to support specific endeavors. It’s necessary to distinguish ordinary voters from the predators they elected.
I appreciate your desire to be gracious. I know from experience, though, that the reluctant and even non-existent allyship in the right wing about solving our problems together is one reason we are in such dire straits. Unity has been an illusion to demand our capitulation to a world on their terms. That is not shared problem solving, it is domination.
FDR era? Not even close. There were many problems, but the one that likely did Harris in was her association with the Gaza genocide. Since the US supplies the vast majority of weapons, that makes us complicit. This was a huge, vile blunder on Biden's part. We're going to pay a heavy price for his inhuman support of Netanyahu.
Thanks for your clear-eyed honesty, Bill. Today is clearly a blow for the climate. We can give in to despair, or as you suggest, find routes for climate action outside of politics. I don't think we have another choice. We don't have four years to wait for the next election. So if anyone is feeling despair, I encourage you to do something good for the climate today!
Where there is a will, there is a way they say, well how? at this point I just don't see concrete way to get there within 4 years, that's how much time we have left before too late and I can just see it now, Trumps drill baby drill, more oil spills everywhere and I can also see a scenario where Trump says to California, you either let big oil drill off your coasts or you will not get disaster aid for say wildfires, it's all legal, Trump is just doing his job, just ask "his" Supreme Court, who have made Trump a king and above the law
Thank you, Bill, for your tireless efforts, your courage, your willingness to stay the course despite so many setbacks. We're with you. Take care of the vulnerable, fight the fossil fuel folks, create resilience. Onward.
How to build a movement that has been largely stalling that is the question. For cap and trade look to WA. Despite billionaire hedgefund dude trying to repeal it on our ballot, his efforts were soundly rejected. I-2117
Sad truth: Neither major party is interested in the rapid systems change needed to meet the climate moment. Their corporate capture precludes it. The path to fixing ::all this:: runs outside of Teams Blue and Red.
I can't help but wonder if it will be easier to rapidly create the new systems we need when we fight against the craziness that will be the Trump administration, than fighting against the marginally good Biden/Harris-Harris/Walz administration.
No, your instincts are correct. Those reacting to the loss with notions of reforming the Democratic Party are deceiving themselves. We just had a yearlong lesson on the party's commitment to top-down control. We need truly democratic representation, and it ain't comin' from the duopoly.
I'm grateful to everyone working on building and supporting alternatives, and the reforms needed to ensure rule by the people.
Also, a dark money, big oil captured Supreme Court, the conservatives have ties to big oil, hence some of their bias rulings as relates to EPA regulating pollution
Non desistas non exieris. It's not the end of liberalism. Not by a long shot. At the darkest day of the year, we have begun journeying toward the light.
Thank you for this. I think we've been a little spoiled by recent successes, and an administration that was largely supportive. But the movement has a long history of battling entrenched powers. We know how to do that, and we will.
I like that spirit very much.
One of the dominant fantasies on "our" side is that renewables can reduce or replace FFs in the global growth economy. On the other side of the political divide is absolute determination to increase FF supply to deadly levels to meet growing energy demand regardless of consequences. Both positions lead away from critical thinking and rational action. I do not share Bill's optimism, what's left of it.
This is the first moment of hope I’ve had since about 1030 last night. Thank you, Bill. Time to rethink and rebuild. Everything is on the table now
Thank you, from across the Atlantic, looking on in horror. As always, your clear-sighted hopefulness is a good reminder of the work still to do.
Thank you Mike, we here in America appreciate your support—and need it
I think things are going to get so bad, so quickly that many (not all) people who voted for Trump will wish, deeply, that they had not. Huge tariffs on anything imported from anywhere? The dismantling of the ACA and a return to preexisting conditions not being covered? A ballooning of the national debt caused by extremely costly efforts (never mind the cruelty) to deport millions of undocumented immigrants who have built families and community ties in this country? At some point, the reckoning will come and this country will find its way forward.
Yes, even his supporters will suffer. As in trickle-down economics, damage and harm will descend on everyone. And a sinking political climate lowers all boats...
Got to somehow pay for those further tax cuts for the rich and more big handouts to big pharma and to big oil, there goes any chance of saving climate, half the populace made sure of that
It's the ill-educated I suppose. They fell for the culture war lures, hook, line and sinker and apparently don't give a fig for the disastrous climate changes.
Narrow minds breed ignorance and the machismo that those that did not want to see a very capable first woman president and one of color and white women who voted for Trump despite the fact, there were those that wanted to protect access to abortion rights, hence women's health care protected, so go figure, in many cases it boils down simply to racism
Yeah, I am feeling that too. But with misinformation, I wonder if people will be capable of attributing the blame in the right place. Of course, Harris is being unfairly blamed for inflation and so there is a good chance that there will be a blue wave in the next election. That said... I don't think the Dems should just count on that. There is a lot of work to be done in the meantime. What is that work? That's what I think we all need to support each other in figuring out.
At this point, I'm too exhausted and disheartened to think about the work that will need to be done. I need to nurture myself for awhile--I'm gardening and watching birds and thinking narrowly about how my husband and I can best take care of ourselves and the people we love through the difficult period to come. But I'm grateful for anyone who is ready to think about and begin doing the work of correcting our course, and I will certainly pitch in when the time comes. We'll need strength to do that, though, and I need to do all I can to gather that strength right now.
I appreciate and honor that.
Will hear things like, I wish I had known, I would have never voted for Trump, I say really? no! they that voted for Trump, they knew what they were getting and voted for him anyway, it's so sad really, so when any do come crying, you were warned, so too little, too late.
It is sad that such an ignorant person surrounded by equally ignorant people with no sane thought among them can hoodwink over half the population to follow their ideas. Even more frightening is that they did not hoodwink them but that they are believers.
It is interesting that I was thinking to myself this morning that something is really over and we have to start over and create the world we have been longing for. In a way I feel relieved that we can stop seeking unity with MAGA oriented individuals. They will not be a part of the solution we need to transition to a healthier way of life and the culture that will sustain it. Thanks for all you do. 💙
I’m not convinced that’s the case, Maria. I’m confident that some GOP voters will be willing to support specific endeavors. It’s necessary to distinguish ordinary voters from the predators they elected.
I appreciate your desire to be gracious. I know from experience, though, that the reluctant and even non-existent allyship in the right wing about solving our problems together is one reason we are in such dire straits. Unity has been an illusion to demand our capitulation to a world on their terms. That is not shared problem solving, it is domination.
I love your writing. Thank you
FDR era? Not even close. There were many problems, but the one that likely did Harris in was her association with the Gaza genocide. Since the US supplies the vast majority of weapons, that makes us complicit. This was a huge, vile blunder on Biden's part. We're going to pay a heavy price for his inhuman support of Netanyahu.
Agreed. And Ukraine as well.
Yes, I'd say the cord snapped far earlier... what we're seeing now are just the shreds still fluttering in the wind
Thanks for your clear-eyed honesty, Bill. Today is clearly a blow for the climate. We can give in to despair, or as you suggest, find routes for climate action outside of politics. I don't think we have another choice. We don't have four years to wait for the next election. So if anyone is feeling despair, I encourage you to do something good for the climate today!
Where there is a will, there is a way they say, well how? at this point I just don't see concrete way to get there within 4 years, that's how much time we have left before too late and I can just see it now, Trumps drill baby drill, more oil spills everywhere and I can also see a scenario where Trump says to California, you either let big oil drill off your coasts or you will not get disaster aid for say wildfires, it's all legal, Trump is just doing his job, just ask "his" Supreme Court, who have made Trump a king and above the law
Thank you, Bill, for your tireless efforts, your courage, your willingness to stay the course despite so many setbacks. We're with you. Take care of the vulnerable, fight the fossil fuel folks, create resilience. Onward.
How to build a movement that has been largely stalling that is the question. For cap and trade look to WA. Despite billionaire hedgefund dude trying to repeal it on our ballot, his efforts were soundly rejected. I-2117
Sad truth: Neither major party is interested in the rapid systems change needed to meet the climate moment. Their corporate capture precludes it. The path to fixing ::all this:: runs outside of Teams Blue and Red.
I can't help but wonder if it will be easier to rapidly create the new systems we need when we fight against the craziness that will be the Trump administration, than fighting against the marginally good Biden/Harris-Harris/Walz administration.
Why would that be easier???
Sometimes it's easier to tear down a shambles of a house and rebuild than it is to try to remodel a not-quite-good-enough house.
Of course, this could simply be the bargaining part of grief talking and not realistic at all.
No, your instincts are correct. Those reacting to the loss with notions of reforming the Democratic Party are deceiving themselves. We just had a yearlong lesson on the party's commitment to top-down control. We need truly democratic representation, and it ain't comin' from the duopoly.
I'm grateful to everyone working on building and supporting alternatives, and the reforms needed to ensure rule by the people.
Of possible interest: https://variety.com/2024/film/news/adam-mckay-time-to-abandon-democratic-party-trump-victory-1236202362/
Also, a dark money, big oil captured Supreme Court, the conservatives have ties to big oil, hence some of their bias rulings as relates to EPA regulating pollution
Yes... but it is far less likely under Team Red.
Neither.
Major.
Party.
The binary is constricting our political imaginations and solution set, full stop.
Of possible interest: https://jamesbelcher.substack.com/p/the-inflation-reduction-act-is-not
Good and wise words, albeit in a bad and foolish time.
Thank you for your perspective, Bill.
Non desistas non exieris. It's not the end of liberalism. Not by a long shot. At the darkest day of the year, we have begun journeying toward the light.
I've resolved to talk less and listen more. God help me stick to that. And to fight. In that, I have full confidence.
Stay with us and thank you.