28 Comments
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Lorraine Evanoff's avatar

Today Biden announced a slew of new sanctions against Russians who supported Navalny's persecution, so I think we are up to the task.

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

Perseverence and hope. Thanks Lorraine!

Lorraine Evanoff's avatar

Agreed. Never give up. It's getting so scary right now. The GOP are on a rampage for their last gasp of breath, and will try to take everyone down with them.

Graciewilde's avatar

I am investing a lot of hope in young people. It has been pointed out to me that many under 40 year olds are checked out. I, however know a slew of them who are active and engaged and who will fight for what is right. I am grateful for their presence and I think our salvation may lie with them.

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

Thanks for your comment! Maybe reaching out through substack to those young people would teach us about their interests and how to best share our views.

Mark VanLaeys's avatar

You are so correct. The future is going into their hands, but sometimes not fast enough.

Diane BF78's avatar

I believe that we have Americans who are and will continue to fight autocracy. The media magnifies villains for ratings, forgetting even they the media cannot seem to tell reality from fantasy. Democracy must and will prevail if we can get the election deniers voted out and put honorable people in offices and courts. We must work for separation of church and state also. Good post, Manuel. 💙🇺🇸💙

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

Thanks for your comment and restack, Diane. I fully agree with you. How are you feeling today?

Diane BF78's avatar

Better, thanks. Still grieving but my cataract surgeries were great!

Mark VanLaeys's avatar

It really does come down to ratings and dollars. Without those two things, half of our democracy woes wouldn't exist. Yes, I did pull the "half" part out of my hat.

Veronica von Bernath Morra's avatar

May the Universe be generous,and show our citizens the way. Amen!

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

We certainly need your prayer, Verónica. Thanks.

Martha Olivares's avatar

I believe with it within us, yes. It’s an US thing and we need to remind each other of that. We are none of us “islands unto ourselves.”

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

Wise words, Martha. Thanks for your comment.

Mark VanLaeys's avatar

You certainly ask the right question - are we up to the task? The million-dollar follow-up question for each of us becomes - how can we best use our specific gifts and talents to help change our downward trajectory toward authoritarianism.

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

Thanks for your insightful comment, Mark!

Diane BF78's avatar

Get the vote out and talk to young adults —especially non-whites in rural and city areas. Too many are doing social media & Fox.

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

And gold basketball shoes with the con man's label and a new media source I saw bearing the unmentionable name...

Karen S. Bonnell's avatar

Will our courts function with an expediency warranted by the lingering and growing threat?

Mark VanLaeys's avatar

I'm not very optimistic. It seems that delaying everything protects the courts from taking any heat, whereas giving honest and law-based judgements would subject them to HIS ire and the threats of his minions.

Karen S. Bonnell's avatar

Term limits. Unmitigated power is too easily abused. So, we're experiencing. And as for the orange narcissist - no one should be surprised at the profound destructiveness, manipulative capacity of someone with his personality profile. Mark, it's all pretty painful.

Mark VanLaeys's avatar

I've been a proponent of term limits and publicly financed eleections for a long time but they always hit the dead end of those who benefit from the status quo are being asked to take that benefit away. The solution in my opinion is that every legislator currently serving would get the same two additional terms as newbies. It would be drawn out solution but a move in the right direction.

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

Great question, Karen! Thanks for your comment and restack.

W. Scott Cameron's avatar

Your writings are on point always

ed stull's avatar

Great read, thank you!

Manuel A. Garcia's avatar

Thanks for your comment, Ed!