My raw gut reaction is hopelessness, anger. No recourse. After I sit with it all day, maybe that will change. I knew we were being hung out to dry. But fuck.
Toni, I hear you. That reaction makes complete sense.
Hopelessness and anger are rational responses when the last illusions drop. Anyone who feels calm right now...either hasn’t connected the dots yet...or isn’t being honest with themselves.
You’re right...this isn’t a new fear. It’s confirmation. That “we’re being hung out to dry” feeling hurts because it means you weren’t exaggerating. You were paying attention.
One thing I want to name, though...because it matters:
Hopelessness is what hits first, not last.
It’s the nervous system reacting to realizing the guardrails aren’t coming. The brain goes, “So the rules we were told would protect us… won’t.” That lands as anger...grief...and that hollow “fuck.”
But hopelessness...isn’t the end state. It’s a TRANSITION.
What often comes next...AFTER you sit with it...is clarity. Not optimism. Orientation.
You stop asking who will save us...and start asking what actually still works...where leverage still exists.
I won’t pretend there’s an easy fix...or a hero on the way. There is NOT.
But...there is recourse...just not the kind we were taught to expect.
So...sit with it. Let the anger burn off the shock.
Just don’t mistake this moment...for the final verdict.
You’re not wrong. You’re not crazy. And you’re damn sure not alone in seeing it!
#HoldFast
-Jack
P.S. I will write a follow-up to this article...soon.
Well FUCK…That’s all I got Jack.. but your article is THE ONLY fucking thing that makes absolute sense right now.. spelled out plain and simple..I wish I could drink but I’m actually allergic to alcohol.. so I’m going to have to do this fully fucking awake and aware.. dammit
Doing this fully awake and aware is the hardest version there is. No question about it.
No numbing...no checking out...no chemical pause button. Just you...the truth...and the weight of it landing all at once. That’s brutal...and it’s also...honest.
I’m really glad you said this part out loud: that the article is the only thing that makes sense right now. You're right. It is...because it's based on reality.
When everything feels like static and bullshit...sense is oxygen. Not hope. Not comfort. Orientation.
You’re not losing your mind. You’re reacting to clarity.
That “well FUCK” moment is what happens when your brain stops trying to negotiate with reality.
No spin. No cope. Just, “Okay. This is what’s actually happening.” That hurts. A lot.
But here’s the quiet truth I want to leave you with tonight:
Being awake like this...painful as it is...is still a form of STRENGTH. Not the loud kind. The kind that doesn’t disappear tomorrow morning.
You don’t have to do anything with this feeling right now. No decisions. No plans. Just stay present. Breathe. Let the surge pass without turning it inward.
You’re not weak for feeling this.
You’re not dramatic.
And you’re sure as shit not alone in it...even if it feels that way if you happen to wake up in the middle of the night...and think about it.
We’re still here.
And for now...that’s enough.
I'll have a follow-up article coming to this one. One that will lift you up a notch. Not one consisting of bullshit...and the scent of lavender and sheets just taken down from a clothesline on a sunny spring day, no. With truth. Clarity...and clear-eyed thinking.
Thanks Jack.. every time I’m watching any news.. it’s always.. OFWN.. Oh Fuck What Now.. (there’s an app for basically divorced parents called Our Family Wizard.. my kids are adults but I have a young stepson.. I’m raising number 15.. since I’ve raised all my 3 older brothers kids.. fuck I’m tired of raising kids..) but the acronym is very useful right now. And to keep my anxiety at bay I’m crocheting sweaters and afghans and trekking in the snow to check on my hens in the yard and gathering fresh eggs ( yes they’re all still laying eggs in winter) I have a mountain of yarn I hide behind so no one sees me when they come to the front door. Let’s face it I’m a hermit until I get one week back home in Hawai’i so I can defrost.. then I go spear fishing or hunting to help feed all my cousins. Thank you my friend for your wise words. It helps. Much Aloha to you.
This is not unexpected by me. As a public education teacher for 41 years, I raged against the machine. The machine- Heritage Foundation. They began in the 80s under Reagan creating educational policy. They did a slow roll out of the new standards for public education while brainwashing the people that public education was a horror show. Slowly, state by state, especially red, they infiltrated their policies to the legislators willing. They introduced the bills. The education system was corrupted. You can tell the states most affected by the policy, they are red states and most schools rank in the bottom of the nation. Their decline directly attributed to the Heritage Demolition Foundation.
Indiana bit the poisoned apple in the mid 2000s and increased yearly. I would go to our capital to rage against them and be met with, "They want me to vote for this." Even after I explained the consequences. The power of the purse outweighs what actually is best for humanity. Greed speaks. Democracy dies.
Jo, what you’re describing isn’t theory...it’s witness.
Forty-one years in public education...means you saw the long game before most people had words for it: the slow rollout...the laundering of policy through “reform,” the deliberate effort to break public trust in schools while legislators were fed pre-written bills.
The Heritage Foundation didn’t argue...they engineered.
That line...“They want me to vote for this”...says everything. That’s not representation. That’s DEPENDENCY.
You’re right about the power of the purse. Once money replaces judgment...outcomes stop mattering. Harm becomes acceptable. Democracy doesn’t collapse all at once...it gets hollowed out...quietly...until it no longer functions.
What matters is that you didn’t stay silent. You showed up. You warned them. You named the consequences...BEFORE they were obvious. That doesn’t erase the damage...but it MATTERS.
You’re not late to this realization.
You’re early, Jo...and tired from being right for a very long time!
Excellent, horrifying explanation. We have been so naive to believe some of those in Congress would actually come round and support the Constitution. Now, the question begs, what do we do now that we have been empowered by this insightful information?
Sara Goodnick, THAT...is the right question...and it means the article did what it was supposed to do.
The first stage was clarity. That’s the horrifying part.
The second stage is agency...and it looks VERY different than we were taught.
Not waiting for Congress to “come around.” Not hoping institutions suddenly rediscover courage.
What this information empowers us to do is stop misplacing effort.
Real leverage now lives:
*Locally...where pressure is harder to ignore
*Publicly...where silence becomes costly
*Collectively...where isolation stops working
*Narratively...where naming the system breaks its spell
This isn’t about one heroic action. It’s about sustained...visible resistance that makes inaction uncomfortable...and complicity obvious...especially at state and local levels where the machinery actually touches people.
We don’t have the luxury of naïveté anymore. But...we do have something better: clarity about where power ISN'T...which finally lets us focus on where it still is.
Mary, you do that. I'm a proud crier. It's one of the best forms of stress relief known. In fact, is virtually every traumatic injury I've ever treated...within 5 minutes of the persons care being taken over by someone else, I've found a place to go...and sob. It's always been a form of psychological discharge that kept me in a better place than I would have been otherwise.
I forwarded this to Sen. Jeff Merkley who, along with Ron Wyden, I've had great respect for in spite of knowing how dirty the whole theater is. What you've said here has such a strong ring of truth, strong as a sonic weapon. I suggest everyone do the same with their congress people. It will be interesting to see their responses. #holdfast
Not because one email magically changes Congress...but...because it forces contact with reality. It removes the excuse of ignorance. It puts clear language...plainly stated consequences...and moral weight directly in their inbox.
That’s not theater...that’s accountability...EVEN if the response is silence.
You’re right to name Merkley and Wyden the way you did...respected...despite knowing how compromised the broader system is. Holding that tension...clarity without naïveté...is exactly what “hold fast” actually means.
And...I agree with you: people should send this to their representatives. Not as a plea. As a MARKER. A record that says we saw this...we understood it...and we didn’t pretend we didn’t know.
Will the responses be revealing? Absolutely. Sometimes what comes back matters. Sometimes...what doesn’t comes back...matters even more.
That’s how pressure starts...not with illusion...but with VISIBILITY.
I haven't read it yet. I don't know how to get this in front of your other readers or the see responses they've gotten. I'm especially interested in responses from Republicans.
Those are my senators also. My question after reading this piece is Hold tight to what? If we can't get Congress to give a shit and it takes a very long time to change the system, then it sounds like we are screwed. I want to believe we can get out of this mess but every day is darker and the machine that governs us effectively wants us dead. Is there really any effective way for us to work to stop things from turning into Nazi Germany 2.0 (further than it has already?) besides moving abroad for those who can afford to do so?
This...is the hardest question...and I'm damn glad you asked it.
When people say “hold tight,” (or, perhaps you were also referring to HoldFast) they often mean "wait."
That’s not what I mean. Waiting for Congress to suddenly give a shit isn’t a plan...and hoping the system fixes itself...just isn’t realistic.
You’re right to push back on that.
What we’re holding tight to isn’t Congress. It’s orientation and agency...because once those are gone...the machine wins by default.
You’re right about the darkness. Systems sliding toward authoritarianism feel EXACTLY like this from the inside: exhausting...dehumanizing...relentless...and designed to make people believe resistance is pointless...and escape is the only rational move.
History matters here...not as comfort...but...as INSTRUCTION.
These systems don’t reverse because federal institutions grow a conscience. They’re constrained...when power becomes costly at local and state levels...when narratives break containment...when people stay visible and connected instead...of isolated... and when pressure is applied OUTSIDE Congress, courts...states...labor...media... civic networks.
That’s not fast. It’s not clean. And...there are no guarantees. But...it is absolutely how backsliding has been slowed and resisted before.
Leaving the country can be a valid personal choice for safety or sanity...but it’s not the only meaningful response...and staying isn’t surrender.
The people who matter in moments like this...are often the ones who remain engaged...AFTER the illusion of protection is gone.
You’re not crazy. You’re not exaggerating. And you’re not alone.
No one can promise outcomes...but...there are ways to slow...expose...and resist this trajectory. And they start...with refusing to hand your clarity...connection...and agency...over to despair.
Share this post with every legislator you can think of, and with everyone you know with a request for them to do the same. Notify corporate donors that you will boycott their goods + services. and urge your friends to do the same. Do all of this and other similar actions knowing full well they can and will disappear your finances and maybe you as well with a few keystrokes without leaving a trace of evidence. Or just comply. Or run.
Clearly, as Rep. Omar put it some time ago, in this country, "it's all about the Benjamins, baby."
We do have one avenue of leverage. It's about how we use our Benjamins. I think of the Tesla Takedown protests and the U-turn Disney made after its decision to fire Jimmy Kimmel when subscribers dropped their service like a hot potato.
Will Bunch of the Philadelphia Inquirer just wrote a column about that very thing.
These corporations can't stay in business without customers. Let's take a look at the companies listed in your article, select those whose services are marketed directly to us and stop buying their products.
What you’re describing is one of the only levers regular people actually control...consumer demand. And...there’s fresh proof it works.
Will Bunch’s Inquirer column...lays out a simple PATTERN...when boycotts are sustained and organized...corporations start doing the math and reversing course.
He cites activists pressuring Avelo for months...until the airline ultimately halted its ICE-related business because it “did not deliver enough consistent and predictable revenue” ...to justify the cost and complexity.
He also notes Spotify stopping ICE recruitment ads...after outrage and subscription cancellations...plus artists pulling music. And...he points to Disney/ABC moving fast after the Jimmy Kimmel suspension when streaming cancellation rates reportedly doubled.
So...yes...companies can’t operate without customers.
If we’re going to do this effectively...the key is to be strategic:
*Pick targets that sell directly to the public (subscriptions, hotels, retail, airlines) — because they’re the most sensitive to churn.
*Pick targets with easy substitutes (so people can follow through without wrecking their lives).
*Make it measurable: cancel...switch...and tell them why (email + social + receipts), then repeat weekly.
Bunch names several obvious consumer-facing pressure points (Avelo, Spotify, Disney/Hulu, Target, Hilton). That’s the kind of list where a coordinated “cancel/switch” campaign can actually bite.
So...I’m with you...let’s identify the companies in my piece that market to us...prioritize the ones people can easily replace...and turn “follow the money” into “starve the pipeline.”
Why do we need campaign finance reform? Because big business is buying off our representation. why won't we get campaign finance reform? Because big business is buying off our representation. It is a vicious cycle and we are the victims. Did I miss anything?
You didn’t miss anything, Nancy...that’s the loop.
The only nuance is how the buying works: it’s not just votes...it’s agenda control (what gets a hearing...what dies quietly)...plus a whole “legal” pipeline...Super PACs/dark money...revolving-door jobs...speaking fees...lobby pressure.
And...the real enforcement tool is fear: step out of line and you get a well-funded primary threat and a tidal wave of ads.
So...yeah: Big money buys influence → blocks reform → keeps the system rigged → repeat. And we’re the ones paying for it.
So depressing. I have no words. Except: When the US Supreme Court decided--in Citizens United--that corporations "are people", our system of government and our elections began the death spiral that left us where we are today.
Elizabeth, that reaction makes complete sense...because Citizens United really was an INFLECTION point...not just a bad ruling.
Once the Court equated money with speech and corporations with people...democracy quietly flipped upside down. From that moment on...the loudest “voice” wasn’t a voter...it was a balance sheet. Elections stopped being contests of ideas...and became arms races of CASH.
And...here’s the cruel irony: the decision was sold as “more speech,” but what it actually produced...was speech that drowns everything else OUT.
Ordinary voters didn’t lose their vote overnight...they lost their RELEVANCE.
That’s why everything now feels rigged...performative...exhausting. You’re watching representatives respond rationally...to a system that rewards DONORS infinitely MORE than CITIZENS.
Your despair isn’t apathy. It’s CLARITY.
And...the only reason this still matters...the only reason any of us keep pushing...is because systems that decay this way....CAN be forced to change… but only when ENOUGH people stop pretending this is normal...and start treating it like the structural EMERGENCY it is.
You’re not wrong. And you’re sure as HELL not alone!
And because the corporations hold the purse strings, a repeal of Citizens United isn’t likely to happen any time soon, if at all. So clearly we either need to find a way to work within this messed-up structure to effect change, or we need to find leverage to hijack the structure in some fashion.
I took a break from proofreading the final page designed manuscript for my second book. I felt I had to contribute to what Jack is saying in this newsletter. I have said in the past 11 months that the three priorities for every elected representative or senator, whether national or state, is in this order, One: get re-elected, two: Support or bash the President’s agenda and administration in preparation for the next election and finally, three: support your constituents.
In my opinion the reason we are handcuffed with politicians whose raison-d’etre follows this script is the fault of the voters, not the politicians. The candidate hides behind issues to avoid having to defend their individual integrity, and we as voters don’t even consider integrity when we cast our votes. This is why we end up with an immoral, convicted felon and serial liar as President. There is a fix for this dilemma, have the voters insist on Integrity, as the voters define it, first, and the issues second. The hard part is that issues are sexy and command media attention and integrity does not. Because of this, the voters must drive the shift in emphasis. I’ve written a book on how to accomplish this shift, but this is Jack’s newsletter, not mine.
Jack’s eleven truths scream integrity, and he has hit the nail squarely on the head.
In the second part, Jack states, very correctly, that Congress doesn’t want to admit a problem, because then they have to fix it. This is why it is up to the voters to push the fix. If we don’t, we keep the status quo and all we can do is bitch about the sad state of affairs at our parties, golf foursomes and kids’ basketball games.
I would like to offer a simple summary of Jacks message. If you want to understand why this are as they are politically, “follow the money!”
Steven, you just described the real...ugly operating system of politics...and you’re not wrong about the priority list.
And...I agree with your core diagnosis: voters reward performance and tribal signaling far more than they reward integrity...so politicians optimize for what gets them re-elected.
The “issues” become the costume....the branding...the distraction… while character and honesty get treated like optional extras.
That’s why these “truths” land so hard...they’re an integrity checklist in plain language.
You also nailed the second part....Congress avoids admitting the problem because admission creates obligation. So...yes...the fix has to come from outside the building...not inside it. Sustained pressure is the ONLY thing that changes the incentives.
And your “follow the money” summary...is the cleanest flashlight there is. If people want to understand why something isn’t happening...don’t listen to the speeches...look at who profits from the stalemate.
Appreciate you jumping in (especially while finishing a book manuscript). And I’m with you...keep swinging...because silence is how the status quo survives!
You have no ideas what your response strikes home with those that disagreed or even agree with, how their chances of winning would be? I don't either, but I will never stop fighting!
Don't ever give up.. I won't, even if shouting in the dark!
Not sure what to say. Actually I lived in the DC area for many years and those of us who “lived inside the beltway” were well aware of how things worked. It takes an enormous amount of sustained pressure from voters to get the politicians to do what their voters want. Just a few phone calls from a few of their voters does nothing. A constant barrage from many voters starts to have an impact along with tons of posts on social media.
Linn, you’re 100% right...and I’m glad you said it out loud.
People who haven’t lived inside the Beltway sometimes imagine Congress is a customer service desk: you call...you complain...you get a refund.
It’s not.
It’s a pressure system.
And the only thing that reliably moves it isn’t a “few heartfelt calls.” It’s sustained... organized, visible...multi-channel pressure that creates consequences politicians can’t ignore.
Here’s the key distinction I’d add:
A few calls don’t “do nothing.”
They do almost nothing… in isolation.
But they matter in two specific ways:
They’re the first signal...that something is becoming a problem. Staffers log calls. They do tallies. They report trends. It’s not glamorous...but it’s real.
They’re the seed of a wave...and waves are what change behavior.
What you’re describing is exactly how change actually happens:
The real formula is:
Volume + Duration + Visibility + Coordination
Volume: enough people that staff can’t wave it away as “a few activists.”
Duration: not one day, but weeks.
Visibility: public heat they can’t hide from (local press, social media, town halls).
Coordination: the same message from many people, delivered through multiple channels, on a rhythm.
That’s how you get politicians to do what they don’t want to do.
And here’s the part a lot of people miss:
This isn’t only about “convincing” them.
It’s about making them feel:
“If I don’t move, this becomes a bigger problem than if I do.”
That’s the only language power consistently understands.
So I’d frame it like this for readers:
Don’t think of calling as “casting a vote.”
Think of it as “keeping the pressure gauge pinned.”
The point isn’t one call...it’s the barrage.
If you’re open to it, I’d love to quote you (anonymously) as “a longtime DC-area resident” because this is the kind of grounded truth that cuts through fantasy-land activism.
And...if you want something practical to give people...here’s the simplest version of a “pressure plan” that actually works:
Week 1: Call + email (daily for 5 days)
Week 2: Add social posts tagging offices + local reporters
Week 3: Show up: town hall, district office, public event
For everyone who wants to help make a difference by doing something such as flooding congressional offices with phone calls and letters, I am including Meghan Rothery’s spreadsheet of contact information. It is at the end of this comment.
She suggests calling all senators and representatives, not only our own. In order to get through without being asked your zip code and being turned away if it is not the one being served by the person you are calling, Megan said to call after hours. Then it is possible to leave a message. As Jack and Linn already advised, and as many people on the Robert Reich substack do, keep flooding the lines with polite calls, polite messages in a calm voice, also write to each person in Congress. Most petitions and letters we can edit are sent only to our own people there, but we can contact all of them. Phone calls are probably more noticeable, but our own senators and representative usually respond with a letter or an emailed letter.
Many people write postcards to inform other voters of sites or important information in making a difference. Some people are devoting most of their time to these crucial endeavors.
Other people are being coached on how to help people who come to Leaving MAGA places. More information can be found ionline. When a person has realized the reality of our situation, kind listeners and explainers are needed to accept the person and help give guidance. Other people read the materials so they can mend rifts with people they love who have seen the situations differently.
Here is the site to pull up the spreadsheet created by Meghan Rothery. I hope it will be helpful. There are a lot of us, so using this information, if it is new to anyone, can help us show strength in numbers.
Please feel free to quote me. We use to hear politicians and pundits say “people outside the beltway don't care about what goes on inside the beltway”. We would respond: “ if they knew what was going on inside the beltway they would be out in the streets with pitchforks!”
Pharmaceutical companies keep raking in billions while Americans get sicker. The only "treatments" that are tested are expensive drugs that often have side effects that are worse than the condition they are supposed to treat. Try watching a cable news program and counting how many commercials for prescription drugs they run, then ask yourself why there is never any news on alternatives.
And no, I'm no fan of RFK Jr. He looks and sounds like he's at death's door and is a former (?) heroin user. He doesn't call for studies on alternatives or nutrition, just spew conspiracy theories.
How much do drug companies donate to politicians? Enough to keep them in their pockets.
AD, you’re putting your finger on something most people feel...but rarely articulate clearly.
The pharmaceutical system isn’t optimized for health...it’s optimized for patentable revenue.
That’s why research dollars overwhelmingly chase chronic...lifelong drug dependency instead of prevention...nutrition...lifestyle...or non-proprietary therapies.
You can’t monopolize broccoli...sunlight...or exercise…but....you can monopolize a molecule.
And...you’re right about the media ecosystem. When cable news is saturated with pharma ads...it creates a quiet conflict of interest: you don’t bite the hand that buys half the airtime.
So...alternatives don’t get airtime...not because they’re disproven...but...because they’re UNPROFITABLE. .
Your RFK Jr. clarification matters too. This isn’t about embracing conspiracies or anti-science nonsense. It’s about asking a very basic...pro-science question that somehow became taboo:
Why aren’t we rigorously studying cheaper...lower-risk...non-drug interventions with the same intensity?
And the answer...again, is MONEY.
Pharma doesn’t donate out of generosity...it donates for access...influence...and SILENCE.
Enough to make sure hearings don’t happen...priorities don’t shift...and the system never seriously questions its OWN incentives.
So...when people wonder why Americans are sicker...poorer...and more medicated than ever...the explanation isn’t mysterious.
Follow the money...and notice what never gets funded...studied...or discussed.
You are 100 percent correct Amethyst. I am a former convention planner for Pharmaceutical companies. We set up a room where the reps went to give money that went to lobbyists. As well, I am on a daily cancer pill that I think will kill me before the cancer does. Took me 2 months to convince my Oncologist to lower the dose.
Well, I acknowledge the dilemma we are in and realize it means for me that there is no giving up in this fight here until we are victorious in the reconstruction of a better functioning democracy. I’m sad, mad & glad simultaneously: sad that it’s come to this with the Trump regime; mad because Trump is destroying everything that is American; and glad I am aware of the situation even though it is scary, it motivates me to fight the regime however I can. We will not win if we give in! 🥰❤️👍 #HOLDFAST
Elizabeth, that mix you’re describing...sad...mad...and glad all at once....make me so G'damn HAPPY to see; that is what waking up actually feels like! Anyone who feels only ONE of those....isn’t really seeing the whole picture.
You’re right about the core truth...giving up is the ONLY guaranteed way to lose.
Awareness hurts...but it also strips the regime of its favorite weapon...denial and apathy.
Fear only works on people who THINK they’re alone. You’re...clearly not.
What matters most...is what you said quietly...but powerfully: “there is no giving up.”
That’s the difference between moments in history...that collapse....and moments that rebuild. Democracies don’t survive because they’re comfortable...they survive...because ordinary people decide the line will NOT move any further.
You’re not wrong to be angry. You’re not naive to be hopeful. And...you’re not foolish to fight...you’re doing the most American thing there is....and I have a HUGE grin on my face, because of it!
Hold fast indeed. That’s how reconstruction begins.
So what about impeachment? It also slows the money? So basically it doesn't matter who is in office? We just don't want someone like trump that has no control or conscience? Does it do any good to donate to the cause? This really sucks. I've been told this before but thought the people were disgruntled.
Bernice...yeah...it really DOES suck...and the confusion you’re feeling is rational.
Short answer: impeachment doesn’t slow the money. Donors don’t care who’s in office; they care about ACESS and PROTECTION. When one door closes...they fund the other side. That’s why big money almost always hedges...it’s system-proof.
So...to a point...it doesn’t matter who holds office for the donor class. What does matter ...is whether the person in power...has restraints.
Most politicians are captured...but still bound by norms...fear of exposure...or conscience. Trump is different...because he has no brakes. That’s why he’s uniquely dangerous...NOT because the system is clean without him...but....because he’s willing to torch guardrails to protect himself.
Impeachment still matters... but as a line in the sand...not a cure.
It creates a record...slows him...and signals what behavior is unacceptable. It doesn’t fix the engine.
As for donating: it helps only when it’s targeted...challengers...litigation...watchdogs...ballot measures. It’s mostly wasted when it goes to party machines without pressure attached.
The people you once thought were just disgruntled...weren’t wrong...they were early. What’s changed...is that the CAPTURE.... is now impossible to ignore.
My raw gut reaction is hopelessness, anger. No recourse. After I sit with it all day, maybe that will change. I knew we were being hung out to dry. But fuck.
Toni, I hear you. That reaction makes complete sense.
Hopelessness and anger are rational responses when the last illusions drop. Anyone who feels calm right now...either hasn’t connected the dots yet...or isn’t being honest with themselves.
You’re right...this isn’t a new fear. It’s confirmation. That “we’re being hung out to dry” feeling hurts because it means you weren’t exaggerating. You were paying attention.
One thing I want to name, though...because it matters:
Hopelessness is what hits first, not last.
It’s the nervous system reacting to realizing the guardrails aren’t coming. The brain goes, “So the rules we were told would protect us… won’t.” That lands as anger...grief...and that hollow “fuck.”
But hopelessness...isn’t the end state. It’s a TRANSITION.
What often comes next...AFTER you sit with it...is clarity. Not optimism. Orientation.
You stop asking who will save us...and start asking what actually still works...where leverage still exists.
I won’t pretend there’s an easy fix...or a hero on the way. There is NOT.
But...there is recourse...just not the kind we were taught to expect.
So...sit with it. Let the anger burn off the shock.
Just don’t mistake this moment...for the final verdict.
You’re not wrong. You’re not crazy. And you’re damn sure not alone in seeing it!
#HoldFast
-Jack
P.S. I will write a follow-up to this article...soon.
It's the Beginning of the Last Ditch effort of a Want to be Dictator‼️ Terrific article, Jack, Thank You, and will reStack ASAP 🙏
Thank you, Karen.
Well FUCK…That’s all I got Jack.. but your article is THE ONLY fucking thing that makes absolute sense right now.. spelled out plain and simple..I wish I could drink but I’m actually allergic to alcohol.. so I’m going to have to do this fully fucking awake and aware.. dammit
Morgan...yeah. I feel that.
Doing this fully awake and aware is the hardest version there is. No question about it.
No numbing...no checking out...no chemical pause button. Just you...the truth...and the weight of it landing all at once. That’s brutal...and it’s also...honest.
I’m really glad you said this part out loud: that the article is the only thing that makes sense right now. You're right. It is...because it's based on reality.
When everything feels like static and bullshit...sense is oxygen. Not hope. Not comfort. Orientation.
You’re not losing your mind. You’re reacting to clarity.
That “well FUCK” moment is what happens when your brain stops trying to negotiate with reality.
No spin. No cope. Just, “Okay. This is what’s actually happening.” That hurts. A lot.
But here’s the quiet truth I want to leave you with tonight:
Being awake like this...painful as it is...is still a form of STRENGTH. Not the loud kind. The kind that doesn’t disappear tomorrow morning.
You don’t have to do anything with this feeling right now. No decisions. No plans. Just stay present. Breathe. Let the surge pass without turning it inward.
You’re not weak for feeling this.
You’re not dramatic.
And you’re sure as shit not alone in it...even if it feels that way if you happen to wake up in the middle of the night...and think about it.
We’re still here.
And for now...that’s enough.
I'll have a follow-up article coming to this one. One that will lift you up a notch. Not one consisting of bullshit...and the scent of lavender and sheets just taken down from a clothesline on a sunny spring day, no. With truth. Clarity...and clear-eyed thinking.
#HoldFast
-Jack
Thanks Jack.. every time I’m watching any news.. it’s always.. OFWN.. Oh Fuck What Now.. (there’s an app for basically divorced parents called Our Family Wizard.. my kids are adults but I have a young stepson.. I’m raising number 15.. since I’ve raised all my 3 older brothers kids.. fuck I’m tired of raising kids..) but the acronym is very useful right now. And to keep my anxiety at bay I’m crocheting sweaters and afghans and trekking in the snow to check on my hens in the yard and gathering fresh eggs ( yes they’re all still laying eggs in winter) I have a mountain of yarn I hide behind so no one sees me when they come to the front door. Let’s face it I’m a hermit until I get one week back home in Hawai’i so I can defrost.. then I go spear fishing or hunting to help feed all my cousins. Thank you my friend for your wise words. It helps. Much Aloha to you.
Morgan I feel exactly the same way as I can not drink either as I have a sensitive liver and I will have to endure this this the same way 😖
Well Teri we’re doing this dry dammit but at least we have each other..
So true!
This is not unexpected by me. As a public education teacher for 41 years, I raged against the machine. The machine- Heritage Foundation. They began in the 80s under Reagan creating educational policy. They did a slow roll out of the new standards for public education while brainwashing the people that public education was a horror show. Slowly, state by state, especially red, they infiltrated their policies to the legislators willing. They introduced the bills. The education system was corrupted. You can tell the states most affected by the policy, they are red states and most schools rank in the bottom of the nation. Their decline directly attributed to the Heritage Demolition Foundation.
Indiana bit the poisoned apple in the mid 2000s and increased yearly. I would go to our capital to rage against them and be met with, "They want me to vote for this." Even after I explained the consequences. The power of the purse outweighs what actually is best for humanity. Greed speaks. Democracy dies.
Jo, what you’re describing isn’t theory...it’s witness.
Forty-one years in public education...means you saw the long game before most people had words for it: the slow rollout...the laundering of policy through “reform,” the deliberate effort to break public trust in schools while legislators were fed pre-written bills.
The Heritage Foundation didn’t argue...they engineered.
That line...“They want me to vote for this”...says everything. That’s not representation. That’s DEPENDENCY.
You’re right about the power of the purse. Once money replaces judgment...outcomes stop mattering. Harm becomes acceptable. Democracy doesn’t collapse all at once...it gets hollowed out...quietly...until it no longer functions.
What matters is that you didn’t stay silent. You showed up. You warned them. You named the consequences...BEFORE they were obvious. That doesn’t erase the damage...but it MATTERS.
You’re not late to this realization.
You’re early, Jo...and tired from being right for a very long time!
#HoldFast
-Jack
#HoldFast
Excellent, horrifying explanation. We have been so naive to believe some of those in Congress would actually come round and support the Constitution. Now, the question begs, what do we do now that we have been empowered by this insightful information?
Sara Goodnick, THAT...is the right question...and it means the article did what it was supposed to do.
The first stage was clarity. That’s the horrifying part.
The second stage is agency...and it looks VERY different than we were taught.
Not waiting for Congress to “come around.” Not hoping institutions suddenly rediscover courage.
What this information empowers us to do is stop misplacing effort.
Real leverage now lives:
*Locally...where pressure is harder to ignore
*Publicly...where silence becomes costly
*Collectively...where isolation stops working
*Narratively...where naming the system breaks its spell
This isn’t about one heroic action. It’s about sustained...visible resistance that makes inaction uncomfortable...and complicity obvious...especially at state and local levels where the machinery actually touches people.
We don’t have the luxury of naïveté anymore. But...we do have something better: clarity about where power ISN'T...which finally lets us focus on where it still is.
That does NOT make this easy.
But...it does make it POSSIBLE.
#HoldFast
-Jack
My thoughts exactly.
I wish I was a crier but I’m not. Yet, after reading this, I just want to cry.
Mary, you do that. I'm a proud crier. It's one of the best forms of stress relief known. In fact, is virtually every traumatic injury I've ever treated...within 5 minutes of the persons care being taken over by someone else, I've found a place to go...and sob. It's always been a form of psychological discharge that kept me in a better place than I would have been otherwise.
#HoldFast
-Jack
Citizens United 👹 HaHa
I forwarded this to Sen. Jeff Merkley who, along with Ron Wyden, I've had great respect for in spite of knowing how dirty the whole theater is. What you've said here has such a strong ring of truth, strong as a sonic weapon. I suggest everyone do the same with their congress people. It will be interesting to see their responses. #holdfast
Buck...that matters...MORE than people realize.
Not because one email magically changes Congress...but...because it forces contact with reality. It removes the excuse of ignorance. It puts clear language...plainly stated consequences...and moral weight directly in their inbox.
That’s not theater...that’s accountability...EVEN if the response is silence.
You’re right to name Merkley and Wyden the way you did...respected...despite knowing how compromised the broader system is. Holding that tension...clarity without naïveté...is exactly what “hold fast” actually means.
And...I agree with you: people should send this to their representatives. Not as a plea. As a MARKER. A record that says we saw this...we understood it...and we didn’t pretend we didn’t know.
Will the responses be revealing? Absolutely. Sometimes what comes back matters. Sometimes...what doesn’t comes back...matters even more.
That’s how pressure starts...not with illusion...but with VISIBILITY.
#HoldFast
-Jack
Well here finally is the response from Merkeley: https://www.merkley.senate.gov/connect/ring-the-alarm-bells-the-ten-rules-of-trumps-authoritarian-playbook/
I haven't read it yet. I don't know how to get this in front of your other readers or the see responses they've gotten. I'm especially interested in responses from Republicans.
Those are my senators also. My question after reading this piece is Hold tight to what? If we can't get Congress to give a shit and it takes a very long time to change the system, then it sounds like we are screwed. I want to believe we can get out of this mess but every day is darker and the machine that governs us effectively wants us dead. Is there really any effective way for us to work to stop things from turning into Nazi Germany 2.0 (further than it has already?) besides moving abroad for those who can afford to do so?
This...is the hardest question...and I'm damn glad you asked it.
When people say “hold tight,” (or, perhaps you were also referring to HoldFast) they often mean "wait."
That’s not what I mean. Waiting for Congress to suddenly give a shit isn’t a plan...and hoping the system fixes itself...just isn’t realistic.
You’re right to push back on that.
What we’re holding tight to isn’t Congress. It’s orientation and agency...because once those are gone...the machine wins by default.
You’re right about the darkness. Systems sliding toward authoritarianism feel EXACTLY like this from the inside: exhausting...dehumanizing...relentless...and designed to make people believe resistance is pointless...and escape is the only rational move.
History matters here...not as comfort...but...as INSTRUCTION.
These systems don’t reverse because federal institutions grow a conscience. They’re constrained...when power becomes costly at local and state levels...when narratives break containment...when people stay visible and connected instead...of isolated... and when pressure is applied OUTSIDE Congress, courts...states...labor...media... civic networks.
That’s not fast. It’s not clean. And...there are no guarantees. But...it is absolutely how backsliding has been slowed and resisted before.
Leaving the country can be a valid personal choice for safety or sanity...but it’s not the only meaningful response...and staying isn’t surrender.
The people who matter in moments like this...are often the ones who remain engaged...AFTER the illusion of protection is gone.
You’re not crazy. You’re not exaggerating. And you’re not alone.
No one can promise outcomes...but...there are ways to slow...expose...and resist this trajectory. And they start...with refusing to hand your clarity...connection...and agency...over to despair.
-Jack
Share this post with every legislator you can think of, and with everyone you know with a request for them to do the same. Notify corporate donors that you will boycott their goods + services. and urge your friends to do the same. Do all of this and other similar actions knowing full well they can and will disappear your finances and maybe you as well with a few keystrokes without leaving a trace of evidence. Or just comply. Or run.
Clearly, as Rep. Omar put it some time ago, in this country, "it's all about the Benjamins, baby."
We do have one avenue of leverage. It's about how we use our Benjamins. I think of the Tesla Takedown protests and the U-turn Disney made after its decision to fire Jimmy Kimmel when subscribers dropped their service like a hot potato.
Will Bunch of the Philadelphia Inquirer just wrote a column about that very thing.
https://share.inquirer.com/dhtdsA
These corporations can't stay in business without customers. Let's take a look at the companies listed in your article, select those whose services are marketed directly to us and stop buying their products.
Exactly, Ellen. “Benjamins” cuts both ways.
What you’re describing is one of the only levers regular people actually control...consumer demand. And...there’s fresh proof it works.
Will Bunch’s Inquirer column...lays out a simple PATTERN...when boycotts are sustained and organized...corporations start doing the math and reversing course.
He cites activists pressuring Avelo for months...until the airline ultimately halted its ICE-related business because it “did not deliver enough consistent and predictable revenue” ...to justify the cost and complexity.
He also notes Spotify stopping ICE recruitment ads...after outrage and subscription cancellations...plus artists pulling music. And...he points to Disney/ABC moving fast after the Jimmy Kimmel suspension when streaming cancellation rates reportedly doubled.
So...yes...companies can’t operate without customers.
If we’re going to do this effectively...the key is to be strategic:
*Pick targets that sell directly to the public (subscriptions, hotels, retail, airlines) — because they’re the most sensitive to churn.
*Pick targets with easy substitutes (so people can follow through without wrecking their lives).
*Make it measurable: cancel...switch...and tell them why (email + social + receipts), then repeat weekly.
Bunch names several obvious consumer-facing pressure points (Avelo, Spotify, Disney/Hulu, Target, Hilton). That’s the kind of list where a coordinated “cancel/switch” campaign can actually bite.
So...I’m with you...let’s identify the companies in my piece that market to us...prioritize the ones people can easily replace...and turn “follow the money” into “starve the pipeline.”
-Jack
👍👍🥰❤️
Why do we need campaign finance reform? Because big business is buying off our representation. why won't we get campaign finance reform? Because big business is buying off our representation. It is a vicious cycle and we are the victims. Did I miss anything?
You didn’t miss anything, Nancy...that’s the loop.
The only nuance is how the buying works: it’s not just votes...it’s agenda control (what gets a hearing...what dies quietly)...plus a whole “legal” pipeline...Super PACs/dark money...revolving-door jobs...speaking fees...lobby pressure.
And...the real enforcement tool is fear: step out of line and you get a well-funded primary threat and a tidal wave of ads.
So...yeah: Big money buys influence → blocks reform → keeps the system rigged → repeat. And we’re the ones paying for it.
-Jack
So depressing. I have no words. Except: When the US Supreme Court decided--in Citizens United--that corporations "are people", our system of government and our elections began the death spiral that left us where we are today.
Elizabeth, that reaction makes complete sense...because Citizens United really was an INFLECTION point...not just a bad ruling.
Once the Court equated money with speech and corporations with people...democracy quietly flipped upside down. From that moment on...the loudest “voice” wasn’t a voter...it was a balance sheet. Elections stopped being contests of ideas...and became arms races of CASH.
And...here’s the cruel irony: the decision was sold as “more speech,” but what it actually produced...was speech that drowns everything else OUT.
Ordinary voters didn’t lose their vote overnight...they lost their RELEVANCE.
That’s why everything now feels rigged...performative...exhausting. You’re watching representatives respond rationally...to a system that rewards DONORS infinitely MORE than CITIZENS.
Your despair isn’t apathy. It’s CLARITY.
And...the only reason this still matters...the only reason any of us keep pushing...is because systems that decay this way....CAN be forced to change… but only when ENOUGH people stop pretending this is normal...and start treating it like the structural EMERGENCY it is.
You’re not wrong. And you’re sure as HELL not alone!
-Jack
And because the corporations hold the purse strings, a repeal of Citizens United isn’t likely to happen any time soon, if at all. So clearly we either need to find a way to work within this messed-up structure to effect change, or we need to find leverage to hijack the structure in some fashion.
I took a break from proofreading the final page designed manuscript for my second book. I felt I had to contribute to what Jack is saying in this newsletter. I have said in the past 11 months that the three priorities for every elected representative or senator, whether national or state, is in this order, One: get re-elected, two: Support or bash the President’s agenda and administration in preparation for the next election and finally, three: support your constituents.
In my opinion the reason we are handcuffed with politicians whose raison-d’etre follows this script is the fault of the voters, not the politicians. The candidate hides behind issues to avoid having to defend their individual integrity, and we as voters don’t even consider integrity when we cast our votes. This is why we end up with an immoral, convicted felon and serial liar as President. There is a fix for this dilemma, have the voters insist on Integrity, as the voters define it, first, and the issues second. The hard part is that issues are sexy and command media attention and integrity does not. Because of this, the voters must drive the shift in emphasis. I’ve written a book on how to accomplish this shift, but this is Jack’s newsletter, not mine.
Jack’s eleven truths scream integrity, and he has hit the nail squarely on the head.
In the second part, Jack states, very correctly, that Congress doesn’t want to admit a problem, because then they have to fix it. This is why it is up to the voters to push the fix. If we don’t, we keep the status quo and all we can do is bitch about the sad state of affairs at our parties, golf foursomes and kids’ basketball games.
I would like to offer a simple summary of Jacks message. If you want to understand why this are as they are politically, “follow the money!”
Keep swing Jack!
Steven, you just described the real...ugly operating system of politics...and you’re not wrong about the priority list.
And...I agree with your core diagnosis: voters reward performance and tribal signaling far more than they reward integrity...so politicians optimize for what gets them re-elected.
The “issues” become the costume....the branding...the distraction… while character and honesty get treated like optional extras.
That’s why these “truths” land so hard...they’re an integrity checklist in plain language.
You also nailed the second part....Congress avoids admitting the problem because admission creates obligation. So...yes...the fix has to come from outside the building...not inside it. Sustained pressure is the ONLY thing that changes the incentives.
And your “follow the money” summary...is the cleanest flashlight there is. If people want to understand why something isn’t happening...don’t listen to the speeches...look at who profits from the stalemate.
Appreciate you jumping in (especially while finishing a book manuscript). And I’m with you...keep swinging...because silence is how the status quo survives!
-Jack
You have no ideas what your response strikes home with those that disagreed or even agree with, how their chances of winning would be? I don't either, but I will never stop fighting!
Don't ever give up.. I won't, even if shouting in the dark!
A fellow fighter!
Not sure what to say. Actually I lived in the DC area for many years and those of us who “lived inside the beltway” were well aware of how things worked. It takes an enormous amount of sustained pressure from voters to get the politicians to do what their voters want. Just a few phone calls from a few of their voters does nothing. A constant barrage from many voters starts to have an impact along with tons of posts on social media.
Linn, you’re 100% right...and I’m glad you said it out loud.
People who haven’t lived inside the Beltway sometimes imagine Congress is a customer service desk: you call...you complain...you get a refund.
It’s not.
It’s a pressure system.
And the only thing that reliably moves it isn’t a “few heartfelt calls.” It’s sustained... organized, visible...multi-channel pressure that creates consequences politicians can’t ignore.
Here’s the key distinction I’d add:
A few calls don’t “do nothing.”
They do almost nothing… in isolation.
But they matter in two specific ways:
They’re the first signal...that something is becoming a problem. Staffers log calls. They do tallies. They report trends. It’s not glamorous...but it’s real.
They’re the seed of a wave...and waves are what change behavior.
What you’re describing is exactly how change actually happens:
The real formula is:
Volume + Duration + Visibility + Coordination
Volume: enough people that staff can’t wave it away as “a few activists.”
Duration: not one day, but weeks.
Visibility: public heat they can’t hide from (local press, social media, town halls).
Coordination: the same message from many people, delivered through multiple channels, on a rhythm.
That’s how you get politicians to do what they don’t want to do.
And here’s the part a lot of people miss:
This isn’t only about “convincing” them.
It’s about making them feel:
“If I don’t move, this becomes a bigger problem than if I do.”
That’s the only language power consistently understands.
So I’d frame it like this for readers:
Don’t think of calling as “casting a vote.”
Think of it as “keeping the pressure gauge pinned.”
The point isn’t one call...it’s the barrage.
If you’re open to it, I’d love to quote you (anonymously) as “a longtime DC-area resident” because this is the kind of grounded truth that cuts through fantasy-land activism.
And...if you want something practical to give people...here’s the simplest version of a “pressure plan” that actually works:
Week 1: Call + email (daily for 5 days)
Week 2: Add social posts tagging offices + local reporters
Week 3: Show up: town hall, district office, public event
Week 4: Repeat ...and bring 3 friends
That’s not “a few phone calls.”
That’s a machine.
And machines move Congress.
-Jack
For everyone who wants to help make a difference by doing something such as flooding congressional offices with phone calls and letters, I am including Meghan Rothery’s spreadsheet of contact information. It is at the end of this comment.
She suggests calling all senators and representatives, not only our own. In order to get through without being asked your zip code and being turned away if it is not the one being served by the person you are calling, Megan said to call after hours. Then it is possible to leave a message. As Jack and Linn already advised, and as many people on the Robert Reich substack do, keep flooding the lines with polite calls, polite messages in a calm voice, also write to each person in Congress. Most petitions and letters we can edit are sent only to our own people there, but we can contact all of them. Phone calls are probably more noticeable, but our own senators and representative usually respond with a letter or an emailed letter.
Many people write postcards to inform other voters of sites or important information in making a difference. Some people are devoting most of their time to these crucial endeavors.
Other people are being coached on how to help people who come to Leaving MAGA places. More information can be found ionline. When a person has realized the reality of our situation, kind listeners and explainers are needed to accept the person and help give guidance. Other people read the materials so they can mend rifts with people they love who have seen the situations differently.
Here is the site to pull up the spreadsheet created by Meghan Rothery. I hope it will be helpful. There are a lot of us, so using this information, if it is new to anyone, can help us show strength in numbers.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/0/d/13lYafj0P-6owAJcH-5_xcpcRvMUZI7rkBPW-Ma9e7hw/htmlview
Please feel free to quote me. We use to hear politicians and pundits say “people outside the beltway don't care about what goes on inside the beltway”. We would respond: “ if they knew what was going on inside the beltway they would be out in the streets with pitchforks!”
Thank you, Linn!
Pharmaceutical companies keep raking in billions while Americans get sicker. The only "treatments" that are tested are expensive drugs that often have side effects that are worse than the condition they are supposed to treat. Try watching a cable news program and counting how many commercials for prescription drugs they run, then ask yourself why there is never any news on alternatives.
And no, I'm no fan of RFK Jr. He looks and sounds like he's at death's door and is a former (?) heroin user. He doesn't call for studies on alternatives or nutrition, just spew conspiracy theories.
How much do drug companies donate to politicians? Enough to keep them in their pockets.
AD, you’re putting your finger on something most people feel...but rarely articulate clearly.
The pharmaceutical system isn’t optimized for health...it’s optimized for patentable revenue.
That’s why research dollars overwhelmingly chase chronic...lifelong drug dependency instead of prevention...nutrition...lifestyle...or non-proprietary therapies.
You can’t monopolize broccoli...sunlight...or exercise…but....you can monopolize a molecule.
And...you’re right about the media ecosystem. When cable news is saturated with pharma ads...it creates a quiet conflict of interest: you don’t bite the hand that buys half the airtime.
So...alternatives don’t get airtime...not because they’re disproven...but...because they’re UNPROFITABLE. .
Your RFK Jr. clarification matters too. This isn’t about embracing conspiracies or anti-science nonsense. It’s about asking a very basic...pro-science question that somehow became taboo:
Why aren’t we rigorously studying cheaper...lower-risk...non-drug interventions with the same intensity?
And the answer...again, is MONEY.
Pharma doesn’t donate out of generosity...it donates for access...influence...and SILENCE.
Enough to make sure hearings don’t happen...priorities don’t shift...and the system never seriously questions its OWN incentives.
So...when people wonder why Americans are sicker...poorer...and more medicated than ever...the explanation isn’t mysterious.
Follow the money...and notice what never gets funded...studied...or discussed.
-Jack
I have a meme someone posted years ago created from a photo from some sort of business meeting. They used a power point or slide presentation.
Screen shot from a CNBC article.
"Goldman Sachs asks in biotech research report: '"Is curing patients a sustainable business model'".
You have your answer.
Sue
You are 100 percent correct Amethyst. I am a former convention planner for Pharmaceutical companies. We set up a room where the reps went to give money that went to lobbyists. As well, I am on a daily cancer pill that I think will kill me before the cancer does. Took me 2 months to convince my Oncologist to lower the dose.
Well, I acknowledge the dilemma we are in and realize it means for me that there is no giving up in this fight here until we are victorious in the reconstruction of a better functioning democracy. I’m sad, mad & glad simultaneously: sad that it’s come to this with the Trump regime; mad because Trump is destroying everything that is American; and glad I am aware of the situation even though it is scary, it motivates me to fight the regime however I can. We will not win if we give in! 🥰❤️👍 #HOLDFAST
Elizabeth, that mix you’re describing...sad...mad...and glad all at once....make me so G'damn HAPPY to see; that is what waking up actually feels like! Anyone who feels only ONE of those....isn’t really seeing the whole picture.
You’re right about the core truth...giving up is the ONLY guaranteed way to lose.
Awareness hurts...but it also strips the regime of its favorite weapon...denial and apathy.
Fear only works on people who THINK they’re alone. You’re...clearly not.
What matters most...is what you said quietly...but powerfully: “there is no giving up.”
That’s the difference between moments in history...that collapse....and moments that rebuild. Democracies don’t survive because they’re comfortable...they survive...because ordinary people decide the line will NOT move any further.
You’re not wrong to be angry. You’re not naive to be hopeful. And...you’re not foolish to fight...you’re doing the most American thing there is....and I have a HUGE grin on my face, because of it!
Hold fast indeed. That’s how reconstruction begins.
-Jack
Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrg 😭😱🤬🤬🤬
I feel you, Alexis. I do.
So what about impeachment? It also slows the money? So basically it doesn't matter who is in office? We just don't want someone like trump that has no control or conscience? Does it do any good to donate to the cause? This really sucks. I've been told this before but thought the people were disgruntled.
Bernice...yeah...it really DOES suck...and the confusion you’re feeling is rational.
Short answer: impeachment doesn’t slow the money. Donors don’t care who’s in office; they care about ACESS and PROTECTION. When one door closes...they fund the other side. That’s why big money almost always hedges...it’s system-proof.
So...to a point...it doesn’t matter who holds office for the donor class. What does matter ...is whether the person in power...has restraints.
Most politicians are captured...but still bound by norms...fear of exposure...or conscience. Trump is different...because he has no brakes. That’s why he’s uniquely dangerous...NOT because the system is clean without him...but....because he’s willing to torch guardrails to protect himself.
Impeachment still matters... but as a line in the sand...not a cure.
It creates a record...slows him...and signals what behavior is unacceptable. It doesn’t fix the engine.
As for donating: it helps only when it’s targeted...challengers...litigation...watchdogs...ballot measures. It’s mostly wasted when it goes to party machines without pressure attached.
The people you once thought were just disgruntled...weren’t wrong...they were early. What’s changed...is that the CAPTURE.... is now impossible to ignore.
-Jack