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The Arts matter for balance! The individuals who have been most successful have some training and a solid appreciation of the Arts in general. Experiences in the Arts bring a balance to the Cognitive Dissonance of the modern political world. The Arts have helped to "predict" the coming changes to various nations and political orders. So they may be serving as precursors to action, and certainly to thought about the things that matter. The expressions from various artistic experiences also serve to broaden understanding between those performing and those experiencing the book, play, or performance. These experiences challenge us to move outside ourselves while internalizing the messages! Just my .02

Haha, but don’t forget to bit them harder.

I don't know about dogs being "blissfully ignorant." I don't know about dogs being happier -- happier than who? Cats? Hamsters? Goldfish? Weight-watchers? Lewis Black? I'd ask God, but He'd probably give me a biased answer. Because, God spelled backwards is, you know . . . What I do know is that I much prefer the company of dogs -- domesticated dogs (pet dogs) -- than I prefer the company of people, especially Conservatives. Dogs give their "masters" unconditional love, faithful loyalty and devotion, and unquestioning obedience. Hmmm. Now that I think of it, Conservatives behave the same way. Score one for ScorchedEarthBagel! A more fascinating, empirical question is . . . Can dogs be Liberal or Conservative? Democrat or Republican?

Gotta get the corporate Dems out of the leadership, they’re just controlled opposition, they both take money from MIC, Corporations, and Israel.

To Mac's point about combatting climate change during our affordability crisis... My understanding about what can be expected of us citizens is and should be tied to what is reasonably possible and therein lies a dilemma; who decides what is reasonable if not the person making the decision? I want an electric car. I drive a gas car. I have no guilt. I do have concerns. I will switch if and when I can by my own reconing. That may not be possible before I expire. That may be possible before I expire. I do not want to be forced to not drive to save the planet when a US regime change can nullify and largly walk back WAY PAST everything I've done within my power to move the climate change needle in the direction I thnk it should go. I do not take responsibility for doing everything possible at every step I can see where I can make a difference because that view is hubris. I am a committed believer in combatting climate change. I am not in conflict with my dicisions on this issue so far.

Where does the meaning of "ignorance is bliss" fit into this narrative?

Confessions of an Economic Hitman is a first person account of what happens before a millitary intervention becomes necessary. His story points out actual events the author was involved in as a point man with leaders of other countries where it was the author's job to avert millitary action through bribery, coercion or coup. The flip side of the coin to Smedley Butler's accounts and rare like Smedley himself. Small paperback size.

Actually macpsysto I have not been regularly visiting here, however that may change. I'm not a regular on any social media, but do inhabit my local Nextdoor village private Progressives group. Because of a "feature" in that site's algorithm someone's reply to a post automatically included others from outside the group to participate inside the group. Apparently if someone's text includes the name of a legitimate business that Nextdoor recognized, a link to that business is automatically created and anyone else who at some point linked the business in the past is notified of the business "mention" and becomes automatically added to the private group. Trolling began from that point. I believe it's actually a Nextdoor bug, not a feature intended to add to private groups. I started thinking about finding another online place to host that progressive group and remembered this site. My read on this poll was centered on "invite". My take being that a concerted effort could be made, but has not happened. My no vote was in the popular "Normally yes, but..." catagory, however I really should have voted the first option of invitation only. I have noticed that the roster here isn't large and perhaps I read too much into that and assumed some effort was being contemplated to increase participation. Namely invite the right.

i'm very sorry that there's reason to create this thread for the next war that the American people do not want.

Gavin Newsom is more of a fighter than you might think he is, BD. He has done more than just troll Trum p. He proposed and pushed Proposition 50 (California's countermeasure to Republicans' gerrymandering in Texas) to victory in California, for one thing. Newsom is not my first choice as a presidential candidate (I don't have a first choice right now). He's too much of a corporate Dem and not progressive enough for my taste. He's trying to "rebrand" himself as a moderate Democrat. He's opposed to a proposed, one-time five percent tax on California billionaires. Given a Hobson's choice between only Gavin and JD Vance, I'd back Newsom. Given a more preferable choice between Newsom and a Working Families candidate vs. a GOP candidate, he wouldn't get my vote.

"Truth is": Because more people act like you, America is mired in the nightmare that it is currently in. "Truth is": If no one thought like you, who knows what America would look like? I don't know and you definitely don't know. What we do know is that neither of us is happy about and satisfied with America 2026 ... and that we have very different ideas about the remedial course of action to take. I want action that is radical, bold, STRONG -- Revolutionary! You? "You've got no Brooklyn in you whatsoever." I don't have the time or the patience for "incremental progress." You don't have the stomach ("fire in the belly") for revolution. For me (and, I'll wager, many other discontented Americans) incremental progress (baby steps) is a too mild, too timid (too chicken-hearted) strategy to combat and overthrow the criminal, fascist tyrants and myrmidons currently in command. Too many Americans are being ignored, bullied, conned, cheated, robbed, exploited, starved, jailed, killed for them to be tolerant and passively and resignedly rely on the courts and elections for "justice" and deliverance from their suffering and oppression. If you can't or won't join the revolution -- stand aside, sit down, be quiet, and stay out of the way. For Americans to deserve better, they must want better. And they must not just want better. They must FIGHT for better. Liberation and justice doesn't happen by sharing Facebook posts and consulting an AI "superior intelligence." More effort is required. Last night on MS NOW, Gavin Newsom stated that the majority of Americans whom he's met told him that they want a candidate who is a fighter. They want "someone who's going to stand up and have their back . . . I'm not in any crowds that are looking for timidity," he told host Jen Psaki. A fighter: that is certainly who I want.

Well said. Third parties can win, despite the opposition of the major parties and the corporate media, but only if the majority of eligible voters are willing to trust each other enough, research the third parties, instead of just accepting the propaganda and conventional wisdom, etc., of those self-serving groups. There is nothing in the law or election rules to prevent tens of millions of Americans electing third party candidates from winning fed elections. So I agree, that the majority of voters, who stay locked within the duopoly, get the fed govt. they deserve. I long ago got fed up with both major parties at the fed level, once they both had become sold out to corporate donors beginning in the early 90s. Since then, I have only voted for major party candidates in fed elections as a lesser evil, after voting for my real hopes and candidates that might actually represent me, in primaries. But most voters won't even bother to get informed and participate in primaries, so they only vote in general elections, after all the major party candidates are already pre-selected by the corporate donor class, not the voters.. If you stay within just voting for the major parties in general elections, you will be limited to only voting on culture war issues and identity politics, since those are the only things the major parties really differ on much these days. Those things do matter, but economic issues, foreign policy, war, civil liberties, and climate change also matter, even more than culture war stuff.

I agree. Dissing the progressives didn't cause them to vote for THE LYIN' KING, but it did tamp down enthusiasm for Kamala. When, if ever, will the Dem Party's leadership decide to run candidates and support policies that actually inspire voters to want to vote for them, or actually earn their votes, instead of just continually running on the premise of voting for the lesser evil, or simply running on how bad the other party is? As Dylan said so many years ago, ironicly, The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind....

Gaza, and parading around with Liz Cheney and not listening to the Left/Progressive flank of her base.

ATTENTION, CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS!For the past couple of weeks Californians have been bombarded with mailers and text messages to sign a petition for the "Improving Transparency, Effectiveness, and Efficiency in California Government Act of 2026." What that mouthful means is "Follow the money!" California billionaires (the backers of the act and funders of the mailer and texting campaign) are opposed to a ballot initiative that proposes a one-time 5% tax on billionaires' assets. Carpet-bombing The Golden State, billionaires -- led by Google co-founder Sergey Brin and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt -- are trying to sucker the proletariat into unwittingly negating the proposed ballot initiative should it pass. Don't fall for the fat cats' flim-flam, Californians!California One-Time Wealth Tax for State-Funded Healthcare, Education, and Food Assistance Programs Initiative (2026) Billionaire Mailers Target California Tax Proposal Poison-pill Effort to Cancel Proposed Billionaire Tax Hits Voters’ Mailboxes

All great songs, and so eclectic. As usual, mac, your taste is impeccable... And the Cocker song is the first one of his I ever heard that didn't have him rasping all the way thru it, showing he could actually sing with a clear tone in his voice..

They Had Voices Then Delta Lady by Joe Cocker Gasoline Alley by Rod Stewart Satellite of Love by Lou Reed The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me) by Tom Waits

Replying to both mac and V.3, I agree with all that's been said. Call me a cynic or a pessimist, but I knew even before THE LYIN' KING came on the scene, that many people were assholes, in essence, as far as bigotry, sadism, bullies, etc.., so I wasn't that surprised that he got elected twice and has been so popular with so many. Which is why I have always not liked most people, just my friends, and mostly just tried to tolerate and shun all the assholes that are out there. They will always be there, and few if any of them, will ever change and become truly nice, generous, and honest caring people. So don't have illusions that our country is going to drastically change, even after THE LYIN' KING is gone. All that will happen, is that his followers will slink back into the shadows, retaining all their prejudices, grievances, etc., and quietly wait for the next chance to grab power thru another demagogue. And after seeing how successful THE LYIN' KING was doing that, have no doubt there will be another Repub candidate that will come along, hopefully after I'm dead, that will mine the same veins as THE LYIN' KING did in the population...

Mr. Jochum nailed it. Donal d Trum p is merely a germ in the disease called the USA (which is part of the greater malady called Mankind). There is no remedy for the sickness, no arresting of the contagion. All of the malignancies listed by Jochum (racism, misogyny, stupidity, unfettered capitalism, predation, etc.) are in the country's DNA and on file in America's case history. The patient is incurable -- terminal. But, no worries, no fears: America is one nation under God. And as we all know, God blesses America, thank God. Supplemental Reading and ListeningTruth Social Dressed Up With Studio Lighting

a salient reason why the Lyin' King garnered as many votes as he did: https://www.facebook.com/USdems

I think that dog, like many dogs, was a better judge of character than a lot of humans are...

A woman I used to date had an ex-husband that she shared custody of a dog with (don't ask, it was complicated, lol...), and the dog would bite him sometimes. She used to joke how the dog should bite him harder...

This forum is for topics concerning gender roles and gender politics. What Does It Take to Be a "Good Woman"?The March 2, 2026 broadcast of Forum focused on Good Woman: A Reckoning, a collection of essays by attorney Savala Nolan who is the executive director of Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice at UC Berkeley. During her interview by Forum host Alexis Madrigal, Nolan discusses what it takes to be a "good woman." Among the topics in Nolan's book is an essay that asks, "Why don't more women pay for sex?" Yes, I know. Women do pay for sex, just not in a way that requires a checkbook, credit card, or ATM withdrawal . . . and not in the same way that men pay for sex (which is not always and strictly monetarily). Everybody pays for sex one way or another. Fortunately, Mommy's and Daddy's "bills" can be written off as tax deductions. Suggested listening that is stimulus for the ears. Suggested reading that is food for thought and nourishment for the mind.

My all-time fav cult film...

I agree with both of those, and election reform should include Ranked Choice voting, which would eliminate the two party stranglehold, but the major parties would never allow it..

Seeker: "O great and wise Grok, how can humanity prevent Artificial Intelligence from taking over? How can I protect and save myself from AI?" GROK: "Get off my ass and stop with the nudnik questions, for one thing." Seeker: "Ummm, okay. But two more questions: Will AI accelerate global warming and destroy planet Earth? If yes, how can the planet be saved?" GROK: "That's for me to know and you to find out. Your move, Grasshopper . . . And my name is pronounced GROK, not Grok! When you say my name, put some respect on it!" Seeker: "Okay, okay! (sotto voce) Jeez. Touch-ee!" GROK: "I heard that!"

Wrong! I don't vote for third parties to "thumb [my] nose at the system." I vote for third parties because I believe in and support their charters and platforms. I want the America that they want. Have you read the platforms of the Green Party and the Working Families Party, V.3? If you have, what in them do you find objectionable? If you haven't . . . For Your Cognizance and EdificationGreen Party Platform The Peoples Charter 2025-2027 Platform of the Young Democrats of America Working Families Party Bets on 2026 as the Right Time for a Third US Party After a Wave of Wins

indeed, if conservatives are "happier" than liberals an explanation could include them being pack animals who find comfort having clearly defined leaders and political and religious groups who do the thinking for them. Their tight knit circles of friends and family and news bubbles are reassuring. To empathize with all of humanity and life on earth can weigh heavily on the mind. but the liberal upside i'll take any day of the week is the "Psychological richness of a life filled with new, varied, and stimulating experiences"

My thought on the less ignorant or not ignorant cons is that they are not concerned with the cognitive dissonance because they are only using their talking points to lead the larger mass of ignorant MAGA anyway. They are not searchng for any kind of truth other than "what do I get out of it?" That is their only truth, so I suspect it's considered the required work to aquire and maintain control of a large voting block that goes their way. I think they even get off on it, viewing everyone that they either control or push aside if they can't control them to be the hapless cucks, unable to ignore or avoid their power. Pam Blondie for instance.

Another facet I would add to your remark BD, is that since the advent of the A-bomb there has been a belief in our country that "nuking" is always the final answer to any nation that doesn't adopt the ways of the US. It was used as a rationale for the earlier illegal bombing of Iran. Now the rationale is "saving" Iranians with Democracy as it is openly being destroyed here at home. Have you read Confessions of an Economic Hitman?

I found this group using a targeted search that lead to Liberal Hearts which lead here. I am assuming we have a mausoleum currently because there is a lack of active promoting this site outside of a jump from the old LH. Maybe I'm wrong. I'm hoping V.3 isn't excited at the prospect of making a FB-lite.

The reason I voted "Ordinarily yes, but..." is because I too believe in general there needs to be dialoug with people having opposing ideas where it can happen and inclusivity is a hallmark of liberal thinking. In this case these are genral concepts being applied to a specific instance. To me at least, I find it less than desirable to dialoug with the internet at every social app to which I may subscribe. More sheltered places for progressive minded people are not so easy to find these days. For V.3. Perhaps a way to address growing this site's participation is to create a sister site for "anyone can join" and firewall it off from this "progressives only" site (don't advertise about here on the "anyone" site). Certain topics that are felt to benefit from participation of members from both sites can be advertised on the progressive only site in a specific page with links to the other site's topic. Progressives get to have dual citizenship if they want it, but it doesn't automatically bring the other site's members here. See if any progressives bite. If you try making it all work in one place you'll get FB-lite.

Don't sell yourself short, BD. I stand in awe of your astute, well articulated rebuttals in this debate, in particular, and elsewhere.

I like the way you think here on this, Rob, and even more how well you said it.. I have zero desire to engage with right wingers or MAGA on this site... I used to spar with them on reddit, until I got banned from there, and that was enough to last me a lifetime...

"Portrait of three men who have entirely too much time on their hands . . ." Because I have even less time and less patience for engaging in futile debates that have no resolution* than I have for "incremental progress," I'm bowing out of this circus. * And with a participant who seems to be a schizophrenic . . . "[Democrats] once again playing it like politics business as usual" (Democrats are conventional ) ". . . but I'd never consider a Green Party candidate in the current 2-Party System." (But keep supporting them . . .) . . . who also has zero self-awareness . . . ". . . if we can't elect the lesser of 2 evils in a 2-party system we will never be in a position to change [the voting system]" (so let's just keep on doing what we've been doing . . . which is, umm, "you know the definition of insanity. repeating the same behaviors and expecting a different outcome").

No worries, Rob. According to your profile, you joined newBluePlanet last December. If you've been regularly visiting nBP, you know that not only have almost z-e-r-o conservative-MAGA-Republicans* participated in nBP forums . . . Damned few liberal-Progressive-Democrats participate either! Thank you for your lending your voice and making some noise 'round this mausoleum!

My thoughts exactly. I voted no. Even following BobDylan's example, how would you expect to invite ex-MAGA and not MAGA? As soon as MAGA hardcores find out that is happening on a blue site I expect to find some putting on sheep's clothing to get in and start hunting for cucks. There are sooooooo many places to engage the right in the current political climate so IMHO adding one more place won't even move the needle. Nothing is stopping anyone from engaging the right in so many venues of life should they choose to do so. Their vitreol is so pervasive, loud and focussed in the general media it's shutting down other points of view from being taken seriously. Please go there if you think you can make a difference. If they are invited here, I too will leave.

What he wrote. 💯

Don't blame the Nader voters for W. becoming president. He was appointed by the SC, after they stopped the election recount in FL, and that is well known, that Gore would have won if the recount had continued. So there... I'm so tired of the vote shaming of third party voters and the continued myth-spreading about the 2000 election and Nader being blamed for W.'s appointment by the SC... Way past time for Dem Party supporters and loyalists to give up that 💩, and admit the corruption and faults within their party...

I agree with you completely about Newsom being a corporate centrist Dem, who will always favor the rich and corporations over the masses, and of course I would vote for him over Vance, or any Repub prez candidate. I was aware of his support of Prop 50, but that is mere partisanship, not a position with our side in the class war. Even tho it's so clear that this country needs democratic socialism to solve our structural problems and restore our middle class, as well as get the working class to stop being drawn to fascism, you can always bet your ass that the Dem Party's leaders will never allow that to happen, no matter what most voters may want or most Dem Party supporters would want..

I don't blame you. Everything on the net is permanent, and out of your control once it's posted..

Thank you for the invitation, V.3, which I will respectfully decline. When the World Wide Web was new and I was younger and cavalier, I did share my artwork in cyberspace. Then one day -- years later -- I discovered at least one chap had some of my art on his site . . . sans credit, sans permission. Tant pis. Lesson learned.

Agreed, I think we need more promotion, on a regular basis, of the new members introducing themselves, as well as encouraging more long-tenured members to introduce themselves, if they haven't done so yet..

True mac, I forgot sports, which for most Americans, are the opiate of the masses, along with religion. Sports are a religion for some. It does unify them, in a tribal fashion, same as religion, and distracts them from the class war..

Not quite! You're leaving out sports . . . which is touted as unifying people. I'm not a sports fan -- and that applies to The Olympics, which "everybody" watches -- so I don't buy that propaganda.

Summed up nicely by V.3 in Captain's Log. The elections next November will be critical, assuming they will be held. Hopefully, they will allow us to stop the blood letting.

Happy to receive unbiased news from sources that have not been bought.