D. Zinn
Robert ReichIt used to be Democrats versus Republicans, liberals versus conservatives, left versus right.
That is over.
It is now democracy versus authoritarianism.
The 2024 election is fast approaching. Know the stakes.
NanBP
stoicmike@rbreich It is people with some kind of brains versus the completely brain dead.
EyalL@stoicmike @rbreich
you'll find smart people on both sides.
Some are just malicious.
Koray Karatay (MD,Scifi maker)@rbreich Welcome to the club. We are suffering the same 🇹🇷
Daniel Django 
(Akkoma)@rbreich which election is this about? You know there are several in 2024, right?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_elections_in_2024
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_elections_in_2024
Justin Williams
Shouty person@rbreich
The same is true in the UK. Minus the part about knowing when the next election will be.
The same is true in the UK. Minus the part about knowing when the next election will be.
ramshackle@rbreich oligarchy vs fascism. A shit sandwich vs a shotgun blast to the groin.
MikiYou have here replaying the end of SFRY during late 1980s: a shaken, used up and nearly finished secular worldview and system attacked by a variant of Christian fascism that is gradually dissolving institutions, grabbing the power: military, police, executive, monetary. First goes economic determinism, than social concensus than gates of hell open.
And there's nothing you can do about it but to ride into pure unadalturated chaos.
DMBaker@rbreich Absolutely. But...we need to start holding them accountable for their actions. Or nothing will change and there will be a civil war or a break up of the union.
Aaron
Eagle Globe & Flanker
DEMOCRATS vs REPUBLICANS! Let's Compare & Contrast | Christopher Titus | Armageddon Update
Pious Pete@rbreich If we have faith in Technology as a benign monster, the future doesn’t seem so hopeless: capitalism rather than humanism. I love human beings, but I think we need the humility to ask for help.
@rbreich I think that Technology likes information variety, and is therefore unlikely to support the simplifications of human elites.
@piouspete1 @rbreich Why are you capitalizing technology like it's some kind of deity?
@piouspete1 @rbreich Never mind. None of your other posts make sense either. Wondering if I'm talking to ChatGPT now.
Grumble@rbreich Feels more like rich assholes who support fascism versus rich assholes who support plutocracy.
Until we get the money out, and the corrupt politicians and judges out, the 99% are just pawns in a proxy war.
Tom Ritchford@rbreich When was it ever left vs. right?
I'm only 61, but I can't remember a leftist Presidential candidate from either R or D - my whole life US politics has been center-right vs. far-right.
Which candidate believed workers should control the means of production? Which candidate has suggested nationalizing industries? Which candidate has advocated for socialized medical care? Which candidate has been anti-war?
That's MsDustDragons to you
Dirty Hippie@rbreich It honestly feels too late to proselytize for #RankedChoiceVoting, but #RCV is TRULY the one thing that I feel can save American democracy. Without it, this ever growing divide seems like it will never stop growing. https://bit.ly/RCVProCon
Qubit@rbreich tell me about it!!!
greetings from Türkiye😥
greetings from Türkiye😥
@pineywoozle ‘s #3WordNote@rbreich Tell that to the progressives I keep running into who are more concerned about beating Dems than Republicans. Who say there’s no point in voting when both sides are bad. The ones parroting that kind of BS pushed by Bernie surrogates since 2016. “Voting for Biden is like voting for half a bowl of shit” Tell that to Bernie who never pushes back. #farL #USPol
@Pineywoozle @rbreich While you do accurately sum up my opinion of Biden, I can still see the difference between voting for half a bowl of shit and voting for a grenade to go off in my hand. Our system is setup so every choice is between lesser and greater evils instead of good and mediocre, but that doesn't mean our votes don't matter, just that they don't matter the way we'd like them to. I may have to hold my nose, but Biden will get my vote.
@hosford42 @rbreich Sadly the more you talk like that the more you convince fence sitters not to vote. It’s not just “your” vote that matters it’s what your words say to others who’s votes we also need. 84k votes in only 3 states gave us tRump, killed millions & delayed climate action which will kill millions more. Voters who were convinced not to vote because of Comey, Ru propaganda, prog surrogates & a progressive leader who wanted your cash more than the truth. #farL
@Pineywoozle @rbreich You're not going to convince people who don't like Biden to think he's awesome. But you might convince them to vote for him anyway, because it's better than the alternative.
My reasons were enough to convince me to vote anyway. Maybe they'll sway someone else, too.
@hosford42 @rbreich I’m didn’t try to convince you to like him. Just to pay attention to how you express the need to vote. It’s possible to accurately describe the grenade and leave out the rest of it this close to an election and it matters that you make that effort.
@Pineywoozle @rbreich I *only* mention the other part when I feel like people are trying to shove Biden down my throat. When they tell me I have to support him or I'm doing the wrong thing. So maybe we can agree that it's okay to not like him but still think he's the better option, and go back to pointing out how wicked and dangerous the other side is being, minus the same-side guilt trips and accusations?
@hosford42 @rbreich Read the entire thread. What you just said is what I said to begin with. The Progs still advocating not voting or protest voting, are the ones I was asking him to address. You understand the need to vote for a Dem rather than “not vote” or “vote for tRump and hope he speeds the revolution”. A revolution that wouldn’t get off the ground and would just leave us mired in fascism for generations. #farL
@Pineywoozle @rbreich I did read the whole thread. And the fact that we came full circle was intentional. You said "...the more you talk like that the more you convince fence sitters not to vote," after I said I didn't like Biden but would still vote for him. I do indeed understand the need to vote for a Dem instead of not voting, despite not liking him, which was my point when I entered the conversation to start with.
@hosford42 @rbreich I understand what you’re point was, but the conversation you entered was about people who right now are talking about not voting. Those people still need to be addressed. It’s not shaming anybody it’s not doing anything bad it’s just letting them know how important this election is & that not voting simply isn’t an option. This isn’t an election about the choice between Dems & Republicans it’s about the choice between Democracy & fascism. #farL
tim danenberger
Rick@rbreich And, everyone has a stake in keeping our democracy, teachers and librarians, women, students, the elderly, veterans, the LGBT community, ethnic minorities, EVERYONE, even those bigots who occupy the above groups, but are blinded by their own ignorance.
NotAMorningPerson (Richard)@rbreich Same in UK as in US
Patrick Gillam@rbreich
Reading the replies, I see a lot of “both sides are bad” takes. This seems like a suboptimal response. Instead, it seems to me we (1) reclaim democracy, then we (2) reform democracy so that it doesn’t invite the abuses correctly identified as bad.
My takeaway from Reich’s framing is that (1) we who want democracy must work to preserve it, and (2) we need to show the “moderate,” find-a-middle-ground crowd that goal is misplaced under these circumstances.
Lee@patrickgillam @rbreich The "both sides are bad" takes are misguided at best, and at worst reflect disingenuous messaging designed to undermine democracy.
HomerHarlequinChoose carefully. The gop throws around accusations of "Socialism" or "Communism" hoping people don't understand what those terms really mean.
I think Ambassador Albright's definition of "Fascism" hits pretty close to the mark for today's Republicans:
"What makes a movement Fascist is not ideology but the willingness to do whatever is necessary-including the use of force and trampling on the rights of others-to achieve victory & command obedience." -Madeleine Albright
B.I.L.L. the Alien"Fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again.” - George W. 😆
Sane Thinker@rbreich With #ClimateChange threatening the viability of agriculture and therefore the entire economic system, chaos and the rise of authoritarian government is a real possibility.
Sergio@sergiodomeyko @rbreich It's a good thing to preach. I'd imagine you're learning to can, as well. I have a sun room in my house. I may try growing some produce year round.
@gdeihl @rbreich 100% true. As #climatechange makes large areas of previously habitable land uninhabitable we’re going to see mass migration, which will put enormous pressure on counties that can still sustain human life. Border protection issues are central to the rise of right wing governments everywhere. All other parties need to address this very real issue in articulate ways that give citizens of the respective countries peace of mind.
@VirginiaHolloway @rbreich Yes. Americans are oblivious to the fact we already have our own climate refugees here. The implosion of the western states appears inevitable. I keep coming back to that. California is the 5th biggest economy in the world. Water is life and death, it's that simple. Much of the crisis at the border is from poor farmers in Central America who can no longer depend on growing conditions.
Clif@VirginiaHolloway @gdeihl @rbreich Right wing governments have no better policies to address climate migration than any of the others.
@Clif @VirginiaHolloway @rbreich Right or left, it all comes down to money and power, which is ruining our planet. The right in the US is downright evil, and the left pathetically weak.
RD
Steven Capsuto - Alt. Channels@rbreich It's been "democracy versus authoritarianism" for quite some time now in the US. It's just that the pro-fascist wing of the GOP is now more overt about it.
Toadman628@rbreich Extremism, maybe someday we could describe someone's political beliefs as not pushing the limits like bouncing repeatedly against a wall.
SFborn1940@rbreich Human advancement in technology and social change is threatening to those with limited capacity for appreciation and understanding.
The rule book is the new Bible.
The rule book is the new Bible.
Please. It's authoritarianism versus oligarchy. And the difference between them is razor thin.