At this point in my life I’m lucky to wake up every day! If you’ll pardon the expression, I’m never sure whether to shit or go blind from one day to the next!
There are moments I think we might, just MIGHT, get out of this alive. But then. . .
I thought once I wanted to be a journalist but real life intervened. Those were heady days right after the Nixon fiasco. Jimmy Carter became the sacrificial lamb for the burgeoning neo-con alter and I really thought journalism could make a difference. But real life has a way of making itself heard and I never got to try out my chops.
I am thoroughly frightened for the future! I worried for years about the climate crisis my grandchildren were going to have to deal with long after I was mouldering in my grave. Guess what! The joke was on me! The climate crisis is NOW!!! By that very same token I’m really concerned about the country l am leaving them. We raised our kids right - true blue lefties and the grandkids, too. I tried to teach them how to think for themselves and consider the source(s).
I remember a little less than 20 years ago trying to talk a woman off the ledge (figuratively, thank God) who was almost paralyzed with fear and guilt over the environmental crisis her kids were going to have to deal with. I don’t think she believed me when I told her we were going to survive. I think I now know what she was going through. I’m not sure living in the 21st century version of Nazi Germany is less fraught than being smothered in environmental degradation. If Donald Trump is elected it may very well be a twofer!
Civics classes took a hit in the 1970s if not before. I’ve bemoaned that tidbit for years and firmly believe that much of today’s social and political foment can be traced back to that. With no civics or music classes this country is left with tone deaf people who don’t know there are three branches of the federal government much less be able to name them!!!
It would be nice to think it will be settled next week. Now, here in the Portland Metro area there are kooks who are lighting ballot drop boxes creating dumpster fires in real life! We can’t make this shit up! And there won’t be anything settled in the immediate after Election Day.
Great column. It seems that America has been for sale since Kissinger and Nixon decided that we should rebuild China in Americas image and allow any foreign corporation to buy an entire USA industry cripple it then move that industry off shore and the jobs with it, such as mills, cotton and clothing, steel even the auto industry. Newspapers were our national conscience along with TV and radio now they are owned private equity firms who think a conscience is anti profit speak.
Well said. Wasn't an LAT subscriber, but Lalo's post about who would be damaged by cancellations helped me decide to keep my TWP subscription. I too miss The Drawing Board every Saturday and just shake my head at the "balance" that someone thinks a lightweight, a sniper and a toadie bring to the editorial toon e-page. TWP has asked subscribers to fill in polls. When I noticed that it was not possible to say "I go to EDITORIAL CARTOONS first, not editorials," I mentioned it to Michael Cavna. Not sure what he could do with the info. PS: NYT should be hawking paperweights etched with its Sunday Opinion (https://x.com/nytopinion/status/1850643042153230802) PPS: hate going to X.
Well, Hell!
At this point in my life I’m lucky to wake up every day! If you’ll pardon the expression, I’m never sure whether to shit or go blind from one day to the next!
There are moments I think we might, just MIGHT, get out of this alive. But then. . .
I thought once I wanted to be a journalist but real life intervened. Those were heady days right after the Nixon fiasco. Jimmy Carter became the sacrificial lamb for the burgeoning neo-con alter and I really thought journalism could make a difference. But real life has a way of making itself heard and I never got to try out my chops.
I am thoroughly frightened for the future! I worried for years about the climate crisis my grandchildren were going to have to deal with long after I was mouldering in my grave. Guess what! The joke was on me! The climate crisis is NOW!!! By that very same token I’m really concerned about the country l am leaving them. We raised our kids right - true blue lefties and the grandkids, too. I tried to teach them how to think for themselves and consider the source(s).
I remember a little less than 20 years ago trying to talk a woman off the ledge (figuratively, thank God) who was almost paralyzed with fear and guilt over the environmental crisis her kids were going to have to deal with. I don’t think she believed me when I told her we were going to survive. I think I now know what she was going through. I’m not sure living in the 21st century version of Nazi Germany is less fraught than being smothered in environmental degradation. If Donald Trump is elected it may very well be a twofer!
Civics classes took a hit in the 1970s if not before. I’ve bemoaned that tidbit for years and firmly believe that much of today’s social and political foment can be traced back to that. With no civics or music classes this country is left with tone deaf people who don’t know there are three branches of the federal government much less be able to name them!!!
It would be nice to think it will be settled next week. Now, here in the Portland Metro area there are kooks who are lighting ballot drop boxes creating dumpster fires in real life! We can’t make this shit up! And there won’t be anything settled in the immediate after Election Day.
Calgon, take me home!!!
Great column. It seems that America has been for sale since Kissinger and Nixon decided that we should rebuild China in Americas image and allow any foreign corporation to buy an entire USA industry cripple it then move that industry off shore and the jobs with it, such as mills, cotton and clothing, steel even the auto industry. Newspapers were our national conscience along with TV and radio now they are owned private equity firms who think a conscience is anti profit speak.
Well said. Wasn't an LAT subscriber, but Lalo's post about who would be damaged by cancellations helped me decide to keep my TWP subscription. I too miss The Drawing Board every Saturday and just shake my head at the "balance" that someone thinks a lightweight, a sniper and a toadie bring to the editorial toon e-page. TWP has asked subscribers to fill in polls. When I noticed that it was not possible to say "I go to EDITORIAL CARTOONS first, not editorials," I mentioned it to Michael Cavna. Not sure what he could do with the info. PS: NYT should be hawking paperweights etched with its Sunday Opinion (https://x.com/nytopinion/status/1850643042153230802) PPS: hate going to X.