Thank you for calling out the word compassion aloud, and for recognizing that bootstraps indicate you have boots. Some of our best people are currently shoeless. And it breaks my heart.
It seems to me that we fail to teach our children the fundamentals such as compassion. We never think that we will have needs and therefore don't need bv to be compassionate to those who do. I am saddened by people who can't put themselves in the shoes of another or walk barefoot if one has no shoes.
That was a big part of my own upbringing, as raggedy as that upbringing was. You look out for others, especially those who can't do so themselves. That sounds more haughty than I mean.
It doesn't sound haughty. I find the more issues I have, the more compassion I am able to show. I too grew up in the do into others as you would have them do unto you era.
Of course Joe (from West BY GOD Virginia) won't read this nor will he read Heather Cox Richardson's profound essay of 10/28 where she delineates the events of 10/28/1929 and goes on to give a great history lesson (not that history matters to the ignorant loud mouths surrounding us).....Joey who represents a state ranked low in education and income is more interested in protecting billionaires and their special interests than his impoverished constituents!
Manchin and Sinema are bought and paid for by the oil & gas industry and the pharmaceutical industry, respectively. They don't work for their constituents and they sure as hell don't work for the national interest.
As Tom Nichols explained to Heather Cox Richardson the other night, as long as it hurts the people they hate, they're okay if it hurts them, too. White Americans will turn against any social program that also aids their Black and Brown neighbors and those coastal elites. [Yes, yes, NOT ALL.] Nixon knew it. Reagan knew it. The Former Guy knew it.
A desperately poor farmer prays to God for help. God gives the family a milk cow to help them feed themselves and make some money. Their neighbor becomes enraged and curses God for giving the cow to the family next door. God asks the neighbor if they would like a cow as well. The neighbor responds “No I don’t want a cow. I want you to kill theirs”.
The life-sucking truth about far too many people is that they only feel better if they know other people feel worse. The popularity of “reality” television is one example of that. It’s mostly about watching other people’s debasement and humiliation, a fundamental dynamic of the MAGA cult.
Imagine that? If a compassion index was part of the evaluation and decision process? It really is the missing piece when you consider the point of gathering together to form communities & governments is to collectively do better.
I think leaving out paid family leave, especially, is horrendous! I've had mixed feelings about free Community College - mostly because I think kids should have more free options than just that. It seems too limiting. Though I haven't looked deeply into how that would play out.
On all of it, why aren't we hearing more about expected results of these programs? How will these investments translate to a better and stronger society? Messaging to the public seems focused on cost and catchy labels. How do we imagine a better way and support it across political parties without more clarity? We shortcut to supporting teams (political parties).
How I wish that talking about policies and investments along with their costs, costs along with policies and investments, and the whole expenditure portfolio was the expected norm, rather than having the simplistic drumbeats of win-ism so often call the marching rhythms of devolution.
Choice of planning time horizon is a moral and economic choice, and short-termism has been enshrined in stock market thinking.
Government has the potential to use a long and ethically superior time horizon, toward investing in tangible and intangible, material and human infrastructure, and used to do so. But golly gee let's not repair the roof or pay for education because it costs money and not spending the money is Sort and Thrifty has overtaken US politics. :(
Great column and comments today. Most Democrats have so much compassion that they will lay back and let others walk over them rather than fight. Fighting is seen as rebellious and not the thing to do. Getting rid of the filibuster is one example. We do have a backbone but it is not seen as being strong enough to fight. The Republicans and these two fake Democrats are great at self preservation and fighting for their own self interests.
Sadly, preventive measures are never seen as being beneficial by the majority of Congress.
Thank you for calling out the word compassion aloud, and for recognizing that bootstraps indicate you have boots. Some of our best people are currently shoeless. And it breaks my heart.
It seems to me that we fail to teach our children the fundamentals such as compassion. We never think that we will have needs and therefore don't need bv to be compassionate to those who do. I am saddened by people who can't put themselves in the shoes of another or walk barefoot if one has no shoes.
That was a big part of my own upbringing, as raggedy as that upbringing was. You look out for others, especially those who can't do so themselves. That sounds more haughty than I mean.
It doesn't sound haughty. I find the more issues I have, the more compassion I am able to show. I too grew up in the do into others as you would have them do unto you era.
Today's post by historian Heather Cox Richardson shares this perspective as well
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=426256112202960&id=100044557238708
I’d say great minds etc. but she is in a whole other stratosphere. Thank you for the link.
Of course Joe (from West BY GOD Virginia) won't read this nor will he read Heather Cox Richardson's profound essay of 10/28 where she delineates the events of 10/28/1929 and goes on to give a great history lesson (not that history matters to the ignorant loud mouths surrounding us).....Joey who represents a state ranked low in education and income is more interested in protecting billionaires and their special interests than his impoverished constituents!
Manchin and Sinema are bought and paid for by the oil & gas industry and the pharmaceutical industry, respectively. They don't work for their constituents and they sure as hell don't work for the national interest.
They don’t. And to your previous comment, their constituents are OK with this?
As Tom Nichols explained to Heather Cox Richardson the other night, as long as it hurts the people they hate, they're okay if it hurts them, too. White Americans will turn against any social program that also aids their Black and Brown neighbors and those coastal elites. [Yes, yes, NOT ALL.] Nixon knew it. Reagan knew it. The Former Guy knew it.
If you missed it, the interview is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cwO22omKhI. It's a very worthwhile hour-and-a-half.
I’ve posted this before but it seems timely.
A desperately poor farmer prays to God for help. God gives the family a milk cow to help them feed themselves and make some money. Their neighbor becomes enraged and curses God for giving the cow to the family next door. God asks the neighbor if they would like a cow as well. The neighbor responds “No I don’t want a cow. I want you to kill theirs”.
The life-sucking truth about far too many people is that they only feel better if they know other people feel worse. The popularity of “reality” television is one example of that. It’s mostly about watching other people’s debasement and humiliation, a fundamental dynamic of the MAGA cult.
Oh wow. Just wow.
Yep.
Here again I will recommend "Deer Hunting With Jesus," by Joe Bageant.
Imagine that? If a compassion index was part of the evaluation and decision process? It really is the missing piece when you consider the point of gathering together to form communities & governments is to collectively do better.
I think leaving out paid family leave, especially, is horrendous! I've had mixed feelings about free Community College - mostly because I think kids should have more free options than just that. It seems too limiting. Though I haven't looked deeply into how that would play out.
On all of it, why aren't we hearing more about expected results of these programs? How will these investments translate to a better and stronger society? Messaging to the public seems focused on cost and catchy labels. How do we imagine a better way and support it across political parties without more clarity? We shortcut to supporting teams (political parties).
A compassion index. Perfect.
How I wish that talking about policies and investments along with their costs, costs along with policies and investments, and the whole expenditure portfolio was the expected norm, rather than having the simplistic drumbeats of win-ism so often call the marching rhythms of devolution.
We also don't tend to look at long-term anything. It's all based on the next quarter's earnings -- or so it seems.
So true!!!
Choice of planning time horizon is a moral and economic choice, and short-termism has been enshrined in stock market thinking.
Government has the potential to use a long and ethically superior time horizon, toward investing in tangible and intangible, material and human infrastructure, and used to do so. But golly gee let's not repair the roof or pay for education because it costs money and not spending the money is Sort and Thrifty has overtaken US politics. :(
And by the time the shit hits the fan, maybe we'll all be dead and gone and not affected by our earlier lack of planning.
Because we have so thriftily not encumbered our descendants with monetary debt. *noble look*
Great column and comments today. Most Democrats have so much compassion that they will lay back and let others walk over them rather than fight. Fighting is seen as rebellious and not the thing to do. Getting rid of the filibuster is one example. We do have a backbone but it is not seen as being strong enough to fight. The Republicans and these two fake Democrats are great at self preservation and fighting for their own self interests.
Sadly, preventive measures are never seen as being beneficial by the majority of Congress.