17 November 2020

Don’t Give Up Get Busy

[Photo: Stacey Abrams during Georgia gubernatorial campaign (WhileYouWereSleeping) ]

By Rowan Wolf

We are well aware that the Democratic party did not get the resounding support they thought they would regardless of the solid Biden win. Rather than flipping the Senate, many of us hold our breaths to see the outcome of the Georgia runoffs in January. So while the Dems and endless political analysts ruminate on possible explanations and ways forwards, the kudos must go to the grassroots activists of Georgia, particularly Stacey Abrams who deserves laurels as a modern-day suffragette.

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Category: 2020 Campaigns, Activists, Rowan Wolf - UTJ Editor, The Vote | Comments Off on Don’t Give Up Get Busy
11 November 2020

Trump Ousted. The Spirit of Insurgent Democracy Is Rising.

Two dogs fight over bone

[Graphic: Clker-Free-Vector-Images via Pixabay]

By: Henry A. Giroux
Source: Truthout

Editor's Note
We seem to be in a period where some are relieved, some are hopeful, some are angry, some are scared, but there is a growing sense of fearful waiting. On the Trump supporter side, the fear is that Trump actually lost and that the demon Dems are (as my foster sister put it) “coming to take all our stuff”. On the Biden/Dem/Save Us side we see relief turning to concern as Trump not only refuses to acknowledge the outcome of the election, but is removing key administration members and replacing them with those he deems loyal, and Republican Congressional and Senate members reinforce the idea that Trump might still win this election. The last is perhaps the most concerning for it looks like Trump is planning a coup and Republicans seem willing to assist regardless of costs to the democracy or the nation.

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Category: 2020 Campaigns, Capitalism, Covid-19, Henry A. Giroux, Neoliberalism | Comments Off on Trump Ousted. The Spirit of Insurgent Democracy Is Rising.
4 November 2020

What’s the Plan If Trump Tries to Steal the Election? Here’s the Plan

[Photo: All Votes Must Be Counted (Ed Wexler, Cagle Cartoons]

By CommonDreams Staff
Source:  CommonDreams

Editor's Note
As expected, Trump is declaring victory – which he cannot do, it’s all blather. The count proceeds and it will do so regardless of Trump’s proclamations. Up to this point, Trump has done everything possible to block and corrupt the vote. That includes impeding post offices across the country and specifically in Democratic-leaning districts. US District Judge Emmet Sullivan has ordered a sweep of Post Offices to ensure that no ballots are left undelivered.  

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Category: 2020 Campaigns, Guest, Rights, The Vote | Comments Off on What’s the Plan If Trump Tries to Steal the Election? Here’s the Plan
2 November 2020

Without Illusions, the Left Should Vote for Biden

[Graphic: Tasnim News Agency, ]

By Paul Jay
Source:  theAnalysis

Editor's Note
Tomorrow is the last opportunity to vote in the 2020 elections. It is my hope that those on the left who historically don’t vote will reconsider your stand, and those who would vote for Trump would also reconsider. This is not a situation of the “duopoly” where we are dealing with two craven parties captured by capitalism. Why? Paul Jay speaks to this at length in the following article, but I wish to add my voice. Regardless of all ideology, the person who is President of the United States holds immense power. Bottom line, Trump is pathologically ill, incapable of handling the responsibilities of the office, and a danger to the entire planet.

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Category: 2020 Campaigns, Guest, Ideology, Rights, Social (In)Justice, The Vote, Trump, White Nationalism | Comments Off on Without Illusions, the Left Should Vote for Biden
26 October 2020

Why America must not reelect this demagogue: That’s what Trump is, and it matters

Trump demagogue [Photo: Fear everything but me. (Darrin Bell, 2016).]

By Eli Merritt
Source:  NY Daily News, Reprinted with author’s permission

Editor's Note
We are running closer and closer to the 2020 election finish line, and while tens of millions have already voted, there are many millions more who have not. Regardless of the outcome, the people of the United States (and many other places who have shifted to authoritarian and demagogic leaders) have some hard questions to ask ourselves. At the top of the list is what is driving the popularity of demagogues and authoritarian leaders in democratic nations?

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Category: 2020 Campaigns, Guest, History and Patterns, Trump | Comments Off on Why America must not reelect this demagogue: That’s what Trump is, and it matters