The American oligarchy is back, and it’s out of control
Today the great divide is not between left and right. It’s between democracy and oligarchy.
December 19, 2024 - by Heather Cox Richardson
“Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered,” Paine wrote in that fraught moment, “yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.”
Yesterday i was grateful for an afternoon of manicures, Christmas shopping, tree decorating and movie watching (White Christmas) with Holly.
Today i am looking forward to snow!
Yesterday i was grateful for an afternoon of “me” time, in which i tried a new burger place for lunch (it was good), did some Christmas shopping and read a good book in a coffee shop.
Today i am looking forward to getting my nails done in a Christmassy orange/red.
Yesterday was emotionally challenging in a number of ways. The day resolved well. I was grateful for the opportunity to grow. I was also grateful for the sci-fi reading group Holly and i started attending last night.
Today i am looking forward to pilates class and continuing with holiday prep.
Yesterday i was grateful for the very good evening Hatha yoga class led by Anne.
Today i am looking forward to lunch with Holly after yoga and swimming.
from this morning…
Some of the major disasters of mankind have been produced by the narrowness of men with a good methodology. (Iain McGilchrist, The Matter With Things)
Thinking you know prevents you knowing, since knowing is always a process, not a state, and one that never ends. (Iain McGilchrist, The Matter With Things)
Yesterday i was grateful for Christmas lights getting hung, Christmas cookies getting baked and the boxing of presents and cookies to send to family.
Today i am looking forward to clearing the little bit of snow that fell and furthering the Christmas preparations.
Yesterday i was grateful for watching the Army-Navy football game with my brother and mother, even though the results were disappointing…
Today i am looking forward to more cookies, more decorating, more Christmas movies…
Yesterday i was grateful for my colleagues at the cemetery and the arrival of my new cashmere sweater dress.
Today i am looking forward to baking more Christmas cookies with Holly and maybe trimming the Christmas tree.
Yesterday i was grateful for coffee with Donna and successful local store Christmas shopping for Holly afterwards.
Today i am looking forward to working with my colleagues at the cemetery and my yoga practice this evening.
My new phone case makes it super easy to accidentally make an image. Or is there a ghost in the machine?
A few from this morning…
Yesterday i was grateful for time spent with Holly baking Christmas cookies and listening to Christmas music.
Today i am looking forward to coffee with Donna.
Yesterday I was grateful for the little girl joyously running around the health club.
Today i am looking forward to being cozy in my warm dry home while it rains buckets outside, and, finally?, baking Christmas cookies.
Yesterday i was grateful for my yoga practice with Ann.
Today i am looking forward to the photography salon i co-moderate.
Absolutely love this dress… makes me wish i had a curvaceous womanly body that could show it off to beautiful effect:
From this morning’s walk…
Yesterday i was grateful for Christmas shopping with my wife and good outcomes from my board meeting.
Today i am looking forward to baking Christmas cookies with my wife and watching football with my brother.
This may be an important point to bear in mind in the coming months and years…
This work will only matter if it’s sustained. To sustain it, people have to believe that the myriad small, incremental actions matter. That they matter even when the consequences aren’t immediate or obvious. They must remember that often when you fail at your immediate objective—to block a nominee or a pipeline or to pass a bill—that, even then, you may have changed the whole framework in ways that make broader change more possible. (Rebecca Solnit, Call Them by Their True Names)
Yesterday i was grateful for seeing the movie Wicked at our local independent theater with my wife.
Today i am looking forward to being done with a board meeting that is making me anxious.
Ugh! Took the dogs for their annual checkup. $1200 later, we have reason to believe the dogs are and will stay healthy. My how the price of routine care has escalated! Healthy doggies, priceless!
A few from this morning…
