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Boris Feigin's avatar

I've actually only recently watched Joker and I was struck by how it actually exactly predicted these kinds of events.

I agree, I don't know how the rich in the US think that you can just keep pushing people down and they will just take it. They eventually won't and it's now showing...:)

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BARRY GANDER's avatar

I agree - there will be a huge turn-around.

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HulitC's avatar

Bernie Sanders ran on this one issue & has been talking about it forever (He’s not perfect, but in my book he's a hero.)

Nick Hanauer created a podcast YEARS ago (since 2014?) called Pitchfork Economics for exactly this reason.

https://nickhanauer.com/about/

More & more I read people using the “Let them eat cake” line referring to the French Revolution. (I’ve even seen earrings shaped like guillotines.)

People are still too afraid of getting hurt (or losing their jobs), but at the same time we’ve also grown up on the “First they came for the …” stories.

Another book “The Fourth Turning is Here” also predicted big change is coming.

I’m looking forward to your take on that book “The Next Civil War”

Thanks Barry for another terrific post.

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BARRY GANDER's avatar

Thank you very much for your thoughts. I have subscribed to Nick Hanauer's site, and have downloaded the "Fourth Turning Is Here" book for my next review! Thanks for the advice!!

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Stephen McPherson's avatar

The answer to America's violence problem is actually very simple and not expensive: better education. Violence, anger, rage etc. are all emotions that are very easy to express. Controlling the expression of those emotions takes education. Education is the corner stone of a kinder gentler society, the kind of empathetic society that most western nations enjoy. I've travelled extensively in the USA. I've even attended classes at West Point and the US Air Force Academy. Education in the USA is very poor. Fixing it will take generations. Stop rejoicing in your ignorance America.

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BARRY GANDER's avatar

That would in fact be the ultimate weapon! And no one would vote for Trump then, either!

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That old Scottish git.'s avatar

Question :

Is it really such a huge problem if there is a movement killing rich CEO's who abuse and harm people? (Other than for them.)

The CEO's have a simple solution readily available to them ... stop doing it. Either quit the job or stop using the business to harm people.

Both seem perfectly good ethical options that don't harm the CEO's.

Obviously it's not a good thing if people feel they have no recourse to justice except murder, and yet society can solve that by giving people justice.

So again not a huge problem. Unless you insist on the right to abuse and harm others.

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BARRY GANDER's avatar

I'm totally with you. Easy solution: pay more taxes.

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Marinara's avatar

Yes

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Gloria J. Maloney's avatar

"The problem today is that if intolerant white people begin to fear that democracy will lead to more equality, they abandon democracy." Well said.

For a time, I thought the U.S. was past racism. But what other explanation is there for the support for Trump? I feel for the security guard who died, but it is harder for me to have empathy for those killed who participate in exploiting people who merely need a place to live. I feel for their children, but I also feel for homeless children and those who are without healthcare.

I recently saw a podcast about Peter Finch and an algorithm that identifies and reduces risk in the market, which is widely used by the wealthy and generates significant revenue. We recently watched "The Big Short" again, and I am reading the 2013 book, "Austerity." We're about to see a rerun of the 2007-2008 crash. Since then, the risk is assumed by the taxpayers, and they know it. It will get to the point where there is nothing left for the oligarchs to take as we return to feudalism with Lords and serfs.

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BARRY GANDER's avatar

Bang on! Because that is also the path to a new America.

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billy mccarthy's avatar

america needs to grab a hold of itself, then have a good hard chat with itself, if not its future is bleak

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