Ron DeSantis claimed he wanted to make sure learning about systematic racism was a choice. He actually wants to make sure no one learns about systemic racism at all.
Yes, an excellent article revealing the backstory that so few Americans know about. We need more of this, a lot more.
But we need more. I suspect that many Americans have never read the original words of those who gave us the founding principles and rights that define America and its government. I know I hadn’t - like most people, most of what I learned was second or third hand- text book summaries that often lacked the detail or analysis to shore up the mind of Americans against the level of misinformation and propaganda manipulation taking place in American Politics today. I wasn’t ignorant - as a sociologist I’ve gained a pretty well rounded education in American History. But taking the time to actually read the works of Thomas Jefferson; John Adams; Benjamin Franklin; George Washington; Hamu
(Sorry I hit send too early - or maybe not early enough for those who hate long replies 😉) ....Hamilton, Madison & Jay (The Federalist Papers, or shall I say, the real Federalists..), and so many more, demonstrated that my education Re:the founding of America had greatly deemphasized the radical (per todays conservative definition of the word) these ideas were and are.
And good measure, how about we encourage people to actually read at least all the relevant (re:the American Economy) parts of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations. The core messages in Smith’s theory of the Economy are still very relevant - particularly since he begins with Thomas Jeffersons’s fundamental human rights from the Declaration of Independence as the foundation of an American economy - one that reflects and reproduces the Liberty and Freedom of all People - not just those “new people” (Corporations,) or the majority shareholders.
I know, that sounds like a lot of reading for a nation of people who don’t like to read (John Adams, who argued clearly that Knowledge is Power is no doubt spinning in his grave thanks to this modern shift in attitudes and behavior). So how about just using the index of these books and look up key terms like freedom, Liberty, Arbitrary Abuse of Power, or Party Factions (which you will read in the Federalist Papers, are dangerous as they ultimately lead to tyranny when left to grow and spread between the separate branches of government).
And defiantly, look for discussions of the near disaster of that first decade after the American Revolution, when State Power was emphasized (the Confederacy of States): the colonies had no sooner won their Freedom, when powerful players at the State level immediately began thinking of ways to asserting their power over other states, including some that were considering partnering with other nations to attack the sovereignty of neighboring States. It’s an eye-opener and ominous for those today calling for greater State power (it’s seems to well understood that it is easier for individuals or factions to gain control of States than the Federal a government).
Maybe those of us who don’t mind reading - and maybe have more time and energy to do so (i’m totally understanding that the majority of Americans are as stretched thin as they can be) can share some the key lessons of these writers - anything to show that Republicans claim to American History is not only problematic, but mostly wrong.
Finally, we will never win the current game being played by the likes of DeSantis and far-right “Republicans” and the Federalist Society. Not unless we want become the very thing we feel is wrong and dangerous.
First step is to learn to talk to all people - not just the choir. And that requires a couple of things - one) the fact that most people want to be good and decent people, but they can only perceive and interpret the world around them given their social location or standpoint - where they stand given those structural conditions that Governor DeSantis and others are so determined to make invisible. This requires compassion and understanding.
It’s not the same as justifying problematic behavior or misinformation; rather it’s understanding the why and how people come to believe and act as they do - a set of clues that help us better understand their actually needs and interests that have been caught up in the divisiveness and hate of today’s political scene (we should also reflect on the same for ourselves) and gives us a way to talk to people who might otherwise not hear us or tolerate us.
Second) we could understand that most Americans want the same thing. I’ve spent my career talking to random people wherever I go, and not one have I been attacked or yelled at with partisan anger. Why? Because it’s not too hard to see where their lives are being squeezed, where the stressors are in their lives. All it takes is opening relevant and friendly comment, like “can you believe these prices.” The things you learn is amazing if you are willing to listen and be compassionate (you don’t have to be okay with verbal attacks on others - I simply point out early on that I will fight to protect any human being from any form of attack - whether racism, classism, sexism or something else. It’s both a declaration of my morals and a sign that I’m not there to judge them or anyone else ).
And third) don’t lecture or judge. Neither will get you anywhere (and I tend to lecture so it’s a challenge for me) listening. Understanding. Taking that person and putting them in historical social context and realize that they need the same kind of freedom and liberty as all of us. And they are scared. And it’s other people who are feeding that fear with ugly nasty and violent ideas.
It helps that I’m nonpartisan - from where I stand both parties are bought, paid for and dependent on the wealthiest Americans. Thus, even if we believe the Democrat Party is the “lesser evil” - the fact is they have done little to keep the majority investor class (the 1%s and their friends) from growing so much wealth and power to make any claims about American Democracy being in good shape today ridiculous. These folks have and abuse their massive power everyday and no one is truly free in these conditions.
It also the case that Democrat Party has its own problem with divisiveness, and has failed entirely in even trying to win back voters lost the false promises of Donald Trump - one does not build unity with hate and insults. And none of us are so perfect to claim righteousness while simultaneously reinforcing the faux dichotomies that have used to divide us. It’s not us vs them. Then is actually a very small group of people with a lot of money and thus access to a lot of media time. Opponents can not win that game with tit for tat. But silence is also a problem. (Please not my critique is with the party, not necessary any particular politicians - I try to assess each per own their actions)
I believe (and I have tested this belief in a local campaign that was far more successful than I dared hope for) that the only way to save our nation is to have leaders who care about the people, all the people (not just their career’s or party), and who run for office ti be a public servant, not for gaining personal power or building a career. We need leaders who facilitate the empowerment of the people, working with them to serve the general interests and well-being of us all. Yeah, this very idea likely pisses off the people who own and/or control so much if this county and beyond. But, if I remember correctly, this has happened before.
The American Revolution may have begun as an idea of a few intellectual colonial politicians, but it took the people to believe in those original founding ideas, and the courage to fight for them, that led to the founding of this country.
And hopefully, this time we do better - we don’t allow the majority to be threatened by the self-Interest of a minority few into giving away the rights of every human being in America - that is what Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence, and here is why - if we allow ourselves to exempt any group from those human rights, then it becomes possible for any group to be exempted. These Rights must be absolute and no one should have the ability to abuse their power to deny them. That is what America was supposed to stand for. It has all been written. In their own words.
(I apologize for the length - it’s true - I probably should get my own damn Column, and I plan to - but the truth is, I am so inspired by articles like this one, I feel compelled to respond in the affirmative and, for better or worse, add my own two cents worth to the conversation - it’s gives me hope. Thank you for that)
It’s galling what desatan has done to Florida. It probably didn’t help to have rick scott preceded him either. White wealth(a redundancy, I know)has led florida voters around by the nose for years yet they keep on voting the boogers in. Go figure.
I know, I keep wondering the same thing of Florida voters. There was a study done (can't remember author) that found out more than 25% of Florida voters have a literacy deficiency. That would explain it right there. I live in Florida now and DeSatan is evil. I can't ever imagine him in the white house. Minority groups and women would be so out of luck in the White male dominated Desatan administration. Look at how many black people DeSatan surrounds himself with now....! Not many and don't even count the Quack Doc, Joe Lapado.
Thank you Jason for your eye opening newsletter. It’s a must read. As a 15 year Floridian who despises DeSatan, and his draconian policies and agenda, the last thing is for he and his agenda to go national. Although, all the former confederate states seem to have the same agenda. Deny history and RE-write it in real-time.
DeSatan wants to make America Florida Again. God help us all. He’s turning Florida into an ignorant, dystopian state run by an authoritarian and fascist governor, and an increasing inept and despicable Legislature.
More people need to be educated on his agenda. Personally, I’d like to know who these billionaire puppet masters are. We know some of the organizations like The Federalist Society which has already managed to put four of its members on Florida’s Supreme Court. Then there’s the usual suspect like ALEC. We also know about Mom’s for Liberty who continually wreak havoc on our school systems and librarians.
I want to know which billionaires are funding these fringe and ludicrous programs and bills, so we can put them, protest their businesses. They need to pay for all the damage they are causing.
The Walmart heirs, The Coors family and others. Jason wrote a great piece on Sept 12, 2023 uncovering most of the groups founds DeSatan. READ IT! It's alarming. If you know any parent with school age kids in Florida, tell them to leave. The University system will be a joke in a few years. Florida likes to keep its students within the state, offering reduced tuition for a bad and corrupt education. Don't be fooled! Every Republican House and Senate member in Tallahassee must go. Tell your Friends & Family to vote!!
Can you believe the DeVos family had the balls to ask for 400 million to fix their stadium, The Amway!!!@#@$@. The billionaires want OUR tax dollars to fix THEIR stadium?!!
I know that DelAir has funded him—they are a large HVAC business in the state, one to avoid! Also Westgate resorts/the Siegel family is right wing and notorious for many reasons!
Yes, an excellent article revealing the backstory that so few Americans know about. We need more of this, a lot more.
But we need more. I suspect that many Americans have never read the original words of those who gave us the founding principles and rights that define America and its government. I know I hadn’t - like most people, most of what I learned was second or third hand- text book summaries that often lacked the detail or analysis to shore up the mind of Americans against the level of misinformation and propaganda manipulation taking place in American Politics today. I wasn’t ignorant - as a sociologist I’ve gained a pretty well rounded education in American History. But taking the time to actually read the works of Thomas Jefferson; John Adams; Benjamin Franklin; George Washington; Hamu
(Sorry I hit send too early - or maybe not early enough for those who hate long replies 😉) ....Hamilton, Madison & Jay (The Federalist Papers, or shall I say, the real Federalists..), and so many more, demonstrated that my education Re:the founding of America had greatly deemphasized the radical (per todays conservative definition of the word) these ideas were and are.
And good measure, how about we encourage people to actually read at least all the relevant (re:the American Economy) parts of Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations. The core messages in Smith’s theory of the Economy are still very relevant - particularly since he begins with Thomas Jeffersons’s fundamental human rights from the Declaration of Independence as the foundation of an American economy - one that reflects and reproduces the Liberty and Freedom of all People - not just those “new people” (Corporations,) or the majority shareholders.
I know, that sounds like a lot of reading for a nation of people who don’t like to read (John Adams, who argued clearly that Knowledge is Power is no doubt spinning in his grave thanks to this modern shift in attitudes and behavior). So how about just using the index of these books and look up key terms like freedom, Liberty, Arbitrary Abuse of Power, or Party Factions (which you will read in the Federalist Papers, are dangerous as they ultimately lead to tyranny when left to grow and spread between the separate branches of government).
And defiantly, look for discussions of the near disaster of that first decade after the American Revolution, when State Power was emphasized (the Confederacy of States): the colonies had no sooner won their Freedom, when powerful players at the State level immediately began thinking of ways to asserting their power over other states, including some that were considering partnering with other nations to attack the sovereignty of neighboring States. It’s an eye-opener and ominous for those today calling for greater State power (it’s seems to well understood that it is easier for individuals or factions to gain control of States than the Federal a government).
Maybe those of us who don’t mind reading - and maybe have more time and energy to do so (i’m totally understanding that the majority of Americans are as stretched thin as they can be) can share some the key lessons of these writers - anything to show that Republicans claim to American History is not only problematic, but mostly wrong.
Finally, we will never win the current game being played by the likes of DeSantis and far-right “Republicans” and the Federalist Society. Not unless we want become the very thing we feel is wrong and dangerous.
First step is to learn to talk to all people - not just the choir. And that requires a couple of things - one) the fact that most people want to be good and decent people, but they can only perceive and interpret the world around them given their social location or standpoint - where they stand given those structural conditions that Governor DeSantis and others are so determined to make invisible. This requires compassion and understanding.
It’s not the same as justifying problematic behavior or misinformation; rather it’s understanding the why and how people come to believe and act as they do - a set of clues that help us better understand their actually needs and interests that have been caught up in the divisiveness and hate of today’s political scene (we should also reflect on the same for ourselves) and gives us a way to talk to people who might otherwise not hear us or tolerate us.
Second) we could understand that most Americans want the same thing. I’ve spent my career talking to random people wherever I go, and not one have I been attacked or yelled at with partisan anger. Why? Because it’s not too hard to see where their lives are being squeezed, where the stressors are in their lives. All it takes is opening relevant and friendly comment, like “can you believe these prices.” The things you learn is amazing if you are willing to listen and be compassionate (you don’t have to be okay with verbal attacks on others - I simply point out early on that I will fight to protect any human being from any form of attack - whether racism, classism, sexism or something else. It’s both a declaration of my morals and a sign that I’m not there to judge them or anyone else ).
And third) don’t lecture or judge. Neither will get you anywhere (and I tend to lecture so it’s a challenge for me) listening. Understanding. Taking that person and putting them in historical social context and realize that they need the same kind of freedom and liberty as all of us. And they are scared. And it’s other people who are feeding that fear with ugly nasty and violent ideas.
It helps that I’m nonpartisan - from where I stand both parties are bought, paid for and dependent on the wealthiest Americans. Thus, even if we believe the Democrat Party is the “lesser evil” - the fact is they have done little to keep the majority investor class (the 1%s and their friends) from growing so much wealth and power to make any claims about American Democracy being in good shape today ridiculous. These folks have and abuse their massive power everyday and no one is truly free in these conditions.
It also the case that Democrat Party has its own problem with divisiveness, and has failed entirely in even trying to win back voters lost the false promises of Donald Trump - one does not build unity with hate and insults. And none of us are so perfect to claim righteousness while simultaneously reinforcing the faux dichotomies that have used to divide us. It’s not us vs them. Then is actually a very small group of people with a lot of money and thus access to a lot of media time. Opponents can not win that game with tit for tat. But silence is also a problem. (Please not my critique is with the party, not necessary any particular politicians - I try to assess each per own their actions)
I believe (and I have tested this belief in a local campaign that was far more successful than I dared hope for) that the only way to save our nation is to have leaders who care about the people, all the people (not just their career’s or party), and who run for office ti be a public servant, not for gaining personal power or building a career. We need leaders who facilitate the empowerment of the people, working with them to serve the general interests and well-being of us all. Yeah, this very idea likely pisses off the people who own and/or control so much if this county and beyond. But, if I remember correctly, this has happened before.
The American Revolution may have begun as an idea of a few intellectual colonial politicians, but it took the people to believe in those original founding ideas, and the courage to fight for them, that led to the founding of this country.
And hopefully, this time we do better - we don’t allow the majority to be threatened by the self-Interest of a minority few into giving away the rights of every human being in America - that is what Jefferson wrote in the Declaration of Independence, and here is why - if we allow ourselves to exempt any group from those human rights, then it becomes possible for any group to be exempted. These Rights must be absolute and no one should have the ability to abuse their power to deny them. That is what America was supposed to stand for. It has all been written. In their own words.
(I apologize for the length - it’s true - I probably should get my own damn Column, and I plan to - but the truth is, I am so inspired by articles like this one, I feel compelled to respond in the affirmative and, for better or worse, add my own two cents worth to the conversation - it’s gives me hope. Thank you for that)
It’s galling what desatan has done to Florida. It probably didn’t help to have rick scott preceded him either. White wealth(a redundancy, I know)has led florida voters around by the nose for years yet they keep on voting the boogers in. Go figure.
I know, I keep wondering the same thing of Florida voters. There was a study done (can't remember author) that found out more than 25% of Florida voters have a literacy deficiency. That would explain it right there. I live in Florida now and DeSatan is evil. I can't ever imagine him in the white house. Minority groups and women would be so out of luck in the White male dominated Desatan administration. Look at how many black people DeSatan surrounds himself with now....! Not many and don't even count the Quack Doc, Joe Lapado.
Hate is a powerful drug.
Out them, not out them..:)
Thank you Jason for your eye opening newsletter. It’s a must read. As a 15 year Floridian who despises DeSatan, and his draconian policies and agenda, the last thing is for he and his agenda to go national. Although, all the former confederate states seem to have the same agenda. Deny history and RE-write it in real-time.
DeSatan wants to make America Florida Again. God help us all. He’s turning Florida into an ignorant, dystopian state run by an authoritarian and fascist governor, and an increasing inept and despicable Legislature.
More people need to be educated on his agenda. Personally, I’d like to know who these billionaire puppet masters are. We know some of the organizations like The Federalist Society which has already managed to put four of its members on Florida’s Supreme Court. Then there’s the usual suspect like ALEC. We also know about Mom’s for Liberty who continually wreak havoc on our school systems and librarians.
I want to know which billionaires are funding these fringe and ludicrous programs and bills, so we can put them, protest their businesses. They need to pay for all the damage they are causing.
Thanks again, great newsletter...:)
The Walmart heirs, The Coors family and others. Jason wrote a great piece on Sept 12, 2023 uncovering most of the groups founds DeSatan. READ IT! It's alarming. If you know any parent with school age kids in Florida, tell them to leave. The University system will be a joke in a few years. Florida likes to keep its students within the state, offering reduced tuition for a bad and corrupt education. Don't be fooled! Every Republican House and Senate member in Tallahassee must go. Tell your Friends & Family to vote!!
Koch Industries. The Federalist Society. The Davos family. An heir to the Public fortune...
Can you believe the DeVos family had the balls to ask for 400 million to fix their stadium, The Amway!!!@#@$@. The billionaires want OUR tax dollars to fix THEIR stadium?!!
Yep, I believe it. Wealthy people are notoriously stingy with their money unless they're spending it on themselves.
I know that DelAir has funded him—they are a large HVAC business in the state, one to avoid! Also Westgate resorts/the Siegel family is right wing and notorious for many reasons!
Thank you and keep them coming. I’m trying to research online. We need to follow the money to stop these whack jobs from destroying democracy.