I'm so sick of gerrymandering. Here's an idea - how about politicians actually win people over with good policy ideas? When did American citizens and politicians become so utterly jaded and entrenched in our ways that the only thing that matters is the D or R behind their name? We've not had a functioning democracy for a long time now. Ugh.
Laissez-faire capitalism entrenches the practice that if you can take it legally, damn the ethics and damn the social and economic and environmental consequences for others, the government WILL defend your ‘taking’ and deception and extraction of value from the rest of us.
And the kicker: it will also allow you to write those laws that permit the ‘taking’ of more power, using power already ‘taken’.
Since 1965, with the stepwise erosion of 90% tax on extreme income (that once upon a time, 1945-1964, gave US the largest and most prosperous middle class in the world), and the ‘legal’ stepwise transfer of the effective vote from the citizenry to the corporate dollar, we the people have been wholly disenfranchised.
It is impossible to have both billionaires and democracy.
This should have been crystal clear LONG before Musk’s blatant (not to mention, covert!) parade of election manipulations.
If one calls a transfer of power from one group to another a ‘revolution’, there is nothing other than a revolution that can restore American democracy.
Excellent summary and let’s guess….the powerful look after the powerful……something is very wrong and very Laissez- faire when the top 1% own 30 % of the wealth. I watch the Gilded age and the righteousness of the barons, without any regard for fair play is reminiscent of Trump and his powerful billionaire friends.
I have to hand it to Republicans. They have planned for this type of country for years and it started with Saint Reagan and the Tea party and they have succeeded. They believed in small government, reduced immigration and constitutional originalism. They saw Trump as the perfect empty headed vessel for their plans. Granted, they have taken it to new levels, overturning Row vs Wade, alternative facts and bullying and threats which right wing Christians have embraced at high numbers. The nod to he billionaires is unprecedented.
Could some of the 11 that have stayed leave and that number return to show they haven't abandoned their office, and then keep cycling members back and continue to deny a quorum?
Say the House fails to establish a quorum today and the Governor declares the seats of the missing Democrats (say 51 of the 57) vacant.
The declaration would have to be enforced by the Speaker of the House by noting the Governor's action and making his own declaration that the new number of the whole House is 99 (150 seats minus the 51 vacancies).
The Speaker was elected by a majority of Democratic votes, over the opposition of a majority of Republicans. Any red-hot Republican could then move the speaker be removed and a real Republican elected in his place.
Speaker Dustin Burrows knows how to count. Does he defy the Governor to maintain his leadership post or enforce the Governor's action and lose it?
Abbott like most republicans is a pathetic sycophant threatening democrats, who have a constitutional right to leave
, when they feel as a minority there is grave injustice being planned for the citizens of Texas. . Just like Trump who fired the labor statistician, because the bully did not like the numbers, Abbott threatens to remove them from office. Perhaps as another proclaimed Christian he might seek to examine his conscience. If he was a catholic, he would or should go to CONFESSION. HA
Happy to see the Texas Democrats stand their ground and escape the Lone Star State to stop the hyper-rigged and racist map from taking effect, never mind the fact that the current map is rigged as heck.
ALOHA.... IKAIKA.... G.O.P.(GUADIANS OF PEDOPHILES) THAT'S ALL THEY ARE...DON'T CARE NO MO'.. JUST POWER ... “Fear is the tool of a tyrant, wielded to suppress independent thought. Instead of fear, let this moment fuel the fire that already burns at the heart of this place. A fire of righteous indignation at abuses of power.” KOA... STAND AS OHANA... ONE VOICE LOUD AND PROUD....
The elected Legislative members are shirking their duties, that they were duly elected to do. While they may not agree with the outcome of a special session, it is the governance of democracy that allows all of this. We, as Texans, elect officials to represent us to allow a more convenient legislative policy. We could take every decision to the people; this country or state would never move forward. As they say, "Come and Take It', I guess they forgot "These Colors Don't Run"! If you feel that the policies are not fair, then present a legitimate argument and lobby the people for change. Other words, "Do Your Job"!
"The Texas House Democratic Caucus released a four-word statement in response to Abbott’s letter threatening to remove them from their seats: “Come and take it,” they said."
Wanted to make sure you got this is a Molon Labe reference.
I'm so sick of gerrymandering. Here's an idea - how about politicians actually win people over with good policy ideas? When did American citizens and politicians become so utterly jaded and entrenched in our ways that the only thing that matters is the D or R behind their name? We've not had a functioning democracy for a long time now. Ugh.
Laissez-faire capitalism entrenches the practice that if you can take it legally, damn the ethics and damn the social and economic and environmental consequences for others, the government WILL defend your ‘taking’ and deception and extraction of value from the rest of us.
And the kicker: it will also allow you to write those laws that permit the ‘taking’ of more power, using power already ‘taken’.
Since 1965, with the stepwise erosion of 90% tax on extreme income (that once upon a time, 1945-1964, gave US the largest and most prosperous middle class in the world), and the ‘legal’ stepwise transfer of the effective vote from the citizenry to the corporate dollar, we the people have been wholly disenfranchised.
It is impossible to have both billionaires and democracy.
This should have been crystal clear LONG before Musk’s blatant (not to mention, covert!) parade of election manipulations.
If one calls a transfer of power from one group to another a ‘revolution’, there is nothing other than a revolution that can restore American democracy.
Have another beer?
Or, get off our asses!
Excellent summary and let’s guess….the powerful look after the powerful……something is very wrong and very Laissez- faire when the top 1% own 30 % of the wealth. I watch the Gilded age and the righteousness of the barons, without any regard for fair play is reminiscent of Trump and his powerful billionaire friends.
I have to hand it to Republicans. They have planned for this type of country for years and it started with Saint Reagan and the Tea party and they have succeeded. They believed in small government, reduced immigration and constitutional originalism. They saw Trump as the perfect empty headed vessel for their plans. Granted, they have taken it to new levels, overturning Row vs Wade, alternative facts and bullying and threats which right wing Christians have embraced at high numbers. The nod to he billionaires is unprecedented.
.
.
.
Could some of the 11 that have stayed leave and that number return to show they haven't abandoned their office, and then keep cycling members back and continue to deny a quorum?
This is what fighting for democracy looks like!
Say the House fails to establish a quorum today and the Governor declares the seats of the missing Democrats (say 51 of the 57) vacant.
The declaration would have to be enforced by the Speaker of the House by noting the Governor's action and making his own declaration that the new number of the whole House is 99 (150 seats minus the 51 vacancies).
The Speaker was elected by a majority of Democratic votes, over the opposition of a majority of Republicans. Any red-hot Republican could then move the speaker be removed and a real Republican elected in his place.
Speaker Dustin Burrows knows how to count. Does he defy the Governor to maintain his leadership post or enforce the Governor's action and lose it?
I love Texas.
If Abbott calls a special election, couldn't the current lawmakers run to fill their own seat like the Tennessee representatives did in 2023?
At this point with how awful this second Trump admin has been, Dem have to play dirty too!
Abbott like most republicans is a pathetic sycophant threatening democrats, who have a constitutional right to leave
, when they feel as a minority there is grave injustice being planned for the citizens of Texas. . Just like Trump who fired the labor statistician, because the bully did not like the numbers, Abbott threatens to remove them from office. Perhaps as another proclaimed Christian he might seek to examine his conscience. If he was a catholic, he would or should go to CONFESSION. HA
Happy to see the Texas Democrats stand their ground and escape the Lone Star State to stop the hyper-rigged and racist map from taking effect, never mind the fact that the current map is rigged as heck.
How the heck do we teach civics to k-12 students with this level of gaming the processes?
ALOHA.... IKAIKA.... G.O.P.(GUADIANS OF PEDOPHILES) THAT'S ALL THEY ARE...DON'T CARE NO MO'.. JUST POWER ... “Fear is the tool of a tyrant, wielded to suppress independent thought. Instead of fear, let this moment fuel the fire that already burns at the heart of this place. A fire of righteous indignation at abuses of power.” KOA... STAND AS OHANA... ONE VOICE LOUD AND PROUD....
The elected Legislative members are shirking their duties, that they were duly elected to do. While they may not agree with the outcome of a special session, it is the governance of democracy that allows all of this. We, as Texans, elect officials to represent us to allow a more convenient legislative policy. We could take every decision to the people; this country or state would never move forward. As they say, "Come and Take It', I guess they forgot "These Colors Don't Run"! If you feel that the policies are not fair, then present a legitimate argument and lobby the people for change. Other words, "Do Your Job"!
"The Texas House Democratic Caucus released a four-word statement in response to Abbott’s letter threatening to remove them from their seats: “Come and take it,” they said."
Wanted to make sure you got this is a Molon Labe reference.