tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82272702024-03-19T01:46:59.090-07:00Access News ServiceIndependent media Service Affiliate of the Access Institute of Research Media ProjectAccess News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.comBlogger2865125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-80994737922350690302024-03-10T23:12:00.001-07:002024-03-10T23:12:41.100-07:00ANS -- Biden’s Electrifying State of the Union, Why it Matters, Plus: Fascism vs Modernity<div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><font size="3">Here is umair haque's reaction to Biden's State of the Union speech last Thursday. It is full of hope. the comments on the site are a civilized and detailed discussion. </font></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><font size="3">Find it here: </font><a href="https://www.theissue.io/bidens-electrifying-state-of-the-union-why-it-matters-plus-fascism-vs-modernity/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="enhancr_card_0902988835">Biden's Electrifying State of the Union, Why it Matters, Plus: Fascism vs Modernity</a></div><div><br></div><div id="ydpf39e3358enhancr_card_0902988835" class="ydpf39e3358yahoo-link-enhancr-card ydpf39e3358ymail-preserve-class ydpf39e3358ymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" data-url="https://www.theissue.io/bidens-electrifying-state-of-the-union-why-it-matters-plus-fascism-vs-modernity/" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://www.theissue.io/bidens-electrifying-state-of-the-union-why-it-matters-plus-fascism-vs-modernity/" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydpf39e3358yahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydpf39e3358card-wrapper ydpf39e3358yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydpf39e3358card ydpf39e3358yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td class="ydpf39e3358card-primary-image-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/nxw1X6r7s3oaznqn1PI.Hw--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://www.theissue.io/content/images/2024/03/asldkjfdkdkd.jpeg.cf.jpg" bgcolor="#000000" valign="top" height="175" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; position: relative; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;"><v:fill type="frame" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/nxw1X6r7s3oaznqn1PI.Hw--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://www.theissue.io/content/images/2024/03/asldkjfdkdkd.jpeg.cf.jpg"/></v:rect><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydpf39e3358card-overlay-container-table ydpf39e3358yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td class="ydpf39e3358card-overlay-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png" bgcolor="transparent" valign="top" style="background-color: transparent; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:-18px;left:0;"><v:fill type="pattern" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png"/><v:textbox inset="0,0,20px,0"><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydpf39e3358yahoo-ignore-table" height="175" style="width: 100%; min-height: 175px;"><tbody><tr><td class="ydpf39e3358card-richInfo2" style="text-align:left;padding:15px 0 0 15px;vertical-align:top"></td><td class="ydpf39e3358card-actions" style="text-align:right;padding:15px 15px 0 0;vertical-align:top"><div class="ydpf39e3358card-share-container"></div></td></tr></tbody></table><!--[if gte mso 9]></v:textbox></v:rect><![endif]--></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><table border="0" align="center" class="ydpf39e3358card-info ydpf39e3358yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydpf39e3358card-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(29, 34, 40); max-width: 314px;">Biden's Electrifying State of the Union, Why it Matters, Plus: Fascism v...</h2><p class="ydpf39e3358card-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 158, 168);">I'm Umair Haque, and this is The Issue: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported publication. Our job i...</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><font size="3">--Kim</font></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><font size="3"><br></font></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><font size="3"><br></font></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><div class="ydp5d0bc90esingle-meta" style="font-weight: 700; text-transform: uppercase;"><font size="3"><span class="ydp5d0bc90esingle-meta-item ydp5d0bc90esingle-meta-date">MAR 9, 2024 </span><span class="ydp5d0bc90esingle-meta-item ydp5d0bc90esingle-meta-length"> 8 MIN READ</span></font></div><h1 class="ydp5d0bc90esingle-title" style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.2;"><font size="5">Biden's Electrifying State of the Union, Why it Matters, Plus: Fascism vs Modernity</font></h1><img src="https://www.theissue.io/content/images/size/w960/2024/03/asldkjfdkdkd.jpeg" alt="Biden's Electrifying State of the Union, Why it Matters, Plus: Fascism vs Modernity" style="display: block; max-width: 100%; width: 1175px;" class=""><div class="ydp5d0bc90esingle-content ydp5d0bc90egh-content ydp5d0bc90egh-canvas" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Mulish, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><p style="margin: 0px;"><em><font size="3">I'm Umair Haque, and this is The Issue: an independent, nonpartisan, subscriber-supported publication. Our job is to give you the freshest, deepest, no-holds-barred insight about the issues that matter most.</font></em></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3"><strong>New here? </strong><a href="https://www.theissue.io/#/portal/signup" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="enhancr_card_1091545483"><strong>Get the Issue </strong></a><strong>in your inbox daily.</strong></font></p><div><br></div><div id="ydp5d37a479enhancr_card_1091545483" class="ydp5d37a479yahoo-link-enhancr-card ydp5d37a479ymail-preserve-class ydp5d37a479ymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" data-url="https://www.theissue.io/#/portal/signup" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://www.theissue.io/#/portal/signup" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydp5d37a479yahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydp5d37a479card-wrapper ydp5d37a479yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydp5d37a479card ydp5d37a479yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp5d37a479card-primary-image-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/MHqOaqFieYS4iNlmm3nqbw--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://www.theissue.io/content/images/2023/08/Untitled-design-68-2.png.cf.jpg" bgcolor="#000000" valign="top" height="175" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; position: relative; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;"><v:fill type="frame" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/MHqOaqFieYS4iNlmm3nqbw--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://www.theissue.io/content/images/2023/08/Untitled-design-68-2.png.cf.jpg"/></v:rect><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydp5d37a479card-overlay-container-table ydp5d37a479yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp5d37a479card-overlay-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png" bgcolor="transparent" valign="top" style="background-color: transparent; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:-18px;left:0;"><v:fill type="pattern" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png"/><v:textbox inset="0,0,20px,0"><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydp5d37a479yahoo-ignore-table" height="175" style="width: 100%; min-height: 175px;"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp5d37a479card-richInfo2" style="text-align:left;padding:15px 0 0 15px;vertical-align:top"></td><td class="ydp5d37a479card-actions" style="text-align:right;padding:15px 15px 0 0;vertical-align:top"><div class="ydp5d37a479card-share-container"></div></td></tr></tbody></table><!--[if gte mso 9]></v:textbox></v:rect><![endif]--></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><table border="0" align="center" class="ydp5d37a479card-info ydp5d37a479yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydp5d37a479card-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(29, 34, 40); max-width: 314px;">the issue.</h2><p class="ydp5d37a479card-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 158, 168);">The Issue</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><p></p><hr style="border: 0px; width: 720px; margin-bottom: 0px; position: relative; min-height: 1px;"><h3 id="ydp5d0bc90equick-links-and-fresh-thinking" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3">Quick Links and Fresh Thinking</font></h3><ol style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><li><font size="3">The Oceans We Knew Are Already Gone (<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2024/03/ocean-heat-wave-cosmic-choice/677672/?ref=theissue.io" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="enhancr_card_0761176370"><u>The Atlantic</u></a>)</font><div><br></div><div id="ydpfeacc119enhancr_card_0761176370" class="ydpfeacc119yahoo-link-enhancr-card ydpfeacc119ymail-preserve-class ydpfeacc119ymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" data-url="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2024/03/ocean-heat-wave-cosmic-choice/677672/?ref=theissue.io" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2024/03/ocean-heat-wave-cosmic-choice/677672/?ref=theissue.io" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydpfeacc119yahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydpfeacc119card-wrapper ydpfeacc119yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydpfeacc119card ydpfeacc119yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td class="ydpfeacc119card-primary-image-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/varLnvdjJsTFxeWCAVRYFA--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/7ybMlz4qDPaHj2d-ycZMr-b2Vg8=/0x43:2000x1085/1200x625/media/img/mt/2024/03/unrecognizableOceans/original.jpg.cf.jpg" bgcolor="#000000" valign="top" height="175" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; position: relative; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;"><v:fill type="frame" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/varLnvdjJsTFxeWCAVRYFA--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://cdn.theatlantic.com/thumbor/7ybMlz4qDPaHj2d-ycZMr-b2Vg8=/0x43:2000x1085/1200x625/media/img/mt/2024/03/unrecognizableOceans/original.jpg.cf.jpg"/></v:rect><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydpfeacc119card-overlay-container-table ydpfeacc119yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td class="ydpfeacc119card-overlay-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png" bgcolor="transparent" valign="top" style="background-color: transparent; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:-18px;left:0;"><v:fill type="pattern" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png"/><v:textbox inset="0,0,20px,0"><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydpfeacc119yahoo-ignore-table" height="175" style="width: 100%; min-height: 175px;"><tbody><tr><td class="ydpfeacc119card-richInfo2" style="text-align:left;padding:15px 0 0 15px;vertical-align:top"></td><td class="ydpfeacc119card-actions" style="text-align:right;padding:15px 15px 0 0;vertical-align:top"><div class="ydpfeacc119card-share-container"></div></td></tr></tbody></table><!--[if gte mso 9]></v:textbox></v:rect><![endif]--></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><table border="0" align="center" class="ydpfeacc119card-info ydpfeacc119yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydpfeacc119card-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(29, 34, 40); max-width: 314px;">The Oceans We Knew Are Already Gone</h2><p class="ydpfeacc119card-richinfo-primary" style="font-size:12px;line-height:16px;margin:0 0 4px 0;color:#979ea8">Marina Koren</p><p class="ydpfeacc119card-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 158, 168);">As far as humanity is concerned, the transformation of our seas is "effectively permanent."</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></li><li><font size="3">Silencing of the girls (<a href="https://aeon.co/essays/for-girls-silence-is-the-bad-bargain-with-patriarchy?ref=theissue.io" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="enhancr_card_0557750823"><u>Aeon</u></a>)</font><div><br></div><div id="ydp46abcfebenhancr_card_0557750823" class="ydp46abcfebyahoo-link-enhancr-card ydp46abcfebymail-preserve-class ydp46abcfebymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" data-url="https://aeon.co/essays/for-girls-silence-is-the-bad-bargain-with-patriarchy?ref=theissue.io" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://aeon.co/essays/for-girls-silence-is-the-bad-bargain-with-patriarchy?ref=theissue.io" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydp46abcfebyahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydp46abcfebcard-wrapper ydp46abcfebyahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydp46abcfebcard ydp46abcfebyahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp46abcfebcard-primary-image-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/gxFdF_m5dAAXBNObT_3Hzw--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/8c88b8ab-eb21-409b-ad7c-e0b0a2b7a7b9/essay-panos_00198924.jpg?width=1200&quality=75&format=auto.cf.jpg" bgcolor="#000000" valign="top" height="175" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; position: relative; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;"><v:fill type="frame" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/gxFdF_m5dAAXBNObT_3Hzw--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/8c88b8ab-eb21-409b-ad7c-e0b0a2b7a7b9/essay-panos_00198924.jpg?width=1200&quality=75&format=auto.cf.jpg"/></v:rect><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydp46abcfebcard-overlay-container-table ydp46abcfebyahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp46abcfebcard-overlay-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png" bgcolor="transparent" valign="top" style="background-color: transparent; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:-18px;left:0;"><v:fill type="pattern" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png"/><v:textbox inset="0,0,20px,0"><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydp46abcfebyahoo-ignore-table" height="175" style="width: 100%; min-height: 175px;"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp46abcfebcard-richInfo2" style="text-align:left;padding:15px 0 0 15px;vertical-align:top"></td><td class="ydp46abcfebcard-actions" style="text-align:right;padding:15px 15px 0 0;vertical-align:top"><div class="ydp46abcfebcard-share-container"></div></td></tr></tbody></table><!--[if gte mso 9]></v:textbox></v:rect><![endif]--></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><table border="0" align="center" class="ydp46abcfebcard-info ydp46abcfebyahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydp46abcfebcard-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(29, 34, 40); max-width: 314px;">For girls, silence is the bad bargain with patriarchy | Aeon Essays</h2><p class="ydp46abcfebcard-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 158, 168);">Girls are still in a bad bargain with patriarchy: the price of relationship is keeping their true thoughts to th...</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></li><li><font size="3">Barcelona's rude awakening after years-long drought (<a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2024/02/19/barcelona-s-rude-awakening-after-years-long-drought_6538638_114.html?ref=theissue.io" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="enhancr_card_0885964342"><u>Le Monde</u></a>)</font><div><br></div><div id="ydp7bec632fenhancr_card_0885964342" class="ydp7bec632fyahoo-link-enhancr-card ydp7bec632fymail-preserve-class ydp7bec632fymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" data-url="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2024/02/19/barcelona-s-rude-awakening-after-years-long-drought_6538638_114.html?ref=theissue.io" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2024/02/19/barcelona-s-rude-awakening-after-years-long-drought_6538638_114.html?ref=theissue.io" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydp7bec632fyahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydp7bec632fcard-wrapper ydp7bec632fyahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydp7bec632fcard ydp7bec632fyahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp7bec632fcard-primary-image-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/7db0zaA1bERuxaT7ia0ktQ--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://img.lemde.fr/2024/02/13/95/0/2500/1666/1440/960/60/0/6b0ae87_1707815089925-barcelone1.jpg.cf.jpg" bgcolor="#000000" valign="top" height="175" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; position: relative; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;"><v:fill type="frame" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/7db0zaA1bERuxaT7ia0ktQ--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://img.lemde.fr/2024/02/13/95/0/2500/1666/1440/960/60/0/6b0ae87_1707815089925-barcelone1.jpg.cf.jpg"/></v:rect><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydp7bec632fcard-overlay-container-table ydp7bec632fyahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp7bec632fcard-overlay-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png" bgcolor="transparent" valign="top" style="background-color: transparent; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:-18px;left:0;"><v:fill type="pattern" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png"/><v:textbox inset="0,0,20px,0"><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydp7bec632fyahoo-ignore-table" height="175" style="width: 100%; min-height: 175px;"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp7bec632fcard-richInfo2" style="text-align:left;padding:15px 0 0 15px;vertical-align:top"></td><td class="ydp7bec632fcard-actions" style="text-align:right;padding:15px 15px 0 0;vertical-align:top"><div class="ydp7bec632fcard-share-container"></div></td></tr></tbody></table><!--[if gte mso 9]></v:textbox></v:rect><![endif]--></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><table border="0" align="center" class="ydp7bec632fcard-info ydp7bec632fyahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"><img class="ydp7bec632fcard-object-1 ydp7bec632fyahoo-ignore-inline-image ydp7bec632fymail-preserve-class" src="https://s.yimg.com/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV2/23/logos/lemonde.png" height="36" style="min-width:36px;margin-top:3px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydp7bec632fcard-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(29, 34, 40); max-width: 314px;">Barcelona's rude awakening after years-long drought</h2><p class="ydp7bec632fcard-richinfo-primary" style="font-size:12px;line-height:16px;margin:0 0 4px 0;color:#979ea8">Sandrine Morel</p><p class="ydp7bec632fcard-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 158, 168);">In the grip of a three-year drought, the Catalan government has done everything possible to avoid strict rationi...</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></li><li><font size="3">I'm a climate scientist. If you knew what I know, you'd be terrified too. (<a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/07/opinions/climate-scientist-scare-doom-anxiety-mcguire/index.html?ref=theissue.io" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><u>CNN</u></a>)</font></li></ol><hr style="border: 0px; width: 720px; margin-bottom: 0px; position: relative; min-height: 1px;"><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">Let's not mince words. There are speeches and there are Capital S Speeches. Biden's sensational State of the Union was one of the latter. It was visionary, historic, and startling. I didn't know quite what to expect, and I doubt many did. Biden rose to the challenge of the moment—more on that in a second, and hit the ball out of the park.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">By the way, if you didn't watch it, do so, just even the first few minutes, because…</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">This speech was a special moment for America. I don't know if Americans grasp that, but world leaders, starting this weekend, are going to be spending much of the year studying Biden's words, ideas, and vision—because it set out sort of a new direction for America, as leader of a troubled world again.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">Let me explain, on three levels, why this speech mattered so much: stylistically, substantively, and politically.</font></p><hr style="border: 0px; width: 720px; margin-bottom: 0px; position: relative; min-height: 1px;"><h2 id="ydp5d0bc90ebeing-a-leader-versus-becoming-one-or-is-biden-fit-for-office" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3">Being a Leader Versus Becoming One, or, Is Biden Fit for Office?</font></h2><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">Lately, it's become kind of cool to hate on Biden. I get that, though I don't join in it. Young people will accuse him of everything from indifference to genocide, while the GOP's attack line that he's too old and frail to hold office again has registered, amplified by media.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">The Biden we saw yesterday answered those concerns decisively. He was witty, sharp as a razor, intelligent, spry. He ran rings around the Republicans, weaving webs around them to entrap them in, leaving them bewildered and spluttering. So much so that by the end of the night, this whole business of image manipulation had been turned on its head: the new attack line was that Biden was too energetic, angry, and talkative. The irony was lost on no one, really.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">This Joe Biden delivered, as many said, a masterclass. And that masterclass was in large part about what politics, unfortunately, begins with: style, "impression management," "messaging." Biden got his message across, in giant blinking neon letters. He roasted the Republicans, while outmaneuvering them, out-thinking them, easily outdoing them, as if they were amateurs and wannabes—and so this Joe Biden electrified people. In the media business, we track a thing called "sentiment," which is how people talk about you on social media, and sentiment was off the charts. People were astonished, some, like the Republicans, overwhelmed, and the reaction was strikingly positive.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">Those are all good things. Part of Biden's challenge, if the goal is to avoid another Trump era, and the consequent end of democracy, more or less, was just to convince people that Biden was still in the game. After this, while, sure, you can still have doubts, if you're fair, you're going to have fewer and smaller ones, on the issues of Biden's fitness and competence.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">This Biden glowed, swaggered, and revelled, like a rock star.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">Stylistically, the State of the Union was a devastating blow to the Republicans—think, again, how the erstwhile attack line had to flip from "he's got one foot in the grave" to "Jesus! Why won't he stop getting us!!" Funny—and telling.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">We recently discussed the difference between occupying a leadership position—and being accepted as a leader. This Biden's been hid away by the Democratic machine, it seems. Those roaring, electrified masses? Those surging positivity ratings? That's a figure going from merely occupying the position, to being accepted as a leader.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">That matters in a bigger way than you think, because…</font></p><hr style="border: 0px; width: 720px; margin-bottom: 0px; position: relative; min-height: 1px;"><h2 id="ydp5d0bc90ewhat-is-america-anymore" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3">What is America, Anymore?</font></h2><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">But that was just the beginning of why this speech was so important, though it's what the chatter has focused on. Punditry is missing the real reason this speech was made of fireworks—why world leaders are going to be studying it frantically and intensely, beginning this weekend, if not already, and continue doing so the whole year.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">Beneath the swagger, Biden quietly proposed something very much like a new America. A new American social contract. The ideas came so fast and furious that they were almost easy to miss, sandwiched between philosophy and persuasion.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">I'll get to them, but first: most State of the Unions aren't like that. They're pretty boring, because Presidents tout their accomplishments. They're backwards looking things, in other words, sort of performance reviews, if you like. This one really was different—profoundly different.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">Here are just a few of the Big Ideas in Biden's vision—and what their sort of link to the cutting edge of global thinking is.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">—Taxing billionaires, which is part of a new movement, arising mostly in Europe, to reduce inequality, by having a global tax on the ultra-rich.<br>—Limiting executive compensation—this one in a soft way, not a hard one, salaries over $1 million no longer being tax deductible. This is linked, too, to recent moves by European nations to make economies more equal again.<br>—Giving home buyers tax credits. This is a first step towards fixing America's badly broken housing market. The world's is, in fact, and many European nations are trying to fix that through incentives like this.<br>—Lowering drug prices. One of Biden's most revolutionary policy ideas was to let the government negotiate for far more drugs—this is a big, big deal, because of course Americans are ripped off incredibly badly by their version of "healthcare." This is a way to modernize America and bring it in line with other Western nations.<br>—Freezing taxes on those earning than less $400K.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">There were plenty more, in fact, than all this. The point isn't just the "policy ideas"—rather, it's the direction that Biden wants to go in, if you read between the lines a little bit. What is Biden really saying? He's recognizing how badly broken many aspects of the American social contract—healthcare, housing, inequality, salaries, taxes—and how all that adds up to an incredibly precarious life even at or above the median.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">Biden seemed to be channeling the ghost of FDR—and the spirit of Truman. The FDR aspect: he appears to be reaching for something like a new deal, or at least as close to one as America's going to get in this tenuous situation. The spirit of Truman: he didn't say this nicely, he roasted the Republicans as he said it, driving home the point how little they actually care about people's lives, and simply rely on scapegoating, how empty of ideas their side really is.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">This is a Big Deal. An American President doesn't not just say this stuff lightly—they never say it at all. Taxing billionaires? Not taxing everyone else? Making corporations pay their fair share? Expanding the role of government? Reducing the drivers of inequality, from overblown exec salaries to a crumbled housing ladder? That's…the stuff…much more aligned with…European social democracy…than American politics, which is usually anodyne variants of the same thing, aka, slightly different flavours of Coke versus Pepsi capitalism.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">This isn't two slightly different variants of capitalism, and if you read between the lines, meaning that it's a first draft at setting out a vision, the end result will be even more radical. Taxing billionaires, limiting salaries, intervening in broken markets, giving people actual support—none of these are ideas we associate in the slightest with…American politics. They're the stuff of social democracy, and Biden's setting out a sort of lightweight-almost social democratic vision. It's not quite one fully, but what it does, at last, is begin to put America on the path to becoming one, like the rest of the Western world.</font></p><hr style="border: 0px; width: 720px; margin-bottom: 0px; position: relative; min-height: 1px;"><h2 id="ydp5d0bc90ethe-transformation-of-politics-from-anti-modern-to-modern" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; letter-spacing: -0.02em; line-height: 1.15;"><font size="3">The Transformation of Politics From Anti-Modern to Modern</font></h2><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">And all that draws a sharp distinction between the two parties, at long, long last. I've been sharply critical of the Democrats in recent times. Who are they? What do they stand for? What's the idea here? What's their sort of theory of the world, of a just society, of a good life?</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">Now we know. We know that it's something a lot more like lightweight European social democracy in nascent form—a good life comes from a just society, which is one that's socioeconomically equal, not just "equal opportunity," or what have you, yesterday's nostrums—than yesterday's tired neoliberalism. That said, of course, that a good life comes from being a survivor in a brutal game whose stakes are life or death.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">But that's just what the other side said, too. So all this finally draws the difference between the two parties into sharp, stark relief. Sure, one's for democracy, and the other one's for fascism—but the truth is to win just that political contest, you can't just rely on that issue itself. You need to go deep into the issues people actually care about, which are always the economy, money, their property, stability, a sense of security, upwards mobility, etcetera.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">Nobody ever really beat the fascists by saying: but we're offering you democracy!</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">This is a breakthrough, and it shouldn't be underestimated. For an American President to stand on the podium and say this stuff? The government should set prices, salaries for bigwigs are way too high, billionaires and corporations should be taxed—I scarcely thought I'd see that day happen, ever, period. America's been incredibly resistant to these ideas, on both sides of politics. The GOP, of course, built its political fortunes around defending capitalism and individualism, from Reaganomics on, and then Clintonomics was a sort of thinly disguised variant of much the same thing.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">In more prosaic terms, this is the sort of stuff that Bernie and Liz have long pleaded for, argued vehemently for, demanded. Where does it come from? Again, from European social democracy, but now let's make that concrete. In France, the government negotiates everything from drug prices to waiter's salaries. Executive pay is sharply restrained by both norms and laws. One of the ways in which, for example, smarter parties, like Spain's socialists, stayed in power, was to give people more support precisely for basic necessities like housing.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">So this is incredibly smart stuff—in the sense that we know it works. France is probably the world's most successful society, by a very long way, right about now, and Spain's not far behind. America, by contrast, is way behind. It needs to catch up to the rest of the Western world in basic political terms, and that's by having it's "sides' not just be predatory capitalism versus slightly less predatory capitalism, but modern oppositions, like conservative versus liberalism versus green in social democratic terms, which are completely different from America's. Nobody in Europe, for example, not even conservatives, would say that people deserve nothing, and government shouldn't exist—but of course America's do.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">So this transforms America politically. It does something long, long overdue, and it does it in a clever way, which is that the people listening to it won't even know about it. They're not going to know that "oh, this idea comes from France, and this one from Spain, and this one from the EU itself." It doesn't matter, and of course, to make Americans, that'd make it a non-starter. It just puts these ideas front and center, and more importantly, the philosophies behind them.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">Those theories of the world, of the good life, of the just society, and how they're linked. Now, at last, there's a variant of politics on offer that's not just "life should just be winners and losers, and winners should take it all, and losers should basically be left to perish." It's incredibly important that this happen, for any society, not just America, this evolution of politics to what we call a modern level, not just a sort of still-trapped-in-the 19th century one. In America, the State of the Union is the last place I expected it to, if it ever did.</font></p><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><font size="3">There's plenty, plenty more to say, and we'll discuss it soon. I just wanted to share some quick thoughts with you. Color me impressed. Mightily so. Is it going to be enough to beat Trump—remember, just before this, the risk of a Trump landslide was rising swiftly? That's exactly what we'll delve into shortly. Thanks for reading—and let me know your thoughts in the comments!!</font></p></div></div><br></div></div>Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-80253898669985437262024-02-26T23:58:00.001-08:002024-02-26T23:58:32.652-08:00ANS -- Sliding from Doug Muder<div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">This is Doug Muder's column, which he puts out on Mondays. He is brilliant. It's a series of comments on a bunch of things that are going on. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">At the end, there was a video of Pachelbel's Canon played on train whistles, trains included. If it didn't come through, go to the site, or my facebook page to see it. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Find it here: <a href="https://weeklysift.com/2024/02/26/sliding/#respond" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://weeklysift.com/2024/02/26/sliding/#respond</a></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">--Kim</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><div id="ydp59f6d87ewrapper" class="ydp59f6d87ehfeed" style="margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px;"><div id="ydp59f6d87eheader" style="margin: 0px; padding: 20px 0px 0px; background: rgb(33, 57, 112); color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 80px;"><h1 id="ydp59f6d87eblog-title" style="width: 750px; margin: 0px auto;"><img src="https://secure.gravatar.com/blavatar/06a884984d8eed13b084e142d6f989c0d1b3ea3d178ad31ec575d7532dbb5008?s=50&ts=1709020303" alt="icon" class="ydp59f6d87eblog-icon" style="float: left; margin-right: 8px;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"><a href="https://weeklysift.com/" title="The Weekly Sift" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Weekly Sift</a></h1><div id="ydp59f6d87eblog-description" style="margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; width: 750px;">making sense of the news one week at a time</div></div><div id="ydp59f6d87econtainer" style="margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; width: 750px;"><div id="ydp59f6d87econtent" style="margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px; width: 530px; float: right;"><div id="ydp59f6d87epost-39574" class="ydp59f6d87ehentry ydp59f6d87ep1 ydp59f6d87epost ydp59f6d87epublish ydp59f6d87eauthor-weeklysift ydp59f6d87ecategory-uncategorized ydp59f6d87euntagged ydp59f6d87ey2024 ydp59f6d87em02 ydp59f6d87ed26 ydp59f6d87eh07" style="margin: 0px 0px 60px; padding: 0px;"><h2 class="ydp59f6d87eentry-title" style="clear: both; color: rgb(33, 57, 112); border-color: rgb(33, 57, 112); border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; font-size: 1.2em;">Sliding</h2><div class="ydp59f6d87eentry-content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; counter-reset: footnotes 0;"><p class="ydp59f6d87ehas-text-align-center" style="text-align: center;"><em>If you don't think this country is sliding toward theocracy, you're not paying attention.</em></p><p class="ydp59f6d87ehas-text-align-right" style="text-align: right;">– <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/21/opinion/alabama-ivf-trump-biden.html" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Charles Blow</a></p><p>This week's featured post is "<a href="https://weeklysift.com/2024/02/26/sweet-home-gilead/" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sweet Home, Gilead</a>".</p><h3 class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-heading" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 3px 0px; color: rgb(62, 102, 151);">This week everybody was talking about IVF in Alabama</h3><p>The Alabama Supreme Court's ruling that frozen embryos are children for the purposes of wrongful death lawsuits is covered in the <a href="https://weeklysift.com/2024/02/26/sweet-home-gilead/" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">featured post</a>.</p><p>Just after I pushed the Post button, I saw that <a href="https://substack.com/home/post/p-142064472" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jay Kuo</a> had written about his personal IVF story. His IVF child is currently in a surrogate mother's womb. (Since I subscribed to Kuo's substack blog, I've been linking to it almost every week.) He includes a photo of a frozen embryo, so we know what we're talking about.</p><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a7e8d05-bd64-4c83-a4be-313a6eb26d79_551x421.png" alt="" style="max-width: 551px; vertical-align: bottom; margin: 5px auto; width: 100%;" class=""><blockquote class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote ydp59f6d87eis-layout-flow ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote-is-layout-flow" style="border-color: rgb(33, 57, 112); margin-left: 10px; padding-left: 10px; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid;"><p>The bottom line is that the GOP can't support IVF <em>and</em> support the idea that an embryo is a "person" entitled to full protection under our laws. Supporting IVF means understanding how it actually works and being comfortable with the idea that intended parents must create more embryos than we ultimately need. And clinics cannot be on the hook for <em>murder</em> should anything happen to them. No clinic coul survive with that threat hanging over it.</p><p>Neither of those two principles can be truly supported by Republicans so long as their party adheres dogmatically to the "life begins at conception" notion. Politicians who claim to support IVF must repudiate these kinds of fetal personhood laws, or their public backing of IVF means exactly nothing.</p></blockquote><hr class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-separator ydp59f6d87ehas-alpha-channel-opacity" style="border-width: 2px 0px 0px; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid;"><p>In my post, I tried not to treat the Alabama court's position with all the contempt it deserves, so I resisted the temptation to include the "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzVHjg3AqIQ" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Every Sperm is Sacred</a>" scene from Monty Python's <em>The Meaning of Life</em>.</p><div class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-embed__wrapper" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span class="ydp59f6d87eembed-youtube" style="text-align: center; display: block;"></span></div><hr class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-separator ydp59f6d87ehas-alpha-channel-opacity" style="border-width: 2px 0px 0px; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid;"><p>In other religious-right news: The campaign to overturn the Obergefell same-sex marriage decision <a href="https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/tennessee-marriage-equality-challenge" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">begins in Tennessee</a>, with a law allowing state officials to refuse to solemnize same-sex marriages.</p><p>This law wouldn't <em>block</em> same-sex marriages, because same-sex couples could still get a marriage license and find somebody other than a judge or other government official to play the celebrant role. But it does relegate them to a second-class status, which this Supreme Court will probably think is fine. This is exactly the kind of chipping-away that states did on Roe v Wade until it was reversed.</p><p>Personally, I judge these things by applying a racial analogy: What if a judge refused to marry an interracial couple to express his personal disapproval? Of course, Justice Alito is unmoved by this analogy. Recently <a href="https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4479539-alito-renews-criticism-of-supreme-courts-same-sex-marriage-ruling-in-rejecting-missouri-jury-case/" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">he wrote</a> that his dissent in Obergefell was prescient in foreseeing</p><blockquote class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote ydp59f6d87eis-layout-flow ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote-is-layout-flow" style="border-color: rgb(33, 57, 112); margin-left: 10px; padding-left: 10px; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid;"><p>that Americans who do not hide their adherence to traditional religious beliefs about homosexual conduct will be 'labeled as bigots and treated as such' by the government.</p></blockquote><p>Of course, if you want to deny the full rights of citizenship to people your religion disapproves of, and you believe that government officials should be able to treat them with official disrespect, you <em>are</em> a bigot. Conservative political correctness may not let people say so, but it's not even a close call.</p><h3 class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-heading" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 3px 0px; color: rgb(62, 102, 151);">and Russia, Russia, Russia</h3><a href="https://www.ajc.com/opinion/mike-luckovich-blog/mike-luckovich-022524-credible-sources/RAIJFLWN6JFDVLSIT6MCTOPWBQ/" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.ajc.com/resizer/o5bImJb0xKrHj9VKk8oIKaWkD_w=/850x480/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/ajc/HDRYBCTRRJDW5BWBPZM5ZC37SM.jpg" alt="" style="max-width: 800px; vertical-align: bottom; margin: 5px auto; width: 100%;" class=""></a><p>Last week we learned that the Biden impeachment case — which had always been flimsy — had fallen completely apart: The star witness for the bribery story Republicans wanted to tell, Alexander Smirnov, had been <a href="https://www.justice.gov/sco-weiss/pr/grand-jury-returns-indictment-charging-fbi-confidential-human-source-felony-false" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">indicted for making the whole thing up and lying to the FBI</a>. Another prospective witness, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/biden-indicts-whistleblower-gal-luft-charges-b2372949.html" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gal Luft</a>, had been indicted last summer for arms trafficking and being an unregistered Chinese agent.</p><p>This week we found out <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/20/politics/biden-former-fbi-informant-russian-intelligence/index.html" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">it's worse than that</a>: Smirnov now says he got his anti-Biden stories from Russian intelligence.</p><p><a href="https://substack.com/home/post/p-141895779" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jay Kuo</a> (him again) lays out the pipeline by which Russian disinformation found its way to the Trump Justice Department and from there to Republicans in Congress (Jim Jordan, James Comer, Chuck Grassley) who pushed it out to the country.</p><blockquote class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote ydp59f6d87eis-layout-flow ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote-is-layout-flow" style="border-color: rgb(33, 57, 112); margin-left: 10px; padding-left: 10px; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid;"><p>These GOP leaders are at best hapless dupes. They should have known and understood the games Russia was playing with them. But we shouldn't discount the possibility that they were well aware that the Smirnov claims were false and may have originated from Russian intelligence… and then went along with them anyway.</p><p>Indeed, we should now actively investigate this possibility.</p></blockquote><p>In a <a href="https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/can-dc-reporters-overcome-their-trumper-shock-training" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">members-only newsletter on TPM</a>, Josh Marshall wonders if the mainstream press is up to covering this story.</p><blockquote class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote ydp59f6d87eis-layout-flow ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote-is-layout-flow" style="border-color: rgb(33, 57, 112); margin-left: 10px; padding-left: 10px; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid;"><p>Donald Trump and his MAGA legions have spent years shock-training reporters not to bring up anything else about Russian disinformation programs aimed at helping Donald Trump. But they're real. They're continuing. They're actually working. And that remains the case no matter how many times Donald Trump says "RUSSIA RUSSIA RUSSIA" on Truth Social. Reporters have been conditioned to ignore the clear implications of what we're learning.</p></blockquote><p>So what does he think the real story is?</p><blockquote class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote ydp59f6d87eis-layout-flow ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote-is-layout-flow" style="border-color: rgb(33, 57, 112); margin-left: 10px; padding-left: 10px; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid;"><p>[W]e now see that almost all of 2023 was dominated by a legal/political story that was not only bogus but — according to prosecutors' filings and the discredited source's own admission to federal authorities — was a plant by the Russian intelligence services. That's real. That requires an explanation as to how that was ever allowed to happen.</p><p>… The story here isn't that the "Biden Crime Family" nonsense didn't pan out. That was always transparently bogus. The story here is how the U.S. again got bamboozled by transparent foreign manipulation and how the U.S. political press bought into it pretty much whole hog. That doesn't mean they accepted all the claims. But they treated it as reasonable, worthy of a presumption of seriousness, a serious story to be covered as such. Even with the veritable forest of red flags.</p></blockquote><h3 class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-heading" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 3px 0px; color: rgb(62, 102, 151);">and the Trump trials</h3><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/23/trump-penalties-new-york-fraud-case" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Judge Engoron officially filed his judgment against Trump Friday</a>, with the disgorgement-plus-interest standing at $454 million. This sets the clock running: Trump has 30 days to appeal. But appealing doesn't mean he gets to delay coming up with a substantial amount of money.</p><blockquote class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote ydp59f6d87eis-layout-flow ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote-is-layout-flow" style="border-color: rgb(33, 57, 112); margin-left: 10px; padding-left: 10px; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid;"><p>Trump has two options to meet the state's demand: to pay the amount in full, or secure a $35m bond against his assets, which might include the Fifth Avenue Trump Tower, 40 Wall Street, his Mar-a-Lago estate, or a number of golf courses in the US.</p></blockquote><a href="https://claytoonz.com/2024/02/23/sneaky-collateral/" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://claytoonz.files.wordpress.com/2024/02/cjonesrgb02252024.jpg" alt="" style="max-width: 800px; vertical-align: bottom; margin: 5px auto; width: 100%;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true" class=""></a><p>The WaPo examines the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2024/02/26/trump-money-bonds-engoron-carroll/" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">difficulties Trump faces raising cash</a>.</p><blockquote class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote ydp59f6d87eis-layout-flow ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote-is-layout-flow" style="border-color: rgb(33, 57, 112); margin-left: 10px; padding-left: 10px; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid;"><p>"If the guy can give phony financial statements, he can give phony information to the bonding company," [attorney Mark C.] Zauderer said, referring to Engoron's finding in the case that the Trump Organization submitted false information to banks to obtain loans. "A bonding company who is going to put up several hundred million dollars here is not, in my opinion, going to do it easily."</p></blockquote><p>Those Carroll and NY state totals face very different prospects on appeal. The Carroll money is mostly punitive damages, which was a judgment call made by the jury; an appeals court might make its own judgment and find that excessive. But the NY State money is based on disgorgement of specific ill-gotten gains. To reduce them, an appeals court would need to rejudge Engoron's conclusions: It would have to find either that Trump did not commit fraud, or that the fraud was not connected to these particular gains.</p><hr class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-separator ydp59f6d87ehas-alpha-channel-opacity" style="border-width: 2px 0px 0px; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid;"><p>I'm not going to put a lot of effort into making fun of Trump's branded sneakers, because it's shooting fish in a barrel. But I will pass on one nickname they have picked up: Aryan Jordans. And one suggested slogan I heard: "Fast. Faster. Fascist."</p><a href="https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/01/07/bramhall-editorial-cartoons-january-february-2024/" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://i0.wp.com/www.nydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/TOON022024.jpg" alt="" style="max-width: 800px; vertical-align: bottom; margin: 5px auto; width: 100%;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true" class=""></a><h3 class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-heading" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 3px 0px; color: rgb(62, 102, 151);">and media malpractice</h3><a href="https://www.nj.com/opinion/2024/02/bothsidesism-is-hard-to-pronounce-sheneman.html" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.nj.com/resizer/jMDw_hZ8NS_mHy5Zl6lHSo5nMqw=/800x0/smart/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/advancelocal/P3C4JG33QBCDNPHZWMHZHEUGB4.jpg" alt="" style="max-width: 800px; vertical-align: bottom; margin: 5px auto; width: 100%;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true" class=""></a><p>I already mentioned Josh Marshall's doubts that the mainstream media is up to covering the Smirnov story. But that's just part of a much larger failing.</p><p>This week, a new Quinnipiac poll had Biden ahead of Trump 49%-45%. So of course Politico's headline was "<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/21/biden-age-concerns-poll-00142481" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Poll: Nearly 70 percent of voters say Biden is too old to serve again</a>". There's no such thing as good news for Biden.</p><hr class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-separator ydp59f6d87ehas-alpha-channel-opacity" style="border-width: 2px 0px 0px; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid;"><p><a href="https://substack.com/home/post/p-141824274" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jeff Tiedrich</a> recalls "the Clinton rules"</p><blockquote class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote ydp59f6d87eis-layout-flow ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote-is-layout-flow" style="border-color: rgb(33, 57, 112); margin-left: 10px; padding-left: 10px; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid;"><p>basically, Bill or Hillary would do something that every other politician in the entire history of the world does — something as simple as holding a fundraiser, or giving a speech — and the press would report it in hushed tones and describe it as if it were some new kind of dastardly scandal.</p></blockquote><p>Well, the same thing is happening with Biden: Whatever he does — even if every other politician in the world does it — is evidence that he's too old. Tiedrich links to The Daily Mail, which has discovered the latest evidence of Biden's senility: <em>He uses note cards!</em></p><hr class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-separator ydp59f6d87ehas-alpha-channel-opacity" style="border-width: 2px 0px 0px; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid;"><p>Mark Jacobs raises a significant question about the NYT: "<a href="https://substack.com/home/post/p-141826576" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Is the New York Times neutral on the future of democracy?</a>" He calls out all the doubts I have about whether the Times deserves my subscription: They regularly give a platform to known liars. They cover politics as "an amusing game", analyzing everything as strategy without discussing the consequences. They write headlines that hide horrible things Republicans say (like when Trump's "vermin" comment was simply "a very different direction" for a Veterans Day speech). And they find "balance" for every terrible thing Republicans do. (Trump is facing criminal charges? He encourages Putin to invade our allies? Yeah, but Biden is old. Biden's age is filling the same "balancing" role that Hillary's emails played in 2016.)</p><p>The Times' best work is very, very good. But I continue to wonder whether it's a net positive or negative for American journalism. One change you may have noticed on this blog: I used to subtly encourage my readers to subscribe, but I no longer do. So I'm only linking to NYT articles if there is something unique about them. If I can get the same information from The Guardian or CNN, I will.</p><hr class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-separator ydp59f6d87ehas-alpha-channel-opacity" style="border-width: 2px 0px 0px; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid;"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/DougJBalloon/status/1760726604475683087" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The New York Times Pitchbot</a> suggests an angle for the Times to take in the future:</p><blockquote class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote ydp59f6d87eis-layout-flow ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote-is-layout-flow" style="border-color: rgb(33, 57, 112); margin-left: 10px; padding-left: 10px; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid;"><p>Given the fact that Trump and Biden have 91 felony counts between them, it's no wonder that so many Americans are considering voting third party.</p></blockquote><hr class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-separator ydp59f6d87ehas-alpha-channel-opacity" style="border-width: 2px 0px 0px; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid;"><p>Last week I linked to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/16/opinion/ezra-klein-biden-audio-essay.html" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ezra Klein's call for Biden not to run</a>, and for the Democrats to hold an open convention. This week many people pushed back on that idea. <a href="https://www.editorialboard.com/a-convention-fight-is-a-pure-pundits-fantasy/" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lindsay Beyerstein</a> called attention to Biden's success at unifying the divergent wings of the Democratic Party, and predicted that party unity would dissolve in an open convention.</p><blockquote class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote ydp59f6d87eis-layout-flow ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote-is-layout-flow" style="border-color: rgb(33, 57, 112); margin-left: 10px; padding-left: 10px; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid;"><p>In 2024, a contested convention would become an arena to settle every score from Gaza to Medicare for All. A free-for-all would shatter the fragile Democratic coalition that Joe Biden so carefully knit together.</p></blockquote><p>Several pundits made the same observation: No alternative candidate is doing better than Biden in the polls against Trump. (Current polls show the race more-or-less even.) You can claim that's a name-recognition problem and they'll do better after they're nominated, but that's a leap of faith.</p><p><a href="https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/no-ezra-klein-is-completely-wrong-heres-why" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Josh Marshall</a> writes:</p><blockquote class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote ydp59f6d87eis-layout-flow ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote-is-layout-flow" style="border-color: rgb(33, 57, 112); margin-left: 10px; padding-left: 10px; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid;"><p>The right answer to anyone making these kinds of open-ended statements of concern is to say, tell me specifically what course of action you're advocating and, if it's switching to a new candidate, how you get there in the next few weeks? … Klein's argument really amounts to a highly pessimistic but not unreasonable analysis of the present situation which he resolves with what amounts to a deus ex machina plot twist. That's not a plan. It's a recipe for paralysis.</p></blockquote><h3 class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-heading" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 3px 0px; color: rgb(62, 102, 151);">and the wars</h3><p>As Israel prepares its <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/25/gaza-death-toll-set-to-pass-30000-as-israel-prepares-assault-on-rafah" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ground operation against Rafah</a> (the southern-Gaza town where refugees have gathered), it still has no goal beyond the vague and unachievable "destroy Hamas". For an analysis of how everything arrived at this state, I recommend Zack Beauchamp's Vox article "<a href="https://www.vox.com/24055522/israel-hamas-gaza-war-strategy-netanyahu-strategy-morality" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How Israel's War Went Wrong</a>".</p><hr class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-separator ydp59f6d87ehas-alpha-channel-opacity" style="border-width: 2px 0px 0px; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid;"><p>In <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/essay/my-familys-daily-struggle-to-find-food-in-gaza" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The New Yorker</a>, a Palestinian who escaped to Egypt describes how the relatives he left behind are scrambling for food.</p><hr class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-separator ydp59f6d87ehas-alpha-channel-opacity" style="border-width: 2px 0px 0px; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid;"><p>Biden continues to back away from Netanyahu very, very slowly. Friday, the administration restored a legal finding the Trump administration had reversed, saying that the <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/biden-administration-restores-u-s-policy-calling-israeli-settlements-illegitimate-under-international-law" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">West Bank settlements are against international law</a>.</p><p>Tomorrow's Michigan primary will be a test of how much Biden's Israel policy is costing him, as Palestinian activists are <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/26/politics/michigan-primary-uncommitted-biden-gaza/index.html" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">campaigning for Democrats to vote "uncommitted"</a> rather than for Biden.</p><hr class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-separator ydp59f6d87ehas-alpha-channel-opacity" style="border-width: 2px 0px 0px; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid;"><p>We just passed the two-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/experts-analyze-state-of-ukraine-war-2-years-into-russias-invasion" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PBS Newshour</a> gathered some experts to summarize.</p><hr class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-separator ydp59f6d87ehas-alpha-channel-opacity" style="border-width: 2px 0px 0px; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid;"><p>My two-years-in observation is about the politics of the Ukraine War in the US: It resembles the politics of January 6. At the beginning, Americans responded the way human beings would. They sympathized with a country trying to get out of the orbit of Putin's fascist Russia when Putin's forces invaded to pull them back in. (I've since read all kinds of explanations about how either Ukraine or the West provoked Russia, and I just don't see it. There was never a threat to invade Russia through Ukraine. Anything less is a problem for diplomacy, not justification for an invasion. The typical answer to that point is to bring up the US invasion of Iraq, which was also unprovoked. But I have no trouble admitting that the Iraq invasion was wrong too.)</p><p>That initial gut response wasn't controversial in America. In the early days of the war, <em>everybody</em>, regardless of political party, was rooting for the underdog Ukrainians and wondering what we could do to help. That's how the situation was similar to January 6: In the beginning, everybody who wasn't actively involved in the coup reacted with horror to Trump's brownshirts attacking the Capitol to try to keep him in power by force. Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, and just about the whole GOP establishment united with Democrats in their initial rejection of what Trump had done.</p><p>But then the MAGA media machine and the MAGA social-media conspiracy theorists got to work on reversing the natural human instincts of the people under their sway, and today both Ukraine and January 6 are partisan issues.</p><h3 class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-heading" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 3px 0px; color: rgb(62, 102, 151);">and the dysfunctional House of Representatives</h3><a href="https://www.reformaustin.org/political-cartoons/a-little-help/" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.reformaustin.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/RA.021324.A-little-help-Ukraine-1068x852.jpg" alt="" style="max-width: 800px; vertical-align: bottom; margin: 5px auto; width: 100%;" class=""></a><p>Ukraine aid isn't the only thing House Republicans are stalling. Speaker Johnson has recessed the House until Wednesday, with a partial government shutdown looming Friday and the rest of the government running out of money a week later. The <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/02/26/how-house-members-are-trying-circumvent-johnson/" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">WaPo</a> reports that "talks have slowed" on a compromise to prevent a shutdown.</p><blockquote class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote ydp59f6d87eis-layout-flow ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote-is-layout-flow" style="border-color: rgb(33, 57, 112); margin-left: 10px; padding-left: 10px; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid;"><p>The four appropriations bills set to expire Friday — agriculture; military construction-VA; energy and water and transportation; housing and urban development — are the easier ones. On March 8, funding runs out for more controversial bills for which the far right is demanding even more explosive policy riders around abortion, LGBTQ rights and border security.</p></blockquote><h3 class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-heading" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 3px 0px; color: rgb(62, 102, 151);">and you also might be interested in …</h3><p>South Carolina's Republican primary was Saturday, and Trump won over Haley, 59%-39%. How you read that result depends on the question you're asking. If you're focused on whether Trump will be nominated, this is a very solid positive result. If Haley is 20 points down in her home state, she really has no chance.</p><p>But if your question is whether Trump will be able to unite the Republican voters in the fall, this is a weak showing. Voters went in knowing Trump was the almost certain nominee, but 39% refused to get in line behind him.</p><hr class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-separator ydp59f6d87ehas-alpha-channel-opacity" style="border-width: 2px 0px 0px; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid;"><p>Democracy is returning to Wisconsin. For many years, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisconsin_Legislature" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wisconsin legislature</a> has been gerrymandered to guarantee Republican control, independent of the will of the voters. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-redistricting-republican-democrat-9c2677a09e48152df323fbf5c55611ef" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">AP</a> reports that Democrats have won 14 of the last 17 statewide elections, but somehow those same elections have yielded a Republican supermajority (22-10) in the state senate and a near supermajority (64-35) in the state assembly.</p><p>Nonetheless, the voters of Wisconsin still had access to a few levers of power. Last April, Janet Protasiewicz won a <a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Wisconsin_Supreme_Court_elections,_2023" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">55%-44%</a> victory to gain a seat on the state supreme court, flipping the court to liberal control. In December, the court ruled 4-3 to <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wisconsin-supreme-court-redistricting-new-maps/" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">throw out the Republican-drawn legislative maps</a>. Forced to negotiate with Democratic Governor Tony Evers (another winner of a statewide election), the Republican legislature produced a relatively fair map, which Evers signed into law last Monday.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2024/02/19/interactive-explore-wisconsins-new-electoral-maps/72664708007/" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Milwaukee Journal Sentinel</a> reports:</p><blockquote class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote ydp59f6d87eis-layout-flow ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote-is-layout-flow" style="border-color: rgb(33, 57, 112); margin-left: 10px; padding-left: 10px; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid;"><p>Under the new state Assembly map, the districts are more evenly split. The new map has 46 districts that lean Republican and 45 districts that lean Democratic. The eight districts left are likely to be a toss-up between Democratic and Republican candidates. …</p><p>Under the new state Senate map, 14 out of 33 districts are Democratic-leaning, while 15 are Republican-leaning. Four districts are competitive, where either party has a fair chance of winning them.</p></blockquote><p>However, the Wisconsin congressional maps are still gerrymandered, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_congressional_delegations_from_Wisconsin" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Republicans hold six of the eight seats</a>. Democratic voters are packed into the other two districts (containing Madison and Milwaukee), which they won by 19 and 25 points.</p><hr class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-separator ydp59f6d87ehas-alpha-channel-opacity" style="border-width: 2px 0px 0px; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid;"><p>The NYT reports on "<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/26/opinion/constitutional-law-crisis-supreme-court.html" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Crisis in Teaching Constitutional Law</a>". What's the crisis? The clearly partisan nature of the current conservative supermajority on the Supreme Court. The older generation of professors once shared a faith that interpreting the Constitution is a meaningful activity transcending politics. Justices might have philosophical differences that lead to diverse conclusions, but fundamentally they are all making a good-faith attempt to understand what the law means. Recent Supreme Court decisions — like the <a href="https://weeklysift.com/2022/06/27/three-supreme-court-decisions-with-long-term-consequences/" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bruen gun control decision</a> — have shaken that faith, to the point that law professors don't know what to teach their students.</p><blockquote class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote ydp59f6d87eis-layout-flow ydp59f6d87ewp-block-quote-is-layout-flow" style="border-color: rgb(33, 57, 112); margin-left: 10px; padding-left: 10px; border-left-width: 1px; border-left-style: solid;"><p>Whatever rationale or methodology the justices apply in a given case, the result virtually always aligns with the policy priorities of the modern Republican Party. …</p><p>Stanford's Professor McConnell recalled a recent exchange in one of his classes. "I said something to the effect of, 'It's important to assume that the people you disagree with are speaking in good faith.' And a student raises his hand and he asks, 'Why? Why should we assume that people on the other side are acting in good faith?' This was not a crazy person; this was a perfectly sober-minded, rational student. And I think the question was sincere. And I think that's kind of shocking. I do think that some of the underlying assumptions of how a civil society operates can no longer be assumed."</p></blockquote><hr class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-separator ydp59f6d87ehas-alpha-channel-opacity" style="border-width: 2px 0px 0px; border-right-style: initial; border-bottom-style: initial; border-left-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid;"><p>I don't know how many times I've heard that "the stock market always goes up in the long run". Well, sometimes the long run is a very long time indeed. If you bought Japanese stocks at their peak in 1989, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/22/japans-nikkei-hits-all-time-high-on-reforms-robust-corporate-earnings.html" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">you finally turned a profit this week</a>.</p><h3 class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-heading" style="font-size: 1em; margin: 3px 0px; color: rgb(62, 102, 151);">and let's close with some musical training</h3><p>I've heard lots of versions of <a href="https://laughingsquid.com/pachelbels-canon-performed-on-train-horns/" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pachebel's Canon</a>, but never before one based on train whistles.</p><div class="ydp59f6d87ewp-block-embed__wrapper" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span class="ydp59f6d87eembed-youtube" style="text-align: center; display: block;"></span></div><div id="ydp59f6d87ejp-post-flair" class="ydp59f6d87esharedaddy ydp59f6d87esd-like-enabled ydp59f6d87esd-sharing-enabled" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0.5em 0px 0px; clear: both;"><div class="ydp59f6d87esharedaddy ydp59f6d87esd-sharing-enabled" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; clear: both;"><div class="ydp59f6d87erobots-nocontent ydp59f6d87esd-block ydp59f6d87esd-social ydp59f6d87esd-social-icon-text ydp59f6d87esd-sharing" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><h3 class="ydp59f6d87esd-title" style="font-size: 9pt; margin: 0px 0px 1em; color: rgb(62, 102, 151); display: inline-block; line-height: 1.2;">Share this:</h3><div class="ydp59f6d87esd-content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><ul data-sharing-events-added="true" style="padding: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; list-style: none !important;"><li class="ydp59f6d87eshare-twitter" style="display: inline-block; margin: 0px 8px 12px 0px; padding: 0px;"><a data-shared="sharing-twitter-39574" class="ydp59f6d87eshare-twitter ydp59f6d87esd-button ydp59f6d87eshare-icon" href="https://weeklysift.com/2024/02/26/sliding/?share=twitter&nb=1" title="Click to share on Twitter" style="display: inline-block; font-size: 13px; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; border-radius: 4px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-shadow: none; line-height: 23px; padding: 4px 11px 3px 9px; color: rgb(44, 51, 56) !important;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="line-height: 23px; margin-left: 6px;">Twitter</span></a></li><li class="ydp59f6d87eshare-facebook" style="display: inline-block; margin: 0px 8px 12px 0px; padding: 0px;"><a data-shared="sharing-facebook-39574" class="ydp59f6d87eshare-facebook ydp59f6d87esd-button ydp59f6d87eshare-icon" href="https://weeklysift.com/2024/02/26/sliding/?share=facebook&nb=1" title="Click to share on Facebook" style="display: inline-block; font-size: 13px; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; border-radius: 4px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; text-shadow: none; line-height: 23px; padding: 4px 11px 3px 9px; color: rgb(44, 51, 56) !important;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="line-height: 23px; margin-left: 6px;">Facebook</span></a></li><li class="ydp59f6d87eshare-email ydp59f6d87eshare-service-visible" style="display: inline-block; margin: 0px 8px 12px 0px; padding: 0px;"><a data-shared="" class="ydp59f6d87eshare-email ydp59f6d87esd-button ydp59f6d87eshare-icon" href="mailto:?subject=%5BShared%20Post%5D%20Sliding&body=https%3A%2F%2Fweeklysift.com%2F2024%2F02%2F26%2Fsliding%2F&share=email&nb=1" title="Click to email a link to a friend" data-email-share-error-title="Do you have email set up?" data-email-share-error-text="If you're having problems sharing via email, you might not have email set up for your browser. 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font-size: inherit;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Overwhelming Threats</a></span>August 11, 2014<span class="ydp59f6d87ejp-relatedposts-post-context" style="display: block; max-width: 90%;">In "Weekly summaries"</span></p><p class="ydp59f6d87ejp-relatedposts-post ydp59f6d87ejp-relatedposts-post1" data-post-id="22210" data-post-format="false" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; float: left; width: 174.891px;"><span class="ydp59f6d87ejp-relatedposts-post-title" style="display: block; max-width: 90%;"><a class="ydp59f6d87ejp-relatedposts-post-a" href="https://weeklysift.com/2019/05/20/the-monday-morning-teaser-325/" title="The Monday Morning&nbsp;Teaser" data-origin="39574" data-position="1" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112); font-size: inherit;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Monday Morning Teaser</a></span>May 20, 2019<span class="ydp59f6d87ejp-relatedposts-post-context" style="display: block; max-width: 90%;">In "Morning tease"</span></p><p class="ydp59f6d87ejp-relatedposts-post ydp59f6d87ejp-relatedposts-post2" data-post-id="1678" data-post-format="false" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; float: left; width: 174.891px;"><span class="ydp59f6d87ejp-relatedposts-post-title" style="display: block; max-width: 90%;"><a class="ydp59f6d87ejp-relatedposts-post-a" href="https://weeklysift.com/2011/10/31/three-eyed-fish-and-other-short-notes/" title="Three-eyed Fish and other short&nbsp;notes" data-origin="39574" data-position="2" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112); font-size: inherit;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Three-eyed Fish and other short notes</a></span>October 31, 2011<span class="ydp59f6d87ejp-relatedposts-post-context" style="display: block; max-width: 90%;">In "Short Notes"</span></p></div></div></div></div><div class="ydp59f6d87eentry-meta" style="margin: 0px; padding: 25px 0px 0px; clear: both; text-align: right; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: 700;">By <span class="ydp59f6d87eauthor ydp59f6d87evcard"><a class="ydp59f6d87eurl ydp59f6d87efn ydp59f6d87en" href="https://weeklysift.com/author/weeklysift/" title="View all posts by weeklysift" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">weeklysift</a></span>, on February 26, 2024 at 12:35 pm, under <a href="https://weeklysift.com/category/uncategorized/" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Uncategorized</a>. 6 Comments</div><div class="ydp59f6d87eentry-actions" style="margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: right; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: 700; clear: both;"><a class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-link enhancr_card_9071179281" href="https://weeklysift.com/2024/02/26/sliding/#respond" title="Post a comment" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Post a comment</a> or leave a trackback: <a class="ydp59f6d87etrackback-link" href="https://weeklysift.com/2024/02/26/sliding/trackback/" title="Trackback URL for your post" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trackback URL</a>.</div><div><br></div><div id="ydpbe501062enhancr_card_9071179281" class="ydpbe501062yahoo-link-enhancr-card ydpbe501062ymail-preserve-class ydpbe501062ymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" data-url="https://weeklysift.com/2024/02/26/sliding/#respond" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://weeklysift.com/2024/02/26/sliding/#respond" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydpbe501062yahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydpbe501062card-wrapper ydpbe501062yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydpbe501062card ydpbe501062yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td class="ydpbe501062card-primary-image-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/48GihCvrSD5SWy3vusyKhA--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4a7e8d05-bd64-4c83-a4be-313a6eb26d79_551x421.png.cf.jpg" bgcolor="#000000" valign="top" height="175" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); 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border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:-18px;left:0;"><v:fill type="pattern" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png"/><v:textbox inset="0,0,20px,0"><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydpbe501062yahoo-ignore-table" height="175" style="width: 100%; min-height: 175px;"><tbody><tr><td class="ydpbe501062card-richInfo2" style="text-align:left;padding:15px 0 0 15px;vertical-align:top"></td><td class="ydpbe501062card-actions" style="text-align:right;padding:15px 15px 0 0;vertical-align:top"><div class="ydpbe501062card-share-container"></div></td></tr></tbody></table><!--[if gte mso 9]></v:textbox></v:rect><![endif]--></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><table border="0" align="center" class="ydpbe501062card-info ydpbe501062yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydpbe501062card-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(29, 34, 40); max-width: 314px;">Sliding</h2><p class="ydpbe501062card-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 158, 168);">If you don't think this country is sliding toward theocracy, you're not paying attention. – Charles Blow This we...</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div> </div><div><br></div></div><div id="ydp59f6d87enav-below" class="ydp59f6d87enavigation" style="margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; min-height: 1.25em;"><div class="ydp59f6d87enav-previous" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: left;"><a href="https://weeklysift.com/2024/02/26/sweet-home-gilead/" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="ydp59f6d87emeta-nav">«</span> Sweet Home, Gilead</a></div><div class="ydp59f6d87enav-next" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; float: right; text-align: right;"></div></div><div id="ydp59f6d87ecomments" style="margin: 20px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; clear: both;"><div id="ydp59f6d87ecomments-list" class="ydp59f6d87ecomments" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><h3 style="font-size: 1em; margin: 3px 0px 10px; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; border-left: 14px solid rgb(112, 112, 112); display: inline-block; padding: 4px; background: rgb(229, 228, 232);">Comments</h3><ul style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li id="ydp59f6d87ecomment-414957" class="ydp59f6d87et ydp59f6d87ec-y2024 ydp59f6d87ec-m02 ydp59f6d87ec-d26 ydp59f6d87ec-h09 ydp59f6d87ealt" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><div class="ydp59f6d87esinglecomment" id="ydp59f6d87ediv-comment-414957" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background: rgb(229, 228, 232);"><div class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-meta" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 6px 6px; background: rgb(186, 188, 214); border-color: rgb(170, 183, 214); font-size: 0.9em; line-height: 20px; border-bottom-width: 4px; border-bottom-style: solid; min-height: 20px;"><img alt="" src="https://0.gravatar.com/avatar/?s=32&d=identicon&r=G" class="ydp59f6d87ephoto ydp59f6d87eavatar ydp59f6d87eavatar-32" height="32" width="32" style="float: right; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"><span class="ydp59f6d87efn ydp59f6d87en" style="float: left;">Anonymous</span><span class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-date" style="float: left;"> On February 26, 2024 at 2:18 pm</span><div class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-actions" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; font-size: 0.9em; float: right;"><a href="https://weeklysift.com/2024/02/26/sliding/#comment-414957" title="Permalink to this comment" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-reply-link" href="https://weeklysift.com/2024/02/26/sliding/?replytocom=414957#respond" data-commentid="414957" data-postid="39574" data-belowelement="comment-414957" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Anonymous" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reply</a></div></div><p style="padding: 4px; margin: 0px;">The idea of replacing Biden is so typical of Democrats. Trump constantly does endless illegal, unethical, immoral and outright disgusting things and his supporters are all in.</p><p style="padding: 4px; margin: 0px;">Biden flubs a few words or forgets something, and we are in a panic. </p><p style="padding: 4px; margin: 0px;">I think this could be a self-fulfilling prophesy – either way. Let's get behind Biden and find ways to show how capable he is and has been! In spite of some media looking for controversy.</p><p style="padding: 4px; margin: 0px;">Bert</p></div></li><li id="ydp59f6d87ecomment-414960" class="ydp59f6d87et1 ydp59f6d87ec-y2024 ydp59f6d87ec-m02 ydp59f6d87ec-d26 ydp59f6d87ec-h12" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><div class="ydp59f6d87esinglecomment" id="ydp59f6d87ediv-comment-414960" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background: rgb(229, 228, 232);"><div class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-meta" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 6px 6px; background: rgb(186, 188, 214); border-color: rgb(170, 183, 214); font-size: 0.9em; line-height: 20px; border-bottom-width: 4px; border-bottom-style: solid; min-height: 20px;"><img alt="" src="https://0.gravatar.com/avatar/?s=32&d=identicon&r=G" class="ydp59f6d87ephoto ydp59f6d87eavatar ydp59f6d87eavatar-32" height="32" width="32" style="float: right; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"><span class="ydp59f6d87efn ydp59f6d87en" style="float: left;">Anonymous</span><span class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-date" style="float: left;"> On February 26, 2024 at 5:12 pm</span><div class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-actions" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; font-size: 0.9em; float: right;"><a href="https://weeklysift.com/2024/02/26/sliding/#comment-414960" title="Permalink to this comment" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-reply-link" href="https://weeklysift.com/2024/02/26/sliding/?replytocom=414960#respond" data-commentid="414960" data-postid="39574" data-belowelement="comment-414960" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Anonymous" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reply</a></div></div><p style="padding: 4px; margin: 0px;">My favorite example of the media's treatment of Biden happened just a few days ago. I believe it was during the analysis of the South Carolina primary results. After talk of Trump's hold on the Republican party, they turned to Biden, underlining how much of a problem it is that he's so old. The line was something like "…all he has to run on is his record," delivered in a dismissive tone. Here's a question, what does it matter how old Biden is if he's able to rack up a very impressive list of accomplishments?</p></div></li><li id="ydp59f6d87ecomment-414963" class="ydp59f6d87et2 ydp59f6d87ebyuser ydp59f6d87ecomment-author-ldbenj ydp59f6d87ec-y2024 ydp59f6d87ec-m02 ydp59f6d87ec-d26 ydp59f6d87ec-h16 ydp59f6d87ealt" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><div class="ydp59f6d87esinglecomment" id="ydp59f6d87ediv-comment-414963" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background: rgb(229, 228, 232);"><div class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-meta" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 6px 6px; background: rgb(186, 188, 214); border-color: rgb(170, 183, 214); font-size: 0.9em; line-height: 20px; border-bottom-width: 4px; border-bottom-style: solid; min-height: 20px;"><img alt="" src="https://1.gravatar.com/avatar/d69e1a53d9aaf1daced46e6ca70fc95bdf3ff9541c9efd2b34de5f8776eaad38?s=32&d=identicon&r=G" class="ydp59f6d87ephoto ydp59f6d87eavatar ydp59f6d87eavatar-32 ydp59f6d87ewp-hovercard-attachment ydp59f6d87egrav-hashed ydp59f6d87egrav-hijack" height="32" width="32" style="cursor: default; float: right; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"><span class="ydp59f6d87efn ydp59f6d87en" style="float: left;">ldbenj</span><span class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-date" style="float: left;"> On February 26, 2024 at 9:02 pm</span><div class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-actions" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; font-size: 0.9em; float: right;"><a href="https://weeklysift.com/2024/02/26/sliding/#comment-414963" title="Permalink to this comment" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-reply-link" href="https://weeklysift.com/2024/02/26/sliding/?replytocom=414963#respond" data-commentid="414963" data-postid="39574" data-belowelement="comment-414963" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to ldbenj" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reply</a></div></div><p style="padding: 4px; margin: 0px;">Did anyone else catch Thomas the Tank Engine at 1:00?</p></div></li><li id="ydp59f6d87ecomment-414964" class="ydp59f6d87et3 ydp59f6d87ec-y2024 ydp59f6d87ec-m02 ydp59f6d87ec-d26 ydp59f6d87ec-h19" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><div class="ydp59f6d87esinglecomment" id="ydp59f6d87ediv-comment-414964" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background: rgb(229, 228, 232);"><div class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-meta" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 6px 6px; background: rgb(186, 188, 214); border-color: rgb(170, 183, 214); font-size: 0.9em; line-height: 20px; border-bottom-width: 4px; border-bottom-style: solid; min-height: 20px;"><img alt="" src="https://2.gravatar.com/avatar/2c98a9491cda5159c0704201ecc0a5365efd96d07bec0e803bd1590791331dae?s=32&d=identicon&r=G" class="ydp59f6d87ephoto ydp59f6d87eavatar ydp59f6d87eavatar-32 ydp59f6d87ewp-hovercard-attachment ydp59f6d87egrav-hashed ydp59f6d87egrav-hijack" height="32" width="32" style="cursor: default; float: right; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"><span class="ydp59f6d87efn ydp59f6d87en" style="float: left;">Martha Legare</span><span class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-date" style="float: left;"> On February 27, 2024 at 12:06 am</span><div class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-actions" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; font-size: 0.9em; float: right;"><a href="https://weeklysift.com/2024/02/26/sliding/#comment-414964" title="Permalink to this comment" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-reply-link" href="https://weeklysift.com/2024/02/26/sliding/?replytocom=414964#respond" data-commentid="414964" data-postid="39574" data-belowelement="comment-414964" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to Martha Legare" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reply</a></div></div><p style="padding: 4px; margin: 0px;">OMG, I never saw The Meaning of Life! Clearly I could use this as an opportunity for reframing MEANING as a lesbian, slowing down my consulting/ coaching business in the next 5 years before I really retire! LOL.</p><p style="padding: 4px; margin: 0px;">But what I intended to write to you about is the Open Democratic Convention concept. While I am old enough to remember (barely), I forgot about that process. Although I voted for Shirley Chisholm, actually thinking she had a chance of winning – haha, (all my best friends were voting that way at 18!), I ended up with McCarthy. But it wasn't a huge difference in numbers for Humphrey.to beat him. We can do better this time.</p><p style="padding: 4px; margin: 0px;">We need to do something NOW! If Biden is our candidate, we will surely lose, (as your observations of the press clearly indicate).</p><p style="padding: 4px; margin: 0px;">For every political ad I get asking for money, I respond: "I will not donate another dollar to the Democratic Party until you all get Joe Biden to step aside by May and plan to have an Open Democratic Convention! imagine what would happen if Democrats actually had HOPE and excitement! (Cue Obama.) If this doesn't happen, we will lose for sure." Or a longer rant…</p><p style="padding: 4px; margin: 0px;">If you have any bright ideas to move this forward with less risk, I'd love you to write more!</p><p style="padding: 4px; margin: 0px;">Also, despite reading this newsletter for years now and being Unitarian, I can't recall your name. Do you have to be that secreative? Just want to say "Thanks!"</p><p style="padding: 4px; margin: 0px;">Cheers, Martha</p><p style="padding: 4px; margin: 0px;">Martha Legare m. +1 404.815.7766 <a href="mailto:martha.legare@gmail.com" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">martha.legare@gmail.com</a></p><p style="padding: 4px; margin: 0px;">></p></div></li><li id="ydp59f6d87ecomment-414966" class="ydp59f6d87et4 ydp59f6d87ebyuser ydp59f6d87ecomment-author-kimc0240 ydp59f6d87ec-y2024 ydp59f6d87ec-m02 ydp59f6d87ec-d26 ydp59f6d87ec-h21 ydp59f6d87ealt" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><div class="ydp59f6d87esinglecomment" id="ydp59f6d87ediv-comment-414966" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background: rgb(229, 228, 232);"><div class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-meta" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 6px 6px; background: rgb(186, 188, 214); border-color: rgb(170, 183, 214); font-size: 0.9em; line-height: 20px; border-bottom-width: 4px; border-bottom-style: solid; min-height: 20px;"><img alt="" src="https://1.gravatar.com/avatar/4ad2c7890bea979d4d7eff18ee08359bebc8370646ff7d291eb1f85104f1c07d?s=32&d=identicon&r=G" class="ydp59f6d87ephoto ydp59f6d87eavatar ydp59f6d87eavatar-32 ydp59f6d87ewp-hovercard-attachment ydp59f6d87egrav-hashed ydp59f6d87egrav-hijack" height="32" width="32" style="cursor: default; float: right; padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"><span class="ydp59f6d87efn ydp59f6d87en" style="float: left;">kimc0240</span><span class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-date" style="float: left;"> On February 27, 2024 at 2:51 am</span><div class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-actions" style="margin: 0px; padding: 2px 0px; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; font-size: 0.9em; float: right;"><a href="https://weeklysift.com/2024/02/26/sliding/#comment-414966" title="Permalink to this comment" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Permalink</a> | <a class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-reply-link" href="https://weeklysift.com/2024/02/26/sliding/?replytocom=414966#respond" data-commentid="414966" data-postid="39574" data-belowelement="comment-414966" data-respondelement="respond" data-replyto="Reply to kimc0240" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reply</a></div></div><p style="padding: 4px; margin: 0px;">As Lawrence O'Donnell said this week:" If someone were going to run against Biden, he/she would have had to have started three years ago." It's too late to change horses.</p><p style="padding: 4px; margin: 0px;">I think Biden has done a great job. Much better than I expected. He is a consummate negotiator. Unfortunately, real negotiating is not done in public, so most people have no idea how well he does. It has been obvious to me that Biden has been trying to talk Netanyahu down from what he's doing, but he can't continue to do that if he walks away in a huff, as people seem to want him to do. They (the public) don't seem to understand that we have people who really understand this stuff, and they (the public) want to tell them how to do their job, even when they themselves haven't a clue how to do it.</p><p style="padding: 4px; margin: 0px;">As I see it, when Biden gets out there on the campaign trail, he needs to do two things: give people hope, and give them a vision of what he intends to do with his second term.</p><p style="padding: 4px; margin: 0px;">–Kim</p></div></li></ul><div class="ydp59f6d87enavigation" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; min-height: 1.25em;"><div class="ydp59f6d87ealignleft" style="margin: 1em 1em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; float: left;"></div><div class="ydp59f6d87ealignright" style="margin: 1em 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; float: right;"></div></div></div><div id="ydp59f6d87etrackbacks-list" class="ydp59f6d87ecomments" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; clear: both;"><h3 style="font-size: 1em; margin: 3px 0px 10px; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; border-left: 14px solid rgb(112, 112, 112); display: inline-block; padding: 4px; background: rgb(229, 228, 232);">Trackbacks</h3><ul style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li id="ydp59f6d87ecomment-414959" class="ydp59f6d87epingback ydp59f6d87et5 ydp59f6d87ec-y2024 ydp59f6d87ec-m02 ydp59f6d87ec-d26 ydp59f6d87ec-h11" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><div class="ydp59f6d87esinglecomment" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; background: rgb(229, 228, 232);"><div class="ydp59f6d87ecomment-author" style="margin: 0px; padding: 6px 0px 6px 6px; background: rgb(186, 188, 214); border-top-color: rgb(155, 155, 155); border-right-color: rgb(155, 155, 155); border-bottom: 4px solid; border-left-color: rgb(155, 155, 155); font-size: 0.9em; line-height: 20px; min-height: 20px; height: auto;">By <a href="http://nedhamsonsecondlineviewofthenews.com/2024/02/26/sliding-the-weekly-sift/" class="ydp59f6d87eurl" style="color: rgb(33, 57, 112);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sliding | The Weekly Sift | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News</a> on February 26, 2024 at 4:11 pm</div><p style="padding: 4px; 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src="https://pixel.wp.com/g.gif?blog=24585070&v=wpcom&tz=-5&user_id=244091220&post=39574&subd=weeklysift&host=weeklysift.com&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fweeklysift.com%2F2024%2F02%2F26%2Fsliding%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0_3Q_zb6_qUMh3Qvv0CUUDwYKXOvQz52MxXuS3Ku5EVFSR9PcXixs35L0&rand=0.527506589342875" alt="" id="ydp59f6d87ewpstats" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px; padding: 0px !important; border: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true" class="" data-id="1709020482529"></div><br></div></div>Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-68804083796191104822024-02-26T13:51:00.001-08:002024-02-26T13:51:28.239-08:00Fwd: Green Tidbit<div dir="ltr"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Joyce Segal</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:joyceck10@gmail.com">joyceck10@gmail.com</a>></span><br>Date: Mon, Feb 26, 2024 at 7:28 AM<br>Subject: Green Tidbit<br>To: Kim Cooper <<a href="mailto:kimc0240@gmail.com">kimc0240@gmail.com</a>><br></div><br><br><div dir="ltr"><p style="box-sizing:border-box;line-height:inherit;color:rgb(32,32,32);font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;margin:0px;font-size:14px;text-align:center"><span style="box-sizing:border-box;font-size:28px"><span style="box-sizing:border-box">Global warming</span></span></p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;line-height:inherit;color:rgb(32,32,32);font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;margin:0px;font-size:14px"> </p><p style="box-sizing:border-box;line-height:inherit;color:rgb(32,32,32);font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;margin:0px;font-size:14px"><span style="box-sizing:border-box;font-size:16px"><span style="box-sizing:border-box">Human-caused global warming is fueling longer droughts and extreme weather events that are posing problems to communities around the world. Scientists say Mexico City, a sprawling metropolis of nearly 22 million people and one of the world's biggest cities, may be just <a href="https://e.newsletters.cnn.com/click?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" rel="noopener" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(246,51,57);text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">months away from "day zero"</a> — when the taps run dry for huge swaths of the city. Experts say this comes as a result of several years of abnormally low rainfall, longer dry periods and high temperatures that have added stress to a water system already straining to cope with increased demand. In the coming weeks, Mexican authorities are expected to introduce significant restrictions on the water pumped from reservoirs ahead of the <a href="https://e.newsletters.cnn.com/click?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" rel="noopener" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(246,51,57);text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">intense summer months</a>.</span></span></p><div><br></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div>Joyce Cooper</div><div>CEO SunSmartPower</div><div>650-430-6243</div><a href="http://SunSmartPower.com" target="_blank">SunSmartPower.com</a><div><br></div></div></div></div> </div></div> Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-52075957604331539572024-02-21T00:41:00.001-08:002024-02-21T00:41:11.557-08:00ANS -- How To Not Set Your Money on Fire in 2024<div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">I was directed to this by Sara Robinson. It's about a site that helps you make your political donations count. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Find it here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sararobinson/posts/pfbid0MKaV5vKiH4pqxFnMUWyP8YW9aaJJyMxsnyEpgat1AQ5uv74FGPCLWJSASvQxeApPl?notif_id=1708245137853966¬if_t=nf_share_story&ref=notif" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="enhancr_card_9050607844">Facebook</a> </div><div><br></div><div id="ydpf3f7032enhancr_card_9050607844" class="ydpf3f7032yahoo-link-enhancr-card ydpf3f7032yahoo-link-enhancr-not-allow-cover ydpf3f7032ymail-preserve-class ydpf3f7032ymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" data-url="https://www.facebook.com/sararobinson/posts/pfbid0MKaV5vKiH4pqxFnMUWyP8YW9aaJJyMxsnyEpgat1AQ5uv74FGPCLWJSASvQxeApPl?notif_id=1708245137853966¬if_t=nf_share_story&ref=notif" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sararobinson/posts/pfbid0MKaV5vKiH4pqxFnMUWyP8YW9aaJJyMxsnyEpgat1AQ5uv74FGPCLWJSASvQxeApPl?notif_id=1708245137853966¬if_t=nf_share_story&ref=notif" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydpf3f7032yahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydpf3f7032card-wrapper ydpf3f7032yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydpf3f7032card ydpf3f7032yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td><table border="0" class="ydpf3f7032card-info ydpf3f7032yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"><img class="ydpf3f7032card-object-1 ydpf3f7032yahoo-ignore-inline-image ydpf3f7032ymail-preserve-class" src="https://s.yimg.com/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV2/23/logos/facebook.png" height="36" style="min-width:36px;margin-top:3px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydpf3f7032card-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(29, 34, 40); max-width: 314px;">Facebook</h2><p class="ydpf3f7032card-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 158, 168);"></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div>The link to the Oath.vote site itself is below the picture. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div id="ydp73de0ce8enhancr_card_9499159411" class="ydp73de0ce8yahoo-link-enhancr-card ydp73de0ce8yahoo-link-enhancr-not-allow-cover ydp73de0ce8ymail-preserve-class ydp73de0ce8ymail-preserve-style" style="max-width: 400px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; position: relative;" data-url="https://www.facebook.com/sararobinson/posts/pfbid0MKaV5vKiH4pqxFnMUWyP8YW9aaJJyMxsnyEpgat1AQ5uv74FGPCLWJSASvQxeApPl?notif_id=1708245137853966&notif_t=nf_share_story&ref=notif" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/sararobinson/posts/pfbid0MKaV5vKiH4pqxFnMUWyP8YW9aaJJyMxsnyEpgat1AQ5uv74FGPCLWJSASvQxeApPl?notif_id=1708245137853966&notif_t=nf_share_story&ref=notif" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydp73de0ce8yahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydp73de0ce8card-wrapper ydp73de0ce8yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydp73de0ce8card ydp73de0ce8yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td><table border="0" class="ydp73de0ce8card-info ydp73de0ce8yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"><img class="ydp73de0ce8card-object-1 ydp73de0ce8yahoo-ignore-inline-image ydp73de0ce8ymail-preserve-class" src="https://s.yimg.com/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV2/23/logos/facebook.png" height="36" style="min-width:36px;margin-top:3px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydp73de0ce8card-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "OpenSans VF", "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(29, 34, 40); max-width: 314px;">Facebook</h2><p class="ydp73de0ce8card-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 158, 168);"></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a><div class="loadingSpinnerContainer" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.3);"><div class="D_F F_n gl_C ab_C H_6MGW o_h"><div class="W_6MGW H_6MGW D_X ah_1PEzoz" data-test-id="loading_indicator"><svg class="W_6MGW H_6MGW ah_Zq6hUs" viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="24" height="24"><path class="cdPFi_n cZ13pKbK_Z29WjXl cZ1XO2Ji_dRA c2abBOT_EY cZ1vNhDV_rd cZV8aCd_pI ah_14s73" d="M12,22C6.477,22,2,17.523,2,12S6.477,2,12,2"></path><path class="cdPFi_n cZ13pKbK_Z29WjXl cZ1XO2Ji_dRA c2abBOT_EY cZ1vNhDV_rd cZV8aCd_pI ah_14s73" d="M12,2c5.523,0,10,4.477,10,10s-4.477,10-10,10"></path></svg></div></div></div></div><div> </div><div><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">--Kim</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><div data-testid="navbar" class="ydp3c209a8fmain-menu ydp3c209a8fanimated" style="font-family: "SF Pro Display", -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, Inter, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; 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width: 30px; min-height: 30px;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"></button></div></div></div></div></div><div class="ydp3c209a8ftopbar-spacer" style="width: 1247px; min-height: 72px;"></div></div><div style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: Spectral, serif, -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 19px;"><div class="ydp3c209a8fsingle-post-container" style="background-size: ;"><div class="ydp3c209a8fcontainer" style="margin: 0px auto; min-width: 280px; width: 728px;"><div class="ydp3c209a8fsingle-post"><div class="ydp3c209a8fpost-header"><h1 class="ydp3c209a8fpost-title ydp3c209a8funpublished" style="font-family: "SF Compact Display", -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji"; margin: 0px;">How To Not Set Your Money on Fire in 2024</h1><h3 class="ydp3c209a8fsubtitle" style="font-family: "SF Compact Display", -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji"; font-weight: 400; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px;">A new donation platform, Oath.vote, seeks to change donor behavior. Plus, the silence of the American Jewish establishment as Bibi threatens a million-plus Gazan civilians.</h3><div class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-display-flex ydp3c209a8fpc-flexDirection-column ydp3c209a8fpc-paddingBottom-16 ydp3c209a8fpc-reset" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none; padding-bottom: 16px;"><div class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-display-flex ydp3c209a8fpc-flexDirection-column ydp3c209a8fpc-paddingTop-16 ydp3c209a8fpc-paddingBottom-16 ydp3c209a8fpc-reset" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none; padding-top: 16px; padding-bottom: 16px;"><div class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-display-flex ydp3c209a8fpc-gap-12 ydp3c209a8fpc-alignItems-center ydp3c209a8fpc-reset ydp3c209a8fbyline-wrapper" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none;"><div class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-display-flex ydp3c209a8fpc-reset" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none;"><div class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-display-flex ydp3c209a8fpc-gap-8 ydp3c209a8fpc-alignItems-center ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Box-module__flexGrow--mx4xz ydp3c209a8fpc-reset ydp3c209a8ffacepile" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none;"><div class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-display-flex ydp3c209a8fpc-alignItems-center ydp3c209a8fpc-reset" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none;"><div class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-display-flex ydp3c209a8fpc-alignItems-center ydp3c209a8fpc-reset ydp3c209a8ffrontend-components-Facepile-module__faces--FVkdk ydp3c209a8ffrontend-components-Facepile-module__size-40--pH6IT" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none; position: relative; z-index: 0;"><div class="ydp3c209a8fprofile-hover-card-target ydp3c209a8ffrontend-reader2-ProfileAndPublicationHoverCard-module__profileHoverCardTarget--Od_YL" style="display: inline-block;"><a href="https://substack.com/profile/672642-micah-l-sifry" class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-display-flex ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Box-module__flexAuto--CnX9I ydp3c209a8fpc-reset" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_80,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d3ac4e2-7fa2-4d01-8824-a81dc032c608_400x400.jpeg" alt="" width="80" class="ydp3c209a8ffrontend-components-responsive_img-module__img--Pgjj2 ydp3c209a8ffacepile-face ydp3c209a8ffrontend-components-Facepile-module__face--uAQkp ydp3c209a8ffrontend-components-Facepile-module__size-40--pH6IT ydp3c209a8ffrontend-components-Facepile-module__first--TZamh ydp3c209a8ffrontend-components-Facepile-module__last--DT3p3 ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-reset" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none; position: relative; background-size: ; border-radius: var(--border-radius-full); border-top-width: ; border-right-width: ; border-bottom-width: ; border-left-width: ; margin-left: 0px; z-index: 1;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"></a></div></div></div></div></div><div class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-display-flex ydp3c209a8fpc-flexDirection-column ydp3c209a8fpc-reset" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none;"><div class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-reset ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-pub-primary-text--RzL7j ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-meta--U_nxy ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-11--k1e8b ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-medium--x7khA ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__transform-uppercase--IDkUL ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__meta--jzHdd" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none; margin: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 20px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-transform: uppercase;"><div class="ydp3c209a8fprofile-hover-card-target ydp3c209a8ffrontend-reader2-ProfileAndPublicationHoverCard-module__profileHoverCardTarget--Od_YL" style="display: inline-block;"><a href="https://substack.com/@theconnector" class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-reset ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__decoration-hover-underline--BEYAn ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none; margin: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">MICAH L. SIFRY</a></div></div><div class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-display-flex ydp3c209a8fpc-gap-4 ydp3c209a8fpc-reset" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none;"><div class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-reset ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-pub-secondary-text--OzRTa ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-meta--U_nxy ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-11--k1e8b ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-medium--x7khA ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__transform-uppercase--IDkUL ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__meta--jzHdd" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none; margin: 0px; font-size: 11px; line-height: 20px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-transform: uppercase;">FEB 14, 2024</div></div></div></div></div><div class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-display-flex ydp3c209a8fpc-gap-16 ydp3c209a8fpc-paddingTop-16 ydp3c209a8fpc-paddingBottom-16 ydp3c209a8fpc-justifyContent-space-between ydp3c209a8fpc-alignItems-center ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Box-module__flexGrow--mx4xz ydp3c209a8fpc-reset ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Box-module__border-top-detail-themed--e17yZ ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Box-module__border-bottom-detail-themed--eVwFY ydp3c209a8fpost-ufi" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none; padding-top: 16px; padding-bottom: 16px; border-top-width: ; border-bottom-width: ;"><div class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-display-flex ydp3c209a8fpc-gap-8 ydp3c209a8fpc-reset" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none;"><div class="ydp3c209a8flike-button-container ydp3c209a8fpost-ufi-button ydp3c209a8fstyle-button" style="background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; cursor: pointer; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; position: relative; border-radius: calc(var(--size-40)*.5); padding: 0px;">14<ul class="ydp3c209a8fdropdown-menu ydp3c209a8ftooltip ydp3c209a8fsubscribe-prompt-dropdown ydp3c209a8ffree" style="border-radius: var(--border-radius-md); background-size: ; border-top-width: ; border-right-width: ; border-bottom-width: ; border-left-width: ; list-style: none; padding: 0px; z-index: 1; visibility: hidden; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji"; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 332px; margin-right: 0px !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px !important;"><div class="ydp3c209a8fdropdown-menu-wrapper" style="padding: 20px; width: 332px; min-height: 410px;"><li style="margin: 0px !important;"><div class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-display-flex ydp3c209a8fpc-flexDirection-column ydp3c209a8fpc-gap-20 ydp3c209a8fpc-reset" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none; margin: 0px;"><div class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-display-flex ydp3c209a8fpc-flexDirection-column ydp3c209a8fpc-gap-4 ydp3c209a8fpc-reset" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none;"><h4 class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-reset ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-24--lgb2s ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-display--KlbfE ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-20--rvGME ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-semibold--LJBj3 ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; font-size: 20px; letter-spacing: -0.45px;"></h4><div class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-reset ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-secondary--WRADg ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-text--QmNJR ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-13--XwZ4Q ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-regular--gZeOD ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none; margin: 0px; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; letter-spacing: -0.08px;"></div></div><div class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-display-flex ydp3c209a8fpc-flexDirection-column ydp3c209a8fpc-gap-12 ydp3c209a8fpc-reset" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none;"><input disabled="" value="kimc0240@yahoo.com" style="padding: 8px 12px; font-weight: 400; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; border-top-width: ; border-right-width: ; border-bottom-width: ; border-left-width: ; border-radius: var(--border-radius-sm); width: 292px;"><button class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Button-module__buttonBase--T0hXz ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Button-module__button--d6e9L ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Button-module__priority_primary-theme--o7dw6 ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Button-module__size_medium--PaDMH ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Button-module__fill_filled--ysyt0 ydp3c209a8ffrontend-pencraft-Button-module__grow--PaHXm ydp3c209a8fpc-justifyContent-center" tabindex="0" style="outline: none; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; border-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; padding: 0 var(--size-20); cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; position: relative; border-radius: var(--border-radius-sm); width: 292px;"></button></div></div></li></div></ul></div><a href="https://theconnector.substack.com/p/how-to-not-set-your-money-on-fire/comments" class="ydp3c209a8fpost-ufi-button ydp3c209a8fstyle-button ydp3c209a8fpost-ufi-comment-button ydp3c209a8fhas-label ydp3c209a8fwith-border" style="background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; cursor: pointer; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; border-radius: calc(var(--size-40)*.5); padding: 0 var(--size-12); border-top-width: ; border-right-width: ; border-bottom-width: ; border-left-width: ;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><div class="ydp3c209a8flabel" style="border-bottom-width: 2px; border-top-width: 2px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; letter-spacing: -0.15px;">6</div></a>3</div><div class="ydp3c209a8fpencraft ydp3c209a8fpc-display-flex ydp3c209a8fpc-gap-8 ydp3c209a8fpc-reset" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none;">Share</div></div></div></div><div class="ydp3c209a8fvisibility-check"></div><div><div class="ydp3c209a8favailable-content"><div class="ydp3c209a8fbody ydp3c209a8fmarkup" style="width: 728px;"><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin-top: 0px;"><span>I've written </span><a href="https://micahsifry.medium.com/why-do-democratic-donors-keep-burning-their-money-a297c8906909?sk=bf67511cf9c3a1294706bf6394f2609e" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">multiple</a><span> </span><a href="https://gen.medium.com/democratic-donors-stop-setting-your-money-on-fire-a395dc7948d1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">times</a><span> about the problem of political rage-giving, which is when donors give campaign contributions to candidates running against entrenched incumbents that they hate, but who have no chance of winning. Candidates like </span><strong>Marcus Flowers</strong><span> (who raised $16 million in his failed 2022 bid against Rep. </span><strong>Marjorie Taylor Greene</strong><span>), </span><strong>Amy McGrath</strong><span> (who raised $94 million in her failed 2020 run against Sen. </span><strong>Mitch McConnell</strong><span>), and </span><strong>Jaime Harrison</strong><span> (who raised a whopping $130 million in his failed 2020 challenge to Sen. </span><strong>Lindsey Graham</strong><span>) broke fundraising records and still went down to very predictable defeats. The problem is made worse by political professionals who </span><a href="https://theconnector.substack.com/p/the-phoney-war-is-ending-are-we-ready" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">rake in huge fees</a><span> pumping out </span><a href="https://theconnector.substack.com/p/if-you-dont-give-now-the-sky-will" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">shrill emails</a><span> urging people to give, and far too many small donors aren't sophisticated enough to know if they're spending their money wisely.</span></p><div class="ydp3c209a8fcaptioned-image-container" style="margin: var(--size-32) auto;"><a class="ydp3c209a8fimage-link ydp3c209a8fimage2" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa315d02d-5de0-42bd-8f2f-5430ca48a98d_498x227.gif" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM" style="position: relative; padding: 0px; margin: 0px auto; width: auto; height: auto; border: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><div class="ydp3c209a8fimage2-inset" style="position: relative;"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa315d02d-5de0-42bd-8f2f-5430ca48a98d_498x227.gif" data-attrs="{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a315d02d-5de0-42bd-8f2f-5430ca48a98d_498x227.gif","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":227,"width":498,"resizeWidth":null,"bytes":842347,"alt":null,"title":null,"type":"image/gif","href":null,"belowTheFold":false,"topImage":true,"internalRedirect":null}" class="ydp3c209a8fsizing-normal" alt="" style="display: block; max-width: 498px; margin: 0px auto; width: 498px;"><div></div></div></a></div><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>Enter a new solution: </span><a href="https://app.oath.vote/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Oath.vote</a><span>, which makes data-driven recommendations about how to ensure your dollars go where they are most needed and most useful. I spoke with co-founder </span><strong>Brian Derrick</strong><span> last Friday and came away quite impressed. Here are a few excerpts of our conversation.</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong>Derrick</strong><span>: </span><em>We analyze thousands of relevant races, federal and statewide. We've done 65 or 70 state legislative chambers, and then select local races all the way down to the school board. We analyze those races across three metrics--competitiveness, stakes and financial need--to find what we believe are the races where dollars will go furthest. Based on those three metrics we assigne candidates a score of one through ten, which is just a quick signal to a donor about the relative impact of their dollars in one race versus another.</em></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><em><span>So use the classic example: </span><strong>Amy McGrath</strong><span> in Kentucky with $100 million and a long shot to win is going to have a really low impact score; your $10 is just not going to meaningfully move the needle there. While an Arizona state senate race that's a toss-up by every metric where control of the chamber is at stake could end up with a 10 out of 10, potentially something like that. We put those recommendations with the visible impact scores up onto the platform. Anyone can access that; it's free to use.</span></em></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><em>You can select an issue that you're most interested in. We break candidates out by protecting democracy, reproductive rights, climate change, etc. Defeating Trump is our number one issue right now. And then you click donate and we, by default, recommend splitting a donation across a number of races. So that way it's not someone giving to this one candidate because they like where they went to law school and like their most recent ad, but it's more about the strategic value of these specific districts.</em></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>Q: </span><em>If someone goes to your website, the first thing they're asked is to join Oath.vote. Why do you ask people to join?</em></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong>Derrick</strong><span>: </span><em>Part of the dynamic shift that we are pursuing is rather than us bugging you to give $5, we want the donor to tell us what they're interested in. And so, with that quick onboarding, we ask four questions: What issues motivate you, what you want to focus on, what your budget is, and how often you want recommendations. And so that enables us to send increasingly personalized recommendations, where tens of thousands of people can get an email with a different recommendation. One might say here's your once-a-week reproductive rights recommendation versus to somebody else it's your once quarterly recommendation that's really focused on protecting democracy. And those will look different.</em></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>Q: </span><em>How much do you adjust your recommendations based on changing information like updated quarterly campaign finance reports? That must help you make judgments about things like viability and competitiveness.</em></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong>Derrick</strong><span>: </span><em>Exactly. The filings that certainly help with our financial need metric. There's of course foundational data around the district and voter registration advantage that don't change so much from month to month, but there are also polling components. I think we saw eight House districts move this week, four in the direction of Democrats, four in the direction of Republicans. And so their scores were updated to reflect that. It's different at the state level, state by state because some of the states have monthly reporting requirements. Some of them are once every six months.</em></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>Q: </span><em>I would think you have lots of challenges. Polling itself is inherently broken in many ways. And there are some solutions about which polls to trust more but I think whoever it is on your team that is focused on getting this algorithm to be as good as you can get it has got to be having sleepless nights.</em></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><strong>Derrick</strong><span>: </span><em><span>It's a really interesting challenge. Most people are using polling to try to predict an outcome and we are not. We are trying to predict a window. One of our core metrics as to how successful we are donors on behalf of our users, is how much funding we direct to races that are decided by less than 5%. And so while the polling might be wrong on </span><strong>Marie Gluesenkamp Perez</strong><span>'s race by three points which could be problematic for you, it actually is accurate enough for us to say we do think that this is going to be a really competitive race one way or the other, whether it's decided by three points in favor of her, or if it's decided by three points in favor or opponent. That six-point window is exactly where people should be directing funding. So, it's a little bit more helpful to us that it might be to the campaigns themselves.</span></em></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Derrick also explained that Oath works to project the optimal funding level for every race, looking at the historic spending trends and the media market as well as other factors like candidate quality and competitiveness. Then they use that projection to make judgments about how well a campaign is doing with its fundraising. While about eighty percent of an Oath recommendation score is based on quantitative analysis, Derrick says he draws on human insight as well. "I am constantly on the phone talking to organizers," he says. "We don't take information or input from candidates and campaigns themselves, but we talk to state parties, we talk to caucuses and frontline groups to try to get a better sense of what the data is missing."</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Right now, Derrick says the average Oath user is giving around $250-300 per election cycle. Typically, they live in a blue state, or in a blue city in a red state—places where people feel their dollars can have a greater impact than just their vote. He also says they have users who are independents or right-leaning but who want to donate in support of abortion rights ballot initiatives or candidates.</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Interestingly, Oath.vote switched from using ActBlue as its donation platform at first to using Democracy Engine. Derrick told me that is because ActBlue didn't allow them to withhold donor information from campaigns and they want to avoid a situation where donors whose contributions are split ten ways getting added to ten new email lists. ActBlue also doesn't allow middlemen like Oath to generate revenue from voluntary tips, which is how the start-up is making money.</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Derrick told me that he and his team are working on lots of new features for Oath (which is so named because they eventually want to cover every elected position where a person takes an oath of office). One would assign an impact value to donations, to help people understand how much more valuable early contributions are than last-minute ones. Another is to add more explanatory language around the specific scores they assign to candidates. And a third is to offer a "smart search" feature that helps guide a potential donor toward the choices that make the most sense.</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">One last thing that Oath does that I really like is send members a "personal impact" report at the end of the cycle letting them know what their impact was. If more people start giving this way, at least some of the oxygen that keeps bad candidates like Marcus Flowers and their consultants alive will be siphoned away.</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">—Related: One thing that Oath doesn't do as of now, though it may in the future, is factor in the importance of supporting year-round community organizing. Derrick told me that especially for wealthier donors who might have a budget of say $20,000 per cycle, he and his team want to offer them an individualized budget that would allocate a portion for infrastructure and frontline organizations and not just candidates. But right now Oath is trying to meet donors where they are, which is starting out focused on candidate campaigns.</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>If you want to focus your money on supporting year-round community organizing that engages voters, one option is to go to the Movement Voter Project, which offers a wide array of groups to support. But another similar option that I recently learned about is </span><a href="https://www.flipthevote.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Flip the Vote</a><span>. Where MVP goes broad, Flip the Vote goes deep, driving funding to </span><a href="https://theconnector.substack.com/p/who%20have%20no%20chance%20of%20winning" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">five grassroots voter engagement groups</a><span> in the must-win swing states of Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. Each group has a proven track record, is run and staffed largely by people of color rooted in local communities, and focuses on long-term power-building aimed at creating a more equitable society. Every dollar you give via Flip the Vote goes directly to those groups; the organization has a separate group of benefactors that support its tiny staff. Since 2020, Flip the Vote has built a base of 10,000 donors through hundreds of house parties; if you are feeling depressed about 2024, there's nothing more uplifting than getting together with friends and neighbors to hear from Flip the Vote's organizers about how you can make a difference.</span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div></div>Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-88988519924216299352024-02-08T05:19:00.001-08:002024-02-08T05:19:43.724-08:00ANS -- Bank of America to World: Just Drown Already<div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Here is an issue of a newsletter by Bill McKibbon. The main article is about banks that said they would not finance new fossil fuel enterprises are going back on their word -- principally out of fear of Republicans. What should we do? </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Find it here: <a href="https://billmckibben.substack.com/p/bank-of-america-to-world-just-drown?r=5ppco&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&fbclid=IwAR2m6nfXQ4QVPlb8awdtHHerTZtxtGDWziSKTC7zhCMlfVdwrV4tw-tbVUY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="enhancr_card_7724469191">Bank of America to World: Just Drown Already</a> </div><div><br></div><div id="ydp6bc379d2enhancr_card_7724469191" class="ydp6bc379d2yahoo-link-enhancr-card ydp6bc379d2ymail-preserve-class ydp6bc379d2ymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" data-url="https://billmckibben.substack.com/p/bank-of-america-to-world-just-drown?r=5ppco&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&fbclid=IwAR2m6nfXQ4QVPlb8awdtHHerTZtxtGDWziSKTC7zhCMlfVdwrV4tw-tbVUY" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://billmckibben.substack.com/p/bank-of-america-to-world-just-drown?r=5ppco&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&fbclid=IwAR2m6nfXQ4QVPlb8awdtHHerTZtxtGDWziSKTC7zhCMlfVdwrV4tw-tbVUY" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydp6bc379d2yahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydp6bc379d2card-wrapper ydp6bc379d2yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydp6bc379d2card ydp6bc379d2yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp6bc379d2card-primary-image-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/rEwCgG6pF0GVsbebQ.OD1Q--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1200,h_600,c_fill,f_jpg,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep,g_auto/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffba88bf5-be7d-4160-904f-5d70a88e1dd0_8192x5464.jpeg.cf.jpg" bgcolor="#000000" valign="top" height="175" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); 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border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:-18px;left:0;"><v:fill type="pattern" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png"/><v:textbox inset="0,0,20px,0"><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydp6bc379d2yahoo-ignore-table" height="175" style="width: 100%; min-height: 175px;"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp6bc379d2card-richInfo2" style="text-align:left;padding:15px 0 0 15px;vertical-align:top"></td><td class="ydp6bc379d2card-actions" style="text-align:right;padding:15px 15px 0 0;vertical-align:top"><div class="ydp6bc379d2card-share-container"></div></td></tr></tbody></table><!--[if gte mso 9]></v:textbox></v:rect><![endif]--></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><table border="0" align="center" class="ydp6bc379d2card-info ydp6bc379d2yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydp6bc379d2card-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(29, 34, 40); max-width: 314px;">Bank of America to World: Just Drown Already</h2><p class="ydp6bc379d2card-richinfo-primary" style="font-size:12px;line-height:16px;margin:0 0 4px 0;color:#979ea8">Bill McKibben</p><p class="ydp6bc379d2card-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 158, 168);">Finance capitalism as a suicide machine</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">--Kim</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><div data-testid="navbar" class="ydp7bc12a30main-menu ydp7bc12a30animated" style="font-family: "SF Pro Display", -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, Inter, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; 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padding: 0px; margin: 0px auto; width: auto; height: auto; border: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><div class="ydp7bc12a30image2-inset" style="position: relative;"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ffba88bf5-be7d-4160-904f-5d70a88e1dd0_8192x5464.jpeg" data-attrs="{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/fba88bf5-be7d-4160-904f-5d70a88e1dd0_8192x5464.jpeg","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":971,"width":1456,"resizeWidth":null,"bytes":5748461,"alt":null,"title":null,"type":"image/jpeg","href":null,"belowTheFold":false,"topImage":true,"internalRedirect":null}" class="ydp7bc12a30sizing-normal" alt="" style="display: block; max-width: 788px; margin: 0px auto; width: 100%;"><div class="ydp7bc12a30image-link-expand" style="background-size: ; border-radius: 6px; cursor: pointer;"></div></div></a>California, today</div><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Bank of America has its roots in California. Founded in Los Angeles in 1923, it was acquired by a San Francisco bank, which took the name in 1930—and over time it has grown to become the world's second-largest bank by deposits, second only to New York-based Chase.</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>I tell you this for two reasons. One, California is, as of this writing, being absolutely </span><a href="http://ttps//www.nytimes.com/live/2024/02/05/us/weather-california-storm" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">battered</a><span> by an "atmospheric river" that has knocked out power to hundreds of thousands, and caused mudslides on high ground along the Pacific Coast. As Andrew Dessler </span><a href="https://www.theclimatebrink.com/p/a-primer-on-atmospheric-rivers" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pointed out</a><span> yesterday, the physics are pretty simple: "A warmer planet has more water vapor in the atmosphere. And, everything else being the same, an atmospheric river carrying more water vapor will cause more rainfall when it hits land and starts rising."</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>And second, Bank of America is a proximate cause of this kind of chaos, because it refuses to stop lending for fossil fuel expansion. </span><strong>Indeed, last week it engaged in perhaps the single most irresponsible about-face of the climate era.</strong></p><div class="ydp7bc12a30subscription-widget-wrap"><div class="ydp7bc12a30subscription-widget ydp7bc12a30show-subscribe" style="font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji"; line-height: 1.5; text-align: center; max-width: 560px; margin: 24px auto; padding: 32px; direction: ltr !important;"><div class="ydp7bc12a30preamble" style="font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji"; font-size: 18px; max-width: 384px; line-height: 22px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">If it would strain you financially to pay the modest and voluntary subscription fee, don't sweat it. 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Thanks!</p></div><div data-component-name="SubscribeWidget" class="ydp7bc12a30subscribe-widget" style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; direction: ltr;"><div class="ydp7bc12a30pencraft ydp7bc12a30pc-display-flex ydp7bc12a30pc-justifyContent-center ydp7bc12a30pc-reset" style="text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none;"><div class="ydp7bc12a30frontend-components-free_email_form-module__container--OfBh4" style="width: 380px; max-width: 380px;"><form action="https://billmckibben.substack.com/api/v1/free?nojs=true" method="post" class="ydp7bc12a30form ydp7bc12a30frontend-components-free_email_form-module__form--LDIzl" style="margin: 0px; position: relative; max-width: 384px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><div class="ydp7bc12a30frontend-components-free_email_form-module__sideBySideWrap--yhsgv" style="max-width: 380px;"><input name="fake_email" placeholder="email" style="padding: 16px 12px; margin: 0px; border-top: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); display: block; width: 380px; font-size: 16px; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji"; border-radius: var(--border-radius-12);"><input type="password" name="fake_password" placeholder="password" style="padding: 16px 12px; margin: 0px; border-top-width: ; border-right-width: ; border-bottom-width: ; border-left-width: ; display: block; width: 380px; font-size: 16px; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji"; border-radius: var(--border-radius-12);"><div class="ydp7bc12a30frontend-components-free_email_form-module__emailInputWrapper--BXNrb"><input name="email" placeholder="Type your email..." value="kimc0240@yahoo.com" class="ydp7bc12a30pencraft ydp7bc12a30frontend-components-free_email_form-module__emailInput--BLQGf" readonly="" style="padding: 10px; border-right-width: 0px; border-radius: var(--border-radius-6) 0 0 var(--border-radius-6); font-size: 16px; line-height: 19px; width: 276.438px; min-height: 40px;"></div><button class="ydp7bc12a30button ydp7bc12a30rightButton ydp7bc12a30primary ydp7bc12a30subscribe-btn ydp7bc12a30frontend-components-free_email_form-module__button--WcLG9" tabindex="0" style="font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji"; cursor: pointer; border-top-width: ; border-right-width: ; border-bottom-width: ; border-left-width: ; border-radius: 0 var(--border-radius-6) var(--border-radius-6) 0; padding: 0 var(--size-20); margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; outline: 0px; margin-top: 0px !important;"><span class="ydp7bc12a30button-text">Subscribe</span></button></div><div id="ydp7bc12a30error-container"></div></form><div class="ydp7bc12a30frontend-login-typo_handler-EmailTypoHandler-module__animationWrapper--UT0du" style="width: 380px; z-index: 1; min-height: 0px;"></div></div></div></div></div></div><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Three years ago—in the wake of the Greta-inspired mass uprising of young people around the world—Bank of America apparently felt it had to make some gesture, so it chose a pretty easy route to demonstrate its newfound greenness. It said it would no longer lend for new coal mining or coal-fired power plants or for new oil exploration in the Arctic. These were seen to be beyond the pale because…well, they are. They represent some of the most egregious possible insults to this planet.</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>But last week they said, </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/03/climate/bank-of-america-esg.html" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">never mind</a><span>. If you want some money for a new coal mine, our window is open again. If you're an oil company that feels like searching for oil in the Arctic now that you've melted it, we can make a deal. As the Times reported last week</span></p><blockquote style="border-left-width: ; margin: var(--size-20) 0; padding: 0px;"><p style="line-height: 1.6em;"><span>Bank of America's change follows intensifying backlash from Republican lawmakers against corporations that consider environmental and social factors in their operations. Wall Street in particular </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/28/climate/esg-climate-backlash.html" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">has come under fire</a><span> for what some Republicans have called "woke capitalism," a campaign that has pulled banks into the wider culture wars.</span></p></blockquote><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">That is to say, they're far more afraid of some oil-soaked GOP state treasurer than they are of an atmospheric river bearing down on the world's fifth largest economy. It's proof, of course, that their words about climate change were just pious nonsense. They'd insisted that they understood how crucial it was to change: "Climate change is no longer a far off risk but rather a global concern with impacts that are already beginning to unfold, including increased frequency and severity of extreme weather conditions, melting glaciers, loss of sea ice, accelerated sea level rise and longer, more intense heat waves and droughts." But that was, we now understand, to be understood entirely as greenwashing, an effort to reduce the heat they were temporarily feeling.</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">The actual heat they could care less about. It's not like something has happened since 2021—except the hottest year in the last 125,000, which takes us back even before the advent of money, if BofA executives can even imagine such a time.</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>But the only weather change they've noticed is political. Out with Greta et al, in with GOP politicians saying scary things. And BofA is not alone. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism </span><a href="https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2024-01-19/hsbc-helped-oil-and-gas-industry-raise-47bn-despite-net-zero-pledge" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">reported</a><span> last week that global giant HSBC, despite a solemn promise that it would stop financing new oild and gas fields, has found ways to keep</span></p><blockquote style="border-left-width: ; margin: var(--size-20) 0; padding: 0px;"><p style="line-height: 1.6em;">selling shares in the refining business of Saudi Aramco, one of the most aggressive expanders of oil and gas. An investor in HSBC told the Bureau of Investigative Journalism that the bank's policy has been cleverly worded to allow it to fund some of the world's biggest polluters while boasting about its green credentials.</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em;">An analysis of Refinitiv data by TBIJ has found that in the year since HSBC's new policy was announced, the bank has helped raise more than $47bn (£37bn) for companies that are expanding the production of oil and gas, despite dire warnings from scientists that this will push the world beyond its survivable limits.</p></blockquote><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">This is all just sick. The International Energy Agency said in 2021 that if we had a chance of meeting the Paris temperature targets, finance for fossil fuel expansion had to end now. But the banks, and big asset managers like Blackrock, just can't help themselves. For short-term gain, and to protect themselves from attack by right-wing politicians, they are willing to break the back of the planet's climate system. The unbelievable economic fallout of those decisions—the fact that the world be immensely poorer, with its prospects hugely degraded, by the resulting rise in temperature—will be the problem of some other CEO down the road; it's hard not to see our financial system as a suicide machine.</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>Fighting back is hard. At places like Third Act, we've done loads of sit-ins and pickets, and it helps—that's the kind of action that forced these pledges in the first place. But we need some big players on our side. We're trying, for instance, to </span><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/costco-youre-a-good-company-do-better-with-your-bank/" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">convince</a><span> Costco to pressure its banker Citi; we need the big tech companies, too, to worry not just about about the climate impact of their phones but also about the climate impact of their money (which is </span><a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/could-googles-carbon-emissions-have-effectively-doubled-overnight" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">far far larger</a><span>).</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>We have some champions, of course, but they're not as hard-hitting as their Red State counterparts. Brad Lander, comptroller of New York City, gets credit for being willing to take the banks on—last week he </span><a href="https://comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/nyc-comptroller-lander-nyc-pension-funds-launch-shareholder-drive-to-hold-banks-accountable-for-transition-away-from-financing-of-fossil-fuels/" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">announced</a><span> that he'd try to get them to disclose their ratio of dirty energy to clean energy lending, which would certainly be good to know.</span></p><blockquote style="border-left-width: ; margin: var(--size-20) 0; padding: 0px;"><p style="line-height: 1.6em;"><span>"Despite all their talk, the big banks have made little progress in the energy finance transition over the past couple of years," said Comptroller Lander</span><strong>.</strong><span> "As long-term investors exposed to climate risk, we can't just take their word for it. Reporting transparently on their ratios of clean energy to fossil fuel finance is key to seeing whether or not they are living up to their net-zero commitments. Right now, they aren't – and that must change. Our planet, our economy, and our investment portfolios are all at stake."</span></p></blockquote><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">All of that is true. But if the planet is at stake, then perhaps a somewhat harder shove might be required. Lander's plan seems like a way to win slowly, which on most political issues makes sense. But unless he also has a plan to refreeze a melted Arctic, this kind of pressure seems a tad too gentlemanly.</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">As you can tell, this about face by BofA stings. It takes so much work to move these guys an inch, and then given half a chance they slide right back to where they were before.</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>Small banks seem able to make money doing decent things—here's a </span><a href="https://rise-economy.org/rise-economy-central-valley-community-bank-announce-community-benefits-commitment/" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">nice story</a><span> about a merger of local California banks where they pledged, among other things, to "refrain from any new financing of fossil fuel extraction activities, especially expansion projects that would develop and lock in dependence on new fossil fuel infrastructure, either through corporate or project-based finance, subject to compliance with banking rules and regulations."</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">But the big boys? Damn them to hell, which is clearly where they're content to send all of us.</p><p class="ydp7bc12a30button-wrapper" data-attrs="{"url":"https://billmckibben.substack.com/p/bank-of-america-to-world-just-drown?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo0MzM2ODI1MiwicG9zdF9pZCI6MTQxNDA3MTY3LCJpYXQiOjE3MDczOTU2NDAsImV4cCI6MTcwOTk4NzY0MCwiaXNzIjoicHViLTQzODE0NiIsInN1YiI6InBvc3QtcmVhY3Rpb24ifQ.qVcZM3BcOnTOh2jn-FgypQ3DShWLREDoioWqAgMzvC8","text":"Share","action":null,"class":null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton" style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0; text-align: center;"><a class="ydp7bc12a30button ydp7bc12a30primary" href="https://billmckibben.substack.com/p/bank-of-america-to-world-just-drown?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo0MzM2ODI1MiwicG9zdF9pZCI6MTQxNDA3MTY3LCJpYXQiOjE3MDczOTU2NDAsImV4cCI6MTcwOTk4NzY0MCwiaXNzIjoicHViLTQzODE0NiIsInN1YiI6InBvc3QtcmVhY3Rpb24ifQ.qVcZM3BcOnTOh2jn-FgypQ3DShWLREDoioWqAgMzvC8" style="font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji"; display: inline-block; cursor: pointer; border: 0px; height: auto; border-radius: 6px; padding: 12px 20px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span>Share</span></a></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">In other energy and climate news:</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>+The Global Reporting Initiative, a voluntary but important way of keeping track of greenhouse gas emissions around the world, has introduced a </span><a href="https://www.globalreporting.org/standards/standards-development/sector-standard-for-mining/" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">new standard</a><span> on responsible mining for critical minerals. It's important, because without mining we're not going to be able to build enough green energy, but we need to dramatically reduce the environmental and human rights impact of that mining. In the words of Carol adams, who chairs GRI's Global Sustainabity Standards Board,</span></p><blockquote style="border-left-width: ; margin: var(--size-20) 0; padding: 0px;"><p style="line-height: 1.6em;"><em>"From a sustainability standpoint, the position of mining is complex, in that it is both part of the solution and the problem. The low-carbon transition cannot be realized without key minerals that the sector provides – yet mining operations can have deep and damaging impacts on both nature and people.</em></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em;"><em>We need detailed, consistent and globally comparable reporting on the most significant impacts of mining companies, which this new GRI Standard will deliver. Importantly, it will help mining organizations to improve how they communicate with key stakeholders on the issues that matter most to build trust with communities."</em></p></blockquote><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>Meanwhile, the world's biggest jewelry seller—Pandora—has </span><a href="https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/worlds-biggest-jeweller-pandora-stops-using-mined-silver-gold-2024-01-29/" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">announced</a><span> it's not going to use newly mined silver or gold, instead recycling existing stocks</span></p><blockquote style="border-left-width: ; margin: var(--size-20) 0; padding: 0px;"><p style="line-height: 1.6em;">Using recycled, instead of newly mined, metals cuts Pandora's indirect CO2 emissions by around 58,000 tonnes annually, said Mads Twomey-Madsen, its senior vice president of communications and sustainability.</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em;">Recycled metal supply chains pose risks, as stolen gold can be sold as scrap to be recycled, and it is difficult to prove the origin of metals once melted down.</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em;">To mitigate the risks, Pandora uses a chain of custody standard developed by the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC). That standard, for example, excludes gold coins and gold bars as a source of recycled gold.</p></blockquote><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>And in the LA Times, Sammy Roth </span><a href="https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2024-01-25/column-the-lithium-revolution-has-arrived-at-californias-salton-sea-boiling-point" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">reports</a><span> that a vast new project to source lithium without mining is now officially underway. The scheme uses brine from geothermal projects along California's Salton Sea</span></p><blockquote style="border-left-width: ; margin: var(--size-20) 0; padding: 0px;"><p style="line-height: 1.6em;"><span>They envision the project that breaks ground Friday as the first of seven phases, with the potential to eventually produce 175,000 metric tons per year of lithium hydroxide and 350 megawatts of round-the-clock geothermal power. Other companies could add to the haul, with federal researchers estimating last year that the superheated brine deep beneath the Salton Sea contains enough lithium to fuel </span><a href="https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2023-11-28/the-salton-sea-has-even-more-lithium-than-previously-thought-new-report-finds-boiling-point" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">382 million electric-vehicle batteries</a><span>.</span></p></blockquote><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>+Horrible Chilean wildfires have </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/04/world/americas/chile-forest-fires.html" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">left at least 112 dead.</a></p><blockquote style="border-left-width: ; margin: var(--size-20) 0; padding: 0px;"><p style="line-height: 1.6em;">"It was more like a nuclear bomb than a fire," said Mr. Castro Vázquez, 72. "There's nothing left."</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em;">The destruction in the Valparaíso region came as dozens of fires were burning across central and southern Chile, amid what officials have said are higher-than-normal temperatures for this time of year.</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em;"><span>Several other countries in South America have also struggled to contain wildfires. </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/29/world/americas/colombia-wildfire-forest.html" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Colombia has seen dozens of fires erupt</a><span> in recent weeks, including around the capital of Bogotá, as the country has experienced a spell of dry weather. Firefighters have also been battling blazes in Ecuador, Venezuela and Argentina.</span></p></blockquote><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>+Democratic Senators and Representatives, led by Green New Deal co-sponsor Ed Markey of Massachusetts, </span><a href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/markey-heinrich-eshoo-beyer-introduce-legislation-to-investigate-measure-environmental-impacts-of-artificial-intelligence" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">introduced new legislation </a><span>to study the environmental impact of AI. Which is good news, because asking Chat GPT the best restaurant in your town uses an ungodly amount of energy—by 2027, AI could be </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/10/climate/ai-could-soon-need-as-much-electricity-as-an-entire-country.html" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">using as much </a><span>power as Argentina.</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>+A fascinating new </span><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-44232-9" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">study</a><span> in nature on the "energy return on investment" in renewable energy. EROI—how much energy it takes to make energy, in essence—was long viewed as the achilles heel of clean power, and I still have people asking me if building solar panels doesn't take more energy than they can produced. Not true.</span></p><blockquote style="border-left-width: ; margin: var(--size-20) 0; padding: 0px;"><p style="line-height: 1.6em;"><span>The results demonstrated that for all scenarios, none of the global EROIs goes below 10, which is a value considered to be the upper limit for the net energy cliff. This signifies that: (i) all scenarios are feasible from a techno-economic point of view, (ii) the diversification in RE technologies helps to smooth sudden EROI drops, (iii) restricting ET time leads to sharp declines in EROIs temporarily, but as time proceeds, EROIs are stabilised, and (iv) the storage dependency has an adverse impact on the EROIs trends. These important findings support the claims of technological optimism</span><sup> </sup><span>that the transition to 100% RE systems does not result in a significant disruption from a physical EROI perspective.</span></p></blockquote><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>+Maine lawmakers </span><a href="https://fossilfueltreaty.org/maine" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">joined</a><span> their colleagues from California and Hawaii in endorsing the fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty:</span></p><blockquote style="border-left-width: ; margin: var(--size-20) 0; padding: 0px;"><p style="line-height: 1.6em;">Around the world, a growing bloc of 12 nations - Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Tonga, Fiji, Niue, the Solomon Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, Timor-Leste, Palau, Colombia, Samoa and Nauru - have endorsed this initiative. The Treaty is also supported by the World Health Organization, the European Parliament, nine Peruvian Indigenous Nations, 2,500+ civil society organizations, and over half a million individuals, including Nobel Laureates, 3,000 leading academics, scientists, hundreds of Indigenous, health, youth and faith groups, celebrities and influencers who understand the imperative of this crucial crusade.</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em;"><em><span>"This resolution holds a profound significance not only for our generation, but also for the wellbeing of our planet for generations to come," said </span><a href="https://mainemorningstar.com/briefs/maine-senate-joins-house-in-backing-paris-climate-agreement/" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Senator Stacy Brenner</a><span> in the Maine Morning Star. "We find ourselves in a pivotal moment in history where the choices we make today will determine the future of our environment and the quality of life for all living beings." </span></em></p></blockquote><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>+More sea otters please! A new </span><a href="https://news.ucsb.edu/2024/021341/sea-otters-stabilize-salt-marsh-banks-they-recolonize-californian-estuary" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">study</a><span> finds</span></p><blockquote style="border-left-width: ; margin: var(--size-20) 0; padding: 0px;"><p style="line-height: 1.6em;">remarkable changes have occurred in the landscape as these adorable animals recolonize their former habitat in the Elkhorn Slough, a salt marsh-dominated coastal estuary in Monterey County.</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em;"><span>The erosion of creek banks slowed on average by 69% after the sea otter population fully recovered at a time when rising levels, stronger tidal currents and nutrient pollution should be causing the opposite. Marsh and streamside vegetation is rebounding and putting down densely matted root systems that can increasingly stand firm against flooding and surging waves. These features, essential for making the estuary resilient, are on the mend in large part due to the sea otters' insatiable appetite for herbivorous marsh crabs, according to a study appearing in </span><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06959-9.epdf?sharing_token=9LZGwIwiXjbGOg8OOHikANRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0NvKzutRcaPrQFEfSJp3Lp5DqZAgIocc5Tj8zzqeHIdliSQ0f2vq9nXn5Iyeor-0qr_tEhB7k9UW6PV0f5AgNmJ0wI6IigVMAOCgEPSAxlOsrnuRPd2cX8iFSlKOOhZ6Mg%3D" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nature</a></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em;">Crabs are an important part of the slough ecosystem, but too many of them can ruin the wetland's integrity. "Crabs eat salt marsh roots, burrow into salt marsh sediments, and over time can cause a marsh to erode and collapse. This had been happening at Elkhorn Slough for decades until sea otters recolonized the estuary in the mid-1980s and expanded into salt marshes over the last decade," said lead author Brent Hughes, an associate professor of biology at Sonoma State University.</p></blockquote><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;">Did I include this as a shameless way to post some pictures of sea otters? I did</p><div class="ydp7bc12a30captioned-image-container" style="margin: var(--size-32) auto;"><a class="ydp7bc12a30image-link ydp7bc12a30is-viewable-img ydp7bc12a30image2" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7de4237d-4309-413f-bc2b-214bb466e4e5_2340x1212.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM" style="position: relative; padding: 0px; margin: 0px auto; width: auto; height: auto; border: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><div class="ydp7bc12a30image2-inset" style="position: relative;"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7de4237d-4309-413f-bc2b-214bb466e4e5_2340x1212.jpeg" data-attrs="{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/7de4237d-4309-413f-bc2b-214bb466e4e5_2340x1212.jpeg","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":754,"width":1456,"resizeWidth":null,"bytes":1155689,"alt":null,"title":null,"type":"image/jpeg","href":null,"belowTheFold":true,"topImage":false,"internalRedirect":null}" class="ydp7bc12a30sizing-normal" alt="" style="display: block; max-width: 788px; margin: 0px auto; width: 100%;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"><div class="ydp7bc12a30image-link-expand" style="background-size: ; border-radius: 6px; cursor: pointer;"></div></div></a></div><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>+New personalized </span><a href="https://homes.rewiringamerica.org/personal-electrification-planner" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">home electrification planner</a><span> from the excellent minds at Rewiring America!</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>+The Amazon had a horrid drought last year, apparently made </span><a href="https://news.mongabay.com/2024/01/climate-change-made-2023-amazon-drought-30-times-more-likely-scientists-say/" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">thirty times more likely</a><span> by the global rise in temperature from burning fossil fuels</span></p><blockquote style="border-left-width: ; margin: var(--size-20) 0; padding: 0px;"><p style="line-height: 1.6em;">Ben Clarke, one of the report's authors and a researcher at the Imperial College London, said the results might come as a surprise to some. "As the Amazon drought worsened in 2023, many people pointed to El Niño to explain the event," he said in a press conference announcing the results. "While El Niño did lead to lower levels of rainfall, our study shows that climate change is the main driver of the drought through its influence on higher temperatures."</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em;"><span>As further evidence of their findings, the authors point to additional impacts climate change has brought to the region. The dry season has been longer and harsher with each passing year. In 2023, the hottest on record, an exceptionally warm North Atlantic Ocean kept rain clouds away, and a series of heatwaves </span><a href="https://news.mongabay.com/2023/10/people-and-nature-suffer-as-historic-drought-fuels-calamitous-amazon-fires/" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">triggered record wildfires.</a></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em;">"These are all footprints of climate change and greatly contributed to this drought," Regina Rodrigues, co-author of the study and professor of physical oceanography at the Federal University of Santa Catarina in Brazil, said in the press conference. "While droughts are [a] key part of this biome's history, they are becoming increasingly stronger and widespread."</p></blockquote><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>+As John Kerry steps down as chief climate envoy, John Podesta is </span><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/01/31/podesta-john-kerry-climate-envoy/" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">taking over</a><span>. Podesta—a long-time high level presidential councilor—will also stay on in his role overseeing the Inflation Reduction Act spending. I think he's understood by all to be close to President Biden, meaning he should have the necessary diplomatic clout to keep global climate talks, however tenuous, moving forward</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>+Parisians have voted in a citywide referendum to </span><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/04/parisians-vote-in-favour-of-tripling-parking-costs-for-suvs?CMP=twt_a-environment_b-gdneco" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">triple the cost</a><span> of parking for SUVs</span></p><blockquote style="border-left-width: ; margin: var(--size-20) 0; padding: 0px;"><p style="line-height: 1.6em;">Tony Renucci, director of the air quality campaign group Respire, said: "The result of the vote is a victory for Paris residents' quality of life." He added that Paris was sending a message that "the presence of these monsters on wheels was no longer desirable on our streets".</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em;">Emmanuel Grégoire, Paris's deputy mayor, posted on X as voting began: "Heavier, more dangerous, more polluting … SUVs are an environmental disaster."</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em;">Under Hidalgo, Paris has for years raised pressure on drivers by increasing parking costs and gradually banning diesel vehicles, while expanding the bicycle lane network in the congested capital. The city has reduced the number of on-street parking spaces in order to make drivers use underground parking. There was a 71% rise in the use of bikes between the end of the Covid lockdowns and 2023, city hall said.</p></blockquote><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>+Oops. Scientists say </span><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/02/05/hurricanes-category6/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzA3MTA5MjAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzA4NDkxNTk5LCJpYXQiOjE3MDcxMDkyMDAsImp0aSI6IjY3NGU3MWI2LTBhOGItNGIxYi04YmIyLTEyMDY4NDI4NDdlYiIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS93ZWF0aGVyLzIwMjQvMDIvMDUvaHVycmljYW5lcy1jYXRlZ29yeTYvIn0.M916bk8dc68B9fN8xjHOcPNHCRGAl6ySftcqucd6B74" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">we may now need</a><span> a Category 6 for hurricanes.</span></p><blockquote style="border-left-width: ; margin: var(--size-20) 0; padding: 0px;"><p style="line-height: 1.6em;">"Climate change has demonstrably made the strongest storms stronger," said Michael Wehner, a senior scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. "Introduction of this hypothetical Category 6 would raise awareness of that."</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em;">Wehner and James Kossin, a distinguished science adviser at the First Street Foundation, suggest the Category 6 label could go to any tropical cyclone with sustained winds of at least 192 mph — an intensity that five storms have surpassed since 2013.</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em;">Meteorologists have for years debated whether the current hurricane scale adequately captures the hazards of today's storms — it only takes winds into account, not pounding waves or flooding — and whether a new top-end category is needed. With the new research, the scientists say they are formalizing that discussion, in hopes of spurring more academic debate about the ways climate change is heightening weather hazards as we know them.</p><p style="line-height: 1.6em;">"Having [Category 5] mean anything above a certain threshold is becoming more and more problematic," Kossin said. "It tends to understate the risk."</p></blockquote><p style="line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0 0 var(--size-20) 0;"><span>+Tar sands oil producers in Canada get to self-report their own greenhouse gas emissions. But new research shows they have been underestimating their damage to the climate—by, oh, </span><a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/canada-emissions-toxic-oil-sands-b2485599.html" style="text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">6,000 percent. </a><span>Scientists "noted that the total oil sands carbon emissions were larger than those from all human-made sources, from chemical products to cars, in megacities like Los Angeles."</span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div></div>Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-70786942490639599982024-02-06T16:25:00.000-08:002024-02-06T16:26:52.608-08:00ANS -- Why The Real Test of American Exceptionalism is Now<div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Here is a new one from umair haque, but it is an unusually hopeful one for him. He thinks this next big election will be a big test of the American People, and we may just pass it. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">find it here: <a href="https://eand.co/why-the-real-test-of-american-exceptionalism-is-now-35848f05f832" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://eand.co/why-the-real-test-of-american-exceptionalism-is-now-35848f05f832</a> </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">--Kim</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><div class="ydp3ed3eae8ab ydp3ed3eae8ca" style="font-family: medium-content-sans-serif-font, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8ch ydp3ed3eae8bg ydp3ed3eae8fa ydp3ed3eae8fb ydp3ed3eae8fc ydp3ed3eae8fd" style="width: 680px; min-width: 0px; margin: 0px 24px; max-width: 680px;"><div><h1 id="ydp3ed3eae86062" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-title ydp3ed3eae8gb ydp3ed3eae8gc ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8be ydp3ed3eae8ge ydp3ed3eae8gf ydp3ed3eae8gg ydp3ed3eae8gh ydp3ed3eae8gi ydp3ed3eae8gj ydp3ed3eae8gk ydp3ed3eae8gl ydp3ed3eae8gm ydp3ed3eae8gn ydp3ed3eae8go ydp3ed3eae8gp ydp3ed3eae8gq ydp3ed3eae8gr ydp3ed3eae8gs ydp3ed3eae8gt ydp3ed3eae8gu ydp3ed3eae8gv ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-testid="storyTitle" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 52px; letter-spacing: -0.011em; font-size: 42px;">Why The Real Test of American Exceptionalism is Now</h1></div><div><h2 id="ydp3ed3eae85f23" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-subtitle-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8gw ydp3ed3eae8gc ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8be ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8gy ydp3ed3eae8gz ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8hb ydp3ed3eae8hc ydp3ed3eae8hd ydp3ed3eae8he ydp3ed3eae8hf ydp3ed3eae8hg ydp3ed3eae8hh ydp3ed3eae8hi ydp3ed3eae8hj ydp3ed3eae8hk ydp3ed3eae8hl ydp3ed3eae8cp ydp3ed3eae8dw" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin: 0.92em 0px 24px; font-weight: 400; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(107, 107, 107); letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 28px; font-size: 22px;">America Was a Perfect Petri Dish for Fascism. Can it Be Uniquely Swift, Strong, and Smart Enough to Beat It, Anyways?</h2><div class="ydp3ed3eae8hm ydp3ed3eae8hn ydp3ed3eae8ho ydp3ed3eae8hp ydp3ed3eae8hq"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8speechify-ignore ydp3ed3eae8ab ydp3ed3eae8co"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8speechify-ignore ydp3ed3eae8bg ydp3ed3eae8l" style="width: 680px;"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8hr ydp3ed3eae8hs ydp3ed3eae8ht ydp3ed3eae8hu ydp3ed3eae8hv ydp3ed3eae8ab"><div><div class="ydp3ed3eae8ab ydp3ed3eae8hw"><a href="https://medium.com/@umairh?source=post_page-----35848f05f832--------------------------------" style="color: inherit;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><div><div class="ydp3ed3eae8bl" style="display: inline-block;"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8l ydp3ed3eae8hx ydp3ed3eae8hy ydp3ed3eae8bx ydp3ed3eae8hz ydp3ed3eae8ia" style="border-radius: 50%; width: 48px; border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); z-index: 0; min-height: 48px;"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8l ydp3ed3eae8ef" style="position: relative;"><img alt="umair haque" class="ydp3ed3eae8l ydp3ed3eae8er ydp3ed3eae8bx ydp3ed3eae8dc ydp3ed3eae8dd ydp3ed3eae8cw" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:88:88/1*N3XzP2bucTYwTm8ZmUZkUA.jpeg" width="44" height="44" data-testid="authorPhoto" style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; border-radius: 50%; background-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); width: 44px; min-height: 44px;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8ib ydp3ed3eae8bx ydp3ed3eae8l ydp3ed3eae8dc ydp3ed3eae8dd ydp3ed3eae8ep ydp3ed3eae8n ydp3ed3eae8ic ydp3ed3eae8eq" style="border-radius: 50%; width: 44px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; border-image: initial; min-height: 44px;"></div></div></div></div></div></a><a href="https://eand.co/?source=post_page-----35848f05f832--------------------------------" style="color: inherit;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8id ydp3ed3eae8ab ydp3ed3eae8ef" style="position: relative;"><div><div class="ydp3ed3eae8bl" style="display: inline-block;"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8l ydp3ed3eae8ie ydp3ed3eae8if ydp3ed3eae8bx ydp3ed3eae8hz ydp3ed3eae8ig" style="border-radius: 50%; border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 28px; z-index: 1; min-height: 28px;"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8l ydp3ed3eae8ef" style="position: relative;"><img alt="Eudaimonia and Co" class="ydp3ed3eae8l ydp3ed3eae8er ydp3ed3eae8bx ydp3ed3eae8bq ydp3ed3eae8ih ydp3ed3eae8cw" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:48:48/1*-93e6dF2917cSfg3B3S4hg.png" width="24" height="24" data-testid="publicationPhoto" style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; border-radius: 50%; background-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); width: 24px; min-height: 24px;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8ib ydp3ed3eae8bx ydp3ed3eae8l ydp3ed3eae8bq ydp3ed3eae8ih ydp3ed3eae8ep ydp3ed3eae8n ydp3ed3eae8ic ydp3ed3eae8eq" style="border-radius: 50%; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; border-image: initial; width: 24px; min-height: 24px;"></div></div></div></div></div></div></a></div></div><div class="ydp3ed3eae8bm ydp3ed3eae8bg ydp3ed3eae8l" style="width: 604px; margin-left: 12px;"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8ab"><div><span class="ydp3ed3eae8be ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8bf ydp3ed3eae8z ydp3ed3eae8bj" style="line-height: 20px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8ii ydp3ed3eae8ab ydp3ed3eae8q" style="margin-bottom: 2px;"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8ab ydp3ed3eae8q ydp3ed3eae8ij"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8ab ydp3ed3eae8q"><div><div class="ydp3ed3eae8bl" style="display: inline-block;"><p class="ydp3ed3eae8be ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8ik ydp3ed3eae8il ydp3ed3eae8bj" style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><a class="ydp3ed3eae8af ydp3ed3eae8ag ydp3ed3eae8ah ydp3ed3eae8ai ydp3ed3eae8aj ydp3ed3eae8ak ydp3ed3eae8al ydp3ed3eae8am ydp3ed3eae8an ydp3ed3eae8ao ydp3ed3eae8ap ydp3ed3eae8aq ydp3ed3eae8ar ydp3ed3eae8im" data-testid="authorName" href="https://medium.com/@umairh?source=post_page-----35848f05f832--------------------------------" style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit; border-color: inherit; border-style: inherit; border-width: inherit; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; cursor: pointer;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">umair haque</a></p></div></div></div><span class="ydp3ed3eae8in ydp3ed3eae8io" style="margin: 0px 8px; display: inline;"><span class="ydp3ed3eae8be ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8bf ydp3ed3eae8z ydp3ed3eae8dw" style="line-height: 20px; color: rgb(107, 107, 107);">·</span></span><p class="ydp3ed3eae8be ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8ik ydp3ed3eae8il ydp3ed3eae8dw" style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(107, 107, 107); font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><button class="ydp3ed3eae8af ydp3ed3eae8ag ydp3ed3eae8ah ydp3ed3eae8ai ydp3ed3eae8aj ydp3ed3eae8ak ydp3ed3eae8al ydp3ed3eae8am ydp3ed3eae8an ydp3ed3eae8ao ydp3ed3eae8ap ydp3ed3eae8aq ydp3ed3eae8ar ydp3ed3eae8as ydp3ed3eae8at" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0px; font-size: inherit; border-color: inherit; border-style: inherit; border-width: inherit; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; cursor: pointer;">Following</button></p></div></div></span></div></div><div class="ydp3ed3eae8l ydp3ed3eae8iu"><span class="ydp3ed3eae8be ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8bf ydp3ed3eae8z ydp3ed3eae8dw" style="line-height: 20px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(107, 107, 107);">·</span></div></div></div><div class="ydp3ed3eae8ab ydp3ed3eae8co ydp3ed3eae8jl ydp3ed3eae8jm ydp3ed3eae8jn ydp3ed3eae8jo ydp3ed3eae8jp ydp3ed3eae8jq ydp3ed3eae8jr ydp3ed3eae8js ydp3ed3eae8jt ydp3ed3eae8ju ydp3ed3eae8jv ydp3ed3eae8jw ydp3ed3eae8jx ydp3ed3eae8jy ydp3ed3eae8jz ydp3ed3eae8ka" style="border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); margin: 32px 0px 0px; padding: 3px 8px;"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8h ydp3ed3eae8k ydp3ed3eae8w ydp3ed3eae8ec ydp3ed3eae8ed ydp3ed3eae8q"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8kq ydp3ed3eae8l" style="width: 74px;"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8ab ydp3ed3eae8q ydp3ed3eae8kr"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-multi-vote-icon ydp3ed3eae8ef ydp3ed3eae8ft ydp3ed3eae8ks ydp3ed3eae8kt ydp3ed3eae8ku" style="position: relative; margin-right: 4px;"><div><div><div class="ydp3ed3eae8bl" style="display: inline-block;"><button class="ydp3ed3eae8kv ydp3ed3eae8ao ydp3ed3eae8kx ydp3ed3eae8sw ydp3ed3eae8sx ydp3ed3eae8lb ydp3ed3eae8am ydp3ed3eae8lc ydp3ed3eae8ld ydp3ed3eae8le ydp3ed3eae8ku" data-testid="headerClapButton" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; cursor: pointer; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline: 0px;"></button></div></div></div></div><div class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-multi-vote-count ydp3ed3eae8l ydp3ed3eae8lf ydp3ed3eae8lg ydp3ed3eae8lh ydp3ed3eae8li ydp3ed3eae8lj ydp3ed3eae8lk ydp3ed3eae8ll" style="margin-top: 0px;"><div><div class="ydp3ed3eae8bl" style="display: inline-block;"><p class="ydp3ed3eae8be ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8dx ydp3ed3eae8z ydp3ed3eae8dw" style="margin: 0px; line-height: 20px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(107, 107, 107); font-size: 13px;"><button class="ydp3ed3eae8af ydp3ed3eae8ag ydp3ed3eae8ah ydp3ed3eae8ai ydp3ed3eae8aj ydp3ed3eae8ak ydp3ed3eae8al ydp3ed3eae8am ydp3ed3eae8an ydp3ed3eae8ao ydp3ed3eae8ap ydp3ed3eae8aq ydp3ed3eae8ar ydp3ed3eae8as ydp3ed3eae8at ydp3ed3eae8sy ydp3ed3eae8sz" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0px; font-size: inherit; border-color: inherit; border-style: inherit; border-width: inherit; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; cursor: pointer; text-align: left;">2.7K<span class="ydp3ed3eae8l ydp3ed3eae8h ydp3ed3eae8g ydp3ed3eae8f ydp3ed3eae8pd ydp3ed3eae8pe" style="display: inline-block;"></span></button></p></div></div></div></div></div><div><div class="ydp3ed3eae8bl" style="display: inline-block;"><button class="ydp3ed3eae8ao ydp3ed3eae8kv ydp3ed3eae8ln ydp3ed3eae8lo ydp3ed3eae8ab ydp3ed3eae8q ydp3ed3eae8eg ydp3ed3eae8lp ydp3ed3eae8lq" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0px; cursor: pointer; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; padding: 4px 0px;"><p class="ydp3ed3eae8be ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8dx ydp3ed3eae8z ydp3ed3eae8dw" style="margin: 0px; line-height: 20px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(107, 107, 107); font-size: 13px;"><span class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-responses-count ydp3ed3eae8lm ydp3ed3eae8gu" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-left: 4px;">37</span></p></button></div></div></div><div class="ydp3ed3eae8ab ydp3ed3eae8q ydp3ed3eae8kb ydp3ed3eae8kc ydp3ed3eae8kd ydp3ed3eae8ke ydp3ed3eae8kf ydp3ed3eae8kg ydp3ed3eae8kh ydp3ed3eae8ki ydp3ed3eae8kj ydp3ed3eae8kk ydp3ed3eae8kl ydp3ed3eae8km ydp3ed3eae8kn ydp3ed3eae8ko ydp3ed3eae8kp"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8h ydp3ed3eae8k" style="margin-right: 24px;"><div><div class="ydp3ed3eae8bl" style="display: inline-block;"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8bl" style="display: inline-block;"><button data-testid="headerBookmarkButton" class="ydp3ed3eae8af ydp3ed3eae8eg ydp3ed3eae8ah ydp3ed3eae8ai ydp3ed3eae8aj ydp3ed3eae8ak ydp3ed3eae8al ydp3ed3eae8lr ydp3ed3eae8an ydp3ed3eae8ao ydp3ed3eae8ap ydp3ed3eae8ir ydp3ed3eae8ls ydp3ed3eae8lt ydp3ed3eae8lu" style="background-image: initial; 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text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Image Credit</a></div><div class="ydp3ed3eae8ab ydp3ed3eae8ca" style="font-family: medium-content-sans-serif-font, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Open Sans", "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><div class="ydp3ed3eae8ch ydp3ed3eae8bg ydp3ed3eae8fa ydp3ed3eae8fb ydp3ed3eae8fc ydp3ed3eae8fd" style="width: 680px; min-width: 0px; margin: 0px 24px; max-width: 680px;"><p id="ydp3ed3eae84fe5" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">These strange, unmoored days, the economist in me says something that the human in me — laughing at him like he's a simpleton — challenges. I've come to call it the test of American exceptionalism. It's a little hypothesis, if you like, or just a series of thoughts, which goes like this.</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae89443" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">If you were to imagine a society which was the ideal, the perfect breeding ground — something like a Petri dish, packed with tasty nutrients — for fascism and authoritarianism, then that society, sadly, ironically, would be America. Why? The two things that we should expect to predict fascism and authoritarianism most are: a) prolonged, severe economic stagnation for the average person, and b) a long history of institutionalized supremacy.</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae8bf42" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Let's take those one by one.</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae8d2d4" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span class="ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8ge" style="font-weight: 700;">Stagnation predicts fascism for a reason so simple it often hides in plain sight. </span>As their incomes, savings, and assets flatline, and then dwindle — because a stagnant economy means that prices rise, but earnings don't, so inequality spikes, and the middle collapses back into poverty, things coming undone — people come to live in a world which they feel is unsafe, hostile, and threatening. Just keeping that job, feeing and educating your kids, paying off that mortgage, going to the doctor — all the basics — become exercises fraught with dread, anxiety, and fear. The result? People lose faith in their systems and institutions and norms and values. Such societies are easy meat for demagogues — who promise desperate, broke, and frustrated people what they are seeking most again: a sense of safety, security, belonging, mattering, counting.</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae8590c" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Now, all of that is precisely where America is — or, better said, the point that America's fatally mismanaged has been allowed to reach, by a class of staggeringly incompetent elites. 80% of Americans now live paycheck to paycheck. 70% can't raise $1000 in emergency savings. A full third struggle to afford food, shelter, and medicine. These are shocking statistics — but they barely begin to tell the story. The old don't retire, and the young don't move out of their parents' homes, the ill crowdfund insulin, kids wear bulletproof backpacks, and so on — what the statistics don't tell us is more frightening still. Life became just the kind of exercise in fear and anxiety which predicted that people will flee to safety in strongmens' arms. Hence, trust in every single kind of institution except violence fell catastrophically — and on the flipside, as a natural consequence, people don't expect life to get better anytime soon, or maybe ever again. That vacuum of power, optimism, and cohesion is the dark seed of authoritarianism and fascism. Do you see how these things are related?</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae8fc34" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">But you are correct to think, "well, that only takes us so far. I can understand why people would be frustrated, even angry — and why they'd turn to demagogues and strongmen. But I don't understand why they'd go full on fascist."</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae890a1" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span class="ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8ge" style="font-weight: 700;">That brings me to the second element in my little mental model — a history of institutionalized supremacy. </span>When a society has a long history of racial strife — not just "tension," as we often say, but real exclusion, like slavery and segregation — that also means it will have been unable to build true public goods. Working systems of healthcare, education, transport, media, finance, and so on. Those are the hidden price of bigotry, which bigots don't often see — because these things must belong to everyone or no one, constitutionally, legally, formally, and so on. A society predicated on exclusion thus cannot ever really develop them.</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae8c5e5" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Hence, during the 50s, 60s, and 70s, while Europeans and Canadians were building exactly all these systems of public goods, for everyone, America wasn't. It couldn't — it was a segregated society until 1971, which meant that it was institutionally impossible to build, for example, a public healthcare system, or any of the many public goods Europeans and Canadians take for granted today.</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae8b89f" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">But these systems are the very things which shield and protect societies from sudden, dramatic descents into fascism and authoritarianism, too (in fact, that is precisely why Europe built them after the war.) Remember the fear, anxiety, and dread which pushes people into the arms of strongmen, as they seek safety and protection and strength, when economies begin to sputter out? If you have working social systems, which can buttress that fall in living standards, you live in a great deal less fear. You might worry about your job — but not about dying without healthcare, and leaving your kids without a mom or dad. Hence, ideally, or at least theoretically, social systems and public goods serve a double purpose — they raise living standards, but at the same time, they're something like an insurance policy against the death of democracy.</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae8d8e0" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span class="ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8ge" style="font-weight: 700;">So there's a hidden benefit of public goods — insurance for democracy — but there's a hidden cost of <em class="ydp3ed3eae8of">not</em> having them, either. And that is the final element in the fascist meltdown. </span>Societies with histories of extreme institutional racism are also, we'd probably imagine, much more prone to believe in dehumanization, scapegoating, and demonization — which is exactly what demagogues and tyrants use to rise to power. They are likely to fall into line much more quickly and easily.</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae8b1f1" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Societies with histories of institutional racism are more likely to believe demagogues and tyrants when they conjure up imaginary enemies, to fill their believers' fear-addled heads with — because they've already long believed in such enemies, anyways. Only the target is different now. But the psychology is already present.</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae83abd" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">The fascist mind imagines that the refugee, Jew, Muslim, LGBTQ+, whomever — the weak one, basically — really has the power to exterminate and destroy them: the fascist is a kind of paranoid delusional, in this regard.</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae8b81e" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">But that is exactly what a society like America believed, not so long ago, about Black people, too. Americans brush it under the rug, a little, or perhaps a lot — but the beliefs underlying institutional racism were not pretty ones. They went like this: if we give Black people freedom, they will take our women, start race wars, and eliminate us. They are animals who wish to destroy and kill us. Therefore, we must subjugate them, and prevent such a thing from ever taking place. Do you see how eerily similar all that is to what the fascist believes about the immigrant, the refugee, the LGBTQ+?</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae84f2c" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">In reality, Black people never had the power to even come close to harming the white population in any serious way, even if they were set free. Just as Muslims and Jews and immigrants and little Mexican children don't have the power to, say, invade Kansas — or London — and set it alight, nor do they wish to. And yet that is precisely the psychology in both cases. Do you see the link? How a history of racism, by creating a psychology of malignant paranoid delusion, makes a society deeply vulnerable to fascism?</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae8e07b" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">(If you want to know "why? Why would anyone believe such a twisted and obviously false delusion?", the answer goes like this. The fascist believes that the other is out to persecute and victimize him because it is a much easier target on which to place his fears and anxieties — he's living in a hostile, unsafe world, where the economy is stagnant, remember — than the capitalists, the rich, and the demagogues: he'd have to trace back the causal chain I've just discussed. And that's not easy, is it? And yet for precisely the same reason, the racist once believed that it was Black people who were out to take his women and home and start a war against him — it was an easier target than believing that in a hyper-individualistic, ultra-capitalist society where anything went, it wasn't the poor powerless Black person, but the rich white boss who was exploiting him triply, first for his labour, then for his mind, and finally, for his hate, too.)</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae85c6a" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span class="ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8ge" style="font-weight: 700;">So. The perfect Petri dish for fascism would be a society in which the economy had been stagnant for decades — and had a long, bitter history of institutional racism, which created a paranoid, delusional psychology, ever ready to attack a hated and despised enemy.</span> Together, when these forces collided, something like a political tsunami would result — a tidal wave, which would be impossible to withstand. It would sweep over a society like that in a matter of years, and — wham!! — submerge it completely, drown it, finish it off as a democracy, probably for good.</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae87892" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">That society, my friends, isn't imaginary anymore — it's America, for the last decade.</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae85b3a" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span class="ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8ge" style="font-weight: 700;">Hence, the economist in me says: America has a pretty slender chance of making it. It's up against forces that are far, far larger than the present moment. </span>Forces of history, made of centuries of suffering, spite, pain, and rage, which are exploding now, and drowning its democracy, shattering it violently, once and for all. Do you see the idea I'm trying to express? This isn't really about Trump or Trumpists, scandals and intrigue — it is the culmination of a set of socio-economic forces which have been building, growing, and rising for decades and centuries. Bang! They finally met — and the result is one of history's greatest and most epic imperial collapses.</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae8b7e1" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">And yet. The human in me says: "Dude! LOL. Hold on a second. It's all well and good to reason as thoroughly as you can. But there are people who can <em class="ydp3ed3eae8of">beat</em> the averages, too, you know. Imagine an Olympic champion swimmer. Wouldn't he have a far better chance of surviving the tsunami you've talked about than a chubby slob like, well…that middle-aged guy you've become?"</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae8a872" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">He has a point, the human in me. And not just about my shortcomings. Americans have one weird, special gift that just might save them. They tend to rise to the occasion. We have seen it before. During the Civil War, the Second World War, after 9/11. This is a uniquely American trait — that during times of profound and historic crisis, Americans seem to suddenly dust off their hands, throw their hats into the ring, and grit their teeth. Then everything becomes a battle that must be won. Not just a game anymore. But a true moral contest — which proves the fibre of a people.</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae89f2d" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Now, you're welcome to disagree with me about that if you like — that just brings us to the paragraph above. But if you agree with me — or at least what the human in me sees — then, well, you've understood that what the next year is really testing is even bigger, by far, than the "the most important election of your life", or all the usual catchphrases of pundits.</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae8d50c" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">What the next year is really testing is nothing less than whether American exceptionalism exists, ever existed, can exist — or whether it was always just a fairy tale to lull us asleep. America was something like history's perfect Petri dish for fascism. Can it rise above it, despite being that? What kind of immune system would that take? That would take something special, indeed, wouldn't it? Or maybe America will prove something different to us — that nobody, no matter how strong or swift or smart, can rise above the mighty and terrible tides of history. That is something worth learning, too — although it will not be such a pretty finding for Americans. We will find out soon enough, I suppose.</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae8103b" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;"><span class="ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8ge" style="font-weight: 700;">So now you see why I wrote this little essay. It would take an exceptional nation indeed, at this point, to swim through the lashing, furious, bitter tides of history which are arrayed against it.</span> One that did have some kind of unique strength, courage, and stubbornness. It's true that those very tides were loosed by it's own folly, ignorance, and hubris. But that much is only laughably predictable. It is just a failing, which is to say, the mark left on all mortal frames by the fates and furies. We will all err, and find ourselves far, far out to shore. The real test is: when the flood is rising — and you don't have an ark — can you make it to the mountain?</p><p id="ydp3ed3eae85fe9" class="ydp3ed3eae8pw-post-body-paragraph ydp3ed3eae8nj ydp3ed3eae8nk ydp3ed3eae8gd ydp3ed3eae8nl ydp3ed3eae8b ydp3ed3eae8gx ydp3ed3eae8nm ydp3ed3eae8nn ydp3ed3eae8no ydp3ed3eae8ha ydp3ed3eae8np ydp3ed3eae8nq ydp3ed3eae8nr ydp3ed3eae8ns ydp3ed3eae8nt ydp3ed3eae8nu ydp3ed3eae8nv ydp3ed3eae8nw ydp3ed3eae8nx ydp3ed3eae8ny ydp3ed3eae8nz ydp3ed3eae8oa ydp3ed3eae8ob ydp3ed3eae8oc ydp3ed3eae8od ydp3ed3eae8oe ydp3ed3eae8fw ydp3ed3eae8bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Umair<br>August 2023</p></div></div></div><br></div></div>Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-60658892124812275192024-02-02T12:57:00.001-08:002024-02-02T12:57:54.634-08:00ANS -- The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better<div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Okay, I promise this is the last for today -- but I found the article I lost. It's from 2009, so you don't think it's just now, but good article. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">--Kim</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><p class="ydpda9b37a2MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="ydpda9b37a2MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/> </v:formulas> <v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Times Online Logo 222 x 25" style='width:166.5pt;height:18.75pt'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\16509\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.gif" o:href="http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/img/global/tol-logo-222x25.gif"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img alt="Times Online Logo 222 x 25" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true" style="width: 222px; max-width: 0px;"><!--[endif]--></p> <p class="ydpda9b37a2MsoNormal"><a href="http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/non-fiction/article5859108.ece" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/non-fiction/article5859108.ece</a></p> <p class="ydpda9b37a2MsoNormal"><span class="ydpda9b37a2small">From </span><span class="ydpda9b37a2byline">The Sunday Times</span></p> <p class="ydpda9b37a2MsoNormal">March 8, 2009</p> <h1>The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett</h1> <p class="ydpda9b37a2MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_i1035" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="A top hatted horse race goer passes a workman pushing a crate of beer, highlighting Britain's social contrasts. 1975." style='width:138.75pt;height:221.25pt'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\16509\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg" o:href="http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00498/Books_498077a.jpg"/> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><img border="0" alt="A top hatted horse race goer passes a workman pushing a crate of beer, highlighting Britain's social contrasts. 1975." data-inlineimagemanipulating="true" style="width: 185px; max-width: 0px;"><!--[endif]--></p> <p class="ydpda9b37a2x-smallcolor-999">(Ian Berry/Magnum)</p> <p class="ydpda9b37a2smallcolor-666">A top hatted horse race goer passes a workman pushing a crate of beer, highlighting Britain's social contrasts. 1975.</p> <p class="ydpda9b37a2MsoNormal"><span class="ydpda9b37a2byline">The Sunday Times review by John Carey </span></p> <p>This is a book with a big idea, big enough to change political thinking, and bigger than its authors at first intended. The problem they originally set out to solve was why health within a population gets progressively worse further down the social scale; they estimate that together they have clocked up more than 50 person-years gathering information from research teams across the globe. Their eureka moment came when they thought of putting the medical data alongside figures showing the extent of economic inequality within each country. They say modestly that since dependable statistics both on health and on income distribution are internationally available, it was only a matter of time before someone put the two together. All the same, they are the first to have done so. </p> <p>Their book charts the level of health and social problems — as many as they could find reliable figures for — against the level of income inequality in 20 of the world's richest nations, and in each of the 50 United States. They allocate a brief chapter to each problem, supplying graphs that display the evidence starkly and unarguably. What they find is that, in states and countries where there is a big gap between the incomes of rich and poor, mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse, obesity and teenage pregnancy are more common, the homicide rate is higher, life expectancy is shorter, and children's educational performance and literacy scores are worse. The Scandinavian countries and Japan consistently come at the positive end of this spectrum. They have the smallest differences between higher and lower incomes, and the best record of psycho-social health. The countries with the widest gulf between rich and poor, and the highest incidence of most health and social problems, are Britain, America and Portugal. </p> <p>Richard Wilkinson, a professor of medical epidemiology at Nottingham University, and Kate Pickett, a lecturer in epidemiology at York University, emphasize that it is not only the poor who suffer from the effects of inequality, but the majority of the population. For example, rates of mental illness are five times higher across the whole population in the most unequal than in the least unequal societies in their survey. One explanation, they suggest, is that inequality increases stress right across society, not just among the least advantaged. Much research has been done on the stress hormone cortisol, which can be measured in saliva or blood, and it emerges that chronic stress affects the neural system and in turn the immune system. When stressed, we are more prone to depression and anxiety, and more likely to develop a host of bodily ills including heart disease, obesity, drug addiction, liability to infection and rapid ageing. </p> <p>Societies where incomes are relatively equal have low levels of stress and high levels of trust, so that people feel secure and see others as co-operative. In unequal societies, by contrast, the rich suffer from fear of the poor, while those lower down the social order experience status anxiety, looking upon those who are more successful with bitterness and upon themselves with shame. In the 1980s and 1990s, when inequality was rapidly rising in Britain and America, the rich bought homesecurity systems, and started to drive 4x4s with names such as Defender and Crossfire, reflecting a need to intimidate attackers. Meanwhile the poor grew obese on comfort foods and took more legal and illegal drugs. In 2005, doctors in England alone wrote 29m prescriptions for antidepressants, costing the NHS £400m. </p> <p>Status anxiety and how we respond to it are basic, it seems, to our animal natures. In an experiment with macaque monkeys, the animals were housed in groups, and the social hierarchies that developed among them were observed. Then the monkeys were taught to administer cocaine to themselves by pressing a lever. The dominant monkeys in each group were relatively abstemious, but the subordinate monkeys took a lot of cocaine to medicate themselves against the pain of low social status. In a similar experiment, high-status monkeys from different groups were housed together, so that some of them became low status. The downwardly mobile monkeys accumulated abdominal fat and developed a rapid build-up of atherosclerosis in their arteries, just like humans. </p> <p>The different social problems that stem from income inequality often, Wilkinson and Pickett show, form circuits or spirals. Babies born to teenage mothers are at greater risk, as they grow up, of educational failure, juvenile crime, and becoming teenage parents themselves. In societies with greater income inequality, more people are sent to prison, and less is spent on education and welfare. In Britain the prison population has doubled since 1990; in America it has quadrupled since the late 1970s. American states with a wide gap between rich and poor are likelier to retain the death penalty, and to hand out long sentences for minor crimes. In California in 2004, there were 360 people serving life sentences for shoplifting. California has built only one new college since 1984, but 21 new prisons. Whereas societies with high income differentials are exceptionally punitive, in Japan imprisonment rates are low and offenders who confess their crimes and express a desire to reform are generally trusted to do so by the judiciary and the public. </p> <p>The authors' method is objective and scientific, so that the human distress behind their statistics mostly remains hidden. But when they quote from interviews conducted by social researchers, passion and resentment flood into their book. A working-class man in Rotherham tells of the shame he felt having to sit next to a middle-class woman ("this stuck-up cow, you know, slim, attractive"); how he felt overweight and started sweating; how he imagined her thinking, "listen, low-life, don't even come near me. We pay to get away from scum like you". In half a page it tells you more about the pain of inequality than any play or novel could. </p> <p>It might be said that The Spirit Level merely formulates what everyone has always felt. Western European utopias have almost all been egalitarian. Polls in Britain over the past 20 years show that the proportion of the population who think income differences too big is on average 80%. But what is new about their book, the authors insist, is that it turns personal intuitions into publicly demonstrable facts. With the evidence they have supplied, politicians now have a chance to "do genuine good". By reducing income inequality, they can improve the health and wellbeing of the whole population. How this should be effected, Wilkinson and Pickett do not think it is their job to say, but increasing top tax rates or legislating to limit maximum pay are possibilities they suggest. They warn, though, that short-term remedies like this could be reversed by a change of government, and that we need to find ways of rooting greater equality more deeply in our society. This is their book's mission, and they have set up a not-for-profit trust (equalitytrust.org) to make the evidence they set out better known. One illusion that, cheeringly, they hope to dispel is that the super-rich are some kind of asset we should all cherish, rather than, from the viewpoint of social health, the equivalent of the seven plagues of Egypt. </p> <p>The Spirit Level by Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett<br> Allen Lane £20 pp416 </p></div><br></div></div>Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-71251411009347985862024-02-02T12:28:00.001-08:002024-02-02T12:28:14.572-08:00ANS -- Impacts of inequality; short version<div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Here's another brief summary of the effects of inequality. I like this one. Very short, with links to longer stuff if the links come through. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Find it here:</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">--Kim</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><div class="ydpf21eee76l-top-bar" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ydpf21eee76l-region ydpf21eee76l-region--top-bar" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div id="ydpf21eee76block-block-66" class="ydpf21eee76block ydpf21eee76block--block ydpf21eee76block-search-button ydpf21eee76block--block-66" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; 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font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ydpf21eee76taxonomy-term--about-inequality ydpf21eee76taxonomy-term--full ydpf21eee76taxonomy-term--about-inequality--full" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ydpf21eee76taxonomy-term__content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ydpf21eee76taxonomy-term-description" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.75; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">How does inequality affect the individual, society and the economy?</p></div></div></div></div><h2 class="ydpf21eee76node__title" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.25; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://equalitytrust.org.uk/economic" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 148, 95);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Economic</a></h2><div class="ydpf21eee76node__content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ydpf21eee76field ydpf21eee76field--name-body ydpf21eee76field--type-text-with-summary ydpf21eee76field--label-hidden" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ydpf21eee76field__items" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ydpf21eee76field__item ydpf21eee76even" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.75; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Less equal societies have less stable economies. High levels of income inequality are linked to economic instability, financial crisis, debt and inflation.</p></div></div></div></div><ul class="ydpf21eee76links ydpf21eee76links--inline ydpf21eee76node__links" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none;"><li class="ydpf21eee76node-readmore ydpf21eee76first ydpf21eee76last" style="margin: 0px 1em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; float: left;"><a href="https://equalitytrust.org.uk/economic" title="Economic" style="margin: 0px; border: none; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 600; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.25; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background: rgb(0, 148, 95); text-align: center; display: block; width: auto;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Read more<span class="ydpf21eee76element-invisible" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; min-height: 1px;">about Economic</span></a></li></ul><h2 class="ydpf21eee76node__title" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.25; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://equalitytrust.org.uk/social-mobility-and-education" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 148, 95);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Social Mobility and Education</a></h2><div class="ydpf21eee76node__content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ydpf21eee76field ydpf21eee76field--name-body ydpf21eee76field--type-text-with-summary ydpf21eee76field--label-hidden" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ydpf21eee76field__items" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ydpf21eee76field__item ydpf21eee76even" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.75; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Unequal societies have less social mobility and lower scores in maths, reading and science.</p></div></div></div></div><ul class="ydpf21eee76links ydpf21eee76links--inline ydpf21eee76node__links" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none;"><li class="ydpf21eee76node-readmore ydpf21eee76first ydpf21eee76last" style="margin: 0px 1em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; float: left;"><a href="https://equalitytrust.org.uk/social-mobility-and-education" title="Social Mobility and Education" style="margin: 0px; border: none; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 600; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.25; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background: rgb(0, 148, 95); text-align: center; display: block; width: auto;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Read more<span class="ydpf21eee76element-invisible" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; min-height: 1px;">about Social Mobility and Education</span></a></li></ul><h2 class="ydpf21eee76node__title" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.25; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://equalitytrust.org.uk/crime" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 148, 95);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Crime</a></h2><div class="ydpf21eee76node__content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ydpf21eee76field ydpf21eee76field--name-body ydpf21eee76field--type-text-with-summary ydpf21eee76field--label-hidden" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ydpf21eee76field__items" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ydpf21eee76field__item ydpf21eee76even" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.75; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Inequality increases property crime and violent crime. A reduction of inequality from Spanish levels to Canadian levels would lead to a 20% reduction in homicides and a 23% reduction in robberies.</p></div></div></div></div><ul class="ydpf21eee76links ydpf21eee76links--inline ydpf21eee76node__links" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none;"><li class="ydpf21eee76node-readmore ydpf21eee76first ydpf21eee76last" style="margin: 0px 1em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; float: left;"><a href="https://equalitytrust.org.uk/crime" title="Crime" style="margin: 0px; border: none; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 600; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.25; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background: rgb(0, 148, 95); text-align: center; display: block; width: auto;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Read more<span class="ydpf21eee76element-invisible" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; min-height: 1px;">about Crime</span></a></li></ul><h2 class="ydpf21eee76node__title" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.25; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://equalitytrust.org.uk/health" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 148, 95);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Health</a></h2><div class="ydpf21eee76node__content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ydpf21eee76field ydpf21eee76field--name-body ydpf21eee76field--type-text-with-summary ydpf21eee76field--label-hidden" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ydpf21eee76field__items" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ydpf21eee76field__item ydpf21eee76even" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.75; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Living in an unequal society causes stress and status anxiety, which may damage your health. In more equal societies people live longer, are less likely to be mentally ill or obese and there are lower rates of infant mortality.</p></div></div></div></div><ul class="ydpf21eee76links ydpf21eee76links--inline ydpf21eee76node__links" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none;"><li class="ydpf21eee76node-readmore ydpf21eee76first ydpf21eee76last" style="margin: 0px 1em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; float: left;"><a href="https://equalitytrust.org.uk/health" title="Health" style="margin: 0px; border: none; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 600; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.25; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background: rgb(0, 148, 95); text-align: center; display: block; width: auto;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Read more<span class="ydpf21eee76element-invisible" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; min-height: 1px;">about Health</span></a></li></ul><h2 class="ydpf21eee76node__title" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.25; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://equalitytrust.org.uk/trust-participation-attitudes-and-happiness" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 148, 95);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trust, Participation, Attitudes and Happiness</a></h2><div class="ydpf21eee76node__content" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ydpf21eee76field ydpf21eee76field--name-body ydpf21eee76field--type-text-with-summary ydpf21eee76field--label-hidden" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ydpf21eee76field__items" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="ydpf21eee76field__item ydpf21eee76even" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;"><p style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.75; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Inequality affects how you see those around you and your level of happiness. People in less equal societies are less likely to trust each other, less likely to engage in social or civic participation, and less likely to say they're happy.</p></div></div></div></div><ul class="ydpf21eee76links ydpf21eee76links--inline ydpf21eee76node__links" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none;"><li class="ydpf21eee76node-readmore ydpf21eee76first ydpf21eee76last" style="margin: 0px 1em 0px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-size: inherit; line-height: inherit; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; float: left;"><a href="https://equalitytrust.org.uk/trust-participation-attitudes-and-happiness" title="Trust, Participation, Attitudes and Happiness" style="margin: 0px; border: none; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 600; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 1.25; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); background: rgb(0, 148, 95); text-align: center; display: block; width: auto;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="enhancr_card_7207376109">Read more</a></li><div><br></div><div id="ydp6d12f786enhancr_card_7207376109" class="ydp6d12f786yahoo-link-enhancr-card ydp6d12f786yahoo-link-enhancr-not-allow-cover ydp6d12f786ymail-preserve-class ydp6d12f786ymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" data-url="https://equalitytrust.org.uk/trust-participation-attitudes-and-happiness" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://equalitytrust.org.uk/trust-participation-attitudes-and-happiness" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydp6d12f786yahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydp6d12f786card-wrapper ydp6d12f786yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydp6d12f786card ydp6d12f786yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td><table border="0" class="ydp6d12f786card-info ydp6d12f786yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydp6d12f786card-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(29, 34, 40); max-width: 314px;">Trust, Participation, Attitudes and Happiness</h2><p class="ydp6d12f786card-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 158, 168);">Inequality affects how you see those around you and your level of happiness. People in less equal societies are ...</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></ul></div></div></div></div><br></div></div>Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-64400357037936960532024-02-02T12:17:00.001-08:002024-02-02T12:17:52.124-08:00ANS -- Exposing the impact of social inequality<div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">This is a companion piece to the last one I sent you, except this one is very short. This one is more about health and mental health related to inequality -- even in the UK where they have health care! (they wouldn't let me copy and paste the whole thing, so I did it in parts: why does that work like that?)</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">find it here: <a href="https://www.york.ac.uk/research/impact/social-inequality/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="enhancr_card_7759629980">Exposing the impact of social inequality</a> </div><div><br></div><div id="ydpcdaed715enhancr_card_7759629980" class="ydpcdaed715yahoo-link-enhancr-card ydpcdaed715ymail-preserve-class ydpcdaed715ymail-preserve-style" style="max-width: 400px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; position: relative;" data-url="https://www.york.ac.uk/research/impact/social-inequality/" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://www.york.ac.uk/research/impact/social-inequality/" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydpcdaed715yahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydpcdaed715card-wrapper ydpcdaed715yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydpcdaed715card ydpcdaed715yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td class="ydpcdaed715card-primary-image-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/xioh9g40VdMmmwJR9J2Z.A--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://www.york.ac.uk/media/research/2019/pickett-wilkinson.jpg.cf.jpg" bgcolor="#000000" valign="top" height="175" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; position: relative; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;"><v:fill type="frame" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/xioh9g40VdMmmwJR9J2Z.A--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://www.york.ac.uk/media/research/2019/pickett-wilkinson.jpg.cf.jpg"/></v:rect><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydpcdaed715card-overlay-container-table ydpcdaed715yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td class="ydpcdaed715card-overlay-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png" bgcolor="transparent" valign="top" style="background-color: transparent; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:-18px;left:0;"><v:fill type="pattern" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png"/><v:textbox inset="0,0,20px,0"><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydpcdaed715yahoo-ignore-table" height="175" style="width: 100%; min-height: 175px;"><tbody><tr><td class="ydpcdaed715card-richInfo2" style="text-align:left;padding:15px 0 0 15px;vertical-align:top"></td><td class="ydpcdaed715card-actions" style="text-align:right;padding:15px 15px 0 0;vertical-align:top"><div class="ydpcdaed715card-share-container"></div></td></tr></tbody></table><!--[if gte mso 9]></v:textbox></v:rect><![endif]--></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><table border="0" align="center" class="ydpcdaed715card-info ydpcdaed715yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydpcdaed715card-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(29, 34, 40); max-width: 314px;">Exposing the impact of social inequality</h2><p class="ydpcdaed715card-richinfo-primary" style="font-size:12px;line-height:16px;margin:0 0 4px 0;color:#979ea8">University of York</p><p class="ydpcdaed715card-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 158, 168);">Why are rich, developed countries still affected by a range of health and social problems?</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a><div class="loadingSpinnerContainer" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.3);"><div class="D_F F_n gl_C ab_C H_6MGW o_h"><div class="W_6MGW H_6MGW D_X ah_1PEzoz" data-test-id="loading_indicator"><svg class="W_6MGW H_6MGW ah_Zq6hUs" viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="24" height="24"><path class="cdPFi_n cZ13pKbK_Z29WjXl cZ1XO2Ji_dRA c2abBOT_EY cZ1vNhDV_rd cZV8aCd_pI ah_14s73" d="M12,22C6.477,22,2,17.523,2,12S6.477,2,12,2"></path><path class="cdPFi_n cZ13pKbK_Z29WjXl cZ1XO2Ji_dRA c2abBOT_EY cZ1vNhDV_rd cZV8aCd_pI ah_14s73" d="M12,2c5.523,0,10,4.477,10,10s-4.477,10-10,10"></path></svg></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">--Kim</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><h1 class="ydpd16795a2c-news__title" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; font-family: chaparral-pro, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; line-height: 1.05; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);">Exposing the impact of social inequality</h1><ul class="ydpd16795a2c-tag-list ydpd16795a2c-news__category" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: museo-sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; list-style: none; display: inline;"><a class="ydpd16795a2c-tag" href="https://www.york.ac.uk/research/themes/health-and-wellbeing/" style="background-color: rgb(162, 52, 121); color: rgb(249, 249, 249); outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; display: inline-block; text-transform: uppercase; padding: 5px 10px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 4px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HEALTH AND WELLBEING</a></li> <li style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; list-style: none; display: inline;"><a class="ydpd16795a2c-tag" href="https://www.york.ac.uk/research/themes/justice-and-equality/" style="background-color: rgb(142, 45, 106); color: rgb(249, 249, 249); outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; display: inline-block; text-transform: uppercase; padding: 5px 10px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 4px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">JUSTICE AND EQUALITY</a></li></ul><div class="ydpd16795a2c-news__lead" style="line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: museo-sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.25;">Why are rich, developed countries still affected by a range of health and social problems?</p></div></div><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><h2 style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-family: chaparral-pro, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; line-height: 1.25; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);">The issue</h2><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: museo-sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Health inequalities are significant and persistent; the health and happiness of populations in rich, developed nations are no longer linked to economic growth. But how do the social and economic structures of society shape wellbeing? Kate Pickett, Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Health Sciences, and Richard Wilkinson, a Visiting Professor at the University of York, investigated this question.</p></div><div><h2 style="margin: 28px 0px 10px; font-family: chaparral-pro, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; line-height: 1.25; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);">The research</h2><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: museo-sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Professor Pickett and Professor Wilkinson's research, synthesised in <em>The Spirit Level</em> (Penguin, 2009) and <em>The Inner Level</em> (Penguin, 2018), shows that income inequality - the gap between rich and poor - strongly influences people's health and wellbeing as well as human capital formation and social cohesion.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: museo-sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Their research found that inequality causes a wide range of health and social problems, from reduced life expectancy and higher infant mortality to poor educational attainment, lower social mobility and increased levels of violence and mental illness.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: museo-sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Differences between more and less equal societies are large, and everyone is affected by them. Inequality affects our intimate, personal lives; it psychologically divides us from the status, support and solidarity that keep us well.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: museo-sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Professor Pickett and Professor Wilkinson argue that inequality is a major roadblock to creating sustainable economies that serve to optimise the health and wellbeing of both people and the planet. Because consumerism is about self-enhancement and status competition, it is intensified by inequality. Inequality leads to a societal breakdown in trust, solidarity and social cohesion, it reduces people's willingness to act for the common good.</p></div><div><h2 style="margin: 28px 0px 10px; font-family: chaparral-pro, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; line-height: 1.25; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);">The outcome</h2><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: museo-sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Professor Pickett and Professsor Wilkinson's work has shifted public debate across the world – at local, national and international level – and shaped political thinking, legislation and policy making. Examples include:</p><ul style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.8em; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: museo-sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><li data-gc-list-depth="1" data-gc-list-style="bullet" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;">many local Fairness Commissions</li><li data-gc-list-depth="1" data-gc-list-style="bullet" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;">the UK 2010 Equality Act</li><li data-gc-list-depth="1" data-gc-list-style="bullet" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;">the UN-sponsored New Development Paradigm</li><li data-gc-list-depth="1" data-gc-list-style="bullet" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;">the scientific review of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).</li></ul><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: museo-sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">The researchers co-founded <a href="https://equalitytrust.org.uk/" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(8, 115, 150); text-decoration-line: underline; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Equality Trust</a>, an educational and campaigning charity, to raise awareness of the impact of inequality and generate activism to promote greater equality in the UK and worldwide.</p></div><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><div><br></div><div><div class="ydpeea87fe5o-grid ydpeea87fe5c-news ydpeea87fe5c-news--article" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; width: 865px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64);"><div class="ydpeea87fe5o-grid__row" style="font-size: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="ydpeea87fe5o-grid__box ydpeea87fe5o-grid__box--twothirds" style="line-height: 1.5; display: inline-block; vertical-align: top; padding-left: 20px; position: relative; width: 589.984px;"><h2 style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-family: chaparral-pro, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; line-height: 1.25;">The issue</h2><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Health inequalities are significant and persistent; the health and happiness of populations in rich, developed nations are no longer linked to economic growth. But how do the social and economic structures of society shape wellbeing? Kate Pickett, Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Health Sciences, and Richard Wilkinson, a Visiting Professor at the University of York, investigated this question.</p><h2 style="margin: 28px 0px 10px; font-family: chaparral-pro, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; line-height: 1.25;">The research</h2><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Professor Pickett and Professor Wilkinson's research, synthesised in <em>The Spirit Level</em> (Penguin, 2009) and <em>The Inner Level</em> (Penguin, 2018), shows that income inequality - the gap between rich and poor - strongly influences people's health and wellbeing as well as human capital formation and social cohesion.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Their research found that inequality causes a wide range of health and social problems, from reduced life expectancy and higher infant mortality to poor educational attainment, lower social mobility and increased levels of violence and mental illness.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Differences between more and less equal societies are large, and everyone is affected by them. Inequality affects our intimate, personal lives; it psychologically divides us from the status, support and solidarity that keep us well.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Professor Pickett and Professor Wilkinson argue that inequality is a major roadblock to creating sustainable economies that serve to optimise the health and wellbeing of both people and the planet. Because consumerism is about self-enhancement and status competition, it is intensified by inequality. Inequality leads to a societal breakdown in trust, solidarity and social cohesion, it reduces people's willingness to act for the common good.</p><h2 style="margin: 28px 0px 10px; font-family: chaparral-pro, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; line-height: 1.25;">The outcome</h2><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Professor Pickett and Professsor Wilkinson's work has shifted public debate across the world – at local, national and international level – and shaped political thinking, legislation and policy making. Examples include:</p><ul style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.8em; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;"><li data-gc-list-depth="1" data-gc-list-style="bullet" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;">many local Fairness Commissions</li><li data-gc-list-depth="1" data-gc-list-style="bullet" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;">the UK 2010 Equality Act</li><li data-gc-list-depth="1" data-gc-list-style="bullet" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;">the UN-sponsored New Development Paradigm</li><li data-gc-list-depth="1" data-gc-list-style="bullet" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;">the scientific review of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).</li></ul><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px;">The researchers co-founded <a href="https://equalitytrust.org.uk/" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(8, 115, 150); text-decoration-line: underline; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Equality Trust</a>, an educational and campaigning charity, to raise awareness of the impact of inequality and generate activism to promote greater equality in the UK and worldwide.</p></div> <div class="ydpeea87fe5o-grid__box ydpeea87fe5o-grid__box--third" style="line-height: 1.5; display: inline-block; vertical-align: top; padding-left: 20px; position: relative; width: 294.984px;"><div class="ydpeea87fe5c-panel ydpeea87fe5c-panel--compact" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; border-top: 0.8em solid rgb(202, 204, 184); background-color: rgb(240, 242, 233); border-radius: 3px; line-height: 1.5;"><div class="ydpeea87fe5c-panel__content" style="padding: 20px;"><h4 style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-family: chaparral-pro, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; line-height: 1.22222;">Additional information</h4><ul style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.8em; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;"><li style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/resources/the-spirit-level" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(8, 115, 150); text-decoration-line: underline; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Spirit Level</a></li><li style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/inner-level" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(8, 115, 150); text-decoration-line: underline; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Inner Level</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div></div><div class="ydpeea87fe5o-grid__row" style="font-size: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="ydpeea87fe5o-grid__box ydpeea87fe5o-grid__box--full" style="line-height: 1.5; display: inline-block; vertical-align: top; padding-left: 20px; position: relative; width: 885px;"><div class="ydpeea87fe5h-card ydpeea87fe5h-card--article" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; border-top: 0.8em solid rgb(202, 204, 184); background-color: rgb(240, 242, 233); color: rgb(64, 64, 64); border-radius: 3px; padding: 20px;"><span style="margin-top: 0px; font-family: museo-sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: museo-sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"></span></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><div><br></div><div><div class="ydpb5ee84c9o-grid ydpb5ee84c9c-news ydpb5ee84c9c-news--article" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; width: 865px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: museo-sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><div class="ydpb5ee84c9o-grid__row" style="font-size: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="ydpb5ee84c9o-grid__box ydpb5ee84c9o-grid__box--full" style="line-height: 1.5; display: inline-block; vertical-align: top; padding-left: 20px; position: relative; width: 885px;"><h1 class="ydpb5ee84c9c-news__title" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; font-family: chaparral-pro, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; line-height: 1.05;">Exposing the impact of social inequality</h1><ul class="ydpb5ee84c9c-tag-list ydpb5ee84c9c-news__category" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;"><li style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; list-style: none; display: inline;"><a class="ydpb5ee84c9c-tag" href="https://www.york.ac.uk/research/themes/health-and-wellbeing/" style="background-color: rgb(162, 52, 121); color: rgb(249, 249, 249); outline: 0px; display: inline-block; text-transform: uppercase; padding: 5px 10px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 4px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">HEALTH AND WELLBEING</a></li> <li style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; list-style: none; display: inline;"><a class="ydpb5ee84c9c-tag enhancr_card_7266932607" href="https://www.york.ac.uk/research/themes/justice-and-equality/" style="background-color: rgb(142, 45, 106); color: rgb(249, 249, 249); outline: 0px; display: inline-block; text-transform: uppercase; padding: 5px 10px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 0px 0px 4px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">JUSTICE AND EQUALITY</a></li><div><br></div><div id="ydp78cbcd54enhancr_card_7266932607" class="ydp78cbcd54yahoo-link-enhancr-card ydp78cbcd54ymail-preserve-class ydp78cbcd54ymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" data-url="https://www.york.ac.uk/research/themes/justice-and-equality/" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://www.york.ac.uk/research/themes/justice-and-equality/" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydp78cbcd54yahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydp78cbcd54card-wrapper ydp78cbcd54yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydp78cbcd54card ydp78cbcd54yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp78cbcd54card-primary-image-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/r2iOnmAnIJhI7.Wveewguw--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://www.york.ac.uk/media/news-and-events/pressreleases/2024/veterans-505.jpg.cf.jpg" bgcolor="#000000" valign="top" height="175" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; position: relative; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;"><v:fill type="frame" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/r2iOnmAnIJhI7.Wveewguw--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://www.york.ac.uk/media/news-and-events/pressreleases/2024/veterans-505.jpg.cf.jpg"/></v:rect><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydp78cbcd54card-overlay-container-table ydp78cbcd54yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp78cbcd54card-overlay-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png" bgcolor="transparent" valign="top" style="background-color: transparent; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:-18px;left:0;"><v:fill type="pattern" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png"/><v:textbox inset="0,0,20px,0"><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydp78cbcd54yahoo-ignore-table" height="175" style="width: 100%; min-height: 175px;"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp78cbcd54card-richInfo2" style="text-align:left;padding:15px 0 0 15px;vertical-align:top"></td><td class="ydp78cbcd54card-actions" style="text-align:right;padding:15px 15px 0 0;vertical-align:top"><div class="ydp78cbcd54card-share-container"></div></td></tr></tbody></table><!--[if gte mso 9]></v:textbox></v:rect><![endif]--></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><table border="0" align="center" class="ydp78cbcd54card-info ydp78cbcd54yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydp78cbcd54card-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(29, 34, 40); max-width: 314px;">Justice and equality - Research, University of York</h2><p class="ydp78cbcd54card-richinfo-primary" style="font-size:12px;line-height:16px;margin:0 0 4px 0;color:#979ea8">University of York</p><p class="ydp78cbcd54card-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 158, 168);"></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></ul><div class="ydpb5ee84c9c-news__lead" style="line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: 1.25;">Why are rich, developed countries still affected by a range of health and social problems?</p></div><img src="https://www.york.ac.uk/media/research/2019/pickett-wilkinson.jpg" title="Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson" alt="Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson" style="outline: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%; width: 865px; display: block;" class=""><div class="ydpb5ee84c9c-figure__caption ydpb5ee84c9c-figure__caption--below" style="line-height: 1.5; max-width: 1200px; background-image: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; color: rgb(110, 110, 110); padding: 10px 0px; z-index: 12; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"></div></div></div><div class="ydpb5ee84c9o-grid__row" style="font-size: 0px; position: relative;"><div class="ydpb5ee84c9o-grid__box ydpb5ee84c9o-grid__box--twothirds" style="line-height: 1.5; display: inline-block; vertical-align: top; padding-left: 20px; position: relative; width: 589.984px;"><h2 style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-family: chaparral-pro, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; line-height: 1.25;">The issue</h2><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Health inequalities are significant and persistent; the health and happiness of populations in rich, developed nations are no longer linked to economic growth. But how do the social and economic structures of society shape wellbeing? Kate Pickett, Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Health Sciences, and Richard Wilkinson, a Visiting Professor at the University of York, investigated this question.</p><h2 style="margin: 28px 0px 10px; font-family: chaparral-pro, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; line-height: 1.25;">The research</h2><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Professor Pickett and Professor Wilkinson's research, synthesised in <em>The Spirit Level</em> (Penguin, 2009) and <em>The Inner Level</em> (Penguin, 2018), shows that income inequality - the gap between rich and poor - strongly influences people's health and wellbeing as well as human capital formation and social cohesion.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Their research found that inequality causes a wide range of health and social problems, from reduced life expectancy and higher infant mortality to poor educational attainment, lower social mobility and increased levels of violence and mental illness.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Differences between more and less equal societies are large, and everyone is affected by them. Inequality affects our intimate, personal lives; it psychologically divides us from the status, support and solidarity that keep us well.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Professor Pickett and Professor Wilkinson argue that inequality is a major roadblock to creating sustainable economies that serve to optimise the health and wellbeing of both people and the planet. Because consumerism is about self-enhancement and status competition, it is intensified by inequality. Inequality leads to a societal breakdown in trust, solidarity and social cohesion, it reduces people's willingness to act for the common good.</p><h2 style="margin: 28px 0px 10px; font-family: chaparral-pro, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; line-height: 1.25;">The outcome</h2><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Professor Pickett and Professsor Wilkinson's work has shifted public debate across the world – at local, national and international level – and shaped political thinking, legislation and policy making. Examples include:</p><ul style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.8em; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;"><li data-gc-list-depth="1" data-gc-list-style="bullet" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;">many local Fairness Commissions</li><li data-gc-list-depth="1" data-gc-list-style="bullet" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;">the UK 2010 Equality Act</li><li data-gc-list-depth="1" data-gc-list-style="bullet" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;">the UN-sponsored New Development Paradigm</li><li data-gc-list-depth="1" data-gc-list-style="bullet" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px;">the scientific review of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).</li></ul><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px;">The researchers co-founded <a href="https://equalitytrust.org.uk/" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(8, 115, 150); text-decoration-line: underline; outline: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Equality Trust</a>, an educational and campaigning charity, to raise awareness of the impact of inequality and generate activism to promote greater equality in the UK and worldwide.</p></div> <div class="ydpb5ee84c9o-grid__box ydpb5ee84c9o-grid__box--third" style="line-height: 1.5; display: inline-block; vertical-align: top; padding-left: 20px; position: relative; width: 294.984px;"><div class="ydpb5ee84c9c-panel ydpb5ee84c9c-panel--compact" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; border-top: 0.8em solid rgb(202, 204, 184); background-color: rgb(240, 242, 233); border-radius: 3px; line-height: 1.5;"><div class="ydpb5ee84c9c-panel__content" style="padding: 20px;"><h4 style="margin: 0px 0px 10px; font-family: chaparral-pro, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; line-height: 1.22222;">Additional information</h4><ul style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 1.8em; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;"><li style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/resources/the-spirit-level" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(8, 115, 150); text-decoration-line: underline; outline: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Spirit Level</a></li><li style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/inner-level" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(8, 115, 150); text-decoration-line: underline; outline: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="enhancr_card_7206233152">The Inner Level</a></li><div><br></div><div id="ydpe51e03aenhancr_card_7206233152" class="ydpe51e03ayahoo-link-enhancr-card ydpe51e03ayahoo-link-enhancr-not-allow-cover ydpe51e03aymail-preserve-class ydpe51e03aymail-preserve-style" style="max-width: 400px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; position: relative;" data-url="https://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/inner-level" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/inner-level" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydpe51e03ayahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydpe51e03acard-wrapper ydpe51e03ayahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydpe51e03acard ydpe51e03ayahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td><table border="0" class="ydpe51e03acard-info ydpe51e03ayahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydpe51e03acard-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(29, 34, 40); max-width: 314px;">The Inner Level</h2><p class="ydpe51e03acard-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 158, 168);">In The Spirit Level Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett put inequality at the centre of public debate by showing ...</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a><div class="loadingSpinnerContainer" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.3);"><div class="D_F F_n gl_C ab_C H_6MGW o_h"><div class="W_6MGW H_6MGW D_X ah_1PEzoz" data-test-id="loading_indicator"><svg class="W_6MGW H_6MGW ah_Zq6hUs" viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="24" height="24"><path class="cdPFi_n cZ13pKbK_Z29WjXl cZ1XO2Ji_dRA c2abBOT_EY cZ1vNhDV_rd cZV8aCd_pI ah_14s73" d="M12,22C6.477,22,2,17.523,2,12S6.477,2,12,2"></path><path class="cdPFi_n cZ13pKbK_Z29WjXl cZ1XO2Ji_dRA c2abBOT_EY cZ1vNhDV_rd cZV8aCd_pI ah_14s73" d="M12,2c5.523,0,10,4.477,10,10s-4.477,10-10,10"></path></svg></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></ul></div></div></div></div></div><div class="ydpb5ee84c9o-grid__row" style="font-size: 0px; position: relative; color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: museo-sans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><div class="ydpb5ee84c9o-grid__box ydpb5ee84c9o-grid__box--full" style="line-height: 1.5; display: inline-block; vertical-align: top; padding-left: 20px; position: relative; width: 885px;"><div class="ydpb5ee84c9h-card ydpb5ee84c9h-card--article" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; border-top: 0.8em solid rgb(202, 204, 184); background-color: rgb(240, 242, 233); border-radius: 3px; padding: 20px;"><span style="margin-top: 0px;"></span><h5 class="ydpb5ee84c9h-card__title" style="margin: 0px 0px 20px; font-weight: 400; text-transform: uppercase;">FEATURED RESEARCHER</h5><img class="ydpb5ee84c9c-figure__image ydpb5ee84c9u-photo" src="https://www.york.ac.uk/media/research/2019/kate-pickett.jpg" alt="Kate Pickett" style="outline: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: none; display: block; z-index: 10; width: 140px;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true" data-id="1706904750888"><p class="ydpb5ee84c9h-card__name ydpb5ee84c9p-name" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 160px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.5;">Kate Pickett</p><div class="ydpb5ee84c9h-card__bio" style="margin-left: 160px;"><p style="margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Professor Pickett is a Fellow of the RSA and the UK Faculty of Public Health. Her research focuses on the social determinants of health and health inequalities, with a particular interest in child development. She is a global Ambassador for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div></div>Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-62850211453119169872024-02-02T12:03:00.000-08:002024-02-02T12:04:01.655-08:00ANS -- How rising inequality hurts everyone, even the rich<div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Here is an article telling about how financial inequality harms all of us, even the rich. This article includes some numbers about exactly what level of inequality is desirable. I was looking for another article on this subject that I lost -- that article included more about the despair and hopelessness caused by inequality, and how that effects our health too. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">find it here: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/02/06/how-rising-inequality-hurts-everyone-even-the-rich/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="enhancr_card_7762451470">Analysis | How rising inequality hurts everyone, even the rich</a></div><div><br></div><div id="ydp29fa44cbenhancr_card_7762451470" class="ydp29fa44cbyahoo-link-enhancr-card ydp29fa44cbymail-preserve-class ydp29fa44cbymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" data-url="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/02/06/how-rising-inequality-hurts-everyone-even-the-rich/" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/02/06/how-rising-inequality-hurts-everyone-even-the-rich/" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydp29fa44cbyahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydp29fa44cbcard-wrapper ydp29fa44cbyahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydp29fa44cbcard ydp29fa44cbyahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp29fa44cbcard-primary-image-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/u7lLFhxUmcmgF4AKQxKuAw--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/files/2018/01/5106441340_558d48fb05_b.jpg&w=1440.cf.jpg" bgcolor="#000000" valign="top" height="175" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; position: relative; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;"><v:fill type="frame" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/u7lLFhxUmcmgF4AKQxKuAw--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/files/2018/01/5106441340_558d48fb05_b.jpg&w=1440.cf.jpg"/></v:rect><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydp29fa44cbcard-overlay-container-table ydp29fa44cbyahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp29fa44cbcard-overlay-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png" bgcolor="transparent" valign="top" style="background-color: transparent; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:-18px;left:0;"><v:fill type="pattern" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png"/><v:textbox inset="0,0,20px,0"><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydp29fa44cbyahoo-ignore-table" height="175" style="width: 100%; min-height: 175px;"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp29fa44cbcard-richInfo2" style="text-align:left;padding:15px 0 0 15px;vertical-align:top"></td><td class="ydp29fa44cbcard-actions" style="text-align:right;padding:15px 15px 0 0;vertical-align:top"><div class="ydp29fa44cbcard-share-container"></div></td></tr></tbody></table><!--[if gte mso 9]></v:textbox></v:rect><![endif]--></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><table border="0" align="center" class="ydp29fa44cbcard-info ydp29fa44cbyahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"><img class="ydp29fa44cbcard-object-1 ydp29fa44cbyahoo-ignore-inline-image ydp29fa44cbymail-preserve-class" src="https://s.yimg.com/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV2/23/logos/washingtonpost.png" height="36" style="min-width:36px;margin-top:3px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydp29fa44cbcard-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(29, 34, 40); max-width: 314px;">Analysis | How rising inequality hurts everyone, even the rich</h2><p class="ydp29fa44cbcard-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 158, 168);">Studies show that in the long run, more inequality means less wealth for everyone.</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div> </div><div><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">--Kim</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><div><br></div><div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2grid-full-inner-standard" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Franklin, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2PJLV ydp2a0a39a2PJLV-iklXUFA-css" style="width: 1000px; max-width: 1000px;"><h1 class="ydp2a0a39a2PJLV ydp2a0a39a2PJLV-ikmtGxl-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles" data-testid="headline" data-qa="headline" id="ydp2a0a39a2main-content" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; max-width: 1000px;"><span data-qa="headline-text" class="ydp2a0a39a2PJLV">How rising inequality hurts everyone, even the rich</span></h1></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2flex ydp2a0a39a2print-byline ydp2a0a39a2print-mt-none"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2byline-wrapper ydp2a0a39a2flex-column ydp2a0a39a2flex" style="max-width: 600px;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2PJLV ydp2a0a39a2PJLV-ihSmMVC-css"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2PJLV ydp2a0a39a2PJLV-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2mb-xxs ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles" data-qa="author-byline" style="margin-bottom: 4px;"><span class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV">Reporter</span></div></div><div data-testid="timestamp" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kgabfe ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kgabfe-ieEDlgV-css"><span data-testid="display-date" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-iKQyrV">February 6, 2018 at 6:00 a.m. EST</span></div></div></div></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2grid-body" style="max-width: 640px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 640px;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-jUMcim ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-jUMcim-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2hide-for-print ydp2a0a39a2mb-sm" style="min-height: 40px; margin-bottom: 16px;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2PJLV ydp2a0a39a2PJLV-ieDMgMI-css ydp2a0a39a2flex ydp2a0a39a2items-center" data-qa="article-actions"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-mfMEg"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-hnjNCH ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-bywHgD-variant-primary ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-biynoz-density-compact ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-hZSyid-isOutline-true ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-icon-left ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-futxca-cv ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-hnjNCH-eNNUQD-cv ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-hnjNCH-jGqLyO-cv" style="border-radius: var(--wpds-radii-round); cursor: pointer; border: 0px; position: relative; background: none;"><div id="ydp2a0a39a2gift-share" data-testid="gift-share" class="ydp2a0a39a2PJLV ydp2a0a39a2PJLV-ieGzigK-css ydp2a0a39a2hide-for-print" style="background-color: unset; padding: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; min-height: 24px;"><button data-state="closed" id="ydp2a0a39a2gift-share-popover-control" data-testid="gift-share-popover-control" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-SQjOY-variant-secondary ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-eHdizY-density-default ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-icon-left ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV-dTGBTO-placement-ActionBar ydp2a0a39a2focus-highlight" style="margin: 0px; text-transform: inherit; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; padding: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; border-radius: var(--wpds-radii-round); cursor: pointer;"></button></div><span class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-fBEbFG">Share</span></div></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-mfMEg"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-hnjNCH ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-bywHgD-variant-primary ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-biynoz-density-compact ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-hZSyid-isOutline-true ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-icon-left ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-futxca-cv ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-hnjNCH-eNNUQD-cv ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-hnjNCH-jGqLyO-cv" style="border-radius: var(--wpds-radii-round); cursor: pointer; border: 0px; position: relative; background: none;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2PJLV ydp2a0a39a2PJLV-iPJLV-css"><button data-state="closed" data-testid="subscribe-cta-popup" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-SQjOY-variant-secondary ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-eHdizY-density-default ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-icon-left ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-icMJmxV-css" style="margin: 0px; text-transform: inherit; border-width: initial; border-style: none; border-color: initial; padding: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; font-stretch: inherit; border-radius: var(--wpds-radii-round); cursor: pointer;"><span class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-iSKIAI" style="border: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 1px; color: currentcolor; min-height: 1px;">Add to your saved stories</span></button></div><span class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-fBEbFG">Save</span></div></div></div></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2meteredContent ydp2a0a39a2grid-center"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2teaser-content"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2PJLV ydp2a0a39a2PJLV-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2hide-for-print" data-qa="article-image"><div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2w-100 ydp2a0a39a2mw-100 ydp2a0a39a2h-auto" style="width: 320px; max-width: 100%; height: auto; line-height: 0;"><img alt="" class="ydp2a0a39a2w-100 ydp2a0a39a2mw-100 ydp2a0a39a2h-auto" style="width: 300px; max-width: 0px; background-size: cover;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true" data-id="1706904215899" draggable="false"></div></div></div></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;">Over the past 40 or so years, the American economy has been funneling wealth and income, reverse Robin Hood-style, from the pockets of the bottom 99 percent to the coffers of the top 1 percent. The total transfer, to the richest from everyone else, amounts to 10 percent of national income and 15 percent of national wealth.</p></div></div><div></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;">It's part of a massive concentration of wealth and income among the rich that has put the United States at levels of inequality not seen in this country since before World War II. It's a trend that economists such as Thomas Piketty believe will continue unchecked in the coming decades, with the top 1 percent of Americans capturing a quarter or more of the national income by 2030.</p></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;">The problem is commonly understood as an issue for those who have less, and it certainly is. But recent studies demonstrate that inequality is bad for <em>everyone</em> in society.</p></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV-fuZjjX-isStandardLayoutAd-true ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2cb ydp2a0a39a2dn ydp2a0a39a2db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-testid="article-body-ad-desktop" style="clear: both;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2hide-for-print ydp2a0a39a2relative ydp2a0a39a2flex ydp2a0a39a2justify-center ydp2a0a39a2content-box ydp2a0a39a2items-center ydp2a0a39a2b ydp2a0a39a2bh ydp2a0a39a2mb-md ydp2a0a39a2mt-none ydp2a0a39a2pt-lg ydp2a0a39a2pb-lg" style="box-sizing: initial; border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-top: 32px; padding-bottom: 32px; position: relative; min-height: 250px;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2relative ydp2a0a39a2flex ydp2a0a39a2flex-column ydp2a0a39a2justify-center ydp2a0a39a2w-100" style="width: 640px; position: relative; min-height: 250px; min-width: 300px;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2teads-inread ydp2a0a39a2xs-screen" style="margin: 0px auto; max-width: 440px; min-height: 269px;"><div style="position: relative; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2teads-player" id="ydp2a0a39a2teads0" style="margin-bottom: 0px !important;"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV-fuZjjX-isStandardLayoutAd-true ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;">Some of the pain is economic: The studies suggest that the inequality depresses economic growth, leaving less for society to divvy up — regardless of how its members decide to do so. And some of it is social: Studies have found that inequality, particularly the high level seen in the present-day United States, gives rise to criminal behavior.</p></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;">Those effects can take a chunk out of your paycheck, regardless of whether you're in the bottom 99 percent or the top 1 percent. Leading economists and economic organizations are coming around to the idea that to maximize income and wealth for everyone — including those at the top — there have to be meaningful checks on income and wealth inequality.</p></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: bolder;">Inequality hurts economic growth, especially high inequality (like ours) in rich nations (like ours).</span></p></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV-fuZjjX-isStandardLayoutAd-true ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;">In 2014 the <span class="ydp2a0a39a2oecd-shared-footer__copyright-first">Organisation for Economic </span><span class="ydp2a0a39a2oecd-shared-footer__copyright-second">Co-operation and Development, a collective of <a href="http://www.oecd.org/about/membersandpartners/list-oecd-member-countries.htm" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); border-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the world's 35 wealthiest countries including the United States</a>, found that rising inequality in the United States from 1990 to 2010 <a href="http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/docserver/download/5jxrjncwxv6j-en.pdf?expires=1516297823&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=9F74137A86168889BDDEC1204AB9F4BE" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); border-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">knocked about five percentage points off cumulative GDP per capita</a> over that period. Similar effects were seen in other rich countries.</span></p></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV-fuZjjX-isStandardLayoutAd-true ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2cb ydp2a0a39a2dn ydp2a0a39a2db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-testid="article-body-ad-desktop" style="clear: both;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2hide-for-print ydp2a0a39a2relative ydp2a0a39a2flex ydp2a0a39a2justify-center ydp2a0a39a2content-box ydp2a0a39a2items-center ydp2a0a39a2b ydp2a0a39a2bh ydp2a0a39a2mb-md ydp2a0a39a2mt-none ydp2a0a39a2pt-lg ydp2a0a39a2pb-lg" style="box-sizing: initial; border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-top: 32px; padding-bottom: 32px; position: relative; min-height: 250px;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2center ydp2a0a39a2absolute ydp2a0a39a2w-100 ydp2a0a39a2border-box" style="text-align: center; width: 640px;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2dib ydp2a0a39a2gray-dark ydp2a0a39a2pl-xs ydp2a0a39a2pr-xs ydp2a0a39a2font-sans-serif ydp2a0a39a2light ydp2a0a39a2font-xxxxs ydp2a0a39a2lh-md" style="padding-right: 8px; padding-left: 8px; font-family: Franklin, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25; display: inline-block;"></div></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2relative ydp2a0a39a2flex ydp2a0a39a2flex-column ydp2a0a39a2justify-center ydp2a0a39a2w-100" style="width: 640px; position: relative; min-height: 250px; min-width: 300px;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2teads-inread ydp2a0a39a2teads-display ydp2a0a39a2xs-screen" style="margin: 0px auto; max-width: 440px; min-height: 271px;"><div style="position: relative; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2teads-ui-components-adchoices" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11px; cursor: pointer; width: 15px; line-height: 15px; padding: 1px; background-size: 15px 15px; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; z-index: 1; margin-bottom: 0px !important; min-height: 15px;"></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2teads-ui-components-label" style="color: rgb(88, 88, 88); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; font-size: 10px !important; text-align: center !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; line-height: 21px !important; letter-spacing: 0.3px !important; margin-bottom: 0px !important; min-height: 21px;">ADVERTISING</div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2teads-player" id="ydp2a0a39a2teads1" style="margin-bottom: 0px !important;"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;">"The main mechanism through which inequality affects growth is by undermining education opportunities for children from poor socio-economic backgrounds, lowering social mobility and hampering skills development," the OECD found. Children from the bottom 40 percent of households (a huge chunk of the population) are missing out on pricey educational opportunities. That makes them less productive employees, which means lower wages, which means lower overall participation in the economy.</p></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;">While that's obviously bad news for poor families, it also hurts those at the top. If you're a billionaire owner of a retail or manufacturing company, you want people to be able to afford the stuff you're selling. Henry Ford offered his workers high wages not out of any altruistic impulse but <a href="https://www.npr.org/2014/01/27/267145552/the-middle-class-took-off-100-years-ago-thanks-to-henry-ford" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); border-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">because he wanted them to buy his cars</a>.</p></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV-fuZjjX-isStandardLayoutAd-true ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;">Not all inequality is necessarily bad. A <a href="http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/291151468188658453/pdf/WPS7317.pdf" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); border-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2015 World Bank paper</a> found that a certain amount of inequality boosts per capita GDP in developing economies by allowing wealthy entrepreneurs to invest more. But that effect gets reversed in advanced economies like our own, primarily because of the detrimental effects on educational attainment outlined above.</p></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV-fuZjjX-isStandardLayoutAd-true ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2cb ydp2a0a39a2dn ydp2a0a39a2db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-testid="article-body-ad-desktop" style="clear: both;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2hide-for-print ydp2a0a39a2relative ydp2a0a39a2flex ydp2a0a39a2justify-center ydp2a0a39a2content-box ydp2a0a39a2items-center ydp2a0a39a2b ydp2a0a39a2bh ydp2a0a39a2mb-md ydp2a0a39a2mt-none ydp2a0a39a2pt-lg ydp2a0a39a2pb-lg" style="box-sizing: initial; border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-top: 32px; padding-bottom: 32px; position: relative; min-height: 250px;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2center ydp2a0a39a2absolute ydp2a0a39a2w-100 ydp2a0a39a2border-box" style="text-align: center; width: 640px;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2dib ydp2a0a39a2gray-dark ydp2a0a39a2pl-xs ydp2a0a39a2pr-xs ydp2a0a39a2font-sans-serif ydp2a0a39a2light ydp2a0a39a2font-xxxxs ydp2a0a39a2lh-md" style="padding-right: 8px; padding-left: 8px; font-family: Franklin, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25; display: inline-block;"></div></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2relative ydp2a0a39a2flex ydp2a0a39a2flex-column ydp2a0a39a2justify-center ydp2a0a39a2w-100" style="width: 640px; position: relative; min-height: 250px; min-width: 300px;"><div style="border: 0pt none; display: inline-block; width: 640px; min-height: 250px;"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;">Even in countries like ours, not all inequality is harmful. A <a href="https://blogs.imf.org/2017/05/11/a-new-twist-in-the-link-between-inequality-and-economic-development/" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); border-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">report by the International Monetary Fund last year</a> found that inequality could be beneficial to growth at low to moderate levels. On a 0-100 scale known as the Gini coefficient, where 0 means everyone has the same income and 100 means just one individual has it all, inequality spurred growth in countries with index values below 27. Unfortunately for us, our <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI?locations=US" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); border-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">current Gini index value is somewhere around 41</a>, well beyond the threshold where inequality becomes harmful.</p></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div id="ydp2a0a39a2gift-share-inline" data-testid="gift-share-inline" class="ydp2a0a39a2PJLV ydp2a0a39a2PJLV-ilotWTr-css ydp2a0a39a2hide-for-print" style="background-color: unset; height: auto; padding: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><button data-state="closed" id="ydp2a0a39a2gift-share-popover-control-inline" data-testid="gift-share-popover-control-inline" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-SQjOY-variant-secondary ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-eHdizY-density-default ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-icon-left ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV-goNocI-placement-Inline ydp2a0a39a2focus-highlight" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-transform: inherit; border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; border-radius: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 640px;"><div data-testid="gift-share-interstitial-trigger" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kPqOkS ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kPqOkS-jtSXsT-hasSubsText-false" style="width: 640px; padding-left: 0px;"><span class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-hBJqc" style="text-align: left;"><span class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-dzSncg">Share this article</span></span><span class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-eCvjpK"><span class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-enedHQ ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-enedHQ-cCitdK-isShown-false">Share</span></span></div></button></div></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;">Lots of other reports back these findings up. I won't bore you with the details on all of them, but if you want to learn about how inequality harms overall growth by <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00181-014-0841-7" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); border-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">decreasing per capita income</a>, <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953614008399" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); border-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">damaging health and well-being</a>, <a href="https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/sdn/2015/sdn1513.pdf" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); border-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">decreasing disposable income</a>, or enticing middle-class individuals to <a href="http://www.nber.org/papers/w18883" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); border-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">incur debts they can't pay</a>, here are the links.</p></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV-fuZjjX-isStandardLayoutAd-true ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: bolder;">Inequality breeds crime.</span></p></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV-fuZjjX-isStandardLayoutAd-true ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2cb ydp2a0a39a2dn ydp2a0a39a2db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-testid="article-body-ad-desktop" style="clear: both;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2hide-for-print ydp2a0a39a2relative ydp2a0a39a2flex ydp2a0a39a2justify-center ydp2a0a39a2content-box ydp2a0a39a2items-center ydp2a0a39a2b ydp2a0a39a2bh ydp2a0a39a2mb-md ydp2a0a39a2mt-none ydp2a0a39a2pt-lg ydp2a0a39a2pb-lg" style="box-sizing: initial; border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-top: 32px; padding-bottom: 32px; position: relative; min-height: 250px;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2center ydp2a0a39a2absolute ydp2a0a39a2w-100 ydp2a0a39a2border-box" style="text-align: center; width: 640px;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2dib ydp2a0a39a2gray-dark ydp2a0a39a2pl-xs ydp2a0a39a2pr-xs ydp2a0a39a2font-sans-serif ydp2a0a39a2light ydp2a0a39a2font-xxxxs ydp2a0a39a2lh-md" style="padding-right: 8px; padding-left: 8px; font-family: Franklin, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25; display: inline-block;"></div></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2relative ydp2a0a39a2flex ydp2a0a39a2flex-column ydp2a0a39a2justify-center ydp2a0a39a2w-100" style="width: 640px; position: relative; min-height: 250px; min-width: 300px;"><div style="border: 0pt none;"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;">This is somewhat obvious, but it's worth highlighting a few key studies: If you have a society sharply divided between winners and losers, some of those losers are going to conclude that the game is rigged and that it's not in their interest to play by the rules.</p></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;">A <a href="http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2016/07/08/how-neighborhood-inequality-leads-to-higher-crime-rates/" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); border-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">2016 London School of Economics study</a>, for instance, found that greater income gaps between neighboring U.S. neighborhoods led to more property crime in the richer neighborhoods. "Income differences create an incentive for those relatively poor to steal from richer households," the authors explain.</p></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;">Perhaps surprisingly, the links between inequality and <em>violent </em>crime are even clearer. A<a href="https://siteresources.worldbank.org/DEC/Resources/Crime%26Inequality.pdf" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); border-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> 2002 World Bank paper</a> found strong correlations between inequality and rates of violent crime, both within countries and between them. The authors say the relationship appears to be causal, even after controlling for a number of other known determinants of crime. The implication is that high levels of inequality create a permanent underclass forced to compete, sometimes violently, either with itself or with other classes for scarce resources.</p></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV-fuZjjX-isStandardLayoutAd-true ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2cb ydp2a0a39a2dn ydp2a0a39a2db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-testid="article-body-ad-desktop" style="clear: both;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2hide-for-print ydp2a0a39a2relative ydp2a0a39a2flex ydp2a0a39a2justify-center ydp2a0a39a2content-box ydp2a0a39a2items-center ydp2a0a39a2b ydp2a0a39a2bh ydp2a0a39a2mb-md ydp2a0a39a2mt-none ydp2a0a39a2pt-lg ydp2a0a39a2pb-lg" style="box-sizing: initial; border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-top: 32px; padding-bottom: 32px; position: relative; min-height: 250px;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2center ydp2a0a39a2absolute ydp2a0a39a2w-100 ydp2a0a39a2border-box" style="text-align: center; width: 640px;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2dib ydp2a0a39a2gray-dark ydp2a0a39a2pl-xs ydp2a0a39a2pr-xs ydp2a0a39a2font-sans-serif ydp2a0a39a2light ydp2a0a39a2font-xxxxs ydp2a0a39a2lh-md" style="padding-right: 8px; padding-left: 8px; font-family: Franklin, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25; display: inline-block;"></div></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2relative ydp2a0a39a2flex ydp2a0a39a2flex-column ydp2a0a39a2justify-center ydp2a0a39a2w-100" style="width: 640px; position: relative; min-height: 250px; min-width: 300px;"></div></div></div></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV-fuZjjX-isStandardLayoutAd-true ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;">This phenomenon is particularly clear in present-day Mexico, <a href="http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/236161468299090847/pdf/WPS6935.pdf" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); border-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">according to a 2014 World Bank paper</a>. Because of the proliferation of gangs during the country's drug war, the costs of crime decreased as criminal knowledge and skills diffused throughout the broader population. The <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI?locations=MX" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); border-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">high level of inequality in Mexico</a> (Gini coefficient: 48.2), meanwhile, meant that the expected benefits of crime increased. What you get is a perfect storm of incentives for violent crime.</p></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;">* * *</p></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;">It's worth pointing out that inequality isn't the sole driver of crime. In the United States, for instance, the <a href="https://www.factcheck.org/2016/07/dueling-claims-on-crime-trend/" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); border-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">violent crime rate has fallen since the early 1990s</a> even as inequality has increased. There are <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/04/what-caused-the-crime-decline/477408/" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); border-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a lot of factors at play there</a>: policing, overall economic growth, even environmental lead levels. What the studies above suggest is that, if the rise of inequality had been less severe, American crime rates would have fallen even more.</p></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV-fuZjjX-isStandardLayoutAd-true ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2cb ydp2a0a39a2dn ydp2a0a39a2db-ns" data-qa="article-body-ad" data-testid="article-body-ad-desktop" style="clear: both;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2hide-for-print ydp2a0a39a2relative ydp2a0a39a2flex ydp2a0a39a2justify-center ydp2a0a39a2content-box ydp2a0a39a2items-center ydp2a0a39a2b ydp2a0a39a2bh ydp2a0a39a2mb-md ydp2a0a39a2mt-none ydp2a0a39a2pt-lg ydp2a0a39a2pb-lg" style="box-sizing: initial; border-right: 0px; border-left: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding-top: 32px; padding-bottom: 32px; position: relative; min-height: 250px;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2center ydp2a0a39a2absolute ydp2a0a39a2w-100 ydp2a0a39a2border-box" style="text-align: center; width: 640px;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2dib ydp2a0a39a2gray-dark ydp2a0a39a2pl-xs ydp2a0a39a2pr-xs ydp2a0a39a2font-sans-serif ydp2a0a39a2light ydp2a0a39a2font-xxxxs ydp2a0a39a2lh-md" style="padding-right: 8px; padding-left: 8px; font-family: Franklin, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.25; display: inline-block;"></div></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2relative ydp2a0a39a2flex ydp2a0a39a2flex-column ydp2a0a39a2justify-center ydp2a0a39a2w-100" style="width: 640px; position: relative; min-height: 250px; min-width: 300px;"><div style="border: 0pt none;"></div></div></div></div></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV-fuZjjX-isStandardLayoutAd-true ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;">Similarly, a lot of factors beyond inequality drive economic growth. But the near-unanimity in the studies above, particularly pertaining to rich countries with high levels of inequality, presents a compelling case that inequality will be harmful to all of us in the long run. That's why organizations like the OECD, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are increasingly sounding the alarm on this issue: Skyrocketing inequality hurts everyone regardless of economic status.</p></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;">But a substantial segment of American voters has responded to the unprecedented rise of inequality at the dawn of the 21st century with a collective shrug. Last year, for instance, <a href="http://news.gallup.com/poll/202568/americans-satisfaction-steady-except-race-matters.aspx" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); border-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">35 percent of Americans told Gallup</a> they were satisfied with the way wealth and income were distributed in the United States. In 2016, <a href="http://news.gallup.com/poll/182987/americans-continue-say-wealth-distribution-unfair.aspx" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); border-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">similar percentages said</a> they felt the distribution of money and wealth was "fair" and that the richest Americans were already paying a fair share or too much in taxes. Almost half said they disapproved of redistributing wealth via higher taxes on the rich.</p></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;">Many Americans view inequality as the natural outcome when talent and ability are unevenly distributed throughout society — the rich are rich, <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/article/368869/working-rich-kevin-d-williamson" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); border-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the thinking goes</a>, because they worker harder, smarter and more productively than everyone else. High inequality is <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0190272517711919?journalCode=spqc" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(42, 42, 42); border-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">largely a function of merit</a>, in this view, and not something to be overly concerned with. It's a feature of the capitalist system, not a bug.</p></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2article-body" data-qa="article-body"><p data-testid="drop-cap-letter" data-el="text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cYdRxM-iPJLV-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles ydp2a0a39a2font-copy" style="margin: 0px;">But even if you feel that the rich are entitled to a larger share of the national pie because of their talent, productivity and hard work, current economic research suggests that unchecked inequality means less pie for everyone — even the rich.</p></div></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-jkoBlc ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-jkoBlc-leHWbT-removeAllStyles-true"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-dhzjXW ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-dhzjXW-igMxubY-css ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles"><div id="ydp2a0a39a2gift-share-end" data-testid="gift-share-end" class="ydp2a0a39a2PJLV ydp2a0a39a2PJLV-iiaHaQH-css ydp2a0a39a2hide-for-print" style="background-color: unset; padding: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><button data-state="closed" id="ydp2a0a39a2gift-share-popover-control-end" data-testid="gift-share-popover-control-end" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-SQjOY-variant-secondary ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-eHdizY-density-default ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kSOqLF-ejCoEP-icon-left ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV-ZvFZw-placement-Shortcut ydp2a0a39a2focus-highlight" style="margin: 0px; text-transform: inherit; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-style: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; border-radius: var(--wpds-radii-round); cursor: pointer;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-UazGY" id="ydp2a0a39a2gift-share-shortcut" data-testid="gift-share-shortcut"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2PJLV ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-kwcHlj" style="line-height: 0;">Share</div></div></button></div></div><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-gMxubY"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2PJLV ydp2a0a39a2PJLV-ijcaXsK-css ydp2a0a39a2hide-for-print ydp2a0a39a2mb-lg ydp2a0a39a2overrideStyles" data-qa="author-byline" style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><span class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-PJLV-eLkMTV-isAuthorBio-true"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2flex" data-qa="author-bio"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2mr-sm ydp2a0a39a2flex ydp2a0a39a2lh-0" style="margin-right: 16px; line-height: 0;"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-iTcer" style="width: 56px; position: relative; min-height: 56px;"><img src="https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=https://s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/washpost/80b963d2-4f59-4ca2-92e6-639c4514cf71.png&w=196&h=196" alt="" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-dgBqAZ" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; border-radius: 50%;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true" draggable="false"></div></div><span><div class="ydp2a0a39a2flex"><div class="ydp2a0a39a2dib ydp2a0a39a2font-xxs ydp2a0a39a2mb-xxs" data-qa="name-with-optional-link" data-cy="name-with-optional-link" style="margin-bottom: 4px; display: inline-block;"><span data-qa="attribution-text" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cNdzuP">By </span><a data-qa="author-name" href="https://thewhyaxis.substack.com/" class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cNdzuP ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-cNdzuP-ejzZdU-isLink-true" style="text-decoration-line: underline; cursor: pointer;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Christopher Ingraham</a></div></div><span class="ydp2a0a39a2wpds-c-ewNrgJ ydp2a0a39a2author-description" data-qa="author-description">Christopher Ingraham was a reporter on The Post's business desk from 2014 to 2021. He currently writes the Why Axis, a newsletter about the data shaping and informing our lives.</span><a class="ydp2a0a39a2font-xxxs ydp2a0a39a2gray-dark ydp2a0a39a2pointer ydp2a0a39a2nowrap ydp2a0a39a2truncate" href="https://twitter.com/@_cingraham" style="cursor: pointer;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="ydp2a0a39a2dib ydp2a0a39a2h-xxs ydp2a0a39a2va-m" style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle; min-height: 16px;"></span> <span class="ydp2a0a39a2dib ydp2a0a39a2b ydp2a0a39a2bb ydp2a0a39a2bc-gray" style="border-top-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-style: initial; border-right-width: 0px; border-left-style: initial; border-left-width: 0px; display: inline-block;">Twitter</span></a></span></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div></div>Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-2481243435076366522024-01-31T00:08:00.001-08:002024-01-31T00:08:33.813-08:00Fwd: Other kind of Green tid bit!<div dir="ltr"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Joyce Segal</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:joyceck10@gmail.com">joyceck10@gmail.com</a>></span><br>Date: Tue, Jan 30, 2024 at 7:48 AM<br>Subject: Other kind of Green tid bit!<br>To: Kim Cooper <<a href="mailto:kimc0240@gmail.com">kimc0240@gmail.com</a>><br></div><br><br><div dir="ltr">Next time people in the USA cry poverty remember this:<br clear="all"><div>$9,800<br><br>That's the average ticket price for the upcoming Super Bowl matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, according to TickPick. These staggering prices will make the February 11 game the most expensive Super Bowl on record.<br></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div>Joyce Cooper</div><div>CEO SunSmartPower</div><div>650-430-6243</div><a href="http://SunSmartPower.com" target="_blank">SunSmartPower.com</a><div><br></div></div></div></div> </div></div> Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-72028832641975441262024-01-26T04:53:00.001-08:002024-01-26T04:53:45.406-08:00ANS -- Words used differently by the public and scientists.<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmyd9pkNePXqdR99l6XJYAM2yGPwmIgKC9ey8ozsE4i6Yr-rAfMDnckPD1oKBa6MIb4CpyDueK2SuZylVodF1AUdw2xHjQVgaNi02XDIH16BUTA23QGn8zJgs72H-7LPNWnV_VWHPuiPtUSqT3QOGeoBtuWwxmmIK_LMB8-97cs0jovkXdHO1EOA"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgmyd9pkNePXqdR99l6XJYAM2yGPwmIgKC9ey8ozsE4i6Yr-rAfMDnckPD1oKBa6MIb4CpyDueK2SuZylVodF1AUdw2xHjQVgaNi02XDIH16BUTA23QGn8zJgs72H-7LPNWnV_VWHPuiPtUSqT3QOGeoBtuWwxmmIK_LMB8-97cs0jovkXdHO1EOA=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7328389418051167314" /></a></p><div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">This seems like a handy chart. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><img title="Inline image" alt="Inline image" src="cid:bd876c9b-4afc-6fca-d4ce-56f3ec1a87b2@yahoo.com" class="yahoo-inline-image" draggable="false" style="max-width: 800px; width: 100%;" data-id="<bd876c9b-4afc-6fca-d4ce-56f3ec1a87b2@yahoo.com>"><br><span></span><br></div></div>Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-51770736573847667292024-01-26T01:44:00.000-08:002024-01-26T01:45:04.938-08:00Fwd: Green tidbits<div dir="ltr"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Joyce Segal</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:joyceck10@gmail.com">joyceck10@gmail.com</a>></span><br>Date: Tue, Jan 23, 2024 at 10:48 PM<br>Subject: Green tidbits<br>To: Kim Cooper <<a href="mailto:kimc0240@gmail.com">kimc0240@gmail.com</a>><br></div><br><br><div dir="ltr"><br clear="all"><div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="text-align:center;border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" valign="top" style="display:block;border-collapse:collapse"><table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" align="left" style="border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr><td align="left" dir="ltr" style="font-family:Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;font-size:16px;line-height:26px;font-weight:bold;color:black;padding:0px 0px 5px;border-collapse:collapse"><div><a href="https://www.cfmediaview.com/lp1.aspx?v=31_225176236_15693_13" style="color:black;text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">The Pentagon will install rooftop solar panels as Biden pushes clean energy in federal buildings</a></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" style="display:block;border-collapse:collapse"><table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" align="right" style="border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse:collapse"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" style="border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr><td align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom:15px;font-family:Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;line-height:24px;font-size:14px;color:rgb(102,102,102);padding:0px;border-collapse:collapse"><div>The Pentagon is one of 31 government sites that are receiving $104 million in Energy Department grants that are expected to double the amount of carbon-free electricity at federal facilities and create 27 megawatts of clean-energy capacity while leveraging more than $361 million in private investment, the Energy Department said.</div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div>Joyce Cooper</div><div>CEO SunSmartPower</div><div>650-430-6243</div><a href="http://SunSmartPower.com" target="_blank">SunSmartPower.com</a><div><br></div></div></div></div> </div></div> Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-37998415263670613272024-01-26T01:43:00.000-08:002024-01-26T01:44:09.469-08:00Fwd: Editor tidbit<div dir="ltr"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Joyce Segal</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:joyceck10@gmail.com">joyceck10@gmail.com</a>></span><br>Date: Thu, Jan 25, 2024 at 8:57 AM<br>Subject: Editor tidbit<br>To: Kim Cooper <<a href="mailto:kimc0240@gmail.com">kimc0240@gmail.com</a>><br></div><br><br><div dir="ltr"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(242,242,242);word-break:break-word"><tbody style="box-sizing:border-box"><tr style="box-sizing:border-box"><td style="box-sizing:border-box;padding-bottom:20px"><div style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:sans-serif"><div style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;color:rgb(246,51,57);line-height:1.2"><p style="box-sizing:border-box;line-height:inherit;margin:0px;font-size:14px;text-align:center"><span style="box-sizing:border-box;font-size:34px">$2.7 billion</span></p></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" role="presentation" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:rgb(242,242,242);word-break:break-word"><tbody style="box-sizing:border-box"><tr style="box-sizing:border-box"><td style="box-sizing:border-box"><div style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:sans-serif"><div style="box-sizing:border-box;font-family:"Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:12px;color:rgb(32,32,32);line-height:2"><p style="box-sizing:border-box;line-height:inherit;margin:0px;font-size:14px;text-align:center"><span style="box-sizing:border-box;font-size:16px">That's how much a voting technology company is seeking in damages from Fox Corporation — the parent company of Fox News — over the network's <a href="https://e.newsletters.cnn.com/click?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" rel="noopener" style="box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(246,51,57);text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">repeated airing of 2020 election lies</a>. A judge ruled Wednesday that tech company Smartmatic can move forward with its defamation lawsuit, dealing a major blow to the right-wing network.</span></p></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div>Joyce Cooper</div><div>CEO SunSmartPower</div><div>650-430-6243</div><a href="http://SunSmartPower.com" target="_blank">SunSmartPower.com</a><div><br></div></div></div></div> </div></div> Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-65619246563326038482024-01-24T06:48:00.000-08:002024-01-24T06:54:02.471-08:00ANS -- Scientists: The Secret To Happiness And I’m Not Kidding<div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">This one is really long, but it's an interesting idea. He says you can be happy with this method. What do you think? He says: <span><h1 id="ydpfca43ef1f8cd" class="ydpfca43ef1ou ydpfca43ef1ov ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1ow ydpfca43ef1ox ydpfca43ef1oy ydpfca43ef1hi ydpfca43ef1oz ydpfca43ef1pa ydpfca43ef1pb ydpfca43ef1hl ydpfca43ef1pc ydpfca43ef1pd ydpfca43ef1pe ydpfca43ef1pf ydpfca43ef1pg ydpfca43ef1ph ydpfca43ef1pi ydpfca43ef1pj ydpfca43ef1pk ydpfca43ef1pl ydpfca43ef1pm ydpfca43ef1pn ydpfca43ef1po ydpfca43ef1pp ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 1.95em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 30px; letter-spacing: -0.016em;"><font size="3">"A True Revolution Against Ecclesiastical Power Would Mean Treating Every Single Thing In Our Life As Sacred — Not None Of It"</font></h1><div><font size="3"><br></font></div><div><font size="3"><br></font></div></span></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Find it here: <a href="https://medium.com/the-haven/scientists-the-secret-to-happiness-and-im-not-kidding-a0d4042a0c5a" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="enhancr_card_6256842845">Scientists: The Secret To Happiness And I'm Not Kidding</a></div><div><br></div><div id="ydp5b00abe9enhancr_card_6256842845" class="ydp5b00abe9yahoo-link-enhancr-card ydp5b00abe9ymail-preserve-class ydp5b00abe9ymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" data-url="https://medium.com/the-haven/scientists-the-secret-to-happiness-and-im-not-kidding-a0d4042a0c5a" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://medium.com/the-haven/scientists-the-secret-to-happiness-and-im-not-kidding-a0d4042a0c5a" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydp5b00abe9yahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydp5b00abe9card-wrapper ydp5b00abe9yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydp5b00abe9card ydp5b00abe9yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp5b00abe9card-primary-image-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/b769mSn8WcEroh0Qa59Grw--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://miro.medium.com/v2/da:true/resize:fit:1200/0*M_BNZ-h7TSCufzzP.cf.jpg" bgcolor="#000000" valign="top" height="175" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; position: relative; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;"><v:fill type="frame" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/b769mSn8WcEroh0Qa59Grw--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://miro.medium.com/v2/da:true/resize:fit:1200/0*M_BNZ-h7TSCufzzP.cf.jpg"/></v:rect><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydp5b00abe9card-overlay-container-table ydp5b00abe9yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp5b00abe9card-overlay-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png" bgcolor="transparent" valign="top" style="background-color: transparent; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:-18px;left:0;"><v:fill type="pattern" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png"/><v:textbox inset="0,0,20px,0"><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydp5b00abe9yahoo-ignore-table" height="175" style="width: 100%; min-height: 175px;"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp5b00abe9card-richInfo2" style="text-align:left;padding:15px 0 0 15px;vertical-align:top"></td><td class="ydp5b00abe9card-actions" style="text-align:right;padding:15px 15px 0 0;vertical-align:top"><div class="ydp5b00abe9card-share-container"></div></td></tr></tbody></table><!--[if gte mso 9]></v:textbox></v:rect><![endif]--></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><table border="0" align="center" class="ydp5b00abe9card-info ydp5b00abe9yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"><img class="ydp5b00abe9card-object-1 ydp5b00abe9yahoo-ignore-inline-image ydp5b00abe9ymail-preserve-class" src="https://s.yimg.com/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV2/23/logos/medium.png" height="36" style="min-width:36px;margin-top:3px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydp5b00abe9card-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(29, 34, 40); max-width: 314px;">Scientists: The Secret To Happiness And I'm Not Kidding</h2><p class="ydp5b00abe9card-richinfo-primary" style="font-size:12px;line-height:16px;margin:0 0 4px 0;color:#979ea8">Clem Samson</p><p class="ydp5b00abe9card-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 158, 168);">This key insight makes a life of extreme joy not just possible but inevitable</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div> </div><div><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">--Kim</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><div><br></div><div><div class="ydpfca43ef1ev ydpfca43ef1ew ydpfca43ef1ex ydpfca43ef1ey ydpfca43ef1ez ydpfca43ef1l" style="margin-bottom: 68px;"><div class="ydpfca43ef1l"><div class="ydpfca43ef1l"><div><div class="ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1fx ydpfca43ef1fy ydpfca43ef1fz ydpfca43ef1ga"><div class="ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1ca"><div class="ydpfca43ef1ch ydpfca43ef1bg ydpfca43ef1fa ydpfca43ef1fb ydpfca43ef1fc ydpfca43ef1fd" style="width: 680px; min-width: 0px; margin: 0px 24px; max-width: 680px;"><h2 id="ydpfca43ef13141" class="ydpfca43ef1gb ydpfca43ef1gc ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1dx ydpfca43ef1ge ydpfca43ef1gf ydpfca43ef1gg ydpfca43ef1gh ydpfca43ef1gi ydpfca43ef1gj ydpfca43ef1dw ydpfca43ef1gk" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 16px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-weight: 400; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(107, 107, 107); font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.077em; text-transform: uppercase;">SERMON FOR NEW YEAR</h2><div><h1 id="ydpfca43ef16bf6" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-title ydpfca43ef1gl ydpfca43ef1gm ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1gn ydpfca43ef1go ydpfca43ef1gp ydpfca43ef1gq ydpfca43ef1gr ydpfca43ef1gs ydpfca43ef1gt ydpfca43ef1gu ydpfca43ef1gv ydpfca43ef1gw ydpfca43ef1gx ydpfca43ef1gy ydpfca43ef1gz ydpfca43ef1ha ydpfca43ef1hb ydpfca43ef1hc ydpfca43ef1hd ydpfca43ef1he ydpfca43ef1bj" data-testid="storyTitle" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 12px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 52px; letter-spacing: -0.011em; font-size: 42px;">Scientists: The Secret To Happiness And I'm Not Kidding</h1></div><div><h2 id="ydpfca43ef15067" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-subtitle-paragraph ydpfca43ef1hf ydpfca43ef1gm ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1hh ydpfca43ef1hi ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1hk ydpfca43ef1hl ydpfca43ef1hm ydpfca43ef1hn ydpfca43ef1ho ydpfca43ef1hp ydpfca43ef1hq ydpfca43ef1hr ydpfca43ef1hs ydpfca43ef1ht ydpfca43ef1hu ydpfca43ef1cp ydpfca43ef1dw" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin: 0.92em 0px 24px; font-weight: 400; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(107, 107, 107); letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 28px; font-size: 22px;">This key insight makes a life of extreme joy not just possible but inevitable</h2><div class="ydpfca43ef1hv ydpfca43ef1hw ydpfca43ef1hx ydpfca43ef1hy ydpfca43ef1hz"><div class="ydpfca43ef1speechify-ignore ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1co"><div class="ydpfca43ef1speechify-ignore ydpfca43ef1bg ydpfca43ef1l" style="width: 680px;"><div class="ydpfca43ef1ia ydpfca43ef1ib ydpfca43ef1ic ydpfca43ef1id ydpfca43ef1ie ydpfca43ef1ab"><div><div class="ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1if"><a href="https://medium.com/@clemsamson?source=post_page-----a0d4042a0c5a--------------------------------" style="color: inherit;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><div><div class="ydpfca43ef1bl" style="display: inline-block;"><div class="ydpfca43ef1l ydpfca43ef1ig ydpfca43ef1ih ydpfca43ef1bx ydpfca43ef1ii ydpfca43ef1ij" style="border-radius: 50%; width: 48px; border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); z-index: 0; min-height: 48px;"><div class="ydpfca43ef1l ydpfca43ef1ef" style="position: relative;"><img alt="Clem Samson" class="ydpfca43ef1l ydpfca43ef1er ydpfca43ef1bx ydpfca43ef1dc ydpfca43ef1dd ydpfca43ef1cw" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:88:88/1*XLHsq1yC9ccEUokUX59cow.png" width="44" height="44" data-testid="authorPhoto" style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; border-radius: 50%; background-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); width: 44px; min-height: 44px;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"><div class="ydpfca43ef1ik ydpfca43ef1bx ydpfca43ef1l ydpfca43ef1dc ydpfca43ef1dd ydpfca43ef1ep ydpfca43ef1n ydpfca43ef1il ydpfca43ef1eq" style="border-radius: 50%; width: 44px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; border-image: initial; min-height: 44px;"></div></div></div></div></div></a><a href="https://medium.com/the-haven?source=post_page-----a0d4042a0c5a--------------------------------" style="color: inherit;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><div class="ydpfca43ef1im ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1ef" style="position: relative;"><div><div class="ydpfca43ef1bl" style="display: inline-block;"><div class="ydpfca43ef1l ydpfca43ef1in ydpfca43ef1io ydpfca43ef1bx ydpfca43ef1ii ydpfca43ef1ip" style="border-radius: 50%; border: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 28px; z-index: 1; min-height: 28px;"><div class="ydpfca43ef1l ydpfca43ef1ef" style="position: relative;"><img alt="The Haven" class="ydpfca43ef1l ydpfca43ef1er ydpfca43ef1bx ydpfca43ef1bq ydpfca43ef1iq ydpfca43ef1cw" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:48:48/1*h8t-l5-g4oLgeRlZyJ4VfQ.png" width="24" height="24" data-testid="publicationPhoto" style="vertical-align: middle; display: block; border-radius: 50%; background-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); width: 24px; min-height: 24px;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"><div class="ydpfca43ef1ik ydpfca43ef1bx ydpfca43ef1l ydpfca43ef1bq ydpfca43ef1iq ydpfca43ef1ep ydpfca43ef1n ydpfca43ef1il ydpfca43ef1eq" style="border-radius: 50%; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; border-image: initial; width: 24px; min-height: 24px;"></div></div></div></div></div></div></a></div></div><div class="ydpfca43ef1bm ydpfca43ef1bg ydpfca43ef1l" style="width: 604px; margin-left: 12px;"><div class="ydpfca43ef1ab"><div><span class="ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1bf ydpfca43ef1z ydpfca43ef1bj" style="line-height: 20px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);"><div class="ydpfca43ef1ir ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1q" style="margin-bottom: 2px;"><div class="ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1q ydpfca43ef1is"><div class="ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1q"><div><div class="ydpfca43ef1bl" style="display: inline-block;"><p class="ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1it ydpfca43ef1iu ydpfca43ef1bj" style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><a class="ydpfca43ef1af ydpfca43ef1ag ydpfca43ef1ah ydpfca43ef1ai ydpfca43ef1aj ydpfca43ef1ak ydpfca43ef1al ydpfca43ef1am ydpfca43ef1an ydpfca43ef1ao ydpfca43ef1ap ydpfca43ef1aq ydpfca43ef1ar ydpfca43ef1iv" data-testid="authorName" href="https://medium.com/@clemsamson?source=post_page-----a0d4042a0c5a--------------------------------" style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit; border-color: inherit; border-style: inherit; border-width: inherit; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; cursor: pointer;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Clem Samson</a></p></div></div></div><span class="ydpfca43ef1iw ydpfca43ef1ix" style="margin: 0px 8px; display: inline;"><span class="ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1bf ydpfca43ef1z ydpfca43ef1dw" style="line-height: 20px; color: rgb(107, 107, 107);">·</span></span><p class="ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1it ydpfca43ef1iu ydpfca43ef1dw" style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(107, 107, 107); font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><button class="ydpfca43ef1iy ydpfca43ef1iz ydpfca43ef1ah ydpfca43ef1ai ydpfca43ef1aj ydpfca43ef1ak ydpfca43ef1al ydpfca43ef1am ydpfca43ef1an ydpfca43ef1ao ydpfca43ef1ap ydpfca43ef1aq ydpfca43ef1ar ydpfca43ef1ja ydpfca43ef1jb ydpfca43ef1jc" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0px; font-size: inherit; border-color: inherit; border-style: inherit; border-width: inherit; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; cursor: pointer; color: rgb(85, 132, 235);">Follow</button></p></div></div></span></div></div><div class="ydpfca43ef1l ydpfca43ef1jd"><span class="ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1bf ydpfca43ef1z ydpfca43ef1dw" style="line-height: 20px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(107, 107, 107);">·</span></div></div></div><div class="ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1co ydpfca43ef1ju ydpfca43ef1jv ydpfca43ef1jw ydpfca43ef1jx ydpfca43ef1jy ydpfca43ef1jz ydpfca43ef1ka ydpfca43ef1kb ydpfca43ef1kc ydpfca43ef1kd ydpfca43ef1ke ydpfca43ef1kf ydpfca43ef1kg ydpfca43ef1kh ydpfca43ef1ki ydpfca43ef1kj" style="border-top: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); margin: 32px 0px 0px; padding: 3px 8px;"><div class="ydpfca43ef1h ydpfca43ef1k ydpfca43ef1w ydpfca43ef1ec ydpfca43ef1ed ydpfca43ef1q"><div class="ydpfca43ef1kz ydpfca43ef1l" style="width: 74px;"><div class="ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1q ydpfca43ef1la"><div class="ydpfca43ef1pw-multi-vote-icon ydpfca43ef1ef ydpfca43ef1ft ydpfca43ef1lb ydpfca43ef1lc ydpfca43ef1ld" style="position: relative; margin-right: 4px;"><div><div><div class="ydpfca43ef1bl" style="display: inline-block;"><button class="ydpfca43ef1le ydpfca43ef1ao ydpfca43ef1lg ydpfca43ef1um ydpfca43ef1un ydpfca43ef1lk ydpfca43ef1am ydpfca43ef1ll ydpfca43ef1lm ydpfca43ef1ln ydpfca43ef1ld" data-testid="headerClapButton" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; cursor: pointer; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline: 0px;"></button></div></div></div></div><div class="ydpfca43ef1pw-multi-vote-count ydpfca43ef1l ydpfca43ef1lo ydpfca43ef1lp ydpfca43ef1lq ydpfca43ef1lr ydpfca43ef1ls ydpfca43ef1lt ydpfca43ef1lu" style="margin-top: 0px;"><div><div class="ydpfca43ef1bl" style="display: inline-block;"><p class="ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1dx ydpfca43ef1z ydpfca43ef1dw" style="margin: 0px; line-height: 20px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(107, 107, 107);"><button class="ydpfca43ef1af ydpfca43ef1ag ydpfca43ef1ah ydpfca43ef1ai ydpfca43ef1aj ydpfca43ef1ak ydpfca43ef1al ydpfca43ef1am ydpfca43ef1an ydpfca43ef1ao ydpfca43ef1ap ydpfca43ef1aq ydpfca43ef1ar ydpfca43ef1as ydpfca43ef1at ydpfca43ef1uo ydpfca43ef1up" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0px; font-size: inherit; border-color: inherit; border-style: inherit; border-width: inherit; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; cursor: pointer; text-align: left;">1.1K<span class="ydpfca43ef1l ydpfca43ef1h ydpfca43ef1g ydpfca43ef1f ydpfca43ef1qw ydpfca43ef1qx" style="display: inline-block;"></span></button></p></div></div></div></div></div><div><div class="ydpfca43ef1bl" style="display: inline-block;"><button class="ydpfca43ef1ao ydpfca43ef1le ydpfca43ef1lx ydpfca43ef1ly ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1q ydpfca43ef1eg ydpfca43ef1lz ydpfca43ef1ma" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0px; cursor: pointer; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; padding: 4px 0px;"><p class="ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1dx ydpfca43ef1z ydpfca43ef1dw" style="margin: 0px; line-height: 20px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(107, 107, 107); font-size: 13px;"><span class="ydpfca43ef1pw-responses-count ydpfca43ef1lv ydpfca43ef1lw" style="margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px;">9</span></p></button></div></div></div><div class="ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1q ydpfca43ef1kk ydpfca43ef1kl ydpfca43ef1km ydpfca43ef1kn ydpfca43ef1ko ydpfca43ef1kp ydpfca43ef1kq ydpfca43ef1kr ydpfca43ef1ks ydpfca43ef1kt ydpfca43ef1ku ydpfca43ef1kv ydpfca43ef1kw ydpfca43ef1kx ydpfca43ef1ky"><div class="ydpfca43ef1h ydpfca43ef1k" style="margin-right: 24px;"><div><div class="ydpfca43ef1bl" style="display: inline-block;"><div class="ydpfca43ef1bl" style="display: inline-block;"><button data-testid="headerBookmarkButton" class="ydpfca43ef1af ydpfca43ef1eg ydpfca43ef1ah ydpfca43ef1ai ydpfca43ef1aj ydpfca43ef1ak ydpfca43ef1al ydpfca43ef1mb ydpfca43ef1an ydpfca43ef1ao ydpfca43ef1ap ydpfca43ef1ja ydpfca43ef1mc ydpfca43ef1md ydpfca43ef1me" style="background-image: initial; 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text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sven Brandsma</a> on <a class="ydpfca43ef1af ydpfca43ef1nx" href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral" style="color: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Unsplash</a><p id="ydpfca43ef1661d" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Why are we not happier? Why is our life so tedious? And why is there so little joy in our hearts?</p><p id="ydpfca43ef17281" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">It's the kind of question one tends to ask oneself as the year ends and another one begins. Because we look at the new year as an opportunity to start over and do it right this time.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1c749" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Yes, we're all bloated and disgusted with ourselves, not just because of all the holiday overindulgence, but for the sense that we are WASTING a great opportunity. There is obviously the POTENTIAL for life to be extraordinary. And yet, year after year we seem to just be "getting through it." Is that any way to live? Of course not.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef15a35" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">But how can we do better in the new year?</p><p id="ydpfca43ef13bbb" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">It really is so simple. The answer has been right there in front of our noses all this time. And yet nobody, until me, has bothered to point out the obvious.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1a50f" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Before I give the answer, I will ask this question: Would it be possible to think of your entire life as sacred? And for every moment to be bathed in golden light of transcendence? That is, to stop blocking out the extraordinary magic of being and to be truly exalting and thriving in this world? Is that really a possibility?</p><p id="ydpfca43ef164ed" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">If you believe it is possible, I will give you a method to achieve it — today. Right now. As soon as you are done with this article the exalting and thriving can begin.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef19b0c" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Or course, if you don't think it's possible, then this article will land on deaf ears. It might be too late for you. You've lost your belief in the marvelous. Or the possibility of the marvelous.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef134b3" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">So let me begin with what the real source of our problem is. It's not our fault. It's the basic flaw of our society that makes us so unfulfilled.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef15b42" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Society almost everywhere on earth is divided quite arbitrarily into two realms: the sacred and the secular.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1caaa" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">In the secular, life is EXPECTED to lack the amazing, miraculous and magnificent qualities that one allots to the sacred.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1d8d8" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">No wonder we are so miserable.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1051e" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">This division of experience into two fictional categories — sacred and secular — has been great for the society. It has allowed capitalism to thrive and for an entire legal structure based on reason rather than religion to provide order in the world.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef17760" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">But on an individual level, this "halving" of the world has deprived of of the possibility of fully experiencing what it means to be incarnated in this human form. Because it really is quite an astonishing thing, to be a human. However, astonishment is not the go-to response to mose secular experience. The go-to response to secular experience is best expressed by words like: tedious, managerial, administrative, perfunctory, routinous, mechanical, soulless, soul destroying and boring AF.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef18108" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Sure, in the secular world we are allowed this thing called "recreation" where we get a break from this other thing called "work," and where we supposedly can spread our wings, relax, and experience fun and joy.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef12605" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Of course, our recreations themselves can soon become quite joyless themselves. Pointless. Isn't that the way we feel after all the Christmas presents have been opened, and the parties are over and the garbage needs to be taken out.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1e517" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Is that all there is? we ask.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef14a6c" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">No, of course not. Life has the potential for so much more. There is a way out. There is an escape from the dreary. And it does not entail joining some cult or becoming born again in Jesus or drinking Koolaid.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1ea27" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">It involves using your brain and this thing called wisdom to solve the puzzle. To think outside the box a little bit, and to reframe experience in a way that is less oppressive and more liberating.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef11a80" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Yes, you might think you "know it all" or have "heard it all before," and that there is "nothing new under the sun."</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1ee8f" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">But I would bet that you haven't really considered this insight that I am going to be presenting on a plate for you this New Year season. I have not seen or heard this in any of the literature or culture of the day. I do believe it is a new way of looking at things. And that it is very, very helpful. So let's get into it.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1ce4f" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">The insight begins by us reminding ourselves that the Western World has only recently emerged from what historians call "The Dark Ages", where the Church was the strongest force in society and where the potential of the individual to know anything about the cosmos "outside" the church was de-emphasized.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef17c90" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">The Dark Ages supposedly ended with the Renaissance and the Age of Reason and the Englightenment and all that, when people started relying on their reason instead of "God's word."</p><p id="ydpfca43ef143c0" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">But you don't recover from being in a weird cult all that easily. I mean, it takes a few years for someone to get over the mental indoctrination that happens in weird religious groups.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef17362" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">The entire Western World has been in a weird cult for about 1500 years.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef145c0" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Yes, we started to come out of this cult with the age of reason. Darwin certainly opened a door for us, but we are still very much under the influence of religious indoctrination, even if we think we are not.</p><h1 id="ydpfca43ef114e2" class="ydpfca43ef1ou ydpfca43ef1ov ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1ow ydpfca43ef1ox ydpfca43ef1oy ydpfca43ef1hi ydpfca43ef1oz ydpfca43ef1pa ydpfca43ef1pb ydpfca43ef1hl ydpfca43ef1pc ydpfca43ef1pd ydpfca43ef1pe ydpfca43ef1pf ydpfca43ef1pg ydpfca43ef1ph ydpfca43ef1pi ydpfca43ef1pj ydpfca43ef1pk ydpfca43ef1pl ydpfca43ef1pm ydpfca43ef1pn ydpfca43ef1po ydpfca43ef1pp ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 1.95em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 30px; letter-spacing: -0.016em; font-size: 24px;">The Secular/Sacred Divide Is Itself The Problem</h1><p id="ydpfca43ef10193" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1pq ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1pr ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1ps ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1pt ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1pu ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 0.94em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">While I'm glad the Dark Ages ended, don't get me wrong, the way Western history and culture evolved for the past five hundred years resulted in the splitting in of life into two worlds — secular and sacred. The key insight I'm talking about involves collapsing this false binary forever. And NEVER EVER letting it suck the life out of you again. Because the secular/sacred binary is false. On an experiential level, if we think we are living a secular life, that is half a life. Because obviously there is something about life that is not addressed or even acknowledged in what we call secular spaces — in a store like Target, for instance, or as we will see in the song in the bottom of this article, in a horrible bureaucratic office like the DMV. Can we imagine anything more secular than the DMV? Yet, if human beings, that magnificent and strange being, with all its intelligence and perception and awareness and consciousness, is in the space of the DMV, they are obviously more than just the name on their auto registration or the number in line that they have as they are waiting to be called. That human being is scientifically the most awe-inspiring being that the universe has ever known. It is the first human being — as far as we know — to have figured out the true origin of the universe itself. No squirrel did that. Nor did any dead asteroid floating around a planet. No, the human being is so extraordinary that sacred is the only word that adequately describes it. I define sacred as cosmically and spiritually and philosophically divine. I define divine as holy. I define holy as worthy of the deepest spiritual respect. I define spiritual as full of soul. I define soul as the true BEING of the human being. I've gone around in a big semantic circle here, but what I've arrived at is the sacredness of BEING itself. That is what is throttled and stifled and choked to death by our delusion that we have stepped into the "secular" world when we stepped into the DMV. This secular delusion is a liveliness killer. It makes walking dead people.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef12078" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">You might not think that affects you. Maybe you think you are one hundred percent secular and not split in two.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1edbc" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">I know lots of college-educated people who espouse a completely liberal, secular view of things. However, much of their daily life is spent in a realm that while it seems secular is in fact simply "anonymous."</p><p id="ydpfca43ef11ad4" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">In the sacred world, of course, there is no such thing as anonymous. According to the sacred view of things, in almost every religious tradition I have studied, every single human being is cosmically "known." Some traditions have the individual being more closely scrutinized and judged than others. But in all of them, the individual person is intimately known by whatever cosmic principle is in charge of things.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef15751" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">In the secular, however, we "imagine" anonymity. Many of us live in big cities, where we go to supermarkets full of strangers, where we have a "null" interaction with a cashier. We don't bring the full presence of our humanity to the exchange as he or she bags our groceries. It's just, thank you, have a nice day.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef12af0" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">These are actually what I call "rituals of nullness." We think ritualized behavior only exists in the sacred realm, in temples and churches where there are preordained rites to be followed.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef14282" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">But in these rituals of nullness, we assert our secular identity and our freedom from the commands of the sacred. We assert our right to NOT acknowledge one another's "souls" during the exchange. To NOT express our compassion or love for the fellow human we are in conversation with. To NOT be judged for the quality of our sacredness. To NOT be oppressed by the religious demand. And to therefore imagine ourselves "free."</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1f06a" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Anonymity is not the opposite of sacred, however. It is a sideways move. It is escapist. We crave the anonymous moments, the rituals of nullness, because the religious notions of "knownness" are so oppressive. The ways in which the institutions of religion have oppressed the human race are well known to us. I don't need to convince my secular audience of it.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef17465" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">But when we examine it closely, it becomes clear that the secular realm is almost entirely defined by what it is NOT. How do we know we are in the secular realm? Well, because it is very obvious when we are in a supermarket that we are not in a church. There is no priest. There is no congregation. No communion. No "call" for us to be a certain way. Our "being" is unthreatened and momentarily "off the hook" of the cosmic principles.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef11b0c" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">We move through our life from one "off the hook" place to another. From work to supermarket to home. This is our so-called secular life. It is a place where we are left alone. Free to be you and me. And only judged by secular authorities if we step out of line. Unlike the sacred authority, which by definition judges us every second of every minute. Our anonymity has saved us from all that.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1cdbb" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Or has it?</p><h1 id="ydpfca43ef1f8cd" class="ydpfca43ef1ou ydpfca43ef1ov ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1ow ydpfca43ef1ox ydpfca43ef1oy ydpfca43ef1hi ydpfca43ef1oz ydpfca43ef1pa ydpfca43ef1pb ydpfca43ef1hl ydpfca43ef1pc ydpfca43ef1pd ydpfca43ef1pe ydpfca43ef1pf ydpfca43ef1pg ydpfca43ef1ph ydpfca43ef1pi ydpfca43ef1pj ydpfca43ef1pk ydpfca43ef1pl ydpfca43ef1pm ydpfca43ef1pn ydpfca43ef1po ydpfca43ef1pp ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 1.95em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 30px; letter-spacing: -0.016em; font-size: 24px;">A True Revolution Against Ecclesiastical Power Would Mean Treating Every Single Thing In Our Life As Sacred — Not None Of It</h1><p id="ydpfca43ef1edff" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1pq ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1pr ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1ps ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1pt ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1pu ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 0.94em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">This was the church's con game, after all — 'We will maintain our monopoly on the sacred."</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1eca0" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Even after the revolutions of the Renaissance and Enlightenment, the so-called Age of Reason, the church played it well. It said, "Sure you can take the secular realm of science and civic laws and so on. You can have the Target department store. And the DMV. But we will retain our monopoly over the sacred. It is in our houses of worship that the sacred will continue to reside. In your secular world, you can be anonymous and free from the scrutiny of the sacred. But in our sacred world, we can be free from the rigors of the secular and civic — that is, we won't pay taxes. Ha!"</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1b99b" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">So long as the sacred is kept hidden from you, in those shuttered houses of worship, your life will only be half a life. Because of course your life is sacred. You're certainly going to realize that in the last second of your life. At the moment of death you're obviously going to think, "Fuck, I'm about to lose something that was really special. Sacred even. My incarnation. My life. Shit. I wish I had been slightly more aware of its preciousness and magic during its unfolding. Damn, why did it take me so long to see? Now I'm about to die, and I've only just been born."</p><p id="ydpfca43ef175bf" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Throw the doors of the churches and temples open and let the sacred out!!!!!</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1d2e2" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">These institutions have no claim on sacredness.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef15724" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">The secular has every right to it.</p><h1 id="ydpfca43ef16c40" class="ydpfca43ef1ou ydpfca43ef1ov ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1ow ydpfca43ef1ox ydpfca43ef1oy ydpfca43ef1hi ydpfca43ef1oz ydpfca43ef1pa ydpfca43ef1pb ydpfca43ef1hl ydpfca43ef1pc ydpfca43ef1pd ydpfca43ef1pe ydpfca43ef1pf ydpfca43ef1pg ydpfca43ef1ph ydpfca43ef1pi ydpfca43ef1pj ydpfca43ef1pk ydpfca43ef1pl ydpfca43ef1pm ydpfca43ef1pn ydpfca43ef1po ydpfca43ef1pp ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 1.95em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 30px; letter-spacing: -0.016em; font-size: 24px;">Witness the Sacred Secular</h1><p id="ydpfca43ef102f7" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1pq ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1pr ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1ps ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1pt ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1pu ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 0.94em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">This is the true revolution and recovery from the dark ages. No, we are not doomed to mechanized anonymity and lives of quiet desperation in cities of secular zombies wandering around half dead.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1406b" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">I know this might seem a little abstract, so let me give you a concrete example.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1968e" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">I know a young man. He was fine, but maybe he exhibited a certain lack of discipline. When he got undressed at night he would just let his clothes fall to the floor and leave them there. When he drove, he sometimes would do rolling stops instead of stopping all the way. He sometimes didn't use his turn signal before signaling. When he did his taxes, he sort of fudged some of the figures. When he tended to his diet, he let himself overeat if he felt like it. When it came to drugs and alcohol, if he felt like getting inebriated, he allowed himself to.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1f8a5" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">When it came to his girlfriend, he allowed himself to cheat on her with three different women over the six years of their relationship. She never found out about it and there were no consequences.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1110f" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">When an old acquaintance surprised him with a phone message, maybe he would answer the phone call, maybe not. It depended on how he felt.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef10596" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Behind his friends' backs, he would sometimes talk shit about his OWN FRIENDS, for the sake of amusement.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1aac7" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">In his career, he allowed himself to put in exactly the amount of effort he wanted to put in, and not the amount that was maybe requested by his superiors.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef176b5" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">In other words, he was kind of a rebel. He marched to the beat of his own drum. Nobody held any moral sway over him. Nobody could force this young man to act any other way.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef13b04" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Or so he thought.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef11451" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">One day it occurred to him that all these choices he was supposedly making, these "freedoms from discipline", were not his choices at all! They were choices being made for him by an entity that didn't even exist — his so-called ego.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1e624" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">It was the human ego of our forebears, who centuries ago asserted their right to do as they please against the ecclesiastical authorities.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1c491" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">We inherited this willfulness from them.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef137ff" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Only we didn't go ALL the way. We didn't seize the sacred for our own daily life.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef177dd" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">After the "revelation" that this young man underwent, learning this one important insight, that the secular/sacred binary is a false one, his life was completely revolutionized.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef12836" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Now that he was no longer hiding out in this fake ego entity, it was amazing what happened to the young man's daily life. For instance, when he went into that supermarket we spoke about at the beginning of this article, everything seemed ritualized to him. Every shopper seemed a pilgrim. Every word exchanged seemed a holy word. Every "have a nice day" said by the cashier seemed a priest's blessing.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef15def" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Wow! What a life, to suddenly be grateful, sacredly grateful, for everything he encountered. And this was only made possible by the foregoing of ego.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef160c0" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">And the most amazing — his girlfriend.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef172e3" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">What the hell! the man said to himself. This beautiful amazing female spends her life with me and shares these most intimate experiences.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef19e97" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Am I the luckiest man alive or what?</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1efd9" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">How could he have betrayed her like that? The man was humbled by his hitherto ignorance. Now that he saw, he knew that he had been blind.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef144ad" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Every moment he spent with this wonderful woman was heavenly from that moment on.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef18d11" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">And his own mother! My goodness, for her to still be alive. To be able to go to Florida to visit this elderly saint, this woman who had brought him into this world. To be able to sit with his mother and have idle laughs and conversation. What a privilege and a joy. Not everybody was so lucky, no sir, not everyone.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef13ed7" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">When the doors of the sacred had been blown open, and this non-secular grace-filled every corner of this young man's secular life, he was really, really, reborn.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1370c" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Before, he had only been living half a life — the so-called secular half. Sure, there had been profound moments — like camping with his college buddies where they all took mushrooms.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef11639" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">But the drugs had worn off. And the secular had returned.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1f3f9" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">This never wore off.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1f1fd" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">The young man now didn't just leave his clothes on the floor, because he had a kind of joyous "caretaking" attitude about keeping things in order in the temple that was his life.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef126cd" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">He didn't mind coming to a full stop at stop signs because he was no longer in a hurry to get anywhere. He was already right where he wanted to be. In the sacred space he occupied inside a car.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef13e96" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">His taxes were done rigorously because what is money? Nothing compared to the precious joys of simply being alive and free from ego.</p><h1 id="ydpfca43ef1cf71" class="ydpfca43ef1ou ydpfca43ef1ov ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1ow ydpfca43ef1ox ydpfca43ef1oy ydpfca43ef1hi ydpfca43ef1oz ydpfca43ef1pa ydpfca43ef1pb ydpfca43ef1hl ydpfca43ef1pc ydpfca43ef1pd ydpfca43ef1pe ydpfca43ef1pf ydpfca43ef1pg ydpfca43ef1ph ydpfca43ef1pi ydpfca43ef1pj ydpfca43ef1pk ydpfca43ef1pl ydpfca43ef1pm ydpfca43ef1pn ydpfca43ef1po ydpfca43ef1pp ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 1.95em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 30px; letter-spacing: -0.016em; font-size: 24px;">No Ego, But No Longer Anonymous</h1><p id="ydpfca43ef1e781" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1pq ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1pr ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1ps ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1pt ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1pu ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 0.94em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">That is the paradox of post ego. When you let go of your ego, you can at last become "known" in that sacred way when you move in the world. Because you are finally "there" in the world, with people, instead of "elsewhere" in your head, in your ego.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef12223" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">You have arrived on the beautiful planet Earth! Congratulations. Now when you go into the grocery store, you are known by the cashier, and the cashier is known by you. It's such a beautiful thing.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef14a01" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Maybe you guessed that this young man was me. And I have been walking in the secular sacred for about twenty-five years since I discovered it.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef18464" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">I'm married to that wonderful girlfriend. She gave me two children. There I witnessed twice the most sacred miracles — the bringing forth of life.</p><h1 id="ydpfca43ef1cffc" class="ydpfca43ef1ou ydpfca43ef1ov ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1ow ydpfca43ef1ox ydpfca43ef1oy ydpfca43ef1hi ydpfca43ef1oz ydpfca43ef1pa ydpfca43ef1pb ydpfca43ef1hl ydpfca43ef1pc ydpfca43ef1pd ydpfca43ef1pe ydpfca43ef1pf ydpfca43ef1pg ydpfca43ef1ph ydpfca43ef1pi ydpfca43ef1pj ydpfca43ef1pk ydpfca43ef1pl ydpfca43ef1pm ydpfca43ef1pn ydpfca43ef1po ydpfca43ef1pp ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 1.95em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 30px; letter-spacing: -0.016em; font-size: 24px;">How To Practice Sacredness</h1><p id="ydpfca43ef130bc" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1pq ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1pr ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1ps ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1pt ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1pu ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 0.94em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">All of life is potentially mystical. None of life is relegated to "just secular every day life." There is no such thing. The practice of post ego means that the more you throw off your ego, the more you are open to this sacredness, mysticism, and magic of the ordinary.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1d8dd" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">It's like the Japanese tea ceremony. What is that but the most ordinary of activities — making a pot of tea? But the practitioner sees it as somehow imbued with mystical qualities.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef14a1e" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">The particular brand of mysticism is different for all people. Depending on your constitution, you might find being open to the sacred every day to be more emotional. Or more peaceful. Or more exciting. I've heard thousands of varieties of mystical experience. What you won't find is that life is dreary or anxiety-inducing or a chore. You will be free from all that.</p><h1 id="ydpfca43ef1d190" class="ydpfca43ef1ou ydpfca43ef1ov ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1ow ydpfca43ef1ox ydpfca43ef1oy ydpfca43ef1hi ydpfca43ef1oz ydpfca43ef1pa ydpfca43ef1pb ydpfca43ef1hl ydpfca43ef1pc ydpfca43ef1pd ydpfca43ef1pe ydpfca43ef1pf ydpfca43ef1pg ydpfca43ef1ph ydpfca43ef1pi ydpfca43ef1pj ydpfca43ef1pk ydpfca43ef1pl ydpfca43ef1pm ydpfca43ef1pn ydpfca43ef1po ydpfca43ef1pp ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 1.95em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 30px; letter-spacing: -0.016em; font-size: 24px;">The Key Is To Remember</h1><p id="ydpfca43ef16002" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1pq ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1pr ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1ps ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1pt ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1pu ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 0.94em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">I recommend setting an alarm on your phone to remind you every ten minutes. Write in the reminder — "there is no secular. You are in the sacred realm." The conditioning of the secular mind is so strong that at first you will be able to last only about 30 seconds in the world before it returns to its secular appearance. But after days, weeks, months of practice, you stay in the sacred longer and longer. And you begin to realize you live in the life of your dreams. Really. You say, "It doesn't get any better than this," and you mean it. Only you wake up the next day and it DOES get even better. Better and better and better until you are walking in paradise.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef164ac" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">It was this insight and practice that led me to start the post-ego movement, to share with others the true recovery from the Dark Ages — the seizing of sacred wisdom for ourselves, not for some corrupt so-called religious institution.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1fdce" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Post-ego has no institution. It is a movement of human beings to temper individualism with another way. It's a collective way. It's a sacred way. It's a non-religious or religious way, whichever you prefer. It doesn't matter, but what does matter is when we go into the world, we go all the way. No more halfway. We go all the way into life. Sacred. Secular. And so awesome.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef18e96" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Join us.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef180e1" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;"><em class="ydpfca43ef1pv">Now our hymn. Music by Boccherini played by Marek Cupák<br>Words by Clem Samson</em></p><div class="ydpfca43ef1pw ydpfca43ef1jk ydpfca43ef1l ydpfca43ef1ef" style="position: relative; margin: auto;"><div class="ydpfca43ef1acn ydpfca43ef1py ydpfca43ef1l" style="padding-bottom: 166px; min-height: 0px;" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">[Sorry. The music audio didn't copy and paste properly. His singing wasn't all that great anyway....)</div></div><h1 id="ydpfca43ef102d0" class="ydpfca43ef1ou ydpfca43ef1ov ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1ow ydpfca43ef1ox ydpfca43ef1oy ydpfca43ef1hi ydpfca43ef1oz ydpfca43ef1pa ydpfca43ef1pb ydpfca43ef1hl ydpfca43ef1pc ydpfca43ef1pd ydpfca43ef1pe ydpfca43ef1pf ydpfca43ef1pg ydpfca43ef1ph ydpfca43ef1pi ydpfca43ef1pj ydpfca43ef1pk ydpfca43ef1pl ydpfca43ef1pm ydpfca43ef1pn ydpfca43ef1po ydpfca43ef1pp ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 1.95em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 30px; letter-spacing: -0.016em; font-size: 24px;">YOUR LIFE IS SACRED</h1><p id="ydpfca43ef1d5e5" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1pq ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1pr ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1ps ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1pt ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1pu ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 0.94em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">You're are reverent</p><p id="ydpfca43ef19bef" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">crossing the cement</p><p id="ydpfca43ef171c0" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">You walk piously</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1b931" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Into the DMV</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1e8af" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">it's a sacred space</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1177b" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">It's a holy see</p><p id="ydpfca43ef19deb" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">It's a sacred space</p><p id="ydpfca43ef18657" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">The DMV</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1c898" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">There's a long line</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1a360" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">For you to wait in now</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1f942" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">It takes a long time</p><p id="ydpfca43ef104ed" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">It's frustrating now</p><p id="ydpfca43ef136ca" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">It's a painful place</p><p id="ydpfca43ef16e7d" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">It's a Kind of a hell</p><p id="ydpfca43ef12445" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Yet a sacred space</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1ada8" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Heaven as well</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1fecb" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Choose the sacred it's more fun</p><p id="ydpfca43ef14126" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Let yourself be overcome</p><p id="ydpfca43ef13151" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Let the love rise</p><p id="ydpfca43ef166e0" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">From your brain stem</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1107d" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Let somebody know</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1c948" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">That you're aware of them</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1fd12" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">That you're a pilgrim</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1ad96" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">That you are just like them</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1d35d" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">That neither one of you is all alone</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1e48d" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Choose the sacred it's more fun</p><p id="ydpfca43ef193b6" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Let yourself be overcome</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1b3ed" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Let the love rise</p><p id="ydpfca43ef18bd0" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">From your brain stem</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1c663" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Let somebody know</p><p id="ydpfca43ef15a36" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">That you're aware of them</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1bafa" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">That you're a pilgrim</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1b940" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">That you are just like them</p><p id="ydpfca43ef11113" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">That neither one of you is all alone</p><p id="ydpfca43ef15e69" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Don't think for one moment that the place you're standing now isn't sacred ground it is it is of course it is yes it</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1caa8" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Every second of your life is lit by precious light that shines so bright into your face</p><p id="ydpfca43ef15603" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Don't think for one moment that the place you're standing now isn't sacred ground it is it is of course it is yes it</p><p id="ydpfca43ef11c3e" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Every second of your life is lit by precious light that shines so bright into your face</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1f906" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Your life is sacred</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1cafc" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Your chores are sacred</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1c031" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Your joys and sorrows they are sacred too</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1dde6" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Your life is sacred</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1f150" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Your chores are sacred</p><p id="ydpfca43ef10ad8" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Your joys and sorrows they are sacred too</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1b787" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">There's nothing secular in this mysterious place called earth</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1fc06" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">We are sacred from birth</p><p id="ydpfca43ef15940" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Walk in the light in the light in the mystical sun everyone.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef153e9" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">You and your life — that is true religion.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1e38d" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Your home is sacred</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1b205" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Your cathedral</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1c3bf" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">And you devoted to your precious ones</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1de6e" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">There's nothing secular in this mysterious place called earth</p><p id="ydpfca43ef13527" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">We are sacred from birth</p><p id="ydpfca43ef19919" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">Walk in the light in the light in the mystical sun everyone.</p><p id="ydpfca43ef1728f" class="ydpfca43ef1pw-post-body-paragraph ydpfca43ef1ny ydpfca43ef1nz ydpfca43ef1gd ydpfca43ef1oa ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1hg ydpfca43ef1ob ydpfca43ef1oc ydpfca43ef1od ydpfca43ef1hj ydpfca43ef1oe ydpfca43ef1of ydpfca43ef1og ydpfca43ef1oh ydpfca43ef1oi ydpfca43ef1oj ydpfca43ef1ok ydpfca43ef1ol ydpfca43ef1om ydpfca43ef1on ydpfca43ef1oo ydpfca43ef1op ydpfca43ef1oq ydpfca43ef1or ydpfca43ef1os ydpfca43ef1ot ydpfca43ef1fw ydpfca43ef1bj" data-selectable-paragraph="" style="margin-top: 2.14em; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); line-height: 32px; letter-spacing: -0.003em; font-family: source-serif-pro, Georgia, Cambria, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 20px;">You and your life — that is true religion.</p></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1ca"><div class="ydpfca43ef1ch ydpfca43ef1bg ydpfca43ef1fa ydpfca43ef1fb ydpfca43ef1fc ydpfca43ef1fd" style="width: 680px; min-width: 0px; margin: 0px 24px; max-width: 680px;"></div></div></div><div class="ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1ca"><div class="ydpfca43ef1ch ydpfca43ef1bg ydpfca43ef1fa ydpfca43ef1fb ydpfca43ef1fc ydpfca43ef1fd" style="width: 680px; min-width: 0px; margin: 0px 24px; max-width: 680px;"><div class="ydpfca43ef1pz ydpfca43ef1qa ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1jg" style="margin-bottom: 26px; margin-top: 6px;"><div class="ydpfca43ef1qb ydpfca43ef1ab" style="margin-top: 8px;"><a class="ydpfca43ef1qc ydpfca43ef1ax ydpfca43ef1am ydpfca43ef1ao" href="https://medium.com/tag/religion?source=post_page-----a0d4042a0c5a---------------religion-----------------" style="color: inherit; padding: 0px; cursor: pointer; border: none; margin-right: 8px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><div class="ydpfca43ef1qd ydpfca43ef1ef ydpfca43ef1cw ydpfca43ef1qe ydpfca43ef1ff ydpfca43ef1qf ydpfca43ef1qg ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1bf ydpfca43ef1z ydpfca43ef1bj ydpfca43ef1qh" style="line-height: 20px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); background-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); position: relative; border: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); padding: 8px 16px; border-radius: 100px;">Religion</div></a></div><div class="ydpfca43ef1qb ydpfca43ef1ab" style="margin-top: 8px;"><a class="ydpfca43ef1qc ydpfca43ef1ax ydpfca43ef1am ydpfca43ef1ao" href="https://medium.com/tag/atheism?source=post_page-----a0d4042a0c5a---------------atheism-----------------" style="color: inherit; padding: 0px; cursor: pointer; border: none; margin-right: 8px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><div class="ydpfca43ef1qd ydpfca43ef1ef ydpfca43ef1cw ydpfca43ef1qe ydpfca43ef1ff ydpfca43ef1qf ydpfca43ef1qg ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1bf ydpfca43ef1z ydpfca43ef1bj ydpfca43ef1qh" style="line-height: 20px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); background-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); position: relative; border: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); padding: 8px 16px; border-radius: 100px;">Atheism</div></a></div><div class="ydpfca43ef1qb ydpfca43ef1ab" style="margin-top: 8px;"><a class="ydpfca43ef1qc ydpfca43ef1ax ydpfca43ef1am ydpfca43ef1ao" href="https://medium.com/tag/science?source=post_page-----a0d4042a0c5a---------------science-----------------" style="color: inherit; padding: 0px; cursor: pointer; border: none; margin-right: 8px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><div class="ydpfca43ef1qd ydpfca43ef1ef ydpfca43ef1cw ydpfca43ef1qe ydpfca43ef1ff ydpfca43ef1qf ydpfca43ef1qg ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1bf ydpfca43ef1z ydpfca43ef1bj ydpfca43ef1qh" style="line-height: 20px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); background-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); position: relative; border: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); padding: 8px 16px; border-radius: 100px;">Science</div></a></div><div class="ydpfca43ef1qb ydpfca43ef1ab" style="margin-top: 8px;"><a class="ydpfca43ef1qc ydpfca43ef1ax ydpfca43ef1am ydpfca43ef1ao" href="https://medium.com/tag/humor?source=post_page-----a0d4042a0c5a---------------humor-----------------" style="color: inherit; padding: 0px; cursor: pointer; border: none; margin-right: 8px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><div class="ydpfca43ef1qd ydpfca43ef1ef ydpfca43ef1cw ydpfca43ef1qe ydpfca43ef1ff ydpfca43ef1qf ydpfca43ef1qg ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1bf ydpfca43ef1z ydpfca43ef1bj ydpfca43ef1qh" style="line-height: 20px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); background-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); position: relative; border: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); padding: 8px 16px; border-radius: 100px;">Humor</div></a></div><div class="ydpfca43ef1qb ydpfca43ef1ab" style="margin-top: 8px;"><a class="ydpfca43ef1qc ydpfca43ef1ax ydpfca43ef1am ydpfca43ef1ao" href="https://medium.com/tag/humour?source=post_page-----a0d4042a0c5a---------------humour-----------------" style="color: inherit; padding: 0px; cursor: pointer; border: none; margin-right: 8px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><div class="ydpfca43ef1qd ydpfca43ef1ef ydpfca43ef1cw ydpfca43ef1qe ydpfca43ef1ff ydpfca43ef1qf ydpfca43ef1qg ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1bf ydpfca43ef1z ydpfca43ef1bj ydpfca43ef1qh" style="line-height: 20px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); background-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); position: relative; border: 1px solid rgb(242, 242, 242); padding: 8px 16px; border-radius: 100px;">Humour</div></a></div></div></div></div><div class="ydpfca43ef1l"></div><div class="ydpfca43ef1l ydpfca43ef1ae"><div class="ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1ca"><div class="ydpfca43ef1ch ydpfca43ef1bg ydpfca43ef1fa ydpfca43ef1fb ydpfca43ef1fc ydpfca43ef1fd" style="width: 680px; min-width: 0px; margin: 0px 24px; max-width: 680px;"><div class="ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1co ydpfca43ef1qr"><div class="ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1q ydpfca43ef1la"><div class="ydpfca43ef1qs ydpfca43ef1l" style="max-width: 155px;"><span class="ydpfca43ef1l ydpfca43ef1h ydpfca43ef1g ydpfca43ef1f ydpfca43ef1qw ydpfca43ef1qx" style="display: inline-block;"><div class="ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1q ydpfca43ef1la"><div class="ydpfca43ef1pw-multi-vote-icon ydpfca43ef1ef ydpfca43ef1ft ydpfca43ef1lb ydpfca43ef1lc ydpfca43ef1ld" style="position: relative; margin-right: 4px;"><div><div><div class="ydpfca43ef1bl" style="display: inline-block;"><button class="ydpfca43ef1le ydpfca43ef1ao ydpfca43ef1lg ydpfca43ef1um ydpfca43ef1un ydpfca43ef1lk ydpfca43ef1am ydpfca43ef1ll ydpfca43ef1lm ydpfca43ef1ln ydpfca43ef1ld" data-testid="footerClapButton" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; cursor: pointer; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline: 0px;"></button></div></div></div></div><div class="ydpfca43ef1pw-multi-vote-count ydpfca43ef1l ydpfca43ef1lo ydpfca43ef1lp ydpfca43ef1lq ydpfca43ef1lr ydpfca43ef1ls ydpfca43ef1lt ydpfca43ef1lu" style="margin-top: 0px;"><div><div class="ydpfca43ef1bl" style="display: inline-block;"><p class="ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1dx ydpfca43ef1z ydpfca43ef1dw" style="margin: 0px; line-height: 20px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(107, 107, 107);"><button class="ydpfca43ef1af ydpfca43ef1ag ydpfca43ef1ah ydpfca43ef1ai ydpfca43ef1aj ydpfca43ef1ak ydpfca43ef1al ydpfca43ef1am ydpfca43ef1an ydpfca43ef1ao ydpfca43ef1ap ydpfca43ef1aq ydpfca43ef1ar ydpfca43ef1as ydpfca43ef1at ydpfca43ef1uo ydpfca43ef1up" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0px; font-size: inherit; border-color: inherit; border-style: inherit; border-width: inherit; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; cursor: pointer; text-align: left;">1.1K</button></p></div></div></div></div></span></div><div class="ydpfca43ef1bp ydpfca43ef1ab" style="margin-left: 24px;"><div><div class="ydpfca43ef1bl" style="display: inline-block;"><button class="ydpfca43ef1ao ydpfca43ef1le ydpfca43ef1lx ydpfca43ef1ly ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1q ydpfca43ef1eg ydpfca43ef1lz ydpfca43ef1ma" style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; margin: 0px; cursor: pointer; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; padding: 4px 0px;"><p class="ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1bf ydpfca43ef1z ydpfca43ef1dw" style="margin: 0px; line-height: 20px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(107, 107, 107);"><span class="ydpfca43ef1pw-responses-count ydpfca43ef1lv ydpfca43ef1lw" style="margin-left: 4px; margin-top: 0px;">9</span></p></button></div></div></div></div><div class="ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1q"><div class="ydpfca43ef1qy ydpfca43ef1l ydpfca43ef1jd" style="margin-right: 20px;"><div><div class="ydpfca43ef1bl" style="display: inline-block;"><div class="ydpfca43ef1bl" style="display: inline-block;"><button data-testid="footerBookmarkButton" class="ydpfca43ef1af ydpfca43ef1eg ydpfca43ef1ah ydpfca43ef1ai ydpfca43ef1aj ydpfca43ef1ak ydpfca43ef1al ydpfca43ef1mb ydpfca43ef1an ydpfca43ef1ao ydpfca43ef1ap ydpfca43ef1ja ydpfca43ef1mc ydpfca43ef1md ydpfca43ef1me" style="background-image: initial; 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font-size: medium;"><div class="ydpfca43ef1l"><div class="ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1q"><a class="ydpfca43ef1af ydpfca43ef1ag ydpfca43ef1ah ydpfca43ef1ai ydpfca43ef1aj ydpfca43ef1ak ydpfca43ef1al ydpfca43ef1am ydpfca43ef1an ydpfca43ef1ao ydpfca43ef1ap ydpfca43ef1aq ydpfca43ef1ar ydpfca43ef1as ydpfca43ef1at ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1q" href="https://medium.com/@clemsamson?source=post_page-----a0d4042a0c5a--------------------------------" style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit; border-color: inherit; border-style: inherit; border-width: inherit; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; cursor: pointer;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><h2 class="ydpfca43ef1pw-author-name ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1sf ydpfca43ef1sg ydpfca43ef1sh ydpfca43ef1si ydpfca43ef1bj" style="margin: 0px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); font-weight: 500; font-size: 24px; line-height: 30px; letter-spacing: -0.016em;"><span class="ydpfca43ef1fw">Written by Clem Samson</span></h2></a></div><div class="ydpfca43ef1qb ydpfca43ef1ab" style="margin-top: 8px;"><div class="ydpfca43ef1l ydpfca43ef1jd"><span class="ydpfca43ef1pw-follower-count ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1bf ydpfca43ef1z ydpfca43ef1bj" style="line-height: 20px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);"><a class="ydpfca43ef1af ydpfca43ef1ag ydpfca43ef1ah ydpfca43ef1ai ydpfca43ef1aj ydpfca43ef1ak ydpfca43ef1al ydpfca43ef1am ydpfca43ef1an ydpfca43ef1ao ydpfca43ef1ap ydpfca43ef1aq ydpfca43ef1ar ydpfca43ef1iv" href="https://medium.com/@clemsamson/followers?source=post_page-----a0d4042a0c5a--------------------------------" style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit; border-color: inherit; border-style: inherit; border-width: inherit; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; cursor: pointer;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">3K Followers</a></span></div><div class="ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1bf ydpfca43ef1z ydpfca43ef1jk ydpfca43ef1jl ydpfca43ef1jm ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1jo ydpfca43ef1jp ydpfca43ef1jq ydpfca43ef1jr ydpfca43ef1dw ydpfca43ef1jj" style="line-height: 20px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(107, 107, 107); min-height: 20px;"><span class="ydpfca43ef1iw ydpfca43ef1l" style="display: block; margin: 0px 8px;"><span class="ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1bf ydpfca43ef1z ydpfca43ef1dw" style="line-height: 20px;">·</span></span><span class="ydpfca43ef1l ydpfca43ef1jd" style="display: block;">Writer for </span><div><div class="ydpfca43ef1bl" style="display: inline-block;"><a class="ydpfca43ef1af ydpfca43ef1ag ydpfca43ef1ah ydpfca43ef1ai ydpfca43ef1aj ydpfca43ef1ak ydpfca43ef1al ydpfca43ef1am ydpfca43ef1an ydpfca43ef1ao ydpfca43ef1ap ydpfca43ef1aq ydpfca43ef1ar ydpfca43ef1iv ydpfca43ef1ab ydpfca43ef1q" href="https://medium.com/the-haven?source=post_page-----a0d4042a0c5a--------------------------------" style="color: inherit; font-size: inherit; border-color: inherit; border-style: inherit; border-width: inherit; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: inherit; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; cursor: pointer;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><p class="ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1bf ydpfca43ef1z ydpfca43ef1jk ydpfca43ef1jl ydpfca43ef1jm ydpfca43ef1jn ydpfca43ef1jo ydpfca43ef1jp ydpfca43ef1jq ydpfca43ef1jr ydpfca43ef1bj" style="margin: 0px; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36); min-height: 20px;">The Haven</p></a></div></div></div></div><div class="ydpfca43ef1sj ydpfca43ef1l" style="margin-top: 16px;"><p class="ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1bf ydpfca43ef1z ydpfca43ef1bj" style="margin: 0px; line-height: 20px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; color: rgb(36, 36, 36);"><span class="ydpfca43ef1fw">Essayist, humorist, satirist, funny-ist, poetist, fictionalist, fabulist, quizzist, journalist. Creative Writing Prof at Harvard College, Duluth, Minnesota.</span></p></div></div><div class="ydpfca43ef1h ydpfca43ef1k"><div class="ydpfca43ef1ab"><button class="ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1bf ydpfca43ef1z ydpfca43ef1tw ydpfca43ef1qd ydpfca43ef1uh ydpfca43ef1uc ydpfca43ef1ui ydpfca43ef1uj ydpfca43ef1uk ydpfca43ef1ul ydpfca43ef1rw ydpfca43ef1ja ydpfca43ef1rx ydpfca43ef1ry ydpfca43ef1rz ydpfca43ef1sa ydpfca43ef1sb ydpfca43ef1sc ydpfca43ef1er ydpfca43ef1bl ydpfca43ef1sd ydpfca43ef1nt" style="background: rgb(85, 132, 235); margin: 0px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 20px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; padding: 8px 16px; border-radius: 99em; width: auto; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-color: rgb(85, 132, 235);">Follow</button><div><br></div><div class="ydpfca43ef1dv ydpfca43ef1l" style="margin-left: 8px;"><div><div><div class="ydpfca43ef1bl" style="display: inline-block;"><div class="ydpfca43ef1l"><button class="ydpfca43ef1be ydpfca43ef1b ydpfca43ef1bf ydpfca43ef1z ydpfca43ef1tw ydpfca43ef1am ydpfca43ef1uh ydpfca43ef1uc ydpfca43ef1ui ydpfca43ef1uj ydpfca43ef1uk ydpfca43ef1ul ydpfca43ef1rw ydpfca43ef1ja ydpfca43ef1rx ydpfca43ef1ry ydpfca43ef1rz ydpfca43ef1sb ydpfca43ef1sc ydpfca43ef1er ydpfca43ef1bl ydpfca43ef1sd ydpfca43ef1nt" style="background: rgb(85, 132, 235); margin: 0px; font-weight: 400; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px; font-family: sohne, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; border-radius: 99em; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-color: rgb(85, 132, 235);"></button></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div></div>Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-8877937830836693192024-01-24T05:44:00.001-08:002024-01-24T05:44:56.007-08:00ANS -- Cartoon "Republican Lucy"<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDfdjOHNeVNCJiyPD4h33gd-WvmO9QKgXZOzu7QsTUojLm6UI8uZxd9P7-_K4k5Q6auFDssRNM9h3SMGO2YbSfkQEU8zbXJs3VQ_GtpmWchCHzHmny2l9LDRvF7kCHRGaJvZ7CC5OaGwvk5m3rQqgINuBBbwigOt5T7oS7xTwAHL9gGy1SkBpP_g"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDfdjOHNeVNCJiyPD4h33gd-WvmO9QKgXZOzu7QsTUojLm6UI8uZxd9P7-_K4k5Q6auFDssRNM9h3SMGO2YbSfkQEU8zbXJs3VQ_GtpmWchCHzHmny2l9LDRvF7kCHRGaJvZ7CC5OaGwvk5m3rQqgINuBBbwigOt5T7oS7xTwAHL9gGy1SkBpP_g=s320" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_7327660442233752114" /></a></p><div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Found this: </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><img title="Inline image" alt="Inline image" src="cid:16d352ae-6668-7529-4e13-10467f54f8f7@yahoo.com" class="yahoo-inline-image" draggable="false" style="max-width: 503px; width: 100%;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true" data-id="<16d352ae-6668-7529-4e13-10467f54f8f7@yahoo.com>"><br><span></span><br></div></div>Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-32321702966826327142024-01-17T03:30:00.001-08:002024-01-17T03:30:13.735-08:00Fwd: green Tidbit - Uber CEO high on EVs<div dir="ltr"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Joyce Segal</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:joyceck10@gmail.com">joyceck10@gmail.com</a>></span><br>Date: Wed, Jan 17, 2024 at 1:50 AM<br>Subject: green Tidbit - Uber CEO high on EVs<br>To: Kim Cooper <<a href="mailto:kimc0240@gmail.com">kimc0240@gmail.com</a>><br></div><br><br><div dir="ltr"><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:MeretPro,sans-serif;font-size:19px;letter-spacing:0.2px">This is reflected in our own data: Uber drivers are going electric </span><a href="https://www.uber.com/us/en/about/reports/sustainability-report/?_csid=q6iiQODzrJMU3zT1UoOoOw&state=i2sXURzLtKnv3Pm3OiBVyCG0mOzZTGZ_V2lYEzInpRw%3D&effect=" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="box-sizing:border-box;background-color:transparent;text-decoration-line:none;color:rgb(239,91,36);font-family:MeretPro,sans-serif;font-size:19px;letter-spacing:0.2px" target="_blank">seven times faster</a><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:MeretPro,sans-serif;font-size:19px;letter-spacing:0.2px"> than the general public. And when one Uber driver starts using an EV, they deliver up to four times the emissions benefits compared to regular motorists.</span><br clear="all"><div><br></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div>Joyce Cooper</div><div>CEO SunSmartPower</div><div>650-430-6243</div><a href="http://SunSmartPower.com" target="_blank">SunSmartPower.com</a><div><br></div></div></div></div> </div></div> Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-89891967815294745152024-01-16T01:05:00.000-08:002024-01-16T01:06:04.684-08:00Tidbit<div dir="ltr">Hi -- this is a link to an article about a proposed merger between Kroeger and Albertsons. If this merger goes through, more than half of all grocery stores in WA state will be owned by the same big bad company. This is not a good idea, and will raise prices even more, and probably lower service too. <div>--Kim<br><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2024/01/wa-attorney-general-sues-to-block-kroger-albertsons-merger.html">https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2024/01/wa-attorney-general-sues-to-block-kroger-albertsons-merger.html</a> <br></div></div></div> Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-56882886681267008112024-01-15T23:04:00.001-08:002024-01-15T23:04:08.963-08:00ANS -- Iceland scientists want to drill a hole straight into a reservoir of molten magma about a mile underground. It could generate limitless energy.<div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">This item appeared on Facebook. the friend who posted it labeled it "Icelandic Scientists Consider Destroying Earth".</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Find it here: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/iceland-scientists-drill-magma-chamber-source-kmt-geothermal-energy-limitless-2024-1?fbclid=IwAR3VGImT9GoqyhVatVH7c3oQGT97j23-bIGv_72HM6xYiwqg1s1V1-azXpc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="enhancr_card_6186158259">Iceland scientists want to drill a hole straight into a reservoir of molten magma about a mile underground. It could generate limitless energy.</a></div><div><br></div><div id="ydp206858b1enhancr_card_6186158259" class="ydp206858b1yahoo-link-enhancr-card ydp206858b1ymail-preserve-class ydp206858b1ymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" data-url="https://www.businessinsider.com/iceland-scientists-drill-magma-chamber-source-kmt-geothermal-energy-limitless-2024-1?fbclid=IwAR3VGImT9GoqyhVatVH7c3oQGT97j23-bIGv_72HM6xYiwqg1s1V1-azXpc" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/iceland-scientists-drill-magma-chamber-source-kmt-geothermal-energy-limitless-2024-1?fbclid=IwAR3VGImT9GoqyhVatVH7c3oQGT97j23-bIGv_72HM6xYiwqg1s1V1-azXpc" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydp206858b1yahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydp206858b1card-wrapper ydp206858b1yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydp206858b1card ydp206858b1yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp206858b1card-primary-image-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/VK7B.wUBOvyxPYumVUzIPA--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://i.insider.com/65a1499e43bb77284b9c9610?width=1200&format=jpeg.cf.jpg" bgcolor="#000000" valign="top" height="175" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; position: relative; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;"><v:fill type="frame" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/VK7B.wUBOvyxPYumVUzIPA--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://i.insider.com/65a1499e43bb77284b9c9610?width=1200&format=jpeg.cf.jpg"/></v:rect><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydp206858b1card-overlay-container-table ydp206858b1yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp206858b1card-overlay-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png" bgcolor="transparent" valign="top" style="background-color: transparent; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:-18px;left:0;"><v:fill type="pattern" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png"/><v:textbox inset="0,0,20px,0"><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydp206858b1yahoo-ignore-table" height="175" style="width: 100%; min-height: 175px;"><tbody><tr><td class="ydp206858b1card-richInfo2" style="text-align:left;padding:15px 0 0 15px;vertical-align:top"></td><td class="ydp206858b1card-actions" style="text-align:right;padding:15px 15px 0 0;vertical-align:top"><div class="ydp206858b1card-share-container"></div></td></tr></tbody></table><!--[if gte mso 9]></v:textbox></v:rect><![endif]--></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><table border="0" align="center" class="ydp206858b1card-info ydp206858b1yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"><img class="ydp206858b1card-object-1 ydp206858b1yahoo-ignore-inline-image ydp206858b1ymail-preserve-class" src="https://s.yimg.com/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV2/23/logos/businessinsider.png" height="36" style="min-width:36px;margin-top:3px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydp206858b1card-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(29, 34, 40); max-width: 314px;">Iceland scientists want to drill a hole straight into a reservoir of mol...</h2><p class="ydp206858b1card-richinfo-primary" style="font-size:12px;line-height:16px;margin:0 0 4px 0;color:#979ea8">Marianne Guenot</p><p class="ydp206858b1card-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 158, 168);">This will be the first time a group purposefully drills into a magma chamber, the pool of molten rock in the Ear...</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div> </div><div><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">--Kim</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><div><br></div><div><h1 class="ydp19f8c738post-headline" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin: 8px 0px 4px; line-height: 38.4px; padding: 0px;">Iceland scientists want to drill a hole straight into a reservoir of molten magma about a mile underground. It could generate limitless energy.</h1><div class="ydp19f8c738byline" data-e2e-name="byline" style="font-size: 0px; margin: 0px 32px 0px 0px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738byline-content" data-e2e-name="byline-content" style="vertical-align: middle; display: inline-block;"><div class="ydp19f8c738byline-row"><div class="ydp19f8c738byline-author-container" data-mrf-recirculation="Author"><div class="ydp19f8c738byline-author ydp19f8c738headline-regular" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; display: inline; line-height: 18.9px; margin-right: 5px;"><span data-e2e-name="Marianne Guenot"><a class="ydp19f8c738byline-link ydp19f8c738byline-author-name" data-e2e-name="byline-author-name" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/marianne-guenot-ins" data-mrf-link="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/marianne-guenot-ins" data-uri="fd8cd6b2d642dfb0cfa061c524d3f4ff" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Marianne Guenot</a></span> </div><div class="ydp19f8c738byline-timestamp ydp19f8c738headline-regular ydp19f8c738js-date-format ydp19f8c738js-rendered" data-timestamp="2024-01-15T10:58:23Z" data-e2e-name="byline-timestamp" data-disable-relative-formatting="" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17.55px; color: rgb(109, 120, 122); display: inline-block; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px;">Jan 15, 2024, 2:58 AM PST</div></div></div></div></div><div class="ydp19f8c738share-button-dropdown-wrapper" style="position: relative;"><button class="ydp19f8c738share-button ydp19f8c738sharebar-link ydp19f8c738headline-regular" style="border-radius: 0px; font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17.55px; margin: 0px; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); border-style: solid; border-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(17, 17, 17); cursor: pointer; outline: none; padding: 6px 8px;"><span class="ydp19f8c738button-text" style="margin-left: 8px;">Share</span></button></div><div class="ydp19f8c738vertical-divider" style="background-color: rgb(221, 224, 232); margin: 9px 8px 0px; width: 1px; min-height: 17.55px;"></div><button class="ydp19f8c738sharebar-link ydp19f8c738save-article ydp19f8c738save-button" title="Save Article" data-location="top" data-track-event-label="save-article" data-component-type="save-article" data-track-element="story" data-e2e-name="share-link-save-article" style="border-radius: 0px; 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vertical-align: middle; max-width: none; width: 740px;" class=""></div><span class="ydp19f8c738image-source-caption ydp19f8c738with-caption-drawer" style="line-height: 18.9px; margin: 11px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative;">Clouds of smoke billow out of a borehole created when scientists accidentally drilled into a magma chamber in 2009.<span class="ydp19f8c738image-source ydp19f8c738headline-regular" data-e2e-name="image-source" itemprop="creditText" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; display: inline; line-height: 18.9px; color: rgb(109, 120, 122);">KMT</span></span><div style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", "Liberation Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px;"><div id="ydp19f8c738piano-inline-content-wrapper" data-piano-inline-content-wrapper=""><div data-component-type="content-lock" data-load-strategy="exclude"><div class="ydp19f8c738content-lock-content" data-mrf-recirculation="Article links"><ul class="ydp19f8c738summary-list ydp19f8c738preview ydp19f8c738premium" data-mrf-recirculation="Summary" style="margin: 20px 0px 24px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 22px; font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 900; list-style-type: none;"><li style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;">Scientists in Iceland want to drill straight into an underground magma chamber.</li><li style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 23px; position: relative;">The project could offer clues about how volcanoes work, as well as create geothermal energy.</li><li style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-top: 23px; position: relative; border-bottom: none; padding-bottom: 0px;">The biggest hurdles are getting funding for the project, and figuring out how to drill into magma.</li></ul><div class="ydp19f8c738inline-newsletter-signup ydp19f8c738headline-regular ydp19f8c738insider-today" id="ydp19f8c738formContainer" data-component-type="inline-newsletter-module" data-event-label="insider_today" data-newsletter-id="1" data-newsletter-title="Insider Today" data-acq-source="scienceinlinesignup" data-mrf-recirculation="Newsletter" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; 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background: transparent; min-height: 1px;"> </div></div></div></div><p class="ydp19f8c738preview" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">Scientists in Iceland want to drill a hole into a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/grindavik-iceland-magma-volcano-under-home-poised-for-eruption-evacuation-2023-11" data-analytics-product-module="body_link" data-analytics-post-depth="20" data-mrf-link="https://www.businessinsider.com/grindavik-iceland-magma-volcano-under-home-poised-for-eruption-evacuation-2023-11" data-uri="0edb42e94320e253d4b0d18770467d7a" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">magma chamber</a> about a mile underground in an attempt to generate limitless energy.</p><span class="ydp19f8c738premium-content"><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">The <a href="https://kmt.is/about/" data-analytics-product-module="body_link" data-analytics-post-depth="20" data-mrf-link="https://kmt.is/about/" data-uri="e2b9043c8d90c971eace98c5f157de35" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Krafla Magma Testbed</a> (KMT) aims to create the world's first research center above a magma chamber to monitor, sample, and test the molten rock in situ for the first time.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">The center, it hopes, could offer unprecedented insights into how volcanoes work and open new avenues for limitless <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-geothermal-energy-google-2017-7" data-analytics-product-module="body_link" data-analytics-post-depth="20" data-mrf-link="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-geothermal-energy-google-2017-7" data-uri="2c48ce34460f2a4a88d68c9508f701c7" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">geothermal energy</a>.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">"Magma within the Earth is the last unexplored frontier," KMT's Hjalti Páll Ingólfsson, told Business Insider.</p><div class="ydp19f8c738in-post-sticky ydp19f8c738only-desktop ydp19f8c738premium" style="min-height: 312px; padding: 28px 0px; width: 830px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-callout-wrapper ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="padding-top: 22px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-label ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(109, 120, 122); letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 1.85; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-shadow: none;">Advertisement</div><div id="ydp19f8c738gpt-post-science-desktop_in_post_ad-desktop-2" class="ydp19f8c738jwplayer ydp19f8c738jw-reset ydp19f8c738jw-state-playing ydp19f8c738jw-stretch-uniform ydp19f8c738jw-breakpoint--1 ydp19f8c738jw-flag-small-player ydp19f8c738jw-flag-outstream ydp19f8c738jw-floating-dismissible ydp19f8c738jw-flag-ads ydp19f8c738jw-flag-ads-hide-controls ydp19f8c738jw-flag-user-inactive ydp19f8c738jw-orientation-portrait ydp19f8c738jw-flag-audio-player" data-compass-listening="true" style="direction: ltr; 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line-height: 2; list-style: none; vertical-align: baseline; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; width: 2px; min-height: 2em;"></div><div class="ydp19f8c738jw-media ydp19f8c738jw-reset" style="direction: ltr; color: inherit; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; float: none; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1em; list-style: none; vertical-align: baseline; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; width: 2px; visibility: hidden; min-height: 44px;"></div><div class="ydp19f8c738jw-overlays ydp19f8c738jw-reset" style="direction: ltr; color: inherit; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; float: none; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1em; list-style: none; vertical-align: baseline; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; width: 2px; cursor: auto; min-height: 44px;"><div id="ydp19f8c738gpt-post-science-desktop_in_post_ad-desktop-2_vast" class="ydp19f8c738jw-plugin ydp19f8c738jw-reset ydp19f8c738jw-plugin-vast" style="direction: ltr; color: inherit; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; float: none; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1em; list-style: none; vertical-align: baseline; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; width: 2px;"></div><div id="ydp19f8c738gpt-post-science-desktop_in_post_ad-desktop-2_jwpsrv" class="ydp19f8c738jw-plugin ydp19f8c738jw-reset" style="direction: ltr; color: inherit; background-color: transparent; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; float: none; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1em; list-style: none; vertical-align: baseline; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit;"></div></div><div class="ydp19f8c738jw-hidden-accessibility" style="border: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 1px; min-height: 1px;"><span class="ydp19f8c738jw-time-update">0 seconds of 15 seconds</span><span class="ydp19f8c738jw-volume-update">Volume 0%</span></div></div><div class="ydp19f8c738afs_ads ydp19f8c738ad-placement" style="width: 1px; background: transparent; min-height: 1px;"> </div></div></div></div><div class="ydp19f8c738lazy-holder" style="background: rgb(248, 248, 248); padding-top: 426.656px; position: relative; width: 640px; min-height: 0px;"><img class="ydp19f8c738lazy-image ydp19f8c738js-rendered" src="https://i.insider.com/65a1496443bb77284b9c95f4?width=700&format=jpeg&auto=webp" data-content-type="image/jpeg" data-srcs="{"https://i.insider.com/65a1496443bb77284b9c95f4":{"contentType":"image/jpeg","aspectRatioW":2121,"aspectRatioH":1414}}" alt="A crater is show letting off steam" itemprop="contentUrl" style="border-style: none; vertical-align: middle; max-width: none; width: 646.391px; z-index: 1; background: none;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"></div><span class="ydp19f8c738image-source-caption" style="display: block; line-height: 18.9px; margin: 11px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;">Natural geothermal energy is seen in Hverir Namafjall, in the Krafla fissure, Iceland. <span class="ydp19f8c738image-source ydp19f8c738headline-regular" data-e2e-name="image-source" itemprop="creditText" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; display: inline; line-height: 18.9px; color: rgb(109, 120, 122);">Mika Mika</span></span><h2 class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 37.5px;">An accidental discovery</h2><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">Research into magma chambers is crucial. These pools of molten rock, located in the Earth's crust, can create volcanoes if they find a way to reach the surface.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">But they are fiendishly difficult to locate with surface equipment and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/muons-help-map-magma-inside-volcanoes-predict-eruptions-2021-11" data-analytics-product-module="body_link" data-analytics-post-depth="40" data-mrf-link="https://www.businessinsider.com/muons-help-map-magma-inside-volcanoes-predict-eruptions-2021-11" data-uri="fd9c07af91535fd9de001b3185a8c849" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">hard to track</a> ahead of an eruption.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">"We don't have any direct knowledge of what magma chambers look like, which is crucial in understanding volcanoes of course," Paolo Papale at Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Pisa, who has written on the subject, told <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134722-100-worlds-first-tunnel-to-a-magma-chamber-could-unleash-unlimited-energy/" data-analytics-product-module="body_link" data-analytics-post-depth="40" data-mrf-link="https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134722-100-worlds-first-tunnel-to-a-magma-chamber-could-unleash-unlimited-energy/" data-uri="499e103087798cc6e26bd8ba844cc1c9" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">New Scientist.</a></p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">In 2009, scientists identified a potential candidate about 2.5 miles underground near the Krafla in Northern Iceland. So they started drilling.</p><div class="ydp19f8c738in-post-sticky ydp19f8c738only-desktop ydp19f8c738premium" style="min-height: 312px; padding: 28px 0px; width: 830px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-callout-wrapper ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="padding-top: 22px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-label ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(109, 120, 122); letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 1.85; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-shadow: none;">Advertisement</div><div data-bi-ad="" id="ydp19f8c738gpt-post-science-desktop_in_post_ad-desktop-3" class="ydp19f8c738ad ydp19f8c738ad-wrapper ydp19f8c738fluid ydp19f8c738in-post ydp19f8c738only-desktop ydp19f8c738is-collapsible ydp19f8c738height-250" data-force="" data-type="ad" data-adunit="businessinsider.desktop/post/in-content-3/science" data-secvert="" data-tag="crime" data-authors="marianne-guenot-ins" data-region="Desktop In Post Ad" data-responsive="[{"browserLimit":[728,0],"slotSize":[[300,250],"fluid"]},{"browserLimit":[1260,0],"slotSize":[[728,90],[300,250],[800,480],[600,480],"fluid"]}]" data-tile-order="tile-3" data-template="default" data-targeting="{"adunit":"businessinsider.desktop/post/in-content-3/science","region":"Desktop In Post Ad","tag":"crime","template":"default","dvp_spos":"in-content-3","rawvert":""}" data-amazontamsizes="[[728,90],[300,250]]" data-enable-ad-refresher="true" data-refresh-count="1" data-sr="facebook-web" data-platform="desktop" data-ad-adjusted="" data-bids="rubicon:success,amazon:success" data-auctions-requested="" data-google-query-id="CMWwxtCo4YMDFaDO_QUdu24MKg" data-ad-refresher-config="{"isEmpty":false,"curSize":[300,250],"region":"Desktop In Post Ad"}" data-timer="08" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; min-height: 50px; text-align: center; width: 830px; border-bottom-color: unset; border-top-color: unset; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 0pt none; display: inline-block; width: 300px; min-height: 250px;"></div></div></div></div><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">But about a mile into their descent, their drill got stuck. It's only later, when it came back up carrying shards of volcanic glass, that they realized what happened. They had accidentally poked their head into a magma chamber.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">The scientists managed to make a few measurements, but eventually, the wellhead became too warm to operate, <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134722-100-worlds-first-tunnel-to-a-magma-chamber-could-unleash-unlimited-energy/" data-analytics-product-module="body_link" data-analytics-post-depth="40" data-mrf-link="https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134722-100-worlds-first-tunnel-to-a-magma-chamber-could-unleash-unlimited-energy/" data-uri="499e103087798cc6e26bd8ba844cc1c9" style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(17, 17, 17);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="enhancr_card_5748103784">per New Scientist</a>.</p><div><br></div><div id="ydpde2a87a5enhancr_card_5748103784" class="ydpde2a87a5yahoo-link-enhancr-card ydpde2a87a5ymail-preserve-class ydpde2a87a5ymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" data-url="https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134722-100-worlds-first-tunnel-to-a-magma-chamber-could-unleash-unlimited-energy/" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26134722-100-worlds-first-tunnel-to-a-magma-chamber-could-unleash-unlimited-energy/" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydpde2a87a5yahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydpde2a87a5card-wrapper ydpde2a87a5yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydpde2a87a5card ydpde2a87a5yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td class="ydpde2a87a5card-primary-image-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/m0J2dWbNyuGVtff3aaovog--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/28121726/SEI_184926611.jpg.cf.jpg" bgcolor="#000000" valign="top" height="175" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; position: relative; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;"><v:fill type="frame" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/m0J2dWbNyuGVtff3aaovog--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/28121726/SEI_184926611.jpg.cf.jpg"/></v:rect><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydpde2a87a5card-overlay-container-table ydpde2a87a5yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td class="ydpde2a87a5card-overlay-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png" bgcolor="transparent" valign="top" style="background-color: transparent; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:-18px;left:0;"><v:fill type="pattern" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png"/><v:textbox inset="0,0,20px,0"><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydpde2a87a5yahoo-ignore-table" height="175" style="width: 100%; min-height: 175px;"><tbody><tr><td class="ydpde2a87a5card-richInfo2" style="text-align:left;padding:15px 0 0 15px;vertical-align:top"></td><td class="ydpde2a87a5card-actions" style="text-align:right;padding:15px 15px 0 0;vertical-align:top"><div class="ydpde2a87a5card-share-container"></div></td></tr></tbody></table><!--[if gte mso 9]></v:textbox></v:rect><![endif]--></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><table border="0" align="center" class="ydpde2a87a5card-info ydpde2a87a5yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydpde2a87a5card-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(29, 34, 40); max-width: 314px;">World's first tunnel to a magma chamber could unleash unlimited energy</h2><p class="ydpde2a87a5card-richinfo-primary" style="font-size:12px;line-height:16px;margin:0 0 4px 0;color:#979ea8">#author.fullName}</p><p class="ydpde2a87a5card-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 158, 168);">In Iceland, scientists are planning to drill two boreholes to a reservoir of liquid rock. One will give us our f...</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">They decided to pour cold water into the well to cool it down, releasing black, billowing clouds that destroyed their rigging.</p><div id="ydp19f8c7381705051227048" data-styles="default-width" data-embed-type="youtube" data-script="" class="ydp19f8c738premium" data-type="embed"><div class="ydp19f8c738iframe-container" style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px; position: relative;"></div></div><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">Now, 15 years on, KMT wants to drill into the chamber again — but this time it wants to be able to stay, with the help of a few clever engineering tricks.</p><div class="ydp19f8c738in-post-sticky ydp19f8c738only-desktop ydp19f8c738premium" style="min-height: 312px; padding: 28px 0px; width: 830px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-callout-wrapper ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="padding-top: 22px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-label ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(109, 120, 122); letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 1.85; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-shadow: none;">Advertisement</div><div data-bi-ad="" id="ydp19f8c738gpt-post-science-desktop_in_post_ad-desktop-4" class="ydp19f8c738ad ydp19f8c738ad-wrapper ydp19f8c738fluid ydp19f8c738in-post ydp19f8c738only-desktop ydp19f8c738is-collapsible" data-force="" data-type="ad" data-adunit="businessinsider.desktop/post/in-content-4-plus/science" data-secvert="" data-tag="crime" data-authors="marianne-guenot-ins" data-region="Desktop In Post Ad" data-responsive="[{"browserLimit":[728,0],"slotSize":[[300,250],"fluid"]},{"browserLimit":[1260,0],"slotSize":[[728,90],[300,250],[800,480],[600,480],"fluid"]}]" data-tile-order="tile-4" data-template="default" data-targeting="{"adunit":"businessinsider.desktop/post/in-content-4-plus/science","region":"Desktop In Post Ad","tag":"crime","template":"default","dvp_spos":"in-content-4-plus","rawvert":""}" data-amazontamsizes="[[728,90],[300,250]]" data-enable-ad-refresher="true" data-refresh-count="1" data-sr="facebook-web" data-platform="desktop" data-ad-adjusted="" data-bids="amazon:success,rubicon:success" data-auctions-requested="" data-google-query-id="COrQ-umo4YMDFZ7C_QUdaPAAdQ" data-ad-refresher-config="{"isEmpty":false,"curSize":[1,1],"region":"Desktop In Post Ad"}" data-timer="01" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; min-height: 50px; text-align: center; width: 830px; border-bottom-color: unset; border-top-color: unset; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 0pt none;"></div></div></div></div><h2 class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 37.5px;">Getting to the magma with a glassy rock 'sock'</h2><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">Krafla is a perfect site for this type of experiment. The magma there is ancient and gloopy, which means it's unlikely to create an eruption or flow out of the well when you experiment on it, said Ingólfsson.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">Because it's so close to a volcano, any small tremors triggered by the scientists poking into the chamber are unlikely to make an impact, Jon Gluyas, a professor of Earth sciences at Durham University, told BI.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">"If you're in Iceland, you're already in an extremely active volcanic region. There's nothing humans can do which materially will alter that one way or the other," said Gluyas.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">However, standard drilling rigs can't survive in these conditions.</p><div class="ydp19f8c738in-post-sticky ydp19f8c738only-desktop ydp19f8c738premium" style="min-height: 312px; padding: 28px 0px; width: 830px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-callout-wrapper ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="padding-top: 22px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-label ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(109, 120, 122); letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 1.85; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-shadow: none;">Advertisement</div><div data-bi-ad="" id="ydp19f8c738gpt-post-science-desktop_in_post_ad-desktop-5" class="ydp19f8c738ad ydp19f8c738ad-wrapper ydp19f8c738fluid ydp19f8c738in-post ydp19f8c738only-desktop ydp19f8c738is-collapsible ydp19f8c738height-250 ydp19f8c738ad-refreshed" data-force="" data-type="ad" data-adunit="businessinsider.desktop/post/in-content-4-plus/science" data-secvert="" data-tag="crime" data-authors="marianne-guenot-ins" data-region="Desktop In Post Ad" data-responsive="[{"browserLimit":[728,0],"slotSize":[[300,250]]},{"browserLimit":[1260,0],"slotSize":[[300,250]]}]" data-tile-order="tile-5" data-template="default" data-targeting="{"adunit":"businessinsider.desktop/post/in-content-4-plus/science","region":"Desktop In Post Ad","tag":"crime","template":"default","dvp_spos":"in-content-4-plus","rawvert":""}" data-amazontamsizes="[[300,250]]" data-enable-ad-refresher="true" data-refresh-count="1" data-sr="facebook-web" data-platform="desktop" data-ad-adjusted="" data-bids="amazon:success,rubicon:success" data-ad-refresher-config="{"isEmpty":false,"curSize":[1,1],"region":"Desktop In Post Ad"}" data-timer="00" data-ad-height="250px" data-ad-refresher-resized="true" data-auctions-requested="" data-google-query-id="CPKKgbCq4YMDFQ7ZuAgd9JkHMA" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; min-height: 50px; text-align: center; width: 830px; border-bottom-color: unset; border-top-color: unset; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 0pt none;"></div></div></div></div><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">"It's bloody hot. And that means the materials you'll use for drilling are not right to those sorts of temperatures," said Gluyas.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">One big challenge, Ingólfsson said, will be drilling straight into the magma while protecting the equipment.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">The solution is fairly simple: freeze the magma solid. Using water, the team aims to freeze the magma ahead of the drill bit. This will create a "sock or a pocket" of frozen glassy rock, similar to the obsidian you can find on Earth, per Ingólfsson.</p><div class="ydp19f8c738lazy-holder" style="background: rgb(248, 248, 248); padding-top: 425.859px; position: relative; width: 640px; min-height: 0px;"><img class="ydp19f8c738lazy-image ydp19f8c738js-rendered" src="https://i.insider.com/65a14a7fdcdb354a98570bb0?width=700&format=jpeg&auto=webp" data-content-type="image/jpeg" data-srcs="{"https://i.insider.com/65a14a7fdcdb354a98570bb0":{"contentType":"image/jpeg","aspectRatioW":2122,"aspectRatioH":1412}}" alt="a picture shows Obsidian, a glassy rock, shown buried in the ground." itemprop="contentUrl" style="border-style: none; vertical-align: middle; max-width: none; width: 646.391px; z-index: 1; background: none;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"></div><span class="ydp19f8c738image-source-caption" style="display: block; line-height: 18.9px; margin: 11px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;">A flow of obsidian shown in the Landmannalaugar region of Iceland <span class="ydp19f8c738image-source ydp19f8c738headline-regular" data-e2e-name="image-source" itemprop="creditText" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; display: inline; line-height: 18.9px; color: rgb(109, 120, 122);">Layne Kennedy/Getty Images</span></span><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">Once that's big enough, the drill bit can be removed, creating a small cavity inside the chamber to deposit some monitoring equipment before the glass sock collapses, per Ingólfsson.</p><div class="ydp19f8c738in-post-sticky ydp19f8c738only-desktop ydp19f8c738premium" style="min-height: 312px; padding: 28px 0px; width: 830px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-callout-wrapper ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="padding-top: 22px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-label ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(109, 120, 122); letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 1.85; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-shadow: none;">Advertisement</div><div data-bi-ad="" id="ydp19f8c738gpt-post-science-desktop_in_post_ad-desktop-6" class="ydp19f8c738ad ydp19f8c738ad-wrapper ydp19f8c738fluid ydp19f8c738in-post ydp19f8c738only-desktop ydp19f8c738is-collapsible ydp19f8c738height-250 ydp19f8c738ad-refreshed" data-force="" data-type="ad" data-adunit="businessinsider.desktop/post/in-content-4-plus/science" data-secvert="" data-tag="crime" data-authors="marianne-guenot-ins" data-region="Desktop In Post Ad" data-responsive="[{"browserLimit":[728,0],"slotSize":[[300,250]]},{"browserLimit":[1260,0],"slotSize":[[300,250]]}]" data-tile-order="tile-6" data-template="default" data-targeting="{"adunit":"businessinsider.desktop/post/in-content-4-plus/science","region":"Desktop In Post Ad","tag":"crime","template":"default","dvp_spos":"in-content-4-plus","rawvert":""}" data-amazontamsizes="[[300,250]]" data-enable-ad-refresher="true" data-refresh-count="2" data-sr="facebook-web" data-platform="desktop" data-ad-adjusted="" data-bids="amazon:success,rubicon:success" data-ad-refresher-config="{"isEmpty":false,"curSize":[1,1],"region":"Desktop In Post Ad"}" data-timer="29" data-ad-height="250px" data-ad-refresher-resized="true" data-auctions-requested="" data-google-query-id="CKaqhq6q4YMDFdbc_QUdl5MEsQ" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; min-height: 50px; text-align: center; width: 830px; border-bottom-color: unset; border-top-color: unset; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 0pt none;"></div></div></div></div><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">This should allow scientists to get an exact temperature reading of the inside of the magma chamber, which has never been done before, according to New Scientist.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">"Will it work? That's definitely a challenge," said Ingólfsson.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">"We think we have the equipment, we have the solutions, but it's very difficult to test those or get those accurate unless doing it in a real environment," he said.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">Another problem will be keeping the rigging up, a crucial point as KMT wants the boreholes to stay open. The pipes that line the hole need to face extremely high temperatures, as well as acidic environments that can eat at the metal.</p><div class="ydp19f8c738in-post-sticky ydp19f8c738only-desktop ydp19f8c738premium" style="min-height: 312px; padding: 28px 0px; width: 830px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-callout-wrapper ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="padding-top: 22px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-label ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(109, 120, 122); letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 1.85; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-shadow: none;">Advertisement</div><div data-bi-ad="" id="ydp19f8c738gpt-post-science-desktop_in_post_ad-desktop-7" class="ydp19f8c738ad ydp19f8c738ad-wrapper ydp19f8c738fluid ydp19f8c738in-post ydp19f8c738only-desktop ydp19f8c738is-collapsible ydp19f8c738height-250" data-force="" data-type="ad" data-adunit="businessinsider.desktop/post/in-content-4-plus/science" data-secvert="" data-tag="crime" data-authors="marianne-guenot-ins" data-region="Desktop In Post Ad" data-responsive="[{"browserLimit":[728,0],"slotSize":[[300,250],"fluid"]},{"browserLimit":[1260,0],"slotSize":[[728,90],[300,250],[800,480],[600,480],"fluid"]}]" data-tile-order="tile-7" data-template="default" data-targeting="{"adunit":"businessinsider.desktop/post/in-content-4-plus/science","region":"Desktop In Post Ad","tag":"crime","template":"default","dvp_spos":"in-content-4-plus","rawvert":""}" data-amazontamsizes="[[728,90],[300,250]]" data-enable-ad-refresher="true" data-refresh-count="1" data-sr="facebook-web" data-platform="desktop" data-ad-adjusted="" data-bids="amazon:success,rubicon:success" data-auctions-requested="" data-google-query-id="CMvl5ZWp4YMDFULC_QUd5ycKbw" data-ad-refresher-config="{"isEmpty":false,"curSize":[300,250],"region":"Desktop In Post Ad"}" data-timer="01" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; min-height: 50px; text-align: center; width: 830px; border-bottom-color: unset; border-top-color: unset; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 0pt none;"></div></div></div></div><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">"We are working on selecting the right materials and finding out what is the best way to design these things so it will fit and survive," said Ingólfsson.</p><h2 class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 37.5px;">We know very little about the insides of volcanoes</h2><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">If it is successful, KMT could offer a whole slew of new insights into volcanic activity, Gluyas said.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">"From a scientific perspective, being able to sample an active magma chamber would give you a whole lot of information, which is normally excruciatingly difficult to obtain," said Gluyas, who is the president of the Global Geothermal Energy Advancement Association.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">After all, most of what we know about volcanoes is what we see on the surface.</p><div class="ydp19f8c738in-post-sticky ydp19f8c738only-desktop ydp19f8c738premium" style="min-height: 312px; padding: 28px 0px; width: 830px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-callout-wrapper ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="padding-top: 22px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-label ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(109, 120, 122); letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 1.85; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-shadow: none;">Advertisement</div><div data-bi-ad="" id="ydp19f8c738gpt-post-science-desktop_in_post_ad-desktop-8" class="ydp19f8c738ad ydp19f8c738ad-wrapper ydp19f8c738fluid ydp19f8c738in-post ydp19f8c738only-desktop ydp19f8c738is-collapsible ydp19f8c738height-250" data-force="" data-type="ad" data-adunit="businessinsider.desktop/post/in-content-4-plus/science" data-secvert="" data-tag="crime" data-authors="marianne-guenot-ins" data-region="Desktop In Post Ad" data-responsive="[{"browserLimit":[728,0],"slotSize":[[300,250],"fluid"]},{"browserLimit":[1260,0],"slotSize":[[728,90],[300,250],[800,480],[600,480],"fluid"]}]" data-tile-order="tile-8" data-template="default" data-targeting="{"adunit":"businessinsider.desktop/post/in-content-4-plus/science","region":"Desktop In Post Ad","tag":"crime","template":"default","dvp_spos":"in-content-4-plus","rawvert":""}" data-amazontamsizes="[[728,90],[300,250]]" data-enable-ad-refresher="true" data-refresh-count="1" data-sr="facebook-web" data-platform="desktop" data-ad-adjusted="" data-bids="amazon:success,rubicon:success" data-auctions-requested="" data-google-query-id="CN3m96Wp4YMDFczQuAgdQIsL0Q" data-ad-refresher-config="{"isEmpty":false,"curSize":[300,250],"region":"Desktop In Post Ad"}" data-timer="22" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; min-height: 50px; text-align: center; width: 830px; border-bottom-color: unset; border-top-color: unset; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 0pt none;"></div></div></div></div><div class="ydp19f8c738lazy-holder" style="background: rgb(248, 248, 248); padding-top: 426.688px; position: relative; width: 640px; min-height: 0px;"><img class="ydp19f8c738lazy-image ydp19f8c738js-rendered" src="https://i.insider.com/65006652db12d30019065bf7?width=700&format=jpeg&auto=webp" data-content-type="image/jpeg" data-srcs="{"https://i.insider.com/65006652db12d30019065bf7":{"contentType":"image/jpeg","aspectRatioW":6028,"aspectRatioH":4019}}" alt="Volcano" itemprop="contentUrl" style="border-style: none; vertical-align: middle; max-width: none; width: 646.391px; z-index: 1; background: none;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"></div><span class="ydp19f8c738image-source-only" style="display: block; line-height: 18.9px; margin: 11px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;"><span class="ydp19f8c738image-source ydp19f8c738headline-regular" data-e2e-name="image-source" itemprop="creditText" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; display: inline; line-height: 18.9px; color: rgb(109, 120, 122);">Hafsteinn Karlsson / Getty Images</span></span><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">But by the time molten rock turns into lava, it has lost a lot of the gas that propelled it up to the surface, so we know very little about magma composition before it erupts.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">"I'm sometimes insulting some scientists when I say that basically everything we know about inside of a volcano is kind of a guesstimate — an educated guesstimate of course," said Ingólfsson.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">Sampling and monitoring the magma directly could shed crucial information on what it's made of, and hopefully help us find ways to track its path underground. The glassy rock created when freezing the magma could also be a gold mine of evidence, as it could contain bubbles encapsulating the precious magmatic gases, per Gluyas.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">"There's loads of fundamental science which will come out of it and there'll be unexpected bonuses, but there is a practical piece of this, which is better understanding of the way the Earth behaves and therefore better preparedness for potential natural disasters," said Gluyas.</p><div class="ydp19f8c738in-post-sticky ydp19f8c738only-desktop ydp19f8c738premium" style="min-height: 312px; padding: 28px 0px; width: 830px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-callout-wrapper ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="padding-top: 22px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-label ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(109, 120, 122); letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 1.85; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-shadow: none;">Advertisement</div><div data-bi-ad="" id="ydp19f8c738gpt-post-science-desktop_in_post_ad-desktop-9" class="ydp19f8c738ad ydp19f8c738ad-wrapper ydp19f8c738fluid ydp19f8c738in-post ydp19f8c738only-desktop ydp19f8c738is-collapsible ydp19f8c738height-250" data-force="" data-type="ad" data-adunit="businessinsider.desktop/post/in-content-4-plus/science" data-secvert="" data-tag="crime" data-authors="marianne-guenot-ins" data-region="Desktop In Post Ad" data-responsive="[{"browserLimit":[728,0],"slotSize":[[300,250],"fluid"]},{"browserLimit":[1260,0],"slotSize":[[728,90],[300,250],[800,480],[600,480],"fluid"]}]" data-tile-order="tile-9" data-template="default" data-targeting="{"adunit":"businessinsider.desktop/post/in-content-4-plus/science","region":"Desktop In Post Ad","tag":"crime","template":"default","dvp_spos":"in-content-4-plus","rawvert":""}" data-amazontamsizes="[[728,90],[300,250]]" data-enable-ad-refresher="true" data-refresh-count="1" data-sr="facebook-web" data-platform="desktop" data-ad-adjusted="" data-bids="amazon:success,rubicon:success" data-auctions-requested="" data-google-query-id="CPSUkLap4YMDFVLe_QUdPcgMWQ" data-ad-refresher-config="{"isEmpty":false,"curSize":[600,250],"region":"Desktop In Post Ad"}" data-timer="17" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; min-height: 50px; text-align: center; width: 830px; border-bottom-color: unset; border-top-color: unset; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 0pt none; display: inline-block; width: 600px; min-height: 250px;"></div></div></div></div><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">KMT plans to drill a second hole dedicated to geothermal research.</p><div class="ydp19f8c738lazy-holder" style="background: rgb(248, 248, 248); padding-top: 691px; position: relative; width: 640px; min-height: 0px;"><img class="ydp19f8c738lazy-image ydp19f8c738js-rendered" src="https://i.insider.com/65a14f2f6979d7371822c8c5?width=700&format=jpeg&auto=webp" data-content-type="image/png" data-srcs="{"https://i.insider.com/65a14f2f6979d7371822c8c5":{"contentType":"image/png","aspectRatioW":778,"aspectRatioH":840}}" alt="A schematic shows two drill rigs above the magma chamber." itemprop="contentUrl" style="border-style: none; vertical-align: middle; max-width: none; width: 646.391px; z-index: 1; background: none;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"></div><span class="ydp19f8c738image-source-caption" style="display: block; line-height: 18.9px; margin: 11px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;">A schematic shows the set up for the two boreholes KMT aims to drill in the ground. <span class="ydp19f8c738image-source ydp19f8c738headline-regular" data-e2e-name="image-source" itemprop="creditText" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; display: inline; line-height: 18.9px; color: rgb(109, 120, 122);">KMT</span></span><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">Ingólfsson expects one well on a magma chamber could be as productive as 10 other wells elsewhere.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">Not only is it very hot down there, but the magma also changes the composition of the rock, which KMT believes could make harvesting geothermal energy more efficient.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">"The source of geothermal is always the magma and getting closer to magma is obviously a higher efficiency," said Ingólfsson.</p><div class="ydp19f8c738in-post-sticky ydp19f8c738only-desktop ydp19f8c738premium" style="min-height: 312px; padding: 28px 0px; width: 830px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-callout-wrapper ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="padding-top: 22px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-label ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(109, 120, 122); letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 1.85; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-shadow: none;">Advertisement</div><div data-bi-ad="" id="ydp19f8c738gpt-post-science-desktop_in_post_ad-desktop-10" class="ydp19f8c738ad ydp19f8c738ad-wrapper ydp19f8c738fluid ydp19f8c738in-post ydp19f8c738only-desktop ydp19f8c738is-collapsible ydp19f8c738height-250" data-force="" data-type="ad" data-adunit="businessinsider.desktop/post/in-content-4-plus/science" data-secvert="" data-tag="crime" data-authors="marianne-guenot-ins" data-region="Desktop In Post Ad" data-responsive="[{"browserLimit":[728,0],"slotSize":[[300,250],"fluid"]},{"browserLimit":[1260,0],"slotSize":[[728,90],[300,250],[800,480],[600,480],"fluid"]}]" data-tile-order="tile-10" data-template="default" data-targeting="{"adunit":"businessinsider.desktop/post/in-content-4-plus/science","region":"Desktop In Post Ad","tag":"crime","template":"default","dvp_spos":"in-content-4-plus","rawvert":""}" data-amazontamsizes="[[728,90],[300,250]]" data-enable-ad-refresher="true" data-refresh-count="1" data-sr="facebook-web" data-platform="desktop" data-ad-adjusted="" data-bids="amazon:success,rubicon:success" data-auctions-requested="" data-google-query-id="CN_z3tKp4YMDFevO_QUdPRsNFg" data-ad-refresher-config="{"isEmpty":false,"curSize":[300,250],"region":"Desktop In Post Ad"}" data-timer="00" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; min-height: 50px; text-align: center; width: 830px; border-bottom-color: unset; border-top-color: unset; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 0pt none;"></div></div></div></div><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">Their research, he said, could inform new ways to collect geothermal energy.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">"You have the whole Atlantic ridge offshore. If we combine what we learn in Krafla and with what we know about offshore drilling, then you could foresee, at least as a sci-fi vision, that you could utilize it for abundant or endless energy of the Earth," he said.</p><div class="ydp19f8c738lazy-holder" style="background: rgb(248, 248, 248); padding-top: 426.547px; position: relative; width: 640px; min-height: 0px;"><img class="ydp19f8c738lazy-image ydp19f8c738js-rendered" src="https://i.insider.com/65a14b78dcdb354a98570c09?width=700&format=jpeg&auto=webp" data-content-type="image/jpeg" data-srcs="{"https://i.insider.com/65a14b78dcdb354a98570c09":{"contentType":"image/jpeg","aspectRatioW":2000,"aspectRatioH":1333}}" alt="A top shot shows power stations near the borehole in Krafla." itemprop="contentUrl" style="border-style: none; vertical-align: middle; max-width: none; width: 646.391px; z-index: 1; background: none;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"></div><span class="ydp19f8c738image-source-caption" style="display: block; line-height: 18.9px; margin: 11px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;">Power stations are shown near the site KMT aims to bore into. <span class="ydp19f8c738image-source ydp19f8c738headline-regular" data-e2e-name="image-source" itemprop="creditText" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; display: inline; line-height: 18.9px; color: rgb(109, 120, 122);">KMT</span></span><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">For Gluyas, the technology could be promising, but he questioned whether it is needed at this time.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">"If you go anywhere where there's a well-developed volcanic province, Mexico, Kenya, Ethiopia, Italy, the geothermal energy is under-exploited massively. I'm not sure how much more efficient systems would be if drilled into a magma chamber," he said.</p><div class="ydp19f8c738in-post-sticky ydp19f8c738only-desktop ydp19f8c738premium" style="min-height: 312px; padding: 28px 0px; width: 830px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-callout-wrapper ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="padding-top: 22px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-label ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(109, 120, 122); letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 1.85; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-shadow: none;">Advertisement</div><div data-bi-ad="" id="ydp19f8c738gpt-post-science-desktop_in_post_ad-desktop-11" class="ydp19f8c738ad ydp19f8c738ad-wrapper ydp19f8c738fluid ydp19f8c738in-post ydp19f8c738only-desktop ydp19f8c738is-collapsible ydp19f8c738height-250" data-force="" data-type="ad" data-adunit="businessinsider.desktop/post/in-content-4-plus/science" data-secvert="" data-tag="crime" data-authors="marianne-guenot-ins" data-region="Desktop In Post Ad" data-responsive="[{"browserLimit":[728,0],"slotSize":[[300,250],"fluid"]},{"browserLimit":[1260,0],"slotSize":[[728,90],[300,250],[800,480],[600,480],"fluid"]}]" data-tile-order="tile-11" data-template="default" data-targeting="{"adunit":"businessinsider.desktop/post/in-content-4-plus/science","region":"Desktop In Post Ad","tag":"crime","template":"default","dvp_spos":"in-content-4-plus","rawvert":""}" data-amazontamsizes="[[728,90],[300,250]]" data-enable-ad-refresher="true" data-refresh-count="1" data-sr="facebook-web" data-platform="desktop" data-ad-adjusted="" data-bids="amazon:success,rubicon:success" data-auctions-requested="" data-google-query-id="CIO7yIiq4YMDFXLO_QUd7JEAQw" data-ad-refresher-config="{"isEmpty":false,"curSize":[300,250],"region":"Desktop In Post Ad"}" data-timer="03" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; min-height: 50px; text-align: center; width: 830px; border-bottom-color: unset; border-top-color: unset; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 0pt none;"></div></div></div></div><h2 class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 37.5px;">A short time to get a lot of money</h2><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">KMT hopes to break ground on the first hole into the magma chamber in 2026. But it still has a long road ahead.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">Its biggest challenge is collecting the money to build the research center and start drilling the holes. Ingólfsson estimates that KMT will need to raise upward of $100 million from governmental organizations and industry partners.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">"We sometimes say that geology has always been setting up the wrong poker table," said Ingólfsson.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">"In space research, you are building telescopes, like for gamma rays, which cost billions of dollars. But in geology, two or 300 million is really expensive," he said.</p><div class="ydp19f8c738in-post-sticky ydp19f8c738only-desktop ydp19f8c738premium" style="min-height: 312px; padding: 28px 0px; width: 830px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-callout-wrapper ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="padding-top: 22px;"><div class="ydp19f8c738ad-label ydp19f8c738only-desktop" style="font-family: LabGrotesque, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(109, 120, 122); letter-spacing: 0.01em; line-height: 1.85; padding: 0px; text-align: center; text-shadow: none;">Advertisement</div><div data-bi-ad="" id="ydp19f8c738gpt-post-science-desktop_in_post_ad-desktop-12" class="ydp19f8c738ad ydp19f8c738ad-wrapper ydp19f8c738fluid ydp19f8c738in-post ydp19f8c738only-desktop ydp19f8c738is-collapsible" data-force="" data-type="ad" data-adunit="businessinsider.desktop/post/in-content-4-plus/science" data-secvert="" data-tag="crime" data-authors="marianne-guenot-ins" data-region="Desktop In Post Ad" data-responsive="[{"browserLimit":[728,0],"slotSize":[[300,250],"fluid"]},{"browserLimit":[1260,0],"slotSize":[[728,90],[300,250],[800,480],[600,480],"fluid"]}]" data-tile-order="tile-12" data-template="default" data-targeting="{"adunit":"businessinsider.desktop/post/in-content-4-plus/science","region":"Desktop In Post Ad","tag":"crime","template":"default","dvp_spos":"in-content-4-plus","rawvert":""}" data-amazontamsizes="[[728,90],[300,250]]" data-enable-ad-refresher="true" data-refresh-count="1" data-sr="facebook-web" data-platform="desktop" data-ad-adjusted="" data-bids="amazon:success,rubicon:success" data-auctions-requested="" data-google-query-id="CKu515Kq4YMDFZDIuAgdR1YMIQ" data-ad-refresher-config="{"isEmpty":false,"curSize":[1,1],"region":"Desktop In Post Ad"}" data-timer="04" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; min-height: 50px; text-align: center; width: 830px; border-bottom-color: unset; border-top-color: unset; padding: 0px;"><div style="border: 0pt none;"></div></div></div></div><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">But Ingólfsson is confident.</p><p class="ydp19f8c738premium" style="margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 32px;">"The likelihood of us achieving something magnificent is very high in our opinion," he said.</p></span></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div></div>Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-4692134023632671702024-01-15T03:12:00.001-08:002024-01-15T03:12:49.926-08:00Fwd: Green tidbit...<div dir="ltr"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Joyce Segal</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:joyceck10@gmail.com">joyceck10@gmail.com</a>></span><br>Date: Sun, Jan 14, 2024 at 9:12 AM<br>Subject: Green tidbit...<br>To: Kim Cooper <<a href="mailto:kimc0240@gmail.com">kimc0240@gmail.com</a>><br></div><br><br><div dir="ltr">EVs could help drive down electricity rates by better-utilizing grid infrastructure, according to three recent studies summarized by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), an energy-policy advocacy organization.<br><br>These studies describe a shift to a higher, but better-distributed electricity load that makes better use of infrastructure and thus more consistently covers the costs of generation. That means lower prices per kwh. And most utilities are obligated to pass some of that savings along to ratepayers.<br><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div>Joyce Cooper</div><div>CEO SunSmartPower</div><div>650-430-6243</div><a href="http://SunSmartPower.com" target="_blank">SunSmartPower.com</a><div><br></div></div></div></div> </div></div> Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-5430132296833299352024-01-14T01:17:00.001-08:002024-01-14T01:17:56.048-08:00ANS -- A World Without Bees? Here’s What Happens If Bees Go Extinct<div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">You have probably heard the quote about bees. Here is the real story.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">--Kim</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Find it here: <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/world-without-bees-heres-what-happens-if-bees-go-extinct?fbclid=IwAR1NJ6bx9Resqt3mbvKJUYSJDJfHJaOnszlFjKbkQMOipxdfMxMhfWeN7G4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="enhancr_card_5910143441">A World Without Bees? Here's What Happens If Bees Go Extinct</a></div><div><br></div><div id="ydpec388b09enhancr_card_5910143441" class="ydpec388b09yahoo-link-enhancr-card ydpec388b09ymail-preserve-class ydpec388b09ymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" data-url="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/world-without-bees-heres-what-happens-if-bees-go-extinct?fbclid=IwAR1NJ6bx9Resqt3mbvKJUYSJDJfHJaOnszlFjKbkQMOipxdfMxMhfWeN7G4" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/world-without-bees-heres-what-happens-if-bees-go-extinct?fbclid=IwAR1NJ6bx9Resqt3mbvKJUYSJDJfHJaOnszlFjKbkQMOipxdfMxMhfWeN7G4" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydpec388b09yahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydpec388b09card-wrapper ydpec388b09yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydpec388b09card ydpec388b09yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td class="ydpec388b09card-primary-image-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/dIYXjtV08BdreJNhk2JDHQ--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/styles/social_sharing_1200x630/public/media-uploads/14485070396_1c944c3071_h.jpg?h=78bcf792&itok=0MRCL3kk.cf.jpg" bgcolor="#000000" valign="top" height="175" style="background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: cover; position: relative; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;"><v:fill type="frame" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/lo/api/res/1.2/dIYXjtV08BdreJNhk2JDHQ--~A/Zmk9ZmlsbDt3PTQwMDtoPTIwMDthcHBpZD1pZXh0cmFjdA--/https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/styles/social_sharing_1200x630/public/media-uploads/14485070396_1c944c3071_h.jpg?h=78bcf792&itok=0MRCL3kk.cf.jpg"/></v:rect><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydpec388b09card-overlay-container-table ydpec388b09yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width:100%"><tbody><tr><td class="ydpec388b09card-overlay-cell" background="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png" bgcolor="transparent" valign="top" style="background-color: transparent; border-radius: 2px 2px 0px 0px; min-height: 175px;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:396px;height:175px;position:absolute;top:-18px;left:0;"><v:fill type="pattern" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/cv/ae/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV21/1/enhancr_gradient-400x175.png"/><v:textbox inset="0,0,20px,0"><![endif]--><table border="0" class="ydpec388b09yahoo-ignore-table" height="175" style="width: 100%; min-height: 175px;"><tbody><tr><td class="ydpec388b09card-richInfo2" style="text-align:left;padding:15px 0 0 15px;vertical-align:top"></td><td class="ydpec388b09card-actions" style="text-align:right;padding:15px 15px 0 0;vertical-align:top"><div class="ydpec388b09card-share-container"></div></td></tr></tbody></table><!--[if gte mso 9]></v:textbox></v:rect><![endif]--></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><table border="0" align="center" class="ydpec388b09card-info ydpec388b09yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydpec388b09card-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(29, 34, 40); max-width: 314px;">A World Without Bees? Here's What Happens If Bees Go Extinct</h2><p class="ydpec388b09card-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 158, 168);">Assessing our chances of survival without the prodigious pollinator.</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div> </div><div><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><div><br></div><div><div class="ydp2bf7d150l-page__masthead" style="padding-right: 0px; padding-left: 0px; color: rgb(43, 43, 43); font-family: AvenirNext, AvenirNextLTPro, "Avenir Next LT Pro", "Avenir Next", Avenir, "Noto Sans Arabic", "Noto Sans Bengali", "Noto Sans Devanagari", "Noto Sans SC", "Helvetica Neue", "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.09px;"><div class="ydp2bf7d150l-constrain" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 1247px;"><div class="ydp2bf7d150l-page__header"><div class="ydp2bf7d150l-page__eyebrow"><div class="ydp2bf7d150c-eyebrow"><a class="ydp2bf7d150c-eyebrow__link" href="https://www.nrdc.org/news-commentary?f%5B0%5D=news_commentary_language%3Aen&f%5B1%5D=news_commentary_type%3A328#listing-page-content" style="outline-style: solid; outline-width: 4px; line-height: inherit; display: inline-block; margin-bottom: 0px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Latest News</a></div></div><div class="ydp2bf7d150l-page__title"><h1 class="ydp2bf7d150c-page-title" style="letter-spacing: 0.005em; line-height: 1.1; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><span>A World Without Bees? Here's What Happens If Bees Go Extinct</span></h1><div dir="ltr" lang="en"></div></div><div class="ydp2bf7d150l-page__subtitle" style="width: 583.5px;"><div class="ydp2bf7d150c-subtitle" style="margin-bottom: 0px;"><p style="margin: 0px;">Assessing our chances of survival without the prodigious pollinator.</p></div></div><div class="ydp2bf7d150l-page__details"><div class="ydp2bf7d150l-page__inline-detail" style="border-right: 0px; display: inline-block; line-height: 1.1; margin-right: 0px; padding-right: 0px;"><div class="ydp2bf7d150c-date" style="display: inline;">May 2, 2022</div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="ydp2bf7d150l-page__content" style="color: rgb(43, 43, 43); font-family: AvenirNext, AvenirNextLTPro, "Avenir Next LT Pro", "Avenir Next", Avenir, "Noto Sans Arabic", "Noto Sans Bengali", "Noto Sans Devanagari", "Noto Sans SC", "Helvetica Neue", "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: 18px; letter-spacing: 0.09px;"><div class="ydp2bf7d150l-constrain" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 1247px;"><div class="ydp2bf7d150l-page__main" style="float: right; width: 583.5px;"><div class="ydp2bf7d150c-figure__media"><img alt="" src="https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/styles/medium_16x9_100/public/media-uploads/14485070396_1c944c3071_h.jpg.jpg?h=78bcf792&itok=w3YIGvTy" style="border: 0px; font-style: italic; max-width: 768px; vertical-align: middle; width: 384px;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true" class=""></div><div class="ydp2bf7d150c-figure__caption-credit" style="display: inline; font-style: italic;"><span class="ydp2bf7d150u-visually-hidden" style="display: inline; width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px;">Credit:</span>Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Morris/U.S. Air Force</div></div><div class="ydp2bf7d150l-page__metadata" style="margin-top: 0px; clear: left; float: left; width: 291.75px;"><div class="ydp2bf7d150c-article__authors"><div data-history-node-id="18516" class="ydp2bf7d150c-profile ydp2bf7d150is-link" style="width: auto;"><a class="ydp2bf7d150c-profile__link" href="https://www.nrdc.org/bio/brian-palmer" style="outline-style: solid; outline-width: 4px; line-height: inherit; width: 291.75px;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><div class="ydp2bf7d150c-profile__content"><div class="ydp2bf7d150c-profile__name" style="font-family: SurveyorDisplay, "Surveyor Display", "Surveyor Display A", "Surveyor Display B", "Noto Serif Arabic", "Noto Serif Bengali", "Noto Serif Devanagari", "Noto Serif SC", "Bodoni MT", "Bodoni 72", Didot, "Didot LT STD", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.1; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; text-decoration-line: underline;">Brian Palmer</div><div class="ydp2bf7d150c-profile__title">Contributor</div></div></a></div></div><div id="ydp2bf7d150block-sharethispageblock" class="ydp2bf7d150c-social-share ydp2bf7d150js-share" data-once="social-share"><button class="ydp2bf7d150c-button ydp2bf7d150c-button--secondary ydp2bf7d150c-button--small" style="font-family: AvenirNext, AvenirNextLTPro, "Avenir Next LT Pro", "Avenir Next", Avenir, "Noto Sans Arabic", "Noto Sans Bengali", "Noto Sans Devanagari", "Noto Sans SC", "Helvetica Neue", "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: ; border-right-width: ; border-bottom-width: ; border-left-width: ; border-radius: 2em; cursor: pointer; font-weight: 700; padding: 1em 2em; outline-style: solid; outline-width: 4px; line-height: 1.25; position: relative; vertical-align: top;">Share this page</button></div></div><div class="ydp2bf7d150l-page__main" style="float: right; width: 583.5px;"><div class="ydp2bf7d150c-wysiwyg ydp2bf7d150u-clearfix" data-wysiwyg="" data-once="wysiwyg"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px;">There was more bad news on the honeybee front last week. A <a href="http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2015/150513.htm" style="outline-style: solid; outline-width: 4px; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">U.S. Department of Agriculture report</a> found that honeybee losses in managed colonies—the kind that beekeepers rent out to farmers—hit <a href="http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2015/150513.htm" style="outline-style: solid; outline-width: 4px; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">42 percent</a> this year.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px;">That number grabbed most of the headlines, but there was more troublesome data below the fold. The magic number in beekeeping is 18.7 percent. Population losses below that level are sustainable; lose any more, though, and the colony is heading toward zero. A startling two-thirds of beekeepers in the USDA survey reported losses above the threshold, suggesting that the pollination industry is in trouble.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px;">For the first time, the USDA reported more losses in summer than winter. Experts can't explain the reversal—especially since the <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/buzz-about-colony-collapse-disorder" style="outline-style: solid; outline-width: 4px; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">colony collapse disorder</a> epidemic that peaked several years ago seems to have abated. The summer losses may have a single, unknown cause, or a group of known and intensifying causes, such as <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/daniel-raichel/report-finds-neonics-pose-major-risks-bees-losses-moun" style="outline-style: solid; outline-width: 4px; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pesticides</a> or mites.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px;">Today the White House followed the USDA's report with <a href="http://https/www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/05/19/announcing-new-steps-promote-pollinator-health" style="outline-style: solid; outline-width: 4px; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">its long-awaited plan</a> to help maintain and grow the pollinator population, including building pollinator gardens near federal buildings and restoring government-owned lands in ways that support bees. It's a good first step.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px;">Albert Einstein is sometimes quoted as saying, "If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live." It's highly unlikely that Einstein said that. For one thing, there's <a href="http://quoteinvestigator.com/2013/08/27/einstein-bees/" style="outline-style: solid; outline-width: 4px; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">no evidence</a> of him saying it. For another, the statement is hyperbolic and wrong (and Einstein was <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/explainer/2012/02/cern_neutrino_experiment_how_many_times_have_scientists_proven_einstein_wrong_.html" style="outline-style: solid; outline-width: 4px; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">rarely wrong</a>). But there is a kernel of truth in the famous misquote.</p><h4 style="font-family: SurveyorDisplay, "Surveyor Display", "Surveyor Display A", "Surveyor Display B", "Noto Serif Arabic", "Noto Serif Bengali", "Noto Serif Devanagari", "Noto Serif SC", "Bodoni MT", "Bodoni 72", Didot, "Didot LT STD", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.1; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px;">Bees and Agriculture</h4><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px;">Bees and humans have been through a lot together. People began keeping bees as early as 20,000 BCE, according to the late and eminent melittologist <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/world/europe/16crane.html?_r=0" style="outline-style: solid; outline-width: 4px; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Eva Crane</a>. (Yes, someone who studies bees is a melittologist.) To put that length of time into perspective, the average global temperature 22,000 years ago was more than 35 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than today, and ice sheets <a href="http://www.livescience.com/40311-pleistocene-epoch.html" style="outline-style: solid; outline-width: 4px; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">covered large parts of North America</a>. Beekeeping probably predates the dawn of agriculture, which occurred about 12,000 years ago, and likely made farming possible.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px;">How important are bees to farming today? If you ask 10 reporters that question, you'll get 11 answers. Some stories say that bees pollinate <a href="http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20140502-what-if-bees-went-extinct" style="outline-style: solid; outline-width: 4px; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">more than two-thirds</a> of our most important crops, while others say it's <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/id/18442426/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/t/declining-honeybees-threat-food-supply/#.VVoJ1FVVhBc" style="outline-style: solid; outline-width: 4px; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">closer to one-third</a>. A spread of that size indicates a lack of authoritative scholarship on the subject. My review of the literature suggests the same.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px;">The most thorough and informative study came back in 2007, when an international team of agricultural scholars <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1702377/" style="outline-style: solid; outline-width: 4px; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">reviewed</a> the importance of animal pollinators, including bees, to farming. Their results could encourage both the alarmists and the minimizers in the world of bee observation. The group found that 87 crops worldwide employ animal pollinators, compared to only 28 that can survive without such assistance. Since honeybees are by consensus the most important animal pollinators, those are scary numbers.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px;">Look at the data differently, though, and it's clear why the misattributed Einstein quote is a bit of an exaggeration. Approximately 60 percent of the total volume of food grown worldwide does not require animal pollination. Many staple foods, such as wheat, rice, and corn, are among those 28 crops that require no help from bees. They either self-pollinate or get help from the wind. Those foods make up a tremendous proportion of human calorie intake worldwide.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px;">Even among the 87 crops that use animal pollinators, there are varying degrees of how much the plants need them. Only 13 absolutely require animal pollination, while 30 more are "highly dependent" on it. Production of the remaining crops would likely continue without bees with only slightly lower yields.</p><h4 style="font-family: SurveyorDisplay, "Surveyor Display", "Surveyor Display A", "Surveyor Display B", "Noto Serif Arabic", "Noto Serif Bengali", "Noto Serif Devanagari", "Noto Serif SC", "Bodoni MT", "Bodoni 72", Didot, "Didot LT STD", "Hoefler Text", "Times New Roman", serif; font-weight: 500; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 1.1; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px;">OK, So Can We Live Without Bees?</h4><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px;">The truth is, if honeybees did disappear for good, humans would probably not go extinct (at least not solely for that reason). But our diets would still suffer tremendously. The <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/stories/without-bees-foods-we-love-will-be-lost" style="outline-style: solid; outline-width: 4px; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">variety of foods</a> available would diminish, and the cost of certain products would surge. The California Almond Board, for example, has been campaigning to save bees for years. <a href="https://www.nrdc.org/experts/lucas-rhoads/5-things-know-about-ca-bill-curb-bee-killing-neonics" style="outline-style: solid; outline-width: 4px; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Without bees and their ilk</a>, the group says, almonds "<a href="http://www.almonds.com/consumers/about-almonds/bee" style="outline-style: solid; outline-width: 4px; line-height: inherit; text-decoration-line: underline;" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="enhancr_card_5312468465">simply wouldn't exist</a>." We'd still have coffee without bees, but it would become expensive and rare. The coffee flower is only open for pollination for three or four days. If no insect happens by in that short window, the plant won't be pollinated.</p><div><br></div><div id="ydpa308cc54enhancr_card_5312468465" class="ydpa308cc54yahoo-link-enhancr-card ydpa308cc54yahoo-link-enhancr-not-allow-cover ydpa308cc54ymail-preserve-class ydpa308cc54ymail-preserve-style" style="max-width: 400px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; position: relative;" data-url="http://www.almonds.com/consumers/about-almonds/bee" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="http://www.almonds.com/consumers/about-almonds/bee" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydpa308cc54yahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydpa308cc54card-wrapper ydpa308cc54yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydpa308cc54card ydpa308cc54yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td><table border="0" class="ydpa308cc54card-info ydpa308cc54yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:"YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydpa308cc54card-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(29, 34, 40); max-width: 314px;">Honey Bee Health | A Mutually Beneficial Relationship</h2><p class="ydpa308cc54card-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 158, 168);">Almonds depend on bees and bees depend on almonds. Discover how this relationship goes back generations in the C...</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a><div class="loadingSpinnerContainer" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.3);"><div class="D_F F_n gl_C ab_C H_6MGW o_h"><div class="W_6MGW H_6MGW D_X ah_1PEzoz" data-test-id="loading_indicator"><svg class="W_6MGW H_6MGW ah_Zq6hUs" viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="24" height="24"><path class="cdPFi_n cZ13pKbK_Z29WjXl cZ1XO2Ji_dRA c2abBOT_EY cZ1vNhDV_rd cZV8aCd_pI ah_14s73" d="M12,22C6.477,22,2,17.523,2,12S6.477,2,12,2"></path><path class="cdPFi_n cZ13pKbK_Z29WjXl cZ1XO2Ji_dRA c2abBOT_EY cZ1vNhDV_rd cZV8aCd_pI ah_14s73" d="M12,2c5.523,0,10,4.477,10,10s-4.477,10-10,10"></path></svg></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px;">There are plenty of other examples: apples, avocados, onions, and several types of berries rely heavily on bees for pollination. The disappearance of honeybees, or even a substantial drop in their population, would make those foods scarce. Humanity would survive—but our dinners would get a lot less interesting.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"></p><hr style="border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 0px;"><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px;"><em>This story was originally published on May 18, 2015, and has been updated with new information and links.</em></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div></div>Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-20221765914147830862024-01-06T05:01:00.001-08:002024-01-06T05:01:29.660-08:00Fwd: Florida and Canada? Really?<div dir="ltr"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Joyce Segal</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:joyceck10@gmail.com">joyceck10@gmail.com</a>></span><br>Date: Sat, Jan 6, 2024 at 3:11 AM<br>Subject: Florida and Canada? Really?<br>To: Kim Cooper <<a href="mailto:kimc0240@gmail.com">kimc0240@gmail.com</a>><br></div><br><br><div dir="ltr"><p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;line-height:22px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px">Canada already supplies the US with hockey stars and imaginary girlfriends, and it might soon add its famously cheaper prescription drugs to the list. Yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) <a href="https://links.morningbrew.com/c/fTh?mblid=1fd31a440234&mbcid=33911319.1345326&mid=3b1252ceb3784568a7b5f5c7ce324e14" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);border-bottom:2px solid rgb(28,127,242);text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">approved Florida's request</a> to import bargain meds from the country.</p><p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;line-height:22px;margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:15px">It's the first state to get permission from the agency to bring in meds from Canada under a law Congress passed 20 years ago to help Americans pay less for drugs. Florida officials say ordering cheaper drugs for conditions like HIV and diabetes from Canadian wholesalers will save Medicaid and other state programs $150 million over the first year.</p><div><br></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div>Joyce Cooper</div><div>CEO SunSmartPower</div><div>650-430-6243</div><a href="http://SunSmartPower.com" target="_blank">SunSmartPower.com</a><div><br></div></div></div></div> </div></div> Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-66175327387561649482024-01-04T03:32:00.001-08:002024-01-04T03:32:18.359-08:00ANS -- January 3, 2023 HEATHER COX RICHARDSON JAN 4<div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">This is sort of a follow-up on yesterday's report. Read about how the Republicans are being intimidated into supporting Trump, and how the Rs in the House are refusing any compromise -- they want everything their way or they will -- well, endanger our national security. Yikes!</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">--Kim</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><div><br></div><div><div><div class="ydpddf83094o_h ydpddf83094D_F ydpddf83094em_0 ydpddf83094E_fq7 ydpddf83094ek_BB" data-test-id="address-info"><div class="ydpddf83094D_F ydpddf83094en_0"><span data-test-id="message-from" class="ydpddf83094u_b ydpddf83094en_0 ydpddf83094c1AVi73_6FsP ydpddf83094c1AVi7H_6LEV ydpddf83094C4_Z29WjXl"><span data-test-id="email-pill" class="ydpddf83094D_F ydpddf83094rtlI_dz_sSg">Heather Cox Richardson from Letters from an American</span></span> </div><div class="ydpddf83094D_F ydpddf83094eo_HB"><div class="ydpddf83094d_6FIA ydpddf83094i_6FIA ydpddf83094c1AVi7H_6LEV ydpddf83094c1AVi73_6FsP ydpddf83094D_F ydpddf83094eo_HB"><span class="ydpddf83094u_b ydpddf83094E_eo6 ydpddf83094C_Z1TsNbA">From:</span><span data-test-id="email-pill" class="ydpddf83094D_F ydpddf83094rtlI_dz_sSg"><span class="ydpddf83094C4_Z29WjXl ydpddf83094c1McDRG_eo6" title="heathercoxrichardson@substack.com" data-test-id="message-to">heathercoxrichardson@substack.com</span></span></div></div><div class="ydpddf83094d_6FIA ydpddf83094i_6FIA ydpddf83094c1AVi7H_6LEV ydpddf83094c1AVi73_6FsP ydpddf83094D_F ydpddf83094eo_HB"><span class="ydpddf83094u_b ydpddf83094E_eo6 ydpddf83094C_Z1TsNbA">To:</span><span data-test-id="email-pill" class="ydpddf83094D_F ydpddf83094rtlI_dz_sSg"><span class="ydpddf83094C4_Z29WjXl" title="kimc0240@yahoo.com" data-test-id="message-to">kimc0240@yahoo.com</span></span></div></div><span class="ydpddf83094em_N ydpddf83094en_N"></span><div class="ydpddf83094en_0 ydpddf83094s_6Fd5 ydpddf83094H_6Fd5 ydpddf83094M_3gJOe ydpddf83094cdPFi_Z281SGl ydpddf83094O_cMr ydpddf83094O4_cMu"><button tabindex="-1" class="ydpddf83094c27KHO0_n ydpddf83094b_0 ydpddf83094M_0 ydpddf83094i_0 ydpddf83094I_T ydpddf83094y_jyw3a ydpddf83094A_6EqO ydpddf83094c1AVi73_6FsP ydpddf83094r_P ydpddf83094C_q ydpddf83094cvhIH6_T ydpddf83094P_0" data-test-id="icon-btn-printer" title="Print"><span class="ydpddf83094D_F ydpddf83094ab_C ydpddf83094gl_C ydpddf83094W_6D6F" style="width: 20px;"></span></button></div><div class="ydpddf83094D_F ydpddf83094en_0 ydpddf83094M_3gJOe ydpddf83094A_6Eb4 ydpddf83094c1AVi73_6EWk ydpddf83094C_Z1VRqsb" data-test-id="message-date">Wed, Jan 3 at 11:56 PM</div><div class="ydpddf83094D_F ydpddf83094ab_CI ydpddf83094en_0 ydpddf83094H_6Fd5 ydpddf83094W_6Fd5 ydpddf83094lv_1IWXzk ydpddf83094h_Z13pql2 ydpddf83094h4_2d9T5e"><button tabindex="0" class="ydpddf83094c27KHO0_n ydpddf83094b_0 ydpddf83094M_0 ydpddf83094i_0 ydpddf83094I_T ydpddf83094y_jyw3a ydpddf83094A_6EqO ydpddf83094c1AVi73_6FsP ydpddf83094r_P ydpddf83094C_q ydpddf83094cvhIH6_T ydpddf83094P_0" data-test-id="icon-btn-star" title="Clear star"><span class="ydpddf83094D_F ydpddf83094ab_C ydpddf83094gl_C ydpddf83094W_6D6F" style="width: 16px;"></span></button></div></div><div data-test-id="message-body-container"><div data-test-id="message-view-body" class="ydpddf83094I_ZkbNhI ydpddf83094D_FY ydpddf83094W_6D6F" style="width: 830px;"><div class="ydpddf83094X_6MGW"></div><div class="ydpddf83094msg-body ydpddf83094P_wpofO ydpddf83094mq_AS" data-test-id="message-view-body-content"><div class="ydpddf83094jb_0 ydpddf83094X_6MGW ydpddf83094N_6Fd5"><div id="ydpddf83094yiv7209409705"><img src="https://eotrx.substackcdn.com/open?token=eyJtIjoiPDIwMjQwMTA0MDc0NzIwLjMuNGJjODI4MDgyNDMyZjhiN0BtZy1kMS5zdWJzdGFjay5jb20-IiwidSI6NDMzNjgyNTIsInIiOiJraW1jMDI0MEB5YWhvby5jb20iLCJkIjoibWctZDEuc3Vic3RhY2suY29tIiwicCI6MTQwMzQ1ODQwLCJ0IjoibmV3c2xldHRlciIsImEiOiJldmVyeW9uZSIsInMiOjIwNTMzLCJjIjoicG9zdCIsImYiOnRydWUsInBvc2l0aW9uIjoidG9wIiwiaWF0IjoxNzA0MzU0OTc5LCJleHAiOjE3MDY5NDY5NzksImlzcyI6InB1Yi0wIiwic3ViIjoiZW8ifQ.9BA6TmzGbIyCj_VJoGM3hN0TEQ34PTD6YtUq1ckmBaM" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" style="min-height: 1px !important; 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text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">January 3, 2023</a></h1><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="ydpddf83094yiv7209409705post-meta" style="min-height: 20px; margin: 1em 0px;"><tbody><tr><td><table width="auto" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td><table width="auto" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: middle;"><div class="ydpddf83094yiv7209409705pencraft ydpddf83094yiv7209409705pc-reset ydpddf83094yiv7209409705frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-primary--ud4Z0 ydpddf83094yiv7209409705frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 ydpddf83094yiv7209409705frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-meta--U_nxy ydpddf83094yiv7209409705frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-11--k1e8b ydpddf83094yiv7209409705frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-medium--x7khA ydpddf83094yiv7209409705frontend-pencraft-Text-module__transform-uppercase--IDkUL ydpddf83094yiv7209409705frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ ydpddf83094yiv7209409705frontend-pencraft-Text-module__meta--jzHdd ydpddf83094yiv7209409705custom-css-email-post-author" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); 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text-decoration-line: none; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 20px; list-style: none; margin: 0px;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HEATHER COX RICHARDSON</a></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td><table width="auto" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: middle;"><div class="ydpddf83094yiv7209409705pencraft ydpddf83094yiv7209409705pc-reset ydpddf83094yiv7209409705frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-secondary--WRADg ydpddf83094yiv7209409705frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 ydpddf83094yiv7209409705frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-meta--U_nxy ydpddf83094yiv7209409705frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-11--k1e8b ydpddf83094yiv7209409705frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-medium--x7khA ydpddf83094yiv7209409705frontend-pencraft-Text-module__transform-uppercase--IDkUL ydpddf83094yiv7209409705frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ ydpddf83094yiv7209409705frontend-pencraft-Text-module__meta--jzHdd" style="color: rgb(128, 128, 128); font-family: "SF Compact", -apple-system, -apple-system, -system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 20px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; text-decoration-color: unset; text-transform: uppercase;">JAN 4</div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="ydpddf83094yiv7209409705email-ufi-2-top" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; min-width: 100%;"><tbody><tr height="16"><td height="16" style="font-size: 0px; line-height: 0;"> </td></tr><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td><table width="auto" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td style="vertical-align: middle;"><table width="38" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td align="center"><a href="https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=20533&post_id=140345840&utm_source=substack&isFreemail=true&submitLike=true&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo0MzM2ODI1MiwicG9zdF9pZCI6MTQwMzQ1ODQwLCJyZWFjdGlvbiI6IuKdpCIsImlhdCI6MTcwNDM1NDk3OCwiZXhwIjoxNzA2OTQ2OTc4LCJpc3MiOiJwdWItMjA1MzMiLCJzdWIiOiJyZWFjdGlvbiJ9.Nm2EDpeKI8QTrUaFxOVa8QOgA_OIpup4UTeSHLRsiV0&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-reaction&r=ptj5o" class="ydpddf83094yiv7209409705email-icon-button" style="color: rgb(128, 128, 128); 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margin-right: 0px; max-width: 18px; min-height: 18px; min-width: 18px; vertical-align: middle; border: none !important;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr height="16"><td height="16" style="font-size: 0px; line-height: 0;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div class="ydpddf83094yiv7209409705post ydpddf83094yiv7209409705typography" style="line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 0px;"><div class="ydpddf83094yiv7209409705body ydpddf83094yiv7209409705markup" style="line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 16px; text-align: initial; width: 550px;"><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">If yesterday was a news storm, today was a lot of follow-up.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Tensions in the Middle East continue to tighten with the explosion of two bombs at a ceremony today honoring prominent Iranian general Qassem Soleimani on the fourth anniversary of his death from a U.S. drone strike in Iraq. At least 95 people were killed. No one has claimed responsibility for the bombings. Iran-backed militias, including Hamas in Gaza, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hezbollah in Lebanon, are aligned against Israel.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Meanwhile, today the U.S. and twelve allies warned the Houthis to stop attacking ships in the Red Sea or face military action. Since December 19, Houthi rebels have hit more than 23 ships in the crucial passage. "Let our message now be clear: we call for the immediate end of these illegal attacks and release of unlawfully detained vessels and crews," the countries said. "The Houthis will bear the responsibility of the consequences should they continue to threaten lives, the global economy, and free flow of commerce in the region's critical waterways."</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell today said that the world must "impose" a solution to the Middle East war before it expands. </p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">At home, at least eight U.S. state houses had to evacuate today. According to Andy Rose of CNN, an emailed bomb threat was sent to state officers in 23 states. Law enforcement officers found no explosives and the Federal Bureau of Investigation has called the threats a hoax. It is not clear who was behind the threats.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Aside from today's threats, the dramatic rise of violence in our politics since former president Trump entered political life is reshaping the country. In <em>Vox</em> yesterday, Zach Beauchamp noted that mayors, federal judges, public health officials, election workers, and even school board members, officials who previously had gone about their business without much attention, are facing unprecedented threats. Before 2020, threats against election workers were virtually nonexistent, Beauchamp notes; now they are so frequent that 11% of election workers surveyed by the Brennan Center for Justice are "very or somewhat likely" to leave their jobs before the 2024 election. </p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">While attacks on election workers and political officials show Trump's attempt to erode faith in our electoral system, Beauchamp notes that another key aspect of today's violence has been to threaten Republicans to fall in line behind Trump. The fear of physical violence from Trump supporters kept certain Republicans from voting to convict him after his impeachments. MAGA Republican threats against other Republicans insufficiently supportive of Trump have led party members to swing publicly behind a leader that many of them privately oppose. </p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">That pressure has reduced the formerly grand old Republican Party to a vehicle for promoting Trump. </p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Today, Representative Tom Emmer (R-MN), whose bid for the House speakership Trump torpedoed just weeks ago, became the latest to endorse Trump for president as party leadership lines up behind him. </p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">The decision of the right-wing Fifth Circuit today illustrated what the Trump leadership of the MAGA party means for the majority of the country. Three Republican judges, two appointed by Trump, ruled that hospital emergency rooms don't have to perform life-saving abortions in states that have passed antiabortion laws.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">After the <em>Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization </em>decision that overturned the 1973 <em>Roe v. Wade</em> decision recognizing the constitutional right to abortion, Biden's Department of Health and Human Services reminded hospitals that accept Medicare money that under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), they had to provide care to stabilize patients in a medical emergency, including abortion care, regardless of state law.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Texas sued, and the Fifth Circuit has agreed, saying that the EMTALA does not preempt Texas law. </p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Today's news also highlighted the MAGA plan for immigration. House leaders have refused to pass legislation providing additional funds to help Ukraine fight off the Russian invasion until the measure also contains their own immigration policies, patterned on Trump's. Although President Biden has asked for additional funding for the border since he took office and has said he will offer significant concessions in negotiations even though those concessions will anger progressive Democrats, House Republicans say they will reject any compromise and will insist on their own policies. </p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Those measures include significantly narrowing asylum programs or even ending them altogether, outlawing the electronic application system the Biden administration put in place to require appointments to apply for asylum, ending parole programs for Afghan and Ukrainian refugees, and taking private property to build a border wall. Their plan has no provision for creating a pathway to citizenship for so-called Dreamers, those brought to the U.S. as children, although a strong majority of Americans support such a pathway.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Now House speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) says the House conference does not want and will not accept a compromise, such as the one senators are working on; they want a complete change of policy. That is, the Republicans in the House, who have a majority of two, are bowing to their far-right members and insisting that until that faction's policies are put in place over those of the Senate and the president, they will refuse to fund Ukraine, whose defense from Russian aggression is key to our own national security. </p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">It's a wild power grab. And it is apparently being done with an eye to 2024. Representative Troy Nehls (R-TX) said to Manu Raju, Melanie Zanona, and Lauren Fox of CNN, "Let me tell you, I'm not willing to do too damn much right now to help a Democrat and to help Joe Biden's approval rating."</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">As CNN anchor and chief national security analyst Jim Sciutto noted, "This would leave Ukraine—currently under its worst bombardment since the start of the Russian invasion—very much out in the cold."</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Finally, today is the 65th anniversary of Alaska's joining the Union as the 49th state. In order to convince Congress and the president to make their territory a state, Alaskans had to overcome concerns on the part of President Dwight D. Eisenhower that, because the territory bordered the Soviet Union, its admission as a state might compromise national security.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">—</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Notes:</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/6b3291e3-14c7-413d-a204-1e9d056be1f0?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-soleimani-explosion-kerman-2524cfed1d040370bf98000e2b53ad5a</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/39760a2a-92b9-4c76-9ed6-fc33da1b93ee?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.bangordailynews.com/2024/01/03/central-maine/maine-state-house-evacuated-bomb-threat/</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/990b7176-e773-4eb6-9a0f-467615f6f5b2?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/03/us/state-capitols-threats/index.html</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/6a1240f4-ccca-44ae-a3cd-ac5438674177?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://apnews.com/article/state-capitol-threat-evacuation-lockdown-dfef5fbb98ec6572474807c260533b05</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/5ecba076-6ac7-4cc8-9411-9e124deb55fc?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/3/eu-foreign-policy-chief-says-world-must-impose-solution-to-gaza-war</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/2c5612b2-8694-4058-8055-9b36a0b482a9?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/07/election-worker-threats-drive-exodus-from-profession.html</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/13f884af-c02b-4dca-8472-b8200d9e0164?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.vox.com/23899688/2024-election-republican-primary-death-threats-trump</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/6b3f013e-4bc0-4c61-856b-dce6d52ac5ee?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://talkingpointsmemo.com/where-things-stand/house-leadership-memoryholes-speaker-chaos-shuffles-into-line-behind-trump</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/0efb8a08-cfda-43cb-8ed4-f2cbda091999?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/02/texas-abortion-fifth-circuit/</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/427b8f4d-6486-47fa-a1e5-8768074805c5?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.vox.com/scotus/2024/1/3/24023889/abortion-supreme-court-emtala-fifth-circuit-texas-becerra</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/714f6a84-1df0-4db2-b608-be99c44601b6?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.cbo.gov/publication/59151</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/ac200835-6a50-4a33-aba1-e76c5dd37308?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2023/11/01/border-bills-immigration-demands-would-likely-doom-aid-to-ukraine/</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/d7557bd3-1c31-4dd1-a9c7-edd1ee57bd80?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-03/us-partners-warn-houthis-against-further-attacks-in-red-sea</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/76ccb8b7-4c05-49cf-89cb-d0c237712ea9?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/03/politics/senate-immigration-negotiations-congress/index.html</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Twitter (X) jimsciutto/status/1742662911737110568</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/5b068732-cf00-42b2-bf79-ee2ff294140e?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/new-poll-shows-majority-voters-support-dream-act-want-citizenship-legislation</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/ec188272-d662-434c-bcfe-2a06ae8bfe0a?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64);" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.eisenhowerlibrary.gov/research/online-documents/alaska-statehood</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"></p><p class="ydpddf83094yiv7209409705button-wrapper" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=20533&post_id=140345840&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&utm_campaign=email-share&action=share&triggerShare=true&isFreemail=true&r=ptj5o&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo0MzM2ODI1MiwicG9zdF9pZCI6MTQwMzQ1ODQwLCJpYXQiOjE3MDQzNTQ5NzgsImV4cCI6MTcwNjk0Njk3OCwiaXNzIjoicHViLTIwNTMzIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.lTAK7-YWmnigQ9i94khx1Irz9eevZzQYzagYYwF6J7g" class="ydpddf83094yiv7209409705button ydpddf83094yiv7209409705primary" style="background-color: rgb(138, 225, 162); border: none; border-radius: 6px; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600; height: auto; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 12px 20px; color: rgb(64, 64, 64) !important; text-decoration-line: none !important;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Share</a></p></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div></div>Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-35024670155999124412024-01-04T03:17:00.001-08:002024-01-04T03:17:17.835-08:00ANS -- January 2, 2024 HEATHER COX RICHARDSON JAN 3<div class="yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">This is from Heather Cox Richardson. It's essentially a summary of what's going on in the Middle East. This is what an objective report sounds like. It's more about diplomacy than about fighting. That's what's really happening. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Do you all get these emails from H.C. Richardson yourselves? If most of you do, I guess I don't have to send them to you. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">--Kim</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><div><br></div><div><div data-test-id="focus-group" style="outline: none !important;"><div class="ydpb1850749D_F ydpb1850749ab_C ydpb1850749Y_eTB ydpb1850749en_0" style="outline: none !important;"><div class="ydpb1850749D_F ydpb1850749ab_C ydpb1850749em_N ydpb1850749en_0 ydpb1850749o_h ydpb1850749Y_dm5 ydpb1850749E_fq7 ydpb1850749U_dm5 ydpb1850749Q_72FG" style="outline: none !important;"><span class="ydpb1850749D_F ydpb1850749t_r ydpb1850749A_6EqO ydpb1850749c1AVi73_6EWk ydpb1850749c1AVi7H_6LEV ydpb1850749c1AVi7T_dPo ydpb1850749C_Z1TsNbA ydpb1850749cZ1RzsTJ_jyw3a" title="Yahoo/Inbox" data-test-id="message-group-destination" style="outline: none !important;"><span class="ydpb1850749G_e ydpb1850749J_x ydpb1850749o_h ydpb1850749a_7yHc" style="outline: none !important;">Yahoo</span><span style="outline: none !important;">/</span><span class="ydpb1850749G_e ydpb1850749J_x ydpb1850749o_h ydpb1850749a_7iGr" style="outline: none !important;">Inbox</span></span></div><div class="ydpb1850749H_6Fd5 ydpb1850749W_6Fd5 ydpb1850749lv_2gnJCA ydpb1850749h_Z13pql2 ydpb1850749h4_2d9T5e" style="outline: none !important;"><button tabindex="0" class="ydpb1850749c27KHO0_n ydpb1850749b_0 ydpb1850749M_0 ydpb1850749i_0 ydpb1850749I_T ydpb1850749y_jyw3a ydpb1850749A_6EqO ydpb1850749c1AVi73_6FsP ydpb1850749r_P ydpb1850749C_q ydpb1850749cvhIH6_T ydpb1850749P_0" data-test-id="icon-btn-star" data-iskeynav="true" style="outline: none !important;"><span class="ydpb1850749D_F ydpb1850749ab_C ydpb1850749gl_C ydpb1850749W_6D6F" style="width: 16px; outline: none !important;"></span></button></div></div></div><div data-test-id="focus-group" style="outline: none !important;"><ul class="ydpb1850749hd_n ydpb1850749M_0 ydpb1850749X_0" data-test-id="cards" style="outline: none !important;"><li class="ydpb1850749m_Z12nDQf ydpb1850749D_F ydpb1850749ek_BB ydpb1850749ir_0"><div data-test-id="message-view" data-test-expanded="true" class="ydpb1850749p_R ydpb1850749b_2w4lU5 ydpb1850749I_ZkbNhI ydpb1850749em_N ydpb1850749it_689y ydpb1850749X_fq7 ydpb1850749N_6LEV ydpb1850749iu_FJ ydpb1850749is_Z2bg7IA ydpb1850749iv_0 ydpb1850749iv3_dRA ydpb1850749cZdTOHS_28Otf4 ydpb1850749j_ZUs0f0 ydpb1850749message-view" data-iskeynav="true" style="outline-width: 2px !important;"><div style="outline: none !important;"><span class="ydpb1850749en_0 ydpb1850749i_0 ydpb1850749Q_fq7" style="outline: none !important;"></span><div class="ydpb1850749D_F ydpb1850749ac_FT ydpb1850749ab_CI ydpb1850749en_0" style="outline: none !important;"><button tabindex="0" class="ydpb1850749c27KHO0_n ydpb1850749b_0 ydpb1850749M_0 ydpb1850749i_0 ydpb1850749I_T ydpb1850749y_jyw3a ydpb1850749A_6EqO ydpb1850749c1AVi73_6FsP ydpb1850749r_P ydpb1850749C_q ydpb1850749cvhIH6_T ydpb1850749P_0" data-test-id="icon-btn-read" title="Mark as unread" style="outline: none !important;"><span class="ydpb1850749D_F ydpb1850749ab_C ydpb1850749gl_C ydpb1850749W_6D6F" style="width: 20px; outline: none !important;"></span></button></div><div class="ydpb1850749o_h ydpb1850749D_F ydpb1850749em_0 ydpb1850749E_fq7 ydpb1850749ek_BB" data-test-id="address-info" style="outline: none !important;"><div class="ydpb1850749D_F ydpb1850749en_0" style="outline: none !important;"><span data-test-id="message-from" class="ydpb1850749u_b ydpb1850749en_0 ydpb1850749c1AVi73_6FsP ydpb1850749c1AVi7H_6LEV ydpb1850749C4_Z29WjXl" style="outline: none !important;"><span style="outline: none !important;"><span data-test-id="email-pill" class="ydpb1850749D_F ydpb1850749rtlI_dz_sSg" style="outline: none !important;"><span style="outline: none !important;">Heather Cox Richardson from Letters from an American</span></span></span></span> </div><div class="ydpb1850749D_F ydpb1850749eo_HB" style="outline: none !important;"><div class="ydpb1850749d_6FIA ydpb1850749i_6FIA ydpb1850749c1AVi7H_6LEV ydpb1850749c1AVi73_6FsP ydpb1850749D_F ydpb1850749eo_HB" style="outline: none !important;"><span class="ydpb1850749u_b ydpb1850749E_eo6 ydpb1850749C_Z1TsNbA" style="outline: none !important;">From:</span><span style="outline: none !important;"><span data-test-id="email-pill" class="ydpb1850749D_F ydpb1850749rtlI_dz_sSg" style="outline: none !important;"><span class="ydpb1850749C4_Z29WjXl ydpb1850749c1McDRG_eo6" title="heathercoxrichardson@substack.com" data-test-id="message-to" style="outline: none !important;">heathercoxrichardson@substack.com</span></span></span></div></div><div class="ydpb1850749d_6FIA ydpb1850749i_6FIA ydpb1850749c1AVi7H_6LEV ydpb1850749c1AVi73_6FsP ydpb1850749D_F ydpb1850749eo_HB" style="outline: none !important;"><span class="ydpb1850749u_b ydpb1850749E_eo6 ydpb1850749C_Z1TsNbA" style="outline: none !important;">To:</span><span style="outline: none !important;"><span data-test-id="email-pill" class="ydpb1850749D_F ydpb1850749rtlI_dz_sSg" style="outline: none !important;"><span class="ydpb1850749C4_Z29WjXl" title="kimc0240@yahoo.com" data-test-id="message-to" style="outline: none !important;">kimc0240@yahoo.com</span></span></span></div></div><span class="ydpb1850749em_N ydpb1850749en_N" style="outline: none !important;"></span><div class="ydpb1850749en_0 ydpb1850749s_6Fd5 ydpb1850749H_6Fd5 ydpb1850749M_3gJOe ydpb1850749cdPFi_Z281SGl ydpb1850749O_cMr ydpb1850749O4_cMu" style="outline: none !important;"><button tabindex="-1" class="ydpb1850749c27KHO0_n ydpb1850749b_0 ydpb1850749M_0 ydpb1850749i_0 ydpb1850749I_T ydpb1850749y_jyw3a ydpb1850749A_6EqO ydpb1850749c1AVi73_6FsP ydpb1850749r_P ydpb1850749C_q ydpb1850749cvhIH6_T ydpb1850749P_0" data-test-id="icon-btn-printer" title="Print" style="outline: none !important;"><span class="ydpb1850749D_F ydpb1850749ab_C ydpb1850749gl_C ydpb1850749W_6D6F" style="width: 20px; outline: none !important;"></span></button></div><div class="ydpb1850749D_F ydpb1850749en_0 ydpb1850749M_3gJOe ydpb1850749A_6Eb4 ydpb1850749c1AVi73_6EWk ydpb1850749C_Z1VRqsb" data-test-id="message-date" style="outline: none !important;"><span style="outline: none !important;">Tue, Jan 2 at 10:49 PM</span></div><div class="ydpb1850749D_F ydpb1850749ab_CI ydpb1850749en_0 ydpb1850749H_6Fd5 ydpb1850749W_6Fd5 ydpb1850749lv_1IWXzk ydpb1850749h_Z13pql2 ydpb1850749h4_2d9T5e" style="outline: none !important;"><button tabindex="0" class="ydpb1850749c27KHO0_n ydpb1850749b_0 ydpb1850749M_0 ydpb1850749i_0 ydpb1850749I_T ydpb1850749y_jyw3a ydpb1850749A_6EqO ydpb1850749c1AVi73_6FsP ydpb1850749r_P ydpb1850749C_q ydpb1850749cvhIH6_T ydpb1850749P_0" data-test-id="icon-btn-star" title="Clear star" style="outline: none !important;"><span class="ydpb1850749D_F ydpb1850749ab_C ydpb1850749gl_C ydpb1850749W_6D6F" style="width: 16px; outline: none !important;"></span></button></div></div><div data-test-id="message-body-container" style="outline: none !important;"><div data-test-id="message-view-body" class="ydpb1850749I_ZkbNhI ydpb1850749D_FY ydpb1850749W_6D6F" style="width: 830px; outline: none !important;"><div class="ydpb1850749X_6MGW" style="outline: none !important;"></div><div class="ydpb1850749msg-body ydpb1850749P_wpofO ydpb1850749mq_AS" data-test-id="message-view-body-content" style="outline: none !important;"><div class="ydpb1850749jb_0 ydpb1850749X_6MGW ydpb1850749N_6Fd5" style="outline: none !important;"><div style="outline: none !important;"><div id="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544" style="outline: none !important;"><div style="outline: none !important;"><img src="https://eotrx.substackcdn.com/open?token=eyJtIjoiPDIwMjQwMTAzMDYzNzIwLjMuYjRlYzliYWI3MmU5MzQyNUBtZy1kMS5zdWJzdGFjay5jb20-IiwidSI6NDMzNjgyNTIsInIiOiJraW1jMDI0MEB5YWhvby5jb20iLCJkIjoibWctZDEuc3Vic3RhY2suY29tIiwicCI6MTQwMzA5ODI0LCJ0IjoibmV3c2xldHRlciIsImEiOiJldmVyeW9uZSIsInMiOjIwNTMzLCJjIjoicG9zdCIsImYiOnRydWUsInBvc2l0aW9uIjoidG9wIiwiaWF0IjoxNzA0MjY0NTczLCJleHAiOjE3MDY4NTY1NzMsImlzcyI6InB1Yi0wIiwic3ViIjoiZW8ifQ.qbjrhAfk8wa_xMt8CR3q8_eW3z9uV-9tFafuthb9Ybw" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" style="outline: none !important; min-height: 1px !important; width: 1px !important; border-width: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true" class=""><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544email-body-container" style="outline: none !important;"><tbody style="outline: none !important;"><tr style="outline: none !important;"><td style="outline: none !important;"></td><td width="550" class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544content" style="outline: none !important;"></td><td style="outline: none !important;"></td></tr><tr style="outline: none !important;"><td style="outline: none !important;"></td><td align="left" width="550" class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544content" style="outline: none !important;"><div style="outline: none !important; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 550px; width: 550px;"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="outline: none !important;"><tbody style="outline: none !important;"><tr style="outline: none !important;"><td align="right" style="min-height: 20px; outline: none !important;"><table width="auto" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="outline: none !important;"><tbody style="outline: none !important;"><tr style="outline: none !important;"><td style="vertical-align: middle; outline: none !important;"><span class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544pencraft ydpb1850749yiv7323260544pc-reset ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ ydpb1850749yiv7323260544tw-font-body ydpb1850749yiv7323260544tw-text-ssm ydpb1850749yiv7323260544tw-text-substack-secondary" style="list-style: none; margin: 0px; text-decoration-color: unset; outline: none !important; color: rgb(128, 128, 128) !important; font-family: "SF Pro Text", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Inter, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol" !important; font-size: 13px !important;"><div class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544pencraft ydpb1850749yiv7323260544pc-reset ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__align-right--PcYkZ ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-12--KorQF ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ" style="color: unset; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; text-align: right; text-decoration-color: unset; outline: none !important;"><span class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544pencraft ydpb1850749yiv7323260544pc-reset ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ" style="color: unset; list-style: none; margin: 0px; text-decoration-color: unset; outline: none !important;">Forwarded this email? <a href="https://substack.com/redirect/2/eyJlIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9oZWF0aGVyY294cmljaGFyZHNvbi5zdWJzdGFjay5jb20vc3Vic2NyaWJlP3V0bV9zb3VyY2U9ZW1haWwmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPWVtYWlsLXN1YnNjcmliZSZyPXB0ajVvJm5leHQ9aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZoZWF0aGVyY294cmljaGFyZHNvbi5zdWJzdGFjay5jb20lMkZwJTJGamFudWFyeS0yLTIwMjQiLCJwIjoxNDAzMDk4MjQsInMiOjIwNTMzLCJmIjp0cnVlLCJ1Ijo0MzM2ODI1MiwiaWF0IjoxNzA0MjY0NTczLCJleHAiOjE3MDY4NTY1NzMsImlzcyI6InB1Yi0wIiwic3ViIjoibGluay1yZWRpcmVjdCJ9.ktUVfhbjCVY1tD5hMKotS2qGNWpySXJM4bkYpzPtWnY?" class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544pencraft ydpb1850749yiv7323260544pc-reset ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__decoration-underline--sj8pE ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ" style="color: unset; text-decoration-color: unset; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe here</a> for more</span></div></span></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544post ydpb1850749yiv7323260544typography" style="line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 0px; outline: none !important;"><div class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544post-header" style="line-height: 26px; outline: none !important;"><h1 class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544post-title ydpb1850749yiv7323260544published" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: "SF Compact Display", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 32px; line-height: 36px; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;"><a href="https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=20533&post_id=140309824&utm_source=post-email-title&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=ptj5o&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo0MzM2ODI1MiwicG9zdF9pZCI6MTQwMzA5ODI0LCJpYXQiOjE3MDQyNjQ1NzMsImV4cCI6MTcwNjg1NjU3MywiaXNzIjoicHViLTIwNTMzIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.dQe38Z3xT04UnbEce8YJloqWQSEvFKtyoo45YkxoZ8w" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); text-decoration-line: none; outline: none !important;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">January 2, 2024</a></h1><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544post-meta" style="outline: none !important; min-height: 20px; margin: 1em 0px;"><tbody style="outline: none !important;"><tr style="outline: none !important;"><td style="outline: none !important;"><table width="auto" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="outline: none !important;"><tbody style="outline: none !important;"><tr style="outline: none !important;"><td style="outline: none !important;"><table width="auto" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="outline: none !important;"><tbody style="outline: none !important;"><tr style="outline: none !important;"><td style="vertical-align: middle; outline: none !important;"><div class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544pencraft ydpb1850749yiv7323260544pc-reset ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-primary--ud4Z0 ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-meta--U_nxy ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-11--k1e8b ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-medium--x7khA ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__transform-uppercase--IDkUL ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__meta--jzHdd ydpb1850749yiv7323260544custom-css-email-post-author" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); font-family: "SF Compact", -apple-system, -apple-system, -system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 20px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; text-decoration-color: unset; text-transform: uppercase; outline: none !important;"><a href="https://substack.com/@heathercoxrichardson" class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544pencraft ydpb1850749yiv7323260544pc-reset ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-primary--ud4Z0 ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-meta--U_nxy ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-11--k1e8b ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-medium--x7khA ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__transform-uppercase--IDkUL ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__meta--jzHdd" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); text-decoration-line: none; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 20px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none !important;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">HEATHER COX RICHARDSON</a></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr style="outline: none !important;"><td style="outline: none !important;"><table width="auto" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="outline: none !important;"><tbody style="outline: none !important;"><tr style="outline: none !important;"><td style="vertical-align: middle; outline: none !important;"><div class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544pencraft ydpb1850749yiv7323260544pc-reset ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__color-secondary--WRADg ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__line-height-20--p0dP8 ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__font-meta--U_nxy ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__size-11--k1e8b ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__weight-medium--x7khA ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__transform-uppercase--IDkUL ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__reset--dW0zZ ydpb1850749yiv7323260544frontend-pencraft-Text-module__meta--jzHdd" style="color: rgb(128, 128, 128); font-family: "SF Compact", -apple-system, -apple-system, -system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.2px; line-height: 20px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; text-decoration-color: unset; text-transform: uppercase; outline: none !important;">JAN 3</div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544email-ufi-2-top" style="border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; min-width: 100%; outline: none !important;"><tbody style="outline: none !important;"><tr height="16" style="outline: none !important;"><td height="16" style="font-size: 0px; line-height: 0; outline: none !important;"> </td></tr><tr style="outline: none !important;"><td style="outline: none !important;"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="outline: none !important;"><tbody style="outline: none !important;"><tr style="outline: none !important;"><td style="outline: none !important;"><table width="auto" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="outline: none !important;"><tbody style="outline: none !important;"><tr style="outline: none !important;"><td style="vertical-align: middle; outline: none !important;"><table width="38" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="outline: none !important;"><tbody style="outline: none !important;"><tr style="outline: none !important;"><td align="center" style="outline: none !important;"><a href="https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=20533&post_id=140309824&utm_source=substack&isFreemail=true&submitLike=true&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo0MzM2ODI1MiwicG9zdF9pZCI6MTQwMzA5ODI0LCJyZWFjdGlvbiI6IuKdpCIsImlhdCI6MTcwNDI2NDU3MywiZXhwIjoxNzA2ODU2NTczLCJpc3MiOiJwdWItMjA1MzMiLCJzdWIiOiJyZWFjdGlvbiJ9.QMS1trio_2S-xQ0r221ygV8GA2Eq6BXqKbswMDlVfMQ&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email-reaction&r=ptj5o" class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544email-icon-button" style="color: rgb(128, 128, 128); text-decoration-line: none; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-radius: 100000px; display: inline-block; font-family: "SF Pro Text", -apple-system, ui-sans-serif, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; font-size: 12px; line-height: 1; min-width: 38px; padding: 9px 0px; text-transform: uppercase; width: 38px; outline: none !important;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_36,c_scale,f_png,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack.com%2Ficon%2FLucideHeart%3Fv%3D4%26height%3D36%26fill%3Dnone%26stroke%3D%2523808080%26strokeWidth%3D2" width="18" height="18" alt="" class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544icon" style="max-width: 18px; vertical-align: middle; outline: none !important; border: none !important;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td width="8" style="min-width: 8px; outline: none !important;"></td><td style="vertical-align: middle; outline: none !important;"><table width="38" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="outline: none !important;"><tbody style="outline: none !important;"><tr style="outline: none !important;"><td align="center" style="outline: none !important;"><a href="https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=20533&post_id=140309824&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&isFreemail=true&comments=true&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo0MzM2ODI1MiwicG9zdF9pZCI6MTQwMzA5ODI0LCJpYXQiOjE3MDQyNjQ1NzMsImV4cCI6MTcwNjg1NjU3MywiaXNzIjoicHViLTIwNTMzIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.dQe38Z3xT04UnbEce8YJloqWQSEvFKtyoo45YkxoZ8w&r=ptj5o&utm_campaign=email-half-magic-comments&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email" class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544email-icon-button" style="color: rgb(128, 128, 128); 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outline: none !important;"></td><td style="vertical-align: middle; outline: none !important;"><table width="38" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="outline: none !important;"><tbody style="outline: none !important;"><tr style="outline: none !important;"><td align="center" style="outline: none !important;"><a href="https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=20533&post_id=140309824&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&utm_campaign=email-share&action=share&triggerShare=true&isFreemail=true&r=ptj5o&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo0MzM2ODI1MiwicG9zdF9pZCI6MTQwMzA5ODI0LCJpYXQiOjE3MDQyNjQ1NzMsImV4cCI6MTcwNjg1NjU3MywiaXNzIjoicHViLTIwNTMzIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.dQe38Z3xT04UnbEce8YJloqWQSEvFKtyoo45YkxoZ8w" class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544email-icon-button" style="color: rgb(128, 128, 128); text-decoration-line: none; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid; border-image: initial; border-radius: 100000px; display: inline-block; font-family: "SF Pro Text", -apple-system, ui-sans-serif, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"; 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display: inline-block; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; max-width: 0px; min-height: 18px; vertical-align: middle;"></div><span class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544email-button-text" style="outline: none !important; margin-right: 4px; vertical-align: middle;">READ IN APP</span><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_36,c_scale,f_png,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack.com%2Ficon%2FLucideArrowUpRight%3Fv%3D4%26height%3D36%26fill%3Dnone%26stroke%3D%2523808080%26strokeWidth%3D2" width="18" height="18" alt="" class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544icon ydpb1850749yiv7323260544text-icon" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; max-width: 18px; min-height: 18px; min-width: 18px; vertical-align: middle; outline: none !important; border: none !important;" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr height="16" style="outline: none !important;"><td height="16" style="font-size: 0px; line-height: 0; outline: none !important;"> </td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><div class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544post ydpb1850749yiv7323260544typography" style="line-height: 26px; padding: 16px 0px 0px; outline: none !important;"><div class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544body ydpb1850749yiv7323260544markup" style="line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 16px; text-align: initial; width: 550px; outline: none !important;"><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;">The new year has hit with news flying in from a number of quarters. </p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;">At home, minimum wage increased in nearly half of U.S. states; it has been 14 years since the last increase in the federal minimum wage, the longest stretch since 1938 according to the AFL-CIO. NPR correspondent David Gura quoted Goldman Sachs's chief equity strategist to note, "The S&P 500 index returned 26% including dividends in 2023, more than 2x the average annual return of 12% since 1986."</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;">Representative Bill Johnson (R-OH) today submitted his resignation, effective January 21, to become the president of Youngstown State University. This shaves the Republican majority in the House of Representatives even thinner. With the recent expulsion of George Santos (R-NY) and resignation of Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), the Republicans will control just 219 seats, permitting them a margin of only two seats to pass legislation when the House returns on January 9. </p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;">The Republican House has been one of the least effective in history, and it has its work cut out for it in the new year. The first phase of the continuing resolution Congress passed in November to fund the government expires on January 19, ending funding for transportation, housing, energy, agriculture, and veterans' affairs. The second phase expires on February 2. Much of the 2018 Farm Bill that covers food and farm aid expired in 2023. As of yesterday, January 1, the items usually covered in farm bills fall under a hodge-podge of fixes, with some old provisions from the 1930s and 1940s going back into force.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;">Also outstanding is the measure to provide supplemental funding for Israel, Ukraine, and the southern border between the U.S. and Mexico, as well as providing humanitarian assistance for Palestinian civilians in Gaza. </p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;">House Republicans refused to pass that measure unless it included their own extreme anti-immigration measures, but they have refused to participate in efforts to hash out legislation, clearly preferring to keep the issue hot to use against the Democrats in 2024. Since President Joe Biden took office, he and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas have asked Congress for additional funding for Customs and Border Patrol officers and additional immigration courts, but despite Republicans' own demand for such legislation, House speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) wrote to Biden in December demanding that he impose stricter immigration rules and build a border wall through executive action. Today, Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) echoed the idea that Biden, not Congress, should deal with the border.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;"><span style="outline: none !important;">Meanwhile, Emily Brooks and Rebecca Beitsch of </span><em style="outline: none !important;">The Hill</em><span style="outline: none !important;"> reported today that about 60 House Republicans are planning to visit the border in Texas to emphasize the issue. They are also preparing to impeach Mayorkas on the grounds that he has failed to meet the requirements of the Secure Fence Act, "which defines operational control of the border as a status in which not a single person or piece of contraband improperly enters the country." As Brooks and Beitsch point out, "not a single secretary of Homeland Security has met that standard of perfection." House Republicans plan to hold hearings on impeaching Mayorkas, but Homeland Security Committee chair Mark Green (R-TN) has suggested to the Fox News Channel that the articles of impeachment are already written. </span></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;">At the intersection of domestic and foreign affairs, Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), whom federal prosecutors have already indicted for using his office to work for Egypt, was charged again today with using his political influence to work for the government of Qatar. This is a big deal: at the time, Menendez was the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, a key position in the U.S. government. Two Republican operatives are pleading guilty to evading lobbying laws in their own work for Qatar; their activities appear to have been much more limited than Menendez's. </p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;">The turn of the new year has also produced lots of news in foreign affairs. </p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;"><span style="outline: none !important;">On February 4, 2021, just after Secretary of State Antony Blinken took office, Biden spoke at the State Department and said "the message I want the world to hear today" is that "America is back. Diplomacy is back at the center of our foreign policy." In a </span><em style="outline: none !important;">New York Times</em><span style="outline: none !important;"> article from December 31, Peter Baker, Edward Wong, Julian E. Barnes, and Isabel Kershner emphasize that Biden and his team have been engaged constantly in diplomacy with Israel, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman. Since the October 7, 2023, attack by Iran-backed Hamas on Israel, Biden has spoken with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu 14 times and visited Israel; Blinken has traveled to the region three times and visited Israel five times. </span></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;"><span style="outline: none !important;">On December 22, in the </span><em style="outline: none !important;">Christian Science Monitor</em><span style="outline: none !important;">, Arab political journalist Taylor Luck and correspondent Fatima AbdulKarim reported that Arab Gulf states, Egypt, Jordan, the U.S., and the European Union have created "[a] massive postwar reconstruction plan…for the besieged Gaza Strip." The plan is to "rebuild the coastal strip, unite and overhaul Palestinian governance, and create a Palestinian security force in Gaza to ensure Palestinian and Israeli security." </span></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;">Arab diplomats insist the reconstruction of southern Gaza, including alleviating suffering, rebuilding housing and infrastructure, and restoring jobs, must be "rapid"; Gulf states have set $3 billion a year for ten years as the first budget. The plan calls for a "revamped and revitalized" Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza and the West Bank with current president Mahmoud Abbas as a figurehead and an apolitical unity government running affairs. </p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;">The plan is still developing, but already the main obstacles are Israel's governing coalition, led by Netanyahu, who refuses the ideas of a two-state solution and of a Palestinian Authority in charge of Gaza, and Hamas, which Gulf states as well as the U.S. reject as a participant in the future governance of Gaza. Other Iran-backed militias also oppose such a solution. </p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;">From the beginning of the Hamas-Israel war, the Biden administration has been very clear that its first goal was to make sure the conflict didn't spread, with Lebanon's Iran-allied Hezbollah and other proxy militias joining in fully. Biden immediately sent two carrier groups to the region and promised "to move in additional assets as needed." On October 10 he warned: "Let me say again—to any country, any organization, anyone thinking of taking advantage of this situation, I have one word: Don't. Don't."</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;"><span style="outline: none !important;">The </span><em style="outline: none !important;">New York Times </em><span style="outline: none !important;">piece by Baker, Wong, Barnes, and Kershner revealed that Biden and his national security team, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security advisor Jake Sullivan, also warned Netanyahu against launching a preemptive strike on Hezbollah. Israel and Hezbollah have been attacking each other with drones, missiles, and air strikes along the countries' border. </span></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;"><span style="outline: none !important;">Meanwhile, Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen have attacked ships in the Red Sea, which is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, handling about 12% of global trade and about 8.2 million barrels of crude oil and oil products every day. On December 31, four small boats attacked the </span><em style="outline: none !important;">Hangzhou</em><span style="outline: none !important;">, a container ship from the Danish shipping giant Maersk sailing under a Singapore flag, and then fired on the U.S. Navy helicopters that responded to the </span><em style="outline: none !important;">Hangzhou</em><span style="outline: none !important;">'s distress call. The helicopter crews sank three of the boats, killing their crews; the fourth fled. </span></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;">Today, Iran sent a naval frigate to the Red Sea, and Maersk announced it would stop using the Red Sea route until further notice. Hezbollah media said that an Israeli drone strike in Beirut, Lebanon, killed Saleh Arouri, the deputy political head of Hamas and a founder of its military wing. Hezbollah has vowed to retaliate.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;">Also today, in response to calls from Israeli cabinet members for the resettlement of Palestinians outside Gaza, the U.S. State Department issued a "rejection" of both the language and the idea. "We have been clear, consistent, and unequivocal that Gaza is Palestinian land and will remain Palestinian land, with Hamas no longer in control of its future and with no terror groups able to threaten Israel. That is the future we seek, in the interests of Israelis and Palestinians, the surrounding region, and the world."</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;"><span style="outline: none !important;">And in today's </span><em style="outline: none !important;">Washington Post</em><span style="outline: none !important;">, Lebanon's former prime minister Fouad Siniora and former Lebanese lawmaker Basem Shabb noted that "[d]espite the ferocity of the bombing and the great loss of innocent civilian lives in Gaza, the conflict remains largely contained to an Israeli-Palestinian confrontation—and more specifically, is broadly understood in the Arab world to be a conflict with Hamas, a non-state actor," but warned the conflict must not spread. They noted that in November, "[i]n a first, 57 Arab and Islamic countries…called for a peaceful resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on a two-state solution," the same concept embraced by the Biden administration. </span></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;">"In response to Israel's atrocities in Gaza, the Arab world responded with denunciation—but, more importantly, with diplomacy. No military threats were issued by any of the Arab states toward Israel," the Lebanese lawmakers pointed out. They urged Israel to embrace the two-state solution "and, in doing so, usher in a new era in the Middle East."</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;">Lots of pieces moving around the board on this second day of January 2024.</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;">—</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;">Notes:</p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/1c903680-fcf3-4c5b-ac94-b73f298fbe4d?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); outline: none !important;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://abcnews.go.com/International/us-navy-sinks-3-houthi-boats-attacking-merchant/story?id=106016731</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/44d93f23-c0be-411f-8936-08f1abd8cad1?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); outline: none !important;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/12/12/houthis-rebels-yemen-israel-ships/</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/35699568-acba-4994-b805-0f815b586e4d?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); outline: none !important;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/02/maersk-halts-red-sea-shipping-until-further-notice-after-houthi-militant-attack.html</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/712af0b8-5793-4114-a2d5-6aa7659414b9?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); outline: none !important;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/how-would-red-sea-attacks-affect-gas-shipping-2023-12-19/</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/17742f48-5afd-48da-a5c5-1df6040c8833?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); outline: none !important;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/13/hezbollah-joining-conflict-in-neighboring-israel-would-be-a-gamechanger.html</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/248a6e81-ca9e-4665-a153-6dc4f1ca6553?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); outline: none !important;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/31/us/politics/us-israel-hamas-war.html</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/be062252-a23c-47ca-90d1-46eb20095c7a?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); outline: none !important;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/01/02/fara-barry-bennett-douglas-watts-qatar/</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/f592f3d7-8f96-421f-9eef-cd7a77a8dced?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); outline: none !important;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/02/nyregion/robert-menendez-qatar-influence.html</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/6f1a8241-7a24-4622-bbfc-83ead85fdc81?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); outline: none !important;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-attacks-ukraine-kyiv-kharkiv-putin-intensified-strikes-rcna131824</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/4ec29d76-f0ca-4c55-a8f5-3b24f535867b?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); outline: none !important;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/10/10/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-terrorist-attacks-in-israel-2/</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/cae5c4e5-6d15-445a-91a7-da04f90bac78?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); outline: none !important;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/lebanons-hezbollah-fires-drones-israel-mounts-air-strikes-2023-12-10/</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); 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line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;"><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/d8b1be6b-89aa-4a3c-86cf-6b5f24c3db3a?j=eyJ1IjoicHRqNW8ifQ.bw5xpJCD8yPYi-oBhKZohbDNl2C63Rw6ffxxwiy7-FU" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); outline: none !important;" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/02/04/remarks-by-president-biden-on-americas-place-in-the-world/</a></p><p style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px 0px 20px; outline: none !important;"></p><p class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544button-wrapper" style="color: rgb(64, 64, 64); line-height: 26px; margin: 0px; text-align: center; outline: none !important;"><a href="https://substack.com/app-link/post?publication_id=20533&post_id=140309824&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&utm_campaign=email-share&action=share&triggerShare=true&isFreemail=true&r=ptj5o&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo0MzM2ODI1MiwicG9zdF9pZCI6MTQwMzA5ODI0LCJpYXQiOjE3MDQyNjQ1NzMsImV4cCI6MTcwNjg1NjU3MywiaXNzIjoicHViLTIwNTMzIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.dQe38Z3xT04UnbEce8YJloqWQSEvFKtyoo45YkxoZ8w" class="ydpb1850749yiv7323260544button ydpb1850749yiv7323260544primary enhancr_card_4528991106" style="outline: none; 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line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: "YahooSans VF", YahooSans, "Helvetica Neue", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(29, 34, 40); max-width: 314px;">January 2, 2024</h2><p class="ydp3bdbbf50card-richinfo-primary" style="font-size:12px;line-height:16px;margin:0 0 4px 0;color:#979ea8">Heather Cox Richardson</p><p class="ydp3bdbbf50card-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 158, 168);">The new year has hit with news flying in from a number of quarters. At home, minimum wage increased in nearly ha...</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></li></ul></div></div></div><br></div></div>Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227270.post-43388141193790569282024-01-02T23:19:00.001-08:002024-01-02T23:19:20.281-08:00ANS -- Replies to: A surprising explanation for the global decline of religion<div class="ydp5777a6e9yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">I have received a couple of responses so far to the article called <span><i>A surprising explanation for the global decline of religion</i></span></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Here they are, in case you want to see how people reacted. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">first reply:</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;">Hi Kim,</div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><br clear="none" style="outline: none !important;"></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;">Tell Joyce I agree with her. This is bull. . . </div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;">If anything, the decline of formal, traditional faith, along with the decline of ethical behavior, correlates directly to the parental involvement of a child's development. </div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><br clear="none" style="outline: none !important;"></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;">The last 2 generations have not been as involved in their children's schooling or raising - leaving more of it to the daycare and school systems. While I'm delighted that christian doctrine is not pushed down our throats in school, I think we missed a boat: when we made rules about teaching religion, we didn't replace that ethical structure with plain ethics classes - and teaching ethics to very young children. </div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;">And, while I don't condone corporal punishment, we did not offer significant consequences for behaving in an unethical way. </div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><br clear="none" style="outline: none !important;"></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;">So, if there's no emotional reward and no encouragement towards faith in school, and parents are too busy trying to earn enough to survive, and we combine that with no negative stimulus for doing wrong - it would be surprising that the world didn't move towards lack of faith, lack of consideration and a self serving disinterest in anything that didn't generate rewards. </div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><br clear="none" style="outline: none !important;"></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;">When we were young, most of us spent a lot of time near at least one parent who cared. The kids whose parents had to both work were often in and out of neighbors' homes, getting the benefit of their friends' parental influence. It's not that the pace is faster, not that technology is more sophisticated. It's that people took time to be with their children, and to express and reinforce their values. </div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><br clear="none" style="outline: none !important;"></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;">As it was, most of those values were attached to religion.</div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><br clear="none" style="outline: none !important;"></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;">On top of all that, we are constantly bombarded by worldwide examples of disaster, violence, selfishness and general evil. It's very hard to maintain faith under all that pressure. It's especially hard if we didn't begin with seeing that faith as a comfort in times of stress.</div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;"><br clear="none" style="outline: none !important;"></div><div dir="ltr" style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; outline: none !important;">You are welcome to share this - just don't give my name, please.</div></div>-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">second reply: <span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;">I am with Joyce. I believe religious institutions have only themselves to blame. People just don't like the dogma and being judged and all the rules. I believe more people have their own individual relationships with belief. Just thinking </span></span></div></div>Access News Servicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00306013689530609348noreply@blogger.com0