SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
A demonstrator holds a sign in Lafayette Square during a demonstration organized by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) protesting President Donald Trump's declaration of emergency powers on February 18, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Zach Gibson/Getty Images)
Something New and Something Old - A Story Still Being Told
There are indeed silver linings to *45—giving us the opportunity to learn and to shake-up and transform business as usual. Always ask: Why should I believe you? Why so many lies? In whose interest? Follow the money. Be curious – listen, read and learn.
Feb 17, 2019
The patently cynical declaration of a national state of emergency by President Donald Trump (aka *45) offers a teachable moment on history, politics and empire. The lies and fear-mongering of those in power, the propaganda to legitimize violating the sovereignty of other nations, the use of fake manufactured crises and old war criminals to promote new atrocities--these are all time-tested tactics of the politics of the USA.
The naked psychological shortcomings of the current head of state leading to undisciplined statements which reveal truth is new, offering a unique opportunity for people to ask the right questions and learn the right lessons.
New too is Congress invoking the 1973 War Powers Resolution as a check against executive overreach. Yet this was driven by the loose tongue of *45 putting a dollar value on life following the Saudi murder of Jamal Khashoggi. The rot of empire begins from within. Concern for human rights in Yemen didn't animate Congress, but rather exposed money-mad policy undermining US soft-power.
The so-called "leadership" of *45 encouraged the US National Security Advisor John Bolton to reveal that Venezuela policy is driven by US oil company opportunism (the recycling of this unrepentant criminal to policy point man is a lesson in itself on the myth of accountability and rule of law). U.S. intervention in Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Chile and so on were likewise driven by corporatism, but prior administrations were better at sticking to the script of promoting democracy. Listen closely to the current U.S. administration talk about Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and Mexico.
So, there are indeed silver linings to *45--giving us the opportunity to learn and to shake-up and transform business as usual. Always ask: Why should I believe you? Why so many lies? In whose interest? Follow the money. Be curious - listen, read and learn.
Listen to Jeremy Scahill in this recent podcast episode. Read Chalmers Johnson's "The Sorrows of Empire," Sheldon Wolin's "Democracy Incorporated," John Stockwell's "In Search of Enemies," and Jenny Pearce's "Under The Eagle."
The Federalist Society has used *45 and Republican legislators to pack the federal courts. The rule of law is near dead.
The rule of the people must catalyze an uprising against plutocracy, war profiteering, and the savage wars of empire. The mass President's Day protests today, like the grassroots mobilization for a green new deal, are cause for optimism. Our story is not finished.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
William Cohn
William A. Cohn is a member of the California Bar and the author of "How Free is Free Speech?" He lectures on law, ethics and critical thinking at the University of New York in Prague and is a visiting professor of jurisprudence at New York University.
democracydominican republicgreen new dealjeremy scahilljohn boltonneoconpeople powertotalitarianismtrumpism
The patently cynical declaration of a national state of emergency by President Donald Trump (aka *45) offers a teachable moment on history, politics and empire. The lies and fear-mongering of those in power, the propaganda to legitimize violating the sovereignty of other nations, the use of fake manufactured crises and old war criminals to promote new atrocities--these are all time-tested tactics of the politics of the USA.
The naked psychological shortcomings of the current head of state leading to undisciplined statements which reveal truth is new, offering a unique opportunity for people to ask the right questions and learn the right lessons.
New too is Congress invoking the 1973 War Powers Resolution as a check against executive overreach. Yet this was driven by the loose tongue of *45 putting a dollar value on life following the Saudi murder of Jamal Khashoggi. The rot of empire begins from within. Concern for human rights in Yemen didn't animate Congress, but rather exposed money-mad policy undermining US soft-power.
The so-called "leadership" of *45 encouraged the US National Security Advisor John Bolton to reveal that Venezuela policy is driven by US oil company opportunism (the recycling of this unrepentant criminal to policy point man is a lesson in itself on the myth of accountability and rule of law). U.S. intervention in Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Chile and so on were likewise driven by corporatism, but prior administrations were better at sticking to the script of promoting democracy. Listen closely to the current U.S. administration talk about Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and Mexico.
So, there are indeed silver linings to *45--giving us the opportunity to learn and to shake-up and transform business as usual. Always ask: Why should I believe you? Why so many lies? In whose interest? Follow the money. Be curious - listen, read and learn.
Listen to Jeremy Scahill in this recent podcast episode. Read Chalmers Johnson's "The Sorrows of Empire," Sheldon Wolin's "Democracy Incorporated," John Stockwell's "In Search of Enemies," and Jenny Pearce's "Under The Eagle."
The Federalist Society has used *45 and Republican legislators to pack the federal courts. The rule of law is near dead.
The rule of the people must catalyze an uprising against plutocracy, war profiteering, and the savage wars of empire. The mass President's Day protests today, like the grassroots mobilization for a green new deal, are cause for optimism. Our story is not finished.
William Cohn
William A. Cohn is a member of the California Bar and the author of "How Free is Free Speech?" He lectures on law, ethics and critical thinking at the University of New York in Prague and is a visiting professor of jurisprudence at New York University.
The patently cynical declaration of a national state of emergency by President Donald Trump (aka *45) offers a teachable moment on history, politics and empire. The lies and fear-mongering of those in power, the propaganda to legitimize violating the sovereignty of other nations, the use of fake manufactured crises and old war criminals to promote new atrocities--these are all time-tested tactics of the politics of the USA.
The naked psychological shortcomings of the current head of state leading to undisciplined statements which reveal truth is new, offering a unique opportunity for people to ask the right questions and learn the right lessons.
New too is Congress invoking the 1973 War Powers Resolution as a check against executive overreach. Yet this was driven by the loose tongue of *45 putting a dollar value on life following the Saudi murder of Jamal Khashoggi. The rot of empire begins from within. Concern for human rights in Yemen didn't animate Congress, but rather exposed money-mad policy undermining US soft-power.
The so-called "leadership" of *45 encouraged the US National Security Advisor John Bolton to reveal that Venezuela policy is driven by US oil company opportunism (the recycling of this unrepentant criminal to policy point man is a lesson in itself on the myth of accountability and rule of law). U.S. intervention in Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Chile and so on were likewise driven by corporatism, but prior administrations were better at sticking to the script of promoting democracy. Listen closely to the current U.S. administration talk about Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, and Mexico.
So, there are indeed silver linings to *45--giving us the opportunity to learn and to shake-up and transform business as usual. Always ask: Why should I believe you? Why so many lies? In whose interest? Follow the money. Be curious - listen, read and learn.
Listen to Jeremy Scahill in this recent podcast episode. Read Chalmers Johnson's "The Sorrows of Empire," Sheldon Wolin's "Democracy Incorporated," John Stockwell's "In Search of Enemies," and Jenny Pearce's "Under The Eagle."
The Federalist Society has used *45 and Republican legislators to pack the federal courts. The rule of law is near dead.
The rule of the people must catalyze an uprising against plutocracy, war profiteering, and the savage wars of empire. The mass President's Day protests today, like the grassroots mobilization for a green new deal, are cause for optimism. Our story is not finished.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.
To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.
News & Opinion
Trending
Common Dreams, Inc. Founded 1997. Registered 501(c3) Non-Profit
Privacy Policy