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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.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
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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.
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