Facts matter. Words matter. Lives matter. Politicians do not matter. They are a dime a dozen and have no idea of their worth, which is limited on a daily basis when they don’t do their actual jobs - serving The People.
Pols matter, only to the extent that many of them use words to obfuscate facts and muck up our lives! Someone as erudite and amoral as JD is hard to find, most are simplistic hucksters like his boss. With his Yale credentials and the backing of Peter Thiel, he has risen to the exalted stature of second in order of succession, a heartbeat away from REALLY mattering! He, and the GOP majorities in Congress need to be replaced with politicians who understand that their Oath to the Constitution and their promises to their constituents are what really matter.
JD Vance has been a disappointment to his own Yale education and seemingly to humanity himself. All of the Yale alumni and distinguished faculty members must have cringed when Vance evaded and obfuscated when asked to define socialism. I think we’re still waiting for his definition. Vance actively chooses to promote fantasy and drivel. He knows better. It’s one thing to sell out your country. It’s quite another to sell out yourself.
I can remember the many chapters in Marx and Engel's Communist Manifesto devoted to discussing the problem of little boys with vaginas pouring across the Rio Grade by the million, determined to take your jobs, while forcing your kindergarteners to endure long, boring lectures about critical race theory.... 😜
I couldn’t agree more! And the problem is people are not educated enough now in the use of words and they believe what people say because they have no underlying knowledge. I fear because of the lack of thought process in this country.
Also, continue the song, “don’t know much biology, but I do know that one and one is two. “ Math is something the administration knows little about as well.
Good column this morning, Adam. Unfortunately, not understanding what socialism is goes far beyond JD Vance. The general public also doesn't understand it, and reverts to the "red scare" and Joseph McCarthy. A simple reading from an economics textbook would clear it up, but most people couldn't be bothered. Capitalism, in its purest form, is ruthless. Essentially "I'll get as much of mine as I want and eff the rest of you". The US has NEVER been fully capitalist, but rather a blend of socialism (public roads, schools, utilities, etc.) and capitalism (private ownership of businesses). Unfortunately, the growing wealth gap in the US makes it clear that something must be done to reduce that gap. "Conservative" politicians have made this into a culture war issue, telling voters that "those lazy people who don't work as hard as you do are coming for YOUR money", and they fall for it even if they aren't wealthy themselves. Are those at the top any smarter or work harder than those at the top previously? Probably not. Are the rest of the population less intelligent or lazier than they were previously? Probably not. Yet the wealth gap continues to grow. Every person should benefit from the fruits of their labor, but not at the expense of others.
Very good description of “capitalism” and of the mixed system we have in the US now.
Adding additional public services (like perhaps Healthcare!) is much more valuable and palatable than the current Republicans push to hand over more and more control to one authoritarian-style leader.
This should be required reading for EVERY citizen!
Yes, words do have a meaning. And if as VP you don't even know THE most basic words in political economy, you prove how utterly incompetent and ignorant you are, as Vance just did again.
And YES, completely distorting the meaning of words is indeed one of the main practices characterizing fascist regimes. Thank you SO much for pointing this out! Why are we not reading this kind of very basic and today crucial info in the NYT, for instance?
Also, let's not forget how this touches upon what the left in this country got wrong for decades too, each time people claim that the meaning of words should be 100% personal. You cannot discuss wokism with certain progressives, for instance, because they'll claim to have the right to define "woke" no matter how they want, even though wokism is demonstrably an ideology (the ideology behind today's DEI trainings), which, moreover, cancels or even fires people based on what WORDS they use.
We didn't get here by chance. There is a huge problem with the utterly cynical way BOTH citizens on the left and right use words today (although to be fair, when it comes to political parties, Democratic politicians never fell into this trap, mostly).
Another great post from Adam. It needs to be shared and the lesson at the end taken to heart. We are not idiots; why does Vance think we don’t know or understand what socialism means. His definition is idiotic; does he think he comes across as knowledgable? I hope people google the term now. Or better yet read Adam’s posts! Let’s make this administration understand we have not stopped believing in the truth, in compassion and the common good.
VANCE doesn't know what socialism means. Just like he doesn't know what Catholicism means.
He's an ignoramus who used his college education to learn how to do smooth talking and appear "dignified" and that's all.
That being said, polls show that most people also don't know what socialism means. This is why he and Trump and the GOP (who has been lying about socialism for decades already) get elected time and again.
The clip above doesn't show the whole interchange, but I sure hope whoever asked that question followed up with something along the lines of "That's not even close to what socialism is. How can you call anything socialism when you don't even know how to define it?"
I'm tired of news media letting these clowns get away with saying whatever they want. I realize their access to the White House is in jeopardy, but what good is that access if they don't call bullshit when the WH is bullshitting them?
Gail E - hit the nail on the head and drives home one of the most dangerous predispositions of the media - None Stand-Up, None Ask a Follow-up That Matters
My comment is for Frank Katz. Yes, we really learned History back in our generation. History was really taught, and not distorted or rewritten. History was not something to be embarrassed about, it was something to learn from in order that we don't repeat the same mistakes. Today people want to lay blame for past mistakes on today's generations, and that is the biggest mistake we can make because it prevents us from moving forward.
Apparently, government intervention is dangerous when Democrats propose it, but perfectly acceptable when Republicans control it. The distinction isn't necessarily about the size of government; it's about who benefits from its power.
Perhaps it's time the GOP stopped using “socialism” as a scare word and started explaining why government control is supposedly a threat to freedom—unless they're the ones holding the controls.
A key question for democrats is: how fast can you undo government overreach when the current administration leaves? Yes, we should fight illegal acts in court. Yes we should protest terrible ideas. Yes we should call out nonsense when Vance, Hegseth, and Trump spew it. However, in case “taking a cut of AI” goes forward and in case attacking companies for using H1B visas is allowed by the courts, Democrats need to be ready to undo those mistakes in the first week of the next administration. It won’t be easy because politicians of BOTH parties enjoy the power that comes from government ownership of public and private companies, but in my opinion, the federal government can and should divest itself from ownership in public and private companies.
Facts matter. Words matter. Lives matter. Politicians do not matter. They are a dime a dozen and have no idea of their worth, which is limited on a daily basis when they don’t do their actual jobs - serving The People.
Jean couldn’t agree more. Well said!!
Pols matter, only to the extent that many of them use words to obfuscate facts and muck up our lives! Someone as erudite and amoral as JD is hard to find, most are simplistic hucksters like his boss. With his Yale credentials and the backing of Peter Thiel, he has risen to the exalted stature of second in order of succession, a heartbeat away from REALLY mattering! He, and the GOP majorities in Congress need to be replaced with politicians who understand that their Oath to the Constitution and their promises to their constituents are what really matter.
Stand strong USA 🇺🇸 and vote!
And vote as early as you can!
JD Vance has been a disappointment to his own Yale education and seemingly to humanity himself. All of the Yale alumni and distinguished faculty members must have cringed when Vance evaded and obfuscated when asked to define socialism. I think we’re still waiting for his definition. Vance actively chooses to promote fantasy and drivel. He knows better. It’s one thing to sell out your country. It’s quite another to sell out yourself.
He is owned by a billionaire and is basically just a sock puppet.
I can remember the many chapters in Marx and Engel's Communist Manifesto devoted to discussing the problem of little boys with vaginas pouring across the Rio Grade by the million, determined to take your jobs, while forcing your kindergarteners to endure long, boring lectures about critical race theory.... 😜
When I think about Trump and Vance, I often think of the famous line "don't know much about history . . . ".
I learned the definition of socialism in 12th grade US Government class. And I graduated from high school in 1973. Our "leaders" are idiots.
I couldn’t agree more! And the problem is people are not educated enough now in the use of words and they believe what people say because they have no underlying knowledge. I fear because of the lack of thought process in this country.
Also, continue the song, “don’t know much biology, but I do know that one and one is two. “ Math is something the administration knows little about as well.
Thank you for your clear expression and understanding when that’s exactly what some are undermining.
And this is the man who is a heartbeat away from the Presidency. Yikes.
Thanks Adam for tour diligence in exposing the hypocrisy.
Good column this morning, Adam. Unfortunately, not understanding what socialism is goes far beyond JD Vance. The general public also doesn't understand it, and reverts to the "red scare" and Joseph McCarthy. A simple reading from an economics textbook would clear it up, but most people couldn't be bothered. Capitalism, in its purest form, is ruthless. Essentially "I'll get as much of mine as I want and eff the rest of you". The US has NEVER been fully capitalist, but rather a blend of socialism (public roads, schools, utilities, etc.) and capitalism (private ownership of businesses). Unfortunately, the growing wealth gap in the US makes it clear that something must be done to reduce that gap. "Conservative" politicians have made this into a culture war issue, telling voters that "those lazy people who don't work as hard as you do are coming for YOUR money", and they fall for it even if they aren't wealthy themselves. Are those at the top any smarter or work harder than those at the top previously? Probably not. Are the rest of the population less intelligent or lazier than they were previously? Probably not. Yet the wealth gap continues to grow. Every person should benefit from the fruits of their labor, but not at the expense of others.
Very good description of “capitalism” and of the mixed system we have in the US now.
Adding additional public services (like perhaps Healthcare!) is much more valuable and palatable than the current Republicans push to hand over more and more control to one authoritarian-style leader.
This should be required reading for EVERY citizen!
Yes, words do have a meaning. And if as VP you don't even know THE most basic words in political economy, you prove how utterly incompetent and ignorant you are, as Vance just did again.
And YES, completely distorting the meaning of words is indeed one of the main practices characterizing fascist regimes. Thank you SO much for pointing this out! Why are we not reading this kind of very basic and today crucial info in the NYT, for instance?
Also, let's not forget how this touches upon what the left in this country got wrong for decades too, each time people claim that the meaning of words should be 100% personal. You cannot discuss wokism with certain progressives, for instance, because they'll claim to have the right to define "woke" no matter how they want, even though wokism is demonstrably an ideology (the ideology behind today's DEI trainings), which, moreover, cancels or even fires people based on what WORDS they use.
We didn't get here by chance. There is a huge problem with the utterly cynical way BOTH citizens on the left and right use words today (although to be fair, when it comes to political parties, Democratic politicians never fell into this trap, mostly).
Another great post from Adam. It needs to be shared and the lesson at the end taken to heart. We are not idiots; why does Vance think we don’t know or understand what socialism means. His definition is idiotic; does he think he comes across as knowledgable? I hope people google the term now. Or better yet read Adam’s posts! Let’s make this administration understand we have not stopped believing in the truth, in compassion and the common good.
VANCE doesn't know what socialism means. Just like he doesn't know what Catholicism means.
He's an ignoramus who used his college education to learn how to do smooth talking and appear "dignified" and that's all.
That being said, polls show that most people also don't know what socialism means. This is why he and Trump and the GOP (who has been lying about socialism for decades already) get elected time and again.
Thank you, Adam
The clip above doesn't show the whole interchange, but I sure hope whoever asked that question followed up with something along the lines of "That's not even close to what socialism is. How can you call anything socialism when you don't even know how to define it?"
I'm tired of news media letting these clowns get away with saying whatever they want. I realize their access to the White House is in jeopardy, but what good is that access if they don't call bullshit when the WH is bullshitting them?
Gail E - hit the nail on the head and drives home one of the most dangerous predispositions of the media - None Stand-Up, None Ask a Follow-up That Matters
Just-a-Dick is such a stupid little dick, insulting our intelligence every damn day.
My comment is for Frank Katz. Yes, we really learned History back in our generation. History was really taught, and not distorted or rewritten. History was not something to be embarrassed about, it was something to learn from in order that we don't repeat the same mistakes. Today people want to lay blame for past mistakes on today's generations, and that is the biggest mistake we can make because it prevents us from moving forward.
Vote Blue!
Apparently, government intervention is dangerous when Democrats propose it, but perfectly acceptable when Republicans control it. The distinction isn't necessarily about the size of government; it's about who benefits from its power.
Perhaps it's time the GOP stopped using “socialism” as a scare word and started explaining why government control is supposedly a threat to freedom—unless they're the ones holding the controls.
Ironic that they rail against socialism yet implement socialism. They also want to equate Democratic Socialism to Socialism
A key question for democrats is: how fast can you undo government overreach when the current administration leaves? Yes, we should fight illegal acts in court. Yes we should protest terrible ideas. Yes we should call out nonsense when Vance, Hegseth, and Trump spew it. However, in case “taking a cut of AI” goes forward and in case attacking companies for using H1B visas is allowed by the courts, Democrats need to be ready to undo those mistakes in the first week of the next administration. It won’t be easy because politicians of BOTH parties enjoy the power that comes from government ownership of public and private companies, but in my opinion, the federal government can and should divest itself from ownership in public and private companies.