IS IT THE FACT THAT WE ARE SANE DEMOCRATS? WHY IN THE WORLD ANYONE WOULD VOTE FOR ABBOTT IS BEYOND MY ABILITY TO COMPREHEND. ON THE ONE HAND, THIS ELECTION MIGHT BE ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING. IT SEEMS TO BE THE ONE THAT WILL SHOW UP THE republicans IN ALL THEIR EXTREMELY UGLY TRANSPARENCY. IF ANYONE IS PAYING ATTENTION TO THEIR PLAFORM OF TRYING TO RUIN AS MANY DEMOCRATS AS POSSIBLE, ALONG WITH POWER AND GREED, THERE ARE MANY -- LIKE ABOTT THAT HAVE SHOWED THEIR HANDS SO PLAINLY. A PATHETIC GROUP AND NO DOUBLE ABOUT IT. IT IS WORRISOME THOUGH SINCE THEY ALSO HAVE BAD HABITS OF TILTING EVERYTHING HIGHLY IN THEIR FAVOR THROUGH LAW CHANGES, RESTRICTIONS AND OUTRIGHT SUPPRESSIONS.

I DO THINK THIS ELECTION WILL GIVE THE REPS. COME CLUES PERHAPS. READ SOMETHING EARLIER THAT OPINED THAT ORANGE LOON IS LOSING GROUND -- BUT MORE AS A PERSON NOT CAPABLE, AND NOT WANTED. TRUMPISM THOUGH IS STILL HIGH ON THE 'WE WANT IT ' LIST FOR REPS. NO MATTER, i DO THINK I'LL STILL BE HOLDING MY BREATH COME ELECTION TIME.

I too wish the font was bigger. Not sure if this is something that can be adjusted. I'll send a note to the mods to see if they have a recommendation.

Sadly ladies - I live in Texas and you shouldn't hold your breath to get rid of Repubs. Although most everyone I know personally can listen to reason, the rest of the state seems to have gone off the deep end long ago.

Elderberry, I think Trudeau has had issues, but he has done a lot of good things and I do think this is one of them. When I was growing up my Mom ( my dad refused to touch a gun after the service ) had a 410 shotgun and she got squirrels and wild rabbits to fill in for the meat portions of our diet. Later, I grew to hate it, but by then she didn't need to do it anymore. The thing here is -- people who hunted to fill in their diets were ( a huge portion of them ) able to get away from that -- and for many, many yrs. after -- the 410 sat on the gun rack in the bedroom and no one paid any mind to it at all. She finally gave it away to another family member. There should be little need for a gun for the majority of people. Just my view that most of us would be better off if there were a lot less guns around ( even more those considered as guns of war ) and if we must have them -- then we must have proper regulations. No decent law-abiding thoughtful person should be upset to get a permit and register the gun.

I cannot find fault with this meme.

I wonder why people vote against their own self interest? I can't imagine that people in Kentucky or Texas have seen improvements, but they continue to vote in the same GQP idiots. And what's wrong with the Georgia district that's going to re-elect that fool Marjorie Taylor-Green? Other than the fact that her democratic opponent is Black. 🤔

All of nature offers lessons on living, free of charge. One morning I noticed a dead tree supporting many living things--fungus, vines, lichen--which taught me that even after death we can continue to support those who live on. Living trees on our property teach other lessons. One tree has grown around a barbed wire fence. Another has grown around a nail, and a third through a chain link fence.

These trees teach me how to accept irritation, absorb the pain and
grow around problems. Nature teaches me how to find my place,
grow toward the sunlight and bypass obstacles. To survive, we must
be able to change in response to whatever is required by the
challenge of the moment. Our bodies know this, but our
minds often rebel when change is necessary.

Bernie S. Siegel

illinoislady: Yeah - Justin isn't nearly the brilliant, arrogant man his father Pierre was. He's a bit of a dick but he is right about guns. And he was right about "Go Home and Stay Home" at the beginning of the pandemic.

It puzzles me why people vote against their own best interests. It seems to apply in most democratic countries but particularly the USA. Why do people in West Virginia vote for Manchin? McConnell had interests in Russian steel projects in Kentucky. Hos is that going, MItch?

Why on earth did the people in the Philippines vote in another Marcos???

People voting against their own best interests has been the conundrum for several decades now. A book “What’s The Matter With Kansas” that was published in 2005 addresses this issue. Part of Wikipedia’s summary of the book:

“According to the book, the political discourse of recent decades has dramatically shifted from social and economic equality to the use of "explosive" cultural issues, such as abortion and gay marriage, which are used to redirect anger toward "liberal elites.” Against this backdrop, Frank describes the rise of political conservatism in the social and political landscape of Kansas, which he says espouses economic policies that do not benefit the majority of people in the state.”

I did not read the book, but here’s my observation: conservative Republicans tapped into states where the patriarchal male reigns supreme. Women there are conditioned from birth to cater to the patriarchy. These guys don’t get much education. Many are struggling to get by years after the decline of steel mills and coal mines where they once worked. They cling to toxic masculinity, using guns and booze to make themselves feel like men. Hating women makes them feel manly, too. They want women to stay in their place. Also minorities. They turn gun control into “they want to take away all our guns” which to them is almost like taking away their penises. States with lowest life expectancy: Mississippi West Virginia Alabama Kentucky Arkansas Oklahoma Louisiana. They would rather have a short life span with guns and rail against immigrants whom the white male hierarchy is threatened by and the heck with Medicare, these guys will just tough things out or die but at least they died with their (white entitled male) beliefs in tack. They don’t see the point in any kind of programs that aid children. That’s women’s work to worry about the kids anyway.

I know this is very stereotypical yet I live around people like this so I think there’s at least an element of truth to it.

The other threat to democracy: Christian nationalists who run for office to pass laws that reflect their view of Christianity and its role in political and social life. It’s a major concern to me. They seem to forget our country was founded on religious freedom as they want everyone to conform to their beliefs.

Hello! I am back from my nephew's wedding. Very beautiful and fun, but since it was in my sister's backyard it was also A LOT of work! Almost thankfully, I was too busy to watch much of the news. The little I saw was horrifying enough.

I just don't know what to predict about the upcoming election. One on hand people should be horrified by the Republican's social agenda and complete lack of morality. On the other hand, when gas prices & inflation go up, the party in power gets the blame. The Democrats don't help their cause with all the sniping amongst themselves & tendency to get in a circular firing squad and fire at each other.