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Martha Fiorillo's avatar

I believe this shooting came at a time in America when we are forced to recognize that our democracy is in danger. That the oligarchs have purchased our Executive Legislative and Judicial branches of government. Americans are angry, frustrated and frightened.

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Elizabeth King's avatar

I haven't heard or seen productive conversations about it. There are a lot of conversations about it on Substack, but they're still in the outrage stage, not yet productive. There's a fair amount of, "Let's go, Team!" But I have yet to see specific suggestions of what concrete steps can be taken, or organizations to reach out to, to fight the inequality.

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Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

Definitely worth looking into. I wonder which groups are building on this outrage towards action. Thanks for reading and commenting!

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Susan MacNeil, PhD's avatar

Beautifully expressed. And I’m honestly surprised it took a cold blooded murder for discussions to begin. What are the democrats waiting for? Michael Moore did a powerful documentary “Sicko” ages ago. They poo pooed him. I guess it’s better late than never. However, your remedy is a balm to the soul.

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Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

I remember that! I wonder if the murder and reaction to it is a sign that these issues are becoming more serious. Or if they’re resonating more now.

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Susan MacNeil, PhD's avatar

The playbook is to keep people separated so they don’t realize we’re in it together. Maybe this is the transitional moment that we think “all for one and one for all?”

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Al Bellenchia's avatar

It sure doesn’t seem that any leadership is coming from the “leadership class.” They are seemingly throwing in or cashing out. We are out here alone. It’s up to us.

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DemocracyMustWin's avatar

The only discernible “leadership class” is the controlling broligarchs. DEMS don’t have any who aren’t busy bending the knee.

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Dennis King's avatar

Very illuminating essay, Dr. Lovely. When a person looks back on sixty years of history displaying an obscene divergence of wealth between the working classes and the uber rich, spasms of extreme retaliatory violence such as this murder should not come as a surprise to anyone. Telling is that the board of UHC has failed up front to address the anger and despair being felt so acutely by their insured group of patients. Dialog containing some meaningful concessions from the powerful shareholder-based insurers must be engaged for the benefit of the insured, else there is bound to be increasing strife. The working class has had more than enough.

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Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

I often wonder what history will say about this period of time in America. Maybe Robber Barons Part 2. Hopefully we redeem ourselves. Hopefully we can all come to the table. Thank you for reading,Dennis!

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Dennis King's avatar

You are more than welcome, Dr!

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Carl Selfe's avatar

I know the ruse and the rise of authoritarianism. Use the Christian Nationalists as your sword to hold the masses at bay as you pillage the Treasury. Lop off the heads of your opposition using your thugs.

https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/posts-on-authoritarianism?r=3m1bs

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Carl Selfe's avatar

Violence is a part of all authoritarian regimes. After lashing out against Putin, Russia's mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was aboard a plane that crashed north of Moscow. Hummmm.. It appears flying is as dangerous as meeting on the top floors of tall buildings in Russia. State assassins can be thugs or soldiers. They can be rogue ideologist’s assassinations, but that is less frequently than the daily state-sponsored assassinations. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/posts-on-authoritarianism?r=3m1bs

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Dr. Stephanie Lovely's avatar

Hopefully we don’t get to that point here!

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