Heather Cox Richardson echoed this. That infighting with this much power is bound to occur. Hopefully it slows and distracts sufficiently while opposition unites.
The only things to know is that (1) Wiener is an AIPAC plant who tried to ban the mere act of protesting Israel and Zionism on California universities, and (2) the other candidate is Saikat Chakrabarti who was AOC's 2018 campaign manager and Justice Dem co-founder, and actual progressive.
Sounds good to me! I think people get nervous when they hear only "needs" and not necessarily wants or desires. If I understand you correctly, needs and wants can both be fulfilled — within reason, of course. No billionaires for starters.
Hard to know if pc or smart phone proliferation or widespread internet access as an example would've ever occurred in that alternative universe, and who is the arbiter of determining what is such a need versus luxury?
At the same time will one argue these aren't needs, but mass communication and aggregation of all human knowledge at our fingertips is certainly the next step from the Gutenberg Press. Liberation of communication and knowledge to masses certainly is pursuant to a need in my mind, yeah?
Such things weren't necessarily known needs until they manifested through innovation in the first place, right?
But should we all simply revert back to Hunter-gatherering aborigines with the lowest impact possible?
I guess in my mind we all have musical instruments or video games our toys be it dirt bikes, etc., which are certainly luxuries of the modern era. The constraints should of course be limited by whether we can (a) take care of the poorest amongst us, (b) be the best stewards of our environment as we can, and (c) ensure justice and equality is applied to all.
So maybe we get phones and games and musical instruments; but just lower the ceiling a bit as other nations with the highest life satisfaction in the world have shown can be done. That's the other nice thing about mirroring these models; they're actually tangible and proven to work at a nation-state scale.
Might certain inventions or discoveries become so positively consequential to society they become nationalized and in the public domain? Take starlink for example, or 5G cellular that gives rural and city access alike to communication and knowledge and therefore potential and opportunity.
I'll be very honest. I'm extremely active in politics and been so for around 2 decades. My family navigated the political spectrum right and are now pretty progressive-left by US calibration. By European I'm most closely aligned with Social Democrats and the Nordic Model.
Where I'm being honest is that I don't think socialism or Democratic socialism is well defined, and I don't think even the left does a good job conveying consistency on this. It certainly doesn't help that there are far-right astroturfers trying to wedge-drive the issue and complicate it.
For instance, if Bernie Sanders pitched himself as a Social Democrat as opposed to a Democratic Socialist, which is precisely what his policy proposals are in reality, then that would be SO much easier to convey to the less informed, apathetic voters of this country.
That is, a truly mixed economy with strongly regulated markets in favor of the consumer, environment, and promoting small-business competition while curving corporate conglomerates too big to fail. One where collective bargaining / unions are strong; where Democracy is decoupled and inoculated from private money with strong campaign finance and election laws. Where select industries like healthcare are nationalized in the hands of the people via Democratic institutions, but there is still some market capitalism and profit to be had to assume risk and investment. Where the rich are taxed heavily and social safety nets strong for those to get back on their feet.
It doesn't help that big D Dems work against this at every turn...
Interesting! Theories on why? What economic class is your neighborhood?
Is it possible there were less houses with lights on due to financial strain, and is it possible the perception of number of treaters was skewed due to there being less houses to hit, thereby concentrating those treaters?
Worth noting that Michigan is a Hotspot for far-right extremist groups. It was from here they conspired to kidnap Whitmer. False flags are of course common, too. Wasn't a recent shooting there from some qanon nutjob, too?
No sponsors. Sells nothing. Just an enthusiastic scientist who discusses studies and interviews anyone willing. Truly in it for the greater good.
Talking With Docs (2 Canadian surgeons).
These guys are cool, entertaining, and informative. No red flags I've seen.
Avoid like plague:
Eckberg
Berry
Berg
There's another guy I can't remember his name but is so full of hate and vitriol and insults. He's British. If I recall all indications point to his cardiology background being a total fraud.
Heather Cox Richardson echoed this. That infighting with this much power is bound to occur. Hopefully it slows and distracts sufficiently while opposition unites.