America isn’t breaking because of capitalism or socialism. We spent 40 years dismantling the rules that kept concentrated power in check. Full 26-minute reading with timestamps.
Hi Debbie! I love this comment. Robert Reich is one of my paid subscriptions. You will often see me as the top comments in his posts and it's so humbling to have somebody mention his name in my comment section! I love his energy and I love getting those 4:00 a.m. posts everyday when I wake up. He's so reliable and admirable. If you keep reading me you'll see more overlap and I hope that you hold me accountable if there's anything I say that is wrong too.
So now the issue is really, how do we get the next Teddy Roosevelt into office? The powers that be have made it nearly impossible, though current anger may be thwarting their efforts.
My hope is that they’ve pushed the limits to the point that people will no longer tolerate what has been, until recently, happening behind closed doors. The lawyers are ready to prosecute as soon as the midterm elections bring in a new group of lawmakers ready to support them. But how far will they go? There are just as many guilty dems as republicans and so just as much desire to keep the status quo.
We need people like you to get in there and make things happen!
Thank you so much for sharing this with me claire. I love reading things that tap into what I'm talking about because so much of what I'm trying to do, is actually live up to the pledge of Independent Media I can talk about the things that matter versus the things that get clicks... I could make so much more money by just waking up every day and asking AI what everyone's screaming about but I don't have the passion to keep up on that. I do have the passion to look at history, be objective, and try to speak truth, having faith that eventually.... Whether it's too late or not... What I write will age well. I'll read this and get back to you.
Love it. My new thing is listening to podcasts on these types of issues while I write because I end up inspiring myself and getting an idea to write my point of view or my twist and I'm listening to. Thank you so much, Claire.
Great post man. Like always.... People on the left really need to read this and understand it so they stop fighting for something that won't even help them.
I live on Social Security but I’m relatively healthy and I’m looking for a work from home job. When I find one I will become a paid subscriber. I just read your entire post and I can honestly say you are the first to express what I have been thinking for a long time! You are right to bring up FDR who was the greatest President of the 20th Century!
Danni. Thanks so much for that complement! For reading. I know it was a bit long, and a bit repetitive but it's an important topic and I wanted to make sure that I hammered it home.
I never want to pressure anyone to become a paid subscriber.. So I appreciate any support I get whether it's likes, restacks, or comments like this...
Check out my homepage and see if there's any other posts that you might enjoy. I've been writing all day every day for the last year. Https://uncomfortable.rxansmithmedia.com
Is this your computer buddy helping out? I’m really impressed with the integration.
Not much too add. You nailed the points one by one & built your case. Howdy Doody Ronnie was a destructive force with his aw shucks manner & his instinct for the jugular.
He destroyed 75 odd years of positive work by the Roosevelt cousins & LBJ. He did it consciously with malice aforethought, cheered on by Robert Welch & the John Birch Society, among others.
We need to rebuild those guardrails. Reinstate those laws & regulations. Elizabeth Warren has been beating that drum all of her public life. It’s time to join her & regain the health we’ve allowed to slip away.
Thanks again for a clear sighted report & analysis.
Hey Robert. No. No computer buddy on this one. My dad is visiting so I couldn't shrink it down. I have been working on that one for about a month. Along with the Supreme Court when I showed you. All in anticipation of his visit...
You didn't think it was too long? I don't usually write that many words in one post.
Did you happen to see the direct message I sent you over the weekend? That Claude aI thing freaked me out a little bit when it identified my writing as a human and put a disclaimer on the top to disown me.
An on-the-side comment. I received a Gallop Pole email that talked about trust invidious organizations including the media. This indicates a real opening for independent journalists. Keep up the good work.
You've outdone yourself here Rxan. This should be required reading. Yes it is long by current digital media standards but it is addressing history, complex economic theory and so much more in a clear and concise manner that should be accessible and understandable to all. Social media posts and television soundbites are no substitute for critical thinking and analysis. I will definitely be sharing this. Thanks for all the time and energy.
I’m sick of these pigs threatening my social security and Medicare. I worked hard for 45 years to earn and pay into these systems and if anyone threatens to take it away or diminish it, I will riot!!! Fuck GOP. Fuck Mike Johnson.
I don't know if you are a George Carlin fan but in one of his last shows he talked about how they'll come for the Social Security money too because all they do is extract wealth and he has that amazing quality of predicting things decades before they happen and that's why you can play his clips now and it seems like they were recorded within the last 3 years
Please clarify; how is Social Security a government spend when the money is collected from from workers’ paychecks and companies’ matching contributions? ‘Splain real slow, like I’m your average, undereducated Murrikkkan.
You're correct that Social Security is funded primarily through payroll taxes paid by workers and employers. But once those taxes are collected, they're federal revenue, and the benefits paid out are federal expenditures. Both things can be true at the same time.
The confusion comes from mixing up where the money comes from with how the money is paid out. Revenue comes in. Benefits go out. That's spending, even if it's funded through dedicated payroll taxes rather than income taxes.
The bigger issue is that Social Security was designed as a transfer system, not a personal savings account. Current workers fund current retirees. For decades, there were plenty of workers supporting relatively few retirees. Today, millions of Baby Boomers are retiring, people are living longer, and birth rates have fallen.
As a result, more money is going out than is coming in. Many retirees will ultimately receive more in lifetime benefits than they personally contributed. That's not an insult or a criticism. It's simply the math of how the program was designed.
When outflows exceed inflows for long enough, only a few options remain: raise payroll taxes, increase the retirement age, reduce future benefits, borrow more money, or some combination of the above.
So the real debate isn't whether Social Security is spending. It is. The debate is how to keep the system solvent when demographics no longer look like they did in 1960.
The budget is intentionally complicated. Funny how the people managing trillions always seem to prefer it that way.
Hi Debbie! I love this comment. Robert Reich is one of my paid subscriptions. You will often see me as the top comments in his posts and it's so humbling to have somebody mention his name in my comment section! I love his energy and I love getting those 4:00 a.m. posts everyday when I wake up. He's so reliable and admirable. If you keep reading me you'll see more overlap and I hope that you hold me accountable if there's anything I say that is wrong too.
Wonderful article! Have you read or watched The Lever’s Master Plan? It details exactly how these guardrails were removed, one by one.
https://the.levernews.com/master-plan-the-book/
So now the issue is really, how do we get the next Teddy Roosevelt into office? The powers that be have made it nearly impossible, though current anger may be thwarting their efforts.
My hope is that they’ve pushed the limits to the point that people will no longer tolerate what has been, until recently, happening behind closed doors. The lawyers are ready to prosecute as soon as the midterm elections bring in a new group of lawmakers ready to support them. But how far will they go? There are just as many guilty dems as republicans and so just as much desire to keep the status quo.
We need people like you to get in there and make things happen!
Thank you so much for sharing this with me claire. I love reading things that tap into what I'm talking about because so much of what I'm trying to do, is actually live up to the pledge of Independent Media I can talk about the things that matter versus the things that get clicks... I could make so much more money by just waking up every day and asking AI what everyone's screaming about but I don't have the passion to keep up on that. I do have the passion to look at history, be objective, and try to speak truth, having faith that eventually.... Whether it's too late or not... What I write will age well. I'll read this and get back to you.
It is actually an award-winning podcast series as well.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYoqcr7bAIs4mzkjl-Xq4eCr9cX4u5I_8&si=r8xjJclwbbi-ZZpg
Love it. My new thing is listening to podcasts on these types of issues while I write because I end up inspiring myself and getting an idea to write my point of view or my twist and I'm listening to. Thank you so much, Claire.
Great post man. Like always.... People on the left really need to read this and understand it so they stop fighting for something that won't even help them.
I live on Social Security but I’m relatively healthy and I’m looking for a work from home job. When I find one I will become a paid subscriber. I just read your entire post and I can honestly say you are the first to express what I have been thinking for a long time! You are right to bring up FDR who was the greatest President of the 20th Century!
Danni. Thanks so much for that complement! For reading. I know it was a bit long, and a bit repetitive but it's an important topic and I wanted to make sure that I hammered it home.
I never want to pressure anyone to become a paid subscriber.. So I appreciate any support I get whether it's likes, restacks, or comments like this...
Check out my homepage and see if there's any other posts that you might enjoy. I've been writing all day every day for the last year. Https://uncomfortable.rxansmithmedia.com
It was great! You had a lot to say, that takes a long post! I’m going to be sending it to people who need to read it!
That would be awesome Danni. Thank you!
Great report Rxan.
Thorough, comprehensive & thoughtful.
Is this your computer buddy helping out? I’m really impressed with the integration.
Not much too add. You nailed the points one by one & built your case. Howdy Doody Ronnie was a destructive force with his aw shucks manner & his instinct for the jugular.
He destroyed 75 odd years of positive work by the Roosevelt cousins & LBJ. He did it consciously with malice aforethought, cheered on by Robert Welch & the John Birch Society, among others.
We need to rebuild those guardrails. Reinstate those laws & regulations. Elizabeth Warren has been beating that drum all of her public life. It’s time to join her & regain the health we’ve allowed to slip away.
Thanks again for a clear sighted report & analysis.
Hey Robert. No. No computer buddy on this one. My dad is visiting so I couldn't shrink it down. I have been working on that one for about a month. Along with the Supreme Court when I showed you. All in anticipation of his visit...
You didn't think it was too long? I don't usually write that many words in one post.
It was as long as it needed to be. Comprehensive.
So, no Claude in the background. I still think your integration of self & new tech is well done.
Did you happen to see the direct message I sent you over the weekend? That Claude aI thing freaked me out a little bit when it identified my writing as a human and put a disclaimer on the top to disown me.
. I thought of you and sent you a screenshot
No. It didn’t arrive.
Try: 1riptext@gmail.com
An on-the-side comment. I received a Gallop Pole email that talked about trust invidious organizations including the media. This indicates a real opening for independent journalists. Keep up the good work.
https://app.e.gallup.com/e/es?s=831949997&e=4556083&elqTrackId=4dbb76eaed0f4a8d9991e8b7e9fd71c3&elq=04c2a0d517484548b2f9d7a2bf33d8f6&elqaid=16613&elqat=1&elqak=8AF5EDDA12F24A76E22F5764613B25B8A2D691466B8B3CEB334B8C02CA04B220F8E4
You've outdone yourself here Rxan. This should be required reading. Yes it is long by current digital media standards but it is addressing history, complex economic theory and so much more in a clear and concise manner that should be accessible and understandable to all. Social media posts and television soundbites are no substitute for critical thinking and analysis. I will definitely be sharing this. Thanks for all the time and energy.
I’m sick of these pigs threatening my social security and Medicare. I worked hard for 45 years to earn and pay into these systems and if anyone threatens to take it away or diminish it, I will riot!!! Fuck GOP. Fuck Mike Johnson.
I don't know if you are a George Carlin fan but in one of his last shows he talked about how they'll come for the Social Security money too because all they do is extract wealth and he has that amazing quality of predicting things decades before they happen and that's why you can play his clips now and it seems like they were recorded within the last 3 years
❤️George Carlin.
I can't believe that I posted this and I cut off the part about social security… I'll find it for you but check this out, while you're waiting.
https://substack.com/@rxansmith/note/c-265155226?r=5xf1q5
I remember the days when
>credit card interest was tax deductible and mortgage value was 100% deductible.
>retained earnings were to be utilized for improving operations or distributed as shareholder dividends and not for stock buybacks.
>glass-steagall law kept banks from speculating with shareholder and depositor money.
> Come back FDR.
This is so on point… most people don't understand how dangerous the stock BuyBacks are
Robert Reich has been trying to educate Americans on these issues for a long time. See his Substack.
Debbie. Check this out. I think this is my most popular comments on Reich but if you look at his articles you'll see my name a lot.
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/warning-trumps-rolling-coup-is-underway/comment/274679274?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=5xf1q5
Please clarify; how is Social Security a government spend when the money is collected from from workers’ paychecks and companies’ matching contributions? ‘Splain real slow, like I’m your average, undereducated Murrikkkan.
You're correct that Social Security is funded primarily through payroll taxes paid by workers and employers. But once those taxes are collected, they're federal revenue, and the benefits paid out are federal expenditures. Both things can be true at the same time.
The confusion comes from mixing up where the money comes from with how the money is paid out. Revenue comes in. Benefits go out. That's spending, even if it's funded through dedicated payroll taxes rather than income taxes.
The bigger issue is that Social Security was designed as a transfer system, not a personal savings account. Current workers fund current retirees. For decades, there were plenty of workers supporting relatively few retirees. Today, millions of Baby Boomers are retiring, people are living longer, and birth rates have fallen.
As a result, more money is going out than is coming in. Many retirees will ultimately receive more in lifetime benefits than they personally contributed. That's not an insult or a criticism. It's simply the math of how the program was designed.
When outflows exceed inflows for long enough, only a few options remain: raise payroll taxes, increase the retirement age, reduce future benefits, borrow more money, or some combination of the above.
So the real debate isn't whether Social Security is spending. It is. The debate is how to keep the system solvent when demographics no longer look like they did in 1960.
The budget is intentionally complicated. Funny how the people managing trillions always seem to prefer it that way.