Reviewing The Death of Democracy

Benjamin Carter Hett’s The Death of Democracy: Hitler’s Rise and the Downfall of the Weimar Republic isn’t the first book I have read trying to explain how Hitler came to power, but it’s the best. Reading it as too many Americans pretend that Biden’s victory saved American democracy was particularly sobering.

February 22, 2021 Jonathan Simeone

Reviewing the Edge of Anarchy

Jack Kelly’s The Edge of Anarchy: the Railroad Barons, the Gilded Age, and the Greatest Labor Uprising in America tell the story of the Pullman strike of 1894. This is another of those books that shows exactly how little progress has been made in America over the last 127 years. Reading it in the context of the wealth gap increasing during a pandemic also struck a cord. Still,Kelly did a great job telling a critical story.

If you like history and/or you want to learn more about the real America, The Edge of Anarchy will not disappoint. It will upset you though.

February 4, 2021February 4, 2021 Jonathan Simeone

Politicians Don’t Care About Their Grandchildren

The verdict for this episode is: the deficit of the United States doesn’t matter.

I discuss how each president for the last 92 years with the exception of Clinton has added to the deficit. I also show how the drivers of deficits are military spending and tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations.

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December 28, 2020December 28, 2020 Jonathan Simeone

AOC Represents her District

This post is a follow-up post to the one I wrote about Pelosi representing her district. As you will see, the demographics of AOC’s district make it an excellent one for her.

My hope is that by sharing posts like these, I can demonstrate that there is data to support what Congress does–even if it’s terrible–and that we could use that data to understand how to replace a number of those not adequately serving us.

December 26, 2020December 28, 2020 Jonathan Simeone

Pelosi Represents her District

As you will see, Pelosi represents a very wealthy district. With that wealth, comes very few people living without insurance and a poverty level far below the national average.

The reality that Pelosi represents a district with a demographic profile much more befitting of a Republican is why she governs from the right.

The speaker of the House in a Democratic Congress must represent a district that looks like the Democratic Party. By installing a speaker representing a conservative district, the Democratic Party is prevented from doing anything progressive.

As the data shows, Pelosi should be removed as speaker.

December 20, 2020December 20, 2020 Jonathan Simeone

House Progressives Could Choose the Speaker

The verdict for this episode is: since they are Democrats, House progressives will not use the power they have.

In this episode, I discuss how House progressives could remove Pelosi choose the next speaker, and get real benefits for using their power to choose the next speaker.

I also discuss why this option is much better than forcing a vote on Medicare for All.

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December 10, 2020December 10, 2020 Jonathan Simeone

The Left Needs a McConnell

The verdict for this episode is: no one in Congress is really fighting for the people.

In this episode, I discuss how no one on the left fights with the skill and determination as McConnell. Yes, he is unethical and immoral. But he delivers for the wealthy and corporations way better than anyone thinks of delivering for the people.