What's the real shame is how taxation has been reinterpreted and re-characterized.

MESSAGING! This is why messaging is critically important!

They started with the meme "tax relief" - which implies that taxes are something we need relief from. Ie: taxes are bad.

And this is how it's been portrayed for decades, until the public mentality has been allowed to soak it in. Taxes are what we all contribute toward the greater public good.

And that's how we have to take the whole idea back. The whole concept here. They have to be reframed! Regulations - NO! Protections YES!!!

Nobody ever bothers to try to point out WHAT we pay taxes FOR. WHY we pay taxes in the first place. Instead of portraying taxes as just something negative, we need to keep reminding everyone about WHAT. WE. PAY. THOSE. TAXES. FOR.!
Like, for example, decent schools.
Decent quality water to drink.
Decent air to breathe.
Clean earth that your kids play in - that's not filled with toxins and chemical dumping.
Decent roads on which to drive and walk and bike.
Crime-stopping.
National security - of ALL kinds, not just that from the point of a soldier's gun.

National Security. I submit it's more than just borders and troops in foreign lands supposedly fighting for capitalism.

NATIONAL SECURITY. It involves the following:
Your right to sleep at night - because you're not worried about how you'll afford decent health care - for you AND your family.
Your right to feel safe - whether you're white OR black OR brown, when you simply drive to the store or visit the 7/11, from overbearing aggression by mad-dog cops.
Your right to feel safe - for women, inside your gynecologist's office.
Your right to safety - to go to school, a concert, a cineplex, a park, a pizza joint, a store or mall - and know that some nut with a gun and a chip on his shoulder (it's about 98% male offenders - mostly Anglo, too) won't put your life in danger.
Your right to sleep at night - because you're not worried about how to make ends meet on your job that doesn't pay you a living wage.
Your right to vote - UNFETTERED by partisans hot to take that right away.

This, too, is national security. And your tax money helps pay for all the costs racked up therein.

His wife, I think it is, with the long dark hair flung over one shoulder

(that now-common "come hither" hairstyle that completely bares one side of the neck opposite where all the hair is swept). And fiddling with the crucifix hanging from her neck chain.

His face was flushing rather glaringly when Senator Whitehouse had the mic.

Senator Whitehouse was rather incisive. And incredibly impressive. Especially in noting the bias of the "Roberts Five." Who overwhelmingly teamed up to rubber-stamp - what? NINETY PERCENT of cases on which the Chamber of Commerce weighed in. Rubber-stamping in the Chamber's favor, that is.

His face is flushing. Kavanaugh's, that is.

I'm watching the opening hearing. As Senator Whitehouse has ticked off issues that are REALLY sticky, I'm noting that Kavanaugh's face is flushing. Does that mean he's embarrassed? Angry, realizing he's getting NAILED?

Most interesting. And illuminating.

Anybody else notice?

Good!

I'm LOVING the dissent!

I'm sitting here watching the fool Orrin Hatch, extolling how marvelous it is that Kavanaugh likes to eat pasta with ketchup! How adorable! Let's airlift him straight onto the high bench!

And I bet this darling man still sleeps with his teddy bear, 'eh? And he likes Twinkies and Hostess Snowballs!

I'm already wondering if Kavanaugh can be impeached. Another high-ranking judge was, in the past.

OMG this whole thread is a scream!!!

LOVE it LOVE it LOVE it LOVE it LOVE it!!!!!

I wish we didn't have to live in it!

Yes we sure did! By nearly THREE MILLION more actual votes.

See my post 8, just below.

Hey both of you (important):

When you buy something PLEASE remember to tell either the customer service person on the phone or if you’re using an email address WHY you’re buying Nike. And if you think of it,ask them please to pass it on up the company’s food chain.

Customer feedback! Maximum Mondo Important, particularly NOW. They’re already doing this campaign because they’re sensitive to the needs and preferences of their customers and they can read the polls and get a sense of trends. It’s market research and some supervisor or manager will find that information useful and informative. And valuable! Positive feedback will be MOST valuable to Nike, its ad agency or internal ad people and if its sales go up on the heels of this campaign, there will be plenty of motivation to do another one - a variation of a theme.

And whoever originally thought it up can list it onhis/her resume and get more jobs from it. Nothing succeeds like success - in advertising, politics, public relations, and job-seeking!

As Nike would advise - “Just Do It.”