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Madam45for2923
Madam45for2923's Journal
Madam45for2923's Journal
November 29, 2016
Our ruling
Reports claim 3 million "illegal aliens" cast votes in this year's election.
The articles point back to tweets from Gregg Phillips, who has worked for the Republican Party and has a voter fraud reporting app. But Phillips will not provide any evidence to support his claim, which happens to be undermined by publicly available information.
If Phillips does release a more detailed report, we will consider that information. But for now, this claim is inaccurate. We rate it False.
http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2016/nov/18/blog-posting/no-3-million-undocumented-immigrants-did-not-vote-/
Fact-check: Did 3 million undocumented immigrants vote in this year's election?
Our ruling
Reports claim 3 million "illegal aliens" cast votes in this year's election.
The articles point back to tweets from Gregg Phillips, who has worked for the Republican Party and has a voter fraud reporting app. But Phillips will not provide any evidence to support his claim, which happens to be undermined by publicly available information.
If Phillips does release a more detailed report, we will consider that information. But for now, this claim is inaccurate. We rate it False.
http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2016/nov/18/blog-posting/no-3-million-undocumented-immigrants-did-not-vote-/
November 29, 2016
Coping with Chaos in the White House (NPD)
A few days ago, I wrote a post for my Facebook friends about my personal experience with narcissistic personality disorder and how I view the president elect as a result. Unexpectedly, the post traveled widely, and it became clear that many people are struggling with how to understand and deal with this kind of behavior in a position of power. Although several writers, including a few professionals, have publicly offered their thoughts on a diagnosis, I am not a professional and this is not a diagnosis. My post is not intended to persuade anyone or provide a comprehensive description of NPD. I am speaking purely from decades of dealing with NPD and sharing strategies that were helpful for me in coping and predicting behavior. The text below is adapted from my original Facebook post.
...
6) It’s very, very confusing for non-disordered people to experience a disordered person with NPD. While often intelligent, charismatic and charming, they do not reliably observe social conventions or demonstrate basic human empathy. It’s very common for non-disordered people to lower their own expectations and try to normalize the behavior. DO NOT DO THIS AND DO NOT ALLOW OTHERS, ESPECIALLY THE MEDIA, TO DO THIS. If you start to feel foggy or unclear about this, step away until you recalibrate.
7) People with NPD often recruit helpers, referred to in the literature as “enablers” when they allow or cover for bad behavior and “flying monkeys” when they perpetrate bad behavior on behalf of the narcissist. Although it’s easiest to prey on malicious people, good and vulnerable people can be unwittingly recruited. It will be important to support good people around him if and when they attempt to stay clear or break away.
8) People with NPD often foster competition for sport in people they control. Expect lots of chaos, firings and recriminations. He will probably behave worst toward those closest to him, but that doesn’t mean (obviously) that his actions won’t have consequences for the rest of us. He will punish enemies. He may start out, as he has with the NYT, with a confusing combination of punishing/rewarding, which is a classic abuse tactic for control. If you see your media cooperating or facilitating this behavior for rewards, call them on it.
9) Gaslighting — where someone tries to convince you that the reality you’ve experienced isn’t true — is real and torturous. He will gaslight, his followers will gaslight. Many of our politicians and media figures already gaslight, so it will be hard to distinguish his amplified version from what has already been normalized. Learn the signs and find ways to stay focused on what you know to be true. Note: it is typically not helpful to argue with people who are attempting to gaslight. You will only confuse yourself. Just walk away.
10) Whenever possible, do not focus on the narcissist or give him attention. Unfortunately we can’t and shouldn’t ignore the president, but don’t circulate his tweets or laugh at him — you are enabling him and getting his word out. (I’ve done this, of course, we all have… just try to be aware.) Pay attention to your own emotions: do you sort of enjoy his clowning? do you enjoy the outrage? is this kind of fun and dramatic, in a sick way? You are adding to his energy. Focus on what you can change and how you can resist, where you are. We are all called to be leaders now, in the absence of leadership.
https://medium.com/@nziehl/coping-with-chaos-in-the-white-house-697fa2ca3ddf#.u4prttm61
6) It’s very, very confusing for non-disordered people to experience a disordered person with NPD. While often intelligent, charismatic and charming, they do not reliably observe social conventions or demonstrate basic human empathy. It’s very common for non-disordered people to lower their own expectations and try to normalize the behavior. DO NOT DO THIS AND DO NOT ALLOW OTHERS, ESPECIALLY THE MEDIA, TO DO THIS. If you start to feel foggy or unclear about this, step away until you recalibrate.
7) People with NPD often recruit helpers, referred to in the literature as “enablers” when they allow or cover for bad behavior and “flying monkeys” when they perpetrate bad behavior on behalf of the narcissist. Although it’s easiest to prey on malicious people, good and vulnerable people can be unwittingly recruited. It will be important to support good people around him if and when they attempt to stay clear or break away.
8) People with NPD often foster competition for sport in people they control. Expect lots of chaos, firings and recriminations. He will probably behave worst toward those closest to him, but that doesn’t mean (obviously) that his actions won’t have consequences for the rest of us. He will punish enemies. He may start out, as he has with the NYT, with a confusing combination of punishing/rewarding, which is a classic abuse tactic for control. If you see your media cooperating or facilitating this behavior for rewards, call them on it.
9) Gaslighting — where someone tries to convince you that the reality you’ve experienced isn’t true — is real and torturous. He will gaslight, his followers will gaslight. Many of our politicians and media figures already gaslight, so it will be hard to distinguish his amplified version from what has already been normalized. Learn the signs and find ways to stay focused on what you know to be true. Note: it is typically not helpful to argue with people who are attempting to gaslight. You will only confuse yourself. Just walk away.
10) Whenever possible, do not focus on the narcissist or give him attention. Unfortunately we can’t and shouldn’t ignore the president, but don’t circulate his tweets or laugh at him — you are enabling him and getting his word out. (I’ve done this, of course, we all have… just try to be aware.) Pay attention to your own emotions: do you sort of enjoy his clowning? do you enjoy the outrage? is this kind of fun and dramatic, in a sick way? You are adding to his energy. Focus on what you can change and how you can resist, where you are. We are all called to be leaders now, in the absence of leadership.
https://medium.com/@nziehl/coping-with-chaos-in-the-white-house-697fa2ca3ddf#.u4prttm61
November 29, 2016
<snip>
More election security experts have joined Jill Stein’s campaign to review the presidential vote in battleground states won by Donald Trump even as she sues Wisconsin to secure a full recount by hand of all of its 3m ballots.
Half a dozen academics and other specialists on Monday submitted new testimony supporting a lawsuit from Stein against Wisconsin authorities, in which she asked a court to prevent county officials from carrying out their recounts by machine.
Stein argued that Wisconsin’s plan to allow automatic recounting “risks tainting the recount process” because the electronic scanning equipment involved may incorrectly tally the results and could have been attacked by foreign hackers.
“There is a substantial possibility that recounting the ballots by hand will produce a more correct result and change the outcome of the election,” Stein argued in the lawsuit in Dane County circuit court. A copy was obtained by the Guardian.
Stein, the Green party’s presidential election candidate, is working to secure full recounts in the states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where Trump surprised pollsters by narrowly beating Clinton on his way to a national victory in the electoral college.
A petition from Stein requesting a recount was accepted by Wisconsin last Friday. Her efforts to obtain a recount in Pennsylvania met serious difficulties on Monday as it became clear she needed three voters in each of the state’s 9,163 voting precincts to request a recount on her behalf, and that deadlines to do so had passed in many precincts.
Security experts join Jill Stein's 'election changing' recount campaign
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/29/security-experts-join-jill-steins-election-changing-recount-campaign<snip>
More election security experts have joined Jill Stein’s campaign to review the presidential vote in battleground states won by Donald Trump even as she sues Wisconsin to secure a full recount by hand of all of its 3m ballots.
Half a dozen academics and other specialists on Monday submitted new testimony supporting a lawsuit from Stein against Wisconsin authorities, in which she asked a court to prevent county officials from carrying out their recounts by machine.
Stein argued that Wisconsin’s plan to allow automatic recounting “risks tainting the recount process” because the electronic scanning equipment involved may incorrectly tally the results and could have been attacked by foreign hackers.
“There is a substantial possibility that recounting the ballots by hand will produce a more correct result and change the outcome of the election,” Stein argued in the lawsuit in Dane County circuit court. A copy was obtained by the Guardian.
Stein, the Green party’s presidential election candidate, is working to secure full recounts in the states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, where Trump surprised pollsters by narrowly beating Clinton on his way to a national victory in the electoral college.
A petition from Stein requesting a recount was accepted by Wisconsin last Friday. Her efforts to obtain a recount in Pennsylvania met serious difficulties on Monday as it became clear she needed three voters in each of the state’s 9,163 voting precincts to request a recount on her behalf, and that deadlines to do so had passed in many precincts.
November 29, 2016
Coping with Chaos in the White House (NPD)
A few days ago, I wrote a post for my Facebook friends about my personal experience with narcissistic personality disorder and how I view the president elect as a result. Unexpectedly, the post traveled widely, and it became clear that many people are struggling with how to understand and deal with this kind of behavior in a position of power. Although several writers, including a few professionals, have publicly offered their thoughts on a diagnosis, I am not a professional and this is not a diagnosis. My post is not intended to persuade anyone or provide a comprehensive description of NPD. I am speaking purely from decades of dealing with NPD and sharing strategies that were helpful for me in coping and predicting behavior. The text below is adapted from my original Facebook post.
...
6) It’s very, very confusing for non-disordered people to experience a disordered person with NPD. While often intelligent, charismatic and charming, they do not reliably observe social conventions or demonstrate basic human empathy. It’s very common for non-disordered people to lower their own expectations and try to normalize the behavior. DO NOT DO THIS AND DO NOT ALLOW OTHERS, ESPECIALLY THE MEDIA, TO DO THIS. If you start to feel foggy or unclear about this, step away until you recalibrate.
7) People with NPD often recruit helpers, referred to in the literature as “enablers” when they allow or cover for bad behavior and “flying monkeys” when they perpetrate bad behavior on behalf of the narcissist. Although it’s easiest to prey on malicious people, good and vulnerable people can be unwittingly recruited. It will be important to support good people around him if and when they attempt to stay clear or break away.
8) People with NPD often foster competition for sport in people they control. Expect lots of chaos, firings and recriminations. He will probably behave worst toward those closest to him, but that doesn’t mean (obviously) that his actions won’t have consequences for the rest of us. He will punish enemies. He may start out, as he has with the NYT, with a confusing combination of punishing/rewarding, which is a classic abuse tactic for control. If you see your media cooperating or facilitating this behavior for rewards, call them on it.
9) Gaslighting — where someone tries to convince you that the reality you’ve experienced isn’t true — is real and torturous. He will gaslight, his followers will gaslight. Many of our politicians and media figures already gaslight, so it will be hard to distinguish his amplified version from what has already been normalized. Learn the signs and find ways to stay focused on what you know to be true. Note: it is typically not helpful to argue with people who are attempting to gaslight. You will only confuse yourself. Just walk away.
10) Whenever possible, do not focus on the narcissist or give him attention. Unfortunately we can’t and shouldn’t ignore the president, but don’t circulate his tweets or laugh at him — you are enabling him and getting his word out. (I’ve done this, of course, we all have… just try to be aware.) Pay attention to your own emotions: do you sort of enjoy his clowning? do you enjoy the outrage? is this kind of fun and dramatic, in a sick way? You are adding to his energy. Focus on what you can change and how you can resist, where you are. We are all called to be leaders now, in the absence of leadership.
https://medium.com/@nziehl/coping-with-chaos-in-the-white-house-697fa2ca3ddf#.u4prttm61
6) It’s very, very confusing for non-disordered people to experience a disordered person with NPD. While often intelligent, charismatic and charming, they do not reliably observe social conventions or demonstrate basic human empathy. It’s very common for non-disordered people to lower their own expectations and try to normalize the behavior. DO NOT DO THIS AND DO NOT ALLOW OTHERS, ESPECIALLY THE MEDIA, TO DO THIS. If you start to feel foggy or unclear about this, step away until you recalibrate.
7) People with NPD often recruit helpers, referred to in the literature as “enablers” when they allow or cover for bad behavior and “flying monkeys” when they perpetrate bad behavior on behalf of the narcissist. Although it’s easiest to prey on malicious people, good and vulnerable people can be unwittingly recruited. It will be important to support good people around him if and when they attempt to stay clear or break away.
8) People with NPD often foster competition for sport in people they control. Expect lots of chaos, firings and recriminations. He will probably behave worst toward those closest to him, but that doesn’t mean (obviously) that his actions won’t have consequences for the rest of us. He will punish enemies. He may start out, as he has with the NYT, with a confusing combination of punishing/rewarding, which is a classic abuse tactic for control. If you see your media cooperating or facilitating this behavior for rewards, call them on it.
9) Gaslighting — where someone tries to convince you that the reality you’ve experienced isn’t true — is real and torturous. He will gaslight, his followers will gaslight. Many of our politicians and media figures already gaslight, so it will be hard to distinguish his amplified version from what has already been normalized. Learn the signs and find ways to stay focused on what you know to be true. Note: it is typically not helpful to argue with people who are attempting to gaslight. You will only confuse yourself. Just walk away.
10) Whenever possible, do not focus on the narcissist or give him attention. Unfortunately we can’t and shouldn’t ignore the president, but don’t circulate his tweets or laugh at him — you are enabling him and getting his word out. (I’ve done this, of course, we all have… just try to be aware.) Pay attention to your own emotions: do you sort of enjoy his clowning? do you enjoy the outrage? is this kind of fun and dramatic, in a sick way? You are adding to his energy. Focus on what you can change and how you can resist, where you are. We are all called to be leaders now, in the absence of leadership.
https://medium.com/@nziehl/coping-with-chaos-in-the-white-house-697fa2ca3ddf#.u4prttm61
November 28, 2016
Even as officials in Wisconsin and Michigan have stated that they’re preparing for the recounts that have been put in motion by third party candidate Jill Stein, which could end up shifting the presidency from Donald Trump to Hillary Clinton in the process, Stein is now working to make a Pennsylvania recount happen. She has the funding, but due to state law, she needs the signatures of at least three voters in every precinct. As such she’s asking for immediate volunteers to drive across Pennsylvania and find three locals willing to sign affidavits in each precinct.
This matter is considered crucial in that, unlike the other two states, Pennsylvania has put this step in place in an attempt to make it more difficult to trigger a recount. Even as Jill Stein is asking Pennsylvania residents to commit on her website to signing such an affidavit, she’s also actively seeking people who are willing to drive around in the state’s rural areas in order to get the signatures.
Considering how controversial the 2016 election results have proven to be, and the sheer number of Americans who believe the results weren’t legitimate, there should easily be far more than three people in each Pennsylvania precinct who want a recount. The only difficulty comes down to the logistics of getting to them in time, as the recount effort in Pennsylvania aims to move forward as quickly as possible.
http://www.palmerreport.com/news/jill-stein-needs-immediate-volunteers-in-pennsylvania-for-recount-affidavit-effort/275/
http://www.jill2016.com/recountpa
PA Counties:
Adams
Allegheny
Armstrong
Beaver
Bedford
Berks
Blair
Bradford
Bucks
Butler
Cambria
Cameron
Carbon
Centre
Chester
Clarion
Clearfield
Clinton
Columbia
Crawford
Cumberland
Dauphin
Delaware
Elk
Erie
Fayette
Forest
Franklin
Fulton
Greene
Huntingdon
Indiana
Jefferson
Juniata
Lackawanna
Lancaster
Lawrence
Lebanon
Lehigh
Luzerne
Lycoming
McKean
Mercer
Mifflin
Monroe
Montgomery
Montour
Northampton
Northumberland
Perry
Philadelphia
Pike
Potter
Schuylkill
Snyder
Somerset
Sullivan
Susquehanna
Tioga
Union
Venango
Warren
Washington
Wayne
Westmoreland
Wyoming
York
Need immediate volunteers 2 drive across Pennsylvania and find 3 locals willing to sign affidavi
Jill Stein needs immediate volunteers in Pennsylvania to gather recount affidavit signaturesEven as officials in Wisconsin and Michigan have stated that they’re preparing for the recounts that have been put in motion by third party candidate Jill Stein, which could end up shifting the presidency from Donald Trump to Hillary Clinton in the process, Stein is now working to make a Pennsylvania recount happen. She has the funding, but due to state law, she needs the signatures of at least three voters in every precinct. As such she’s asking for immediate volunteers to drive across Pennsylvania and find three locals willing to sign affidavits in each precinct.
This matter is considered crucial in that, unlike the other two states, Pennsylvania has put this step in place in an attempt to make it more difficult to trigger a recount. Even as Jill Stein is asking Pennsylvania residents to commit on her website to signing such an affidavit, she’s also actively seeking people who are willing to drive around in the state’s rural areas in order to get the signatures.
Considering how controversial the 2016 election results have proven to be, and the sheer number of Americans who believe the results weren’t legitimate, there should easily be far more than three people in each Pennsylvania precinct who want a recount. The only difficulty comes down to the logistics of getting to them in time, as the recount effort in Pennsylvania aims to move forward as quickly as possible.
http://www.palmerreport.com/news/jill-stein-needs-immediate-volunteers-in-pennsylvania-for-recount-affidavit-effort/275/
http://www.jill2016.com/recountpa
PA Counties:
Adams
Allegheny
Armstrong
Beaver
Bedford
Berks
Blair
Bradford
Bucks
Butler
Cambria
Cameron
Carbon
Centre
Chester
Clarion
Clearfield
Clinton
Columbia
Crawford
Cumberland
Dauphin
Delaware
Elk
Erie
Fayette
Forest
Franklin
Fulton
Greene
Huntingdon
Indiana
Jefferson
Juniata
Lackawanna
Lancaster
Lawrence
Lebanon
Lehigh
Luzerne
Lycoming
McKean
Mercer
Mifflin
Monroe
Montgomery
Montour
Northampton
Northumberland
Perry
Philadelphia
Pike
Potter
Schuylkill
Snyder
Somerset
Sullivan
Susquehanna
Tioga
Union
Venango
Warren
Washington
Wayne
Westmoreland
Wyoming
York
November 28, 2016
Even as officials in Wisconsin and Michigan have stated that they’re preparing for the recounts that have been put in motion by third party candidate Jill Stein, which could end up shifting the presidency from Donald Trump to Hillary Clinton in the process, Stein is now working to make a Pennsylvania recount happen. She has the funding, but due to state law, she needs the signatures of at least three voters in every precinct. As such she’s asking for immediate volunteers to drive across Pennsylvania and find three locals willing to sign affidavits in each precinct.
This matter is considered crucial in that, unlike the other two states, Pennsylvania has put this step in place in an attempt to make it more difficult to trigger a recount. Even as Jill Stein is asking Pennsylvania residents to commit on her website to signing such an affidavit, she’s also actively seeking people who are willing to drive around in the state’s rural areas in order to get the signatures.
Considering how controversial the 2016 election results have proven to be, and the sheer number of Americans who believe the results weren’t legitimate, there should easily be far more than three people in each Pennsylvania precinct who want a recount. The only difficulty comes down to the logistics of getting to them in time, as the recount effort in Pennsylvania aims to move forward as quickly as possible.
http://www.palmerreport.com/news/jill-stein-needs-immediate-volunteers-in-pennsylvania-for-recount-affidavit-effort/275/
http://www.jill2016.com/recountpa
PA Counties:
Adams
Allegheny
Armstrong
Beaver
Bedford
Berks
Blair
Bradford
Bucks
Butler
Cambria
Cameron
Carbon
Centre
Chester
Clarion
Clearfield
Clinton
Columbia
Crawford
Cumberland
Dauphin
Delaware
Elk
Erie
Fayette
Forest
Franklin
Fulton
Greene
Huntingdon
Indiana
Jefferson
Juniata
Lackawanna
Lancaster
Lawrence
Lebanon
Lehigh
Luzerne
Lycoming
McKean
Mercer
Mifflin
Monroe
Montgomery
Montour
Northampton
Northumberland
Perry
Philadelphia
Pike
Potter
Schuylkill
Snyder
Somerset
Sullivan
Susquehanna
Tioga
Union
Venango
Warren
Washington
Wayne
Westmoreland
Wyoming
York
Need immediate volunteers 2 drive across Pennsylvania and find 3 locals willing to sign affidavi
Jill Stein needs immediate volunteers in Pennsylvania to gather recount affidavit signaturesEven as officials in Wisconsin and Michigan have stated that they’re preparing for the recounts that have been put in motion by third party candidate Jill Stein, which could end up shifting the presidency from Donald Trump to Hillary Clinton in the process, Stein is now working to make a Pennsylvania recount happen. She has the funding, but due to state law, she needs the signatures of at least three voters in every precinct. As such she’s asking for immediate volunteers to drive across Pennsylvania and find three locals willing to sign affidavits in each precinct.
This matter is considered crucial in that, unlike the other two states, Pennsylvania has put this step in place in an attempt to make it more difficult to trigger a recount. Even as Jill Stein is asking Pennsylvania residents to commit on her website to signing such an affidavit, she’s also actively seeking people who are willing to drive around in the state’s rural areas in order to get the signatures.
Considering how controversial the 2016 election results have proven to be, and the sheer number of Americans who believe the results weren’t legitimate, there should easily be far more than three people in each Pennsylvania precinct who want a recount. The only difficulty comes down to the logistics of getting to them in time, as the recount effort in Pennsylvania aims to move forward as quickly as possible.
http://www.palmerreport.com/news/jill-stein-needs-immediate-volunteers-in-pennsylvania-for-recount-affidavit-effort/275/
http://www.jill2016.com/recountpa
PA Counties:
Adams
Allegheny
Armstrong
Beaver
Bedford
Berks
Blair
Bradford
Bucks
Butler
Cambria
Cameron
Carbon
Centre
Chester
Clarion
Clearfield
Clinton
Columbia
Crawford
Cumberland
Dauphin
Delaware
Elk
Erie
Fayette
Forest
Franklin
Fulton
Greene
Huntingdon
Indiana
Jefferson
Juniata
Lackawanna
Lancaster
Lawrence
Lebanon
Lehigh
Luzerne
Lycoming
McKean
Mercer
Mifflin
Monroe
Montgomery
Montour
Northampton
Northumberland
Perry
Philadelphia
Pike
Potter
Schuylkill
Snyder
Somerset
Sullivan
Susquehanna
Tioga
Union
Venango
Warren
Washington
Wayne
Westmoreland
Wyoming
York
November 27, 2016
What you yes, you can do to save America from tyranny
Americans are no wiser than the Europeans who saw democracy yield to fascism, Nazism or communism. Our one advantage is that we might learn from their experience. Now is a good time to do so.
Here are 20 lessons from across the fearful 20th century, adapted to the circumstances of today.
1. Do not obey in advance. Much of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then start to do it without being asked. You've already done this, haven't you? Stop. Anticipatory obedience teaches authorities what is possible and accelerates unfreedom.
2. Defend an institution. Follow the courts or the media, or a court or a newspaper. Do not speak of "our institutions" unless you are making them yours by acting on their behalf. Institutions don't protect themselves. They go down like dominoes unless each is defended from the beginning.
3. Recall professional ethics. When the leaders of state set a negative example, professional commitments to just practice become much more important. It is hard to break a rule-of-law state without lawyers, and it is hard to have show trials without judges.
4. When listening to politicians, distinguish certain words. Look out for the expansive use of "terrorism" and "extremism." Be alive to the fatal notions of "exception" and "emergency." Be angry about the treacherous use of patriotic vocabulary.
5. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives. When the terrorist attack comes, remember that all authoritarians at all times either await or plan such events in order to consolidate power. Think of the Reichstag fire. The sudden disaster that requires the end of the balance of power, the end of opposition parties, and so on, is the oldest trick in the Hitlerian book. Don't fall for it.
More: http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/11/21/learning-history-can-save-america-tyranny
Here are 20 lessons from across the fearful 20th century, adapted to the circumstances of today.
1. Do not obey in advance. Much of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then start to do it without being asked. You've already done this, haven't you? Stop. Anticipatory obedience teaches authorities what is possible and accelerates unfreedom.
2. Defend an institution. Follow the courts or the media, or a court or a newspaper. Do not speak of "our institutions" unless you are making them yours by acting on their behalf. Institutions don't protect themselves. They go down like dominoes unless each is defended from the beginning.
3. Recall professional ethics. When the leaders of state set a negative example, professional commitments to just practice become much more important. It is hard to break a rule-of-law state without lawyers, and it is hard to have show trials without judges.
4. When listening to politicians, distinguish certain words. Look out for the expansive use of "terrorism" and "extremism." Be alive to the fatal notions of "exception" and "emergency." Be angry about the treacherous use of patriotic vocabulary.
5. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives. When the terrorist attack comes, remember that all authoritarians at all times either await or plan such events in order to consolidate power. Think of the Reichstag fire. The sudden disaster that requires the end of the balance of power, the end of opposition parties, and so on, is the oldest trick in the Hitlerian book. Don't fall for it.
More: http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/11/21/learning-history-can-save-america-tyranny
November 27, 2016
What you yes, you can do to save America from tyranny
Americans are no wiser than the Europeans who saw democracy yield to fascism, Nazism or communism. Our one advantage is that we might learn from their experience. Now is a good time to do so.
Here are 20 lessons from across the fearful 20th century, adapted to the circumstances of today.
1. Do not obey in advance. Much of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then start to do it without being asked. You've already done this, haven't you? Stop. Anticipatory obedience teaches authorities what is possible and accelerates unfreedom.
2. Defend an institution. Follow the courts or the media, or a court or a newspaper. Do not speak of "our institutions" unless you are making them yours by acting on their behalf. Institutions don't protect themselves. They go down like dominoes unless each is defended from the beginning.
3. Recall professional ethics. When the leaders of state set a negative example, professional commitments to just practice become much more important. It is hard to break a rule-of-law state without lawyers, and it is hard to have show trials without judges.
4. When listening to politicians, distinguish certain words. Look out for the expansive use of "terrorism" and "extremism." Be alive to the fatal notions of "exception" and "emergency." Be angry about the treacherous use of patriotic vocabulary.
5. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives. When the terrorist attack comes, remember that all authoritarians at all times either await or plan such events in order to consolidate power. Think of the Reichstag fire. The sudden disaster that requires the end of the balance of power, the end of opposition parties, and so on, is the oldest trick in the Hitlerian book. Don't fall for it.
More: http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/11/21/learning-history-can-save-america-tyranny
Here are 20 lessons from across the fearful 20th century, adapted to the circumstances of today.
1. Do not obey in advance. Much of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then start to do it without being asked. You've already done this, haven't you? Stop. Anticipatory obedience teaches authorities what is possible and accelerates unfreedom.
2. Defend an institution. Follow the courts or the media, or a court or a newspaper. Do not speak of "our institutions" unless you are making them yours by acting on their behalf. Institutions don't protect themselves. They go down like dominoes unless each is defended from the beginning.
3. Recall professional ethics. When the leaders of state set a negative example, professional commitments to just practice become much more important. It is hard to break a rule-of-law state without lawyers, and it is hard to have show trials without judges.
4. When listening to politicians, distinguish certain words. Look out for the expansive use of "terrorism" and "extremism." Be alive to the fatal notions of "exception" and "emergency." Be angry about the treacherous use of patriotic vocabulary.
5. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives. When the terrorist attack comes, remember that all authoritarians at all times either await or plan such events in order to consolidate power. Think of the Reichstag fire. The sudden disaster that requires the end of the balance of power, the end of opposition parties, and so on, is the oldest trick in the Hitlerian book. Don't fall for it.
More: http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2016/11/21/learning-history-can-save-america-tyranny
November 26, 2016
You don't have to be a resident of WI, MI, PA to be an observer. Signup here! #AuditTheVote #Recount
Michigan: http://www.jill2016.com/recountmi
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Wisconsin: http://www.jill2016.com/recountwi
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Andrea Chalupa
?@AndreaChalupa Andrea Chalupa Retweeted Dr. Jill Stein
You don't have to be a resident of WI, MI, PA to be an observer. Sign up here! #AuditTheVote #Recount 2016Andrea Chalupa added,
Dr. Jill Stein @DrJillStein
Democracy needs you to be a #Recount2016 volunteer. /b]
http://jill2016.com/recountWI
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https://twitter.com/AndreaChalupa/status/802280823202414592
https://twitter.com/DrJillStein/status/801808606215675904
Andrea Chalupa
?@AndreaChalupa Andrea Chalupa Retweeted Dr. Jill Stein
You don't have to be a resident of WI, MI, PA to be an observer. Sign up here! #AuditTheVote #Recount 2016Andrea Chalupa added,
Dr. Jill Stein @DrJillStein
Democracy needs you to be a #Recount2016 volunteer. /b]
http://jill2016.com/recountWI
http://jill2016.com/recountMI
http://jill2016.com/recountPA
https://twitter.com/AndreaChalupa/status/802280823202414592
https://twitter.com/DrJillStein/status/801808606215675904
November 25, 2016
Questions Aplenty: Breaking Down the 2016 Presidential Vote in Florida
But these record-breaking numbers can and should be scrutinized. Let's start with the overall numbers. When all was said and done, Florida had a voter turnout percentage of 74% compared to a national average of 58%. At a time when voter turnout was at a national 20-year low and 90 million eligible Americans did not vote, Florida managed to somehow increase its voter participation by 12% from 2012. The argument can be made that Florida received more national attention from both candidates and their surrogates and thus their voters were more engaged. And yet, Florida has remained a crucial swing state since 2000 repeatedly garnering national attention for the closeness of its national elections. The year 2016 was no different, and yet turnout dramatically increased throughout the state.
Even more confounding is the county breakdown from 2016 and 2012. By analyzing these results side-by-side, some interesting conclusions can be reached. First off, we can see how exactly both Democrats and Republicans increased voter turnout. Democrats focused largely on urban areas and because of that, they saw increases in 26 counties compared to 41 counties where they saw a decline from 2012. Of these 26 counties, the most significant gains were in Miami-Dade County (+82,230), Orange County (+55,352) Broward County (+39,526), Palm Beach County (+21,993) and Hillsborough County (+20,275). Of the 41 counties where Democratic Party lost support the most significant losses were Pasco County (-8,150), Hernando County (-5,973), Volusia County (-5,923), Pinellas County (-5,639) and Marion County (-4,865).
On the flip side, Republicans saw statewide gains in all but 5 counties from 2012 to 2016. Their most significant gains were in Lee County (+37,029), Pasco County (+29,608), Polk County (+25,650), Pinellas County (+25,554), and Volusia County (+25,290). The only counties where they saw a decrease in voter turnout were Alachua County (-2,181), Leon County (-2,029), Duval County (-1,492), Seminole County (-674) and Escambia County (-301). Of the 6 counties in Florida that had at least an 80% turnout rate (Baker, Collier, Franklin, Jefferson, St. Johns, and Sumter) Donald Trump won all 6 of them. Overall, Donald Trump won 59 out of 67 counties in the state with his only losses being in Miami-Dade, Broward, Orange, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, Alachua, Gadsden, and Leon.
In short, the Trump campaign had fewer field offices, fewer organizers, fewer volunteers, they did not expand the electorate, and they aired far fewer ads and the end result for all of this was a massive voter turnout for a racist, xenophobic, misogynistic, candidate who ran the most deceitful and divisive campaign in American political history. I, for one, am not buying it.
I'm not buying the fact that 440,000 Republicans will be more inspired by Donald Trump than Mitt Romney. I'm not buying that Republicans could get out the vote in areas like Lee County, Pasco County, Polk County, Pinellas County, and Volusia County with a depleted volunteer base. I'm not buying the fact that Eisenhower Republicans all coalesced around Donald Trump rather than crossing over to vote for Hillary Clinton. I'm not buying the fact that low-information voters were unswayed by the abundance of Hillary Clinton ads. And I'm not buying the fact that Donald Trump's campaign added nearly 22,000 voters in Palm Beach County from 2012 to 2016 in an area where I personally witnessed zero voter registration efforts, zero canvassing, and zero volunteers in the entire five months that I was on the campaign trail in the region.
Campaigns are won and lost at the grassroots level. Never in our nation's history have we had a candidate in Donald Trump simply galvanize millions of people without even trying. Even with his celebrity status, the fact that hundreds of thousands of Republican voters came out of the Florida woodwork to vote for him and that these voters were simply missed by every single poll and polling outlet seems not only impractical but also impossible. The results of Florida's election need to be analyzed and broken down to answer these questions. This is not a partisan issue, but rather is a American issue that cuts to the core of our democracy. These results raise serious questions and the American people deserve answers. And these answers could alter our country's history.
http://www.thepeoplesview.net/main/2016/11/20/questions-aplenty-breaking-down-the-2016-presidential-vote-in-florida
Even more confounding is the county breakdown from 2016 and 2012. By analyzing these results side-by-side, some interesting conclusions can be reached. First off, we can see how exactly both Democrats and Republicans increased voter turnout. Democrats focused largely on urban areas and because of that, they saw increases in 26 counties compared to 41 counties where they saw a decline from 2012. Of these 26 counties, the most significant gains were in Miami-Dade County (+82,230), Orange County (+55,352) Broward County (+39,526), Palm Beach County (+21,993) and Hillsborough County (+20,275). Of the 41 counties where Democratic Party lost support the most significant losses were Pasco County (-8,150), Hernando County (-5,973), Volusia County (-5,923), Pinellas County (-5,639) and Marion County (-4,865).
On the flip side, Republicans saw statewide gains in all but 5 counties from 2012 to 2016. Their most significant gains were in Lee County (+37,029), Pasco County (+29,608), Polk County (+25,650), Pinellas County (+25,554), and Volusia County (+25,290). The only counties where they saw a decrease in voter turnout were Alachua County (-2,181), Leon County (-2,029), Duval County (-1,492), Seminole County (-674) and Escambia County (-301). Of the 6 counties in Florida that had at least an 80% turnout rate (Baker, Collier, Franklin, Jefferson, St. Johns, and Sumter) Donald Trump won all 6 of them. Overall, Donald Trump won 59 out of 67 counties in the state with his only losses being in Miami-Dade, Broward, Orange, Palm Beach, Hillsborough, Alachua, Gadsden, and Leon.
In short, the Trump campaign had fewer field offices, fewer organizers, fewer volunteers, they did not expand the electorate, and they aired far fewer ads and the end result for all of this was a massive voter turnout for a racist, xenophobic, misogynistic, candidate who ran the most deceitful and divisive campaign in American political history. I, for one, am not buying it.
I'm not buying the fact that 440,000 Republicans will be more inspired by Donald Trump than Mitt Romney. I'm not buying that Republicans could get out the vote in areas like Lee County, Pasco County, Polk County, Pinellas County, and Volusia County with a depleted volunteer base. I'm not buying the fact that Eisenhower Republicans all coalesced around Donald Trump rather than crossing over to vote for Hillary Clinton. I'm not buying the fact that low-information voters were unswayed by the abundance of Hillary Clinton ads. And I'm not buying the fact that Donald Trump's campaign added nearly 22,000 voters in Palm Beach County from 2012 to 2016 in an area where I personally witnessed zero voter registration efforts, zero canvassing, and zero volunteers in the entire five months that I was on the campaign trail in the region.
Campaigns are won and lost at the grassroots level. Never in our nation's history have we had a candidate in Donald Trump simply galvanize millions of people without even trying. Even with his celebrity status, the fact that hundreds of thousands of Republican voters came out of the Florida woodwork to vote for him and that these voters were simply missed by every single poll and polling outlet seems not only impractical but also impossible. The results of Florida's election need to be analyzed and broken down to answer these questions. This is not a partisan issue, but rather is a American issue that cuts to the core of our democracy. These results raise serious questions and the American people deserve answers. And these answers could alter our country's history.
http://www.thepeoplesview.net/main/2016/11/20/questions-aplenty-breaking-down-the-2016-presidential-vote-in-florida
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