It is super easy to say Bernie is useless and then offer zero solutions yourself. I genuinely ask- who’s out there doing it better? What should he and others be doing instead? The left needs constructive organizing, not negative take downs with no counter points or real world solutions as alternatives.

This reply is exactly my point. And…? So he’s not sufficiently left and/or effective enough for you. What is the solution? It’s easy to dump on others, and a hell of a lot harder to actually produce answers. I’ll also add that there’s a lot on the left who propose pie in the sky answers that resemble little in the way of constructive, real world, “how does this get done in real life” type answers. I’m on the left, too. I’m all for solutions. Let’s hear them. I’m beyond “Bernie is a shill” and “Bernie is useless”. Let’s hear your genius plan then for how to better this country. Be constructive.

There’s some people who just hate on Bernie regardless of what he says or does. He if makes no comment in this time of authoritarianism, you’ll say he’s useless. If he does speeches like he’s doing, you’ll say he’s useless- as many comments here currently reflect. He typically says things that have a moral core or decency to them. He’s of course not perfect. He also has to politically function within a broken two party bullshit system which, unless there’s a significant change to how it functions, limits how he can try to enact laws. But to many here he’s clearly damned if he does and doesn’t. I’ve read through all of the comments here so far and none of the people critiquing Bernie have offered up a tangible suggestion for what Bernie should be doing instead, rather just pointing out how ineffective they feel Bernie is. Bernie made a huge national culture shift to the left through his historic runs for president. He was stifled by the DNC and ultimately lost, but the enduring left of center message continues in many politicians running in the country on the Democratic side. I am not defending the Democrats as a party at all, but I’d argue Bernie successfully used the Dems to get his message across during his presidential runs, and now as an Independent continues to have a platform for left of center messages. Whether he’s sufficiently left enough or effective enough is the eternally tired debate with some on the left who, besides shitting on Bernie, don’t themselves offer solutions.

This is exactly my feeling. I genuinely WANT to feel positively about this, but simply don’t trust them.

I’m back to say that in really cold days in NYC I use Pearl Izumi’s AmFIB Lobster Gel gloves (https://www.pearlizumi.com/products/amfib-lobster-gel-gloves-14342006?srsltid=AfmBOoqFrw3Tpa10AD_OdQf8Dxua0bPtYIq8o3a-sO-iabqWEqq4qTlx&variant=40647605649579). Obviously NYC doesn’t get to the temps you described, but per the product page linked above, the company alleges that these gloves are made for up to minus 30 below.

Good luck in your search. Where are you based out of curiosity? Sorry I can’t help, but genuine shoutout to ride in those temps.

I gave a look at this linked post. I agree there is a logic to what Trump and Musk and the rest of those ghouls are doing. To clarify, I don’t actually think either men are indeed “stupid” and used it as a turn of phrase and a way of expressing my anger. I do think it’s incredibly short sighted though to ruin friendships with countries who you have economic and military cooperation with. The long term downsides I would imagine outweigh the short term gains for Trump and Musk personally. With this said, I don’t think either cares about anyone but themselves, so ruining the country and its relationship with Canada and more probably means little to them. My monster comment still stands.

As an American, all I can say is the most obvious thing. Trump is a monster and very stupid as well. Sorry, Canada.

Exactly. The truth we all know is, right wingers LOVE huge, wildly overreaching government, so long as it does whatever they want.

Thanks for sharing this!

For those of us who aren’t asleep, we know how bad things are. We know Trump and Musk and their goons are concerned only for amassing more of their own personal wealth and power at the obvious expense of everyone and everything else. News opinion pieces like this both give me a sense of sanity and not feeling alone, but also simultaneously depress/frustrate the hell out of me because it feels somewhat hopeless as the levers of power and information, from branches of government to news media, capitulate in various ways. Personally I think a general strike seems logical, but I have no idea how one would be organized in a country like the US with such an overall weak organized labor movement- though admittedly one that seems very active right now. However, I’ll always remain an optimist and believe a better world is possible.

Capitulating to fascists is never a good look.

🙏

As a public school teacher, I can assure these fascist pigs that I will continue to support and uplift all my students, including trans kids and any kids in the LGBTQI+ spectrum.

Yet another disgraceful and dark stain in American history books with the fascist pig Homan working hard to ruin peoples’ lives for no reason other than petty cruelty.

I couldn’t agree more. Trump and his goons are simply bad, bad people. I’m a public school teacher and rest assured the only thing I can and will do to counter this monstrous behavior is treat all my students with respect and kindness and be on the lookout for students who might need additional support in these bizarre times.

I’m saying this as an American who stands firmly opposed to every horrific thing Trump and his fascist goons are doing. However, I can only imagine if I was a politician or business in another country, I’d feel like I’d no longer be able to trust anything the US does or says.

I’m genuinely not trying to argue. You can be both horribly bigoted and have mental illness. I myself have mental health issues (who doesn’t, really?) and indeed, I am also not spewing the toxic nonsense Kanye is. It hopefully goes without saying that pointing out his mental illness isn’t excusing the wildly inappropriate things he says and does.

I agree. From the Nazi salute to this, Musk is making it maddeningly clear that he is as racist and bigoted as we imagine, and wants to invite his Nazi friends to join in.

I wish he would be collectively ignored. He's not well, but he's also just got vile views that aren't worth sharing. (This isn't a critique of the person who posted this, by the way.)