Latest News and Comment from Education

Show All

Sunday, March 30, 2025

ELON MUSK SELLS DOGE UMBRELLAS BECAUSE THE SKY IS FALLING

 

ELON MUSK SELLS DOGE UMBRELLAS BECAUSE THE SKY IS FALLING

Editor's note: Here’s another gem from the Billionaires’ Playbook—same old script, just with a fresh coat of paint. If you’ve watched community hospitals shuttered to make way for HMO privatization or seen public schools vanish like socks in a dryer, you already know this move. For decades, government services have been quietly swapped out for unregulated nonprofits and foundations that answer to no one but their donors. It’s the same play, just remixed. This time, though, the propaganda has a new spin—like a doge meme with a sinister agenda. So, while this blog post might feel like déjà vu, take a closer look. The melody may be familiar, but the lyrics have been tweaked ever so cleverly to keep you humming along. Classic Billionaires’ Playbook move.

Ah, the government. That great, lumbering beast of inefficiency and red tape. Or so we’re told. If you listen closely, you can almost hear the billionaire class whispering sweet nothings into our ears: “Government doesn’t work. It’s broken. Only *we* can fix it.” Of course, their idea of “fixing” is akin to a fox offering to repair the henhouse. Spoiler alert: the hens don’t come out ahead.

Let’s rewind to the turn of the century, shall we? Remember Y2K? That apocalyptic computer bug that was supposed to send planes falling from the sky and ATMs into existential crises? We patched it. Sure, it wasn’t pretty—more duct tape than dazzling innovation—but we got the job done. Fast forward two decades, and the same duct-tape philosophy governs… well, our government. The difference? This time, the leaks aren’t accidental—they’re deliberate. Welcome to the grand theater of privatization, starring our favorite billionaire oligarchs.

The Billionaire Playbook: How to Break a Government in Four Easy Steps

Act I: Defund – Starve the Beast

Step one in this masterclass of manipulation is simple: cut the funding. It’s like putting your car on a strict diet of no oil changes and then being shocked when the engine seizes up. For 40 years, we’ve been told that tax cuts for the rich are the key to prosperity. Trickle-down economics, they called it—a phrase so poetic it almost distracts from the fact that it’s complete nonsense. The only thing that trickles down is the bill for crumbling infrastructure and underfunded schools.

Meanwhile, billionaires sip champagne on their yachts, marveling at their own genius. “Look at how inefficient government is!” they exclaim, conveniently forgetting that they’ve spent decades pulling its financial lifelines like a kid yanking Jenga blocks. The result? A government held together with baling wire, bubble gum, and sheer optimism.

Act II: Degrade – Failure by Design

Once you’ve starved the beast, it’s time to poke it with a stick and act surprised when it doesn’t perform. Picture this: a government agency running on software so old it might as well be powered by steam engines and Morse code. COBOL, anyone? Yes, that’s right—our tax systems are still running on a programming language older than disco.

But why upgrade when you can let things fall apart and blame the system itself? It’s like sabotaging your own roof and then complaining about the rain. “Oh no, look at these leaks! Clearly, public institutions are the problem!” Never mind that those leaks were drilled by billionaires with power tools labeled “tax cuts” and “deregulation.”

Act III: Demonize – Blame Anyone but the Billionaires

Here’s where things get truly theatrical. Enter stage left: the scapegoats. Immigrants! Lazy bureaucrats! Socialists! Pick your villain of the week. The goal here is to redirect public outrage away from the actual culprits—the billionaires who’ve been dismantling the system piece by piece—and toward anyone else.

It’s a classic misdirection tactic, straight out of the magician’s handbook. While we’re busy arguing over who’s at fault for potholes and failing schools, billionaires are quietly raking in tax breaks and lobbying for more privatization. And somehow, 73 million people bought into this infomercial of doom and gloom, voting for leaders who promised to “drain the swamp” but ended up installing a hot tub for their billionaire buddies instead.

Act IV: Dismantle – Privatization Nation

And now, for the grand finale: privatization. This is where the billionaires swoop in like vultures circling a wounded animal. “Don’t worry,” they say with a wink and a smile. “We’ll take care of everything.” Translation: they’ll sell you back your own public services at a premium.

Take Elon Musk’s Doge Department of Government Efficiency (not a real department… yet). It’s a masterstroke of marketing genius—a flashy distraction designed to convince you that only billionaires can save us from the inefficiencies they created in the first place. It’s like watching someone set your house on fire and then charge you for a bucket of water.

The result? A dystopian wonderland where everything from healthcare to education to public transportation is run by private companies with zero accountability. Need to report a crime? That’ll be $9.99 per minute plus a convenience fee. Want clean drinking water? Better hope you can afford the premium subscription plan.

The Billionaire Gospel: Why They Keep Getting Away with It

Here’s the thing about billionaires: they’re not just rich—they’re strategic. They own the means of communication, from news outlets to social media platforms, and they use them to spread their gospel of failing government and privatization salvation.

Take Noam Chomsky’s words: “That’s the standard technique of privatization: defund, make sure things don’t work, people get angry, you hand it over to private capital.” It’s a playbook as old as time, yet somehow we keep falling for it.

Why? Because they’ve mastered the art of storytelling. They paint government as an archaic relic of inefficiency while presenting themselves as innovative saviors. Never mind that their “solutions” often involve cutting corners, exploiting workers, and prioritizing profits over people.

The Y2K Parallel: Patching vs. Progress

Remember how we patched Y2K? It wasn’t glamorous, but it worked. Now imagine if instead of fixing those systems, we’d handed them over to billionaires who charged us $19.99 per month just to keep our computers from imploding.

That’s essentially what’s happening with our government today. Instead of investing in modernization and reform, we’re stuck in an endless cycle of patching and privatizing. And every time we hand over another piece of public infrastructure to private hands, we lose a little more control over our own lives.

The Path Forward: Don’t Fall for the Doge BS

So what can we do? For starters, we need to stop falling for the Doge BS—the flashy distractions and empty promises of billionaire saviors. Government isn’t perfect, but it’s ours. It’s accountable (or at least it’s supposed to be), and it operates under a Constitution designed to protect us—not profit margins.

We need to demand better—not just from our leaders but from ourselves. Instead of buying into the narrative that government is inherently broken, let’s push for real reform: modernizing systems, holding officials accountable, and ensuring that public services remain public.

Because here’s the truth: billionaires aren’t here to save us. They’re here to sell us our own oxygen—and charge us extra for expedited delivery.

So let’s patch this leaky roof one last time—not with duct tape or bubble gum, but with real solutions. And let’s make sure that when it rains again, we’re not stuck paying Elon Musk for an umbrella labeled “Government Efficiency.”

WE WILL SING A DIFFERENT TUNE


HANDS OFF: April 5th Mobilization Informational For Event Hosts · Indivisible https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/764476/ 


Posted by at

Saturday, March 29, 2025

THE GENERATION GAP BUBBLE: A TALE OF PENDULUMS, PROGRESS, AND PERSISTENT PARADOXES

 

THE GENERATION GAP BUBBLE
A TALE OF PENDULUMS, PROGRESS, AND PERSISTENT PARADOXES

Ah, the generation gap—a term as old as time itself, or at least as old as parents first started shaking their heads at their offspring's baffling choices. It’s been called many things over the years: the "generation gap," "culture clash," or, if you’re feeling particularly poetic, "the pendulum theory in action." Yes, dear reader, humanity is nothing if not predictable in its cyclical rebellion against itself. Like a pendulum swinging back and forth, each generation rejects the values of the previous one, only to have their own offspring reject theirs in turn. It’s a cosmic dance of irony, set to a soundtrack of eye-rolls and exasperated sighs.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. To truly understand the generation gap, we must first take a leisurely stroll through history—or perhaps a brisk jog, given how much ground we have to cover. Along the way, we’ll encounter roaring decades, gilded ages, and nifty fifties, each with its own unique flavor of intergenerational discord. So grab your monocle or your mood ring (depending on your preferred era), and let’s dive in.

The Age of Naming Decades: A Hobby for the Chronologically Inclined

Humans have an undeniable penchant for labeling things, and decades are no exception. Since at least the 1880s—dubbed the "Elegant '80s" by those who apparently had no idea how inelegant corsets truly were—people have assigned nicknames to their ten-year stretches of time. The "Gay '90s" followed, back when "gay" simply meant "joyful" and not "your grandmother’s reason for writing long-winded Facebook posts." These labels weren’t just frivolous monikers; they were reflections of the cultural and social themes that defined each era.

The 20th century took this naming game to new heights. The 1920s roared, the 1930s wallowed in depression (both economic and emotional), and the 1940s flew through wartime innovation. By the time we hit the 1950s, the nicknames became downright competitive: "Nifty Fifties," "Friendly Fifties," and even the less flattering "Filthy '50s." Apparently, no one could agree on whether sock hops and suburban conformity were charming or suffocating. Steven Lagerfeld once noted that the 1950s became a symbol of conformity—a decade where everyone wore suits, smiled politely, and repressed their existential dread. Naturally, this set the stage for the 1960s to burst forth like a tie-dye volcano of rebellion.

The 1960s: When the Pendulum Swung Wildly

Ah, the 1960s—a decade so iconic it practically deserves its own theme park. If the 1950s were about fitting in, the 1960s were about standing out. Young people rejected their parents’ puritanical ethics with gusto, trading starched collars for flower crowns and jazz hands for protest signs. It was a time of civil rights marches, anti-war rallies, and enough psychedelic substances to make a kaleidoscope blush.

The generation gap during this era was palpable. On one side stood the "silent majority," clutching their pearls and muttering about "kids these days." On the other side were the hippies, who responded with peace signs and sit-ins. The clash wasn’t just cultural; it was existential. The older generation clung to tradition and stability, while the younger generation demanded freedom and change. It was revolutionary in every sense of the word—and not just because bell-bottoms were involved.

Fast forward to today, and you’ll notice some eerie parallels. The so-called "culture war" we’re experiencing now is essentially the generation gap in political drag. Whether it’s debates over gender identity, environmental policies, or technology’s role in society, the conflict boils down to one thing: conservatism versus progressivism. Or, if you prefer a more dramatic framing: yesterday’s nostalgia versus tomorrow’s idealism.

The New Generation Gap: TikTok versus Talk Radio

Today’s generation gap is arguably more vivid than ever, thanks to the internet—a tool that simultaneously connects us and divides us into echo chambers. On one side, you have Baby Boomers reminiscing about rotary phones and Elvis Presley. On the other side, you have Gen Z creating TikTok dances to songs that Boomers don’t recognize but Millennials insist are "classics." In between are Millennials themselves—too young to be nostalgic about landlines but too old to understand why anyone would willingly watch a YouTube video of someone eating pickles.

The economic fortunes of these groups only deepen the divide. Baby Boomers benefited from an era of relative prosperity; they bought houses when they cost less than a year’s salary and retired with pensions that didn’t resemble Monopoly money. Meanwhile, Millennials and Gen Z are drowning in student debt, struggling to afford avocado toast (let alone a mortgage), and wondering if they’ll ever retire—or if they’ll just work until they drop dead at their standing desks.

This economic disparity fuels resentment on both sides. The young accuse the old of hoarding wealth and voting for policies that exacerbate inequality. The old accuse the young of being entitled snowflakes who spend too much time taking selfies and not enough time mowing lawns. It’s a tale as old as time—or at least as old as Boomers complaining about Millennials while conveniently forgetting that Gen X exists.

MAGA Meets Progressivism: A Clash of Values

And then there’s politics—the arena where generational conflicts play out most dramatically. On one side, you have movements like MAGA (Make America Great Again), which yearn for a return to the values of the 1950s: family dinners, gender roles, and a distinct lack of Wi-Fi. On the other side are progressives who view those same values as relics of an oppressive past. They champion personal freedoms, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability—all things that make traditionalists clutch their pearls harder than ever.

The Democratic Party itself is a microcosm of this divide. Younger progressives push for bold policies like universal healthcare and climate action, while older moderates urge caution and compromise. It’s like watching a family Thanksgiving dinner where one cousin wants to discuss Marxist theory while another just wants to pass the gravy.

And let’s not forget technology—the great accelerant of generational change. From horseless carriages to flying forties to smartphones that can order pizza with a single tap, each technological leap creates new opportunities for misunderstanding between generations. Boomers complain about screen addiction; Gen Z wonders how anyone survived without Google Maps. It’s an endless cycle of mutual bafflement.

-The Future: Roaring or Reeling?

So where does this leave us? Are we on the cusp of another Roaring '20s—a decade defined by innovation and liberation? Or will it be more like the Exhausted '20s, given that we’re still recovering from pandemics, political turmoil, and climate anxiety? Only time will tell.

What we do know is this: the pendulum will keep swinging. Today’s rebels will become tomorrow’s establishment, shaking their heads at whatever newfangled trends their children embrace. Maybe by then we’ll have flying cars—or maybe we’ll just have better memes. Either way, humanity will find new ways to argue with itself while simultaneously advancing forward.

And who knows? Perhaps someday we’ll look back on this era with fondness (or at least bemusement) and assign it a nickname that captures its essence. The "Chaotic '20s"? The "Streaming Decade"? The "Zoom Era"? Whatever we call it, one thing is certain: the generation gap will persist—because what fun would life be without a little intergenerational bickering?

In conclusion (because every witty essay needs one), let us embrace the pendulum swing for what it is: a sign that humanity is alive, evolving, and gloriously imperfect. After all, if we ever stopped arguing about values and visions for the future, we’d probably stop progressing altogether—and where’s the fun in that?

NOW IS THE TIME TO NAME THIS AGE IN HISTORY


HANDS OFF: April 5th Mobilization Informational For Event Hosts · Indivisible https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/764476/ 



Posted by at

Friday, March 28, 2025

ELON MUSK, DOGE, AND THE GREAT PRIVATIZATION CIRCUS

ELON MUSK, DOGE, AND THE GREAT PRIVATIZATION CIRCUS

A TRAGICOMEDY IN FOUR ACTS

Grover Norquist, who founded Americans for Tax Reform in 1985 declared in 2001: “I don’t want to abolish government. I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub.” 

Ah, Elon Musk. The man, the myth, the meme. The guy who can launch a car into space but somehow can't launch a coherent sentence on Twitter (or X, or whatever he's calling it this week). And now, as if his résumé of techno-feudalism wasn’t dazzling enough, Musk has decided to take on the federal government with his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Yes, DOGE. Because nothing screams "serious reform" like naming your initiative after a cryptocurrency meme featuring a Shiba Inu. Much wow. Very governance.

But before we dive into this Silicon Valley fever dream of an "Apple Store Government," let’s address the elephant—or should I say, the billionaire oligarch—in the room. Musk and his merry band of tech bros didn’t invent the idea of "fixing" government inefficiency. No, no, this playbook has been around for decades, meticulously crafted by the same people who brought you yacht tax loopholes and the phrase "trickle-down economics." Spoiler alert: the only thing that ever trickled down was a sense of existential dread.

Act I: Defund – Starve the Beast  

Step one in the Billionaire’s Guide to World Domination™ is simple: starve the government of resources until it’s about as effective as a wet paper towel in a hurricane. This is where Grover Norquist enters stage left, twirling his metaphorical mustache and declaring his desire to shrink government to the size of a bathtub toy. And oh, how the oligarchs have delivered! Public schools? Underfunded. Infrastructure? Crumbling. Healthcare? A Kafkaesque nightmare of paperwork and despair.  

And now Musk wants to "streamline" this already skeletal government? That’s like taking a starving man and putting him on a juice cleanse. But don’t worry—DOGE isn’t here to abolish government services. No, they just want to "modernize" them. And by modernize, they mean privatize. Because nothing says efficiency like turning Social Security into a subscription-based service where you have to pay extra for ad-free retirement benefits.  

Act II: Degrade – Failure by Design  

Once you’ve defunded public institutions into oblivion, the next step is to point at their inevitable failures and yell, "See? Told you so!" It’s like slashing someone’s tires and then blaming them for being late to work. Public schools are overcrowded? Must be those lazy teachers and their pesky unions! Roads full of potholes? Clearly, we need a private highway company that charges $12 every time you merge lanes.  

Musk and his DOGE cronies are playing this game to perfection. They’ve already dismantled agencies like USAID under the guise of "efficiency." Because who needs international aid when you can just send thoughts and prayers via Starlink? And when these cuts lead to chaos—as they inevitably will—Musk will simply shrug and say, "Well, what did you expect from a government that wasn’t run by Tesla engineers?"  

Act III: Demonize – Blame Anyone but the Billionaires  

Ah, the scapegoating phase. This one’s a classic. When public systems falter under the weight of deliberate sabotage, you need someone to blame. Teachers? Lazy. Government workers? Overpaid bureaucrats. Protesters? Entitled snowflakes who don’t understand how hard it is to be a billionaire with three ex-wives and a failing social media platform.  

And let’s not forget the pièce de résistance: blaming the very people who rely on these services. Can’t afford healthcare? Should’ve worked harder. Public school not meeting your needs? Should’ve been born into a family that could afford private tutors and organic kale smoothies. Musk and his DOGE disciples are masters of this tactic, painting themselves as benevolent disruptors while throwing everyone else under the electric bus.  

Act IV: Dismantle – Privatization Nation  

Finally, we arrive at the grand finale: privatization. This is where the oligarchs really shine, swooping in with their "solutions" like vultures descending on a carcass. Charter schools! AI-driven learning platforms! Blockchain-based voting systems that definitely won’t be hacked by a 12-year-old with an iPad!  

DOGE’s vision of an "Apple Store Government" fits perfectly into this narrative. Imagine walking into a sleek, minimalist Social Security office where employees in black turtlenecks upsell you on premium retirement packages. Need to renew your passport? There’s an app for that—just make sure to watch a 30-second ad for SpaceX before proceeding. And if your benefits are delayed due to website crashes? Well, that’s just the price of innovation, baby!  

But let’s not kid ourselves: this isn’t about making government more efficient or user-friendly. It’s about turning public goods into private commodities that can be bought, sold, and monetized by the same people who brought you $8 Twitter verification badges. And while Musk might claim that DOGE is eliminating fraud and waste, the real fraud is pretending that billionaires have anyone’s interests at heart but their own.

The Curtain Call: Don’t Fall for It  

So here we are, watching this tragicomedy unfold in real time. Elon Musk and his DOGE brigade want us to believe they’re revolutionizing government when in reality, they’re just rebranding an old grift with some Silicon Valley buzzwords and a Shiba Inu mascot. It’s not about efficiency; it’s about control. It’s not about modernization; it’s about monetization.

We don’t need an "Apple Store Government." We need a government that works for everyone—not just for billionaires who think they’re Tony Stark but act more like Lex Luthor with Wi-Fi access. So let’s keep our eyes open, our sarcasm sharp, and our public institutions intact. Because if we let these oligarchs have their way, the only thing left public will be our outrage—and even that might come with a monthly subscription fee.

Much wow indeed.



HANDS OFF: April 5th Mobilization Informational For Event Hosts · Indivisible https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/764476/ 

Musk defends Doge and cuts on Fox News: ‘Almost no one has gotten fired’ | Trump administration | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/27/elon-musk-fox-news-interview-doge 

An ‘Apple Store’ government and other takeaways from Musk’s interview on Fox News - POLITICO https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/27/elon-musk-doge-interview-fox-00256077 




Posted by at

THIS WEEK IN DONALD TRUMP CRAZY LAND: A FIREHOSE OF BS, A SIGNAL OF CHAOS AND A DOGE OF DISASTER


THIS WEEK IN DONALD TRUMP CRAZY LAND

A FIREHOSE OF BS, A SIGNAL OF CHAOS AND A DOGE OF DISASTER


Welcome, dear reader, to another episode of 'This Week in Donald Trump Crazy Land,' where the absurdity flows freely, the scandals pile up faster than Elon Musk’s tweets, and America wonders if it’s living in a satirical Netflix series. Grab your popcorn—or maybe a stiff drink—because we’re diving headfirst into the chaos. Spoiler alert: it’s only been two months into this mad house, and the firehose of nonsense shows no signs of shutting off.

Elon Musk, DOGE, and the Social Security Dumpster Fire

Ah, Social Security—the lifeline for millions of Americans, now under siege by a billionaire who once called it a “Ponzi scheme” and a president who thinks “efficiency” means cutting corners with a chainsaw. Enter the "Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)"—because nothing screams “serious reform” like naming your federal initiative after a meme cryptocurrency.

Elon Musk, self-appointed disruptor-in-chief, has teamed up with King Trump to “fix” Social Security. Their plan? Slash 12% of staff, close 50 offices, and roll out IT systems that crash more often than Tesla’s autopilot. Musk claims there’s $700 billion in fraud—an allegation debunked faster than his promises about self-driving cars. Turns out, most of that “fraud” boils down to clerical errors. But hey, why let facts get in the way of a good scapegoat?

Critics argue this isn’t reform; it’s sabotage. Reduced services, delays in benefits, and whispers of privatization have retirees clutching their checkbooks in horror. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden warn this chaos could pave the way for Wall Street to swoop in and turn Social Security into another profit-driven casino. Because nothing says “secure retirement” like handing your future to hedge fund managers.

And let’s not forget the immigrants Musk and Trump love to blame for everything from Social Security woes to bad weather. These same immigrants contribute billions to the system without receiving benefits—but sure, let’s make them the villains. Meanwhile, Acting SSA head Leland Dudek is waving red flags, warning that the system could collapse entirely without intervention. But hey, at least DOGE has a snazzy logo.

SignalGate: When National Security Met Group Chat Fails

If you thought your family’s WhatsApp group was chaotic, wait until you hear about SignalGate. Senior Trump officials decided that the best way to plan a military strike on Yemen was through an unsecured Signal group chat. Yes, the same app you use to send memes to your friends was apparently good enough for discussing classified war plans.

The pièce de résistance? They accidentally added a journalist to the chat. That’s right—a reporter got a front-row seat to sensitive operational details, including target locations and attack timelines. It’s like sending your nuclear codes to a spam email list.

The fallout was predictably catastrophic. Security experts slammed the administration for its recklessness, while critics pointed out the hypocrisy: remember when Republicans lost their minds over Hillary Clinton’s email server? Now, those same folks are oddly silent about Trump officials using Signal to discuss military operations.

Among the bumbling cast of characters were Pete Hegseth and Tulsi Gabbard, who somehow thought self-deleting messages would bypass federal archiving laws. Spoiler: they didn’t. The Pentagon had explicitly warned against using Signal for government communications, but who needs rules when you’ve got loyalty over competence as your hiring criteria?

Even Hillary Clinton weighed in, calling the fiasco “unbelievable.” Coming from someone who endured years of scrutiny over far less egregious behavior, her disbelief is well-founded. The scandal underscores a broader theme: Trump’s administration treated national security like a game of *Candy Crush*, with about as much strategic oversight.

ICE: From Immigration Enforcement to Dystopian Nightmare

If ICE under Trump were a movie, it’d be *Minority Report* meets *The Hunger Games*. Once tasked with enforcing immigration laws, ICE has morphed into an unchecked force capable of detaining anyone—legal residents, tourists, even U.S. citizens—without cause or due process. It’s like Oprah handing out detentions: *You get detained! You get detained! Everybody gets detained!*

The stories are harrowing. Legal residents held over bureaucratic errors. Visitors detained based on “suspicion.” Detainees subjected to solitary confinement and physical abuse. One particularly chilling case involves Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish Ph.D. student at Tufts University. Despite a federal court order for her release, ICE transferred her to Louisiana and accused her of supporting Hamas—without evidence. Her real “crime”? Pro-Palestinian activism.

For-profit detention centers are raking in cash while detainees suffer in inhumane conditions. Critics argue this isn’t just about immigration; it’s about silencing dissent and targeting marginalized communities. Universities like Columbia and Georgetown have seen students detained for their activism, raising alarms about academic freedom and free speech.

Trump’s rhetoric about “America First” seems to translate into “America Last” when it comes to human rights and intellectual freedom. But don’t worry—ICE is just getting started.

Education: Dismantling Democracy One School at a Time

Speaking of dystopia, let’s talk education. The Trump administration has set its sights on dismantling the Department of Education, because apparently ensuring equal access to education is just too radical an idea. The department’s mission—to protect students’ rights and promote equity—has been turned into a political punching bag.

Programs like Title I (for low-income students) and IDEA (for special-needs students) are under threat as federal oversight is gutted. Critics warn that transferring funds to states could lead to misuse, leaving disadvantaged students in the lurch. Privatization looms large, with fears that education will become a profit-driven enterprise rather than a public good.

Meanwhile, civics education is eroding faster than Trump’s approval ratings. Teaching kids about democracy? Checks and balances? Not on this administration’s watch. Instead, we get executive orders aimed at shutting down public schools and funneling resources into for-profit charters.

But there is hope. Grassroots efforts like Dolly Parton’s book initiative remind us that education is worth fighting for. Teachers’ unions and advocates are pushing back against privatization schemes, proving that not everyone is willing to let public education go quietly into the night.

Global Health: Cutting Aid and Spreading Chaos

If you thought Trump’s domestic policies were bad, wait until you see what he’s done on the global stage. The administration has slashed funding for critical health programs—including vaccine initiatives and malaria prevention—leaving millions at risk.

Take Gavi, an organization that provides vaccines to children in developing nations. The U.S. had pledged $2.6 billion through 2030—but Trump pulled the plug. Experts warn this could result in 75 million children missing routine vaccinations over five years, with over 1.2 million deaths.

The cuts don’t stop there. USAID has been gutted, its budget slashed from $40 billion to $8 billion. Programs combating HIV, malaria, and other diseases are shutting down, leaving vulnerable populations without life-saving treatments.

The consequences are devastating. Personal stories—like Peter Donde and Achol Deng dying from lack of HIV medication—put faces to the statistics. Health workers in places like South Sudan warn of catastrophic death tolls as medical supplies run out.

All this for what? To save a fraction of the federal budget while spending billions on tax cuts for billionaires? It’s cruelty disguised as fiscal responsibility—and the world is paying the price.

Press Freedom: MAGA vs. The Media

Finally, let’s talk about Trump’s war on the press—a campaign so brazen it makes Nixon look like a First Amendment champion. From barring established outlets like AP and Reuters to promoting MAGA-aligned propaganda machines, Trump has turned press freedom into his personal punching bag.

He’s floated ideas like banning anonymous sources (because investigative journalism is scary), launched baseless lawsuits against media outlets, and even proposed using the Espionage Act to prosecute journalists. Meanwhile, Project 2025—a dystopian blueprint for his second term—outlines plans to further erode media independence.

The hypocrisy is staggering. Trump rails against “fake news” while spreading misinformation faster than you can say “covfefe.” Corporate-owned media often fails to push back effectively, leaving smaller outlets and independent journalists to do the heavy lifting.

But all is not lost. Courageous reporters continue to hold power accountable, reminding us that democracy dies in darkness—but it also thrives in resistance.

The Bottom Line

So here we are: two months into Trump Crazy Land 2.0 (or is it 3.0?), with no end in sight. Social Security teeters on collapse. National security is planned on Signal chats. ICE runs amok. Education crumbles. Global health suffers. And press freedom hangs by a thread.

Do you feel safer? Freer? Are your eggs cheaper? Is your 401(k) thriving? Did your mom get her Social Security check this month? If not, maybe it’s time to grab your sign and join the protests on April 5th.

Because if “America First” keeps making America last, we’ve got some serious work to do.

Stay tuned—it’s only going to get crazier from here.


HANDS OFF: April 5th Mobilization Informational For Event Hosts · Indivisible https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/764476/ 


Posted by at

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

SIGNAL FAIL: HOW A GROUP CHAT BECAME A NATIONAL SECURITY DUMPSTER FIRE

SIGNAL FAIL: HOW A GROUP CHAT BECAME A NATIONAL SECURITY DUMPSTER FIRE

Once upon a time in the chaotic kingdom of American politics, there was a merry band of high-ranking officials who decided that the best way to discuss sensitive military operations was through a group chat on Signal. Yes, Signal—the app beloved by teenagers sharing memes, activists avoiding surveillance, and, apparently, the Trump administration planning airstrikes. What could possibly go wrong? Spoiler alert: everything.

The story begins with Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of *The Atlantic*, who was minding his own business when his phone buzzed with an invitation to join a group chat. Now, most of us would assume such a thing was either spam or a phishing attempt, but Goldberg, curious soul that he is, joined. And lo and behold, he found himself in the middle of what can only be described as a digital clown car of national security blunders. The group was called “Houthi PC small group,” which sounds less like a military operation and more like an IT department’s Slack channel. 

The texts were flying fast and loose, with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth leading the charge. Hegseth, a man who apparently believes in the power of all-caps for emphasis, sent updates like “WEATHER IS FAVORABLE” and “F-18s LAUNCH (1st strike package).” It’s unclear whether he thought he was narrating a Tom Clancy novel or just really wanted to channel his inner action hero. Either way, these messages were being shared with Goldberg—a journalist whose job description literally includes exposing things like this.

Now, let’s pause for a moment to appreciate the absurdity here. Imagine if Julius Caesar had accidentally CC’d a scribe from *The Roman Times* on his plans to cross the Rubicon. Or if Winston Churchill had accidentally butt-dialed a BBC reporter during a War Cabinet meeting. This wasn’t just a breach of protocol; this was a breach of common sense so gaping you could drive an aircraft carrier through it.

But wait, it gets better—or worse, depending on your threshold for secondhand embarrassment. When Goldberg published his initial story about the Signal chat, the Trump administration went into full damage-control mode. Pete Hegseth declared, “Nobody was texting war plans,” which is a bold statement considering the texts literally included a timeline for bombing runs. Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, and John Ratcliffe, the CIA director, both assured Congress that no classified information had been shared. President Trump himself chimed in with his trademark brevity: “It wasn’t classified information.”

This raises an important question: if this wasn’t classified information, what exactly qualifies as classified in their world? The nuclear codes? The recipe for KFC’s secret blend of herbs and spices? By their logic, it seems you could write “TOP SECRET” on a Post-it note and it would still be fair game for group chats and chain emails.

Goldberg and his colleague Shane Harris faced a dilemma: Should they publish the full transcript of the chat? On one hand, they had withheld specific details about weapons and attack timing to avoid jeopardizing U.S. personnel. On the other hand, administration officials were accusing them of lying about the content of the messages. In the end, they decided to release the texts—redacted only to protect certain identities—so that the public could judge for themselves.

And judge they did. The texts revealed not only operational details but also an alarming level of carelessness. For instance, at 11:44 a.m., Hegseth texted that F-18s would launch at 12:15 p.m., giving anyone with access to that chat a 31-minute heads-up. That’s not just loose lips sinking ships; that’s loose thumbs endangering pilots.

Adding insult to injury, Vice President J.D. Vance chimed in with a text saying he’d “say a prayer for victory,” which is lovely sentimentally but perhaps not the most reassuring contribution to military strategy. Later, when National Security Adviser Michael Waltz informed the group that a building had collapsed on their target—a Houthi missile expert—Vance replied with a succinct “Excellent.” One can only imagine him twirling an invisible mustache as he typed.

The cherry on this sundae of incompetence came when Waltz admitted he had no idea how Goldberg ended up in the chat. Was it a fat-fingered typo? A rogue intern? A cosmic joke played by the universe? We may never know, but it’s safe to say that “how the heck he got into this room” will go down as one of history’s great unanswered questions.

Now, let’s talk about Signal itself. The app is known for its disappearing messages feature, which is great if you’re trying to keep your conversations private—or if you’re planning an elaborate surprise party. It is not, however, a substitute for secure communication channels when discussing military operations. Experts have repeatedly warned that using Signal for such purposes poses a significant threat to national security. After all, disappearing messages are only useful if they disappear before someone screenshots them—which Goldberg undoubtedly did.


The Trump administration’s defense boiled down to two contradictory arguments: (1) The information wasn’t classified, so it’s no big deal; and (2) The information was sensitive, so please don’t publish it. This is like claiming you didn’t eat the last slice of pizza while simultaneously arguing that you had every right to eat it because you paid for it. Pick a lane!

As the dust settled—or perhaps exploded—in Yemen, one thing became abundantly clear: this was not just a minor slip-up; this was a masterclass in how not to handle national security. It’s one thing to make mistakes; it’s another to double down on them while accusing everyone else of being wrong.

In conclusion, the Signal chat fiasco is a cautionary tale for anyone who thinks technology can replace common sense. It’s also a reminder that even at the highest levels of government, people are still people—flawed, fallible, and occasionally hilarious in their incompetence. So the next time you find yourself accidentally adding your boss to your group chat about weekend plans, take comfort in this: at least you didn’t accidentally invite a journalist to your war-planning session.

Godspeed to us all—and maybe leave the emojis out of national security next time.


The SignalGate Scandal, the Lies, and the Text Messages https://dianeravitch.net/2025/03/26/the-signalgate-scandal-the-lies-and-the-text-messages/ via @dianeravitch 

Here Are the Attack Plans That Trump’s Advisers Shared on Signal - The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/03/signal-group-chat-attack-plans-hegseth-goldberg/682176/ 


Michael Waltz Sez:




Posted by at

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

ELON'S DOGE DWARF BRIGADE: A SOCIAL SECURITY SHAKEDOWN


Long waits, waves of calls, website crashes: Social Security is breaking down https://wapo.st/4hM5MAn 

🎶 ELON'S DOGE DWARF BRIGADE ðŸŽ¶  

A SOCIAL SECURITY SHAKEDOWN

Verse 1:  

"Hi-ho, hi-ho! The Spreadsheet King’s on patrol—  

With seven data dwarfs auditing Grandma’s retirement toll!  

Whistleblower Walt’s crunching numbers with glee,  

Tweetstorm Terry’s ranting: ‘Centenarians must flee!’"  

Chorus:  

"Off to work they go (with a meme and a smirk!),  

Hunting 300-year-olds who ‘fraud’ their desk work!  

Hi-ho, hi-ho—your benefits are 'suspicious',  

Beware the crypto-dwarfs… their math’s 'delicious'!"  

Verse 2:  

Spreadsheet Steve found a glitch—‘See? 142!  

This corpse’s still cashing checks! Let’s sue!’  

Meme Lord Moe posts charts: ‘The system’s a joke!  

But don’t blame us, blame Granny’s ghostly woke!’"  

Verse 3:  

Crypto Carl yells, ‘Deploy blockchain tech!  

We’ll track every penny that Granny might wreck!’  

Algorithm Al runs simulations all night,  

While NFT Ned sells ‘Retirement Rights!’"  

Bridge:

"Oh, the chaos ensues in this pensioner purge,  

With Data Dave shouting, ‘There’s fraud to splurge!’  

Elon’s brigade, with their tech-savvy might,  

Turn Grandma’s savings into meme-fueled delight."  

Chorus (Reprise): 

"Off to work they go (armed with code and a grin),  

Chasing holograms of retirees who sin!  

Hi-ho, hi-ho—your benefits are 'dubious',  

Watch out for the dwarfs—they’re *meticulously devious!*"  

Outro:  

"So if you’re a centenarian, beware of their schemes,  

Your pensions might vanish into Elon’s dreams.  

And as they march off with their data in tow,  

They chant: ‘Hi-ho, hi-ho—it’s off to Mars we go!’"  

Final Warning:  

⚠️ Lock your SSNs, folks—Elon’s mining your age!  

“If you’re alive past 100… you’re a glitch in the matrix, sage.”  

- Based on Musk’s viral claims of "millions over 140" collecting benefits .  

- Inspired by the "300-year-old lady" panic  and meme lore.



Elon Musk, DOGE, and the Great Social Security Heist: A Comedy of Errors

Ladies and gentlemen, gather 'round for the most ambitious crossover event in American bureaucracy since the IRS tried to understand TikTok influencers' tax returns. Enter Elon Musk, the tech mogul with a penchant for rockets, electric cars, and now, apparently, federal benefit programs. Musk has teamed up with President Donald Trump in what can only be described as the weirdest buddy-cop movie never made: "The Billionaire and the Bureaucrat." Their mission? To take on Social Security, a program as old and beloved as grandma’s apple pie recipe. Spoiler alert: hilarity—and chaos—ensues.

Musk and Social Security—A Match Made in Bureaucratic Hell

Elon Musk, the man who once launched a Tesla into space for fun, has now set his sights on Social Security. Yes, the same Social Security that keeps millions of retirees from eating cat food for dinner. Musk has called it a "Ponzi scheme," which is rich coming from someone whose companies have benefited from billions in government subsidies. But hey, who are we to question the financial acumen of a man who named his child X Æ A-12? 

Armed with dubious data and a flair for the dramatic, Musk has claimed that Social Security is hemorrhaging money due to widespread fraud. His evidence? Allegations of payments to deceased beneficiaries and a mysterious figure of $500-700 billion in annual fraud that seems to have been plucked from thin air—or perhaps the same dimension where Dogecoin is considered a stable currency.

Watchdogs and fact-checkers have been quick to point out that Musk's claims are about as credible as a chain email promising you $1,000 if you forward it to ten friends. The alleged "fraud" largely stems from outdated government records that lack death dates, not actual payments to the dearly departed. But why let facts get in the way of a good narrative?

DOGE to the Rescue—or Not

To tackle this so-called crisis, Musk has unleashed his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—a name so absurd it sounds like it was brainstormed during a late-night meme session on Reddit. DOGE’s mission? To streamline government operations, which in this case means slashing Social Security staff by 12%, closing nearly 50 field offices, and cutting phone services. Because nothing says "efficiency" like making it harder for vulnerable populations to access essential services.

DOGE’s interventions have already led to IT system crashes, delays in processing claims, and general chaos. It’s as if someone handed over the keys to a perfectly functional car and said, "Let’s see what happens if we remove the brakes." Critics warn that these changes could lead to catastrophic consequences, including interruptions in benefits for millions of Americans. But don’t worry—Musk assures us he’s got everything under control. After all, this is the same guy who promised self-driving cars by 2020.

The Privatization Plot Twist

As if this comedy of errors weren’t already entertaining enough, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden have accused DOGE and the Trump administration of attempting to privatize Social Security. The theory goes that by undermining the program’s operations—causing longer wait times, reduced access, and increased frustration—they can justify handing it over to private equity firms. Because if there’s one thing Americans love more than government inefficiency, it’s Wall Street playing roulette with their retirement funds.

Imagine a future where your Social Security check is tied to the performance of a hedge fund managed by a guy named Chad who wears loafers without socks. One bad quarter in the stock market, and suddenly Grandma’s knitting club is crowdfunding her rent on GoFundMe. It’s a dystopian vision worthy of a Black Mirror episode—or perhaps just another day in late-stage capitalism.

Immigrants, Fraud, and Other Scapegoats

No political spectacle would be complete without some good old-fashioned scapegoating. Musk has accused Democrats of using Social Security to attract immigrants, a claim that is not only baseless but also ironic given that undocumented immigrants contribute billions to Social Security without ever receiving benefits. Yes, you read that right: billions. It’s like paying for an all-you-can-eat buffet but being told you’re only allowed to smell the food.

But why stop at immigrants? Musk and Trump have also zeroed in on deceased beneficiaries as Public Enemy No. 1. Never mind that these so-called fraudulent payments are largely the result of clerical errors rather than actual malfeasance. In the grand tradition of American politics, it’s easier to blame ghosts than to address systemic issues.

Public Opinion—Divided but Entertained

Unsurprisingly, public opinion on Musk’s role in this debacle is as divided as Thanksgiving dinner conversations about politics. Some see him as a visionary disruptor bringing Silicon Valley ingenuity to Washington. Others view him as an out-of-touch billionaire playing Monopoly with people’s lives. Either way, one thing is clear: Musk’s foray into federal governance has been anything but boring.

Critics argue that Musk’s focus on rooting out nonexistent fraud distracts from more pressing issues, like the fact that Social Security is projected to become insolvent by 2033. Instead of proposing meaningful reforms or new revenue streams, Musk and Trump have doubled down on populist rhetoric and questionable math. It’s like trying to fix a leaky roof by painting over the water stains—sure, it looks better for now, but you’re still going to get soaked when it rains.

The Road Ahead

So where does this leave us? For starters, DOGE’s cuts have already caused significant disruptions, and the potential for further damage looms large. Acting SSA head Leland Dudek has warned that without intervention, the system could collapse within months. Meanwhile, Trump’s proposal to eliminate income taxes on Social Security benefits—a move that would accelerate the program’s insolvency—has added fuel to the fire.

In true Musk fashion, privacy concerns have also entered the chat. DOGE’s access to sensitive SSA data has raised eyebrows, though Musk insists there’s no intent to misuse Americans’ information. Forgive us if we’re skeptical; after all, this is the same man who once sold flamethrowers to the public because… why not?

Conclusion: A Tragicomedy for the Ages

In summary, Elon Musk’s adventures in Social Security reform are shaping up to be a tragicomedy of epic proportions. On one hand, we have a billionaire tech mogul with zero experience in federal governance making sweeping changes to one of America’s most vital programs. On the other hand, we have millions of Americans who rely on Social Security being caught in the crossfire of political theater and corporate ambition.

Whether Musk’s actions are driven by genuine concern for government efficiency or a desire to dismantle public institutions remains up for debate. What’s clear is that his approach—marked by dubious claims, aggressive cost-cutting, and a disregard for expert advice—has done little to inspire confidence.

As we watch this drama unfold, one can’t help but wonder: Is this really about saving Social Security, or is it just another chapter in the ongoing saga of billionaires trying to reshape society in their own image? Either way, pass the popcorn—this show is far from over.

Musk eyes Social Security and benefit programs for cuts | AP News https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-donald-trump-doge-b21b74f56f30012a6450a629e7232a1a 

DOGE wrong about Social Security, says former SSA chief : NPR https://www.npr.org/2025/03/24/nx-s1-5337999/elon-musk-doge-social-security-cuts 

King: Administration’s Reckless Approach to Social Security “Disrespectful, Destructive, and Dangerous” https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-administrations-reckless-approach-to-social-security-disrespectful-destructive-and-dangerous 

Could Social Security go private? Senators are grilling Trump’s pick to lead the agency. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden press Social Security nominee Frank Bisignano ahead of his confirmation hearing https://www.marketwatch.com/story/could-social-security-go-private-senators-are-grilling-trumps-pick-to-lead-the-agency-bb881da6?mod=home_ln 

Social Security Head Briefly Threatens to Shut Down Agency | Democracy Now! https://www.democracynow.org/2025/3/24/headlines/social_security_head_briefly_threatens_to_shut_down_agency

Social Security is telling its staff that customer service is about to get a lot worse https://www.yahoo.com/news/social-security-telling-staff-customer-201105948.html 



Posted by at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)