On America's birthday we can criticize the country while also maintaining affection, pride, and a real feeling that we're all in this messy politics together.
Thank you for the discount code! That was an exciting surprise. As we are waiting to see the fallout from bombing Iran, this is definitely the place I want to be.
Regarding books, I'm reading Black Wave by Kim Ghattas. I would love to hear book or long form journalism recommendations as they relate to current events, especially foreign affairs. I usually go the The Economist's "What to read to understand..." book lists, but I would love to hear what you recommend. (no pressure)
Well Ms. Labott, I am one who is well outside the political spectrum but I do appreciate your reporting. It all rings true if sometime I disagree. Please have a peaceful and meaningful Independence and Declaration Day. Take care.
It will be the bill-political suicide of yesterday which impels partisans to defy even that lofty grandeur of insanity, when (20) senate Republicans and (13) senate Democrats come up for reelection in November of 2026.
In Terms Unstolen:
Already bracing ourselves for the divide-and-conquer campaigns they will run, we take a step back, to recall that James Madison defined a “pure Democracy” as a "society consisting of a small number of citizens who assemble and administer the government" themselves. (footnote 1)
Whereas the cofounders recognized that would not be possible, given the size of our country, they devised a representative form of Democracy that is referred to as our "Republican Form of Government" in the Constitution. (footnote 2)
Thus reminding ourselves that we, the Members of our American Republic, are in fact all republican-democrats.
As well as that, ironically, to breach the Constitution that forms the Offices that our Public Servants currently hold, is to dissolve their own seats in our General Government, whilst the State Governments persist and we pursue happiness as Members of our immutable Republic:
Turning Two Hundred & Forty-Nine (249) today, the Charter that Formed Our Republic & Codified Our Rights as forever unalienable, remains as perfect and unalterable as the day the it was signed! (footnotes 3 & 4)
( 3 ) Charter of the united States of America. The American Republic. Jefferson, Thomas &a., Journals of the Continental Congress, Volume V. (1776). 1906. See page 76 of the PDF (page 491 as written on the page), “Declaration of Independence,” https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/llscd/lljc005/lljc005.pdf(accessed 03JULY2025).
Can you understand that Gen Z is a bit confused with the GOP congress just passing a budget that puts a police state into place and an executive that is ignoring the rule of law? We have low taxes for the very wealthy and are taking from the lower income people benefits that pay for basics. And the deficit that has been run up under Trump I (without COVID), and now Trump 2 puts Gen Z, Millenlals, and Gen X and their progeny into a big financial hole. I am patriotic, but I am devoting July 4 working on removing the score called MAGA under the GOP from the body politic. Polarization you say; it is democracy versus authoritarianism.
Nice Post Elise...
Thank you for the discount code! That was an exciting surprise. As we are waiting to see the fallout from bombing Iran, this is definitely the place I want to be.
Regarding books, I'm reading Black Wave by Kim Ghattas. I would love to hear book or long form journalism recommendations as they relate to current events, especially foreign affairs. I usually go the The Economist's "What to read to understand..." book lists, but I would love to hear what you recommend. (no pressure)
I will be sending out recommendations this weekend
Well Ms. Labott, I am one who is well outside the political spectrum but I do appreciate your reporting. It all rings true if sometime I disagree. Please have a peaceful and meaningful Independence and Declaration Day. Take care.
It will be the bill-political suicide of yesterday which impels partisans to defy even that lofty grandeur of insanity, when (20) senate Republicans and (13) senate Democrats come up for reelection in November of 2026.
In Terms Unstolen:
Already bracing ourselves for the divide-and-conquer campaigns they will run, we take a step back, to recall that James Madison defined a “pure Democracy” as a "society consisting of a small number of citizens who assemble and administer the government" themselves. (footnote 1)
Whereas the cofounders recognized that would not be possible, given the size of our country, they devised a representative form of Democracy that is referred to as our "Republican Form of Government" in the Constitution. (footnote 2)
Thus reminding ourselves that we, the Members of our American Republic, are in fact all republican-democrats.
As well as that, ironically, to breach the Constitution that forms the Offices that our Public Servants currently hold, is to dissolve their own seats in our General Government, whilst the State Governments persist and we pursue happiness as Members of our immutable Republic:
Turning Two Hundred & Forty-Nine (249) today, the Charter that Formed Our Republic & Codified Our Rights as forever unalienable, remains as perfect and unalterable as the day the it was signed! (footnotes 3 & 4)
~~~~~~~~
FOOTNOTES:
( 1 ) Federalist No. 10: Madison, James. See the last paragraph of page 40 of the pdf (page 30 as written on the page) and the first two paragraphs of the next page, https://.us.archive.org/15/items/isbn_9798693829671/isbn_9798693829671.pdf(accessed 03JULY2025).
( 2 ) The Constitution, As Finally Amended. The Papers of James Madison Purchased by Order of Congress, Volume 3. Washington, Langtree & O'Sullivan, 1840. See page 1605 ("We, the people"),https://archive.org/details/papersofjamesmadi03madi/page/1605/mode/1up(accessed 03JULY2025)
( 3 ) Charter of the united States of America. The American Republic. Jefferson, Thomas &a., Journals of the Continental Congress, Volume V. (1776). 1906. See page 76 of the PDF (page 491 as written on the page), “Declaration of Independence,” https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/llscd/lljc005/lljc005.pdf(accessed 03JULY2025).
(4 ) The Irony of Demagoguery's Self-Abdicating Throne. Concerning yesterday’s Court decision. Baker, Anthony D. &a., June 28, 2025,https://open.substack.com/pub/republia/p/the-irony-of-demagoguerys-self-abdicating (accessed 03JULY2025)
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With the highest regard and deepest respect, we have the honor of being, Your most humble and obedient servant,
/ REPUBLIA /
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Can you understand that Gen Z is a bit confused with the GOP congress just passing a budget that puts a police state into place and an executive that is ignoring the rule of law? We have low taxes for the very wealthy and are taking from the lower income people benefits that pay for basics. And the deficit that has been run up under Trump I (without COVID), and now Trump 2 puts Gen Z, Millenlals, and Gen X and their progeny into a big financial hole. I am patriotic, but I am devoting July 4 working on removing the score called MAGA under the GOP from the body politic. Polarization you say; it is democracy versus authoritarianism.
right on, sis