By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Hen Tune of the Day

Northern Mockingbird, 138 Captains Dr, West Babylon, Suffolk, New York, United States. “This chicken’s music contains mimicry of Carolina Wren, Northern Cardinal, and probably Tree Swallow (last phrase at 0:44).”

“Knowledge.” What a beautiful title (like “Sophia,” which I ponder why the Fish and Wildlife Service didn’t select):


* * *

In Case You Would possibly Miss…

  1. UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot useless in Midtown Manhattan .
  2. DNC race begins .
  3. UAW cuts off pay from hanging staffers.

* * *

Politics

“So lots of the social reactions that strike us as psychological are the truth is a rational administration of symbolic capital.” –Pierre Bourdieu, Classification Struggles

* * *

Trump Transition

“Trump Mulls Changing Pete Hegseth With Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis” [Wall Street Journal]. “President-elect Donald Trump is contemplating Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a attainable substitute for Pete Hegseth, his choose to run the Pentagon, based on folks acquainted with the discussions, amid Republican senators’ considerations over mounting allegations in regards to the former Fox Information host’s private life. Choosing DeSantis, a 2024 GOP main rival for the presidency, would quantity to a surprising flip for Trump. However he would additionally discover within the governor a well known conservative with a service document who shares Trump’s—and Hegseth’s—view on culling what they see as ‘woke’ insurance policies within the navy. Trump allies more and more assume Hegseth might not survive additional scrutiny, based on folks near the president-elect’s crew, which considers the following 48 hours to be essential to his destiny. DeSantis, who served as a Navy lawyer in Iraq and the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, was on an earlier checklist of potential protection secretary candidates that transition officers introduced to the president.” • If conservative Republicans assume fixing wokeness will repair the Pentagon, they’re out of their minds.

* * *

“Kash Patel Is Trump’s Scariest Cupboard Appointment But” [The Nation]. “Gina Haspell, Trump’s CIA director, likewise threatened to resign slightly than settle for Patel as her No. 2.” That “Bloody Gina” objects appears to me to be a robust argument on Patel’s favor. Extra: “Patel has additionally duly minted his battles over management of the deep state right into a e book, Authorities Gangsters, which derides the company he’s now charged with administering as ‘one of the vital crafty and highly effective arms of the Deep State,’ the place rampant corruption has change into ‘an existential menace to our republican type of authorities.’ He has vowed, ought to he be entrusted with overseeing the company’s operations, to close down its Hoover Constructing headquarters in Washington on day one, and convert it into ‘a museum of the deep state.’…. There are in fact, a battery of sound causes to assault the investigative overreaches of the FBI, which has lengthy empowered right-wing covert surveillance agendas and has by no means in its historical past had a non-Republican director.” • Certain, however the Democrats by no means acted on all these “sound causes,” and so now we now have Patel. Sheesh.

Blurting it out:

“… the Deep State, …” (see from 2014 right here).

2024 Publish Mortem

“A Requiem For Postmortems” [3 Quarks Daily]. “Donald Trump, no matter how you are feeling about him, is a gigantic political expertise—in a category with Barack Obama, Invoice Clinton, and Ronald Reagan. He has his personal sort of eloquence—a mesmeric mass of malaprops, fabrications, threats, jokes, insults, syntaxial flights of lunacy—that each one work for him. Trump has been accused of blowing the canine whistle. It’s true within the conventional sense of the phrase, however Trump provides a dimension like no different politician. His followers, his public, are capable of hear a melody the place the remainder of us hear solely noise. Kamala Harris simply couldn’t play at his stage. I’m not within the class of those that say she was a hopelessly dangerous candidate. She wasn’t. However she was quite a bit nearer to John Kerry than Barack Obama. Presidential energy stays the ability to steer, and Harris had hassle closing the sale. The argument that she would have improved if she’d had extra time, or extra of a problem in getting the nomination has some superficial enchantment, however that’s all it’s. Let’s not overlook, this is identical Kamala Harris who stalled early in 2020, and, whereas she bought higher, it was by levels, not leaps and bounds. It’s very onerous for even the most effective pitching coach to show a soft-toss specialist right into a strike-out machine. Harris didn’t have the arm for it, and she or he was going through somebody who did.

“The Finish of Democratic Delusions” [George Packer, The Atlantic]. The conclusion: “Just a few weeks earlier than the election, Consultant Chris Deluzio, a first-term Democrat, was campaigning door-to-door in a carefully divided district in western Pennsylvania. He’s a Navy veteran, a average on cultural points, and a homegrown financial populist—vital of firms, deep-pocketed donors, and the ideology that privileges capital over human beings and communities. At one home he spoke with a middle-aged white policeman named Mike, who had a Trump register his entrance yard. With out budging on his alternative for president, Mike ended up voting for Deluzio. On Election Night time, in a state carried by Trump, Deluzio outperformed Harris in his district, particularly within the reddest areas, and received comfortably. What does this show? Solely that ” • It has occurred to me that outlawing all digital political promoting (Web and TV) would have two salutary results: It might drive candidates (and their proxies) to talk on to voters, Lincoln-Douglas fashion; and it will give paper-based, native media a assured market. (I’d additionally outlaw political polling, as IIRC some European nations do, for some interval earlier than the election; say two months. Mix all this with handmarked paper ballots, hand-counted in public, and we’d have a more healthy electoral system.

Republican Funhouse

“‘Have the abdomen’: Republican claims Dems have to again Social Safety and Medicare cuts” [Raw Story]. “‘We’re gonna should have some onerous selections,’ claimed [Rep. Richard McCormick (R-GA)] throughout his Fox look Tuesday. ‘We’re gonna have to usher in the Democrats to speak about Social Safety, Medicaid, Medicare.’” • Ah, “onerous selections.” Onerous for whom? Extra:

I can see the chin-stroking Op-Eds in The New York Occasions already. Absolutely, this time, we will obtain the Grand Discount? What an thrilling approach for Democrats to point out they’re actually critical!

Democrats en déshabillé

“Why Democrats ought to choose — or go over — potential contenders for DNC chair” [Politico]. “But the race for their leader, scheduled for Feb. 1, and decided by 448 committee members, remains wide open.” • Ken Martin, Martin O’Malley, Ben Wikler, James Skoufis, Michael Blake, and [drumroll] Rahm Emmanuel (see below). DNC = Democratic National Committee.

“DNC hopes to highlight success ahead of post-election meeting” [ABC]. “DNC Chair Jaime Harrison wrote in a grassroots memo obtained first by ABC News that while Democrats fell short in the presidential race, beefy and historic investments in down-ballot contests offer a roadmap to success. The party was able to salvage four Senate races in states President-elect Donald Trump won and gain House seats despite headwinds at the top of the ticket…. ‘In 2024, the DNC made strategic campaign grants in every state party for the first time in history, and delivered record-breaking investments directly to coordinated campaigns in every state — totaling over $264 million,” he added. “These investments yielded results and underscore the importance of continued state party investment…’” • Meanwhile:

Pricey Hunter!

“DNC chair frontrunner affords ‘uncomfortable’ recommendation to Democrats after crushing loss to Trump” [FOX]. “Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Social gathering chair Ken Martin, a DNC vice chair who has led the affiliation of state Democratic Social gathering chairs, on Tuesday unveiled a 10-point memo titled ‘A New DNC Framework.’ Martin’s memo calls on Democrats to “present up in nontraditional and uncomfortable media areas frequently, improve outreach to native messengers and trusted validators, and create our personal platforms for genuine engagement.” And: “Martin seems to be the early frontrunner within the race, and his marketing campaign says he has the backing of a minimum of 100 DNC voting members, which is sort of half of what a candidate must safe the chair. Additionally working and thought of aggressive is Ben Wikler, who’s chaired the state Democratic Social gathering in battleground Wisconsin for 5 years and is well-known by the voting members.” And at last: “A celebration insider who requested to stay nameless to talk extra freely instructed Fox Information that ‘the DNC insiders/institution have vital affect over this membership, so the race will likely be very shut.’” • You don’t say!

“Even Centrists Agree: Ben Wikler for DNC Chair” [Politico]. The deck: “The president of Third Manner endorses a MoveOn alum to guide the Democratic Social gathering.” • Oh.

* * *

And talking of the DNC = Democrat Nationwide Conference:


* * *

In the meantime, on Rahm Emanuel”

And:

“Can Rahm Emanuel Flip the Script Once more?” [New York Times]. “There’s a buzz round Rahm Emanuel — the previous Invoice Clinton adviser, former Illinois congressman, former chief of employees to President Barack Obama, former mayor of Chicago — probably turning into the following head of the Democratic Nationwide Committee. The progressive left despises his pragmatism and liberal centrism…. However he additionally has a present for setting up successful coalitions with tough, sudden companions.” And: “‘I feel Democrats choose shedding and being morally proper to successful,’ he says. ‘Me, I’m not into ethical victory speeches. I’m into successful.’” • What precisely about Biden’s Democrat Social gathering is “morally proper”? The genocide? (Anti-trust, for positive however Kamala didn’t run on that, and Emanuel doesn’t point out it. It’s painfully clear that Emanuel as nothing new to say. However he can at all times punch left!

“Rahm Emanuel is ‘not ’ in DNC chair however is way from achieved with politics” [Chicago Sun-Times]. “Together with his time as America’s ambassador to Japan ending, former Mayor Rahm Emanuel mentioned Tuesday he has no real interest in main a Democratic comeback as his get together’s nationwide chairman, however nonetheless loves public service and isn’t achieved with it. ‘I’m not within the get together. I’m occupied with what the get together can do for folks … My enjoyment [is] in what I’ve achieved in public service,’ Emanuel instructed the Solar-Occasions.” • No person mentions Homan Sq. when interviewing Rahm, oddly.

* * *

I swore I’d quit snark…

… however “UnD” isn’t that dangerous…..

Syndemics

“I’m in earnest — I cannot equivocate — I cannot excuse — I cannot retreat a single inch — AND I WILL BE HEARD.” –William Lloyd Garrison

* * *

Covid Sources, United States (Nationwide): Transmission (CDC); Wastewater (CDC, Biobot; contains many counties; Wastewater Scan, contains drilldown by zip); Variants (CDC; Walgreens); “Iowa COVID-19 Tracker” (in IA, however nationwide knowledge). “An infection Management, Emergency Administration, Security, and Common Ideas” (particularly on hospitalization by metropolis).

Lambert right here: Readers, thanks for the collective effort. To replace any entry, do be at liberty to contact me on the handle given with the crops. Please put “COVID” within the topic line. Thanks!

Sources, United States (Native): AK (dashboard); AL (dashboard); AR (dashboard); AZ (dashboard); CA (dashboard; Marin, dashboard; Stanford, wastewater; Oakland, wastewater); CO (dashboard; wastewater); CT (dashboard); DE (dashboard); FL (wastewater); GA (wastewater); HI (dashboard); IA (wastewater experiences); ID (dashboard, Boise; dashboard, wastewater, Central Idaho; wastewater, Coeur d’Alene; dashboard, Spokane County); IL (wastewater); IN (dashboard); KS (dashboard; wastewater, Lawrence); KY (dashboard, Louisville); LA (dashboard); MA (wastewater); MD (dashboard); ME (dashboard); MI (wastewater; wastewater); MN (dashboard); MO (wastewater); MS (dashboard); MT (dashboard); NC (dashboard); ND (dashboard; wastewater); NE (dashboard); NH (wastewater); NJ (dashboard); NM (dashboard); NV (dashboard; wastewater, Southern NV); NY (dashboard); OH (dashboard); OK (dashboard); OR (dashboard); PA (dashboard); RI (dashboard); SC (dashboard); SD (dashboard); TN (dashboard); TX (dashboard); UT (wastewater); VA (wastewater); VT (dashboard); WA (dashboard; dashboard); WI (wastewater); WV (wastewater); WY (wastewater).

Sources, Canada (Nationwide): Wastewater (Authorities of Canada).

Sources, Canada (Provincial): ON (wastewater); QC (les eaux usées); BC (wastewater); BC, Vancouver (wastewater).

Hat tricks to useful readers: Alexis, anon (2), Art_DogCT, B24S, CanCyn, ChiGal, Chuck L, Festoonic, FM, FreeMarketApologist (4), Gumbo, hop2it, JB, JEHR, JF, JL Joe, John, JM (10), JustAnotherVolunteer, JW, KatieBird, KF, KidDoc, LL, Michael King, KF, LaRuse, mrsyk, MT, MT_Wild, otisyves, Petal (6), RK (2), RL, RM, Rod, sq. coats (11), tennesseewaltzer, Tom B., Utah, Bob White (3).

Keep secure on the market!

“Influenza A(H5N1) shedding in air corresponds to transmissibility in mammals” [Nature]. “A rise in spillover occasions of extremely pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses to mammals suggests collection of viruses that transmit properly in mammals.” • Oh.

* * *

TABLE 1: Every day Covid Charts

Lambert right here: Though the Covid numbers appear low, please do not forget that the information isn’t practically nearly as good because it as soon as was, that it lags, and that the draw back dangers of catching Covid are appreciable. For many who have developed their very own private protocols, I wouldn’t calm down them. Perhaps subsequent yr.

Wastewater
This week[1] CDC November 25 Last week[2] CDC (until next week):

Variants [3] CDC November 23 Emergency Room Visits[4] CDC November 23

Hospitalization
★ New York[5] New York State, data December 3: National [6] CDC November 28:

Positivity
National[7] Walgreens December 2: Ohio[8] Cleveland Clinic November 23:

Travelers Data
★ Positivity[9] CDC November 11: Variants[10] CDC November 4:

Deaths
Weekly Deaths vs. % Positivity [11] CDC November 2: Weekly Deaths vs. ED Visits [12] CDC November 2:

LEGEND

1) ★ for charts new today; all others are not updated.

2) For a full-size/full-resolution image, Command-click (MacOS) or right-click (Windows) on the chart thumbnail and “open image in new tab.”

NOTES

[1] (CDC) Good news!

[2] (CDC) Last week’s wastewater map.

[3] (CDC Variants) KP.* still popular. XEC has entered the chat. That WHO label, “Ommicron,” has done a great job normalizing successive waves of infection.

[4] (ED) Down.

[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Leveled out.

[6] (Hospitalization: CDC). Actually improved; it’s now one of the few charts to show the entire course of the pandemic to the present day.

[7] (Walgreens) Down.

[8] (Cleveland) Down.

[9] (Travelers: Positivity) Leveling out.

[10] (Travelers: Variants). Positivity is new, but variants have not yet been released.

[11] Deaths low, positivity down.

[12] Deaths low, ED down.

Stats Watch

Employment Situation: “United States ADP Employment Change” [Trading Economics]. “Private businesses in the US added 146K workers to their payrolls in November 2024, the least in three months, following a downwardly revised 184K rise in October, and slightly below forecasts of 150K.”

Manufacturing: “United States Factory Orders” [Trading Economics]. “New orders for manufactured goods in the US increased by 0.2% from the previous month to $586.7 billion in October of 2024, in line with market expectations, after two consecutive monthly decreases.”

Manufacturing: “United States ISM Services PMI” [Trading Economics]. “The ISM Services PMI in the US declined to 52.1 in November 2024 from 56 in October and well below forecasts of 55.5. The reading pointed to the slowest growth in the services sector in three months…”

* * *

The Bezzle: “Godot Isn’t Making it” [Ed Zitron, Where’s Your Ed At?]. Grab a cup of coffee, but make sure you have a place to set it down becuase you’ll be laughing so hard. From the peroration: “Once the AI bubble pops, there are no other hyper-growth markets left, which will in turn lead to a bloodbath in big tech stocks as they realize that they’re out of big ideas to convince the street that they’re going to grow forever. There are some that will boast about ‘being right’ here, and yes, there is some satisfaction in being so. Nevertheless, knowing that the result of this bubble bursting will be massive layoffs, a dearth in venture capital funding, and a much more fragile tech ecosystem. Generative AI is the perfect monster of the Rot Economy — a technology that lacks any real purpose sold as if it could do literally anything, one without a real business model or killer app, proliferated because big tech no longer innovates, but rather clones and monopolizes. Yes, this much money can be this stupid….” • Hopefully some shorts make money on this thing.

* * *

Today’s Fear & Greed Index: 67 Greed (previous close: 66 Greed) [CNN]. One week ago: 64 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Dec 2 at 1:53:27 PM ET.

Gallery

Not sure about this one. Cubism is about cubes, or I suppose polygons. I suppose the occasional curve (as of a guitar or the edge of a table) fits into the paradigm, but circles? Lots of them?

Then once more:

So what do I do know?

The 420

“How weed received over America” [VOX]. “In the previous couple of many years, marijuana’s had a serious glow-up. In 1992, lower than 1 million folks had been utilizing it every day or practically on daily basis — a low level, based on an evaluation of knowledge from the US Nationwide Survey on Drug Use and Well being, which started surveying Individuals within the Seventies. Ten instances as many individuals, in the meantime, reported consuming alcohol every day or nearly every day. Within the Nineties, weed was unlawful nationally and in each state. However marijuana’s since had a serious rebrand: Three many years later, it’s authorized for leisure grownup use in practically half of the 50 states. Now, it’s even difficult alcohol for its standing as America’s favourite every day intoxicant. In 2022, for the primary time, extra Individuals had been utilizing marijuana every day, or close to every day, than consuming alcohol on the similar fee, based on a examine by Jonathan Caulkins, a professor at Carnegie Mellon College. The variety of every day or close to every day marijuana customers has grown from lower than 1 million in 1992 to 17.7 million in 2022; by way of per capita fee, that’s a 15-fold improve.” • Hmm.

Healthcare

“UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot useless in Midtown Manhattan, masked gunman at massive” [ABC]. Ski mask. “Brian Thompson, the CEO of major insurance group UnitedHealthcare, was shot to death at point-blank range in Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday morning before he was set to attend an investor conference, according to police. The masked gunman, who remains on the loose, appeared to be lying in wait and shot Thompson several times from behind, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a news conference. The shooting, which was reported around 6:40 a.m., appeared to be a ‘brazen, targeted attack’ that was ‘premeditated,’ Tisch stressed. But the motive remains unknown, police said.” And: “The shooter arrived at the scene about five minutes before Thompson arrived, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at the news conference.” After the shooting: “The suspect fled on foot into an alley, where a phone was recovered, Kenny said. He then fled on an e-bike and he was last seen riding into Central Park at 6:48 a.m., police said. The bikes are equipped with GPS and police are following up, Kenny said.” • Commentary:

“UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson shot and killed outdoors Manhattan Hilton lodge” [Daily Mail]. “Witnesses mentioned the suspected gunman was seen ready outdoors the lodge earlier than the taking pictures, and knew which door Thompson was going to emerge from earlier than taking pictures him at point-blank vary.” And: “United is the largest well being insurer by market share in America. The corporate has been the topic of frequent protests by activists for allegedly systematically denying look after sufferers. One such protest earlier this yr led to the arrests of 11 folks outdoors the United Healthcare headquarters in Minnetonka, Minnesota. The corporate made headlines in February after it was subjected to a cyber-attack which value $872 million.” • Commentary:

And:

“UnitedHealth makes use of AI mannequin with 90% error fee to disclaim care, lawsuit alleges” [Ars Technica]. From 2023. “UnitedHealthcare, the biggest medical insurance firm within the US, is allegedly utilizing a deeply flawed AI algorithm to override medical doctors’ judgments and wrongfully deny vital well being protection to aged sufferers. This has resulted in sufferers being kicked out of rehabilitation packages and care amenities far too early, forcing them to empty their life financial savings to acquire wanted care that must be lined below their government-funded Medicare Benefit Plan. That’s all based on a lawsuit filed this week within the US District Court docket for the District of Minnesota. The lawsuit is introduced by the estates of two deceased individuals who had been denied well being protection by UnitedHealth. The swimsuit additionally seeks class-action standing for equally located folks, of which there could also be tens of 1000’s throughout the nation. The lawsuit lands alongside an investigation by Stat Information that largely backs the lawsuit’s claims. The investigation’s findings stem from inner paperwork and communications the outlet obtained, in addition to interviews with former workers of NaviHealth, the UnitedHealth subsidiary that developed the AI algorithm referred to as nH Predict.”

* * *

“Anthem Insurance coverage points new edict to cap anesthesia protection at a time restrict” [FOX]. “On Nov. 14, the American Society of Anesthesiologists put out a letter that sounded the alarm that Anthem insurance coverage out of the blue determined to cap its protection of anesthesia at an arbitrary time restrict. It’s a change that medical doctors say isn’t primarily based on good drugs…. Docs received’t be waking sufferers as much as ask them permission to proceed medically crucial anesthesia, however meaning once they do get up, they could be whacked with an sudden out-of-pocket expense. ‘There are circumstances the place they received’t pay for any of the anesthesia even as much as the purpose of the place they are saying it’s justified. It’s simply absurd,’ mentioned [Connecticut Anesthesiologist Dr. Kenneth Stone]. … Docs cite real-world examples of surgical procedures taking longer than anticipated for causes similar to blood loss, tough anatomy, a complication or comorbidity. Docs say drugs isn’t one measurement suits all.” • Why not simply put an automated cutoff on the gasoline pumps?

* * *

I ought to have thought to make this joke myself, however so it goes:

>

Class Warfare

“UAW Employees Strike Ignored as Labor Influencers Concern Shedding UAW’s Social Media Attain” [Payday Report]. “Yesterday, UAW staffers went on strike in the northeast against their international union. Workers say that the union is relying heavily on temporary employees, a practice they have criticized at the Big Three, and attempting to exclude them from the staff union. Some UAW organizers are kept on temporary status for up to three years. … Today, the UAW announced that they were cutting off pay in a hardball move designed to intimidate staffers.” Solidarity forever! More: “So, why would so many labor journalists ignore this story of hypocrisy by UAW President Shawn Fain? They need the social media engine of the UAW in order to make their work go viral.” • This is a must-read. It shows where Payday Reports donation model really shines.

“My Smartphone Was Ruining My Life. So I Quit.” [The Free Press]. “Still, I learned that my followers’ love was contingent on high engagement levels, and because the algorithm was constantly changing, I had to change with it. I was constantly adapting my visual and verbal style to keep up with trends. One consistently effective strategy was being vulnerable. Regardless of what I drew, regardless of how good it was, I would get more likes and comments on my art when I paired it with an emotional disclosure, ideally of the tragic variety. In 2018, I shared a tiny drawing of a shark: ‘Crying nonstop & blowing my nose on my shirt,’ the caption read. ‘Thank you all for being my internet family, I truly need that in my life.’ I sold more when I wrote things like this, presumably because my followers took pity on me and wanted to help. I leaned into this effect, mining my life for pain. By the beginning of 2019, I had passed the 100,000-follower mark. I still wasn’t earning above minimum wage, but I was selling enough prints through my website to call myself an artist. More accurately, though, I was an influencer.” • I don’t think it’s the phone that’s the problem.

News of the Wired

I am not feeling wired today.

* * *

Contact information for plants: Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, to (a) find out how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal and (b) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi, lichen, and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here. From KoG:

K0G writes: “Caught this a bit ago on one of the Finger Lakes.”

* * *

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Espresso Break: Funding Medical Schooling, A Human Ancestor, Tardigrades to the Rescue, Trashing the Earth, Plus MAHA and Measles

This entry was posted in Water Cooler on by Lambert Strether.

About Lambert Strether

Readers, I have had a correspondent characterize my views as realistic cynical. Let me briefly explain them. I believe in universal programs that provide concrete material benefits, especially to the working class. Medicare for All is the prime example, but tuition-free college and a Post Office Bank also fall under this heading. So do a Jobs Guarantee and a Debt Jubilee. Clearly, neither liberal Democrats nor conservative Republicans can deliver on such programs, because the two are different flavors of neoliberalism (“Because markets”). I don’t much care about the “ism” that delivers the benefits, although whichever one does have to put common humanity first, as opposed to markets. Could be a second FDR saving capitalism, democratic socialism leashing and collaring it, or communism razing it. I don’t much care, as long as the benefits are delivered.

To me, the key issue — and this is why Medicare for All is always first with me — is the tens of thousands of excess “deaths from despair,” as described by the Case-Deaton study, and other recent studies. That enormous body count makes Medicare for All, at the very least, a moral and strategic imperative. And that level of suffering and organic damage makes the concerns of identity politics — even the worthy fight to help the refugees Bush, Obama, and Clinton’s wars created — bright shiny objects by comparison. Hence my frustration with the news flow — currently in my view the swirling intersection of two, separate Shock Doctrine campaigns, one by the Administration, and the other by out-of-power liberals and their allies in the State and in the press — a news flow that constantly forces me to focus on matters that I regard as of secondary importance to the excess deaths. What kind of political economy is it that halts or even reverses the increases in life expectancy that civilized societies have achieved? I am also very hopeful that the continuing destruction of both party establishments will open the space for voices supporting programs similar to those I have listed; let’s call such voices “the left.” Volatility creates opportunity, especially if the Democrat establishment, which puts markets first and opposes all such programs, isn’t allowed to get back into the saddle. Eyes on the prize! I love the tactical level, and secretly love even the horse race, since I’ve been blogging about it daily for fourteen years, but everything I write has this perspective at the back of it.













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