Nope, I disagree. A lobbyist is only and ever working for the corporation or trade group that hired them. A policy wonk is someone who is working for the government, which in the final analysis, mean us.
It’s true, the revolving door can be problematic, but I agree with what Mr. Tingley said. The vast majority are civil servants doing their jobs the best they can.
Not even close. Lobbyists are paid quite well to push for laws that benefit their employees. Those who write the bills are doing it on a government salary that is not dry lucrative - especially in Washington, D.C. The argument that everyone in the federal government does not hold water.
I’m sure there are instances when that happens, but I don’t think you can say that the entire federal government is filled with “ideologues.” I can’t buy that.
I so admire Miles Taylor. It took courage to speak out, even as "Anonymous." Courage is something we are lacking in the United States today. Before Trump won, I knew it wouldn't be good but I really had no idea how bad things could get. This election has me terrified and I'm not someone who thinks in such catastrophic terms normally. We need more Taylor Swifts. More young people to get the message out there that have the attention of our youth. Voting is essential.
My husband said the dream ticket that everyone could agree on is Dolly Parton for President and Taylor Swift for Vice President. I laughed, and then I went—Hmmmm….
Actually, he was a high-ranking official in Dept. Of Homeland Security. The reality is the best and brightest are often young. I certainly would not describe him as a peon.
Ageism has become another problem……. We have laws in place that outline what the minimum age you need to be to serve in elected positions - we desperately need laws defining a mandatory retirement age.
I, too, love that book tree in Crandall and was told that the custodial staff had created it...very impressive although I really need to see it at night when it's lighted.
Miles Taylor has really been all over MSNBC lately, interviewed about his book but also in panel discussions trying so hard to get the truth OUT there.
As for Elise, NO surprise....look at this:
Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Manning accused Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of copying sections of her letter word-for-word that criticized college presidents for their testimony about on-campus antisemitism, sullying the MAGA minion's victory lap in the wake of last week's testimony from embattled university presidents, one of whom resigned days later. Stefanik, a graduate of Harvard who should know a thing or two about plagiarism, had shared detailed and articulate thoughts on the dangers of antisemitism on university campuses and the limits of free speech. Just one problem, though — they apparently weren't hers.
“You know I was watching TV, and they interviewed a guy in a hat, a MAGA hat, and he said he was going to `ride it out.’ Isn’t that something?” Trump said. “That’s what Trump supporters do. They’re tough. They ride it out. I think that’s what I’ll them to do.”
Only one step removed from Jonestown.
Elise Stefanik is already a parody. No wonder it was tough to do her over the top histrionics as satire. I’ll pass on watching the SNL version.
I’ll share David Frum talking to Charlie Sykes yesterday, tho. I’m a lifelong Democrat (currently short term RINO) and Frum and Tom Nichols are two big reasons I have an Atlantic subscription.
When Trump is gone Stefanik and all the other anti-democracy MAGA Republicans are going to be fighting over His crown like chickens fighting over a grape. I hope and suspect that won’t end well for them politically. If we’re lucky there will be a political realignment and we’ll again have a rational conservative party in this country.
When I hear people confronted by a problem or crisis start to point fingers and get personal toward others sharing the difficult situation, I consistently remind them to remain in a problem-solving mode. This policy helps them avoid taking enemy positions and guides them in working together to resolve issues. Would that more of our political and civic leaders learn and apply this skill and use their power responsibly for the people they represent. True authority, of course, is service.
This part is simply not true: “Taylor argues the two major parties no longer represent the moderate majority. The Democrats are becoming more liberal and the Republicans more conservative.”
A balanced look at the positions of the parties would find that on the whole the Democratic Party represents values very much in line with the values of the party in the 60’s, 70’s, or 80’s. Meanwhile the Republican Party is currently aligning with the kinds of policies their party rejected with Barry Goldwater. Democrats are fighting to defend policies that were considered settled law about 50 years ago like a woman’s right to abortion, or a simple recognition that women be legally and overtly recognized in the Constitution through the Equal Rights Amendment. Democrats are fighting for living wages for workers, a clean and functional environment for future generations, for continuation of Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid, humane treatment of migrants who would like to become American, civil rights and voting rights.
Those are not values moving to the left. Those are and were solidly centrist values in 1974, or 1964, 1954, or 1934. And in 2024.
Meanwhile if we look at what the Republican Party of today represents it is hard to imagine but true that Richard Nixon or Ronald Reagan held positions that would be considered “liberal” by elected representatives who wield power within the GOP. Kevin McCarthy who was elected as a Tea Party Republican was removed as Speaker of the House and is retiring from Congress because the Republican Party has moved so far to the right that their pants only have one leg.
Better to have policy wonks writing the bills than the lobbyists!
Nope, I disagree. A lobbyist is only and ever working for the corporation or trade group that hired them. A policy wonk is someone who is working for the government, which in the final analysis, mean us.
That may happen at the higher levels - like Wall Street - but I don’t think you can make that argument for the regular career workers.
It’s true, the revolving door can be problematic, but I agree with what Mr. Tingley said. The vast majority are civil servants doing their jobs the best they can.
Exactly.
Not even close. Lobbyists are paid quite well to push for laws that benefit their employees. Those who write the bills are doing it on a government salary that is not dry lucrative - especially in Washington, D.C. The argument that everyone in the federal government does not hold water.
Good point.
I’m sure there are instances when that happens, but I don’t think you can say that the entire federal government is filled with “ideologues.” I can’t buy that.
They are not making policy, but the provide the know how and expertise of what happens when that policy is implemented.
I so admire Miles Taylor. It took courage to speak out, even as "Anonymous." Courage is something we are lacking in the United States today. Before Trump won, I knew it wouldn't be good but I really had no idea how bad things could get. This election has me terrified and I'm not someone who thinks in such catastrophic terms normally. We need more Taylor Swifts. More young people to get the message out there that have the attention of our youth. Voting is essential.
Wow! Great essay.
My husband said the dream ticket that everyone could agree on is Dolly Parton for President and Taylor Swift for Vice President. I laughed, and then I went—Hmmmm….
At the time, we were led to believe Anonymous was someone important, not a 30 year old peon.
Actually, he was a high-ranking official in Dept. Of Homeland Security. The reality is the best and brightest are often young. I certainly would not describe him as a peon.
Ageism has become another problem……. We have laws in place that outline what the minimum age you need to be to serve in elected positions - we desperately need laws defining a mandatory retirement age.
I, too, love that book tree in Crandall and was told that the custodial staff had created it...very impressive although I really need to see it at night when it's lighted.
Miles Taylor has really been all over MSNBC lately, interviewed about his book but also in panel discussions trying so hard to get the truth OUT there.
As for Elise, NO surprise....look at this:
Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Manning accused Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of copying sections of her letter word-for-word that criticized college presidents for their testimony about on-campus antisemitism, sullying the MAGA minion's victory lap in the wake of last week's testimony from embattled university presidents, one of whom resigned days later. Stefanik, a graduate of Harvard who should know a thing or two about plagiarism, had shared detailed and articulate thoughts on the dangers of antisemitism on university campuses and the limits of free speech. Just one problem, though — they apparently weren't hers.
I had not heard that.
Elise is getting crucified on X (Twitter) for plagiarizing Rep. Manning; Congressman Jamie Raskin has especially dropped the boom on her.
I got my pen ready for letters to the editors this coming year!
Thank you.
campus Q.T-- deGRASSe
https://www.hercampus.com/school/union/campus-cutie-alex-degrasse/
Classical Studies major
he doesn't know history
he was also a Political Science so lies work well for him
“You know I was watching TV, and they interviewed a guy in a hat, a MAGA hat, and he said he was going to `ride it out.’ Isn’t that something?” Trump said. “That’s what Trump supporters do. They’re tough. They ride it out. I think that’s what I’ll them to do.”
Only one step removed from Jonestown.
Elise Stefanik is already a parody. No wonder it was tough to do her over the top histrionics as satire. I’ll pass on watching the SNL version.
I’ll share David Frum talking to Charlie Sykes yesterday, tho. I’m a lifelong Democrat (currently short term RINO) and Frum and Tom Nichols are two big reasons I have an Atlantic subscription.
When Trump is gone Stefanik and all the other anti-democracy MAGA Republicans are going to be fighting over His crown like chickens fighting over a grape. I hope and suspect that won’t end well for them politically. If we’re lucky there will be a political realignment and we’ll again have a rational conservative party in this country.
https://youtu.be/2h7KXsaZ3mE?si=GxPYV1pzvsxfNmIP
Where was Elise’s indignation when Trump wouldn’t call out White Supremacist?
When I hear people confronted by a problem or crisis start to point fingers and get personal toward others sharing the difficult situation, I consistently remind them to remain in a problem-solving mode. This policy helps them avoid taking enemy positions and guides them in working together to resolve issues. Would that more of our political and civic leaders learn and apply this skill and use their power responsibly for the people they represent. True authority, of course, is service.
Good advice.
This part is simply not true: “Taylor argues the two major parties no longer represent the moderate majority. The Democrats are becoming more liberal and the Republicans more conservative.”
A balanced look at the positions of the parties would find that on the whole the Democratic Party represents values very much in line with the values of the party in the 60’s, 70’s, or 80’s. Meanwhile the Republican Party is currently aligning with the kinds of policies their party rejected with Barry Goldwater. Democrats are fighting to defend policies that were considered settled law about 50 years ago like a woman’s right to abortion, or a simple recognition that women be legally and overtly recognized in the Constitution through the Equal Rights Amendment. Democrats are fighting for living wages for workers, a clean and functional environment for future generations, for continuation of Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid, humane treatment of migrants who would like to become American, civil rights and voting rights.
Those are not values moving to the left. Those are and were solidly centrist values in 1974, or 1964, 1954, or 1934. And in 2024.
Meanwhile if we look at what the Republican Party of today represents it is hard to imagine but true that Richard Nixon or Ronald Reagan held positions that would be considered “liberal” by elected representatives who wield power within the GOP. Kevin McCarthy who was elected as a Tea Party Republican was removed as Speaker of the House and is retiring from Congress because the Republican Party has moved so far to the right that their pants only have one leg.