Yeahhhh! I believe an honest appraisal of the good , the bad and what we can improve will be tremendously good for the mental health of our country. Three cheers for TFP!
Viewed through the lens of nearly every conceivable metric, human life today is historically unprecedented in terms of safety, prosperity, and longevity. Global poverty rates have plummeted, child mortality has fallen dramatically, literacy and education have spread widely, and average life expectancy continues to rise in much of the world. Violence, including wars and homicides, has declined precipitously. Even in the face of challenges like climate change, pandemics, and wealth inequality, the trajectory of human progress over the past two centuries is stunning. I would love to see TFP reflect on America’s role in this.
This is going to be good for everyone who follows. This 250 years of celebration grounded in reality ...... what was good even through there will be some ugh to it and what was bad that will cause us to go ugh and hopeful we use it to learn either as individual or as the US collective.
“…the greatest country on earth… We realize that’s not a popular thing to say these days.”
Who exactly is the “we” in this setup? I’ve ALWAYS thought that America is the greatest country on earth. It’s only an unpopular thing to say if you are a member of the far left.
While I applaud this initiative by TFP, I am disappointed that you kicked it off by conveying the view of the anti-American left.
Why do you portray the left as anti- American. I find that not only false but not part of the American ideal of tolerances. I’m a democrat but love this country including those who don’t agree with me, yes conservatives people who voted for Trump & republicans.
Actually, he did not say "all" of the left is anti-American. But, neither can you say there is an anti-American faction of the right, like there is on the left, even if you're not in it. There is a big difference between sensible democrats and radical left who have been disparaging this country for a long time.
Glad you included the anti American far right. I believe NJ man had no qualifier to his left is anti American statement. I’m sorry to say that the”good or bad”view of politics (moderates get ignored) will not help us (Americans) through this difficult period.
I did not speak of any anti American "far" right. Your "far" right may include people who go too far in their Americanism, but they obviously are not "anti" American.
I agree this is a radical opinion (✔️s all NJ’s boxes) BUT as an American free speech, free press is tolerated. She can’t create a riot or storm the capitol but she can say pretty much whatever she wants. The argument that she is anti American is perhaps valid but you know originally being a patriot was anti establishment.
OK. Note, I also did not say the woman doesn't have the right to say whatever she wants. (I will, however, view her employer very differently than I previously have.)
And, actually, she could indeed create a riot as has been created by some of the far left, notably, in the last 5 years. Burning cities' government buildings and smashing down historical figures has not been an activity we have often seen by the right.
Exactly. That’s just one example of the insanity which has overtaken the left. At one point, voices like hers were irrelevant fringe voices in the wilderness. Today, those views are increasingly consuming the Democratic Party which is devoid of leadership, ideas, and (at least for now) power. Hence the rise of their new progressive socialist hero, Zohran Mandami.
Is that a serious question? The left is rabidly anti-American, anti-capitalism, and increasingly antisemitic. If you cannot see that, I cannot help you see the light.
I disagree and believe your position is anti American. Plus your stance of “if you don’t see it my way you’re the devil” is not why this country is great. We are all in this together. Time to figure it out. I’m a capitalist( not an isolationist or Laissez-faire) antisemitic is just absurd, in my opinion the Palestinian people deserve liberation from Hamas not obliteration. NJ man/child your attitude is destructive to the American ideals.
Thank you for precisely illustrating the disturbing tendencies of the increasingly irrational and dangerously violent left. You demonize me and conjure a statement that I never said and do not believe, even putting it in quotes. Then you proceed to call me a man/child. The slippery slope of Alinsky tactics at work: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, polarize it. Starts with words. Ends with violence. We see that in the streets of our decaying progressive cities every day.
I’m sorry you feel persecuted but I’m not demonizing you just a position that says you are either good or bad. In my opinion it’s not just puerile but has created polarization that is degrading to collaboration and a moderated view point. Let’s not point figures at anyone for exercising their opinions let’s find common ground and figure this out together. Your position is creating no room to discuss different perspectives like adults should.
“kicked it off by conveying the view of the anti-American left.”and “America is the greatest country on earth. It’s only an unpopular thing to say if you are a member of the far left.” If that’s not demonizing a political position, then I apologize. In my opinion, we are closer to finding positions that we can agree on than you think.
I certainly hope you're right in the prediction that it's possible to find positions we can agree on. I've worked towards that all my adult life, and I do pray for it and hope to live long enough to see it. I think the division may be coming to a head, and we will ultimately right ourselves because that's how survival works in Nature.
Since the names of specific Americans are cited as examples of America's unique greatness, it seems ironic, since he was born on July 4th 1991 and wrong, since he more or less invented jazz, arguably America's greatest contribution to world culture, that Louis Armstrong's is omitted. Has the rightful predilection for the elimination of DEI served to exclude a person for whom it strenuously does not apply?
Please please please host a 250th birthday event in Kansas City! We are the crossroads of the United States! We have the National WWI Museum & Memorial, the KC Current, the KC Royals, Sporting KC, and the KC Chiefs, the 18th & Vine District including the American Jazz Museum and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, the Truman Presidential Library, the 2nd largest brewery in Missouri (Boulevard Brewing, second only to Anheuser Busch) and the best BBQ in the USA (https://www.newser.com/story/371309/10-best-bbq-cities-in-us.html). #flyovercountryrocks
I’m turning 70 this month and was raised by a woman who loved this country. One of her responses to international criticism sticks with me, “The people who hate the USA want to be us, they just do not want us to be us.”
I communicated some thoughts regarding Bari’s article a couple of days ago. You can find them earlier in this comments trail. Coincidentally, Michael Shellenberger posted an article today in public called, “climate journalists are in the midst of a weird religious cult.” Please take the time to read it. I’d love to know anybody’s thoughts.
“These stories frequently cite isolated studies or speculative expert quotes while ignoring the broader data.” The vast majority of scientists have proof that the climate is changing - QUICKLY!
The quote from the above mentioned article is false & the article you are referring to is a Christian hodgepodge of bad vs good ideology. Where we can agree is that the Texas tragedy is partly human unpreparedness and climate changing factors. I’d throw in as part of “unpreparedness” the reduction of staff at the national weather service and other drastic cuts to importanant federal organizations that product Americans- that’s you & me brother
BTW, those cuts aren’t scheduled until October 2025. So, sorry, not a result of budget cuts. Just nature doing its thing, per usual since the beginning of time.
We lived on a river (the West Walker River in Nevada) and every year it threatened to overflow its banks. In 1997 it actually did that and wiped out part of the 34 acre property we subsequently bought in 2007. The property had a mobile home/RV park on the river bank. We owned it for 12 years. The Army Corps of Engineers groomed the river right after the flood (and left a 25 ft high huge pile of rocks on our property which we gratefully used for landscaping). The river would rise every year, but never overflowed again to this day- 27 years later.
The people in the NWS got pink slips last month. Many also retired given the push to shut down the service. Not sure how that affected the disaster but hopefully there will be answers to what we can agree on, is a catastrophe.
I think you and I are probably coming from different places, and as my son-in-law once said to a person he disagreed with on a legal subject; “we share different opinions.” Regardless of whether or not what they now call “Climate Change” (after changing it several times to fit the narrative), there is absolutely nothing that has been proven. For every statistic that shows a change, there is another one that shows it hasn't. However, the most important aspect to this, is that climate change, like many other scams perpetrated across this country, is that it cannot be proven. Hence, why it's a safe topic for people to push. They gain money, they gain power, and they gain control. There is no one on this planet that knows if we have affected the climate. It's all speculation. And people rely on the ignorance of the public to successfully promote these Trojan horse assaults. So after years of listening to this trash, I've made an assessment that even if it is true, none of these people pushing it are acting in the country's best interests. That's my opinion. We will probably never agree.
Your son in law sounds like a smart guy and a good lawyer. We only disagree on the nature of science. Which only provides facts that do not PROVE universal dogma- science backs up theories- the ultimate false or truth ( unless it’s mathematical “proof”) is still up to more research and conjecture. We probably agree on science too. So we only disagree on what the science indicates for our future. Hopefully we agree that certain facts follow a pattern: 1 big one is of periods of mass extinction based on changes in the environment and the facts most (over 90%?) scientists do agree on is that the climate is rapidly changing. In my opinion, from what I’ve read humans are overpopulating the earth. How to” fix” that one is complex but I’m pretty sure going to Mars is not the only or best solution.
The people in the National Weather Service did receive pink slips and have left that operation. What affect that had on this tragedy, is not clear. What is clear is that something went haywire in that floodplain and I’m open to the sources being complex.
Critique is not hatred. Observation is not hatred. That may be a projection of how you navigate the world. I don’t hate anyone. I’d gladly dine with Trump to talk and schmooze and even laugh together. I believe in human redemption. And repair possible even between ‘enemies.’ You see, I know something about Trump his worshippers seem not to notice. He is a human being. Not a deity. I assume there is love in there somewhere. And not just of money and ‘ratings’ and domination. I dearly hope Donald’s growing up was not so devoid of love that he just can’t articulate it himself. But it’s in there. Like Bukowski’s Bluebird poem. The day Trump let’s that love out of its golden cage, he might do great things for this country.
You have me wrong. I don’t pray for Trump to fail. I pray for him to do good for what ails us now and for what awaits our children. He could start with millions of local jobs (not AI) in all states in various forms of green tech suitable to the region. A growth industry for those not klinging to OIL on life support. Even conservative market driven Texas is forging ahead on solar, etc and will be damaged by vindictive cuts to infrastructure development. The federal government has subsidized infrastructure development since Hamilton and Jefferson argued about it. When and if Trump’s vindictive stance subsides, he might just do some good. I won’t hold my breath but I will pray that he finds that bluebird and lets him free. Peace to you. Really.
Via Americana!
I just love you placed UFC and Dolly into the same sentence… because they’re heavy hitters!
America 250!
Yeahhhh! I believe an honest appraisal of the good , the bad and what we can improve will be tremendously good for the mental health of our country. Three cheers for TFP!
Viewed through the lens of nearly every conceivable metric, human life today is historically unprecedented in terms of safety, prosperity, and longevity. Global poverty rates have plummeted, child mortality has fallen dramatically, literacy and education have spread widely, and average life expectancy continues to rise in much of the world. Violence, including wars and homicides, has declined precipitously. Even in the face of challenges like climate change, pandemics, and wealth inequality, the trajectory of human progress over the past two centuries is stunning. I would love to see TFP reflect on America’s role in this.
I'm so in...Let's go! Show the MSM why The Free Press is the new gold standard!
True! TheFP has been my homepage for a while now, and I'm keeping it!
This is going to be good for everyone who follows. This 250 years of celebration grounded in reality ...... what was good even through there will be some ugh to it and what was bad that will cause us to go ugh and hopeful we use it to learn either as individual or as the US collective.
“…the greatest country on earth… We realize that’s not a popular thing to say these days.”
Who exactly is the “we” in this setup? I’ve ALWAYS thought that America is the greatest country on earth. It’s only an unpopular thing to say if you are a member of the far left.
While I applaud this initiative by TFP, I am disappointed that you kicked it off by conveying the view of the anti-American left.
Why do you portray the left as anti- American. I find that not only false but not part of the American ideal of tolerances. I’m a democrat but love this country including those who don’t agree with me, yes conservatives people who voted for Trump & republicans.
Actually, he did not say "all" of the left is anti-American. But, neither can you say there is an anti-American faction of the right, like there is on the left, even if you're not in it. There is a big difference between sensible democrats and radical left who have been disparaging this country for a long time.
Glad you included the anti American far right. I believe NJ man had no qualifier to his left is anti American statement. I’m sorry to say that the”good or bad”view of politics (moderates get ignored) will not help us (Americans) through this difficult period.
I did not speak of any anti American "far" right. Your "far" right may include people who go too far in their Americanism, but they obviously are not "anti" American.
Here's an excellent example of what NJ Guy might mean: https://x.com/EYakoby/status/1942014613110796548
I agree this is a radical opinion (✔️s all NJ’s boxes) BUT as an American free speech, free press is tolerated. She can’t create a riot or storm the capitol but she can say pretty much whatever she wants. The argument that she is anti American is perhaps valid but you know originally being a patriot was anti establishment.
OK. Note, I also did not say the woman doesn't have the right to say whatever she wants. (I will, however, view her employer very differently than I previously have.)
And, actually, she could indeed create a riot as has been created by some of the far left, notably, in the last 5 years. Burning cities' government buildings and smashing down historical figures has not been an activity we have often seen by the right.
Exactly. That’s just one example of the insanity which has overtaken the left. At one point, voices like hers were irrelevant fringe voices in the wilderness. Today, those views are increasingly consuming the Democratic Party which is devoid of leadership, ideas, and (at least for now) power. Hence the rise of their new progressive socialist hero, Zohran Mandami.
Is that a serious question? The left is rabidly anti-American, anti-capitalism, and increasingly antisemitic. If you cannot see that, I cannot help you see the light.
I disagree and believe your position is anti American. Plus your stance of “if you don’t see it my way you’re the devil” is not why this country is great. We are all in this together. Time to figure it out. I’m a capitalist( not an isolationist or Laissez-faire) antisemitic is just absurd, in my opinion the Palestinian people deserve liberation from Hamas not obliteration. NJ man/child your attitude is destructive to the American ideals.
Thank you for precisely illustrating the disturbing tendencies of the increasingly irrational and dangerously violent left. You demonize me and conjure a statement that I never said and do not believe, even putting it in quotes. Then you proceed to call me a man/child. The slippery slope of Alinsky tactics at work: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, polarize it. Starts with words. Ends with violence. We see that in the streets of our decaying progressive cities every day.
I’m sorry you feel persecuted but I’m not demonizing you just a position that says you are either good or bad. In my opinion it’s not just puerile but has created polarization that is degrading to collaboration and a moderated view point. Let’s not point figures at anyone for exercising their opinions let’s find common ground and figure this out together. Your position is creating no room to discuss different perspectives like adults should.
“kicked it off by conveying the view of the anti-American left.”and “America is the greatest country on earth. It’s only an unpopular thing to say if you are a member of the far left.” If that’s not demonizing a political position, then I apologize. In my opinion, we are closer to finding positions that we can agree on than you think.
I certainly hope you're right in the prediction that it's possible to find positions we can agree on. I've worked towards that all my adult life, and I do pray for it and hope to live long enough to see it. I think the division may be coming to a head, and we will ultimately right ourselves because that's how survival works in Nature.
Since the names of specific Americans are cited as examples of America's unique greatness, it seems ironic, since he was born on July 4th 1991 and wrong, since he more or less invented jazz, arguably America's greatest contribution to world culture, that Louis Armstrong's is omitted. Has the rightful predilection for the elimination of DEI served to exclude a person for whom it strenuously does not apply?
Thank you- jazz is such a great contribution to American art- and the blues. These are(not exclusively)black art forms
Yes--very much! But I should stipulate something Duke Ellington once said about Louis Armstrong: "He is beyond category!"
Could you email mini-posters to the paid subscribers and we could print them and put them up in libraries, public bulletins boards etc?
Please please please host a 250th birthday event in Kansas City! We are the crossroads of the United States! We have the National WWI Museum & Memorial, the KC Current, the KC Royals, Sporting KC, and the KC Chiefs, the 18th & Vine District including the American Jazz Museum and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, the Truman Presidential Library, the 2nd largest brewery in Missouri (Boulevard Brewing, second only to Anheuser Busch) and the best BBQ in the USA (https://www.newser.com/story/371309/10-best-bbq-cities-in-us.html). #flyovercountryrocks
I’m turning 70 this month and was raised by a woman who loved this country. One of her responses to international criticism sticks with me, “The people who hate the USA want to be us, they just do not want us to be us.”
I communicated some thoughts regarding Bari’s article a couple of days ago. You can find them earlier in this comments trail. Coincidentally, Michael Shellenberger posted an article today in public called, “climate journalists are in the midst of a weird religious cult.” Please take the time to read it. I’d love to know anybody’s thoughts.
“These stories frequently cite isolated studies or speculative expert quotes while ignoring the broader data.” The vast majority of scientists have proof that the climate is changing - QUICKLY!
The quote from the above mentioned article is false & the article you are referring to is a Christian hodgepodge of bad vs good ideology. Where we can agree is that the Texas tragedy is partly human unpreparedness and climate changing factors. I’d throw in as part of “unpreparedness” the reduction of staff at the national weather service and other drastic cuts to importanant federal organizations that product Americans- that’s you & me brother
BTW, those cuts aren’t scheduled until October 2025. So, sorry, not a result of budget cuts. Just nature doing its thing, per usual since the beginning of time.
We lived on a river (the West Walker River in Nevada) and every year it threatened to overflow its banks. In 1997 it actually did that and wiped out part of the 34 acre property we subsequently bought in 2007. The property had a mobile home/RV park on the river bank. We owned it for 12 years. The Army Corps of Engineers groomed the river right after the flood (and left a 25 ft high huge pile of rocks on our property which we gratefully used for landscaping). The river would rise every year, but never overflowed again to this day- 27 years later.
The people in the NWS got pink slips last month. Many also retired given the push to shut down the service. Not sure how that affected the disaster but hopefully there will be answers to what we can agree on, is a catastrophe.
I think you and I are probably coming from different places, and as my son-in-law once said to a person he disagreed with on a legal subject; “we share different opinions.” Regardless of whether or not what they now call “Climate Change” (after changing it several times to fit the narrative), there is absolutely nothing that has been proven. For every statistic that shows a change, there is another one that shows it hasn't. However, the most important aspect to this, is that climate change, like many other scams perpetrated across this country, is that it cannot be proven. Hence, why it's a safe topic for people to push. They gain money, they gain power, and they gain control. There is no one on this planet that knows if we have affected the climate. It's all speculation. And people rely on the ignorance of the public to successfully promote these Trojan horse assaults. So after years of listening to this trash, I've made an assessment that even if it is true, none of these people pushing it are acting in the country's best interests. That's my opinion. We will probably never agree.
Your son in law sounds like a smart guy and a good lawyer. We only disagree on the nature of science. Which only provides facts that do not PROVE universal dogma- science backs up theories- the ultimate false or truth ( unless it’s mathematical “proof”) is still up to more research and conjecture. We probably agree on science too. So we only disagree on what the science indicates for our future. Hopefully we agree that certain facts follow a pattern: 1 big one is of periods of mass extinction based on changes in the environment and the facts most (over 90%?) scientists do agree on is that the climate is rapidly changing. In my opinion, from what I’ve read humans are overpopulating the earth. How to” fix” that one is complex but I’m pretty sure going to Mars is not the only or best solution.
The people in the National Weather Service did receive pink slips and have left that operation. What affect that had on this tragedy, is not clear. What is clear is that something went haywire in that floodplain and I’m open to the sources being complex.
Your son in law is smart and sounds like good lawyer.
It's going to be a very good year!
Much needed effort. Could use this in our schools!
Critique is not hatred. Observation is not hatred. That may be a projection of how you navigate the world. I don’t hate anyone. I’d gladly dine with Trump to talk and schmooze and even laugh together. I believe in human redemption. And repair possible even between ‘enemies.’ You see, I know something about Trump his worshippers seem not to notice. He is a human being. Not a deity. I assume there is love in there somewhere. And not just of money and ‘ratings’ and domination. I dearly hope Donald’s growing up was not so devoid of love that he just can’t articulate it himself. But it’s in there. Like Bukowski’s Bluebird poem. The day Trump let’s that love out of its golden cage, he might do great things for this country.
You have me wrong. I don’t pray for Trump to fail. I pray for him to do good for what ails us now and for what awaits our children. He could start with millions of local jobs (not AI) in all states in various forms of green tech suitable to the region. A growth industry for those not klinging to OIL on life support. Even conservative market driven Texas is forging ahead on solar, etc and will be damaged by vindictive cuts to infrastructure development. The federal government has subsidized infrastructure development since Hamilton and Jefferson argued about it. When and if Trump’s vindictive stance subsides, he might just do some good. I won’t hold my breath but I will pray that he finds that bluebird and lets him free. Peace to you. Really.