Call me a radical too and I only wish I could have been a fly on the wall with Melanie & Heather … two of my favorite heroes in the fight for truth , democracy and the real AMERICAN WAY!
She'd be capable of so many positions! Department of Energy? State Department? Economy? The good thing is that because she's fairly young, she could serve in different areas before she's ready for the Big One.
Another outstanding piece of work Bill, thanks for the continuing inspiration.
I remain unpersuaded that taking up vacant and often arable land for especially solar plants is the optimum choice without first reinvigorating home solar installations and putting an array on the roof of every government owned or financed building in the country. My return net of finance cost is 6% right now and will increase to 10 or 11% when the installation is paid off. That's without taking tax benefits and incentives into account. One of our local school districts installed solar on all of its buildings and anticipates a 30-50% reduction in electric bills.
I'm ready to vote for President Stansbury's re-election.
Bravo on your solar project. I hear you about rooftops vs arable land. Agreed. But. There are now numerous examples of AgriSolar. Check this out: AgriSolar Clearinghouse https://share.google/GF05TBXWd4kaCjLpd
Excellent fiction writing no doubt! Would that it could be possible in this America.
However, a significant number of Americans are motivated and driven by hate of "the other". Trump and his ilk understand those large number Americans at a very emotional level.
As long as half of America is motivated by hate for black folks, Mexican folks, or pretty much anyone without a British sounding name or skin color, we are not going to see any rational governance.
Instead? We will see America move more and more toward Putin style government not the least of which is because our current President is under Putin's thumb BUT also because a large fraction of Americans WANT that. They want to see "others" tossed in gulags. They want to see those who don't agree with them "punished".
At the outset of Trump's reign of terror I had some "friends" who voted for Trump, but, fairly quickly, it became obvious that even I, who was born here, but have a last name that does not sound British, was not welcome.
As you already know, I am not optimistic Bill. I think it is all over here.
Mike, thanks for your comment - as always. What you are experiencing in your "neck of the woods" is real. And sounds really uncomfortable. In my town, the haters are a small minority. And in Western MA there are greater numbers. So the numbers of fascists are real.
But, if you read Jess Piper, even in Missouri, independents and some Republicans are fed up. The national numbers of Independents disgusted with 47 are way over a majority.
A measure of all this is also exists in your old state of Texas. James Talarico now has a realistic shot at becoming a Senator!
I am counting on your half full glass. Yes, Talarico, within the confines of the Democratic party, is doing well in Texas, but, once he runs against a Republican?
Mike S, the "significant number of Americans motivated by hating the other" is not a significant number at all. It is a minority. There are way more of us than there are of those who are members of this hate cult. It is not all over—that is giving in and giving up! We cannot afford to take that path. We must project the most positive outcome imaginable, as Bill Alstrom is doing. Positive energy equals positive outcomes. And the reverse is also true. We would be well to remember Amma’s words of wisdom: “All of our actions—whether individual or collective—reverberate throughout our interconnected creation.” I, for one, opt for focusing on a world like that which Bill portrays for us. It may take a while to reach it (may not be in my lifetime), but it is in the realm of possibility. And that is the world I want to project for my children and grandchildren's future. Many of us are working towards this reality, following Captain Picard’s words: “Make it so.”
Yes, I agree that what the Supreme Court just did is outrageous and it will take much time to overturn it. And what Louisiana did is indeed shocking. I agree that we have a lot of heartache ahead of us. And I am in Florida, another state that is redrawing the map for Trump’s vanity and the lust for power. I understand the urge to throw up our hands in despair. But I am not giving up. Like Bill, my glass is half full.
Your vision I would love to be reality. Mainers are so wise📚✍️‼️
Make it so! 💚💚💚
Call me a radical too and I only wish I could have been a fly on the wall with Melanie & Heather … two of my favorite heroes in the fight for truth , democracy and the real AMERICAN WAY!
Thank you. I’m very impressed with Melanie Stansbury and it’s not a fantasy.
Bravo! This is therapy indeed. Hope AOC sees this - I think she'd approve.
Thanks! If I were to incorporate AOC in one of these stories, what role do you think she could best play?
I loved the videos of AOC and Bernie holding focus groups in red states - and getting big support!
She'd be capable of so many positions! Department of Energy? State Department? Economy? The good thing is that because she's fairly young, she could serve in different areas before she's ready for the Big One.
Hmm. There is more than one area where she is really strong. But her communication skills are off the chart.
“Get with the program or become irrelevant.” Love it!!
Another outstanding piece of work Bill, thanks for the continuing inspiration.
I remain unpersuaded that taking up vacant and often arable land for especially solar plants is the optimum choice without first reinvigorating home solar installations and putting an array on the roof of every government owned or financed building in the country. My return net of finance cost is 6% right now and will increase to 10 or 11% when the installation is paid off. That's without taking tax benefits and incentives into account. One of our local school districts installed solar on all of its buildings and anticipates a 30-50% reduction in electric bills.
I'm ready to vote for President Stansbury's re-election.
Thanks Dave!
Bravo on your solar project. I hear you about rooftops vs arable land. Agreed. But. There are now numerous examples of AgriSolar. Check this out: AgriSolar Clearinghouse https://share.google/GF05TBXWd4kaCjLpd
Bill,
Excellent fiction writing no doubt! Would that it could be possible in this America.
However, a significant number of Americans are motivated and driven by hate of "the other". Trump and his ilk understand those large number Americans at a very emotional level.
As long as half of America is motivated by hate for black folks, Mexican folks, or pretty much anyone without a British sounding name or skin color, we are not going to see any rational governance.
Instead? We will see America move more and more toward Putin style government not the least of which is because our current President is under Putin's thumb BUT also because a large fraction of Americans WANT that. They want to see "others" tossed in gulags. They want to see those who don't agree with them "punished".
At the outset of Trump's reign of terror I had some "friends" who voted for Trump, but, fairly quickly, it became obvious that even I, who was born here, but have a last name that does not sound British, was not welcome.
As you already know, I am not optimistic Bill. I think it is all over here.
Mike, thanks for your comment - as always. What you are experiencing in your "neck of the woods" is real. And sounds really uncomfortable. In my town, the haters are a small minority. And in Western MA there are greater numbers. So the numbers of fascists are real.
But, if you read Jess Piper, even in Missouri, independents and some Republicans are fed up. The national numbers of Independents disgusted with 47 are way over a majority.
A measure of all this is also exists in your old state of Texas. James Talarico now has a realistic shot at becoming a Senator!
My glass is half full.
Bill,
I am counting on your half full glass. Yes, Talarico, within the confines of the Democratic party, is doing well in Texas, but, once he runs against a Republican?
All bets are off.
Mike S, the "significant number of Americans motivated by hating the other" is not a significant number at all. It is a minority. There are way more of us than there are of those who are members of this hate cult. It is not all over—that is giving in and giving up! We cannot afford to take that path. We must project the most positive outcome imaginable, as Bill Alstrom is doing. Positive energy equals positive outcomes. And the reverse is also true. We would be well to remember Amma’s words of wisdom: “All of our actions—whether individual or collective—reverberate throughout our interconnected creation.” I, for one, opt for focusing on a world like that which Bill portrays for us. It may take a while to reach it (may not be in my lifetime), but it is in the realm of possibility. And that is the world I want to project for my children and grandchildren's future. Many of us are working towards this reality, following Captain Picard’s words: “Make it so.”
Well said Carol, and really the only way forward.
"Mike S, the "significant number of Americans motivated by hating the other" is not a significant number at all. It is a minority."
Perhaps, but, has not the Supreme Court just enabled minority rule by overturning the voting rights act????
Louisiana did not even take 48 hours to get rid of the long standing black district in the state.
Yes, I agree that what the Supreme Court just did is outrageous and it will take much time to overturn it. And what Louisiana did is indeed shocking. I agree that we have a lot of heartache ahead of us. And I am in Florida, another state that is redrawing the map for Trump’s vanity and the lust for power. I understand the urge to throw up our hands in despair. But I am not giving up. Like Bill, my glass is half full.
Best way to describe your "fantasy" - HOPE.