FOR WHAT AM I GRATEFUL?

By Ruth A. Sheets

Thanksgiving is less than 2 days from now.  It comes every year, but as I grow older, I find myself contemplating Thanksgiving’s meaning for our nation (that has made Thanksgiving a national holiday), and for me. 

It is hard to get a sense of what our nation is grateful for because there are so many different understandings of what is worthy of gratitude.  Here are a few I think with which most would agree.

• We have made it nearly 250 years from the time we declared our Independence from Britain and despite some flaws and moves in the direction of authoritarianism, we are still here.
• Our nation is strong and can defend itself from any foreign invaders.  We are not so sure, though about domestic ones.
• Social Security is still available to those who have earned it as is Medicare, although there are efforts to subvert both and hand them over to private entities, not the intent of those who founded them.
• Freedom of speech, religion, the press, assembly, and to petition for redress of grievances are still mostly honored, even though some in power or who want to be in power are working hard to trample those First Amendment rights for everyone, except for themselves, of course.  
• We have the right to vote, although some are trying to deny the vote to all but rich white men.  Not happening!
• Most of us have clean drinking water, safe food, and some kind of shelter, although the government agencies that supervise those things are being gutted to benefit rich corporations.

You get the idea.  We are grateful for many things, but jumping in to stifle that gratitude are forces that want that gratitude turned toward themselves, the ones who will render those “blessings” if we comply and do whatever they tell us to do.  Americans don’t seem to want that.  Many participate in protests and push for legal interventions on behalf of the American people.

What we individuals are grateful for is quite a different set of items because each of us lives life in a much narrower setting, more specific to ourselves.  I suspect though, that We the People share many of those points of thanksgiving.

• I am grateful for an incredible family that has lots of challenges, even flaws, but individually and collectively we have tried to make the world a better place, even if only in small ways.  I have musical sisters and other family members who share their music with audiences where they live, for churches, for historical events, at school, or just for fun at home.  Every member works over and above whatever is required on the job, respects co-workers, and values skill and competence.  Remarkable right? 
• I am grateful I have held so many different jobs in my life, most of them interesting and where I could be creative even within the bounds of the job’s requirements, with friends to share the work.
• I am about to complete 30 years living in my apartment complex, more than half the time the complex has been in existence, and I have no plans to move.
• I am able to contribute financially to organizations I value and to family members and others in need now, something I couldn’t do when I was younger.
• I have remarkable sisters who will help me to get where I need to go and only complain on occasion, when they should complain every time (it can be boring).
• I love to read and appreciate that I have people I can share those books with.   
• I have friends who have been part of my life for decades, special folks who have helped me to become who I am.

So you see, I have a lot to be grateful for as part of our nation and individually.  I hope you will find a time to consider the gratitudes in your life too.  It’s a great balm for the day’s news.

INTO THE FUTURE?

By Ruth A. Sheets

Recently when I was reading comments on Robert Reich’s Substack, I read a note from someone I often respond to, I just  had to jump in.  Below is her comment and my response.  I think I commented as I did because I am so frustrated with Democrats these days going after other Democrats, whining that Dems are doing nothing, are weak, and on and on.  It is rather disgusting and very Republican, but I suspect as human beings, those attributes can be present no matter the political party.  The difference, Democrats even in squabbling and blaming have more ideas for the benefit of this nation and world than Republicans have had in more than a century and that is not an exaggeration! 

Comment:

“My MAGA family says that "it was Democrats winning only Blue States last Tuesday. Haha! Big deal." I told them that I hope they keep thinking that way. And I do. That way, they won't be ready when we have even more forward momentum. This win has to be something that gives us more courage and strength. We can't use it as an excuse to sit back and put up our feet.”

Here's my response. 

Donna, you are so right.  Because Democrats have not acted like major bullies, wrecking balls, and terrorists as Republicans have, we are seen to be weak, while it is we who are holding things together in communities, states, and beyond.  It is we who will do our best to see that even Republicans on SNAP and Medicaid get their funds restarted.  It is we Democrats that will stand by our schools and the education even of Republican children when their religious voucher school kicks their child out because he/she is just not the right kind of person.  We will stand by science and research that will make life better for many, in the face of manufactured fear.  We will push local governments to step up when the Republicans that were elected betray those who elected them. 

In conclusion:

We will have to call out the lies that come from the Repubs in power every single day, over and over.  We need to be energized so we can stand the fallout from scared Republicans and others who have no clue what is really going on because their faces and brains have been stuck to Fox and the rest of the right-wing media whose mission is to wreck our democracy in favor of who knows what.  They do know what Trump and his handlers are, so, it is anti-American that they keep pumping out the lies on their behalf.  We need to be on this case all the time and not let the ignorance/ignorants win.

LOOKING AT MONEY, LIES, AND GOD

By Ruth A. Sheets

November 6, 2025

I just finished reading an important book by Katherine Stewart, Money, Lies, and God.  The author describes 4 Key steps necessary to indoctrinate a population of disempowered and aggrieved people into believing the “Big Lie.”  The “Lie” has several parts including:  America is being run by anti-God left-wingers out to take away their rights to worship as they wish; forcing women to “kill babies in their mommy’s tummy;” and whatever threat the “Christian Nationalists” come up with to blame “the godless.  Stewart says that without such indoctrination, no “lie” can take hold.  Lies, it seems, are the coin of the realm for those rich mostly white men in charge, who want to energize the group of desperate angry white people, often not more than a paycheck away from disaster.  

1. “Build an information bubble within which supporters can be maintained in a state of ‘fact-denial,’” a safe, comfortable  space for conservatives.  “Right-wing media” are easily co-opted and skew data and coverage to those in the bubble.  For example, they ignored Trump’s “problems” which should have been seen as unacceptable behavior, while emphasizing Hillary Clinton’s emails, Biden’s age, and Kamala Harris’s supposed “left-wing” positions.  Christian ministers spew those ideas from their pulpits.  Other right-wing organizations target specific groups:  mothers, Latinas, and faith leaders.   
2.  The message must push the idea that the people should expect an “imminent cataclysmic event that will threaten its identity and everything it values.”  The message must blame someone for this upcoming event, in this case, “the bad guys look like liberals.”
3. “Transfer the perceived source of political legitimacy from democratic processes like elections and law-enforcement mechanisms to ‘higher’ authorities that allegedly represent the true spirit of the nation.”  This approach lets people come to believe that a minority (those rich white guys pushing the message) has “a providential role in ruling the whole.”  That coalition they build “will govern for 100 years,” as Steve Bannon bragged in a Virginia rally in 2021.  
4. “Undermine at every opportunity, public confidence in the democratic process.  Trump got his part of the process going when in 2016 and in a debate in 2020, he indicated he would not necessarily accept the result  of the election.  He continues to claim with no evidence, the election results in 2020 were corrupted.  Lying is Trump’s modus operandi. 

 

Stewart says the worst part of the sewing of distrust by Trump and his team is that it  is “aimed squarely at those parts of the population that already have some reason to distrust the system.” 

 

Since the January 6^th coup attempt, the “christian nationalists” have been reworking their response related to those who went to the capital, were peaceful, were good guys standing for our democracy,  were victims of a Democrat plot to keep the National Guard away letting ANTIFA rioters get out of control.  There seems to be no stopping this swarm of Jan. 6^th lies from the “right,” hoping to rewrite history here.  As  with their other attempts, it is failing so far because the truth of what happened is in the world, at least for now, for all to read/view, if those caught up in the big lie  choose to check it out.   The problem, “christian nationalist leaders “continue to prime the base for the next ‘Big Lie,’” and they want to be sure those folks are ready. 

 

Rich Catholics and evangelicals, as well as others want to get in on the “power” game.  They have a lot at risk - their wealth.

 

Stewart believes there is room for hope.  She points out this is not the first time America has faced this “pro-authoritarian rodeo.”  In the past, justice has prevailed against the robber barons, the Jim Crow domination, and others, although imperfectly.  She hopes, as I do, these anti-American movers and shakers will disappear into the pages of history as the “religious” pro-fascists have done in the past.  She points out some important facts we can respond to.

1. We are still the majority. – the “christian nationalists are not, and do not speak for us.  We must work to keep our “Big Tent” together and mobilize.
2. They are divided.  A group of unlike-minded people are wrapped in a bundle of incompatible beliefs, relying on the money of a few rich folks who have power and privilege, who prey on those they are courting.  This set of weaknesses must be exploited by the rest of us!  Keep in mind that the “have nothings” are not leading this set of actions; it is the “have everythings.”  
3. Separation of church and state is a good idea that should be tried.  The religious leaders involved in the anti-democracy movement (whatever they choose to call it) are getting benefits from our government as it ignores the money they take in, without taxes, while espousing anti-American language through political campaigns in their “houses of worship.”  That is not “freedom of religion!”  
4. Extreme levels of material inequality are eroding democracy. The tax system is letting the already-too-rich continue to accumulate over everyone else.  This does not make them smarter, just able to exploit a flawed system.
5. Knowledge is power.  The pro-democracy movement must promote and support public education that is “accountable to the public and truth.”  The anti-democratic movement wants to keep people from questioning them and their allegiance to the idea that “market forces will solve all their problems.”  Those in power in that movement are scared by a student body educated to think for themselves.  They prefer us to think ignorance is preferable to having a “free people.”  The media wants to believe it is being “balanced” when in reality, it is “breathing air into the bellows of anti-democratic propaganda,” and sharing lies and misinformation, free of charge!           
6. Organization matters.  The success of the theocrats and other anti-democracy groups is a product of their ability to organize and invest their money in “the people and infrastructure of an anti-democratic shadow party.” To counter, we need to use some of their strategies:

1. Think long-term – we cannot correct this in one election, so plan ahead too.
2. Invest in organizations and people who can get things done.
3. Build coalitions – skip the “purity cliques and connect across previously held lines even if all beliefs are not shared.
4. Go Local.  This is beginning, but must be expanded.  Support local schools, community-improvement groups.  Bring your faith community to stand on the side of justice and democracy.  Join with others working on local causes:  voting, reaching out to non-voters to get them involved; run for office; work for improved conditions in the community. 

 

We all must be active standing for the common good, not for the good of those who would prefer us to be their minions, their subjects with no power.