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summer_in_TX

(3,944 posts)

61. A huge part of successfully overcoming tyranny, Timothy Snyder says, is to live your values consistently,

Wed Nov 12, 2025, 01:24 AM

Nov 12

caring about others, being kind, encouraging those who feel hopeless, living your life with truth and integrity. Those are the values worth fighting for and the values that promote democracy.

So it strikes me that the Senate Dems who voted to reopen the government did so with empathy and compassion for those who weren't getting paid during the government shutdown and were terrified they and their kids would starve, for those who couldn't pay their bills and were terrified of being evicted or losing their homes, of being unable to afford life-saving medications, and for those who were being laid off/fired by Trump and Vought. Isn't that actually what Snyder was advocating?

Those who stayed kind, human, empathetic were instrumental in WWII in giving hope to the hopeless and helping them endure.

He said in Chapter 19 "Set a good example of what America means for the generations to come. They will need it." He was talking about more than just patriotism.

Our values deserve to win the battle of ideologies, they are about ensuring all are respected, treated justly, and are able to live with dignity and freedom. Living up to them keeps us worthy of winning.

I don't think the Senate Dems lost us anything. They were true to their, and our, values. That may seem intangible. But it matters.

It's possible the Republicans think they won. They did not. They've lost hearts and minds more broadly even than before.

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peggysue2

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Highlight:

If you're asking what was the point of the shutdown, The Philadelphia Inquirer has an answer [View all] peggysue2 Nov 11 OP

Ultimately, Turbineguy Nov 11 #1

LOL leftstreet Nov 11 #2

Even if they do change their votes to Chump, he'll still hate them anyway FakeNoose Nov 11 #31

thanks. appreciated. stopdiggin Nov 11 #3

More like, "a pox on both your houses!" EXACTLY!! Sogo Nov 11 #6

there was no 'winning' going on stopdiggin Nov 11 #8

Wow, The Inquirer continues to impress. . . Stargleamer Nov 11 #4

We have seen what Trump's CABAL popsdenver Nov 11 #13

Bravo, Philadelphia Inquirer!! Sogo Nov 11 #5

Go Birds! berksdem Nov 11 #12

The Inky comes through again! BumRushDaShow Nov 11 #48

THIS! RamblingRose Nov 11 #7

Its Funny quakerboy Nov 11 #9

Are we really comparing the Democrats to the Vichy government now? peggysue2 Nov 11 #15

Don't forget, Thanksgiving is around the corner. The prospect of mass flight cancellations valleyrogue Nov 11 #17

Republicans would have been BLAMED for mass flight cancellations SamuelTheThird Nov 11 #33

Maybe by some but I guarantee not by all blue_jay Nov 11 #41

I think we are well into the slide to fascism quakerboy Nov 11 #19

I'm not denying the fascism on our doorstep peggysue2 Nov 11 #32

TY PeggySue.. I really Appreciate all Cha Nov 12 #60

Hey, Cha! peggysue2 Nov 12 #62

Good to See You! Cha Nov 12 #64

Agree 100% ajmstpete Nov 12 #68

I doubt that We will get that election. quakerboy Nov 13 #69

Damn straight! Mme. Defarge Nov 11 #25

All for show then? Cirsium Nov 11 #10

"Republicans are terrible people" is not news. For republican voters, it's a benefit and not a bug. Scrivener7 Nov 11 #11

Harvard did a study right before the ACA became law and found that 50K Americans will die every year OMGWTF Nov 11 #14

The Harvard study found that 45,000 Americans were dying each year before the ACA because they didn't have insurance. SunSeeker Nov 11 #44

And we get to do it all again in January Johonny Nov 11 #16

Last night, Lawrence reminded us: dlk Nov 11 #18

Until Trump decides on a whim to withhold SNAP again durablend Nov 11 #20

He will, as sure as the sun rises. orangecrush Nov 11 #23

Or fire more federal workers. hamsterjill Nov 11 #24

The courts will stop him, it just take weeks or months to get an enforceable ruling. SunSeeker Nov 11 #45

I'm not argumenting... just asking... slightlv Nov 11 #51

He took the Marines and National Guard out of LA and Portland, complying with court orders. SunSeeker Nov 11 #53

Picking up one's marbles and running home to Mama is not a show of strength Warpy Nov 11 #21

No matter how much you polish a turd orangecrush Nov 11 #22

Letting 42 million americans starve would be the real "turd sandwich" onenote Nov 11 #27

He's going to stop food stamp payments again orangecrush Nov 11 #40

When? After the shutdown ends and the law expressly funds SNAP through September 2026 onenote Nov 11 #42

Because he's all about following the law orangecrush Nov 11 #43

So - essentially your argument is that is doesn't matter WHAT anyone else in government does .. ? stopdiggin Nov 11 #52

So succinctly put. Buddyzbuddy Nov 11 #26

What is your basis for asserting that air travel restrictions have negatively impacted repubs 10x more than Democrats? onenote Nov 11 #30

I should have been more specific. Buddyzbuddy Nov 11 #37

How much more needs to be shown that the idiot in chief is clearly incapable of being president and needs to step down SWBTATTReg Nov 11 #28

Maybe in the long run it will be good doc03 Nov 11 #29

This is a good perspective, still think it's important to keep the pressure on blue_jay Nov 11 #34

Nonsensical Copeium cer7711 Nov 11 #35

We'll see where the political will and public sentiment lie in January when they hit the financial wall again ChicagoTeamster Nov 11 #36

"underscored clear policy differences" to everyone. nt Festivito Nov 11 #38

only til dec. taint done yet. pansypoo53219 Nov 11 #39

Not a complete failure. Mysterian Nov 11 #46

So, if I understand this correctly, Trump is a bully... ECL213 Nov 11 #47

Thank you stillspkg Nov 11 #49

they get it Skittles Nov 11 #50

"The enemy is clear and it's not within our own ranks." hay rick Nov 11 #54

ETTTTTTS Shoeless Louis Nov 11 #55

Spot on. nt Exp Nov 11 #56

Mind if I repeat your best point(s)? calimary Nov 11 #57

Trump and Republicans disregard for americans was already well known. Samael13 Nov 11 #58

Not everyone was convinced about the Republicans' mean-spiritedness before the shutdown Erda Nov 12 #65

"The fight goes on. The enemy is clear and it's not within our own ranks." Cha Nov 11 #59

A huge part of successfully overcoming tyranny, Timothy Snyder says, is to live your values consistently, summer_in_TX Nov 12 #61

K and R. KentuckyWoman Nov 12 #63

We'll see in independent vote, if that bends hard to democrats maybe but I'm skeptical looking at dems past messaging uponit7771 Nov 12 #66

Thanks. Nt BootinUp Nov 12 #67