We frame economic power as a contest between capital and labor, but the real star of the American economy is consumer spending, which accounts for 68% of GDP. The Great Recession saw a 3.4% drop in consumer spending — at the time, the most severe year-over-year decline since World War II. The U.S. economy registered a 9.8% drop in consumer spending during the second quarter of 2020, when Covid shut down the world as we knew it. In both instances the U.S. government responded aggressively, spending hundreds of billions, primarily on bailouts, to pull us out of the Great Recession, and trillions, primarily in direct aid, to get us through the pandemic. The lesson? When consumers stop spending, American leaders start listening. As Geo Hussar explained to his YouTube followers at the end of September, “this is not seizing the means of production, but seizing the means of consumption,” adding that if every American dropped their consumption, on average, by 2%, “that would be the most loud and potent form of protest.”
From The Peaceful Solution:
Please: Resist. Stop cooperating. Stop spending. Stop the fascist takeover.
Thank you for restacking, and sharing, to help Spread the Word!
The top 20% of earners account for 63% of consumer spending. Consumer spending accounts for about 70% of the U.S. economy. Those top earners lean Democratic by 53% to 46% Republican. Those Democrats and disaffected Republicans are the ones who need to stop spending in order to stop and reverse the fascist takeover of America.
Hope you have family, friends and neighbors to help you if necessary. We must all help those in need if we are able.
I am a neighborhood leader, I work part time at local party headquarters, I give when I can-makes me feel empowered. However, I also believe it’s not much in relation to the maga machine we are up against. 40/50 years of planning to take over the USA. We can’t be cohesive for 15 minutes.
Resistance may be all we have until the midterms, but let’s not underestimate the power of resistance to prevent MAGA from achieving their objectives. Not sure that all the lies and vitriol are galvanizing the far right, but the non-MAGA electorate seems to be paying closer attention.
The key to defeating Trump? Mass non-cooperation | Mark Engler and Paul Engler
The following are excerpts from this article.
“The extraordinary level of grassroots solidarity and creative resistance in anti-ICE protests in Minnesota has given people a new appreciation for the power that mass non-cooperation can have in resisting the Trump administration’s drive toward authoritarianism. And it has created an awareness of why such action is clearly needed.
Early in Trump’s second term, an array of mainstream critics expressed skepticism about the value of continued protests in the streets. They invested their faith in institutions such as Congress and the courts. But as these institutions – along with law firms, universities and the business community – have each caved in to the administration’s demands and proven themselves unwilling to catalyze an ardent defense of democracy, it has been left to the people themselves to do this essential work.
Mainstream political thinking in the US sees power as “monolithic,” resting in the hands of senators, generals, billionaires, presidents and CEOs. From that vantage point, the options for opposing a rogue administration seem desperately thin: wait for elections, file a lawsuit, hope for some unforeseen maneuver by elites. This worldview breeds despair. One prominent Democratic party consultant even advised that the best course for progressives is simply to “roll over and play dead”.
Those immersed in social movements look at the process of change in a different way than political insiders do. Instead of subscribing to the monolithic view of power, they hold a social view of power, which understands that those in positions of authority are dependent upon the cooperation and support of the governed.
Now, as then, the list of methods is best seen as an invitation to creativity, reminding organizers they have many tools in their collective toolbox – each with distinctive properties and powers. The potential of civil resistance is not just in holding large demonstrations. It is in drawing from a vast array of strikes, boycotts, noncooperation tactics and artistic protest. And it is in coming up with innovative forms of creative resistance that may never have been seen before.”
From The Peaceful Solution:
Please: Resist. Stop cooperating. Stop spending. Stop the fascist takeover.
Thank you for restacking, and sharing, to help Spread the Word!
I strongly suggest that people check out votevets.com. The local Democratic primary winner for CD3 Colorado) Dwayne Romero, won the D primary. I routinely call my vaguely R Rep. Hurd's office as an Independent ( here, we can vote in either primary) and a veteran. trump endorsed hi, then didn't, then re-endorsed him. He never said a word about either way, but I sure have (politely and professionally, of course). I do wonder if R supporters are just going to skip the midterms (as one MAGA I know said, "I'm just going to vote for Rubio in 2028.") They don't have Boebert to consider, as she carpetbagged away to CD, as she was really close to losing g to Adam Frisch. There are many people who "would never vote for a Democrat," but they aren't likely to be interested in the midterms. I never was, in my past life in Massachusetts, as "everyone's a Democrat here." Started to pay more attention to all of it in 2015 and now retired in Colorado. (And I now see the not-great aspects of the D Party in Massachusetts). When ever anyone says "We have to _____ get the money out of politic/end private health insurance/etc. (as a Democratic DSA woman did here in another district) I want to know- how are you going lead to that happening? What legislation will you affect as a first-time congressional rep? And so on. Same with ever-resistance.
Excellent article and I believe viewpoints held by 70+% of Americans. I too grew tired of fighting against versus for something. One thing I find consistent however, is the same as most political writers, commentators, and even political scientists is the fundamental reform necessary for solving most of the issues described. Congress needs to repeal 'The Anti-Representation Act of 1929' that has directly led to the income inequality, lack of fiscal and government oversight, the influence of Big Money, budget by reconciliation, dilution of the power of our House and the sense of never hearing our voices heard.
Appropriate Representation is the single, bedrock foundation of a healthy and robust Democracy. When Congress passed the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929, it froze the size of the House at 435, the level set in 1911 following the 1910 census. Since then our population has tripled from 92 to 349 million, almost 4X the size. Our federal budget has gone from $700 million to $7.8 trillion with a deficit of $1.9 trillion. How can just 435 Representatives oversee spending?
There were about 90 thousand federal employees in 1911. Today about 2.7 million. Still just 435.
The GAO in there annual reports implore Congress to claw back the $500 billion they identify as waste or fraud. Still just 435.
A clear vision is expanding OUR House of Representatives to restore fair Representation and the Voice of the People to OUR governance again. It's why I currently volunteer with ProjectNoCap.com, whose sole mission is to the repeal the 1929 Act as a Constitutional amendment is not necessary. Project No Cap is a fresh, non-partisan national movement that is gaining attention. Please check into us. For more info you can also go to my informational website Project1305.org which advocates tripling the size.
In voicing his opposition to the Act,Representative William Bankhead of Alabama understood what Congress was doing as he warned that Congress was committing:
"The abdication and surrender of the vital fundamental powers vested in the Congress of the United States by the Constitution itself."
Nearly a century later, his warning is remarkably prophetic. And We the People are the collateral damage
Such a pleasure to listen to your goodness and grounded optimism. I’m a little teary as a non-crier. We so appreciate your accomplishments and continued service to America ..
Thanks for another awesome show ladies. I think Trump, Hegseth and CENTCOM have been lying about the number of dead, wounded and what damage has been done in the war since day one. I don't think the US can win this war because they have no idea how to get out of it.
We have to think, first, about all the people dying or seriously injured by our bombs overseas. They did not ask for or deserve this. We shouldn't be putting our troops first. How about all the innocent people who are being targeted in our stupid and unnecessary wars? Who are they? What are their names? How about their grieving families? How about the innocent children and elderly grandparents who have been killed? Then we have to ask about the purpose of any of our wars anyway.
in my mind the total amount of deaths is19. We have to include not only the 18 service members but also the truth needs to be included. The nonstop lies from Trump and Hegseth are another important casualty. We can not rely on the DOJ or on the FBI, Homeland Security's ICE, Border Patrol, the Federal Marshalls or even the Secret Service. This administration has been a complete failure. It feels like we are on our own.
The solution is all of us uniting to demand change and to act on those demands. President Dwight Eisenhower's last speech to the American citizens warned us to keep in control of the Military Industrial Complex. Their greed along with the greed of the ultra wealthy are collapsing our democracy.
We now see the mega Internet corporations having to retire people because AI has no soul to do what is right for people. For me this was totally foreseeable..
You ladies laid out the problems in the United States very well. Reuniting the nation is going to take us all. You have laid out the situation very well and have laid out simple common sense solutions. Thank you ladies.
An apology to the readers as I was very tired when I posted this . I missed an autocorrect.....having to retire people should read having to rehire people.
From No mercy/No malice
By Professor Scott Galloway
We frame economic power as a contest between capital and labor, but the real star of the American economy is consumer spending, which accounts for 68% of GDP. The Great Recession saw a 3.4% drop in consumer spending — at the time, the most severe year-over-year decline since World War II. The U.S. economy registered a 9.8% drop in consumer spending during the second quarter of 2020, when Covid shut down the world as we knew it. In both instances the U.S. government responded aggressively, spending hundreds of billions, primarily on bailouts, to pull us out of the Great Recession, and trillions, primarily in direct aid, to get us through the pandemic. The lesson? When consumers stop spending, American leaders start listening. As Geo Hussar explained to his YouTube followers at the end of September, “this is not seizing the means of production, but seizing the means of consumption,” adding that if every American dropped their consumption, on average, by 2%, “that would be the most loud and potent form of protest.”
From The Peaceful Solution:
Please: Resist. Stop cooperating. Stop spending. Stop the fascist takeover.
Thank you for restacking, and sharing, to help Spread the Word!
Many of us can’t even spend, so it’s self-fulfilling.
The top 20% of earners account for 63% of consumer spending. Consumer spending accounts for about 70% of the U.S. economy. Those top earners lean Democratic by 53% to 46% Republican. Those Democrats and disaffected Republicans are the ones who need to stop spending in order to stop and reverse the fascist takeover of America.
Hope you have family, friends and neighbors to help you if necessary. We must all help those in need if we are able.
Sane immigration policy that isn't "all" or "none."
Dr. Fauci is a hero
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/7/31/800077707/health/why-fauci-was-once-on-phone-frequently-with-stephen-miller/?utm_source=recap&utm_medium=email
I am a neighborhood leader, I work part time at local party headquarters, I give when I can-makes me feel empowered. However, I also believe it’s not much in relation to the maga machine we are up against. 40/50 years of planning to take over the USA. We can’t be cohesive for 15 minutes.
Resistance may be all we have until the midterms, but let’s not underestimate the power of resistance to prevent MAGA from achieving their objectives. Not sure that all the lies and vitriol are galvanizing the far right, but the non-MAGA electorate seems to be paying closer attention.
For African Americans it's been since 1619
I have seen all 6 episodes and I think you are both great. Keep up the fight for democracy. 👍
The key to defeating Trump? Mass non-cooperation | Mark Engler and Paul Engler
The following are excerpts from this article.
“The extraordinary level of grassroots solidarity and creative resistance in anti-ICE protests in Minnesota has given people a new appreciation for the power that mass non-cooperation can have in resisting the Trump administration’s drive toward authoritarianism. And it has created an awareness of why such action is clearly needed.
Early in Trump’s second term, an array of mainstream critics expressed skepticism about the value of continued protests in the streets. They invested their faith in institutions such as Congress and the courts. But as these institutions – along with law firms, universities and the business community – have each caved in to the administration’s demands and proven themselves unwilling to catalyze an ardent defense of democracy, it has been left to the people themselves to do this essential work.
Mainstream political thinking in the US sees power as “monolithic,” resting in the hands of senators, generals, billionaires, presidents and CEOs. From that vantage point, the options for opposing a rogue administration seem desperately thin: wait for elections, file a lawsuit, hope for some unforeseen maneuver by elites. This worldview breeds despair. One prominent Democratic party consultant even advised that the best course for progressives is simply to “roll over and play dead”.
Those immersed in social movements look at the process of change in a different way than political insiders do. Instead of subscribing to the monolithic view of power, they hold a social view of power, which understands that those in positions of authority are dependent upon the cooperation and support of the governed.
Now, as then, the list of methods is best seen as an invitation to creativity, reminding organizers they have many tools in their collective toolbox – each with distinctive properties and powers. The potential of civil resistance is not just in holding large demonstrations. It is in drawing from a vast array of strikes, boycotts, noncooperation tactics and artistic protest. And it is in coming up with innovative forms of creative resistance that may never have been seen before.”
From The Peaceful Solution:
Please: Resist. Stop cooperating. Stop spending. Stop the fascist takeover.
Thank you for restacking, and sharing, to help Spread the Word!
I strongly suggest that people check out votevets.com. The local Democratic primary winner for CD3 Colorado) Dwayne Romero, won the D primary. I routinely call my vaguely R Rep. Hurd's office as an Independent ( here, we can vote in either primary) and a veteran. trump endorsed hi, then didn't, then re-endorsed him. He never said a word about either way, but I sure have (politely and professionally, of course). I do wonder if R supporters are just going to skip the midterms (as one MAGA I know said, "I'm just going to vote for Rubio in 2028.") They don't have Boebert to consider, as she carpetbagged away to CD, as she was really close to losing g to Adam Frisch. There are many people who "would never vote for a Democrat," but they aren't likely to be interested in the midterms. I never was, in my past life in Massachusetts, as "everyone's a Democrat here." Started to pay more attention to all of it in 2015 and now retired in Colorado. (And I now see the not-great aspects of the D Party in Massachusetts). When ever anyone says "We have to _____ get the money out of politic/end private health insurance/etc. (as a Democratic DSA woman did here in another district) I want to know- how are you going lead to that happening? What legislation will you affect as a first-time congressional rep? And so on. Same with ever-resistance.
Excellent article and I believe viewpoints held by 70+% of Americans. I too grew tired of fighting against versus for something. One thing I find consistent however, is the same as most political writers, commentators, and even political scientists is the fundamental reform necessary for solving most of the issues described. Congress needs to repeal 'The Anti-Representation Act of 1929' that has directly led to the income inequality, lack of fiscal and government oversight, the influence of Big Money, budget by reconciliation, dilution of the power of our House and the sense of never hearing our voices heard.
Appropriate Representation is the single, bedrock foundation of a healthy and robust Democracy. When Congress passed the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929, it froze the size of the House at 435, the level set in 1911 following the 1910 census. Since then our population has tripled from 92 to 349 million, almost 4X the size. Our federal budget has gone from $700 million to $7.8 trillion with a deficit of $1.9 trillion. How can just 435 Representatives oversee spending?
There were about 90 thousand federal employees in 1911. Today about 2.7 million. Still just 435.
The GAO in there annual reports implore Congress to claw back the $500 billion they identify as waste or fraud. Still just 435.
A clear vision is expanding OUR House of Representatives to restore fair Representation and the Voice of the People to OUR governance again. It's why I currently volunteer with ProjectNoCap.com, whose sole mission is to the repeal the 1929 Act as a Constitutional amendment is not necessary. Project No Cap is a fresh, non-partisan national movement that is gaining attention. Please check into us. For more info you can also go to my informational website Project1305.org which advocates tripling the size.
In voicing his opposition to the Act,Representative William Bankhead of Alabama understood what Congress was doing as he warned that Congress was committing:
"The abdication and surrender of the vital fundamental powers vested in the Congress of the United States by the Constitution itself."
Nearly a century later, his warning is remarkably prophetic. And We the People are the collateral damage
Such a pleasure to listen to your goodness and grounded optimism. I’m a little teary as a non-crier. We so appreciate your accomplishments and continued service to America ..
Thanks for another awesome show ladies. I think Trump, Hegseth and CENTCOM have been lying about the number of dead, wounded and what damage has been done in the war since day one. I don't think the US can win this war because they have no idea how to get out of it.
We have to think, first, about all the people dying or seriously injured by our bombs overseas. They did not ask for or deserve this. We shouldn't be putting our troops first. How about all the innocent people who are being targeted in our stupid and unnecessary wars? Who are they? What are their names? How about their grieving families? How about the innocent children and elderly grandparents who have been killed? Then we have to ask about the purpose of any of our wars anyway.
in my mind the total amount of deaths is19. We have to include not only the 18 service members but also the truth needs to be included. The nonstop lies from Trump and Hegseth are another important casualty. We can not rely on the DOJ or on the FBI, Homeland Security's ICE, Border Patrol, the Federal Marshalls or even the Secret Service. This administration has been a complete failure. It feels like we are on our own.
The solution is all of us uniting to demand change and to act on those demands. President Dwight Eisenhower's last speech to the American citizens warned us to keep in control of the Military Industrial Complex. Their greed along with the greed of the ultra wealthy are collapsing our democracy.
We now see the mega Internet corporations having to retire people because AI has no soul to do what is right for people. For me this was totally foreseeable..
You ladies laid out the problems in the United States very well. Reuniting the nation is going to take us all. You have laid out the situation very well and have laid out simple common sense solutions. Thank you ladies.
An apology to the readers as I was very tired when I posted this . I missed an autocorrect.....having to retire people should read having to rehire people.
Thank you for your understanding.
Thanks ladies! Great report!
And, Seattle is gorgeoud today too. The mistake is thinking Trump is actually a businessman. He is not.