Marianne, I want to ask you this because you are the political person I trust the most. Do you think the election was possibly stolen? And if so, why isn’t anyone talking about it? And if it’s because we don’t want to sound like him, isn’t that his great trick accusing everybody else of what he’s actually doing?
@MarianneWilliamson, see my response to Felicity, above.
I’m so grateful for the work you’re doing, to help us keep our nervous systems somehow in check, even if just a little bit.
Have you heard of the book, “The Quaking of America”, by Resmaa Menakem? His book speaks to these times. I’d LOVE to witness the two of you in an event, together. You both talk in your own ways, about being as much a spiritual warrior in this time, as you do being a political defender of democracy. You’re also in line, IMO, with Dr Lissa Rankin. Her’s is the other Substack I read constantly. We must do all we can to keep our nervous systems in some kind of state of calm, otherwise, we’re really sunk. Thank God for all of you. I’m so grateful you’re here.
Felicity, I read an article by Thom Hartmann, I believe, whose substack I also subscribe to (I read, daily, Marianne’s, Thom Hartmann’s, Heather Cox Richardson’s, and Robert Reich’s -I’ve been reading Reich for close to 2 years now), and it was Thom, or Heather, who said that it is coming to light that MANY Black voters names were purged from the rolls in the South, and all over America, but particularly in Southern states. I’m going to go through my emails and do my best to find the article I read. If it was one of these four people, and it sounds like it wasn’t Marianne who made this claim, these are all very trusted sources, IMO. Very trusted. Now I’m going to look. I might also have heard this on an NPR segment. I’m going to find my source. I’ll find a way to post this on the Substack, if I can cite where I’m getting this info from.
I have wondered this myself because he SWEPT ALL OF THE SWING STATES. Hmmm. And he stated so many times how he hated mail-in ballots, but reaped the benefit of them "bigly." So could there be a way to tamper with mail-in ballots?
I thought the outgoing Dems wanted so much to show how they could demonstrate what the peaceful transfer of power looks like that they dared not challenge the results. Plus, on the off chance that there IS a weakness in the mail-in ballot process it wouldn't serve the Dems to highlight that fact because it could put their past victories into question or have them deemed as possibly illegitimate.
Did anyone notice that DT did NOT place his hand on the Bible while being sworn in at the inauguration? And Melania just stood there holding the two books for apparently no reason, except to possibly render her presence there unnecessary, and reduce her to no more than mere window dressing. Why didn't Justice Souter instruct DT to do so? Isn't that action supposed to be part of what makes the Oath of Office count for something?
Call 202-224-3121 (all states) to express your denouncement of what is happening in any area of government of most concern to you. It can be a general denouncement of what is happening or as specific as you like.
When I called my congresswoman and expressed my opinions I found out there was a sort of phone "town hall" meeting being held that night. So call your senators and representatives at the above number (know the name of your Rep or Sen) to be forwarded to your correct person to express yourself. One voice counts for many. You may also find out something like I did that will help to empower you by being kept "in the loop."
In my area of California my senator is Adam Schiff. His voicemail was full the night of the filibuster to slow down the confirmation of the cabinet nominees, but his voice recording said to contact him on his website which is schiff.senate.gov. It was really easy.
I'm hoping that means many people are calling in and giving their input, but I imagine it can be frustrating. Can you try at different times of the day possibly? OR possibly find your Rep or Senators' website and get your thoughts across in writing? Maybe your senator's name can be found similar to how mine is listed, in the following format: lastname.senate.gov? Idk, but it might be worth a try. Good luck, and thank you for your efforts. :)
This is just so incredibly sad, I cried after reading those stories. I wish, I wish there were something more I could do - I've called, I don't know how many Senators, Democrat and Republican, begging them to END this madness. Then I have to step away for a bit because I can not let this insanity envelope me, I have grown children who are frightened and needing my calm and reassurance not a mother and grandmother who is having a nervous breakdown. I just can not imagine how 100's, no 1,000's, of these good people being treated so badly are feeling. I hope they know that the majority of citizens stand in solidarity with them. I was thinking (hoping) wasn't there a time that a country like ours, democracy forward, would go into other countries to help them with situations such as the one we're experiencing? I don't know the answer to this but I am hoping that is true and that another Democratic country could help us in some way. (?)
Thank you for expressing your concern. I hope the people interviewed will read your words and find comfort in them. I know it means a lot to them to feel like there are people out there trying to help.
We'll get through this. I don't know how, but we will.
Thank you Marianne … It must be awful for these people. I hope Democratic and Independent Senators and Congressmen can put a stop to this before something awful and unfixable happens … Thank You for the Education!
Thank you, Marianne, for thinking to request federal employees experiences and for sharing them here. I wonder if someone could get this piece to Nicole Wallace at MSNBC? She reports with an open, deeply concerned heart, and perhaps could make these voices excerpted to a larger audience….
Great work and I know you helped them to feel heard and listened to. Thank you for your work in connecting with those in federal work now. Excellent! You are contributing so much now and you definitely have the experience to be speaking on this subject as you have for years. Thank you!
Oh my! Thank you, Marianne for having the presence of the moment, and calling for these interviews. My heart goes out to these people under such duress! May God bless them & all of us living in these unpredictable times. 🙏🏼
I’ve also e-mailed my Representatives… The lists grow on what actions that DJT & Musk is doing that I oppose… of course this along with DEI, Civil Rights, Musk’s unlawful actions, horrid Immigrations round ups.. etc etc. I’m 71 & fought for women’s rights in the 60s & 70s… Back then it didn’t feel as hostile, but it could have been my naivety….
Continue your good work, Marianne! I …. & I know thousands of others here in the US …. are with you… & these poor souls who currently work in government. ☮️
Yet a small, still voice within me softly murmurs, "The NIH budget doubled as our life expectancy fell and its director received the Presidential Medal; The Department of Education's budget quadrupled as our children's literacy fell from third to 27th globally; our Defense Department spends 50% of our disposable income but has not fielded a modern weapon system in 30 years..."
I could go on, but perhaps strategic patience is in order? This may be our last chance, after all.
Hmm so these Federal employees are voicing concern over their livelihoods for the first time.
In doing so, joining the reality which the rest of America has been living under for at least a generation.
Yes, they will lose their pensions, their cheap health care - oh wait, we in the private sector don't get any of that.
I should be sympathetic?
And to be clear: I am not anti-government.
But the notion that any and all government employees should be sacrosanct is ridiculous much less the reality that a visible number of these government employees have acted in ways inimical to American democracy. Furthermore, that there are at least some pockets of the federal bureaucracy that acts entirely without supervision or restraint or direction from their literal legal and Constitutional executive.
So yes, let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater. But there must be some bathwater thrown out.
MW i am 4 u but you must tweak your approach so you can be heard. I read this article and despite my empathy toward the staff... HOW ELSE WILL they cut off 'the fat' ... something has to die before it is reborn and Rebirth is imminent! These agencies have been conplacent for decades!! So what they are going through (insecurity, instability, the unknown) is predictable! NO they cant go through the old due process as T & team have to demonstrate yheir competencen. I feel that the Cleansing has to finish First then we can all see what's b4 us and make intelligent decisions... dont you? This whole spectacle is like gossip mongering dynamic .. non stop reaction instead of responsive...
Chris Hedges commented recently , "The dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) — Elon Musk claims is run by “a viper’s nest of radical-left marxists who hate America” — is an example of how Trump arsonists are clueless about how empires function."
Is there something we can do to stop all this? It is insane. Aren't there some sort of checks and balances in our government that should be able to put the brakes on all trump's outrageous activities?
Thank you Marianne. Unfortunately… so many of my friends in different states don’t know about any of this. I will continue to share, suggest substack, abd forward your column with the hope they will begin to question their view of reality.
I have been feeling shell shocked like most of us here. I had the thought this morning that I understand the need to review budgets and spending. It is the cruel, callous and careless way this has been handled. The stress this has caused citizens and government employees alike. Of course this is a coup and I am astounded that the perpetrators have not been arrested and really don't understand why? Thank you Marianne for your continued service, compassionate message and intelligent analysis.
Thank you to these brave federal workers for sharing their experiences. I am always so happy when I read about people who understood the importance of job and benefit stability and made it! I am so sad that another segment of our workforce is threatened. Also, public service is valuable and important to our democracy.
Marianne - Thank you SO much for this. I worked for almost 20 years in the federal government. The Federal workers whose experiences you shared in this column are spot-on reflective of my sentiments regarding my own Fed gov't employment. I retired a couple of years ago, but I still am in touch - and am in solidarity with - many former co-workers and colleagues.
I loved my work. My colleagues and I worked hard and we took pride in our work.
You know that the witch-hunt to discredit government employees is bullshit. It's purpose is to fan the flames of the public into thinking this perpetual lie that all government employees are lazy.
I know for a fact that this is not true. Trump, Musk, and those who have never worked in the government are unqualified to make that assumption.
There are things that could be done to increase government efficiency, to be sure. But there are far more well-organized ways to make those changes. The way it's currently being carried out is actually really inefficient. There are going to be thousands of former gov't employees out of work. What's that going to do the the unemployment numbers?
They are such liars. And we - and the public - know only "the half" of what's to come.
To lie, fire, and disrespect people who have dedicated their careers and their lives to doing good, honest work? No. To create mayhem within an existing system that has great merit and value? No.
Marianne, I want to ask you this because you are the political person I trust the most. Do you think the election was possibly stolen? And if so, why isn’t anyone talking about it? And if it’s because we don’t want to sound like him, isn’t that his great trick accusing everybody else of what he’s actually doing?
Honest answer: I don't know. But I can tell you that with Musk doing what he's doing, I'm very concerned about the next one.
Have you seen the videos by the election truth alliance? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKDw2rlLAs0&t=520s
Wow!
@MarianneWilliamson, see my response to Felicity, above.
I’m so grateful for the work you’re doing, to help us keep our nervous systems somehow in check, even if just a little bit.
Have you heard of the book, “The Quaking of America”, by Resmaa Menakem? His book speaks to these times. I’d LOVE to witness the two of you in an event, together. You both talk in your own ways, about being as much a spiritual warrior in this time, as you do being a political defender of democracy. You’re also in line, IMO, with Dr Lissa Rankin. Her’s is the other Substack I read constantly. We must do all we can to keep our nervous systems in some kind of state of calm, otherwise, we’re really sunk. Thank God for all of you. I’m so grateful you’re here.
Focus your skills forward and positive. You are pissing on your leg
Felicity, I read an article by Thom Hartmann, I believe, whose substack I also subscribe to (I read, daily, Marianne’s, Thom Hartmann’s, Heather Cox Richardson’s, and Robert Reich’s -I’ve been reading Reich for close to 2 years now), and it was Thom, or Heather, who said that it is coming to light that MANY Black voters names were purged from the rolls in the South, and all over America, but particularly in Southern states. I’m going to go through my emails and do my best to find the article I read. If it was one of these four people, and it sounds like it wasn’t Marianne who made this claim, these are all very trusted sources, IMO. Very trusted. Now I’m going to look. I might also have heard this on an NPR segment. I’m going to find my source. I’ll find a way to post this on the Substack, if I can cite where I’m getting this info from.
I have wondered this myself because he SWEPT ALL OF THE SWING STATES. Hmmm. And he stated so many times how he hated mail-in ballots, but reaped the benefit of them "bigly." So could there be a way to tamper with mail-in ballots?
I thought the outgoing Dems wanted so much to show how they could demonstrate what the peaceful transfer of power looks like that they dared not challenge the results. Plus, on the off chance that there IS a weakness in the mail-in ballot process it wouldn't serve the Dems to highlight that fact because it could put their past victories into question or have them deemed as possibly illegitimate.
Did anyone notice that DT did NOT place his hand on the Bible while being sworn in at the inauguration? And Melania just stood there holding the two books for apparently no reason, except to possibly render her presence there unnecessary, and reduce her to no more than mere window dressing. Why didn't Justice Souter instruct DT to do so? Isn't that action supposed to be part of what makes the Oath of Office count for something?
Christy
Call 202-224-3121 (all states) to express your denouncement of what is happening in any area of government of most concern to you. It can be a general denouncement of what is happening or as specific as you like.
When I called my congresswoman and expressed my opinions I found out there was a sort of phone "town hall" meeting being held that night. So call your senators and representatives at the above number (know the name of your Rep or Sen) to be forwarded to your correct person to express yourself. One voice counts for many. You may also find out something like I did that will help to empower you by being kept "in the loop."
In my area of California my senator is Adam Schiff. His voicemail was full the night of the filibuster to slow down the confirmation of the cabinet nominees, but his voice recording said to contact him on his website which is schiff.senate.gov. It was really easy.
Yes, God bless us all!
Christy
I’ve call that number and it has always been busy.
I'm hoping that means many people are calling in and giving their input, but I imagine it can be frustrating. Can you try at different times of the day possibly? OR possibly find your Rep or Senators' website and get your thoughts across in writing? Maybe your senator's name can be found similar to how mine is listed, in the following format: lastname.senate.gov? Idk, but it might be worth a try. Good luck, and thank you for your efforts. :)
Christy
This is just so incredibly sad, I cried after reading those stories. I wish, I wish there were something more I could do - I've called, I don't know how many Senators, Democrat and Republican, begging them to END this madness. Then I have to step away for a bit because I can not let this insanity envelope me, I have grown children who are frightened and needing my calm and reassurance not a mother and grandmother who is having a nervous breakdown. I just can not imagine how 100's, no 1,000's, of these good people being treated so badly are feeling. I hope they know that the majority of citizens stand in solidarity with them. I was thinking (hoping) wasn't there a time that a country like ours, democracy forward, would go into other countries to help them with situations such as the one we're experiencing? I don't know the answer to this but I am hoping that is true and that another Democratic country could help us in some way. (?)
Thank you for expressing your concern. I hope the people interviewed will read your words and find comfort in them. I know it means a lot to them to feel like there are people out there trying to help.
We'll get through this. I don't know how, but we will.
Thank you Marianne … It must be awful for these people. I hope Democratic and Independent Senators and Congressmen can put a stop to this before something awful and unfixable happens … Thank You for the Education!
Thank you, Marianne, for thinking to request federal employees experiences and for sharing them here. I wonder if someone could get this piece to Nicole Wallace at MSNBC? She reports with an open, deeply concerned heart, and perhaps could make these voices excerpted to a larger audience….
Great work and I know you helped them to feel heard and listened to. Thank you for your work in connecting with those in federal work now. Excellent! You are contributing so much now and you definitely have the experience to be speaking on this subject as you have for years. Thank you!
Thank you x
None of these people cared when Biden fired all of the Federal workers who would not take the vax.
Careful when using “none” or “all”; usually those statements are not the Truth.
Oh my! Thank you, Marianne for having the presence of the moment, and calling for these interviews. My heart goes out to these people under such duress! May God bless them & all of us living in these unpredictable times. 🙏🏼
I’ve also e-mailed my Representatives… The lists grow on what actions that DJT & Musk is doing that I oppose… of course this along with DEI, Civil Rights, Musk’s unlawful actions, horrid Immigrations round ups.. etc etc. I’m 71 & fought for women’s rights in the 60s & 70s… Back then it didn’t feel as hostile, but it could have been my naivety….
Continue your good work, Marianne! I …. & I know thousands of others here in the US …. are with you… & these poor souls who currently work in government. ☮️
Yet a small, still voice within me softly murmurs, "The NIH budget doubled as our life expectancy fell and its director received the Presidential Medal; The Department of Education's budget quadrupled as our children's literacy fell from third to 27th globally; our Defense Department spends 50% of our disposable income but has not fielded a modern weapon system in 30 years..."
I could go on, but perhaps strategic patience is in order? This may be our last chance, after all.
Hmm so these Federal employees are voicing concern over their livelihoods for the first time.
In doing so, joining the reality which the rest of America has been living under for at least a generation.
Yes, they will lose their pensions, their cheap health care - oh wait, we in the private sector don't get any of that.
I should be sympathetic?
And to be clear: I am not anti-government.
But the notion that any and all government employees should be sacrosanct is ridiculous much less the reality that a visible number of these government employees have acted in ways inimical to American democracy. Furthermore, that there are at least some pockets of the federal bureaucracy that acts entirely without supervision or restraint or direction from their literal legal and Constitutional executive.
So yes, let's not throw out the baby with the bathwater. But there must be some bathwater thrown out.
MW i am 4 u but you must tweak your approach so you can be heard. I read this article and despite my empathy toward the staff... HOW ELSE WILL they cut off 'the fat' ... something has to die before it is reborn and Rebirth is imminent! These agencies have been conplacent for decades!! So what they are going through (insecurity, instability, the unknown) is predictable! NO they cant go through the old due process as T & team have to demonstrate yheir competencen. I feel that the Cleansing has to finish First then we can all see what's b4 us and make intelligent decisions... dont you? This whole spectacle is like gossip mongering dynamic .. non stop reaction instead of responsive...
Chris Hedges commented recently , "The dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) — Elon Musk claims is run by “a viper’s nest of radical-left marxists who hate America” — is an example of how Trump arsonists are clueless about how empires function."
Is there something we can do to stop all this? It is insane. Aren't there some sort of checks and balances in our government that should be able to put the brakes on all trump's outrageous activities?
Thank you Marianne. Unfortunately… so many of my friends in different states don’t know about any of this. I will continue to share, suggest substack, abd forward your column with the hope they will begin to question their view of reality.
I have been feeling shell shocked like most of us here. I had the thought this morning that I understand the need to review budgets and spending. It is the cruel, callous and careless way this has been handled. The stress this has caused citizens and government employees alike. Of course this is a coup and I am astounded that the perpetrators have not been arrested and really don't understand why? Thank you Marianne for your continued service, compassionate message and intelligent analysis.
Thank you to these brave federal workers for sharing their experiences. I am always so happy when I read about people who understood the importance of job and benefit stability and made it! I am so sad that another segment of our workforce is threatened. Also, public service is valuable and important to our democracy.
Marianne - Thank you SO much for this. I worked for almost 20 years in the federal government. The Federal workers whose experiences you shared in this column are spot-on reflective of my sentiments regarding my own Fed gov't employment. I retired a couple of years ago, but I still am in touch - and am in solidarity with - many former co-workers and colleagues.
I loved my work. My colleagues and I worked hard and we took pride in our work.
You know that the witch-hunt to discredit government employees is bullshit. It's purpose is to fan the flames of the public into thinking this perpetual lie that all government employees are lazy.
I know for a fact that this is not true. Trump, Musk, and those who have never worked in the government are unqualified to make that assumption.
There are things that could be done to increase government efficiency, to be sure. But there are far more well-organized ways to make those changes. The way it's currently being carried out is actually really inefficient. There are going to be thousands of former gov't employees out of work. What's that going to do the the unemployment numbers?
They are such liars. And we - and the public - know only "the half" of what's to come.
To lie, fire, and disrespect people who have dedicated their careers and their lives to doing good, honest work? No. To create mayhem within an existing system that has great merit and value? No.
God help us all.