Z’berg throws big money at hospitals here in SF, endows entire new wings, so we’ll never see a disparaging word about him in spite of what’s unfolding right under our noses
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Ain’t it the truth. That shows the problem with running public service via charity. You are now really beholden, aren’t you!
Lots of folks down here in the valley want to ‘solve’ school funding by partnerships w/ businesses for some kind of apprentice programs and the like. And I’ve heard suggestions that rural areas also need to find a sugardaddy donor. But that puts local government in a bind. Can’t enforce pollution laws against the mine company that is also your school funder! Can’t decide you need an art program in school if tech company just wants unpaid programmer-interns.
I’m close to a socialist. I think everybody should pay solid taxes according to their means. And that tax money should be spent by democratic vote!
No, the country has not moved left and there’s simply no evidence of that. The Rs are right of right and will go even further right if they’re not checked, and the Dems have maintained a center left position and will do so for the future.
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As I wrote above, I agree that “Pelosi’s been a good leader and was a great Speaker.” And, yes, she’s a great fundraiser (although any Speaker is likely to be).
She’s just as clearly a handicap in lot of districts that now seem winnable for Democrats, and she’s not very good at messaging to the general public. As with any national leader (except perhaps for Putin), the disapprovals have mounted over time. The last Democratic Speaker/leader who hung on this long was Sam Rayburn back in the 40s and 50s.
I can’t pretend to know who should/would replace her. One of her shortcomings is that she hasn’t been grooming anyone, while promising leaders (e.g. Chris Van Hollen) have left, in some case because they tired of waiting.
But I can say that I’ve been really impressed by a lot of Democrats of many different flavors: Schiff, Lujan, Swalwell, Tim Ryan, DeGette, Himes — along with several very junior ones, including Ro Khanna, Terri Sewell and on and on. One of the great detriments of leadership that stays on too long is that they themselves come to believe — and everyone else becomes convinced — that only their style will work in that position … that they are indespensible. Who knows who would emerge? Whoever it is will create their own style and will do will do just fine.
Pelosi’s had a good run. Overall, she’s done us proud. But there’s a wonderful mosaic of some very fine and diverse leaders coalescing in the House. They should have a chance. Ossified leadership is never good in any context.
Certain Democratic factions are going to continue to demonize her and yes she’s smart enough to hear that drum beat. All the names you mention beginning with Schiff would be fine, but, and I will say this to my dying day, except for Schiff because he’s from Los Angeles where’s there’s a lot of money, no one but no one has the connections to wealth in her or his district as Pelosi. San Francisco’s full of monied people, old money at that, and they part with it when she asks them to, she socializes with them at upscale events (opera opening nights and such) and in general is very well liked and respected as his her husband. She then hands it to campaigns and up and comers. I’d hope the others could do the same and right away.
She’s also got the ability (and the money) to help whoever she wants to become our next governor. Word is it’ll be Gavin Newsom, current Lt. Governor, and part of the future of our party.
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Also flagged.
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Sorry to beat a dead & OT horse. But since you are in CA, one other point.
The VAST majority of businesses rent - not own- their location. The prop 13 business benefit goes to landlords. Do you imagine that they pass on their savings via lower rents? Answer is, no. They just get to pocket the savings while charging market rates.
Prop 13: I bought my SF house in 1978 in in what was then a pretty sketchy neighborhood. The houses on my block are now selling for up to $2M. Same as littlegirlblue, if my tax rate were to be assessed at the average selling prices of homes here, I could not afford to pay it - half my income (I’m retired.)
It is people like me and my (also now older) neighbors who came here because it was cheap 40 years ago, and who put in the “sweat equity” of joining community groups and supporting fledgling businesses (and keeping the library open) who helped make this little village so attractive for today’s newcomers.
As has been pointed out, corporations should never have been included in Prop 13, or if that was necessary to get the thing passed, to limit the number of years a corporation could “float” on the 1978 (?) values to no more than 8-10 years.
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No. It’s about messing with the Dem Party I love. We are a two party system. Wake up.
I’m trying to follow to what your comment is about. The Dems are our only hope. What is it you don’t get?
Nowhere is it written that the country is a two-party system. In fact, there are many others. It’s just that the Rs and Ds currently dominate. But that wasn’t always so in the past, and it won’t be like it is now forever in the future.
Serious thought experiment:
Would you prefer a Democratic majority House without Pelosi as Speaker, or a Republican majority House with Pelosi as Minority Leader?
That may be the choice we face.
I’ve said I’d be in favor of a small business break on prop taxes, but I don’t think I’ll ever relent on homes.
@joce_m There are now McMansions on the street where I live; I’m sure those owners would love to see Prop 13 shredded. My house was so affordable in 1976 I only had to put $7,000. down on it. You can do the math.
Party is about supporting the people who believe as you do. Bernie didn’t do that. He wanted to be a party of one.
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Bernie got caught trying to cheat in the primary and you want to complain about the scheduling of debates that was done before he chose to run?
The worst rigging was the use of caucuses which allow a minority of privileged zealots to ignore the preferences of the voters In their state. Tad Devine knew what he was doing.
Bernie groveling to be saved at the last minute by the Superdelegates against the majority of the popularity vote after attacking these elected officials and party workers as illegitimate from the inception of his campaign, was, shall we say, instructive.
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Thanks in part to a bunch of malicious attacks like yours which tend to make the prophecy self- fulfilling,
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Malicious attacks, from me?
Where?
If you’re too uncomfortable to answer the fucking question, fucking say so.
I don’t believe you understand the gravity of the situation. Now is not the time to be divisive. If we don’t get Dem wins in November, the repubs/trump will continue to destroy all that is good. Sorry, I’m not buying what you are saying. Whose side are you on?
Drop the language. Right to Life’s next target has to be to take over our party as well. Demonizing any and all pro-choice women is part of that process. Watching people ostensibly on our side fall for it is disgusting.
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I will never forgive Bernie for what he and his supporters unleashed in the Dem Primaries. I am a proud Dem. I am an elected Democratic precinct delegate in Michigan. I had a big problem with letting Bernie join the Dem Party at the last minute so he could run in the primaries. Then after he lost he quit the party. WTF??? Why would folks think that is okay with Democratic Party members like me? My problem with Bernie is that he isn’t a member of the Democratic Party.
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