Saturday, May 10, 2025

US Democracy in action

Some 30 years ago, Robert Reich was, for some 4 years, Bill Clinton’s Secretary of State for Labor. He’s now left politics and academia behind to become a successful blogger.

Every Saturday morning, he holds, with Heather Lofthouse, a wonderful “Coffee Klatch” or conversation. This morning’s was particularly inspiring since it brought in, at 35 minutes, a woman (Emily Finer) who had gone to a Town Hall meeting to ask her Republican Congressman a question. There was a massive police presence outside and everyone had to sign off/agree to a range of questions about their behaviour. Needless to say, the Congressman didn’t answer her question and when, she repeated it, she was ejected from the meeting – despite the protests of the audience who clearly supported her right to ask the question. The whole scene is a vivid illustration of the depths US democracy has reached – effectively to deny the right of protest.

What on earth were the mayor’s “storm-troopers” doing to carry her out???

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