“If Robert Heinlein is more to your taste than George Lucas: “If you are part of a society that votes, then do so. There may be no candidates and no measures you want to vote for, but there are certain to be ones you want to vote against.” That’s certainly true of me. Over my lifetime, the Republican Party has done far more to repulse me than the Democratic Party has done to appeal to me. But the result in the voting booth would be about the same either way.” IfsWayWantMayDoneWould BeCertainResultsPartyRepublicanTasteVoteDemocraticLifetimeAppealsCandidatesVotingRepublican PartyDemocratic PartyRobert Heinlein Author:Kevin Drum
“I think liberals should accept that if we want big programs that significantly reduce inequality - and we should - it's going to require higher taxes on everyone. The rich can certainly do more, especially given their stupendous income increases since the Reagan era, but they can't do it all.” IfsThinkingWantShouldBigsGivenAcceptingRichHigherTaxesProgramIncreaseIncomeInequalityEras Author:Kevin Drum
“The folks who want to be left alone are the ones who actually get most of the work done, but they’re still mocked as drones or beavers or trolls. That’s bad enough, but now technology is helping the extroverts in their long twilight campaign against actually concentrating on anything.” WantLongStillsDoneEnoughHelpingLeftTechnologyFolksCampaignsTwilightConcentratingLeft AloneWork DoneDronesTrollExtrovertsBeavers Author:Kevin Drum
“If you want to make a difference in America, you need to be prepared for a very long, very frustrating slog.” IfsWantNeedsLongAmericaDifferencesPreparedMaking A DifferenceBe PreparedFrustrating Author:Kevin Drum
“If you don’t want your followers to give up in disgust, your inspiration needs to be in the service of goals that are at least attainable.” IfsWantNeedsGivingInspirationGoalGiving UpFollowersDisgusting Author:Kevin Drum
“I’m just some white guy in California, and nobody in Flint is going to pay any attention to what I’m saying. I don’t blame them. Nor do doctors want to publicly agree with me, because nobody wants to downplay the effects of lead poisoning. I get that too. I can already imagine the number of tweets and emails I’m going to get demanding to know why I think Flint is no big deal.” ThinkingKnowsWantI CanBigsGuyWhiteDealsNumbersPayAttentionImagineEffectsDoctorsAgreeBlameCaliforniaEmailBig DealTweetPoisoningWhite Guys Author:Kevin Drum
“Why aren't Democrats voting against President [Donald] Trump's cabinet nominees en masse? Is it because they're just a bunch soft-headed Beltway lifers who don't understand that the base is pissed and wants them to fight fight fight?” WantFightingPresidentTrumpDemocratBunchVotingCabinets Author:Kevin Drum
