Jon Neumann
@jon-neumann.bsky.social
Political reflections from local elected official serving on the purple fault lines of a divided America. Devoted member and constructive critic of the struggling Democratic Party. Dabbler in sustainable redevelopment and nonprofit formation.
Could be our next First Lady
January 11, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Could be our next First Lady
I mean who doesn’t love obscene wealth inequality, asset bubbles fueled by lax regulation, and rising fascist powers?
December 31, 2024 at 10:08 PM
I mean who doesn’t love obscene wealth inequality, asset bubbles fueled by lax regulation, and rising fascist powers?
Kind of a mutual make-a-wish society between lobbyists and their most beloved Congressmen.
December 31, 2024 at 12:06 AM
Kind of a mutual make-a-wish society between lobbyists and their most beloved Congressmen.
Gotta catch’em all
December 30, 2024 at 8:27 PM
Gotta catch’em all
Valid. But much of Trump’s messaging advantage comes in being able to overpromise. Having worked in the Party I know there is tremendous pressure to not overpromise or aggressively fight for your constituents because you might make other Dems look bad.
December 30, 2024 at 3:42 PM
Valid. But much of Trump’s messaging advantage comes in being able to overpromise. Having worked in the Party I know there is tremendous pressure to not overpromise or aggressively fight for your constituents because you might make other Dems look bad.
It’s not about Trump voters liking abortion bans, it’s about people liking strong leaders who deliver on their promises. Trump’s success shows voters prefer a lunatic with a plan and a purpose over decent people with no clear objective beyond keeping the other party out of office.
December 30, 2024 at 3:35 PM
It’s not about Trump voters liking abortion bans, it’s about people liking strong leaders who deliver on their promises. Trump’s success shows voters prefer a lunatic with a plan and a purpose over decent people with no clear objective beyond keeping the other party out of office.
Overturning Roe was far less popular than Medicare for All but the GOP made it happen. That unpopularity bit them in the ass in 2022, but 2024 proved that in the long run delivering on big promises is the strongest way to energize and expand your base.
December 30, 2024 at 3:27 PM
Overturning Roe was far less popular than Medicare for All but the GOP made it happen. That unpopularity bit them in the ass in 2022, but 2024 proved that in the long run delivering on big promises is the strongest way to energize and expand your base.
It’ll never be cool to vote for a party that is too timid to fight for a broadly popular policy that could save the lives of thousands and rescue millions from financial ruin.
December 30, 2024 at 3:08 PM
It’ll never be cool to vote for a party that is too timid to fight for a broadly popular policy that could save the lives of thousands and rescue millions from financial ruin.
DNC: “Guys we really have to nail down the answers to the ‘moist’ and ‘Blink 182’ questions before even thinking about how to deliver the universal government run healthcare that 72% of our party members want.”
December 30, 2024 at 2:18 PM
DNC: “Guys we really have to nail down the answers to the ‘moist’ and ‘Blink 182’ questions before even thinking about how to deliver the universal government run healthcare that 72% of our party members want.”
This is why $750,000 should not be the cut off for the highest tax bracket. A lot of people know at least someone who might make that much or can wrap their head around it. $75,000,000 is a whole other story…
December 27, 2024 at 9:39 PM
This is why $750,000 should not be the cut off for the highest tax bracket. A lot of people know at least someone who might make that much or can wrap their head around it. $75,000,000 is a whole other story…
ACA helped but medical bankruptcies hit a five year high in 2023 so we are headed the wrong direction especially with “medical bankruptcy” not even a thing in other developed countries. The fact that home ownership is flat over the past 30 years suggests economic stagnation not “vast affluence.”
December 27, 2024 at 6:57 PM
ACA helped but medical bankruptcies hit a five year high in 2023 so we are headed the wrong direction especially with “medical bankruptcy” not even a thing in other developed countries. The fact that home ownership is flat over the past 30 years suggests economic stagnation not “vast affluence.”
Home ownership rates are flat over the past 30 years and nowhere close to returning to their 2007 highs. Health insurance “coverage” just means you are handing money over to those companies every month - not that you are safe from financial ruin or death if your claim is denied.
December 27, 2024 at 6:47 PM
Home ownership rates are flat over the past 30 years and nowhere close to returning to their 2007 highs. Health insurance “coverage” just means you are handing money over to those companies every month - not that you are safe from financial ruin or death if your claim is denied.
The “vast affluence” argument only works if you give equal weight to every item in the CPI basket. People can buy more Kindle readers, LOL Surprise dolls, fast fashion and fracked gas with 2024 dollars but if they can’t afford a home or quality health insurance I don’t call that affluence.
December 27, 2024 at 6:32 PM
The “vast affluence” argument only works if you give equal weight to every item in the CPI basket. People can buy more Kindle readers, LOL Surprise dolls, fast fashion and fracked gas with 2024 dollars but if they can’t afford a home or quality health insurance I don’t call that affluence.
Of course it means it’s inflation adjusted against a broad basket of goods. The goods that have outpaced wage gains (housing, healthcare) are those essential to life itself. Efficiency gains in other products like tvs and computers do not make up for the increased cost of life’s essentials.
December 27, 2024 at 6:08 PM
Of course it means it’s inflation adjusted against a broad basket of goods. The goods that have outpaced wage gains (housing, healthcare) are those essential to life itself. Efficiency gains in other products like tvs and computers do not make up for the increased cost of life’s essentials.
Plot those gains in real median income against increases in cost of housing, higher education and healthcare. Then you will know how ridiculous this talk of “vast affluence” really is.
December 27, 2024 at 5:55 PM
Plot those gains in real median income against increases in cost of housing, higher education and healthcare. Then you will know how ridiculous this talk of “vast affluence” really is.
The chickens are coming home to roost.
December 27, 2024 at 5:38 PM
The chickens are coming home to roost.
Where is this “vast affluence” you speak of? I’ve lived in the Western PA Rust Belt and Silicon Valley and I’ve mainly seen pockets of great wealth surrounded by poverty, precarity and decay.
December 27, 2024 at 5:33 PM
Where is this “vast affluence” you speak of? I’ve lived in the Western PA Rust Belt and Silicon Valley and I’ve mainly seen pockets of great wealth surrounded by poverty, precarity and decay.
Yep. Can’t imagine those titles are as expensive as they were pre-WWI. Maybe I’ll check the after Christmas sales to see if I can get a deep discount on a “Von.”
December 27, 2024 at 4:00 PM
Yep. Can’t imagine those titles are as expensive as they were pre-WWI. Maybe I’ll check the after Christmas sales to see if I can get a deep discount on a “Von.”
This is giving me a renewed laser-eyed focus to purchase a defunct Austro -Hungarian title of nobility so I can finally become a Von Neumann.
December 27, 2024 at 2:52 PM
This is giving me a renewed laser-eyed focus to purchase a defunct Austro -Hungarian title of nobility so I can finally become a Von Neumann.
Hoping this means Screech and Urkel are being added to Trump’s National Garden of American Heroes.
December 26, 2024 at 5:08 PM
Hoping this means Screech and Urkel are being added to Trump’s National Garden of American Heroes.
Dems complain about Nader taking 2% of the vote in 2000 ten times as much as Republicans complained about Perot taking 19% in 1992. Makes you wonder which party is really the most intolerant of dissent and resistant to new ideas.
December 26, 2024 at 4:07 PM
Dems complain about Nader taking 2% of the vote in 2000 ten times as much as Republicans complained about Perot taking 19% in 1992. Makes you wonder which party is really the most intolerant of dissent and resistant to new ideas.