The problem with social media becoming people’s primary source for news is that its algorithms are simply not set up to perform the critical task of serving as the fourth estate!
The Missing Pillar
Democracy requires a solid foundation to stand
open.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 5:18 PM
The problem with social media becoming people’s primary source for news is that its algorithms are simply not set up to perform the critical task of serving as the fourth estate!
Fridays are for poetry, and I thought of you.
I Thought About You Today
And it felt pretty good
open.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Fridays are for poetry, and I thought of you.
Here is one effective way to prevent social media from destroying our democracy. The problem is, it will likely lead to less engagement, so they may not deploy it unless they have to. Perhaps they should. I have a new article talking about this next week, but check this out in the meantime.
Flagging misinformation on social media reduces engagement, study finds
Crowd-sourced fact-checking of potentially misleading information is an effective tool to combat online misinformation, according to a new study.
news.yale.edu
December 5, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Here is one effective way to prevent social media from destroying our democracy. The problem is, it will likely lead to less engagement, so they may not deploy it unless they have to. Perhaps they should. I have a new article talking about this next week, but check this out in the meantime.
Goodbye to my dear Uncle Bob. We will miss you.
Uncle Bob
Yeah, that guy!
open.substack.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Goodbye to my dear Uncle Bob. We will miss you.
I really wish I could be in Montreal this weekend to see the show. It's going to be another great one.
November 29, 2025 at 7:46 PM
I really wish I could be in Montreal this weekend to see the show. It's going to be another great one.
Friday’s are for poetry. Thinking of love, loss, and family.
Yet in the End
On love and loss and family
open.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Friday’s are for poetry. Thinking of love, loss, and family.
Thinking about family memories on this day of Thanskgiving and wishing all of you a merry one!
I Saw Trains
Thinking about family and memory
open.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Thinking about family memories on this day of Thanskgiving and wishing all of you a merry one!
Fridays are for poetry. I'm late with this one, but better late than never.
I Used to Think
On seeking externally what is found within
open.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Fridays are for poetry. I'm late with this one, but better late than never.
All too often we are too busy focusing on the issues at hand and don’t realize we are not standing on the same common ground.
Uncommon Ground
Are we speaking the same language?
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:28 PM
All too often we are too busy focusing on the issues at hand and don’t realize we are not standing on the same common ground.
Two-thirds of Americans agree that the rich should be taxed more, including 51% of Republicans, yet economists are stubbornly holding on to the refuted belief that it would harm the economy despite clear evidence to the contrary.
Libido Dominandi
The futility of forcing one's will on reality
open.substack.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Two-thirds of Americans agree that the rich should be taxed more, including 51% of Republicans, yet economists are stubbornly holding on to the refuted belief that it would harm the economy despite clear evidence to the contrary.
Fridays are for poetry. A central part of growth is being open to change.
That I May Grow
A poem about challenging beliefs
open.substack.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Fridays are for poetry. A central part of growth is being open to change.
"Since 1920, the vast increase in welfare beneficiaries and the extension of the franchise to women... have rendered the notion of 'capitalist democracy' into an oxymoron."
Oligarch Peter Thiel, CEO of Palantir
Oligarch Peter Thiel, CEO of Palantir
November 12, 2025 at 4:32 PM
"Since 1920, the vast increase in welfare beneficiaries and the extension of the franchise to women... have rendered the notion of 'capitalist democracy' into an oxymoron."
Oligarch Peter Thiel, CEO of Palantir
Oligarch Peter Thiel, CEO of Palantir
American Dream update: average age of first-time home buyers is now 40. The wealth lost by the average person between buying at 30 and buying at 40 is $150,000. That money is instead redistributed to the upper classes.
November 12, 2025 at 3:52 PM
American Dream update: average age of first-time home buyers is now 40. The wealth lost by the average person between buying at 30 and buying at 40 is $150,000. That money is instead redistributed to the upper classes.
Does it really have to be an either/or proposition?
Beyond the Binary
Can socialism actually save capitalism?
open.substack.com
November 12, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Does it really have to be an either/or proposition?
Reposted by Shiveman
Not a good look internationally for the US!
November 12, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Not a good look internationally for the US!
The more impatient we are, the less we are willing to hold on to our ideals.
Discounting the Future
Impatience can lead to the loss of liberty
open.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:20 PM
The more impatient we are, the less we are willing to hold on to our ideals.
Can you imagine how much we could do for Americans if we taxed billionaires at the top 37% tax rate we tax lottery winners instead of the 23.8% rate they actually pay?
November 11, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Can you imagine how much we could do for Americans if we taxed billionaires at the top 37% tax rate we tax lottery winners instead of the 23.8% rate they actually pay?
Fridays are for poetry. Music opens a portal to the truth of the universe.
Finding Truth
A poem about music
open.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Fridays are for poetry. Music opens a portal to the truth of the universe.
Capitalism and democracy need not be at odds. We just have to agree on a framework that achieves true freedom for both.
Capitalism and Democracy
Why the two need not be in conflict
open.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Capitalism and democracy need not be at odds. We just have to agree on a framework that achieves true freedom for both.
I am currently in Portland, OR, and this is spot on!
"From the moment the armed services violently engage their first civilians, their prestige will be gone forever, and service members will be destroying the Republic they are sworn to serve."
open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p...
"From the moment the armed services violently engage their first civilians, their prestige will be gone forever, and service members will be destroying the Republic they are sworn to serve."
open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p...
The Next Terrorist Attack
And What Comes After (Updated)
open.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:50 PM
I am currently in Portland, OR, and this is spot on!
"From the moment the armed services violently engage their first civilians, their prestige will be gone forever, and service members will be destroying the Republic they are sworn to serve."
open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p...
"From the moment the armed services violently engage their first civilians, their prestige will be gone forever, and service members will be destroying the Republic they are sworn to serve."
open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p...
Millions of Americans (about 12.5%, in fact) are going hungry, and he hosts a Great Gatsby Party. He obviously didn't read the book! This is nothing less than a giant middle finger to the American working poor! You just can't even begin to make this stuff up!
Trump hosted 'Great Gatsby' Halloween party hours before SNAP funding lapsed
President Donald Trump has come under fire after he hosted a "Great Gatsby" themed Halloween party just hours before millions of Americans lost their SNAP benefits.
abcnews.go.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Millions of Americans (about 12.5%, in fact) are going hungry, and he hosts a Great Gatsby Party. He obviously didn't read the book! This is nothing less than a giant middle finger to the American working poor! You just can't even begin to make this stuff up!
Fridays are for poetry:
This one is for Rick
Because he asked me for it
Here is his haiku
This one is for Rick
Because he asked me for it
Here is his haiku
Blunt Force
A haiku for a friend (because he asked)
open.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Fridays are for poetry:
This one is for Rick
Because he asked me for it
Here is his haiku
This one is for Rick
Because he asked me for it
Here is his haiku
We can all be fooled into reacting the way a demagogue wants us to, no matter what side we are on.
Not Falling For It
Demagogues use bait to catch supporters and detractors alike
open.substack.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:36 PM
We can all be fooled into reacting the way a demagogue wants us to, no matter what side we are on.
Reposted by Shiveman
At The Westport Suzuki Music School about to hear a lovely concert steeped in high-end jazz by Julian Shively and Emma McDonald @shiveman.bsky.social
October 24, 2025 at 11:14 PM
At The Westport Suzuki Music School about to hear a lovely concert steeped in high-end jazz by Julian Shively and Emma McDonald @shiveman.bsky.social