Resisting Republicans is Not Enough!

Resisting Republicans is N0T Enough!                       October 19, 2025

Yesterday an estimated seven million people demonstrated at No Kings Rallies throughout the U.S., as well as in multiple other countries.   These protests may be a Huge step towards major resistance in the U.S.   They may also be a blip, that has little or positive impact.

Obviously, with the U.S. Government significantly shut down, massive divisions between the Democratic and Republican Party politicians, we are facing huge divisions and verbal conflicts in our country.

Much of the foci I see are heavily focused upon:  Anti-Trump and/or Anti-Republican messaging.   In the recent past there has been a rapid acceleration of danger signs related to Fascism/Dictatorship/Economic Hardships for many and more.   

At the same time, life for many goes on with seeming “normalcy”.

The “Anti-Messaging” I see around me has done relatively little to help most people in recent days and months.    The Trump Administration and Republican Party appear in little danger of “losing power” and/or substantively changing their basic approaches.  

In the past ¾ of a year – things have deteriorated rapidly.    The Republican Party, the court system, Congress, and President Trump have all been a significant part of the “failures” that scare and deeply bother many of us.

W H Y    ?????

I believe things are happening in a “logical manner”!

I will try to give a few examples of types of problems vs. supposed “solutions” that I see as seriously problematic related to our failures.

I will conclude by proposing where, instead we might want to focus efforts.  

I can’t predict the future!  My answers may be wrong and/or insufficient. I hope though– that we will “wake up” – and recognize both the urgency of where we’re at, and some basic things we need to do now and in the foreseeable future.

Example 1: Healthcare

Clearly, the U.S. healthcare system is highly dysfunctional.   The Republican political inaction and recently passed legislation will devastate the already thoroughly messed up system.

The Democratic Party is divided.   Virtually All, if not All Democratic Party politicians denounce their fellow Republican Politicians.   It seems obvious that the Republican plans are horrible!

I don’t see any Democratic Party outpouring of support for any specific effort.  

Bernie Sanders and his supporters call for “Medicare for All”.  

What, hypothetically, will such a “solution” do for the citizens of the U.S. if it were passed by Congress (won’t happen) and be signed by Donald Trump?

“Medicare for All” – would result in all U.S. Citizens either be in the Medicare system or have the option of being in it.

(Note: 2025 data follows):

Part A of Medicare – requires a hospitalized individual to pay $1676 before it pays anything.   Where individuals are hospitalized, if they do not stay out of the hospital for 60 consecutive days, they remain within the “benefit period” which in the short term is a big advantage as the initial Medicare payments for their treatment are substantial.  

Where Medicare Patients are either catastrophically ill or chronically ill – where they do not stay out of the hospital for 60 consecutive days, the costs escalate and eventually are 100% of the charges.

Part B of Medicare requires most individuals to pay (out of their Social Security checks where they receive them) $185/month and have a yearly deductible of $257.   80% of the “customary and reasonable charges” are then paid for physicians including when individuals are hospitalized.

Part C of Medicare – Medicare Advantage – is a private alternative – which many, many sources evaluate as being a huge rip-off for most people!

Part D of Medicare – drug benefits – costs most individuals an average of $46.50/month and has an annual deductible of $590.

Medicare does not cover most dental care, prescription glasses and routine eye care, hearing aids, custodial care such as long-term nursing home care.

Individuals who can not afford supplemental private health care plans or choose not to take them may easily have extremely high medical costs.  Most Medicare recipients who can afford it purchase supplemental private health insurance through private companies.     

To speak as Bernie and his supporters do of this wonderful “Medicare for All” system, seems naïve and ridiculous.  

Where Medicare recipients live on a limited, fixed income, they often may not be able to afford what upper-middle class folks routinely purchase.   Medicaid (in California MediCal), an option for “poor people” is not accepted by many medical providers because of its low reimbursement rates.

If we are going to create a meaningful, logical healthcare system, we need more than simple messaging.   Besides this, simplistic rhetoric, most Democratic politicians have No suggestion for meaningful change.

Democratic Party politicians are speaking up now in opposition to the horrific actions of Donald Trump and Republican politicians.

There has been No serious discussion of a – coherent – system – beyond the Bernie message in recent years!!!

If we are to have meaningful change, we need to seriously look at alternatives!

All the other major countries of the First World have national healthcare plans.   I think that the Swiss System may be the closest to what we should seek.  

1.)  It isn’t “cheap”,  however

2.)  It offers options and

3.)  Is simple enough that most in the U.S. could understand it.

I don’t hear discussion – among Democratic Party politicians of most everything I’ve discussed above.   Why should – most people rally around the Democrats related to healthcare?   It isn’t enough to say: “NO” to the Republicans crazy actions and inactions.

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Example II – “Welfare”

“Welfare” in The United States means benefits for poor people.   Initially, and oft times even today, it was/is intended for the “deserving poor”.   Such plans have been and often continue to be programs that frequently exclude large numbers of Black and Brown People.   

In the distant past the Democratic Party was “held hostage” by its Southern (segregationist) politicians who denied rights, where possible, to Black People.  From around 1968, through the present, the Republican Party has increasingly taken over this position.

In most first world countries, the parents of newborn and newly adopted children are granted the rights to take fully-paid leave from their jobs.   Similarly, employees are mandated paid vacation and sick leave in most such countries.

AI Overview

Yes, Germany guarantees employees a minimum of 20 paid vacation days per year for a standard five-day work week, as per the Federal Holiday Act. This legally mandated minimum can increase to 24 days for those working a six-day week. In reality, many employers offer more generous packages, with 25 to 30 days being common in practice, as detailed on the SHRM and hellopebl.com sites. 

AI Overview

Germany guarantees employees full pay from their employer for up to six weeks of sick leave. After this period, statutory health insurance provides a sickness allowance, typically around 70% of gross income, for up to 78 weeks in some cases. Employees are required to inform their employer immediately and provide a doctor's note if absent for more than three consecutive days.  

AI Overview

There is no federal law guaranteeing paid sick leave in the U.S., but the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for certain serious medical conditions. 

“Welfare” commonly is state mandated in most First World Countries for all its people.   It often disproportionately helps poorer people.   It is a “human right”.  In the U.S. we stigmatize those who are poor, particularly Black and Brown People, denying them basic rights.

Example 3:

Housing Segregation is a fact of life in the U.S.   Richard Rothstein in The Color of Law - https://www.georgemarx.org/2025/08/the-color-of-law-richard-rothstein.html - clearly explains how housing and school segregation developed in the first half of the 20^th Century in the U.S. due to “the law”.  

Rothstein and his daughter Leah Rothstein continue “the story” in Just Action - https://www.georgemarx.org/2025/09/just-action-excellent-book.html - where they discuss how the law continues  to disproportionately negatively impact Black and Brown People.  They conclude explaining what needs to be done to systemically bring about change.

The Rothsteins clearly explain the “NIMBY” – Not in My Back Yard – policies.   Such laws require large lot sizes and individual single-family houses on the lots.  They clearly describe how such restrictions support continued systemic discrimination.  They describe how “liberal predominantly white suburbs” talk eloquently of the desirability of “diversity”, while it’s forbidden in their towns.

“Liberals” and “Democrats” – speak eloquently of “helping The People” at election time.

Nov 6, 2020 — Democrats haven't won the white vote in a presidential election since 1964

Black and Brown voters clearly have seen that Democrats seek their votes at election times.   Once the elections are over, their concerns often return solely to Not “losing the white vote” – the majority population in this country.

I could easily add how “the people” among Democratic Politicians oft times relates primarily to who “pays the bills”, e.g. donates large amounts at major fundraising events.   Such individuals are disproportionately wealthy white men.   The Democratic party strongholds are urban and inner-ring suburban votes in most states.

“The others” – generally vote Republican.   While Republican politicians clearly show virtually no concern for the concerns of “the others”, Democrats messaging consistently fails to reach such people.   They commonly either don’t vote, or vote for Republican candidates.

Yes, gerrymandering, the effects of slavery and segregation, and the electoral college system persist in negatively impacting Democratic Party voters.   That alone doesn’t explain why Democrats can’t win more than token elections in most states outside of their traditional strongholds.

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I would further argue that Democratic Party Leadership does not support “democracy” at all.   Bernie Sanders consistently was opposed by Democratic Party leaders when he ran for President.   Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for Mayor of NYC, is opposed by Chuck Schumer, and other Democratic Party leaders.   In Maine, “mainstream” Democratic leadership is pushing Janet Mills, who will be 78 years old when the Democratic Primary is held, and 79, if elected, to the Senate in 2026.  

Graham Platner (born 1984) is an American politician, oyster farmer, harbormaster, and military veteran who is running in the Democratic primary in the 2026 United States Senate election in Maine, seeking to unseat Republican Susan Collins. His platform emphasizes progressive and populist policies focused on the working class, including support for affordable housing, universal healthcare through Medicare for All, expanded veterans' benefits, and higher taxes on billionaires and large corporations. His campaign has received significant national attention. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Platner

Populist rhetoric has often been Republicans’ core messaging, as they work strongly against Progressive Issues.   They rely upon fears and hatred, as white, male Christian citizens “age out” as the core voting bloc over time.   Democratic Party leadership seems frightened of “populism” and “change”.

We face real dangers as we move into the last quarter of 2025!   If we are to truly move to resist the rise of a Fascist, Nativist, Patriarchal, Christian/Right-Wing, Super-Wealthy takeover of the U.S. we will need to recognize the realities of today.  

We will also need to look towards a Positive Future – in significant ways.  

Suggesting to U.S. citizens that they should support democracy because The Republicans are BAD, while true, isn’t effective both in bringing out the vote, and in resisting when our votes are ignored in Congress, The Courts, and by President Trump.

-        Looking for a “savior” – a Martin Luther King, Jr. – or Franklin Delano Roosevelt or a Mother Theresa – is a lost cause.

-        Looking for a Democratic Party Politician to “lead us to victory” seems equally unlikely to succeed

To successfully save our country and move forward positively requires key things:

1.)  Supporting politicians – who organize – at the grassroots level– listening to and supporting the aspirations of their citizenry,

2.)  Recognizing that we need to – build community – build alliances – support each other – actively in many ways – emphasizing – caring – emphasizing love, not fear and hatred – while acknowledging the divisions – including the Valid Concerns of many[GM1] ,

3.)  Supporting the people – who Don’t Vote because they know that their votes haven’t mattered – supporting their voices – in building Movements Towards Positive Systemic Change,

4.)  Reaching out to our Young People – and – to white people – hearing their aspirations- and acknowledging – that their concerns for a positive, viable future are real.  We also need to caringly confront How they may be being Manipulated – and “Othered” – by the decimation of what should be our core rights of housing, food, healthcare – for all,

5.)  Building seriously – towards a just future – for all.  These need to not be empty words – as they’ve been for over 400 years in our country (for many).   Reach for “the sky” – while also being practical and tactical – in building positively ahead.

There are No Guarantees that we will succeed!

Where we – wield potential power – such as those of us who are Upper-Middle Class People – we need to recognize “people power” and move through our Uncertainties and Fears – affirmatively – risking the loss of our wealth, even our lives, as so many Black and Brown People have been forced to do over past centuries.

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 [GM1]