Love this David! As a right leaning moderate, I come across a lot of people who want to judge based on party affiliation. But let’s get real, we have two wildly imperfect parties to choose from. Not counting Independents and other parties that don’t make a dent in the ballot box. I worked an 18 hour shift as an election judge, serving at a campus precinct. I literally registered hundreds of students to vote on Election Day. Knowing full well that most of them, by virtue of being college students, turned around and voted straight Democrat. Even for the two candidates who are under federal indictment (long story)… Did I judge them? Not at all. I saw young, malleable people who wanted to exercise their right to vote. I’m sure as they go through life, some will divert to more conservative views and others will become more staunch in their liberal views. That’s what happens. Bottom line, judging people strictly by who they vote for is shallow and divisive. Some of my best friends and I vote differently. Some of the people who vote like I do, have nothing else in common. And in the end, MOST of us want the same things. It’s the politician and the media that tries to divide us.
You lost my attention at the mention of Robert Reich, the archetype intellectual so often described by Thomas Sowell, who will live well by spouting ideas he will never be held accountable for. Like, nationalizing Musk assets and a total government takeover of AI.
As a primary care physician and wife of a writer about hyperlocal government, I have declared myself a politics-free zone. It makes me happy that many people with whom I disagree regularly assume I agree with them.
I point out frequently that a 55% margin means that 45% of the people who voted are unhappy with the results.
You don“t need to know any „rich“ or any „poor“ or any „(wo)man on the street“, you only have to know and remember what REAL „ socialism“ meant. If you pretend really not knowing it, read Solshenizyn and other reports. It has NOTHING anything to do with the ‚mercy of Jesus“, it is pure misuse of power, nowhere tamed and regulated by law. It makes anyone poor except a few members of Nomenclatura, REAL filthy rich. If s.o. Is too dumb or ignorant to know that, he shouldn“ t be allowed to vote or be voted for. When S.O. builds up an enterprise, invents sth.etc. that employs others, creates wealth and with it taxes for welfare etc., but has to fear that everything can be (il)legally taken away, no one will build, no one will invent anything anymore. If Talarico or s.o. else is too ignorant to know that, he shouldn“ t be allowed to be voted for. And dumbness and ignorance don“ t get better by citing (i.e. misusing SINfully) „The Bible“. If you can“ t stand „inequality“, which is completely natural, you are unable to live, please just kill yourself or l will do it for you.
When I see Republican politicians engaging in outright racism or trans rhetoric, I don't feel that I have to give them the benefit of the doubt about anything. Same with all those 'man on the street' Trump supporters who repeat what they hear or spread unfounded lies they heard from Fox News.
I think some Democratic voters were more anti Trump re: ICE, war in Iran, the excesses of White House ballroom, reflecting pool mess. That's fine. Now the Democrats have to decide how to keep those voters for next time.
Critical thinking is imperative, especially at a time when conjecture, feelings and vibes have become accepted substitutes for the scientific method. My feelings are informed by facts.
According to the NIH, "A reduction in U.S. foreign aid under the America First policy of President Donald Trump, who took office in 2025, has significantly impacted global health.
As the world’s largest provider of foreign aid, the U.S. has frozen development aid to evaluate its alignment with national interests. This has led to the termination of numerous international health programs, including those addressing malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, and polio, and has caused funding shortages for non-profit and international organizations like GAVI and the World Bank.
Projections indicate dire consequences. According to USAID, a potential 18 million additional malaria cases and 166,000 deaths could occur annually. Paralytic polio cases are expected to increase by 200,000 per year, and new tuberculosis cases could rise by 10.7 million by 2030. Recent studies estimate that new HIV infections and between 770,000 and 2.93 million HIV-related deaths from 2025 to 2030. This crisis presents an opportunity for the global community to rethink its approach to aid."
My values are not aligned with anyone who supported this policy with their vote, and I will judge them negatively for it. I FEEL it shows a lack of empathy and a belief that every human life has equal value. I respectfully disagree with your premise.
Anyone who can intertwine modern US politics with Austen gets a 💗. And not just any Austen, my favorite Austen and my favorite version of Pride and Prejudice. (I know Austen purest (s) are aghast)
Truth be told, there were 2 political parties that never actually liked each other but there was some semblance of respect in understanding that we all wanted the same thing, a better country we just had differing views on how to get there. Now make no mistake dems and repubs never got along ever. They did not socialize. They did not go get coffee. They did not party together. (Family was in DC during the Reagan years so experienced this first hand)
But it just went downhill when the uniter in chief, Mr Obama took the reigns of the democratic party with his denigration of rural America and Hillary with her "basket of deplorables." Trump may have be in his own class, but he didnt start the fight and its why so many voted for him in the first place, because they didnt like being considered human garbage because they did not buy into the culture wars of the democrats.
Now, does it have to be that way? No. But it seems it is going to be for a very long time. religion used to make people think they were better than others. Since Americans have become more irreligious they are using politics as their "religions." Its being on the right side of history and thinking of yourself as the saviors of humanity, for what its worth. People for some reason need to feel superior to others when it comes to their ideals, instead of being able to agree to disagree on basic issues.
Years ago I was discussing some of the issues of the day with a person I worked with, who was a democrat, and he said that they have to have school courses in spanish because hispanic people find it harder to learn english so they need extra help. I mentioned that if i, as a republican (i have since become an independent) said that, he would have called me a racist. He had no answer and literally just stared at me.
Honestly, I think that interchange sums up American politics and perspective.
Simply thinking ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER than words. It is a question of how we got here. There are certainly grey zones, nothing is black and white. There is not enough focus/education to expose our citizens to critical thinking. Politicians use what works...$$$, anger, righteousness. There are many lessons out there that could teach us. We need to focus on the basic needs of our citizens first and then perhaps we could become a population of "Good Samaritans". I have noticed that my neighbors who largely were extreme conservatives are starting to move into the zone of being a community of neighbors. It will take quite some time to rebuild America and I believe it will depend on the communities and strengthening our constitution. It is up to us, especially those who are advantaged.
Great essay. The only people that are truly tough for me not to judge are the self hating Jews who voted for El Sayed. But then I remind myself to trust in Hashem.
Yes. And something I’ve noticed is that most people seem to think not voting in elections automatically means laziness, or non-participation, versus someone using their constitutional right to vote or not vote. People often express their disgust with both sides by not voting at all. Politicians in a healthy society should have to work for the vote. It’s perfectly fine to not vote or to vote for a third party, etc.
Excellent post election assessment. Totally correct about importance of being nonjudgement, inclusive and caring about everyone or just the other person in any situatiion. And then that great tie-in with sense and sensability. The feelings in conflict with what the mind can figure out.
About acting like Jesus wanted everyone to act or in the example of Jesus. There are secular people who are totally not religious who follow the Jesus paradigm purely out of goodness or the perceived benefits of nonjudgemental unbiased goodness.
If the midterm election was assessed as a total embrace of socialism. For some, it might have been voting to give Socialism a chance. People, who at this point in their thought process, haven't written them off. See if if they can help alleviate anything voters want fixed.
At the same time, moderates, who want to make a difference, are being given a chance to help out those who trust their promises. Give the far left a chance to not prevent these folks from bring our politics more across the aisle and more towards the middle.
The results give the far Left a chance to curb their more undesireable tendencies. Any overreach can bring blowback from midterm voters who voted to give Dems a chance.
Trumps allowing ICE to overreach made it difficult to suppprt his candidates. Curb their and reform their protocols. Also Trump immigrant policy really upset everyone especially persecution of those who pay their taxes, improve their communities and have virtually no criminal record.
All boils down to people. Really listen to those you might disagree with for little bit of agreement you might find.
In life if anyone oversteps or overreaches, most people recognizes it and it sets off their worst feelings. Then judgement kicks in. And overstep and overreach indicators argue agaunst anty second chances.
On this one, friend, you won't be surprised I stoutly disagree. If 11/3/26 were politics as usual, sure, we all can differ amiably. But if 11/3/26 represented a clash between Good and Evil, Freedom-Loving and Fascism, Ukraine and Russia, etc., ad nauseam, yes, you should be judged by your vote, because you were on the wrong side of the great Manichean divide. No one should be judged ONLY by their vote -- other actions matter -- good folks can make bad choices -- I'm a poster-boy for that phenomenon -- but voting for Evil one becomes, intentionally or inadvertently, complicit. More along these lines every day at carlltucker.com. Love, C
Hmm, a lot of half-truths here, David. You assume that anyone who disagrees with another's vote despises them, which is not close to being true. But it is true that they think they're wrong, which is what they are supposed to think. People don't hate the rich simply because they have money, something about which you are hypersensitive, but they do hate people who are gratuitously ostentatious and shove their wealth down your throat, or pretend that everyone with lots of money deserves their position in society as do people who don't have any. Many if not most people view both their opposition and those who choose to sit it out as those whose minds need to be changed, to be brought around to another point of view...which is what democracy is all about. I think you're extrapolating from your own need not to be judged harshly just because you're rich--although you do often write about things you can afford that the vast majority of your readers cannot--to create a society ruled far more by hatred than it actually is. Is there hate at the fringes and sometimes in other segments of society? Of course. And sometimes it's a good outlet. I grew up in Brooklyn and I've hated the f&%$ing Yankees my entire life. But I co-authored a book about Lefty Gomez, a NY Yankee Hall of Fame baseball pitcher. But mostly, I hate behavior more than people, about which I feel no guilt whatever.
Haven't read any J.A. Otherwise, a great deal of good/common sense. Sensibility does get us in trouble often but then it's the realm in which us humans mostly operate.
Love this David! As a right leaning moderate, I come across a lot of people who want to judge based on party affiliation. But let’s get real, we have two wildly imperfect parties to choose from. Not counting Independents and other parties that don’t make a dent in the ballot box. I worked an 18 hour shift as an election judge, serving at a campus precinct. I literally registered hundreds of students to vote on Election Day. Knowing full well that most of them, by virtue of being college students, turned around and voted straight Democrat. Even for the two candidates who are under federal indictment (long story)… Did I judge them? Not at all. I saw young, malleable people who wanted to exercise their right to vote. I’m sure as they go through life, some will divert to more conservative views and others will become more staunch in their liberal views. That’s what happens. Bottom line, judging people strictly by who they vote for is shallow and divisive. Some of my best friends and I vote differently. Some of the people who vote like I do, have nothing else in common. And in the end, MOST of us want the same things. It’s the politician and the media that tries to divide us.
You lost my attention at the mention of Robert Reich, the archetype intellectual so often described by Thomas Sowell, who will live well by spouting ideas he will never be held accountable for. Like, nationalizing Musk assets and a total government takeover of AI.
Too bad, because I then went on to completely disagree with Reich’s assessment of Talarico’s speech. I’m no fan of Reich’s ideas.
Well said.
As a primary care physician and wife of a writer about hyperlocal government, I have declared myself a politics-free zone. It makes me happy that many people with whom I disagree regularly assume I agree with them.
I point out frequently that a 55% margin means that 45% of the people who voted are unhappy with the results.
You don“t need to know any „rich“ or any „poor“ or any „(wo)man on the street“, you only have to know and remember what REAL „ socialism“ meant. If you pretend really not knowing it, read Solshenizyn and other reports. It has NOTHING anything to do with the ‚mercy of Jesus“, it is pure misuse of power, nowhere tamed and regulated by law. It makes anyone poor except a few members of Nomenclatura, REAL filthy rich. If s.o. Is too dumb or ignorant to know that, he shouldn“ t be allowed to vote or be voted for. When S.O. builds up an enterprise, invents sth.etc. that employs others, creates wealth and with it taxes for welfare etc., but has to fear that everything can be (il)legally taken away, no one will build, no one will invent anything anymore. If Talarico or s.o. else is too ignorant to know that, he shouldn“ t be allowed to be voted for. And dumbness and ignorance don“ t get better by citing (i.e. misusing SINfully) „The Bible“. If you can“ t stand „inequality“, which is completely natural, you are unable to live, please just kill yourself or l will do it for you.
When I see Republican politicians engaging in outright racism or trans rhetoric, I don't feel that I have to give them the benefit of the doubt about anything. Same with all those 'man on the street' Trump supporters who repeat what they hear or spread unfounded lies they heard from Fox News.
I think some Democratic voters were more anti Trump re: ICE, war in Iran, the excesses of White House ballroom, reflecting pool mess. That's fine. Now the Democrats have to decide how to keep those voters for next time.
Critical thinking is imperative, especially at a time when conjecture, feelings and vibes have become accepted substitutes for the scientific method. My feelings are informed by facts.
According to the NIH, "A reduction in U.S. foreign aid under the America First policy of President Donald Trump, who took office in 2025, has significantly impacted global health.
As the world’s largest provider of foreign aid, the U.S. has frozen development aid to evaluate its alignment with national interests. This has led to the termination of numerous international health programs, including those addressing malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, and polio, and has caused funding shortages for non-profit and international organizations like GAVI and the World Bank.
Projections indicate dire consequences. According to USAID, a potential 18 million additional malaria cases and 166,000 deaths could occur annually. Paralytic polio cases are expected to increase by 200,000 per year, and new tuberculosis cases could rise by 10.7 million by 2030. Recent studies estimate that new HIV infections and between 770,000 and 2.93 million HIV-related deaths from 2025 to 2030. This crisis presents an opportunity for the global community to rethink its approach to aid."
My values are not aligned with anyone who supported this policy with their vote, and I will judge them negatively for it. I FEEL it shows a lack of empathy and a belief that every human life has equal value. I respectfully disagree with your premise.
Anyone who can intertwine modern US politics with Austen gets a 💗. And not just any Austen, my favorite Austen and my favorite version of Pride and Prejudice. (I know Austen purest (s) are aghast)
Truth be told, there were 2 political parties that never actually liked each other but there was some semblance of respect in understanding that we all wanted the same thing, a better country we just had differing views on how to get there. Now make no mistake dems and repubs never got along ever. They did not socialize. They did not go get coffee. They did not party together. (Family was in DC during the Reagan years so experienced this first hand)
But it just went downhill when the uniter in chief, Mr Obama took the reigns of the democratic party with his denigration of rural America and Hillary with her "basket of deplorables." Trump may have be in his own class, but he didnt start the fight and its why so many voted for him in the first place, because they didnt like being considered human garbage because they did not buy into the culture wars of the democrats.
Now, does it have to be that way? No. But it seems it is going to be for a very long time. religion used to make people think they were better than others. Since Americans have become more irreligious they are using politics as their "religions." Its being on the right side of history and thinking of yourself as the saviors of humanity, for what its worth. People for some reason need to feel superior to others when it comes to their ideals, instead of being able to agree to disagree on basic issues.
Years ago I was discussing some of the issues of the day with a person I worked with, who was a democrat, and he said that they have to have school courses in spanish because hispanic people find it harder to learn english so they need extra help. I mentioned that if i, as a republican (i have since become an independent) said that, he would have called me a racist. He had no answer and literally just stared at me.
Honestly, I think that interchange sums up American politics and perspective.
Simply thinking ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER than words. It is a question of how we got here. There are certainly grey zones, nothing is black and white. There is not enough focus/education to expose our citizens to critical thinking. Politicians use what works...$$$, anger, righteousness. There are many lessons out there that could teach us. We need to focus on the basic needs of our citizens first and then perhaps we could become a population of "Good Samaritans". I have noticed that my neighbors who largely were extreme conservatives are starting to move into the zone of being a community of neighbors. It will take quite some time to rebuild America and I believe it will depend on the communities and strengthening our constitution. It is up to us, especially those who are advantaged.
Great essay. The only people that are truly tough for me not to judge are the self hating Jews who voted for El Sayed. But then I remind myself to trust in Hashem.
Yes. And something I’ve noticed is that most people seem to think not voting in elections automatically means laziness, or non-participation, versus someone using their constitutional right to vote or not vote. People often express their disgust with both sides by not voting at all. Politicians in a healthy society should have to work for the vote. It’s perfectly fine to not vote or to vote for a third party, etc.
Any essay that preaches tolerance and features some Jane Austen is a great essay, in my mind.
Channeling Jane Austen with admirable skill! Make civility and wit great again.
Excellent post election assessment. Totally correct about importance of being nonjudgement, inclusive and caring about everyone or just the other person in any situatiion. And then that great tie-in with sense and sensability. The feelings in conflict with what the mind can figure out.
About acting like Jesus wanted everyone to act or in the example of Jesus. There are secular people who are totally not religious who follow the Jesus paradigm purely out of goodness or the perceived benefits of nonjudgemental unbiased goodness.
If the midterm election was assessed as a total embrace of socialism. For some, it might have been voting to give Socialism a chance. People, who at this point in their thought process, haven't written them off. See if if they can help alleviate anything voters want fixed.
At the same time, moderates, who want to make a difference, are being given a chance to help out those who trust their promises. Give the far left a chance to not prevent these folks from bring our politics more across the aisle and more towards the middle.
The results give the far Left a chance to curb their more undesireable tendencies. Any overreach can bring blowback from midterm voters who voted to give Dems a chance.
Trumps allowing ICE to overreach made it difficult to suppprt his candidates. Curb their and reform their protocols. Also Trump immigrant policy really upset everyone especially persecution of those who pay their taxes, improve their communities and have virtually no criminal record.
All boils down to people. Really listen to those you might disagree with for little bit of agreement you might find.
In life if anyone oversteps or overreaches, most people recognizes it and it sets off their worst feelings. Then judgement kicks in. And overstep and overreach indicators argue agaunst anty second chances.
On this one, friend, you won't be surprised I stoutly disagree. If 11/3/26 were politics as usual, sure, we all can differ amiably. But if 11/3/26 represented a clash between Good and Evil, Freedom-Loving and Fascism, Ukraine and Russia, etc., ad nauseam, yes, you should be judged by your vote, because you were on the wrong side of the great Manichean divide. No one should be judged ONLY by their vote -- other actions matter -- good folks can make bad choices -- I'm a poster-boy for that phenomenon -- but voting for Evil one becomes, intentionally or inadvertently, complicit. More along these lines every day at carlltucker.com. Love, C
Hmm, a lot of half-truths here, David. You assume that anyone who disagrees with another's vote despises them, which is not close to being true. But it is true that they think they're wrong, which is what they are supposed to think. People don't hate the rich simply because they have money, something about which you are hypersensitive, but they do hate people who are gratuitously ostentatious and shove their wealth down your throat, or pretend that everyone with lots of money deserves their position in society as do people who don't have any. Many if not most people view both their opposition and those who choose to sit it out as those whose minds need to be changed, to be brought around to another point of view...which is what democracy is all about. I think you're extrapolating from your own need not to be judged harshly just because you're rich--although you do often write about things you can afford that the vast majority of your readers cannot--to create a society ruled far more by hatred than it actually is. Is there hate at the fringes and sometimes in other segments of society? Of course. And sometimes it's a good outlet. I grew up in Brooklyn and I've hated the f&%$ing Yankees my entire life. But I co-authored a book about Lefty Gomez, a NY Yankee Hall of Fame baseball pitcher. But mostly, I hate behavior more than people, about which I feel no guilt whatever.
Haven't read any J.A. Otherwise, a great deal of good/common sense. Sensibility does get us in trouble often but then it's the realm in which us humans mostly operate.