Michael J. Kramer

New #culturerover: The Play of Levels, hypothesizing cultural criticism in US intellectual history. www.michaeljkramer.net/the-play-of-...

Not the bots!

Why are there so few (none?) news stories about individual ICE agents themselves? Who they are, what motivates them, any moral dilemmas they face? Why aren’t protesters trying to get some to speak out?

New #culturerover: The Dissonance of Dissidence—Theater Apparatus, Václav Havel’s Protest @ MuCCC/Rochester Fringe Festival @rochesterfringe.bsky.social, 10 september 2025. www.michaeljkramer.net/the-dissonan...

New #culturerover: Outstretched—Commotion Dance reaches out in Opus @ MuCC/Rochester Fringe Festival @rochesterfringe.bsky.social, 9 September 2025. www.michaeljkramer.net/outstretched/

New #culturerover: Those Times of Revolution—In Los Lobos’s 1996 “Revolution,” the words say one thing, the music another. www.michaeljkramer.net/those-times

YouTube video by Los Lobos - Topic Revolution

youtu.be/7p9uqRf6Klo?...

YouTube video by klehtun pearl jam with sleater-kinnney - fortunate son & rockin in the free world - halifax 2005

youtu.be/9JgqnzbsQTk?...

YouTube video by CCRVEVO Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son (At The Royal Albert Hall)

youtu.be/b0Upk41P7aw?...

This would be the role of a proper opposition party.

2. Every time something bad happens, domestically or internationally, the Democrats should be ready w/ alternate policy, what they stand for, how it would improve the situation, in simple, concise terms.

1. this is Trumpublican America. If you like it vote for them; if you don't like it vote for us.

I once again defer to experts, but shouldn't the Democrats message right now be twofold?

Maybe I’m totally wrong or off about all this, but remain puzzled nonetheless.

Shoot, I’ll probably complain it’s too weak tea in many cases, but first a Tea Party is needed.

To be sure, there will be lots of argument about that policy and platform, lots of disagreement. Some kind of coalition needs to emerge between center and left. Many will complain and disagree with what’s on offer.

Isn’t the actual policy and platform that’s needed pretty clear for the Democratic Party? Broadly centered on expanding liberty and freedom through more robust, smart use of government to shape democratic action in response to suffering, lack of freedom, lack of imagining a sustainable future?

Is it a self-deluding fantasy that Democratic leadership has some kind of power? A fantasy that bipartisanship & good faith are still extended by the opposing party. Even now?! Get over it. The task: to highlight differences. “You don’t like what’s happening, then don’t elect them. Elect us.”

Don’t get all the hand-wringing by Democratic leaders about upcoming potential government shutdown. Isn’t it simpler? “The other party currently holds power. We’re the opposition party. Let them solve the issue. If they can’t then elect us next time.” Make the distinction clearer.

Why is the phrase “the juice isn’t worth the squeeze” or variations of it suddenly ubiquitous? A few years ago everyone had “bucket lists,” now we are in an era of diminishing returns?

New #culturerover: Get Out the Way, Old Dan Tucker returns as ICE agent? www.michaeljkramer.net/get-out-the-...

Question for political operatives, activists, and historians. I keep wondering why the Democratic Party's message is not simpler and bolder: the Trumpublicans want to kill your grandma and your children; we want to keep them alive. Why are they not saying something like that these days?

Algorithmically speaking, 6 of 1, half a dozen of the other? But yes I get it!

But what is bothering me is precisely the prior “video games,” substituting it for real life. And also making money and starting companies is the sum of human achievement. Depressing. Get these AI folks into humanities classes asap! They/we are lost without them?

And aren’t “priors” and “environment”…history?

One might almost want to study the humanities! “Thinking, or reasoning, is a strange kind of action - it does not directly affect the external world, yet the space of reasoning is open-ended and combintocially infinite….”

That’s Paul Gilroy of course.

Get out the way Old Dan Tucker. www.facebook.com/reel/4151252...

The closing of the BBC Sounds app is very sad. Way more restricted access to BBC Radio overseas now. Part of a larger closing down of public media (and global publics)?