JoeWrote

JoeWrote offers critical analyses from a progressive perspective, focusing on social, economic, and political issues. It critiques centrism, capitalism, and mainstream media narratives, while advocating for socialism, government intervention in services, and a reevaluation of historical figures and events through a leftist lens.

Politics Economics Social Issues Media Analysis History Environmental Policy Civil Rights Labor and Employment

The hottest Substack posts of JoeWrote

And their main takeaways

Liberation to Celebration: How Green Became the Color of St. Patrick's Day

29 implied HN points • 15 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture History Politics Celebration Liberation Color
  1. St. Patrick's Day was initially a respectful commemoration of the patron saint of Ireland, but it evolved into a secular celebration of Irish culture internationally, with green becoming a key symbol.
  2. Before the 1800s, Ireland's national color was blue, but the rebellion of 1798 against British rule led to green becoming the color of Irish nationalism.
  3. The history of Ireland's struggle for independence teaches the importance of symbols like the color green as declarations of resistance against oppression and commitment to freedom.

Life with Crohn’s Disease is a Never-Ending Fight with Insurance Companies

44 implied HN points • 13 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Healthcare Insurance Chronic Illness
  1. Living with Crohn's Disease involves a continuous battle with insurance companies, making access to necessary healthcare challenging.
  2. The American healthcare system's bureaucracy and profit-driven approach create unnecessary burdens for individuals with chronic illnesses.
  3. Personal experiences highlight the flaws in the American healthcare system, emphasizing the need for reform towards universal healthcare coverage.

American Childcare Is In A Death Spiral. Here's How We Fix It.

26 implied HN points • 05 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Childcare Government programs Financial impact Legislation
  1. American childcare costs are significantly higher than what is considered affordable by the U.S. government, causing financial strain on families.
  2. The Childcare Cliff refers to the crisis in childcare due to lack of funding, leading to closures of childcare centers and job losses.
  3. Solutions to the childcare crisis include reinstating the Refundable Child Tax Credit and restarting public childcare centers like those used during WWII.

How American Shock Capitalism Fostered the Russia-Ukraine War

30 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Geopolitics Nationalism Oligarchy Capitalism War
  1. Geopolitical conflicts, like the Russia-Ukraine War, are often oversimplified as 'Good Guys vs. Bad Guys,' but understanding the complexities behind these conflicts is crucial to preventing future tragedies.
  2. The implementation of Shock Capitalism in Russia post-Soviet Union led to a catastrophic economic collapse, increased income inequality, and the rise of an oligarchy, setting the stage for social unrest and Putin's consolidation of power.
  3. Nationalism, particularly in Russia, has been used by leaders like Putin to distract from domestic issues, justify military action, and boost popularity, highlighting the dangerous impact of nationalism when fueled by political agendas.

POTUS, SCOTUS, and the Danger of Normalcy Bias

20 implied HN points • 12 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Democracy Supreme Court Political Bias Political parties Presidential elections
  1. The Republican Party is not normal, and it's crucial to stop pretending that it is.
  2. Normalcy Bias is a significant societal issue, leading to a lack of action in recognizing and addressing threats, particularly from the Republican Party.
  3. The GOP has never been a 'normal' party, historically filled with fascism, racism, and a desire for Christian theocracy, and it's unlikely to change even with shifts in leadership.
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5 Lessons The Left Can Learn From Ryan Grim’s New Book, “The Squad: AOC and the Hope of a Political Revolution”

23 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Progressives Congress
  1. The Democrat establishment views progressive politicians as a bigger threat than Republicans, as seen in their actions against The Squad.
  2. Progressive politicians, like The Squad, face a steep learning curve when entering Congress without prior political experience, leading to challenges in navigating the political landscape.
  3. Progressives should not be afraid to lose, as it is important to stand by their principles even in the face of opposition and criticism.

Annotated Essay: What MLK’s “Beyond Vietnam” Speech Can Teach Us About Supporting Palestine In An Election Year

23 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social justice Foreign Policy Civil Rights Movement
  1. Dr. King's choice to speak out against injustices even at the risk of backlash can guide us in making tough decisions in current times.
  2. Criticism of foreign policies can be interconnected with domestic issues, as seen through King's analysis of the Vietnam War and its impact on anti-poverty programs.
  3. It's crucial to prioritize universal justice and values over political alliances, as staying silent on important matters can betray the core principles of movements.

Why We March

24 implied HN points • 20 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Protests Power Revolt Leaders Democratic Party
  1. Protests are not solely to change the minds of those in power, but to show the public's readiness for change and revolution.
  2. Protest holds more power than persuasion - it represents a threat with demands that challenge and potentially topple oppressive establishments.
  3. Protests exhibit subordinate power, where the masses can delegitimize rulers by withdrawing consent, potentially impacting elections and political stability.

Hey Centrists — The Left Was Right

41 implied HN points • 23 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Foreign Policy Economics Media Bipartisanship Critique
  1. Centrists often dismiss leftist viewpoints without consideration, but recent events show the left has been proven right on issues like American militarism.
  2. Recent events have validated leftists' critiques of American imperialism, such as the failure to stop Houthis in Yemen and the true motives behind military campaigns.
  3. Leftists have been proven right on issues like Israel's assault on Gaza and the cause of inflation, despite initial dismissal by centrist pundits and politicians.

“Superstore” Is A Pro-Labor Classic

22 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture TV shows Labor Rights Social Commentary
  1. Superstore is a show that portrays the struggles and realities of America's minimum wage workers, highlighting issues like low pay and being treated as expendable by corporate bosses.
  2. The character Jonah in Superstore represents the guilty white liberal, contrasting with majority-POC working-class characters who are more accustomed to exploitation. The show tackles themes like union busting and the use of undocumented workers to suppress labor rights.
  3. Superstore goes beyond the typical narrative of workplace sitcoms by delving into serious topics like exploitation, deportation threats, and the harsh realities of capitalism, making it a pro-labor classic.

A Leftist View Of Free Speech

38 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Free speech Censorship Protests Government Media
  1. Free speech is important for preventing government censorship and allowing people to speak out against atrocities.
  2. There is confusion in media about what constitutes actual violations of free speech versus private actions.
  3. True free speech is a social contract between people and the state, not a shield against criticism or unpopular opinions.

History Unknown: The American Invasion of Soviet Russia

19 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
💾 History World War I Cold War
  1. American troops invaded Soviet Russia after World War I to displace the communist government.
  2. The American intervention in Soviet Russia during World War I left a lasting impact on the Soviet people and their allies.
  3. The Allied Powers, including the United States, aided the White faction in the Russian Civil War against the Bolsheviks.

The Whitewashing of MLK

27 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Civil Rights Social justice Activism
  1. The depiction of MLK in America has been whitewashed into a moderate figure, hiding the true radical nature of his activism.
  2. Dr. King's advocacy for nonviolent protest does not mean he rejected more radical approaches like those of Malcolm X; this misrepresentation perpetuates a racist narrative.
  3. The legacy of Dr. King involves not just fighting for civil rights legislation, but also challenging systemic economic injustices, emphasizing the need for continued work in both racial and economic justice.

[Book Review] Russia: A Short History

10 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
📚 Literature History Religion Autocracy Marxism Soviet Union
  1. Abraham Ascher's book 'Russia: A Short History' effectively highlights the connection between religion, autocracy, and the shaping of Russian history, including the acceptance of autocracy in greater Russia.
  2. The book distinguishes between dictatorship and autocracy, showcasing how autocratic societies like Russia function with input from key public institutions.
  3. The author's analysis of Soviet-style communism is critiqued within the context of the historical narrative presented in the book.

Violence in Israel-Palestine Is A Choice.

26 implied HN points • 10 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Middle East Conflict resolution Colonialism Human Rights Peace negotiations
  1. The ongoing violence in Israel-Palestine is a result of choices made by the Israeli government.
  2. Historically, conflicts like the one in Israel-Palestine have been resolved when oppressors choose to end the oppression.
  3. Israel has the power to end the cycle of violence by making choices for peace, but has chosen to perpetuate the conflict.

The National Parks Service is a Successful Program that Proves Government Works Well

29 implied HN points • 26 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government programs Public Services Government funding
  1. The National Parks Service is a successful government program that shows government can work well.
  2. National Parks Service has a clear mission and funding that leads to exceeding expectations and building a better society.
  3. The NPS is effective, with high visitation rates, economic benefits, and professional services that showcase the value of government programs.

401(k)s Are Failing Americans.

29 implied HN points • 12 Sep 23
💰 Finance Retirement Savings Wealth
  1. 401(k)s are leaving many Americans unable to retire due to insufficient funds.
  2. 401(k)s were never intended to be the main retirement system but have been pushed as such by employers.
  3. The shift from pensions to 401(k)s has placed an unrealistic burden of retirement savings on individuals, leading to many people working past traditional retirement ages.

The One Weird Trick To Save Social Security!

1 implied HN point • 19 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social Security Conservatism Taxation Retirement Government programs
  1. Conservatives argue for cutting Social Security due to changing worker-to-retiree ratios and financial strain.
  2. The simple solution to save Social Security is eliminating the taxable maximum income, ensuring long-term sustainability.
  3. Eliminating the taxable maximum could generate a surplus, benefitting the program and securing it for future generations.

How The American Economy Was Centrally Planned During World War II.

22 implied HN points • 09 May 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economy Government Socialism Policy War
  1. During World War II, the American economy was centrally planned through mechanisms like the Office of Price Administration to ensure efficient distribution of resources.
  2. Despite common belief, history shows that the US government has succeeded in providing public goods and services, like putting astronauts on the moon and saving the auto industry.
  3. The successes of central planning in the past indicate that the government could use similar mechanisms today to address issues like food insecurity, healthcare, and housing.