I always like it when Steve Levitsky and "How Democracies Die" gets mentioned. He's an affiliated faculty member of the research center I work for and I've gotten to work with him on several events. I totally hear Sarah's frustration in "I read it, I get it, but most people haven't" sentiment. My job is to communicate that kind of content to broader audiences....so I feel this almost every day. But let me just fangirl a little about Steve Levitsky...he's great. In my work, when we come across an academic who's really good at getting their point across to the rest of us, we love it! He can talk about this stuff in a really down to Earth way, he has no problem calling a spade a spade, and he will take definitive stands on things. Also, he's super pragmatic and he usually finds threads of "optimism" when he speaks about the tough situations we've been in. That said, when he seems spooked, we should listen. Anywho, here's him talking about his more recent book, Tyranny of the Minority, with Jon Stewart. Maybe he could be a guest??????? 😉 https://youtu.be/Yqg2tDed3ko?si=phQYqWMdl4h2eEG0
I am an Episcopalian and went to our Ash Wednesday service this evening. One of our associate priests (who is about 40 and female, which I love!) gave the sermon and talked about a project in her college class where they had to carry all their trash with them in a bag for a week. It made her mindful of what she was carrying around and how it burdened her. She said "Not all is worth carrying with us." So for Lent I'm thinking about what I can let go. A weak point for me is mindless snacking between getting home from work or extracurriculars and eating dinner, so I'm not going to eat anything during that window and do more meaningful things instead- focus on my girls, read a book, etc and I know I'll feel better spiritually and physically because I won't fill myself with junk!
Going to have a nerdy linguistic moment here. To the "is it a coup" of it all. I think part of the problem with discussions about this is that there is almost too much focus on the language. I am a firm believer that language matters, but when we saturate the conversation with terms that people don't have an integrated understanding of, it deflects the conversation. I agree in large part with Sarah's assessment that this isn't a coup in the traditional sense, but that is using the specific, official definition of a coup. If we use coup to mean overturning over the government via unlawful seizure of power, then I'd say we're in coup territory. Words only make sense in how we agree to understand them. And those agreements are not static. See the define a woman conversation largely had in bad faith by conservatives. Language is fluid and ever changing with society.
I think that getting too bogged down in language is a problem that we on the left tend to have. The "well actually" let me define this term for you doesn't always come across great. I also think that for some of these large transitions, it will take time for it to filter down. I remember asking my partner several times back in 2020 if we would know if we were in a civil war. And the answer is that we may not and it also depends on the outcome. The unrest in 2020 could have led to more conflict and that could have escalated. And in that scenario, there could definitely have been a time that we were in a "civil war" and not known it yet...and that time could have lasted months or more. From an even longer perspective, if this country does end up in a civil war (hopefully unlikely, but not impossible), there may not be a flash point as the start. In that sense, we could be in it already. People 100 years from now will know something we on the ground do not because they will know the outcome. History in the making doesn't always feel the way it gets written down.
Similarly, I think there is an issue with using the term democracy as often as we do. Yes, most of us were raised praising this democracy. But many of us simultaneously feel like our votes don't matter. I live in a district that went blue by 30%. My individual vote didn't matter. I know how important it is and of course I voted. But I get why people may not feel a personal connection to the term democracy as something to save. I think they are wrong and we may all find out the hard way. But on an intellectual level, I get it.
To me, it feels like maybe we get too bogged down in the language and the definition and lose sight of the purpose of language, which is simply to communicate. I think the things that are closing the gap in what is happening in DC and what people feel at home helps that communication. We don't have to call it a coup or cry fascism to say a bunch of people lost their jobs. Things are going to be more expensive. That the protections many of us depend on are being threatened.
I love this speech pattern Beth is increasingly using, especially when y'all first start talking about a topic: "I get X concern/problem, but Y approach is really ineffective, and I think Z approach would be better." It feels like a great demonstration of how to talk to people in our lives about issues and find common ground with those we disagree with.
On Lent - I grew up in the Evangelical church where we loosely recognized Lent, and it was largely about practicing personal self-control and using the time and energy you would normally use on something to spend more time praying, reflecting, etc. But I recently learned that the historical Church would fast or give up meals in order to give the money they would normally spend on food, or even just give the food itself, to people in need. So Lenten fasting wasn't so much about personal growth or individual spirituality, but rather about caring for the poor and less fortunate. I think that is a much more meaningful practice than just giving something up for the sake of giving it up.
I love this. I decided this year to give up Instagram but I struggled with not having this be just another New Years Resolution or self-improvement project. I wanted to give up Instagram because it has become a time suck for me and in all honesty I knew I was using Lent as an excuse for self-improvement. I decided to pair it with making an effort to reach out in some way to someone in real life- sending a letter, calling, going out for coffee. I wanted to be more than just an individual thing but how I connect more with community.
Oh, I like that! I also gave up social media and so far, I've been trying to replace the impulse to scroll in in-between times with breath prayers, but making other connections is also a good option.
That's a really good thought! I would add that the big two churches in Germany Lutheran and Catholic offer a Climate Fasting plan to reflect and act on consumption and creation care. I'm also thinking, the free time I don't spend on the socials I can use to sleep, write letters to my representatives in parliament, and be active in my community. Plus, more time for personal spirituality. I guess what I'm trying to say is that many and diverse practices can be tools to love God and neighbor.
It’s to good to hear that some Trump supporters are maybe finally finding the line they won’t cross - those I’ve heard from about this are saying “he has a master plan he hasn’t revealed yet” and “there’s more to the root causes of the war than Americans understand.” It’s maddening.
The theory of protectionism is that we will start having good paying jobs producing goods in the country like the 60s & 70s. There are many communities especially in rural America that were company towns and once the company left the whole area was gutted. This speaks to them. From economics classes in college 2 things come to mind. Argentina decided to put heavy protections in place and ended up with $300 strollers over what a free market would’ve produced. In Haiti they allowed free markets and the US dumped our surplus, subsidized cheap rice into the market. 80% of Haitians are rice farmers and could no longer sell their crops. It destroyed their economy. Picking an industry to invest, protect and grow makes sense like Biden did. Blanket tariffs will just raise prices and they didn’t even allow time for these American made production lines to be stood up. Government moves slower than industry because it has greater impacts and greater responsibility. Change management requires standing up the new process first. It’s very different in the tech world where the minimum viable product is made on a computer vs requiring physical products. Regulations slow you down but they save lives.
JD will pick a moment to have Trump found incompetent is my guess. He’ll use him to the end and won’t make it look like a coup. He’ll make it look like he’s caring for him.
Since the inauguration, my 82 yo dad, who voted for Trump three times (but Nikki Haley in the primary) has been trending down and down on Trump and everyone around him. He spent his whole career fighting the Cold War and the dressing down of Zelenskyy was his last straw. When I talked to him on Monday, he called Trump a Cheeto head, said Elon and his bunch of incels (a word I did not know he knew!) were illegally destroying the government, and that he really liked that CNN played a clip montage of all the times Zelenskyy has said thank you. He said he can’t wait for the next election to get the government back in the hands of people who want to govern, even though Democrats have made “some mistakes.” I never thought I’d see the day.
Sarah-I appreciate you and also-for the love of god please realize that most people do not travel to Europe. Most people do not leave our borders. So appealing to that is really out of touch.
I just want to say that what Sarah has that the rest of us maybe don't is knowledge of how to go to Europe without spending all your money and a flexible work schedule. She books way early. She lives in a town with a super-low cost of living. She has organized her life in a way that allows for the kind of travel she wants (her kids are not on expensive sports teams, they don't eat out, etc).
Also, it feels rude to keep this information to myself. She also knows things like there's this discount airline that flies to Paris called French Bee, and I just looked, you can fly to Paris for $177 on March 30 - this isn't their Black Friday Sale, their 'deal of the day,' or anything like that.
I know that sometimes when she talks about it on the podcast, it is super easy to think "gosh, it must be nice." But I think it's a thing where she knows seeing the world is important to her, she knows our time on Earth is finite, and come hell or high water, she's going to go.
I think Sara G's point is just that that many people don't see that sort of travel as being available to them (regardless of whether it's true or not). I can see how this argument might be useful in the neighborhood/community/social class that Sarah is part of, but very few people in my social circle (particularly those who regularly watch Fox News and are more likely to think supporting Ukraine is a waste of time) are able to travel out of the country with any regularity, if at all.
I don't think that's true for a good chunk of the population who are living paycheck to paycheck and one sick day means they start rationing food. If you don't have a car, even local travel is hard.
I think what Sara Germann is saying is using affinity for Europe as a Democratic argument isn't going to work and may even backfire as making Democrats look more elite, a problem the party already has trouble with. The median number of annual flights for Americans is 0. Most people don't/can't travel more than a couple of hours from their home in an average year. The average number of nights Americans spend in hotel per year is 3, and that number is skewed by people who spend a lot of nights. The median hovers around 1 night
Okay, I have been stuck trying to confirm that the median number of annual flights for Americans is 0 for about 30 minutes.
I realize that "median" and "average" are very different numbers mathematically and that probably most people who fly are super users. But can you tell me where you found this?
I am one of those Americans who doesn't have a current passport, so I couldn't leave the country if I wanted to (but there are a lot of really amazing places in the United States), so I still fly a couple of times a year. I can see how if you lived in the Northeast, where things are closer and trains are an option or really far from an airport, it might make more sense to drive if you were going places. But...zero???? Like, you don't even make the obligatory trip home at Christmas to see your people????
I did just read this book about work in America and how we have so few worker protections and such a culture of overwork that most people don't take the vacation days they have (and that it is shortening our life spans, making us unhappy, and subsidizing the gender pay gap). So, I am a little pre-radicalized on the idea that Americans need more leisure time (and believe in my bones that it would fix a lot of our political problems).
Also, about 80% of native born US citizens live within 90 miles of their birthplace and something like half live within 20 miles, so there is no need for flights home for the holidays. Your outlook about going home is probably influenced by being a military family. Highly educated people are also a lot more likely to live far from their birthplace. That likely describes most PP listeners
I think I originally heard it from Southwest Airlines, but have seen it several times since then. According to this website, the percentage of Americans who took a flight in a given year has risen steadily (except for 2020 and 2021) from 25% in 1977 to 49% in 2023, which would mean a median of 0 flights. https://www.airlines.org/dataset/air-travelers-in-america-annual-survey/
Okay, I'm with you. I see how 0 is still the median when 49% of people take a flight, but the median is getting very close to 1. And I want for more vacations, adventure, getting out of our comfort zone, and seeing this great big beautiful world for all of us. Budget airlines for the win!!!!
Yep, zero. The last time I flew was in 2022. I am a grad school educated married white woman. Family is within driving distance. We haven't been able to afford any vacations in the last 3 years.
This is a POLICY FAILURE. I'm not saying you have to fly anywhere.
But we are not machines. People both need and deserve time off, even if it's just time at home to read a book.
The data backs me up on this. Workers who take vacation are more productive, they are happier, they are less likely to burn out and quit. It's good for the economy. It is a win win win.
Wholeheartedly agree that it is policy failure, but the state of paid time off in this country is still a travesty: According to the Center for American Progress, 79% of private sector workers have access to paid vacation time, but “part-time employees (40 percent) and the lowest 10 percent of earners (43 percent) are roughly half as likely to have access.” So there really is a substantial group of people who can’t afford to take time off or they won’t get paid.
Last year, there were over a billion passengers who flew in the US. Again, I realize average of 3.5 flights per American is not the same as median. But...really? Zero????
Okay, so median is the middle number of a list. So, if a list is 1, 5, 6, the median is 5 (unlike average). Now as for flights, I googled "number of Americans that fly" and the Google AI kindly told me that 44 percent of Americans flew commercially in 2022. Well that means 56% didn't (hypothetically), which means in a list the 50% line is the median and that means the median is in fact zero.
I know a very large group of individuals-my former patients-who lacked heat and had dirt floors in Indianapolis. They didn’t have cars, much less the ability to fly. Obviously very disadvantaged.
I do go on vacation to Europe-maybe more than Sarah-and also know travel hacks. I am very fortunate but I live in a very small home as a trade off. I also don’t have children.
I have a friend group here that is well educated but none of them have been across the pond. It’s just not that common for most people
So much important and serious stuff in this episode and I find myself unable to not comment on the Fat Tuesday Pancakes. That just seems sad to me to only have pancakes when I grew up in Metro Detroit where we have Pączki. Maybe my brain is just filled with raspberry jelly today.
When they brought up Fat Tuesday, I was totally expecting them to talk about Mardi Gras, because that's my only association. Good music, good food, good drinks! I know it's all related to Lent and Easter, but I'm here for the party! 🎺🍹💃🎉
Lent, Ramadan, and the Baha'i Fast are all happening at the same time this year. That's a pretty rare occurrence. I'm hoping it will generate a cleansing spiritual wave around the world and will clear out some of this evil energy that is feeding off of us.
Loved this Outside Politics conversation very much! I’m Episcopal now too and we buried the Alleluia banner on Sunday just like Sarah’s church ❤️
We're seeing a total collapse of the post WWII security order and Republicans have nothing more to do than ... well what are they doing?
I always like it when Steve Levitsky and "How Democracies Die" gets mentioned. He's an affiliated faculty member of the research center I work for and I've gotten to work with him on several events. I totally hear Sarah's frustration in "I read it, I get it, but most people haven't" sentiment. My job is to communicate that kind of content to broader audiences....so I feel this almost every day. But let me just fangirl a little about Steve Levitsky...he's great. In my work, when we come across an academic who's really good at getting their point across to the rest of us, we love it! He can talk about this stuff in a really down to Earth way, he has no problem calling a spade a spade, and he will take definitive stands on things. Also, he's super pragmatic and he usually finds threads of "optimism" when he speaks about the tough situations we've been in. That said, when he seems spooked, we should listen. Anywho, here's him talking about his more recent book, Tyranny of the Minority, with Jon Stewart. Maybe he could be a guest??????? 😉 https://youtu.be/Yqg2tDed3ko?si=phQYqWMdl4h2eEG0
I am an Episcopalian and went to our Ash Wednesday service this evening. One of our associate priests (who is about 40 and female, which I love!) gave the sermon and talked about a project in her college class where they had to carry all their trash with them in a bag for a week. It made her mindful of what she was carrying around and how it burdened her. She said "Not all is worth carrying with us." So for Lent I'm thinking about what I can let go. A weak point for me is mindless snacking between getting home from work or extracurriculars and eating dinner, so I'm not going to eat anything during that window and do more meaningful things instead- focus on my girls, read a book, etc and I know I'll feel better spiritually and physically because I won't fill myself with junk!
Going to have a nerdy linguistic moment here. To the "is it a coup" of it all. I think part of the problem with discussions about this is that there is almost too much focus on the language. I am a firm believer that language matters, but when we saturate the conversation with terms that people don't have an integrated understanding of, it deflects the conversation. I agree in large part with Sarah's assessment that this isn't a coup in the traditional sense, but that is using the specific, official definition of a coup. If we use coup to mean overturning over the government via unlawful seizure of power, then I'd say we're in coup territory. Words only make sense in how we agree to understand them. And those agreements are not static. See the define a woman conversation largely had in bad faith by conservatives. Language is fluid and ever changing with society.
I think that getting too bogged down in language is a problem that we on the left tend to have. The "well actually" let me define this term for you doesn't always come across great. I also think that for some of these large transitions, it will take time for it to filter down. I remember asking my partner several times back in 2020 if we would know if we were in a civil war. And the answer is that we may not and it also depends on the outcome. The unrest in 2020 could have led to more conflict and that could have escalated. And in that scenario, there could definitely have been a time that we were in a "civil war" and not known it yet...and that time could have lasted months or more. From an even longer perspective, if this country does end up in a civil war (hopefully unlikely, but not impossible), there may not be a flash point as the start. In that sense, we could be in it already. People 100 years from now will know something we on the ground do not because they will know the outcome. History in the making doesn't always feel the way it gets written down.
Similarly, I think there is an issue with using the term democracy as often as we do. Yes, most of us were raised praising this democracy. But many of us simultaneously feel like our votes don't matter. I live in a district that went blue by 30%. My individual vote didn't matter. I know how important it is and of course I voted. But I get why people may not feel a personal connection to the term democracy as something to save. I think they are wrong and we may all find out the hard way. But on an intellectual level, I get it.
To me, it feels like maybe we get too bogged down in the language and the definition and lose sight of the purpose of language, which is simply to communicate. I think the things that are closing the gap in what is happening in DC and what people feel at home helps that communication. We don't have to call it a coup or cry fascism to say a bunch of people lost their jobs. Things are going to be more expensive. That the protections many of us depend on are being threatened.
Happy belated birthday Beth !🎂🎂
I absolutely hate that Zelenskyy is now having to backtrack and essentially bow to Trump. It sickens me.
I've been looking at Fox News regularly. It blows my mind how little coverage they've had on the tariffs and stock market 🤯
I love this speech pattern Beth is increasingly using, especially when y'all first start talking about a topic: "I get X concern/problem, but Y approach is really ineffective, and I think Z approach would be better." It feels like a great demonstration of how to talk to people in our lives about issues and find common ground with those we disagree with.
On Lent - I grew up in the Evangelical church where we loosely recognized Lent, and it was largely about practicing personal self-control and using the time and energy you would normally use on something to spend more time praying, reflecting, etc. But I recently learned that the historical Church would fast or give up meals in order to give the money they would normally spend on food, or even just give the food itself, to people in need. So Lenten fasting wasn't so much about personal growth or individual spirituality, but rather about caring for the poor and less fortunate. I think that is a much more meaningful practice than just giving something up for the sake of giving it up.
I love this. I decided this year to give up Instagram but I struggled with not having this be just another New Years Resolution or self-improvement project. I wanted to give up Instagram because it has become a time suck for me and in all honesty I knew I was using Lent as an excuse for self-improvement. I decided to pair it with making an effort to reach out in some way to someone in real life- sending a letter, calling, going out for coffee. I wanted to be more than just an individual thing but how I connect more with community.
Oh, I like that! I also gave up social media and so far, I've been trying to replace the impulse to scroll in in-between times with breath prayers, but making other connections is also a good option.
That's a really good thought! I would add that the big two churches in Germany Lutheran and Catholic offer a Climate Fasting plan to reflect and act on consumption and creation care. I'm also thinking, the free time I don't spend on the socials I can use to sleep, write letters to my representatives in parliament, and be active in my community. Plus, more time for personal spirituality. I guess what I'm trying to say is that many and diverse practices can be tools to love God and neighbor.
Now THIS speaks to me. Thank you for sharing.
It’s to good to hear that some Trump supporters are maybe finally finding the line they won’t cross - those I’ve heard from about this are saying “he has a master plan he hasn’t revealed yet” and “there’s more to the root causes of the war than Americans understand.” It’s maddening.
The theory of protectionism is that we will start having good paying jobs producing goods in the country like the 60s & 70s. There are many communities especially in rural America that were company towns and once the company left the whole area was gutted. This speaks to them. From economics classes in college 2 things come to mind. Argentina decided to put heavy protections in place and ended up with $300 strollers over what a free market would’ve produced. In Haiti they allowed free markets and the US dumped our surplus, subsidized cheap rice into the market. 80% of Haitians are rice farmers and could no longer sell their crops. It destroyed their economy. Picking an industry to invest, protect and grow makes sense like Biden did. Blanket tariffs will just raise prices and they didn’t even allow time for these American made production lines to be stood up. Government moves slower than industry because it has greater impacts and greater responsibility. Change management requires standing up the new process first. It’s very different in the tech world where the minimum viable product is made on a computer vs requiring physical products. Regulations slow you down but they save lives.
JD will pick a moment to have Trump found incompetent is my guess. He’ll use him to the end and won’t make it look like a coup. He’ll make it look like he’s caring for him.
Since the inauguration, my 82 yo dad, who voted for Trump three times (but Nikki Haley in the primary) has been trending down and down on Trump and everyone around him. He spent his whole career fighting the Cold War and the dressing down of Zelenskyy was his last straw. When I talked to him on Monday, he called Trump a Cheeto head, said Elon and his bunch of incels (a word I did not know he knew!) were illegally destroying the government, and that he really liked that CNN played a clip montage of all the times Zelenskyy has said thank you. He said he can’t wait for the next election to get the government back in the hands of people who want to govern, even though Democrats have made “some mistakes.” I never thought I’d see the day.
Woah. Curious to hear if the speech made a difference to him. -m
I finally talked to him about it today. He said he’s even more terrified (his word) of this administration after the speech.
Sarah-I appreciate you and also-for the love of god please realize that most people do not travel to Europe. Most people do not leave our borders. So appealing to that is really out of touch.
I just want to say that what Sarah has that the rest of us maybe don't is knowledge of how to go to Europe without spending all your money and a flexible work schedule. She books way early. She lives in a town with a super-low cost of living. She has organized her life in a way that allows for the kind of travel she wants (her kids are not on expensive sports teams, they don't eat out, etc).
Also, it feels rude to keep this information to myself. She also knows things like there's this discount airline that flies to Paris called French Bee, and I just looked, you can fly to Paris for $177 on March 30 - this isn't their Black Friday Sale, their 'deal of the day,' or anything like that.
https://www.frenchbee.com/
I know that sometimes when she talks about it on the podcast, it is super easy to think "gosh, it must be nice." But I think it's a thing where she knows seeing the world is important to her, she knows our time on Earth is finite, and come hell or high water, she's going to go.
Love that info about French Bee!
I think Sara G's point is just that that many people don't see that sort of travel as being available to them (regardless of whether it's true or not). I can see how this argument might be useful in the neighborhood/community/social class that Sarah is part of, but very few people in my social circle (particularly those who regularly watch Fox News and are more likely to think supporting Ukraine is a waste of time) are able to travel out of the country with any regularity, if at all.
And also, maybe most Americans don’t travel internationally, but those who do are more likely to go to Europe.
If you want to travel, you'll figure out a way. And I would submit that most Americans don't realize they can't leave, even if they want to.
I don't think that's true for a good chunk of the population who are living paycheck to paycheck and one sick day means they start rationing food. If you don't have a car, even local travel is hard.
I think what Sara Germann is saying is using affinity for Europe as a Democratic argument isn't going to work and may even backfire as making Democrats look more elite, a problem the party already has trouble with. The median number of annual flights for Americans is 0. Most people don't/can't travel more than a couple of hours from their home in an average year. The average number of nights Americans spend in hotel per year is 3, and that number is skewed by people who spend a lot of nights. The median hovers around 1 night
Okay, I have been stuck trying to confirm that the median number of annual flights for Americans is 0 for about 30 minutes.
I realize that "median" and "average" are very different numbers mathematically and that probably most people who fly are super users. But can you tell me where you found this?
I am one of those Americans who doesn't have a current passport, so I couldn't leave the country if I wanted to (but there are a lot of really amazing places in the United States), so I still fly a couple of times a year. I can see how if you lived in the Northeast, where things are closer and trains are an option or really far from an airport, it might make more sense to drive if you were going places. But...zero???? Like, you don't even make the obligatory trip home at Christmas to see your people????
I did just read this book about work in America and how we have so few worker protections and such a culture of overwork that most people don't take the vacation days they have (and that it is shortening our life spans, making us unhappy, and subsidizing the gender pay gap). So, I am a little pre-radicalized on the idea that Americans need more leisure time (and believe in my bones that it would fix a lot of our political problems).
But zero?????
Also, about 80% of native born US citizens live within 90 miles of their birthplace and something like half live within 20 miles, so there is no need for flights home for the holidays. Your outlook about going home is probably influenced by being a military family. Highly educated people are also a lot more likely to live far from their birthplace. That likely describes most PP listeners
I think I originally heard it from Southwest Airlines, but have seen it several times since then. According to this website, the percentage of Americans who took a flight in a given year has risen steadily (except for 2020 and 2021) from 25% in 1977 to 49% in 2023, which would mean a median of 0 flights. https://www.airlines.org/dataset/air-travelers-in-america-annual-survey/
Okay, I'm with you. I see how 0 is still the median when 49% of people take a flight, but the median is getting very close to 1. And I want for more vacations, adventure, getting out of our comfort zone, and seeing this great big beautiful world for all of us. Budget airlines for the win!!!!
Maggie, imma need you to get a passport before you can’t in this current environment.
I KNOW! It's been on my "list of things to do this year" for like the past 5 years.
Add it to the top of your list!!!!!
Yep, zero. The last time I flew was in 2022. I am a grad school educated married white woman. Family is within driving distance. We haven't been able to afford any vacations in the last 3 years.
This is a POLICY FAILURE. I'm not saying you have to fly anywhere.
But we are not machines. People both need and deserve time off, even if it's just time at home to read a book.
The data backs me up on this. Workers who take vacation are more productive, they are happier, they are less likely to burn out and quit. It's good for the economy. It is a win win win.
Wholeheartedly agree that it is policy failure, but the state of paid time off in this country is still a travesty: According to the Center for American Progress, 79% of private sector workers have access to paid vacation time, but “part-time employees (40 percent) and the lowest 10 percent of earners (43 percent) are roughly half as likely to have access.” So there really is a substantial group of people who can’t afford to take time off or they won’t get paid.
100% agree. And yes, SD, thank you. That was my point
Last year, there were over a billion passengers who flew in the US. Again, I realize average of 3.5 flights per American is not the same as median. But...really? Zero????
https://www.statista.com/statistics/197790/us-airline-domestic-passenger-enplanements-since-2004/
Okay, so median is the middle number of a list. So, if a list is 1, 5, 6, the median is 5 (unlike average). Now as for flights, I googled "number of Americans that fly" and the Google AI kindly told me that 44 percent of Americans flew commercially in 2022. Well that means 56% didn't (hypothetically), which means in a list the 50% line is the median and that means the median is in fact zero.
I know a very large group of individuals-my former patients-who lacked heat and had dirt floors in Indianapolis. They didn’t have cars, much less the ability to fly. Obviously very disadvantaged.
I do go on vacation to Europe-maybe more than Sarah-and also know travel hacks. I am very fortunate but I live in a very small home as a trade off. I also don’t have children.
I have a friend group here that is well educated but none of them have been across the pond. It’s just not that common for most people
So much important and serious stuff in this episode and I find myself unable to not comment on the Fat Tuesday Pancakes. That just seems sad to me to only have pancakes when I grew up in Metro Detroit where we have Pączki. Maybe my brain is just filled with raspberry jelly today.
Paczkis are one of life’s great delicacies!!!!
When they brought up Fat Tuesday, I was totally expecting them to talk about Mardi Gras, because that's my only association. Good music, good food, good drinks! I know it's all related to Lent and Easter, but I'm here for the party! 🎺🍹💃🎉
Lent, Ramadan, and the Baha'i Fast are all happening at the same time this year. That's a pretty rare occurrence. I'm hoping it will generate a cleansing spiritual wave around the world and will clear out some of this evil energy that is feeding off of us.
"a cleansing spiritual wave" - I love this
I am here for this.