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David J. Lynch

@davidjlynch.bsky.social

Global economics correspondent for The Washington Post

568 Posts2701 Follower241 Folgt
Andy Craig@andycraig.bsky.social · last mo.

You don't often think of Coolidge as a particularly quotable president, but he had his moments.

About the Declaration there is a finality that is exceedingly restful. It is often asserted that the world has made a great deal of progress since 1776, that we have had new thoughts and new experiences which have given us a great advance over the people of that day, and that we may therefore very well discard their conclusions for something more modern. But that reasoning can not be applied to this great charter. If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final. No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions. If anyone wishes to deny their truth or their soundness, the only direction in which he can proceed historically is not forward, but backward toward the time when there was no equality, no rights of the individual, no rule of the people. Those who wish to proceed in that direction can not lay claim to progress. They are reactionary. Their ideas are not more modern, but more ancient, than those of the Revolutionary fathers.
Ira 'Bluebeard Homer' Goldman@kdbyproxy.bsky.social · last mo.

1876 – Ulysses S Grant travels to Philadelphia for America's Centennial. 1926 – Calvin Coolidge travels to Philadelphia for America's Sesquicentennial. 1976 – Gerald Ford travels to Philadelphia for America's Bicentennial. 2026 – Donald Trump travels down the Mall for America's Sestercentennial. 1/

Ulysses S Grant, in Philadelphia - “My Fellow Countrymen: It has been thought appropriate, upon this Centennial occasion, to bring together in Philadelphia, for popular inspection, specimens of our attainments in the industrial and fine arts, and in literature, science, and philosophy, as well as in the great business of agriculture and commerce. That we may the more thoroughly appreciate the excellencies and deficiencies of our achievements, and also give emphatic expression to our earnest desire to cultivate the friendship of our fellow members of the great family of nations, the enlightened agricultural, commercial, and manufacturing nations of the world have been invited to send hither corresponding specimens of their skill to exhibit, on equal terms, in friendly competition with our own. To this invitation they have generously responded: for so doing we render them our hearty thanks. The beauty and utility of the contributions will this day be submitted to your inspection by the managers of this Exposition. We are glad to know that [a] view of specimens of the skill of all nations, will afford to you unalloyed pleasure, as well as yield to you a valuable practical knowledge of so many of the remarkable results of the wonderful skill existing in enlightened communities… And now fellow citizens, I hope careful examination of what is about to be exhibited to you will not only inspire you with a profound respect for the skill and taste of our friends from other nations, but also satisfy you with the attainments made by our own people during the past one hundred years… I declare the Centennial: International Exhibition now open.” https://www.newyorkalmanack.com/2021/06/ulysses-s-grant-modern-technological-innovations/
Penny Rosenberg@pennyrosenberg.bsky.social · 3mo ago

A local progressive asked how their group can support the local paper without subscribing. I said, “You can’t.” It’s literally the one thing we need. They didn’t understand until I described it as complaining how Amazon and big boxes are ruining downtown but not shopping there.

Olivia Messer@oliviamesser.bsky.social · 3mo ago

I spend a lot of time enraged that rich progressives are too short-sighted and tightly wound to their own flawed messaging. All single races, not the long-term value of an educated public. They don’t think journalism is a good investment. @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social semafor.com/article/05/0...

Hamilton Nolan: One thing I would love to communicate to rich progressive donors is you have to fund ACTUAL JOURNALISM. All the progressive "content creators" rely on actual journalism done by journalists who are all getting laid off. Please fund journalism not just "our own kind of propaganda." Quote David Weigel @daveweigel · May 1 NEWS: The Democracy Alliance, the progressive donor network that's spent $2bn on causes/think tanks/campaigns, is directing "tens of millions" of dollars into new progressive media. https://semafor.com/article/05/01/2026/progressive-megadonors-bet-big-on-content-creators