Political notes from 2008: March - June

Urgent note: Media Concentration

Richard Stallman — 13 May 08 00:00 UT

13 May 2008 (Urgent note: Media Concentration)

US citizens: call your senators and tell them to override the FCC decision that allows more media concentration.

Urgent note: Help the Burmese

Richard Stallman — 13 May 08 00:00 UT

13 May 2008 (Urgent note: Help the Burmese)

If you want to donate aid money to help the Burmese, do it through http://www.uscampaignforburma.org.

Iraqi Prisoner Surge

Richard Stallman — 13 May 08 00:00 UT

13 May 2008 (Iraqi Prisoner Surge)

The surge of Iraqi prisoners.

Canada prosecuting for "hate speech"

Richard Stallman — 13 May 08 00:00 UT

13 May 2008 (Canada prosecuting for "hate speech")

Canada is prosecuting an author for "hate speech" for a book that apparently criticizes Muslims.

I have not seen the book, and I do not know whether I would agree with anything in it. But that is irrelevant: censorship is more dangerous than anything that a book might say.

Haitians demand return of Aristide

Richard Stallman — 13 May 08 00:00 UT

13 May 2008 (Haitians demand return of Aristide)

Haitians rioted to demand the return of kidnaped President Aristide, so his enemies fabricated accusations of murder against them.

Global warming and Koalas

Richard Stallman — 11 May 08 00:00 UT

11 May 2008 (Global warming and Koalas)

Global warming may threaten koalas.

Burmese military rulers

Richard Stallman — 11 May 08 00:00 UT

11 May 2008 (Burmese military rulers)

The Burmese military rulers have seized foreign emergency relief supplies.

They also demand payment of import duty on relief supplies. Paying this would support their regime.

I support the proposal to deliver relief supplies in defiance of their power, since they are in no way the legitimate rulers of Burma anyway. If it is necessary to defeat the Burmese army in order to do this, so much the better — then Aung San Suu Kyi could take office.

Elections in Zimbabwe

Richard Stallman — 11 May 08 00:00 UT

11 May 2008 (Elections in Zimbabwe)

Tsvangirai says he will return to Zimbabwe for a run-off election but only if international observers can make sure it is fair and free.

5 million orphans in Iraq

Richard Stallman — 11 May 08 00:00 UT

11 May 2008 (5 million orphans in Iraq)

There are 5 million orphans in Iraq, according to official statistics of the "Iraqi" government.

Expulsion of Palestinians

Richard Stallman — 11 May 08 00:00 UT

11 May 2008 (Expulsion of Palestinians)

Uri Avnery, who saw the Israeli war of independence as a participant, explains how it resulted in the expulsion of Palestinians.

Body of War

Richard Stallman — 11 May 08 00:00 UT

11 May 2008 (Body of War)

The film Body of War describes how a soldier in the Bush forces was wounded and permanently paralyzed, then became an activist for Iraq Veterans Against the War.

McCain and sex discrimination laws

Richard Stallman — 11 May 08 00:00 UT

11 May 2008 (McCain and sex discrimination laws)

When Congress tried to restore effective enforcement of sex discrimination laws, McCain did not support it.

UK employers planning a blacklist database

Richard Stallman — 11 May 08 00:00 UT

11 May 2008 (UK employers planning a blacklist database)

A number of employers in the UK are planning a blacklist database to identify anyone that has ever been accused of crimes, or other bad work habits — never mind whether they have been convicted (or even charged).

Two men took photos on a ferry boat

Richard Stallman — 11 May 08 00:00 UT

11 May 2008 (Two men took photos on a ferry boat)

Two men took photos on a ferry boat, and our paranoid police started an international search for them. It turns out they were just taking pictures, as we all do.

To suspect people of being terrorists because they take pictures is as absurd as suspecting them because they breathe. Maybe the ferry boat captain who photographed those two is a terrorist. You never know, right?

Women in the US military

Richard Stallman — 11 May 08 00:00 UT

11 May 2008 (Women in the US military)

1/3 of the women in the US military get sexually assaulted during their period of employment. Some are then murdered, and the commanders often call it "suicide".

This problem is small compared with the number of deaths of Bush forces soldiers, which is itself small compared with the number of Iraqis that the Bush forces have killed. But it parallels the general attitude of the Bush forces towards a wide range of corruption.

Unmet environmental goals

Richard Stallman — 11 May 08 00:00 UT

11 May 2008 (Unmet environmental goals)

The Clown regime seems likely to miss half its stated environmental goals, and these are concentrated especially in the area of global warming.

Total power over execution of a program

Richard Stallman — 11 May 08 00:00 UT

11 May 2008 (Total power over execution of a program)

The EFF is fighting an attempt to twist copyright law to give the software developer total power over execution of the program.

Victory in this case will not eliminate the practice of restricting how users run proprietary programs. It will only limit the developers to using contracts as the means. This will not make users free. If you want freedom, you must reject proprietary software and use free software .

Even as the EFF fights this attempt to stretch copyright power, it perhaps unwittingly encourages future such attempts, through its use of the term "intellectual property" to describe copyright.

That propaganda term is biased: it gives people the wrong idea of the basis for thinking about copyright issues. In addition, it is confusing: it encourages people to conflate copyright with other totally different laws that raise different issues.

See http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/not-ipr.html for more explanation.

Using that term in this article was totally gratuitous. Avoiding it would have been trivial.

The EFF ought to stop using that propaganda term, and teach other people to reject it too.

Al Qa'ida in Iraq leader arrested

Richard Stallman — 11 May 08 00:00 UT

11 May 2008 (Al Qa'ida in Iraq leader arrested)

Iraqi Bush forces have arrested the leader of Al Qa'ida in Iraq.

Someone else will replace him, as he replaced the previous leader. This will not eliminate that organization. Bush's only chance to do that was in 2003: all he had to do was not invade Iraq.

Fighting in Beirut

Richard Stallman — 11 May 08 00:00 UT

11 May 2008 (Fighting in Beirut)

Shi'ites and Sunnis are fighting in Beirut.

There is a danger this will restart the civil war.

Calling for harrassment of suspects

Richard Stallman — 11 May 08 00:00 UT

11 May 2008 (Calling for harrassment of suspects)

In the UK, the Minister of Police Power calls for harrassment of suspects.

ASBOs mean that the local authorities can order people to stop doing literally anything they don't like. If the victims don't obey the order, they can be imprisoned, if if the activity is not a crime at all.

This is obviously unjust, but not very effective at deterring unruly teenagers, who consider the ASBOs a badge of honor. So now the Minister of Police Power calls for further nastiness.

Eliminating poverty

Richard Stallman — 09 May 08 00:00 UT

09 May 2008 (Eliminating poverty)

The latest thing for governments that say they want to eliminate poverty is to ask the megacorporations that run the sweatshops to expand their operations.

At the base of this absurd idea is Reagonomics and trickle-down, but they have stopped explicitly arguing for that. Instead they take it for granted.

Marijuana in UK

Richard Stallman — 09 May 08 00:00 UT

09 May 2008 (Marijuana in UK)

Marijuana use in the UK is falling, but the Clown regime wants to increase penalties so as to look "tough on drugs".

ACLU and EFF forces FBI back

Richard Stallman — 09 May 08 00:00 UT

09 May 2008 (ACLU and EFF forces FBI back)

The ACLU and EFF made the FBI back down from using the U SAP AT RIOT act to search library records.

We know that the FBI has often violated even the lax rules of the U SAP AT RIOT act.

But let's not confuse "violating the rules" with "unjust". The power to search without even a court order is fundamentally unjust. The U SAP AT RIOT act must be eliminated.

Urgent note

Richard Stallman — 09 May 08 00:00 UT

09 May 2008 (Urgent note)

US citizens: phone your congresscritter and say, " No compromise with Bush on FISA. Defend our freedom; don't increase Big Brother's spy powers, which are already too much, and don't let the phone companies off the hook for their illegal spying."

Environmental disaster

Richard Stallman — 09 May 08 00:00 UT

09 May 2008 (Environmental disaster)

Small changes in how we live are not enough to avert environmental disaster.

Cow meat

Richard Stallman — 09 May 08 00:00 UT

09 May 2008 (Cow meat)

The USDA refuses to ban the use of meat from very sick cows even though agribusiness is asking for this.

New York Times spreads propaganda

Richard Stallman — 09 May 08 00:00 UT

09 May 2008 (New York Times spreads propaganda)

The New York Times is spreading propaganda for attacking Iran, just as it spread propaganda for attacking Iraq in 2002.

Pentagon scandal

Richard Stallman — 09 May 08 00:00 UT

09 May 2008 (Pentagon scandal)

US TV stations that were platforms for the Pentagon's propaganda "military experts" have still said nothing about the issue.

NPR intends to keep using its Pentagon "expert".

Egypt in trouble

Richard Stallman — 09 May 08 00:00 UT

09 May 2008 (Egypt in trouble)

Rising sea level threatens Alexandria and is destroying Egyptian farmland with salt.

Melting glaciers

Richard Stallman — 09 May 08 00:00 UT

09 May 2008 (Melting glaciers)

Due to global warming, glaciers are melting earlier, so the water is not available when needed for agriculture.

Justification for allowing Chinese police into London

Richard Stallman — 08 May 08 00:00 UT

08 May 2008 (Justification for allowing Chinese police into London)

A UK police official justified allowing Chinese police into London because otherwise China would have sent the Olympic torch through another city. And he excused them for punching protestors because it was a "natural reaction" to possibly "losing face".

Does he believe that people in general are allowed to punch protestors that make them lose face? Or is this a special privilege for Chinese thugs only?

A principled UK government would have told China to take its thugs elsewhere. But the Clown organization is not known for principle.

Sick-o squared

Richard Stallman — 08 May 08 00:00 UT

08 May 2008 (Sick-o squared)

The recession has turned Sick-o into Sick-o squared.

Polish police attack and arrest protesters

Richard Stallman — 08 May 08 00:00 UT

08 May 2008 (Polish police attack and arrest protesters)

Polish police attacked and arrested protesters when they were sleeping, after the protest, then made various obviously dishonest excuses for it.

Food price riots in Somolia

Richard Stallman — 08 May 08 00:00 UT

08 May 2008 (Food price riots in Somolia)

There were riots in Somalia over food prices.

I think there is something more going on. The article talks of "old 1000-shilling notes." I wonder whether the US-imposed regime that controls Mogadishu has caused hyperinflation, or tried for other reasons to replace the currency.

DNA database of everyone in the US

Richard Stallman — 08 May 08 00:00 UT

08 May 2008 (DNA database of everyone in the US)

The US has started constructing a DNA database of everyone in the US. It is being done gradually: only for newborn babies, who are too young to defend their rights.

US citizens should go to another country to have babies.

All the surveillance cameras in London

Richard Stallman — 08 May 08 00:00 UT

08 May 2008 (All the surveillance cameras in London)

All the surveillance cameras in London have had almost no effect on street crime, even though that is supposed to be their purpose. The authorities say, "It will work, once our surveillance goes deeper."

They also would like us to assume that the system is safe as long as access is limited to "authorized" people. But that does nothing to protect Britons from the worst threat: Big Brother.

Since the B'liar regime used "anti-terror" laws to sabotage protests, do you believe that the Clown regime won't use CCTV to find and sabotage opposition if it ever works well enough?

Santa Cruz, Bolivia declares autonomy

Richard Stallman — 08 May 08 00:00 UT

08 May 2008 (Santa Cruz, Bolivia declares autonomy)

The state of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, voted for and declared "autonomy" but not secession.

The state powers described in this article do not seem controversial to me, since in the US every state has them. At the same time, I suspect that foreign oil companies have something to do with this, and that somehow it is a scheme to keep the oil revenues in their own hands.

I hope that the Democracy Center will provide a useful analysis of this.

Members of the African National Conference

Richard Stallman — 08 May 08 00:00 UT

08 May 2008 (Members of the African National Conference)

Many members of the African National Conference, including Nelson Mandela, are on the US "terrorist" watch list and need waivers to visit the US.

This is not the only way the US is nasty to foreigners. It takes fingerprints of them when they enter the country, and for that reason alone everyone should stay away from the US if possible.

It certainly is right to remove the heroes of the fight against apartheid from this list. However, it sounds like this is just an example of a broader problem. If even the Secretary of State cannot get them removed, something very strange must be responsible. Does anyone know what?

Maybe someone in Rep. Berman's district can ask him what it is.

Corrupt system of contractors

Richard Stallman — 08 May 08 00:00 UT

08 May 2008 (Corrupt system of contractors)

Bush's corrupt system of contractors in Iraq repeatedly kills Bush forces soldiers.

Faith in the invisible hand

Richard Stallman — 08 May 08 00:00 UT

08 May 2008 (Faith in the invisible hand)

According to George Soros, the financial crisis is partly due to right-wing ideology. Markets are unstable, and government intervention is periodically necessary for them to work well for society. But the US government regulators came to believe right-wing propaganda telling them to place their faith in the invisible hand.

National ID cards and fingerprints

Richard Stallman — 07 May 08 00:00 UT

07 May 2008 (National ID cards and fingerprints)

A South African woman is in difficulties because she cannot get a national ID card. It requires a fingerprint, but she has no fingers.

To require citizens to give the government their fingerprints for ordinary life activities is unjust even if they do have fingers. National ID cards should be abolished everywhere.

Sending a fleet to the Caribbean

Richard Stallman — 07 May 08 00:00 UT

07 May 2008 (Sending a fleet to the Caribbean)

The Bush regime is sending a fleet to the Caribbean as a threat to invade countries there.

They are fortunate that the US army has been sufficiently worn down in Iraq that it could not occupy a substantial country against determined Iraq-style resistance.

Made to kneel to a US flag

Richard Stallman — 07 May 08 00:00 UT

07 May 2008 (Made to kneel to a US flag)

An Iraqi man, imprisoned for a year but never tried, was made to kneel for two hours to a US flag. Wonder of wonders, he now hates Americans.

The US owes him, and all Iraqis, an apology.

Mugabe

Richard Stallman — 06 May 08 00:00 UT

06 May 2008 (Mugabe)

Mugabe's run-off, which gives him a second chance to threaten voters, may be delayed for up to a year — meaning yet more chance to do so.

Shark attacks

Richard Stallman — 06 May 08 00:00 UT

06 May 2008 (Shark attacks)

Shark attacks against humans are increasing; is it due to human destruction of their food sources?

The theory that it is due to more people spending more time in the water does not hold water, because that is a gradual trend.

Iraqi government denies Iran supports Mahdi Army

Richard Stallman — 06 May 08 00:00 UT

06 May 2008 (Iraqi government denies Iran supports Mahdi Army)

Bush's Iraqi government denies that Iran is supporting the Mahdi Army. Evidently Bush's control over it is not complete.

Bush wants an excuse to attack Iran. The Shi'ite SCIRI party that controls the Iraqi government is quite friendly with Iran. They both would like to destroy the Mahdi Army, but for different reasons.

For KBR, Iraq is anarchy

Richard Stallman — 06 May 08 00:00 UT

06 May 2008 (For KBR, Iraq is anarchy)

For KBR, Iraq is anarchy. Its staff take advantage of this by operating the most outrageous rackets, such as looting, and selling the Bush forces' weapons. The local managers support the rackets and punish anyone that tells about them, which I suspect means they are getting a share.

Folklore has it that military quartermasters, soldiers in charge of supplies, also frequently sold those supplies. But I doubt that the US Army gave dishonorable discharges to soldiers who reported such crimes.

Mortgage crisis fueled by fraud

Richard Stallman — 05 May 08 00:00 UT

05 May 2008 (Mortgage crisis fueled by fraud)

The mortgage crisis was fueled by fraud in which all kinds of participants connived.

Fraud is wrong, but I think that the responsibility of individuals for this kind fo fraud is diminished by the fact that they were invited and encouraged by the institutions that they were supposedly defrauding. It would be legitimate to prosecute those who provably committed fraud in exceptional degree, but we must hold the institutions (ultimately the government) responsible for the overall problem.

O'Connor: end election of judges

Richard Stallman — 05 May 08 00:00 UT

05 May 2008 (O'Connor: end election of judges)

Retired Justice O'Connor is campaigning to end election of judges, because it gives the rich a way to corrupt them.

Midwest EPA chief fired

Richard Stallman — 05 May 08 00:00 UT

05 May 2008 (Midwest EPA chief fired)

As part of Bush's War on Integrity, the EPA chief for the Midwest has been fired for doing her job.

The local Chamber of Commerce has been corrupted too. That's not news, it's standard practice, but it's important to see how it happens. Their reasoning is, "For the sake of local jobs, let the employers pollute." If everyone accepts that, we won't have more jobs, but we will have a lot more pollution.

Sun Myung Moon

Richard Stallman — 05 May 08 00:00 UT

05 May 2008 (Sun Myung Moon)

Why is Obama's connection with Rev. Wright treated as a scandal, while Bush's connection with Sun Myung Moon is not?

If you buy Parry's book, please don't get it from Amazon, maker of the Swindle(DefectiveByDesign.org).

New Cold War

Richard Stallman — 05 May 08 00:00 UT

05 May 2008 (New Cold War)

Rather than conserve oil, Bush is launching a new Cold War against Russia and China for control of the dwindling supplies.

McCain has similar ideas.

Unlike the first Cold War, in which countries that respected human rights most of the time opposed Communist dictatorships, this will be a contest between two groups of brutal tyrants, both of which deserve the opposition of all people of good will.

I think these evil regimes will use this Cold War as an excuse to become even worse. Both sides will sponsor terrorists to attack the other side, and then both sides will use the "terrorist threat" as an excuse to further trample the human rights of their people.

If the US apologizes to the people of Iraq for conquering and destroying their country, and to the people of Iran for overthrowing their democracy in 1954, it would go a great way to reducing the desire of Islamic extremists to practice terrorism against the US. And if the US cooperates with Russia and China to develop alternative energy sources instead of starting another Cold War, they won't be victims of each other's terrorism. That is the way to be safe.

Uri Avnery on Israel

Richard Stallman — 04 May 08 00:00 UT

04 May 2008 (Uri Avnery on Israel)

Uri Avnery contrasts Israel's independence and the Palestinians' catastrophe.

Iraqi militias

Richard Stallman — 04 May 08 00:00 UT

04 May 2008 (Iraqi militias)

Will the Iraqi militias that Bush is paying turn around and become enemies of the US?

I think they will not follow a path like that of Al Qa'ida, because they are not idealistic enough to care. But they are likely to prove unreliable allies.