Urgent: Block coming arms sale to Israel
19 November 2024
US citizens: call on Congress to pass Bernie Sanders's resolution to block the coming arms sale to Israel.
Urgent: Confirmation of Biden's nominated judges
19 November 2024
US citizens: call on Senator Schumer to hasten confirmation of Biden's nominated judges and regulatory officials.
Urgent: Equal Rights Amendment
19 November 2024
US citizens: phone Biden and urge him to do everything he can to publish the Equal Rights Amendment as the 28th Amendment. Call (202)456-1111 to reach the White House.
Obedience to the fascist leader
19 November 2024
What the fascist leader's choices for major government positions have in common is obedience to him.
This is a big change from 2017.
The Supreme Leader wants officials that will serve him, not their country or human rights.
Amsterdam arresting participants of peaceful protests
19 November 2024
Amsterdam is arresting people for participating in peaceful and harmless protests for Palestinians' safety and human rights.
This is due to an "emergency order" that was a response, according to the article, to violence started by Israeli soccer fans against protesters peacefully condemning Israel's violence.
Maybe an emergency order was needed, but in order to serve its purpose honestly it should have been enforced only against those who engaged in violence, not against all protesters.
Not surprisingly, the cops vented violence on the protesters supporting the rights of Palestinians.
Grocery prices helped wrecker to victory
19 November 2024
The wrecker is steadfastly determined to exacerbate the climate crisis. To keep America under the Tr…ance as the early stages of agricultural failure grow and spread will require intensified disinformation and repression.
Damage RFK Jr could do as Secretary of Health
19 November 2024
Robert Reich describes the damage that RFK Jr would be likely to do if he becomes Secretary of Health.
Global plastic production
19 November 2024
*Global plastic production must be cut to curb pollution, study says.*
Palestinians running out of food and water
19 November 2024
Palestinians in Jabaliya in northern Gaza have run out of food and water due to Israel's siege, so many of them are now forced to leave, despite the danger and hardship of that.
I suppose those who are not capable of leaving will all die.
This is ethnic cleansing, a grave crime.
Spain's floods and droughts
19 November 2024
*Spain's deadly floods and droughts are two faces of the climate crisis coin. Scientists say violent weather battering Mediterranean is a harbinger of what the rest of Europe can soon expect.*
Death of Texas woman denied of miscarriage care
19 November 2024
*Texas woman died after being denied miscarriage care due to abortion ban, report finds.*
Mississippi's firearm-related death rate
19 November 2024
*Mississippi's firearm-related death rate was nearly double that of Haiti, which is plagued by political and gang violence.*
Fire control by Australian aboriginals
19 November 2024
Australian aboriginals set fires to control the amount of shrubs, but only in some regions. In some other regions, they almost never set any fires.
Controlling large fires by setting small ones worked pretty well, but one new complicating factor is that nowadays there are is a scattering of man-made things that must not be burned — such as buildings and fields of crops.
how-i-fought-to-graduate-without-using-non-free-software.html gives more ideas, from a student who resisted very cleverly.
Surviving the broligarchy
19 November 2024
Advice for journalists, organizations and individuals about surviving under fascism while dragging your heels against its evil plans.
In particular, don't obey demands by anticipation. For instance, Anthony Albanese, the PM of Australia, is resisting pressure from Australians who want to do that.
I would add one more suggestion: if you can't refuse to obey when power demands you do evil, at least refuse to disguise it. Show explicitly that you are obeying orders, not making a decision of your own.
RFK Jr. dangerous ideas
19 November 2024
RFK Jr. promotes anti-vaccine disinformation, touts raw milk as a supposed cure (never mind that it can give you an infection), and supports conspiracy theories that demonize medicine.
Hindus and Sikhs growing tension
19 November 2024
Modhi's demonizaion of non-Hindus has extended to Canada, influencing some of the Hindus there to attack Sikhs there.
Massive gas industry expansion
19 November 2024
*Australia accused of "exporting climate destruction" on tiny Pacific neighbours with massive gas expansion plans.*
Australia is not alone in doing this, but every country doing this deserves condemnation in these clear terms.
Biden lifts ban
19 November 2024
Biden has authorized Ukraine to use long-range US missiles to attack places in Russia.
He should have done this months ago. Nuclear weapons aside, Putin attacks using every weapon he has available, in whatever ways will cause harm to someone. Even including war crimes.
Ukraine should not commit war crimes, and should not attack nuclear weapons and facilities, but aside from that it should not hold back.
For his enemies to restrain themselves in the hope that Putin will restrain himself is foolish ince Putin doesn't do that.
Vaccination decreases risk of long Covid
17 November 2024
Vaccination substantially decreases the probability that an acute Covid infection leads to long Covid that lasts for a year.
A large fraction of people suffering from long Covid are incapable of working full time, or incapable of working at all. Thus, long Covid harms the national economy as well as the individuals who have it.
Cash payment recognized as necessary
17 November 2024
Norway and Sweden have recognized that cash payment is necessary for national security reasons. Sweden plans to urge all residents to keep cash at home and use it regularly.
Hooray!
This is a response to the threat of sabotage and war from Putin. That aggression in waiting is the world's misfortune, and preparing to meet the threat is necessary. We can rejoice that the preparation will provide at least one real benefit to society even if war is avoided.
Productivity losses from mass deportation
17 November 2024
*[The wrecker's threatened mass deportation] of migrant workers would trigger productivity losses and a new round of inflationary pricing pressure.*
If he admits a comparable number of authorized migrant workers, that would not have macroeconomic consequences, but he may find it hard to reconcile that decision with the way he has demonized migrants.
If he tries to replace them with US citizen workers who will demand better wages, he is likely to cause inflation, which will make his supporters recognize one of the ways that he duped them.
I am in favor of giving farm workers a better standard of living, but doing this without causing inflation would require taxing the rich to subsidize that raise.
Measures to shift Americans' eating habits toward more healthful food in more healthful quantities could reduce the amount of food we actually need to grow. But they must not be rushed, or imposed harshly.
Two intelligence agents charged
17 November 2024
The US has recently charged two intelligence agents with crimes for separately leaking secret intelligence information to the public.
One of them, Asif Rahman, leaked information about Israel's plans for attacking Iran. That attack was to be retaliation for Iran's latest attack, which was retaliation for Israel's previous attack, which was retaliation for Iran's previous attack, and so on.
Imprisoned human rights lawyer on hunger strike
17 November 2024
Human rights lawyer Xu Zhiyong, imprisoned since 2020, is now on hunger strike, protesting mistreatment in prison and isolation from his family.
If the wrecker achieves his goals, there are likely to be imprisoned American human rights lawyers on hunger strike too.
Wrecker nominated Matt Gaetz as attorney general
17 November 2024
The wrecker nominated Matt Gaetz, a fanatical supporter for whom legal rights count for nothing, to be attorney general. There is talk that Republicans in the Senate will reject him.
If they do so, it would indicate a degree of loyalty to values other than obedience to the wrecker himself. That would be a positive change, if it happens. But I am not confident they can do so, since the wrecker will attack them for it.
The wrecker has shown a pattern of demanding outrageous things from his supporters, and mobilizing the more extreme to bully the rest into endorsing these things. (One of many examples is claiming that the 2020 election was stolen by Democrats.) I think he expects to do the same thing to them over Matt Gaetz.
Robert Reich says this nomination is a test of how loyal Republican senators are to the wrecker personally. "If [the wrecker] can get 51 votes for Gaetz, he can get a Senate majority for anything [he] wants to do."
Any red line Israel will be held to?
17 November 2024
*Is there any red line that Israel will be held to? Biden has just confirmed the answer is no.*
No matter how bad things are, they can always get worse. The hater plans to support Israel 200%. Instead of discouraging atrocities ineffectively, he will encourage them.
Guardian to stop posting on ex-Twitter
17 November 2024
The Guardian said it will no longer post on ex-Twitter. That sets a good example for everyone who ever posted on Twitter.
Project 2025 chief kicks Guardian reporter out of book event
17 November 2024
*"Go to hell": Project 2025 chief kicks Guardian reporter out of book event.*
The author who spewed that hatred may soon have a chance to join the wrecker in spewing hatred on everyone in the US who is not subservient to the latter.
Democrats rally to defeat bill canceling tax exemptions
17 November 2024
Democrats in Congress rallied to defeat the bill that would have allowed canceling the tax exemptions of organizations based on accusations with no specifics.
The injustice of that plan is fundamental. Even with a non-fascist president, it would be an intolerable attack in freedom and justice, because it would amount to "guilty of unspecified crimes unless proven innocent."
Coal and oil use continued to rise
15 November 2024
*Despite nations’ pledges at Cop28 a year ago, the burning of coal, oil and gas continued to rise in 2024.*
In other words, the planet roasters have defeated the campaign to save civilization (and your lives) from destruction.
(Satire) Oklahoma ten commandments in womb law
15 November 2024
(satire) *Oklahoma Law Requires Ten Commandments To Be Displayed In Every Womb.*
Big oil fossil fuel warning
15 November 2024
*The Air Pollution Foundation, which was primarily funded by the lobbying organization Western States Petroleum Association, publicly claimed to want to help solve the smog crisis, but was set up in large part to counter efforts at regulation.*
It was informed in 1955 of the future danger of global heating.
Australia lapsed export permits
15 November 2024
* Australia has amended or lapsed at least 16 defence-related export permits to Israel in recent weeks.*
This alone won't make Israel stop committing atrocities, but it can blaze the trail for other countries to do so.
Trump administration health policy
15 November 2024
*Why the Trump administration will be bad for [most] Americans' health.*
The exceptions will be the millionaires.
Urgent: reduce plastic production
15 November 2024
US citizens: call on World Leaders to agree on a strong treaty to reduce plastic production.
Women rejecting all men
15 November 2024
Women in several countries are responding to arrogant right-wing misogynous men by rejecting all men, for sex or for love.
In a place where abortion and birth control are restricted, it is obviously rational for women to reject penis-in-vagina sex with men (except when they seek to get pregnant). This doesn't require rejecting all lovemaking, but that is what these women are doing.
The misogynists will deserve such rejection, but what will happen to the young men who yearn for kind and tender love with a woman? They will well know that life makes that as unlikely as winning the lottery. They may join the misogynists only because no other path proclaims itself as offering any hope.
Sensitive men will see that misogyny is a path to a dead end of twisted hatred, not a path to happiness. But when they reject that path, where could they go instead? They won't see any good path -- only despair.
With women hating them sight unseen, trying to be kind and considerate won't be enough to give men an opportunity for love. Even to learn what constitutes "kind and considerate" requires feedback from someone prepared to appreciate you when you make progress, and misandrists will form a solid wall against that.
I am so sad for the men and for the women.
Israel bombing farms
15 November 2024
*Cattle, crops and ancient olive groves: Lebanon’s farmers "lose everything" to Israeli bombs.*
Republicans and abortion
15 November 2024
Republicans will try to attack abortion rights nationwide, despite their half-hearted pretense before the election.
Democrats gave up on votes of most men
14 November 2024
The Democrats gave up on the votes of most men. An advisor argues that that was a terrible mistake.
Fossil fuel deals at climate summit
14 November 2024
*Cop29 CEO filmed agreeing to facilitate fossil fuel deals at climate summit.*
I see little hope for efforts to preserve civilization and technology fro the danger of global heating, but if it is to happen, the COP conferences as they are are useless window dressing. They mainly serve the planet roasters as greenwashing.
They do provide funds for some useful conservation activities — useful, that is, supposing we do save civilization by preventing global disaster — but they won't help prevent global disaster.
Papua New Guinea has denounced the conferences as a worthless waste of time. Bravo!
If there is to be any chance of replacing this broken process with one that will work, it has to start with an ct of defiance like this one. Then other countries have to follow that lead lead.
Labour's tax increases and regulations
14 November 2024
The complaints from rich people and businesses, that Labour's tax increases and regulations will be have some deleterious effects, show that it would fix problems that vested interests don't want fixed.
In a market-based economy, any change in one variable affects many others. Pulling on one string reshapes the rest of the network a little. Some of those secondary effects are good and some are bad.
The fallacy in those arguments is that they exaggerate the significance of the bad secondary effect, inviting the reader to assume that it will outweigh the primary benefit of the action. Sometimes that does happen, but you can't take the word of the complainers for that.
Foreign political leader's fear of the wrecker
14 November 2024
Fear of the wrecker is leading foreign political leaders to try to alter their past statements.
(satire) Neuralink patient voting for Trump
14 November 2024
(satire) *Neuralink Patient Unable To Stop Hand From Voting For Trump.*
Power to strip tax exemption
14 November 2024
Republicans are trying to create the power to strip the tax exemption from any organization that officials accuse of "supporting terrorists", with no requirement to present any reason or evidence for that accusation.
The group thus attacked would get a hearing, but it is hard to refute an accusation that offers no specifics. Even worse, there may be no limits on what sort of action would constitute "support". Would "End the siege of Gaza" be construed as "support" for terrorists? I wouldn't be surprised if the bully's followers said so,
This attack on the freedom of political association in the US, this attempt to subvert the rule of law by injecting arbitrary power, illustrates the commitment of right-wing extremists to the elimination of the basic principles of human rights, such as "innocent until proven guilty."
I expect the Senate to block this bill, for the rest of this year.
Tuition fees in UK universities going up
14 November 2024
Tuition fees in UK universities are going up, and some students will need bigger loans to pay for that,
The UK student loan system is fundamentally better than the US system, because in the UK system the ex-student who has a low income does not have to repay the loan.
Why Taxation isn't theft
14 November 2024
*No it's not your money: why taxation isn't theft.* Refuting the claim that however much you can extract from the market is a measure of what you deserve.
The wrecker emboldened misogynists
14 November 2024
The wrecker has emboldened misogynists to provocatively shout their contempt for women and demand for power over them.
Some of them will act this out violently. We must expect to see an increase in rape.
"Protected" nature reserves
14 November 2024
Many "protected" nature reserves are not protected very effectively; biodiversity is declining within them, due to causes such as drilling for oil.
Global heating could also be contributing to that decline. Protecting a specific area of land won't preventing from getting hotter, and getting much wetter, much drier, getting burned to the ground, or getting flooded.
Criminalization of hostile public speech in UK
14 November 2024
On criminalization of hostile public posting and speech in the UK.
Moscow deporting anti-war Russians
14 November 2024
* Moscow is using ties with neighboring countries to deport and arrest anti-war Russians who fled after invasion of Ukraine.*
Soon the fascist may help Putin do likewise to expat Russians in the US.