Richard Stallman

Richard Stallman's Political Notes -

Urgent: Amazon labor union - 2025-12-17T10:38:36+00:00

US citizens: call on Amazon to come to the table with Amazon Labor Union.

See the instructions for how to sign this letter campaign without running any nonfree JavaScript code--not trivial, but not hard.

Advice to Americans from anti-fascist activists - 2025-12-17T10:38:36+00:00

Advice to Americans from anti-fascist activists in Hungary, Turkey and El Salvador.

Environmental damage from food and fossil fuel production - 2025-12-17T10:38:36+00:00

A UN committee reports: "Food and fossil fuel production causing $5bn of environmental damage an hour."

That is 51 trillion dollars per year.

We should not hesitate to invest trillions of dollars to end that damage. It will be a profitable investment if we invest enough.

But we should take care not to let big businesses own the results of that investment.

US military right to repair equipment - 2025-12-17T10:38:36+00:00

Plutocratist politicians are so in thrall to lobbyists that they voted to deny the US military the right to repair its own equipment.

In peacetime, the inability to make a nontrivial fix can waste taxpayers' money. In battle, it can be deadly. There may be no time to fly a repairman to a war zone; the repairman might even refuse to go.

Everyone deserves the right to repair — which is related to software freedom.

Children hospitalised in Gaza for acute malnutrition - 2025-12-17T10:38:35+00:00

*More than 9,000 children in Gaza hospitalised for acute malnutrition in October, UN says. Aid agencies say Israel is still restricting their aid shipments despite ceasefire announced two months ago.*

State of Victoria apologized to indigenous Australians - 2025-12-17T10:38:35+00:00

The State of Victoria (in Australia) has apologized to indigenous Australians for British colonization, listing a series of wrongs for which it accepts blame.

Putin applauds bully's pressure on Europe - 2025-12-17T10:38:35+00:00

Putin applauds the bully's pressure on Europe to give up defending Ukraine.

New York City's wealthiest not fleeing - 2025-12-17T10:38:35+00:00

*No, New York City's wealthiest are not fleeing the city after Mamdani's win.*

Montgomery bus boycott - 2025-12-17T10:38:35+00:00

Long-time activist Rosa Parks started the Montgomery bus boycott with a shot in the dark, no advance plan. The blacks of Montgomery had an organized and motivated community which seized the opportunity.

We need to continue trying to launch resistance against today's unjust systems, including proprietary operating systems.

The corrupter and mortgage fraud - 2025-12-17T10:38:35+00:00

The corrupter has accused couple of appointed officials of mortgage fraud because they got mortgages on two properties and described both as primary residences. It turns out that he did the same thing.

Whether this actually constitutes fraud, I don't know. Let's not follow legal advice from a habitual liar.

Climate crisis supercharged deadly storms - 2025-12-17T10:38:34+00:00

* The climate crisis supercharged the deadly storms that killed more than 1,750 people in Asia by making downpours more intense and flooding worse, scientists have reported. Monsoon rains often bring some flooding but the scientists were clear: this was "not normal".*

US captured oil tanker off Venezuela - 2025-12-17T10:38:34+00:00

The US attacked an oil tanker off Venezuela, this time capturing it rather than bombing it.

Thus, the war that the bully has threatened is now in progress.

Bully declared intention to push Europe into fascism - 2025-12-17T10:38:33+00:00

The bully has declared his intention to push Europe into fascism.

It seems that Europe must build up its strength until it can simultaneously resist both Putin and the bully.

US attacks on alleged drug boats - 2025-12-17T10:38:33+00:00

*All of the deadly US [attacks] on alleged drug boats are murders.*

Study of arrested by big UK police department - 2025-12-17T10:38:33+00:00

A study of people arrested by a big UK police department found that half of them displayed signs of possible ADHD. Perhaps better treatment of ADHD would help some of them avoid situations in which they get arrested.

Urgent: Who funded the ballroom? - 2025-12-15T22:39:01+00:00

US citizens: call on Congress to investigate the companies that have donated for the "king"'s grand ballroom.

US citizens: Join with this campaign to address this issue.

To phone your congresscritter about this, the main switchboard is +1-202-224-3121.

Please spread the word.

Urgent: Costly Medical insurance plans - 2025-12-15T22:39:00+00:00

US citizens: call on Congress to oppose high-deductible medical plans.

US citizens: Join with this campaign to address this issue.

To phone your congresscritter about this, the main switchboard is +1-202-224-3121.

Please spread the word.

Urgent: Block Big Media corporate merge - 2025-12-15T10:38:24+00:00

US citizens: call on the Department of Justice to block the takeover of Warner Bros by Netflix and/or Paramount.

US citizens: sign the petition to address this issue.

To phone your congresscritter about this, the main switchboard is +1-202-224-3121.

Please spread the word.

Urgent: Impeach Hegseth - 2025-12-15T10:38:23+00:00

US citizens: call on Congress to impeach Hegseth, the Secretary of Aggression.

See the instructions for how to sign this letter campaign without running any nonfree JavaScript code—not trivial, but not hard.

To phone your congresscritter about this, the main switchboard is +1-202-224-3121.

Please spread the word.

Urgent: Social Security data abuse - 2025-12-15T10:38:23+00:00

US citizens: Tell SSA: Don't let social security data direct the deportation thugs.

See the instructions for how to sign this letter campaign without running any nonfree JavaScript code—not trivial, but not hard.

US citizens: join this campaign.

To phone your congresscritter about this, the main switchboard is +1-202-224-3121.

Please spread the word.

Urgent: Media exposure of ongoing coup - 2025-12-15T04:38:47+00:00

US citizens: call on media to expose the bully's abuse of power as an offense against the Constitution and human rights.

US citizens: sign the petition to address this issue.

To phone your congresscritter about this, the main switchboard is +1-202-224-3121.

Please spread the word.

Urgent: Social Security operations - 2025-12-15T04:38:46+00:00

US citizens: call on Congress to protect funding for Social Security to offer in-person visits for service and administrative issues.

US citizens: sign the petition to address this issue.

To phone your congresscritter about this, the main switchboard is +1-202-224-3121.

Please spread the word.

Kier Starmer is Labour's fall guy - 2025-12-16T04:38:45+00:00

The Labour Party's right-wing plutocratist power-bloc chose Starmer as leader, but the right wing policies he put in place have inspired public revulsion. This article speculates that they are about to replace Starmer as prime minister with another right-wing Labour minister to continue pushing for the same policies.

Urgent: Exempt stroke survivors with Aphasia from work requirements - 2025-12-13T04:38:46+00:00

US citizens: Pressure Dr. Oz to Exempt Stroke Survivors with Aphasia from Work Requirements and Extend Recertification Nationwide

See the instructions for how to sign this letter campaign without running any nonfree JavaScript code--not trivial, but not hard.

Urgent: Don't legislate any abortion restrictions - 2025-12-13T04:38:46+00:00

US citizens: call on your senators: don't legislate any abortion restrictions!

See the instructions for how to sign this letter campaign without running any nonfree JavaScript code--not trivial, but not hard.

You can also phone your congresscritter and deliver the same message. The main switchboard is +1-202-224-3121.

If you message Congress please spread the word!

Urgent: Restore federal workers unionization rights - 2025-12-13T04:38:46+00:00

US citizens: phone your congresscritter to urge per to vote to restore federal workers unionization rights.

You can also phone your congresscritter and deliver the same message. The main switchboard is +1-202-224-3121.

If you message Congress please spread the word!

Urgent: Investigate Hegseth for war crimes - 2025-12-13T04:38:46+00:00

US citizens: call for Congress to investigate Hegseth for war crimes and to block war with Venezuela.

You can also phone your congresscritter and deliver the same message. The main switchboard is +1-202-224-3121.

If you message Congress please spread the word!

Urgent: Call on media companies to stand up for free speech - 2025-12-13T04:38:45+00:00

US citizens: call on media companies to stand up for free speech.

Urgent: Protect Earth from methane in the air - 2025-12-13T04:38:45+00:00

US citizens: call for protecting Earth from methane in the air, and the global heating it causes.

Urgent: Fund medical coverage for non-wealthy Americans - 2025-12-13T04:38:45+00:00

US citizens: call on Congress to vote to continue to fund medical coverage for non-wealthy Americans before it's too late.

You can also phone your congresscritter and deliver the same message. The main switchboard is +1-202-224-3121.

If you message Congress please spread the word!

US government considers abolishing payment by check - 2025-12-16T04:38:45+00:00

The US government is considering abolishing payment by check.

I use checks to pay bills that come to me with my name on them. They are morally acceptable because (1) being anonymous is not possible for those bills and (2) I can send checks without running a nonfree app or JavaScript program.

Sending credit card information on paper would also be morally acceptable in those cases; however, checks have the advantage that the bank does no find out what one paid for with a check, whereas I think credit card issuers get specifics about what one paid for with a credit card transaction. (In addition, credit card numbers are easy to use for fraud, easier than a checking account number.)

Systems for repression of people depend on data. Every kind of surveillance built into systems we use, including payment systems, facilitates repression and arbitrary, tyrannical rule.

Americans want universal healthcare - 2025-12-16T04:38:44+00:00

Americans support a universal medical system by a large margin. Even if we count only Republicans, almost 50% support it.

So why doesn't Congress enact one? I can see only one possible explanation: our corrupt system of campaign funding.

This is what makes the difference between progressive Democrats and plutocratists (of any party). The progressive Democrats try to win by advocating laws that will help non-rich Americans; the plutocratists try to avoid the issue and raise distractions.

Trump's hypocritical mortgage fraud hunt - 2025-12-16T04:38:44+00:00

*For months, [the corrupter and his magats] have been accusing [their] political enemies of mortgage fraud for claiming more than one primary residence.*

He seems to have committed such a fraud himself. *He had two mortgages he claimed were primary dwellings, records show.*

MS-13 used threats to support Trump-backed Honduran president candidate - 2025-12-16T04:38:43+00:00

The gang MS-13 used threats and intimidation to support the right-wing candidate for president of Honduras. The corrupter did the same thing using different threats.

Fort Bliss deportation thugs accused of beatings and sexual abuse - 2025-12-16T04:38:42+00:00

Deportation thugs at the Fort Bliss deportations prison have been accused of *beatings, sexual abuse and clandestine deportations of non-Mexican nationals into Mexico.*

Leader of Reform-run council's attempt to silence opposition - 2025-12-16T04:38:41+00:00

Local elected officials if Britain's magat party are trying to gag their opposition using the weak powers of local government. The results may be rather embarrassing for them.

US Park Service gratis entry - 2025-12-16T04:38:40+00:00

Magat US Park Service cancels gratis entry on Martin Luther King Day and Juneteenth, and announces gratis entry on the persecutor's birthday instead.

This reinforces the right-wing extremist position that slavery wasn't so bad, if the slaves were blacks.

Canada's environmental realism - 2025-12-15T10:38:19+00:00

*Canada's environmental "realism" looks more like surrender.*

Plutocratist's favorites refrain is, "Be realistic -- don't aim for the change that would suffice for survival."

Environmental groups demand halt to US datacenters - 2025-12-12T22:38:44+00:00

*More than 200 environmental groups demand halt to new US data centers.*

Social media damages children's ability to focus - 2025-12-12T22:38:43+00:00

*Study of 8,300 US children suggests social media may be contributing to a rise in ADHD diagnoses… [it] damages children's ability to focus.*

Risk-free childhood - 2025-12-12T22:38:43+00:00

Lenore Skenazy: risk-averse society demanded that facilities for children be designed to eliminate any identified risk.

Family of student deported to Honduras targeted by ICE agents - 2025-12-12T22:38:43+00:00

When deportation thugs grabbed Any Lucia López Belloza as she was boarding a flight to see her family in Texas, other thugs went to her family home and sought to bluff their way into it without saying why.

Whether the López family should have residency in the US is a complex question which I can't judge. I don't know all the facts, all the US laws, nor all about the asylum treaty and its interpretation. So I have no opinion about that.

However, a few things are clear. No one should ever be deported in a rush, no one should ever be deported without a careful hearing, and no one should be deported without a reasonable time to say goodbye to friends and family.

And no one should be deported based on arguments that rest on fabricated facts.

Warner Bros. Discovery Should Remain Independent - 2025-12-12T22:38:43+00:00

*Warner Bros. Discovery Should Remain Independent to Keep Film/TV Markets .*

As this instance shows, business owners generally prefer to increase their power by reducing the number of competitors -- often through mergers.

The original purpose of antitrust law was to prevent the gradual disappearance of real competition. Since the 1980s, plutocratist US politicians (including Democrats such as Bill Clinton) have undermined antitrust enforcement, and thus permitted more and more mergers, resulting in many fields which have only two competitors, or perhaps just one.

One of the things I admired about Biden was that he firmly opposed that tendency, including by appointing Lina Khan to head the Federal Trade Commission.

Robert Inlakesh's YouTube account deleted - 2025-12-12T22:38:42+00:00

Google deleted journalist Robert Inlakesh's YouTube account. The reasons it offers vary and are not credible; people suspect it was because of what he reported from Gaza.

Israel 'yellow line' new border - 2025-12-12T22:38:42+00:00

Israel has more or less admitted its intent to annex half of Gaza, the half from which it has already expelled all Palestinians -- up to the slowly advancing "yellow line".

Trump calls for release of ex-clerk guilty of Colorado election data breach - 2025-12-12T22:38:42+00:00

The underminer isn't satisfied with his outrageous practice of pardoning, for any federal crimes, whoever offers fealty to him. He wants to bully states into pardoning his servants for state crimes too.

College students affected by Trump's new tax bill - 2025-12-12T22:38:42+00:00

Magas have canceled Biden's program that allows students who took out loans, but have low income, to repay less than the face value of their loans.

That will actually make education of future students in the US more expensive.

Aside from that, there will be lower limits on how much a student can borrow. This is not necessarily a bad thing, because borrowing more than that is taking a terrible risk. We recently saw the job market for programming graduates crash because of (perhaps foolhardy) use of Imitation Intelligence. That could happen in other fields too.

Every country should fund the education of capable students. That is an investment in its future.

Arizona Representative pepper-sprayed - 2025-12-12T16:38:19+00:00

Newly elected Representative Grijalva of Arizona accuses deportation thugs of spraying her with pepper spray, and a video supports the claim, but a magat official insists that it never happened.

Uyghur brothers jailed in India without trial - 2025-12-12T16:38:16+00:00

Three Uyghur brothers have been jailed in India for 12 years, without a trial, for crossing the China-India border unknowingly since there was nothing to say it was a border.

The greatest danger to them is that India may expel them to China, which systematically brainwashes Uyghurs.