Richard Stallman

Richard Stallman's Political Notes -

Democrats gave up on votes of most men - 2024-11-15T10:48:19+00:00

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 - 2024-11-15T10:48:18+00:00

*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 - 2024-11-15T10:48:18+00:00

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 - 2024-11-15T10:48:14+00:00

Fear of the wrecker is leading foreign political leaders to try to alter their past statements.

(satire) Neuralink patient voting for Trump - 2024-11-15T10:48:13+00:00

(satire) *Neuralink Patient Unable To Stop Hand From Voting For Trump.*

Power to strip tax exemption - 2024-11-15T10:48:12+00:00

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 - 2024-11-15T10:48:11+00:00

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 - 2024-11-15T10:48:10+00:00

*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 - 2024-11-15T10:48:10+00:00

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 - 2024-11-15T10:48:09+00:00

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 - 2024-11-15T10:48:08+00:00

On criminalization of hostile public posting and speech in the UK.

Moscow deporting anti-war Russians - 2024-11-15T10:48:07+00:00

* 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.

Fruitless pursuit of mythical moderate - 2024-11-15T10:48:06+00:00

*[Harris's] Fruitless Pursuit of the Mythical Moderate.* The article attributes her defeat to her failure to take an overall political position that would help struggling majority of Americans.

I emended the article title because it would be presumptuous to refer to a person I don't know by per first name.

Rep. Jayapal: *We've got to pick some big fights where people can't be in denial or question whether or not we are standing up for them or whether we're standing up to the big corporate interests," the Washington congresswoman said, adding: "It's a difficult message to send when you're trying to court money from that community."

In other words, Democrats need to become what they once were: sincere populists, defending the vital interests of the poor majority of the US, to overcome the Republican phony populists who pretend to stand for that majority by scapegoating smaller and poorer groups.

Wrecker will give Israel a 'blank check' - 2024-11-14T16:50:59+00:00

*[The wrecker] will give Israel ‘blank check’ which may mean all-out war with Iran, says ex-CIA chief.*

If that happens, it could become a nuclear war if one side starts to lose.

Evidence the bullshitter lied about Project 2025 - 2024-11-14T16:50:58+00:00

When the bullshitter said Project 2025 had nothing to do with him or his plans, we suspected he was lying as usual. Now there is evidence of this.

Rise in emissions of flights - 2024-11-14T16:50:57+00:00

*Analysis of 19m flights between 2019 and 2023 reveals 50% rise in emissions, condemned as "gratuitous waste".*

Any country can regulate private jet flights that begin in, end in, or cross that country.

Children of two unauthorized immigrants - 2024-11-14T16:50:55+00:00

The wrecker said he would wreak havoc by ordering that a child of two unauthorized immigrants no longer be considered a US citizen.

Even the Extreme Court might reject the validity of such an order; but if it were to be carried out, it would result in a vast increase in deportations of people who never knew any country but the US, to places where they don't speak the language and can never fit in.

Reason for right-wing victory - 2024-11-14T16:50:54+00:00

Arguing that the main reason for right-wing victory is the highly funded right-wing media that dominate "news" (including pseudo-news) in the US nowadays.

World's food production at risk - 2024-11-14T16:50:51+00:00

* More than half the world's food production will be at risk of failure within the next 25 years as a rapidly accelerating water crisis grips the planet, unless urgent action is taken to conserve water resources and end the destruction of the ecosystems on which our fresh water depends, experts have warned in a landmark review.*

Judge bars purging of voters - 2024-11-14T16:50:45+00:00

*US judge bars Alabama from purging thousands of voters before election.*

Change in intestinal bacteria by PFAS - 2024-11-14T16:50:43+00:00

Evidence that PFAS cause changes in intestinal bacteria.

Developer of encrypted messaging software leaves Australia - 2024-11-14T16:50:40+00:00

An Australian developer of encrypted messaging software has moved to Switzerland to escape the hostility of Australian laws, including the law that allows the state to order employees to install backdoors in servers and in released software.

Ethnic cleansing of North Gaza - 2024-11-14T16:50:38+00:00

Netanyahu announced the ethnic cleansing of North Gaza.

I must suspect that South Gaza will follow, but this is itself an enormous war crime.

Biden can redeem himself morally by voting for a Security Council resolution to order Israel to take this back, and calling for sanctions otherwise.

Amazon, Meta and Apple congratulate Trump - 2024-11-14T16:50:37+00:00

*Heads of Amazon, Meta and Apple swift to congratulate Trump as Musk celebrates and declares victory for himself.*

I boycott all of those companies, as well as Musk's companies. You can join in!

(satire) America defeated America - 2024-11-14T16:50:35+00:00

(satire) *America defeated America at the ballot box.*

Military support for Ukraine - 2024-11-14T16:50:34+00:00

People expect that the wrecker will give his pal Putin a gift by ending military support for Ukraine.

If Ukraine is weakened that way, it might be sensible for Ukraine to seek a compromise peace that would be less disastrous than fighting and losing.

However, Putin has the attitude of a cheap gangster: when a victim starts to talk about making a deal, that means perse is weak, so it is time to demand more. Putin would increase his demands to the maximum, figuring that he will get all he demands, sooner or later, whenever Ukraine can't hold a front line any more.

But what if we imagine bizarre ideas with the sort of audacity that Putin has got away with? I have a few wild ideas.

* Ukraine can attack Belarus and perhaps trigger a rebellion to overthrow the dictator, Lukashenko, who is a client of Putin. There is a chance this would free Belaris. At least, Putin might have to send a large army there, enough to interfere with the attack on Ukraine.

* Ukraine can attack Hungary and remove Orban, who is a client of Putin. Maybe Hungary's government would flip.

* The Biden can send several regiments to Ukraine, at Ukraine's invitation, then station them the way of Putin forces' advance, ordering them not to fight unless attacked. Putin will face the choice of attacking the US troops and bringing NATO into the war, or ceasing to pursue those lines of attack.

If Putin does attack them, it would be hard for the wrecker subsequently to pull the US out of the fight. He would look like a coward and a traitor if he did. He does not want to look that way.

If this does not save Ukraine, it will at least help ensure that Ukrainians can take refuge in NATO countries if their country is conquered.

Democracy in intensive care unit - 2024-11-14T16:50:32+00:00

What do you do when democracy is in the intensive care unit?

Living in Beit Iksa is like prison - 2024-11-14T16:50:29+00:00

"Living in Beit Iksa is like living in prison." The only way in or out of that Palestinian village is through an Israeli checkpoint, and if the guards see fit, they can block an ambulance from coming for you while you die.

Vaccination and aid official's car in Gaza - 2024-11-14T16:50:24+00:00

*Vaccination centre and aid official's car bombarded in Gaza, says UN.*

Right wing extremists - 2024-11-12T04:47:31+00:00

Right wing extremists aimed to sow so much chaos that the election would fail, and they could start an uprising to make the election irrelevant.

They failed this time, it seems, but perhaps since the wrecker won they decided it was time to relax.

Robert Reich:The Lesson - 2024-11-12T04:47:30+00:00

Robert Reich describes the misguided "lessons" that plutocratists want the Democrats to learn from Harris's defeat.

Trump-proofing - 2024-11-12T04:47:29+00:00

California has already prepared to resist some forms of attack and reprisal that the bully could apply arbitrarily.

Yoav Gallant - 2024-11-12T04:47:28+00:00

Netanyahu dismissed his war minister, Yoav Gallant, who then said there is no "security reason" to continue the fighting in Gaza.

He accuses Netanyahu for rejecting a deal of hostages for peace for invalid reasons.

American press survival-ism - 2024-11-12T04:47:27+00:00

Ways that the wrecker could preside over the effective elimination of the free press in the US.

One of many ways would be to follow Biden's beginning by prosecuting publishers of leaks.

A couple of years from now, serious journalism about what the US government is doing may have been forced into exile, much as serious journalism about what the Russian government, Chinese government. and many other repressive governments.

Blind woman denied benefits - 2024-11-11T22:47:11+00:00

Sending letters to blind people who cannot read them is one of many forms of idiotic careless contempt that the UK government shows to the handicapped.

I think this attitude was instilled by the Tory government's attitude.

but Labour has a responsibility is to correct it, rather than disclaim responsibility.

Trump voters want revolution - 2024-11-11T22:47:10+00:00

*[The wrecker's] voters want a revolution. It’s time for progressives to offer their own.*

*Democrats must offer more than just hope.*

Trump victory despair - 2024-11-11T22:47:09+00:00

If you ignore politics, your life may be easier for a while — until nasty policies, that you failed to fight, ruin thousands or millions of lives,

and by chance yours is one of them.

*Why Democrats Lose Even When Republicans Are So Endlessly Terrible*

Harris on immigration border - 2024-11-11T22:47:08+00:00

*Harris Ran to [The wrecker's] Right on Immigration — and Gained Absolutely Nothing For It.*

Plastic pollution analysis - 2024-11-11T22:47:08+00:00

*[Plastic] pollution is affecting the climate, biodiversity, ecosystems, ocean acidification and human health, according to analysis.*

Trump's deportation plan - 2024-11-11T22:47:07+00:00

The wrecker says he will deport all unauthorized immigrants and threatens to punish states that resist.

This must be part of the reason California is allocating funds to cope with that punishment.

If the wrecker goes ahead with this plan, then he will have to replace them with authorized immigrants, or convince millions of Americans to do the job. For that, he would have to give those workers a big raise.

Trump health coverage threatened - 2024-11-11T22:47:06+00:00

*Incoming Trump presidency threatens millions of Americans’ [medical insurance].*

Trump press freedom - 2024-11-11T22:47:05+00:00

The wrecker's threat to freedom of speech and journalism in the US.

Rebecca Solnit - 2024-11-11T22:47:04+00:00

Rebecca Solnit: *Authoritarians like Trump love fear, defeatism, surrender. Do not give them what they want.*

One important point is distinguishing hope from optimism.

Written reprimand for Ohio sheriff's lieutenant - 2024-11-11T04:47:36+00:00

* [Ohio sheriff's lieutenant] received written reprimand for posting: "If you support the Democrat Party I will not help you."

This illustrates the attitude of hostility that convinces Republicans to act as if Democrats (the majority of Americans) were enemies to be fought bitterly.

This is the bully's fault, and his strategy too. Before 2020 it would have been almost unthinkable. The bully's strategy is an attack on the unity of the United States, and his use of it makes him an enemy of the United States.

Campaigning in churches - 2024-11-11T04:47:35+00:00

*Texas House candidate campaigning in churches, in potential legal violation.*

Christian churches have long tried to disregard the law against supporting political candidates. Punishment by a slap on the wrist encourages the defiance. Since that is a systematic campaign, I think the US needs to punish this enough to make churches think twice.

I would suggest revoking the tax exemption of any church caught doing this. That will make executives of churches take care, while not making any person a martyr.

Backdrop of extreme weather and ecosystem collapse - 2024-11-11T04:47:34+00:00

* Representatives at the Cop16 summit in Colombia negotiated against a backdrop of extreme weather and ecosystem collapse.*

Tricked,threatened and driven in seatless U-Haul vans - 2024-11-11T04:47:33+00:00

* A dozen black canvassers were tricked, threatened, and driven in seatless U-Haul vans [by Musk]. They were fired after WIRED reported on their plight — some without full pay or a way back home.*

Punishment for activist in Singapore - 2024-11-11T04:47:32+00:00

[A political activist in Singapore] faces punishment after refusing to "correct" online posts criticizing Singapore’s death penalty and drug laws.

Singapore strictly represses criticism of the government.

Moldovans fought off Russian election meddling - 2024-11-11T04:47:31+00:00

*How Moldovans bravely fought off Russian election meddling — and stood up for democracy.*

If only we could say the same about the United States.

Truth seemed to be Haydn - 2024-11-11T04:47:30+00:00

The truth seemed to be Haydn for a while.