CAN AMERICAN COURTS STOP THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE?

What Other Nations Are Being Paid to Kill Our Planet?

Can the following post on Substack possibly be real? I don’t know, but I’m betting on YES! Otherwise I would not be reblogging it.

My problem is, all I have are questions — and the biggest one is, What can we, the little people of the world, do about it? Suggestions can be made in the comments section, along with readers’ reactions to this shocking, but not unexpected, revelation.

https://heated.world/p/big-oil-is-quietly-paying-state-legal?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=2473&post_id=143451958&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1dq390&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

Unfortunately, this post shows why I hate most Substack blogs, the only readers who can comment directly on this Substack post are paid subscribers, and we the little people of the world are held voiceless — as if our thoughts, ideas, and suggestions are beneath the notice of those who can afford to support Substack bloggers. But that’s my problem, I guess. I refuse to pay for what should be free to everyone, no matter their life circumstances!

FROM REICH THROUGH MITCHELL TO YOU — TALLYING THE SCORE

Are this post and my previous post a coincidence? Probably. But Trump would see it as a conspiracy — a witch hunt — if he ever read it. It’s not a witch hunt, and it shouldn’t be, but it should be a real witch hunt — finding the real witch in the briar patch.

This post is partly a reblog of an old Reich post — with added commentary and more. It really needs to be updated, but I think you will know what those updates should be. It is a bit long, but it has to be — it is a list of some of Trump’s broken promises while pretending to be 45 of the people.

With Mitchell’s additions, this post should be a blueprint leading to barring Trump from ever getting re-elected. Let’s hope it at least succeeds in inspiring the majority of Americans to vote against him, and gives Biden a working majority in both houses of Congress at the same time.

No need to try to keep score, the tally is overwhelming!

http://mythfighter.com/2024/03/12/habituation-the-secret-to-not-being-shocked

FROM BERNIE THROUGH BLOCK TO YOU — SCARE TACTICS OR HONEST FEAR?

Yes, I have been reblogging a lot lately, but hopefully after my coming bowel surgery in April, and my partner continuing to heal from her knee replacement surgery last October — her improvement is taking longer than expected — I will get back to posting me in the near future. But of course, one never knows…

Ted Block is a member, I believe a card-carrying member, of the National Democratic Party, and Bernie Sanders is a fund raiser for said party. Here is the letter Bernie sent to Theodore to help convince him to help — as if Ted needed convincing:

The dangers of another Trump term: If you don’t believe me, believe Bernie!

AN OLDIE, BUT A GOODIE!

A MAGAt, Before There Were MAGAts

This speaks for itself.

This cartoon is Halal certified…

A QUICK (?) FOLLOW-UP TO MY MARCH 2nd POST

The Poor People’s March on State Capitols

I just wanted to give you an update on what happened with the Poor People’s March on March 2nd. There are a number of videos on the internet, some from news agencies, some from the Poor People’s Campaign, some just from participants or observers.

I was in a quandary which one to pick until I came across a newscast from Alabama. The story on the march lasted only 1:48 (including a very short commercial), but after it was over there was another commercial and another story, and yet more stories, most of them human interest.

Two I enjoyed were about animals. The first was about a dog who works at a dentist office, and the second was about a lonely pig looking for friendship — but not just any pig, a 450 lb. pig!

The March story is the only relevant one, but then the fun begins. I didn’t watch it to the end, so I don’t know how long it goes on, but I watched about 10 minutes or so. It was worth it, though the quick commercials are annoying.

https://www.mysuncoast.com/video/2024/03/03/alabama-poor-peoples-campaign-holds-rally-downtown-montgomery/

Let me know what you think.

SOME BITING POLITICAL CARTOONS

Most of you have already seen these cartoons on Filosofa’s Word, so I won’t mind if you don’t hang around. But just in case you are not a reader of her blog, I thought you might want to see them — if you haven’t seen them elsewhere.

I thought a few of them were particularly biting — over the top sarcastic, if I may.

I hope you enjoy them…

Rollin’ Out More ‘Toons …

FROM BLOCK TO A BUNCH OF BLOCKHEADS

A Reminder to All Good Americans

Ted Block says it all. I cannot improve on this. I can only agree, and hope you see fit to reblog it too.

Einstein, the Bomb and Trump

THE DAY THE WORLD STOOD UP! MARCH 2ND, 2024

The March to Power

I cannot say anything more about what will happen in the United States of America tomorrow, and for the next 42 weeks. (March 3rd in the eastern parts of the world.) Let this day be known forever as The Day the World Stood Up!

What I can say is, don’t think something similar is not needed in every nation on this planet Earth. For a long time, the poor people of the world have had no power. That is about to change!

So help make change. Start a Poor People’s Campaign where you live. Get in touch with the American chapter, learn from them, and use the learning to help the greatest majority of people on this Earth. Please! Be amazed at what you can do if you just get up off your ass!

(There is an hour long video attached to this post. Watch it all if you can, but if not, watch the first ten minutes, and let them inspire you to action!)

The (Realistic) Plan to Inspire the Poorest Americans to Save Our Democracy by Saving Themselves

PRESIDENT BIDEN VS PRESIDENT TRUMP — A CONSTRAST IN SUCCESSES

The information in this post is a direct steal from a February 18, 2024 post by Rodger Malcolm Mitchell entitled There goes the last Republican talking point. Why aren’t I reblogging this post? Because I found it long and rambling, and distracting from the infomation I am reproducing. I am not plagiarizing, just so you know. Mr. Mitchell gets all the credit. I’m just cherry-picking, for once in my life…

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Donald Trump’s accomplishments in office pale compared to Biden’s three years. Despite fighting Republicans, who have been devoted to stopping anything the Democrats propose, Biden has had a remarkably good term.

SIGNIFICANT BILLS BIDEN HAS PASSED IN 3+ YEARS

1. American Rescue Plan Act: A $1.9 trillion stimulus package aimed at addressing the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes provisions for direct payments, unemployment benefits, child tax credits, and funding for vaccine distribution.

2. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: A $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill that focuses on improving physical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, broadband, and public transit.

3. For the People Act of 2021: This bill aims to expand Americans’ access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, and strengthen ethics rules for public servants.

4. COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act: This bipartisan legislation addresses the rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans during the pandemic. It aims to improve reporting and response mechanisms.

5. Juneteenth National Independence Day Act: Designated June 19th as a federal holiday to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.

6. Emergency Temporary Standard for COVID-19 Workplace Safety: Issued by OSHA to protect workers from COVID-19 exposure in certain industries.

7. Climate Executive Orders: President Biden signed several executive orders addressing climate change, rejoining the Paris Agreement, and promoting clean energy initiatives.

8. High-Tech Funding and NATO Expansion Bills: President Biden signed two bipartisan bills into law. One bill provides funding for high-tech initiatives, and the other adds Sweden and Finland to NATO.

9. Medicare Drug Price Negotiation: For the first time, Medicare can negotiate the price of certain high-cost drugs. Additionally, a month’s supply of insulin for seniors is capped at $35, and seniors’ out-of-pocket expenses at the pharmacy are capped at $2,000 a year.

This is not an exhaustive list but highlights some significant legislative actions the Biden Administration took.

While Trump passed many bills, most were narrowly focused and of minimal significance to America. Most of Trump’s bills aimed to undo bills signed by Obama, a Trump fixation that continues.

SIGNIFICANT BILLS TRUMP PASSED IN 4 YEARS

1. The CARES Act was a stimulus package passed by Congress in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It helped provide direct cash payments and tax rebates to households, especially those with low income and children, support small businesses and workers through forgivable loans and increased unemployment benefits.

2. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act aimed to simplify the tax code, reduce tax rates for wealthy individuals and corporations, and stimulate economic growth.

3. First Step Act: President Trump signed a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill, the First Step Act, into law in 2018. It aimed to reduce recidivism, improve prison conditions, and provide opportunities for rehabilitation and reentry for incarcerated individuals.

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Mr. Mitchell went on (and on) from there, but, being non-American, I got bored. If you really want to read it, it can be found at: https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/7132079/posts/5123477002

Don’t let my feelings stop you.

My reason for reproducing this information? If any readers in America are not sure who they will vote for in November, and these are their choices on the ballot, I want them to see in print the accomplishments of the people they will be voting for. One is productive, and cares about the regular citizens of the USA. The other, well, he’s kind of an idiot, though he tells us he is the smartest man in the world…

GO PANAMA GO!!! AND KICK SOME FIRST QUANTUM MINERALS ASS!

There is a war of protest going on in Panama against a mining company that is destroying the Panamanian rainforest, poisoning the water, and impoverishing the Panamanian people, and I thought you might like to know about it.

I was so angry I sent the following email to the Employment Department of First Quantum Minerals. I didn’t word it very well I am sorry to say, I wrote it with passion and anger and disbelief that people care more about having good-paying jobs working for a murdering corporation than they do about the people and country they are helping destroy!

I want a job as a protest breaker in Panama so I can shoot Panamanians in cold blood, without caring one damn about the unhuman families of those who die. They’re just a bunch of animals anyway, trying to get in the way of Capitalist Fuckheads who have no hearts! Boy am I ever glad you are besmirching the name of Canada and Canadians. I hope you all are proud of yourselves for working for a bunch of lying thieves and murderers!

Wow! I did that? Little old me? I even signed with my real name and actual email address hoping they get back to me.

So what set me off? Last night I watched a news show on Canada’s The Fifth Estate about First Quantum Minerals which purports to be a Canadian company and gets support from the Canadian government, even though in this huge world-wide company they do no actual business in Canada, pay no Canadian taxes, and employ a total of 25 Canadians. This does not sound very Canadian to me, and I am thoroughly ashamed by my government for being involved in promoting this company, possibly even spending good Canadian dollars to uphold a company who does not care if it destoys an entire nation!

Here is the YouTube address for the news program: https://youtu.be/tbKxAekIn_g?feature=shared

I do not expect anyone to watch the whole program, it is probably 40 to 45 minutes long, unless they added the commercials — then it is close to an hour. But while I do not expect anyone to watch the entire show, I hope you do. It is very well done, and it lets the viewer take in the information without actively encouraging us to hate First Quantum Minerals, although if you are human you should hate it.

i’ll leave this here, so as not to influence you more than I already have. But I will be more than willing to have discussions in the Comment section below. I do hope you are moved to comment.

AN AMERICAN WITH NO BALLS SPEAKS OUT

Because SHE has more BALLS than any American Male I Know

Susan Taylor, affectionately known as Siouxsie, of ClearingSpace4Joy took the time today to speak honestly, and from the heart about the nation she calls home. She is not saying anything non-Americans don’t already know, and a lot of Americans might say if they were to speak their heart — but don’t.

I have nothing but respect for Siouxsie, but today that respect went higher than I thought it could go.

Thank you, Ms Taylor, for this honest look at the nation called the United States of America. I am honoured to be able to reblog this post for you.

Loyal to the Idea and Intention of our Country

BIGGER THAN BLACK HISTORY MONTH — A HISTORY LESSON FOR THE AGES

Please read. Please watch the videos. Please enjoy.

Places, Everyone!…Venue #4/50: The Apollo Theatre in New York City

DONALD “ADOLPHE” TRUMP AND NAZI-AMERICA

The “Unbraining” of America

Rodger Malcolm Mitchell has written a must-read condemnation of Donald Trump and the Republican Party of America. It takes a just few extra minutes to read than a regular post, but the time is well worth the effort.

Please read on:

As America begins its descent into hell.

THE TRUTH

And Nothing But The Truth

So far so bad

BLACK PUMAS

My internet music friend Tom McInnes turned me on to this group, but before I send you to his website I want to play a song for you by the group he is featuring today. Why? Because I want you to hear them before you read about them. Listen to this song a time or two — while it is relatively new, it takes me back to an earlier time, when Soul was just becoming popular. To me that time was a whole new revelation of voice as a musical instrument.

If you have not heard this band before, I hope you will be pleasantly surprised. I certainly was, though I almost didn’t listen to them. You’ll understand why after you read Tom’s post. I was afraid it would not be my kind of music.

I was wrong.

If you like this music, read on. If you don’t, well, I feel for you…

Reader’s Choice/Tom’s Top Tunes…Song #43/250: Colors by Black Pumas

You can find more Black Pumas’ music on YouTube, including a number of live concerts. Please, enjoy.

Just by the way, my favourite singer, in case you don’t know, is Eric Burdon. With this singer’s name being Eric Burton, how could he go wrong…

THIS MADE ME SMILE!

Weather report

HOUSING FIRST — Self-Improvement Starts with a Home

With Some Thoughts From an Once-Homeless Person

I remember my youth after I left home at the age of 16. While I was still going to school my best friend’s parents let me live with them, but when I dropped out after a teacher who did not like me screwed me out of graduation, I had my new home taken away from me too.

I ended up standing on a highway and sticking out my thumb. I left the only city I had ever known and set out with nothing but the clothes on my back.

When I ran out of highway I was in Vancouver, B.C. I didn’t know a soul, and I had no idea where in the city I should go. I ended up living on the streets, panhandling for meals and cigarettes (ugh what a horrible habit that I kicked cold turkey one day and never looked back!), doing odd jobs under the table, and eventually turning to certain criminal activities for which I served my time.

How would things have turned out if what is happening in Finland now was happening way back then? I’ll never know, of course. But my respect goes out to Finland for even trying this idea and proving it works. Now we need other democracies to take heed. Homeless people are not animals to be treated like shit and disrespected. Homeless people are made, we are not (usually) born that way. Society has to accept blame for failing them, and start giving them the boost they need to make something of themselves.

On this eve of New Year’s Eve, I beseech you to open your hearts snd minds, and help a homeless person. What a wonderful world it would be for someone who is near the rock bottom of their lives.

I thank Andrea (acflory) over at Meeka’s Mind for her post and the accompanying video.

Finland shows that homelessness is NOT inevitable

SWSSHA #2 — THE TROGGS

Songs We So Seldom Hear Anymore

I had plans to do another band for my second SWSSHA post, but I woke up this morning with a song in my head, and here we are. But I am rushed for time today, so I won’t be going into much detail. Except for one you probably know all these songs, but the one you don’t know is going to have a familiar feel to it. Let’s see if anyone can tell me why.

This was the first single release by The Troggs. It went nowhere! https://youtu.be/WqJQFiJQOMM?feature=shared

The second song you all know. It hit #1 on Billboard, though it only got to #2 in the United Kingdom. A famous cover was played at the Monterey Pop Festival by The Jimi Hendrix Experience as Jimi lit his world on fire. https://youtu.be/xtLZ7Ygowvo?feature=shared

Next we have a song that didn’t quite make it on its own in North America but topped the charts in the UK. This song had originally been released in the US as a double-sided hit with Wild Thing, but Billboard only listed Wild Thing which hit #1 on July 30, 1966. Likely when it was later re-released as a single in North America it had already had all kinds of airplay : https://youtu.be/G-M3nozRfjs?feature=shared As a re-release in North America, it only hit #16 in Canada, and only #29 in America. Go figure

The Troggs’ third song to hit the charts did not do as well as the previous two, but I am sure you will all remember it anyway. https://youtu.be/ARtFd9NB1fY?feature=shared

For reasons particular to me I am skipping the next number of releases and jumping to their last big worldwide chart hit. https://youtu.be/8jj9Vld1BvM?feature=shared

Though The Troggs disappeared from most of the rest of the world, they kept releasing songs in the United Kingdom until 1998. Considering their popularity, this really surprises me. (They did hit Billboard one more time, in 1973, with a cover of The Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations, but it only got to #102.)

I do apologize for the brevity of this post, the lack of further information, but Gail is calling me. Time to go!

MY IDEA OF CELEBRATING XMAS

I Knew I Wasn’t Alone

My thanks to Colin Wicking.

My apologies to those who love this season. You might be better off not reading this one.

‘Tis the season

WHAT HUMANITY NEEDS NOW…

Is One World, One Nation, One Government

Why? Because the world needs one set of rules to live by, not this mish-mash of rules that allows not only for conflict between people and nations, but allows corporations to play nation against nation and never accomplish anything that will help the human race. What we need is one set of rules that serves the equality of all people no matter where on this world we are born, and no matter what station of life we are born to.

All humans are alike, all related by ancient DNA, one species of similar living beings. All beliefs aside, we all breathe the same air, eat the same kinds of foods (proteins, starches, fats), drink the same water, excrete by aspiration, urination and defecation, are able to think and make decisions for ourselves, to live our lives, and in the end we all die — no exceptions. Yes we are all individuals, but we are each individually exactly the same. I think it is time we started supporting each other to live great lives, and stop fighting amongst ourselves — individually and nationally — to try to get the biggest pieces of the pie. We are capable of sharing with those we love, it is time we started loving all those we share this one world with. It is possible — we just need to do it — intentionally!

The biggest roadblocks to accomplishing total sharing are our beliefs. One person believes one thing, one nation believes another. Why is it so hard to believe different things and still get along, to share all the bounties of our world which provides for all of us? Our beliefs change nothing in reality — the sun comes up every morning as it rotates around its axis, and the seasons progress Spring to Summer to Autumn to Winter every year as we revolve around that sun. The sun is the ultimate Giver of Life, and it shines on all of us equally. No one can own the sun, why do we need to own everything else? The fact is, we own nothing, we just pretend we own things. Everything we have, we have at the providence of the sun. The sun does not discriminate — why should we?

I am not going to bore you with the list of our differences, you all know them already. We see them IF we want to see them, because we are taught to see them. We do not have to see them just because our forbears saw them, we are capable of choosing on our own what we want to see — and dismissing the rest. There is nothing stopping us from being like the sun, shining on everyone. In fact, we would all be better off if we could be like the sun — providing good things for everyone, discriminating against no one! If anything in or off this world is worth worshipping, it is the sun — not as a god, but as a provider of life. If there were no sun, there would be no us, no life — bottom line. I am not saying worship the sun, but I am saying use it as your ideal to shape your life around. The more you are like the sun, the better the person you will be.

So why one world, one nation, one government? Because that is the way for the most humans, in fact the most living beings, to survive until we die of natural causes. What better way is there to die? Since death is irrevocable, is there a good way to die? Can it really matter how we die? I think there is, I think it does. Dying peacefully is just a better way to go.

Peacefully, such a pleasant word. Too many people in our world are not living peacefully. In fact, as you know, people are dying needlessly today in Gaza and Ukraine, to name just two places. Yesterday it was other places. Tomorrow it will be even other places. WE THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD want peace all over the world, but our leaders do not give it to us. Their corporations make money hand over fist from supplying the necessities of war. Other corporations make money hand over fist by selling the poisons that are killing our world. Maybe our world is not worth saving as some people are saying — we destroy everything we touch or come in contact with.

But we do not have to destroy everything — we humans are capable of saving the world, if only we put our minds to it. And the place to start is good government. And the government we need has to be powerful enough to place limits on what we do as a race — and that requires a world government.

Imagine one nation, and only one nation. No one fighting over land and resources and no one fighting over political or corporate power. When there is only one nation, there is no reason for war!