Political notes from 2008: March - June

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 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.

Zimbabwe election commission

Richard Stallman — 04 May 08 00:00 UT

04 May 2008 (Zimbabwe election commission)

The Zimbabwe election commission released results, but they differ from the counts posted at polling places and give Tsvangirai a lower total which would justify the run-off Mugabe intends to have.

It seems Mugabe is trying to prevent that run-off from being held freely, and the opposition refuses to participate in it.

Clinton and the gasoline tax

Richard Stallman — 04 May 08 00:00 UT

04 May 2008 (Clinton and the gasoline tax)

Clinton wants to eliminate the gasoline tax so that Americans can produce more CO2 this summer.

Magnates of Eastern Bolivia

Richard Stallman — 04 May 08 00:00 UT

04 May 2008 (Magnates of Eastern Bolivia)

The magnates of Eastern Bolivia are stirring up racial hostility to try to break away from Bolivia, and keep the wealth of their region for themselves instead of supporting poor Bolivians with it.

On The Verge

Richard Stallman — 04 May 08 00:00 UT

04 May 2008 (On The Verge)

Police in the UK stopped a showing of On The Verge at Southampton University, threatening students with prosecution. University officials helped the police and conveyed these threats. The film depicts police attacks on protests.

It would be interesting for a group of students to show it and dare the police to prosecute them.

2.5 million Iraqi refugees

Richard Stallman — 04 May 08 00:00 UT

04 May 2008 (2.5 million Iraqi refugees)

2.5 million refugees have fled Iraq. Hardly anyone wants to return, but they are having trouble living anywhere else.

Food shortages in Venezuela

Richard Stallman — 04 May 08 00:00 UT

04 May 2008 (Food shortages in Venezuela)

A couple of weeks ago I wrote that President Chavez had increased Venezuela's food production. That is what I recalled from my first visit there, but, more recently, price controls have caused food shortages.

Mario Uribe and paramilitary thugs

Richard Stallman — 04 May 08 00:00 UT

04 May 2008 (Mario Uribe and paramilitary thugs)

Mario Uribe, President Uribe's cousin and advisor, was arrested for collaborating with paramilitary thugs.

Although the paramilitaries pretend that their purpose was to oppose the guerrillas, their main activity is organized crime. For instance, they serve Coca Cola Company by killing union organizers and their families.

They are also known for attacking villages to terrorize the inhabitants into selling their land, very cheap, to people like Mario Uribe. I heard one of the victims speak in Spain; he lives there, sponsored by human rights organizations, because he would not be safe in Colombia. There was no guerrilla activity near his village, and the army seemed to close its eyes to the attack by the paramilitaries.

President Horrible (in Spanish it sounds enough like Uribe) gave the paramilitaries an amnesty, whose effect is that they get to keep this land that they extorted. People interpret the amnesty as intentional aid to them.

That's just the sort of person that Bush would want as an ally.

Urgent note: EPA to drain wetlands

Richard Stallman — 04 May 08 00:00 UT

04 May 2008 (Urgent note: EPA to drain wetlands)

US citizens: Tell the EPA to oppose an expensive project to drain vital wetlands to please a few wealthy landowners.

US owes Haiti an apology

Richard Stallman — 04 May 08 00:00 UT

04 May 2008 (US owes Haiti an apology)

Jesse Jackson reminded Americans that the US owes Haiti an apology as well as food aid.

Oxfam calls on Israel

Richard Stallman — 04 May 08 00:00 UT

04 May 2008 (Oxfam calls on Israel)

Oxfam calls on Israel to stop starving Gaza.

Uri Avnery explained when the Annapolis "peace process" was announced that it was a failure from the outset.

This article from Jewish Voices for Peace analyzes the situation today.

It is misleading to compare the siege of Gaza to apartheid in South Africa. Although South African forced the Blacks to live in special zones, it did not lock them up in those zones and starve them.

Denied a liver transplant

Richard Stallman — 04 May 08 00:00 UT

04 May 2008 (Denied a liver transplant)

Timothy Garon was denied a liver transplant because he had used marijuana to cope with the pain of his liver disease.

I've been told that the active ingredients in marijuana relieve nausea like nothing else, but only when smoked.

Politically motivated prosecutions

Richard Stallman — 04 May 08 00:00 UT

04 May 2008 (Politically motivated prosecutions)

Victims of politically motivated prosecutions, and their witnesses and their lawyers, have been the targets of strange burglaries and even arson.

I do not doubt that these crimes were organized by the state. The evidence points that way, and there is no reason to find it incredible. Even Nixon arranged burglaries, and Dubya is far worse.

When we condemn government surveillance, the usual response is that "If you are not doing anything wrong, you have no reason to object if we know everything that you do." That's not true under a regime that might frame you or burn down your house if it doesn't like what you are doing.

Sami al-Hajj

Richard Stallman — 03 May 08 00:00 UT

03 May 2008 (Sami al-Hajj)

Sami al-Hajj, a journalist freed after 6 years imprisonment in Guantanamo, did not hesitate to condemn the way the captives are treated there after being imprisoned without trial.

A new back door in Windows

Richard Stallman — 03 May 08 00:00 UT

03 May 2008 (A new back door in Windows)

Microsoft has build a new back door in Windows for the use of the police.

In regimes where the police do things like ship you to Syria to be tortured, this is a threat to your human rights. Organizations that oppose government policies cannot trust Windows — or any non-free software, because users cannot tell what those developers have done.

Duped into anti-"piracy" video

Richard Stallman — 03 May 08 00:00 UT

03 May 2008 (Duped into anti-"piracy" video)

An Australian musician says he was duped into contributing to an anti-"piracy" video.

Unlimited searches of travelers' computers

Richard Stallman — 03 May 08 00:00 UT

03 May 2008 (Unlimited searches of travelers' computers)

The EFF is campaigning with Congress against unlimited searches of travelers' computers at borders.

State ID requirements for voting

Richard Stallman — 03 May 08 00:00 UT

03 May 2008 (State ID requirements for voting)

The Supreme Court approved state ID requirements for voting which will tend to exclude poorer voters that don't have the required ID cards, can't afford them, etc.

This is part of a general Republican strategy to lock up elections by excluding voters that won't support them, and continues the method used by Bush to steal the 2000 election.