Interests and passions include geopolitics (specifically U.S.-Latinoamerica relations), animal liberation, anarcha-feminism, social privilege, mass media, universal healthcare, Planned Parenthood, immigration, anti-pacifism, Mujeres Libres, the Spanish revolution, solidarity with Palestine, European imperialism, class war, the Arab Spring, and U.S. foreign policy.
Pacifism is a white supremacist ideal. It is a universal morality used to control the working class, especially minority groups. It empowers the state and keeps the elitist members among the throngs of their power.
Pacifism essentially says “Although I am privileged and you are oppressed, I do not want you resisting violently to the oppression I put on you because that isn’t okay, be subservient and peaceful and the pain will go away.”
I will never believe that bullshit.
This short TV documentary is an introduction to the issue of shadeism, the discrimination that exists between the lighter-skinned and darker-skinned members of the same community. This documentary short looks specifically at how it affects young womyn within the African, Caribbean, and South Asian diasporas. Through the eyes and words of five young womyn and one little girl - all females of colour - the film takes us into the thoughts and experiences of each. Overall, ‘Shadeism’ explores where shadeism comes from, how it directly affects us as womyn of colour, and ultimately, begins to explore how we can move forward through dialogue and discussion.
(Source: vimeo.com)
Bernie Sanders
Referring to Wisconsin as a “testing ground” for the no-limits campaign spending that has been ushered in by the US Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling, Sanders said, “I have a deep concern that what we saw in Wisconsin can happen in any state throughout this country and in the presidential election.”
“I think that people do not fully understand the disaster that Citizens United was,” Sanders said of the 5–4 US Supreme Court decision in radio conversation with Ed Schultz. “What that did is open the floodgates so that billionaires like the Koch brothers and others are now prepared to spend unbelievable sums of money to elect extreme right-wing candidates.”
Sanders is a leading supporter of amending the Constitution in order to assure that all Americans — not just billionaires and corporations — have a voice in American politics.
(via anticapitalist)
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn. announced they would introduce the End Polluter Welfare Act to Congress. The bill would save over $10 billion a year by cutting fossil fuel subsidies - particularly, it would end tax breaks for fossil fuel companies.
The legislation would also put an end to special financing for fossil fuels, end taxpayer-funded research & development, and set “fair royalties policies.” Sanders remarked the Act is “the most comprehensive ever introduced on this subject. It ends all tax breaks, special financing arrangements, and the federal research and development funding.”
A recently released fact sheet outlined the money that would be saved by getting rid of fossil fuel subsidies:
- $14 billion saved by ending the intangible drilling deduction - which the oil industry currently receives, and which typically represents 60 to 80 percent of the total drilling cost.
- $12 billion saved by repealing a 2004 law, which allows fossil fuel corporations to claim they are manufacturers, in order to take part in the tax deductions aimed at helping actual U.S. manufacturers.
- $6.8 billion saved by closing an existing loophole that lets oil companies like BP deduct money they spend cleaning up their own oil spills and paying subsequent damages.
- $2.4 billion saved by stopping fossil fuel outfits from investing through master limited partnerships, an option that is unavailable to green energy businesses, which illustrates the obvious pro-fossil fuel/anti-clean energy favoritism that exists today. (Indeed, fossil fuels are subsidized nearly six times the rate of renewable energy. From 2002-2008, reports 350, the U.S. government gave the fossil fuel industry $72 billion+ in subsidies, while investments in the green energy industry totaled about $12.2 billion.)
- $3.7 billion saved by shutting down the Federal Office of Fossil Energy.
- $10.6 billion saved by recouping lost royalties for offshore drilling in public waters.
It is also quite clear that the fossil fuel industry does not need subsidies: In 2011, said this report, the five big oil powerhouses (BP, Chevron, Conoco, Shell, Exxon Mobil) enjoyed $137 billion in profits, and furthermore earned a combined $33.5 billion in the first quarter of this year alone.
Moreover, unlike green energy incentives, which periodically expire and require Congress to approve extensions, the fossil fuel industry has many subsidies permanently cemented within the tax code after decades of lobbying (which, in 2011, the oil/gas/coal industries spent a combined $167 million doing).
The End Polluter Welfare Act is important, said 350, not only because it ends these unfair pro-fossil fuel benefits, but would also reduce the federal deficit, give $807 to every U.S. taxpayer, and could even go to purchase 2.8 million Chevy Volts.
Sanders is calling on citizens to help make sure that the End Polluter Welfare Act sees the light of day, which they can do by signing a petition.
“People are sick and tired,” said Sanders, “of seeing the same folks who want to cut nutrition programs for hungry children fight tooth and nail to preserve federal tax breaks that go to Exxon Mobil - one of the most profitable corporations in history.”
earthliberation:
Exactly. And to all the conservative libertarians out there who believe others shouldn’t “rely on government handouts” or receive any form of social assistance, fuck you. Not only is it unacceptable for huge oil corporations to receive government subsidies and federal tax breaks when their colossal annual profits of $137 billion negate any need for this, but there are real people and real families struggling to survive due to slashed funding from public services and social programs. So the next time you criticize those in receipt of (what’s left of) government assistance, just remember that a handful of monolithic, environmentally irresponsible, loophole-exploiting, unaccountable corporate tyrannies are infinitely more dependent on government than any struggling welfare mother. NOW who are the real “government leeches”?
(Source: jayaprada)
