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🦜 Richard Stallman's Political Notes

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Daily political notes about what is happening in the world.

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Site URL: stallman.org/archives/polnotes.html

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Posts: 100

Followers: 1

I'm looking for information about Sam's Club

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#22_October_2024_(I'm_looking_for_information_about_Sam's_Club)

Published: October 22, 2024 14:57

I'm looking for some basic information about Sam's Club. If you have ever bought anything there, you probably know the answers. If you'd like to have a brief email conversation, please send me email, at the gnu web site with address rms.

Criticizing by stock trading

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#22_October_2024_(Criticizing_by_stock_trading)

Published: October 22, 2024 14:57

[Posting again with the correct link his time] In China, there seems to be only one way to criticize the government which is not forbidden: by stock trading.

New pun

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#22_October_2024_(New_pun)

Published: October 22, 2024 14:57

Les effets du mariage.

Bail bond industry

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#22_October_2024_(Bail_bond_industry)

Published: October 22, 2024 14:57

Bail funds are charities that raise bail for people accused of crimes who are offered bail but can't afford it. Bail bond companies and the insurance companies that serve them are trying to outlaw those funds, not overtly but sneakily by imposing…

Lawsuit to prevent hiding toxic chemicals

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#22_October_2024_(Lawsuit_to_prevent_hiding_toxic_chemicals)

Published: October 22, 2024 14:56

The regulation of toxic chemicals in the US is hamstrung by laws that enable companies to keep their use and their presence in any place secret. The selfish interest of those who keep trade secrets is rational but antisocial. In many cases the only harm…

China repressing Uighurs

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#22_October_2024_(China_repressing_Uighurs)

Published: October 22, 2024 14:56

Labour is pandering to business owners and to China by canceling the plan to push for formal condemnation of China's repression of Uighurs.

Yahya Sinwar killed

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#22_October_2024_(Yahya_Sinwar_killed)

Published: October 22, 2024 14:56

The Israeli army has killed HAMAS leader Yahya Sinwar. I forecast that his death will not change the military situation in Gaza. Normally the killing of leaders of underground military campaigns does not eliminate the campaigns, not if they have the…

Gaza aid letter

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#22_October_2024_(Gaza_aid_letter)

Published: October 22, 2024 14:56

US cabinet ministers sent Netanyahu a letter demanding Israel reach specific targets in allowing more aid into Gaza, with a deadline, and suggesting that the US will enforce the Leahy law.

Urgent: Stop US aid to Israel

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#22_October_2024_(Urgent:_Stop_US_aid_to_Israel)

Published: October 22, 2024 14:56

US citizens: phone your congresscritter and ask per to insist that the US cannot help Israel attack Iran unless Congress votes to authorize it. And then to argue and vote against authorizing it. If you phone, please spread the word! …

New York big oil charges

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#22_October_2024_(New_York_big_oil_charges)

Published: October 22, 2024 14:56

New York State prosecutors propose to charge big oil companies with reckless endangerment for knowingly taking a big risk of fueling devastating hurricanes, rains and fires. I wonder what the penalty would be if they are convicted. What sort of penalty…

Alabama barred from purging non-citizens before election

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#21_October_2024_(Alabama_barred_from_purging_non-citizens_before_election)

Published: October 22, 2024 14:56

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

Brown University estimates

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#21_October_2024_(Brown_University_estimates)

Published: October 22, 2024 14:56

Brown University’s Costs of War Project estimates more than 100,000 have died already in Gaza as a consequence of Israel's bombardment and siege.

Global food/water crisis

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#21_October_2024_(Global_food%2Fwater_crisis)

Published: October 22, 2024 14:56

*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…

Aurora and the Alien Enemies Act

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#21_October_2024_(Aurora_and_the_Alien_Enemies_Act)

Published: October 22, 2024 14:56

The bully plans to stretch use the old Alien Enemies Act to deport non-citizens immediately based on fabricated vague accusations.

Starmer's "green revolution"

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#21_October_2024_(Starmer's_green_revolution)

Published: October 22, 2024 14:56

Starmer Labour has pledged a "green revolution" based on spending 22 billion UKP on carbon capture plants, which have never worked effectively. This was the response to fossil fuel industry lobbying. Carbon capture may not be effective, but fossil fuel…

Elon Musk unveils Cybercab

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#19_October_2024_(elon_musk_unveils_tesla_cybercab)

Published: October 20, 2024 02:57

Tesla's new driverless taxi has the essential injustices of Uber and Lyft, because it surely will be tracked everywhere,Like all Tesla cars, and won't allow people to pay cash anonymously. It will have one other drawback for society: little or none…

Labour’s investment summit

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#19_October_2024_(starmer_red_tape_big_business_labour)

Published: October 20, 2024 02:57

Starmer Labour is buying in fully to trickle-down.

Gaza at risk

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#19_October_2024_(gaza_at_risk_intl_law)

Published: October 20, 2024 02:57

* [Palestinian lawyer] Raji Sourani says west is "jeopardising something precious" by shielding Israel from legal consequences.* That is a valid point. International humanitarian law reduces the world's barbarism, to the extent that it is followed. …

Antidiscrimination laws

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#19_October_2024_(anti_zionist_beliefs_uk_tribunal)

Published: October 20, 2024 02:57

A British court found that condemning Zionism is not antisemitic, and that it was culpable to fire a professor for such condemnation.

Nader on the election

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#19_October_2024_(nader_last_clear_chances)

Published: October 20, 2024 02:57

Ralph Nader suggests how the Democrats can win the election by miles — by defying the orders from business and doing things the non-rich want. I voted for Nader for president. I wish he were running now.

Mark Milley

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#19_October_2024_(bob_woodward_mark_milley_trump)

Published: October 20, 2024 02:57

*Retired US army general [Mark Milley] fears unusual action of being recalled to uniform for retribution, [Bob Woodward] writes* General Milley tried to restrain the fascist from repressive actions. Other retired generals who were loyal to their…

Axis of Tyranny

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#19_October_2024_(axis_of_tyranny)

Published: October 20, 2024 02:57

The corrupter often changes his stance dramatically from one day to the next. But he is consistent about his support for Putin. Either Putin is giving him crucial support for his efforts to take over the US, or have such dirt on him that he wouldn't…

Proposal to ban Chinese-made cars

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Proposal_to_ban_Chinese-made_cars)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

** They surely do spy, and we should not tolerate that. But this threat is not limited to cars made by Chinese companies. What about all the non-Chinese-made cars that are known to snoop on their users? Shouldn't they be banned, too? Instead of…

Hostage of China Michael Kovrig

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Hostage_of_China_Michael_Kovrig)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

Michael Kovrig, held hostage by China for the release of accused criminal Meng Wanzhou, was kept in solitary confinement for 6 months in a cell where the light was always on. And interrogated for up to 9 hours a day, every day. This is a form of torture. …

Decrease of violent crime in US

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Decrease_of_violent_crime_in_US)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

Violent crime in the US decreased substantially in 2023, including an 11% decrease in murders. Republicans pretend the rate is increasing. The real flaws of Democrats are due to being too right-wing, but the Republicans have trouble repeating those…

The muskrat promoting right-wing extremism

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(The_muskrat_promoting_right-wing_extremism)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

The muskrat is promoting global right-wing extremism and has appointed Italy's right-wing leader Meloni as the muskette. I wonder how long before Putin is invited to join.

California suing Exxon

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(California_suing_Exxon)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

California is suing Exx-on for fraudulently telling the public that plastic was in general recyclable.

Saboteur-in-chief denied funds to states

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Saboteur-in-chief_denied_funds_to_states)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

(Former administration officials say [the saboteur-in-chief] deliberately denied funds to states he deemed politically hostile.* I recall reading about this at the time.

Campus police called on student protesters

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Campus_police_called_on_student_protesters)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

*Columbia Law School Told Professors to Call Campus Police on Student Protesters.*

Fertilizing plankton with dust

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Fertilizing_plankton_with_dust)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

The article identifies Too Hot to Farm (and too wet for humans, or too dry for plants) Too Acidic for Fish (too much CO2 in the ocean). The article suggests fertilizing plankton by dropping lots of dust in the ocean as a way to remove CO2. Would…

Turkey blocking aid convoy

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Turkey_blocking_aid_convoy)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

Turkey is acting bizarrely to block an aid convoy that wants to sail for Gaza.

US meteorologists face death threats

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(US_meteorologists_face_death_threats)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

*US meteorologists face death threats as hurricane [conspiracy ideation] surges. Storms Helene and Milton have triggered rise of misinformation stoked by Trump and fellow Republicans.*

Israeli soldiers killed journalists

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Israeli_soldiers_killed_journalists)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

Israeli soldiers killed some of the journalists covering the forced migration of Palestinians from northern Gaza. Other journalists who witnessed this say the soldiers specifically targeted those they killed. Israel has killed so many Palestinian…

No attention paid to war in Sudan

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(No_attention_paid_to_war_in_Sudan)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

The world hardly pays attention to the civil war in Sudan. I know why I say little about it. In my political notes, I do not set out to report news, but rather to comment on the issues (political and moral) raised by the news. If there is a problem,…

The wrecker's failing ebusinesses

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(The_wrecker's_failing_ebusinesses)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

The wrecker started one ebusiness after another, and drove most of them to failure. He damaged the US when he was president, but this time he has prepared to damage it a lot more.

Play about Ukrainian children

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Play_about_Ukrainian_children)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

A play about Ukrainian children seized and imprisoned by the Putin forces was written by a journalist based on interviews with some of them. Putin's excuse for imprisoning Ukrainian children is to protect them from the danger of the war that Putin…

Books about China outside of China

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Books_about_China_outside_of_China)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

China is punishing people for reading books about China that they had acquired outside China. Xi does not want people to be exposed to other points of view at all.

Politicians excuses for not solving problems

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Politicians_excuses_for_not_solving_problems)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

Politicians that don't want to actually address society's big problems can make excuses by saying they are "complex", and negotiating with business about how to do it, and the businesses will ensure no progress in reducing greenhouse emissions is made.

Georgia rule of hand-counting ballots

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Georgia_rule_of_hand-counting_ballots)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

How the Georgia rule of hand-counting ballots can introduce delays and possible confusion. Delays in the counting from any county are likely to spark imaginary right-wing conspiracy theories. In fact, there is a conspiracy — the right-wing…

Arrests of those protesting Iran former president imprisonment

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Arrests_of_those_protesting_Iran_former_president_imprisonment)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

Pakistan's government arrested the leaders (and many other members) of the main political party, which was protesting the imprisonment of the former president, Imran Khan.

Deloitte threatened with loss of government contracts

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Deloitte_threatened_with_loss_of_government_contracts)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

*The bully's supporters have threatened Deloitte with the loss of lucrative government contracts … because one of its employees leaked critical comments about his presidential performance made by his running mate JD Vance. I don't care at all what…

Governments' climate action shortfalls

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Governments'_climate_action_shortfalls)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

*World Energy Outlook Exposes Governments’ Climate Action Shortfall.* Every new oil or gas well, every new or enlarged coal mine, and every new fossil gas export terminal, increases the danger.

Israel attacking town of Jabalia

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Israel_attacking_town_of_Jabalia)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

Israel is attacking the town of Jabalia in northern Gaza, full of civilians with nowhere else to go. Israel claims to have killed 50 HAMAS fighters or more, while counting corpses found it had killed at least 350 people, of whom most are surely…

Israeli army attacks on UN peacekeeping forces

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Israeli_army_attacks_on_UN_peacekeeping_forces)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

Explaining the context and significance of Israeli army attacks on UN peacekeeping forces in the south of Lebanon.

India accused of working with criminal network

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(India_accused_of_working_with_criminal_network)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

*Canadian police accuse India of working with criminal network to kill dissidents.* Indian dissidents living in exile, that means.

Cooperating in saving Amazon rain forest

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Cooperating_in_saving_Amazon_rain_forest)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

Can the presidents of Brazil and Colombia, cooperating, succeed in saving the Amazon rain forest?

Financial repercussions of disasters

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Financial_repercussions_of_disasters)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

The damage from disasters such as modern hurricanes cause financial repercussions through many areas of the economy. They can ruin insurance companies, banks, cities governments and states, as well as individuals and families. If we don't organize…

Fixes for the climate crisis

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Fixes_for_the_climate_crisis)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

Rebecca Solnit: *Tech barons are forever predicting some amazing new technology to fix the climate crisis. Yet fixes already exist.* The difficulties with the known solutions are mainly that some businesses and billionaires are lobbying tooth and…

Sunken slave ship

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Sunken_slave_ship)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

Exploring a sunken slave ship in which the slaves tried to revolt. They were defeated, locked in the hold, and later all died when the ship sank in a storm. I don't think those slaves regretted their revolt just because it failed. Better to fight than…

Countering influence of misogyny and male supremacy

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Countering_influence_of_misogyny_and_male_supremacy)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

Some Australian schools try to counter the influence of right-wing misogyny and male supremacist campaigns. Right-wing politics is all about winning some groups' support by teaching them to scapegoat other groups. It looks like right wingers have…

Renewable energy could make fossil fuels cheaper

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Renewable_energy_could_make_fossil_fuels_cheaper)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

The International Energy tells us that sufficient progress in moving to renewable energy could make fossil fuels cheaper. That is true, but the IEA does not seen to realize that that would be a deadly trap for society. The lower price would threaten to…

Talks in Peru, 22-31 Oct 2024

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Talks_in_Peru,_22-31_Oct_2024)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:57

Richard Stallman's talks in Peru, in Spanish, in October 2024. Conferencias de Richard Stallman en el Perú, en español, en el mes de octubre 2024. El Movimiento del Software Libre y el Sistema Operativo GNU 2024-10-22 @ 14:00 p.m. Ubicación: Auditorio de…

Ex-Twitter censored journalist

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Ex-Twitter_censored_journalist)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:56

Musk made ex-Twitter censor and then ban a journalist who published embarrassing leaked material that made Vance look bad. Now we see what the muskrat means by "freedom of speech".

Gaza journalists targeted

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Gaza_journalists_targeted)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:56

*Four Days in Gaza: Five Journalists Killed or Wounded.*

Urgent: Support the Stop Wall Street Looting Act

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Urgent:_Support_the_Stop_Wall_Street_Looting_Act)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:56

US citizens: phone your congresscritter to support the Stop Wall Street Looting Act, which will prevent some abuses by private equity corporations. If you phone, please spread the word! Main Switchboard: +1-202-224-3121

Jeremy Loffredo released

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Jeremy_Loffredo_released)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:56

*U.S. Journalist Jeremy Loffredo Released After Four Days in Israeli [Jail].* He had been accused of "aiding the enemy" by republishing (or was it merely downloading) photos of sensitive places that had been published by news outlets already. *If…

UK rich threaten to move if taxed

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(UK_rich_threaten_to_move_if_taxed)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:56

Rich UK citizens threaten to fully move away from the UK if the UK requires them to pay taxes. Experience shows that few actually follow through on such threats. I have an idea for how make it even less likely they will resist taxation: require them to…

Israel complacent to HAMAS attack

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Israel_complacent_to_HAMAS_attack)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:56

Israeli military officers report that their commanders and elected officials had a negligently complacent attitude regarding the possibility of an attack by HAMAS in the year before HAMAS did attack.

Urgent: Protect investors from green lending fraud

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Urgent:_Protect_investors_from_green_lending_fraud)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:56

US citizens: call on Federal Agencies: the fight against global heating should include strong consumer protections and access to fair and affordable green loans. The petition fails to mention that online resource hubs must not require people to run JS…

Urgent: Ceasefire and de-escalate

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Urgent:_Ceasefire_and_de-escalate)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:56

US citizens: call on Biden to secure a ceasefire and de-escalate the threat of regional war.

New pun

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(New_pun)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:56

That program deleted all your files.

Urgent: Push back against required snoop-phones

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#17_October_2024_(Urgent:_Push_back_against_required_snoop-phones)

Published: October 18, 2024 08:56

If you buy at Sam's Club, push back against plans to require all customers to be tracked trough snoop-phones. I suggest several ways to push back: Always pay cash there. Tell the company that you object to these plans. tell your state legislators that…

New article

https://stallman.org/archives/2024-jul-oct.html#15_October_2024_(New_article)