gaiawisdom

[gaiawisdom]

The class war is staggeringly rigged against the working class. The majority of households are living under extreme economic trauma.

End the trauma. Abolish Republicans.

[gaiawisdom]

Part of the reason I'm so adamant about encouraging people to get comfortable with bugs, my own interests aside, is because we cannot have a bright, solarpunk future without them.

A green future is not a bugless future. It is, in fact, a fairly bugful future. If you care about ecological stability, then you need to start with bugs, because they're the most at risk with our current use of pesticides.

[gaiawisdom]

feudal lords4

The greatest danger of the Feudal Lords is that the lion's share of their wealth has been amassed through their contracts with the Federal Government. Fuck their preening on "wealth creation!" They are wealth vampires. They have become bloated by feeding at the Federal trough. To then stage a national tax revolt is to sever not only the public compact, but the very lifeblood of the body politic.

They have amasssed their wealth through bad-faith sleight-of-hand and then proceed to plan their own agendas for the national future. If the Political Right that fawns on them has any claim left of devotion to our national values, they have to reckon with the way they have been used to shred everything they once claimed to stand for. We have created Princes of Industry and now are bound in thrall to them.

[gaiawisdom]

[gaiawisdom]

Hubble's new 35th anniversary images ©

[gaiawisdom]

feudal lords3

The lords use their wealth to work against democracy, not for it. Their goal is rule by the wealthy, not by and for the general population. Feudalism has its own logic. The greater the gap between rich and poor, the lords and the people, the greater they perceive their power, and their own rights and supreme value. Feudalism has been the default in history, it arises when power is seized, not given by law and an ordered society. Trump is a blunt force tool, stupid and cruel. He will be discarded for a more regimented, and rigid, oligarchy.

[gaiawisdom]

[gaiawisdom]

feudal lords2

The central value of Feudal Lords is Loyalty, loyalty to them personally, unconditionally, and usually requiring subjection, if not humiliation. Someone can be dominant, upper class, hyper-successful etc. and still recognize a higher loyalty, say, to the Constitution. Clearly many of our current Feudal Lords do not. The ultimate arrogance of the Feudal Lords is subterfuge, to bask in the admiration of American success but ultimately refuse American values and work against them.

[gaiawisdom]

Documenting the Damage: 100 Harmful Policies from the First 100 Days of Trump's Second Term

The second Trump administration has had the busiest first 100 days of any US presidency in nearly a century. Since January, I've been keeping a spreadsheet documenting 900+ policy changes and political developments. I then bundled many of the most important changes into 100 topics areas and wrote a summary of each of them, providing a semi-comprehensive account of the tremendous changes to US politics which have occurred.

PDF version of the full report

Website version of the full report

Medium versions:

Introduction + Part I: Democracy and Government

Part II: Civil Rights and Liberties

Part III: Economy and Public Services 

Part IV: Environment and Energy

Part V + Conclusion: Foreign Policy

[gaiawisdom]

THIS PAGE SUPPORTS NATIONWIDE GENERAL STRIKE MAY 1 !!!

SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN --- SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN

IMPEACH THE ORANGE MENACE

General strikes in early 20th century were the origins of the first nationwide labor unions!!! WHAT HAS BEEN DONE CAN BE DONE AGAIN!!!

[gaiawisdom]

Visual Writing Prompt #446

[gaiawisdom]

Feudal Lords 1

The primal patterns WILL assert themselves again. Warlords. Chieftains, Captains of Industry, Arrogant Demagogues. In small human bands and tribal councils, the common instinct to rally to a leader works for survival. In a mass Democracy it is a persistent counterforce that must be confronted always and repeatedly. The core task for those seeking unity and inclusiveness is to raise awareness that each and all can contribute and step up to lead at times. Be willing to listen to and respect many voices.

[gaiawisdom]

Bernie’s Fighting Oligarchy Tour

ICYMI: Bernie Sanders is rallying Americans in R-led and swing districts across the US. He’s inviting fellow progressive legislators like AOC and Greg Casar to speak to Americans who are seeking change. The goal? Raise funds and motivate local constituents to oust Republicans in these narrowly-won districts, give Americans hope, and build a progressive movement.

Over 100K people have attended these rallies, some of which are breaking turnout records…in a non-election year. Check it out:

Kenosha, WI: 4K attendees

Iowa City, IA: 2K attendees

Altoona, WI: 2K attendees (for context, the town’s population is 9.2K)

Warren, MI: 10K attendees

Omaha, NE: 2K attendees (130K+ live-streamed)

Las Vegas, NV: 3K attendees

Greeley, CO: 11K attendees (city’s population is 108K. This was also on a weekday)

Tempe, AZ: 15K attendees (123K+ live-streamed)

Denver, CO: 34K(!) attendees (Bernie’s largest rally ever. Again, in a non-election yr!)

Tucson, AZ: 23K attendees

There’s a palpable appetite for change. We can collectively combat oligarchy, the Trump Admin, establishment Democrats who don’t serve us.

The fight continues.

[gaiawisdom]

[gaiawisdom]

The key difference between democratic socialism and communism lies in their approaches to government, economy, and individual rights.

Democratic Socialism

• Political System: Retains democracy, ensuring free elections, individual liberties, and a multiparty system.

• Economic System: Advocates for a mixed economy where key industries (e.g., healthcare, education, public utilities) are publicly owned, but private enterprise still exists.

• Ownership: Some level of government control over major sectors, but small businesses and personal property remain private.

• Wealth Redistribution: Supports progressive taxation and strong welfare programs to reduce inequality while maintaining market dynamics.

• Examples: Countries like Sweden, Denmark, and Norway follow democratic socialist policies within capitalist frameworks.

Communism

• Political System: Typically involves a one-party state where the government controls all aspects of life, often limiting individual freedoms.

• Economic System: Advocates for a classless, stateless society where all property and production are collectively owned by the people (often controlled by the state in practice).

• Ownership: No private ownership—everything is owned by the collective, and wealth is distributed based on need.

• Wealth Redistribution: Achieved by abolishing class distinctions, eliminating private wealth, and redistributing resources equally.

• Examples: Countries like the Soviet Union, Maoist China, and Cuba have historically followed communist models, often leading to authoritarian rule.

Main Distinction

• Democratic socialism works within a democratic framework, balancing social welfare with market economies and individual freedoms.

• Communism aims for a stateless, classless society, often achieved through revolutionary means and central planning, frequently leading to authoritarian governance.

[gaiawisdom]

Immigrants are the solution, not the problem.

Republicans see putting children in hard labor and getting them out of school as a win-win.

[gaiawisdom]

THANKS TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR MAKING DEI A UNIVERSAL GESTURE OF SOLIDARITY AND DEFIANCE!!