*Now Let's Do the American Oligarchs.*

The Russian billionaires grabbed big pieces of Russian industry in the 90s, but they do not dominate Russia as the word "oilgarch" implies. (As a result, punishing them may not do much to influence Putin.) They are parasites on Russia.

By contrast, the US plutocrats (billionaires and US big businesses) have real power over the US through the elected officials that they buy. We see that in the power of the Republican Party, which is funded by some of them, and in the poverty of most Americans. They are worse than merely parasites.

*To those who wish to penalise poor people, cold and hunger are signs of a perfect system.*

Why might you wish to do that? If you have entered the service of a greedy billionaire who wants every penny that the poor have, there's not much difference between getting the most for your boss and leaving most people with the least.

US citizens: phone your senators and urge them to support a new non-nuclear deal with Iran.

The Capitol Switchboard number is 202-224-3121.

If you call, please spread the word!

Rebecca Solnit: *[The wrecker's] power is fading: Trumpism [sic] is the clear and present danger now.*

We should call the dishonesty he spreads "trumpery" -- that describes it better.

China is considering making "fake news" a crime, as Putin recently did in Russia. Like Russia, China will surely accuse reporting not in accord with the state's assertions as "fake".