Plutocratists have found another excuse for a subsidy to big business: to produce more IC chips in the US.

The traditional way to encourage domestic production is with an import tariff. That gives the same preference to domestic production, but instead of giving money to big businesses, it collects money from big businesses. Since big businesses have too much money anyway, the latter is better.

Governments in the US have been subsidizing businesses more and more, justifying it by supposed trickle-down benefits that often fail to happen. Americans are starting to recognize that the net result is to transfer public money to businesses.

If the US government insists on "investing in" US chip manufacturing, it should invest by buying stock in those businesses. At least that way the public treasury will benefit if they do well.

In addition, it would be useful to prohibit encryption systems which don't let the owner of a computer read and write the keys -- such as TPMs and the Management Engine.

A survey of preparedness against future pandemics found that countries scored 39 out of 100, on the average.

Efforts to prevent the emergence of pandemics score even lower.

* It's up to you and me to decide what it means to be a socialist in 21st century America.*

Biden will start another effort to eliminate incandescent light bulbs. The wrecker blocked the previous attempt.

The planned gradual phase-out — details are not given — could be worse than merely slow. It could give a Republican the opportunity to cancel the change in 2025.

Committee to Protect Journalists: *Number of journalists in jail around the world at new high, says survey.*