# articles

feed_id: 8ec549f33729a4281e64b1d3b4acc749
title: Troll's unofficial political commissars
uri: Troll-s-unofficial-political-commissars
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#24_March_2017_%28Trolls_unofficial_political_commissars%29

content:
<p>
The troll has put unofficial political commissars into various
government departments.  The political commissar's job is to
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/03/20/white-house-installs-allies-cabinet-agencies-track-loyalty">monitor
what the department does and report back to the troll</a>.


feed_id: 7a138f50434b950b13f07449ea20dc5c
title: No Africans at African development summit
uri: No-Africans-at-African-development-summit
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#24_March_2017_%28No_Africans_at_African_development_summit%29

content:
<p>
No Africans were present at the African Global Economic and
Development Summit, because the US 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/20/no-african-citizens-visas-california-annual-trade-summit">denied
visas to everyone that applied</a>.


feed_id: a84393c45acccfbff41ec5a2d45b7f9a
title: FBI's investigation of troll's campaign
uri: FBI-s-investigation-of-troll-s-campaign
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#24_March_2017_%28FBIs_investigation_of_trolls_campaign%29

content:
<p>
The FBI was investigating possible collusion between the cheater's
campaign and Russia, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/20/trump-campaign-russia-hearing-key-points">3 
months before the election</a>.
<p>
That the FBI said nothing about this before the election, while 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-nov-feb.html#4_November_2016_(FBIs_overtly_political_act)">casting
suspicion on Clinton based on nothing but having another file of mail
to look at</a>, adds up to partisan meddling.
<p>
We need an investigation of possible collusion between the
cheater's campaign and the FBI.


feed_id: 906c1ebbb36bc49269ea42413b121838
title: Pentagon not audited for 21 years
uri: Pentagon-not-audited-for-21-years
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#24_March_2017_%28Pentagon_not_audited_for_21_years%29

content:
<p>
The Pentagon has not been audited for 21 years, and part of the reason
is that 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/20/pentagon-never-audited-astonishing-military-spending">contractors
struggle to prevent the audit</a>.
<p>
Could it be that those contractors have something to hide?


feed_id: fc7a6c411bbb389d8b89903359625bc6
title: The arms industry
uri: The-arms-industry
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#24_March_2017_%28The_arms_industry%29
content:
<p>
How the arms industry 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/mar/20/how-the-arms-industry-trades-on-our-fear-of-terrorism-book-paul-holden-indefensible">stirs
up fear of terrorism</a> in order to sell more arms.


feed_id: a5eaaf986d0510146e243664479246fb
title: Republicans call for action to curb global heating
uri: Republicans-call-for-action-to-curb-global-heating
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#24_March_2017_%28Republicans_call_for_action_to_curb_global_heating%29

content:
<p>
19 Republican congresscritters have 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2017/mar/20/19-house-republicans-call-on-their-party-to-do-something-about-climate-change">signed
a statement calling for action to curb global heating</a>.
<p>
They called it 
<a href="https://stallman.org/glossary.html#climate">"climate 
change"</a>, a term I avoid because it fails to do justice to the
magnitude of the problem.


feed_id: a199e95a06404253788fcb348be1dc1c
title: Asylum seekers in the UK
uri: Asylum-seekers-in-the-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#24_March_2017_%28Asylum_seekers_in_the_UK%29
content:
<p>
Pregnant asylum seekers in the UK shun prenatal care, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/mar/20/pregnant-asylum-seekers-refugees-afraid-seek-nhs-maternity-care">afraid
that the NHS will charge them a lot of money</a>.
<p>
Asylum seekers in the UK live 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_March_2017_(Asylum)">essentially 
in penury</a>.


feed_id: 849ba240a15503ef99dcf9a0d976ace6
title: Plutocracy
uri: 2017-03-26-Plutocracy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#24_March_2017_%28Plutocracy%29
content:
<p>
Plutocracy creates an air of legitimacy by 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/20/meritocracy-inequality-theresa-may-donald-trump">disguising
itself as a fictitious meritocracy</a>.  But even a real meritocracy
is not good if it increases inequality.
<p>
It does make sense to promote capable people to positions of greater
responsibility, because we all depend on having those jobs done well.
But this presupposes that they do those jobs honestly.


feed_id: 4b57bbc7fa6291afb11638e74199180c
title: Rising ocean and sinking land
uri: Rising-ocean-and-sinking-land
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#24_March_2017_%28Rising_ocean_and_sinking_land%29
content:
<p>
Atlantic City and Miami Beach look at the future of being destroyed by
the rising ocean (global heating) working against the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/20/atlantic-city-miami-beach-sea-level-rise">sinking
land</a>.
<p>
You can preserve any place if you keep raising it, but we can't afford
to raise all of America's coast by several feet.  The only strategy we
can afford is decarbonization.


feed_id: 9084fe555a4b41e3960bd99c834d3cbc
title: Ivanka Trump complicit
uri: Ivanka-Trump-complicit
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#24_March_2017_%28Ivanka_Trump_complicit%29
content:
<p>
Ivanka Trump is Complicit in Her Dad's Mission to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/14/ivanka-trump-complicit-dads-mission-get-rich-us-expense-trumps-heartland-appeasing-liberals">Get
Rich at the US's Expense</a>.


feed_id: ec30d3c4cbb7a5316b3be82c76487aad
title: Troll's unofficial political commissars
uri: 2017-03-26-Troll-s-unofficial-political-commissars
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#24_March_2017_%28Trolls_unofficial_political_commissars%29

content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> has put unofficial political commissars into various
government departments.  The political commissar's job is to
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/03/20/white-house-installs-allies-cabinet-agencies-track-loyalty">monitor
what the department does and report back to the troll</a>.


feed_id: 910cc1d75df55bd9003041c0fa11a395
title: Siberia's permafrost
uri: Siberia-s-permafrost
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#27_March_2017_%28Siberias_permafrost%29
content:
<p>
1.5C of heating
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/feb/21/temperature-rise-permafrost-melt">will
start the permafrost in Siberia melting</a>.
<p>
That probably means global disaster, eventually.


feed_id: 2ee3f5268c29708d56359f38d81d6421
title: Murder of land-rights campaigners in Brazil
uri: Murder-of-land-rights-campaigners-in-Brazil
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#27_March_2017_%28Murder_of_land-rights_campaigners_in_Brazil%29

content:
<p>
Many land-rights campaigners in Brazil are being
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/21/brazil-land-rights-activist-shot-dead-amazon-hospital">murdered
by landgrabbers</a>.


feed_id: b8aab267afe9508db07aa97fb077962a
title: Repression in Kenya in the 1950s
uri: Repression-in-Kenya-in-the-1950s
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#27_March_2017_%28Repression_in_Kenya_in_the_1950s%29

content:
<p>
The UK
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/21/kenya-mau-mau-case-lawyers-contempt-parliament-foreign-office">threatens
to punish lawyers if they accused a deceased former minister of
lying</a> about repression in Kenya before its independence.


feed_id: d38a9308eb89fbee401f178791231d1f
title: Lobbying by US tax accountant companies
uri: Lobbying-by-US-tax-accountant-companies
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#27_March_2017_%28Lobbying_by_US_tax_accountant_companies%29

content:
<p>
US tax accountant companies lobby to
<a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/filing-taxes-could-be-free-simple-hr-block-intuit-lobbying-against-it">stop
the IRS from offering a simple alternative</a>.


feed_id: 14b9950fe457b275b76684142cccac91
title: Slave labor in the Amazon
uri: Slave-labor-in-the-Amazon
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#27_March_2017_%28Slave_labor_in_the_Amazon%29
content:
<p>
Suppliers of
<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/39910-suppliers-of-lowe-s-in-the-us-and-walmart-in-brazil-linked-to-slave-labor-in-the-amazon">Lowe's
in the US and Walmart in Brazil</a> Linked to Slave Labor in the
Amazon.


feed_id: e22d3638755b781a02724f2375ff023d
title: GCHQ snooping
uri: GCHQ-snooping
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#26_March_2017_%28GCHQ_snooping%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#faux">Faux News</a>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/mar/21/fox-drops-analyst-who-said-uk-could-have-helped-spy-on-trump-andrew-napolitano">fired
a commentator for claiming that GCHQ might have snooped</a> on the
troll.
<p>
If he indeed said "might", then we know it was true.
<p>
We know that GCHQ snoops on Americans and gives the data to the NSA
and CIA, to circumvent the law that says the latter can't snoop on
Americans.
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-may-aug.html#5_June_2016_(GCHQ)">(The
NSA returns the favor by snooping on Britons for GCHQ.)</a>  They must
have done this to the troll, because they do this to
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-mar-jun.html#24_May_2014_(Circumventing_the_law_wholesale)">everyone</a>.
<p>
I have no knowledge about whether Obama specifically ordered snooping
on the troll.


feed_id: 457955fc738df30a77c4527500813a57
title: Biometric identification in India
uri: Biometric-identification-in-India
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#26_March_2017_%28Biometric_identification_in_India%29

content:
<p>
India is starting the final stage of
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/mar/21/no-id-no-benefits-thousands-could-lose-lifeline-india-biometric-scheme-aadhaar-card">forcing
everyone to submit to biometric identification</a>, excluding people
from many activities as well as many kinds of welfare benefits unless
they have been identified.
<p>
While the people quoted in the article are most concerned for the harm
done to those who reject biometric identification, I am most concerned
with the harm of the biometric identification system itself.  It is
tyranny, pure and simple.


feed_id: f7c78e7d70a84d7de89198dd56d60985
title: Putin
uri: 2017-03-27-Putin
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#26_March_2017_%28Putin%29
content:
<p>
A Thousand Miles from Moscow:
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/21/moscow-putin-russian-president">how
Putin Forged his Russian Heartland</a>.


feed_id: 9a2f798ce4ae15869667c7699b0e540b
title: US media rushing to conclusion without proof
uri: US-media-rushing-to-conclusion-without-proof
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#26_March_2017_%28US_media_rushing_to_conclusion_without_proof%29

content:
<p>
Some US media are rushing to the conclusion that the troll conspired
with Russia — and
<a href="https://consortiumnews.com/2017/03/19/nyts-tinfoil-hat-conspiracy-theory/">presenting
no proof</a> of this.
<p>
I think the question needs to be investigated, but really it is a side
issue.  We know that he "won" the election through
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-nov-feb.html#11_December_2016_(Democrats)">cheating</a>.
We know he violates the constitution through foreign conflicts of
interest and is making decisions to enrich himself.  We know he wants
to incarnate <a href="/glossary.html#doohnibor">dooH niboR</a>, and kill many thousands of Americans each
year (far more than Islamist and right-wing terrorists put together).
<p>
We don't need any more than this to conclude he should be impeached.


feed_id: 447a19bb2dbe4c0b733a4f3be946b217
title: Laptops in checked baggage
uri: Laptops-in-checked-baggage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#26_March_2017_%28Laptops_in_checked_baggage%29
content:
<p>
The US now
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/21/us-electronic-devices-ban-flights-tsa-airports">requires
all laptops to be in checked baggage on flights to the US from certain
countries or airports</a>.
<p>
Experts can't see how this could make sense for security of the
flights.  I wonder if the motive is to disadvantage Emirates airline
— because it will have that effect.
<p>
It's clear that putting your laptop in checked baggage is a risk to
your own security.  I'd recommend you make a connection in Europe if
you are going to any of those countries, rather than check your
laptop.
<p>
I recommend avoiding Egypt, Turkey, <a href="/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a>, Qatar, and the
United Arab Emirates, simply to protect yourself from their
governments.  It is dangerous even to make a flight connection in the
airport of Qatar or
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-nov-feb.html#17_December_2013_(Imprisoned_for_having_microscopic_amounts_of_marijuana)">the
UAE</a>.


feed_id: bf6531fc844fd85172306a27bbe3b13d
title: Bangladeshi leather workers poisoned
uri: Bangladeshi-leather-workers-poisoned
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#26_March_2017_%28Bangladeshi_leather_workers_poisoned%29

content:
<p>
Bangladeshi leather workers have
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/21/plight-of-child-workers-facing-cocktail-of-toxic-chemicals-exposed-by-report-bangladesh-tanneries">no
protection from toxic chemicals</a>; almost everyone that lives in the
leather production district dies before age 50.
<p>
The practice is protected by
<a href="/business-supremacy-treaties.html">business-supremacy
treaties</a>, which forbid the richer countries from banning the
importation of leather made without safety gear.
<p>
The article dwells on the fact that child laborers are among those
being poisoned in this way, but I think that is a side issue; it is no
more acceptable to do this to adults than to children.


feed_id: 005301460311ef18d3e62e0d5e404b18
title: Troll's distraction tactics
uri: Troll-s-distraction-tactics
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#26_March_2017_%28Trolls_distraction_tactics%29
content:
<p>
News reporting
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/03/20/memo-media-how-not-cover-president">should
stop reporting so much on what the troll says</a>.
<p>
That will reduce the effectiveness of his
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/21/donald-trump-distraction-technique-media">distraction
tactics</a>.
<p>
The distraction game is played at multiple levels.  Some of the issues
listed in that article as things the troll tries to distract us
<em>from</em> are themselves secondary, distracting us from issues of
primary importance.
<p>
At present the main issue is to keep Gorsuch off the Supreme Court.


feed_id: 8d541948143a42874c96d025329f29af
title: Urgent: Arts and humanities funding
uri: Urgent-Arts-and-humanities-funding
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#28_March_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Arts_and_humanities_funding%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://www.signherenow.org/petition/save-endowments/pen/">call
on Congress</a> to protect funding for arts and humanities.


feed_id: 753adb51070f4e433cbf11f03d585f73
title: Reclined car seat ruled "suspicious"
uri: Reclined-car-seat-ruled-suspicious
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#28_March_2017_%28Reclined_car_seat_ruled_suspicious%29

content:
<p>
Kansas Supreme Court Rules That a Reclined Car Seat Is Suspicious
Behavior &
<a href="http://www.rutherford.org/publications_resources/on_the_front_lines/kansas_supreme_court_rules_that_a_reclined_car_seat_is_suspicious_behavior">Can
Be Used by Police as a Justification for Warrantless Searches</a>.


feed_id: e315326cccce94a65f3229efe1aaf32f
title: Abortion in Australia
uri: 2017-03-29-Abortion-in-Australia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#28_March_2017_%28Abortion_in_Australia%29
content:
<p>
A part of Australia has mostly eliminated its restrictions on abortion, 
but abortion 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/22/abortion-decriminalised-in-northern-territory-after-long-campaign">still
requires a doctor's approval</a>.
<p>
It makes no sense to make it harder to have an abortion than to have a
baby, when the baby is more dangerous in every way.  It is more likely
to cause the woman injury, illness or death.  It is more likely to
cause depression.  It is more likely to ruin a couple's relationship,
over time.  It is also almost certain to exacerbate the world's
ecological problems.
<p>
It is more likely to compel parents to demolish their consciences in
order to make as much money as possible "for the baby".  If you want
to keep your self-respect without the need for strained excuses,
above all 
<a href="/articles/children.html">don't have a baby</a>.


feed_id: a94f125e4d6b5503e9fc4441d366f475
title: Denying refugees the right to work
uri: Denying-refugees-the-right-to-work
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#28_March_2017_%28Denying_refugees_the_right_to_work%29

content:
<p>
Why Denying Refugees the Right to Work Is a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/22/why-denying-refugees-the-right-to-work-is-a-catastrophic-error">Catastrophic
Error</a>.


feed_id: 3b890dfd257649fe26c768a7bfe75dde
title: Seizure of Crimea used as PR campaign
uri: Seizure-of-Crimea-used-as-PR-campaign
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#28_March_2017_%28Seizure_of_Crimea_used_as_PR_campaign%29

content:
<p>
Putin 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/22/annexing-crimea-putin-make-russia-great-again">used
the seizure of Crimea for a PR campaign</a> by saying, in effect, that
he was making Russia great again.


feed_id: 50cb1fff115f432ee2fa0e7b134f8d76
title: Global heating and rain
uri: Global-heating-and-rain
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#28_March_2017_%28Global_heating_and_rain%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#global heating">Global heating</a> is increasing the amount of rain in many parts of the
world.  In Minnesota 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2017/mar/22/global-warming-is-increasing-rainfall-rates">"thousand-year"
floods have become five-year floods</a>.


feed_id: 9e6a9f606f08c732ea8970d0e0940644
title: School in Raqqa bombed
uri: School-in-Raqqa-bombed
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#28_March_2017_%28School_in_Raqqa_bombed%29
content:
<p>
The US bombed a school in Raqqa where refugee families were living
and 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/22/dozens-dead-in-us-led-syria-airstrike-al-mansoura">killed
over 30 people</a>.


feed_id: 8655a614f12d63f5bf9c005cb4e48216
title: Europe's treatment of child refugees
uri: Europe-s-treatment-of-child-refugees
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#28_March_2017_%28Europes_treatment_of_child_refugees%29

content:
<p>
Europe's Treatment of Child Refugees 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/22/europes-treatment-of-child-refugees-risks-increasing-radicalisation-threat">"Risks
Increasing Radicalisation Threat."</a>


feed_id: e1548404f38aa060acfe54aac7af7102
title: Violence in Honduras
uri: Violence-in-Honduras
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#28_March_2017_%28Violence_in_Honduras%29
content:
<p>
Honduras, Where 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/22/honduras-berta-caceres-activism-defending-nature-deadly-business">Defending
Nature Is a Deadly Business</a>.
<p>
This violence was unleashed by the coup, which Clinton at least winked
at.  After the coup, she supported the coup-installed government in
several ways.
<p>
I expect the troll to continue this support.


feed_id: 986936a447fbdfda20ed353eb4ec28e6
title: Rental bike tracking
uri: Rental-bike-tracking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#28_March_2017_%28Rental_bike_tracking%29
content:
<p>
Bike-hires become even more intrusive with a system of rental that 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/mar/22/bike-wars-dockless-china-millions-bicycles-hangzhou">tracks
all the bikes all the time</a>.


feed_id: 49b2d7a7a2eacbaa64a57990e8194ede
title: The troll and military lobbyists
uri: The-troll-and-military-lobbyists
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#28_March_2017_%28The_troll_and_military_lobbyists%29

content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> is 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/03/21/revolving-door-military/">filling
key government departments with military lobbyists</a>.


feed_id: 369b20d869961b0b4e661a53106a2294
title: UK thugs cracked protesters' email accounts
uri: UK-thugs-cracked-protesters-email-accounts
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#28_March_2017_%28UK_thugs_cracked_protesters_email_accounts%29

content:
<p>
UK thugs 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/mar/21/ipcc-investigates-claims-police-used-hackers-to-read-protesters-emails-jenny-jones">cracked
the email accounts of Greenpeace protesters</a>.
<p>
Since they had no legal authorization to do this, they could get in
big trouble.  However, I am confident the Tories will find some excuse
to protect them.  In their view, laws are tools to maintain their
power.


feed_id: b3f0333ddd7b661e0094c5f93d065e3b
title: Troll's contempt for human rights
uri: Troll-s-contempt-for-human-rights
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#28_March_2017_%28Trolls_contempt_for_human_rights%29

content:
<p>
US representatives did not attend a meeting of the Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights, which was going to question about them
about some 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/03/21/unprecedented-move-us-fails-show-human-rights-hearing">US
human rights issues</a>.
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> is showing his contempt for human rights.


feed_id: e466fc3080f7e516066219d567149d91
title: SCROTUS medical insurance bill
uri: SCROTUS-medical-insurance-bill
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#28_March_2017_%28SCROTUS_medical_insurance_bill%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#scrotus">SCROTUS</a> have made the bill to repeal Obama's medical insurance system
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/03/21/ahead-vote-trump-jawbones-gop-support-ryans-crueler-healthcare-plan">even
nastier</a>, to satisfy extreme right-wingers, and the troll is
threatening to punish congresscritters that don't vote for it.
<p>
Those that do vote for it will be punished by their constituents,
when the see how it kills their relatives.


feed_id: 5bf989b4b6898d2b86f659643eee0123
title: Troll's disregard for ethics rules
uri: Troll-s-disregard-for-ethics-rules
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#28_March_2017_%28Trolls_disregard_for_ethics_rules%29

content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a>'s example of disregard for ethics rules has 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/03/21/trumps-unprecedented-war-ethics">percolated
down through cabinet secretaries and officials</a>.


feed_id: a795128ddaaf0fc2ace297c0148a8cc3
title: Anti-Muslim bigotry
uri: Anti-Muslim-bigotry
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#28_March_2017_%28Anti-Muslim_bigotry%29
content:
<p>
White House officials 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/03/21/cair-calls-white-house-cancel-meeting-anti-muslim-hate-group-leader">plan
to meet with a leader in anti-Muslim bigotry</a>.


feed_id: d28149356fd78735a8bf5a378a5b6cb5
title: The electronics ban on some flights
uri: The-electronics-ban-on-some-flights
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#28_March_2017_%28The_electronics_ban_on_some_flights%29

content:
<p>
<a href="http://money.cnn.com/2017/03/21/news/airline-electronics-ban-explainer/index.html">More
information</a> about the electronics ban on some flights to the US.
<p>
The rule would 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/21/electronics-ban-middle-east-flights-safety-hazards-airline-profit">increase
the danger that a plane could be destroyed by a fire in the hold</a>.
The lithium batteries that power laptops are normally permitted only
in the cabin.
<p>
Others join me in suspecting this policy has 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/03/21/donald-trumps-muslim-laptop-ban-could-be-a-protectionist-scheme/">commercial
motives</a>.


feed_id: a05ad15092a981a452db54b9d55953ac
title: ING sells its share of Dakota Access Pipeline
uri: ING-sells-its-share-of-Dakota-Access-Pipeline
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#28_March_2017_%28ING_sells_its_share_of_Dakota_Access_Pipeline%29

content:
<p>
A big Dutch bank, ING, has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/21/dakota-access-pipeline-ing-sells-stake-loan-standing-rock">sold
its share of the Dakota Access pipeline</a>.  This comes too late to
block construction of that pipeline, but it shows a method we may be
able to use against other fossil fuel companies.


feed_id: 6e939ce1812752618aa1aac057383651
title: Urgent: Oppose making crony head of SEC
uri: Urgent-Oppose-making-crony-head-of-SEC
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_making_crony_head_of_SEC%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/clayton_sec">oppose</a>
making Jay Clayton head of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  We
don't want another crony to pretend to regulate corporations.


feed_id: ebb334bf645e46d8ea00e19926312ca5
title: Urgent: Oppose laws that undermine unions
uri: Urgent-Oppose-laws-that-undermine-unions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_laws_that_undermine_unions%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://petitions.signforgood.com/right-to-work/">state your
opposition</a> to proposed laws that undermine funding for unions (and
thus tend to eliminate unions).


feed_id: 1e67b3f09f9c017b59aff343054384f7
title: Urgent: Funding for contraception
uri: Urgent-Funding-for-contraception
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Funding_for_contraception%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: phone 202-688-0631 to talk with your congresscritter
and 
<a href="http://p2a.co/y0cHz1R">support funding for contraception</a>,
in the US and outside.


feed_id: ad5cac28642adc6696c0a204321d706d
title: Urgent: National Environmental Policy Act
uri: Urgent-National-Environmental-Policy-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Urgent%3A_National_Environmental_Policy_Act%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://secure.earthjustice.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1949">stand
for</a> the National Environmental Policy Act.


feed_id: 9bcf0bfea81e9f8e4a6d83dc4eba2ca5
title: Urgent: Defund Keystone XL pipeline
uri: Urgent-Defund-Keystone-XL-pipeline
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Defund_Keystone_XL_pipeline%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: 
<a href="https://www.ran.org/defundkxl">Call on banks</a> not to fund
the Keystone XL pipeline.


feed_id: bef76fce7b6b0c298936c8becf432d4e
title: Wife of Rwandan opposition leader arrested
uri: Wife-of-Rwandan-opposition-leader-arrested
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Wife_of_Rwandan_opposition_leader_arrested%29

content:
<p>
The wife of an exiled Rwandan opposition leader was 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/24/leeds-woman-charged-in-rwanda-for-revealing-state-secrets">arrested
secretly</a>, and has been charged with crimes such as "revealing
state secrets".
<p>
The government of Rwanda has operated in a 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2012-sep-dec.html#13_October_2012_(Kagame_imprisons_and_kills_opposition_and_journalists)">tyrannical
manner</a> for many years.


feed_id: e84daf32d6e2169f69ceb4f7cc2166e1
title: Malicious hardware in iPhones
uri: Malicious-hardware-in-iPhones
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Malicious_hardware_in_iPhones%29
content:
<p>
Wikileaks revealed that the CIA has been putting malicious hardware
systematically into iPhones 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/03/23/latest-wikileak-dump-shows-cia-hacking-iphones-2008">since
2008</a>.


feed_id: b0eaa5a13a256027585a59c9f0d2d6da
title: Cancer from Roundup
uri: Cancer-from-Roundup
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Cancer_from_Roundup%29
content:
<p>
The people suing about getting cancer from Roundup are mostly
agricultural workers, but 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/03/23/congress-must-investigate-collusion-between-monsanto-and-epa-now">home
gardeners may be affected too</a>.


feed_id: 469aa3ee4c4fd62a845f210b406e8c0b
title: Senate votes to allow ISPs to sell users' data
uri: Senate-votes-to-allow-ISPs-to-sell-users-data
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Senate_votes_to_allow_ISPs_to_sell_users_data%29

content:
<p>
The Senate voted to let ISPs sell users' data to advertisers, 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/03/23/the-senate-just-voted-to-sell-you-out-to-advertisers/">even
sabotage their browsing</a>.
<p>
We have lost this battle, but the Obama-era regulations were
inadequate anyway.  An ethical ISP should not keep any record
of your internet contacts except when ordered to by a court.


feed_id: 4d2160db98d00425ab4efb49c94c7192
title: Avoiding global heating disaster
uri: 2017-03-30-Avoiding-global-heating-disaster
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Avoiding_global_heating_disaster%29

content:
<p>
A general roadmap to avoid global heating disaster: 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/23/moores-law-carbon-would-defeat-global-warming">cut
greenhouse emissions in half each decade</a>.
<p>
Keeping mind what is adequate will help us avoid distraction with
inadequate measures.


feed_id: 94b50484221765b339e39c37d0ae1ed6
title: Authors, publishers, journalists arrested
uri: Authors-publishers-journalists-arrested
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Authors%2C_publishers%2C_journalists_arrested%29

content:
<p>
Belarus arrested authors, publishers and journalists 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/mar/23/belarus-arrests-authors-publishers-and-journalists-minsk-literature-festival">at
a literary festival</a>.  Some were tortured.


feed_id: dc0ebcc9eba24216638a2ca67123154c
title: UK sending more Afghans back to Afghanistan
uri: UK-sending-more-Afghans-back-to-Afghanistan
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28UK_sending_more_Afghans_back_to_Afghanistan%29

content:
<p>
The UK is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/mar/23/is-it-safe-britain-send-refugees-back-afghanistan">sending
more Afghans back to Afghanistan</a> even as violence there increases.


feed_id: 7c74cd2e40134d5abb559e80b5461968
title: US spreads idea that violence is ok
uri: US-spreads-idea-that-violence-is-ok
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28US_spreads_idea_that_violence_is_ok%29

content:
<p>
The US spreads the idea that violence is 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/03/23/mosque-disappeared">ok
as long as it is done dispassionately</a>.


feed_id: cfa4cd11c98e3355e3f705b9ebdb3059
title: Thugs arrest disabled protesters
uri: Thugs-arrest-disabled-protesters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Thugs_arrest_disabled_protesters%29

content:
<p>
Capitol thugs arrested disabled protesters 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/further/2017/03/22/have-we-gone-low-we-can-go-yet-please-capitol-police-arrest-unseemly-disabled">in
their wheelchairs</a>.


feed_id: a25608d6b8f2a4ce235f7372f1b0de34
title: Ordered to decrypt disk drives
uri: Ordered-to-decrypt-disk-drives
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Ordered_to_decrypt_disk_drives%29
content:
<p>
A man in the US has been ordered to decrypt some disk drives and 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/23/francis-rawls-philadelphia-police-child-abuse-encryption">faces
imprisonment for the rest of his life unless he does so</a>.
<p>
The mere possession of a copy of any publication should not be a
crime.


feed_id: 9f3a6e132af78de5607636798353c435
title: Criminal charges for forgetting baby
uri: Criminal-charges-for-forgetting-baby
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Criminal_charges_for_forgetting_baby%29

content:
<p>
Two parents in Texas face criminal charges for 
<a href="http://www.freerangekids.com/is-a-baby-abandoned-if-left-temporarily-behind-by-accident/">forgetting
their baby on the sidewalk</a> and driving away.
<p>
The baby has been taken away from them and will be given to strangers
if no suitable relatives are found to care for it.


feed_id: ae25632a1ca445d4e361577f4abbaf18
title: UK state to use secret evidence
uri: UK-state-to-use-secret-evidence
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28UK_state_to_use_secret_evidence%29
content:
<p>
The UK captured two men in Iraq and handed them over to the US in
Afghanistan to be tortured for 10 years.  They are suing for damages,
and the UK state will defend itself with secret evidence that the
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/23/rendition-government-evidence-heard-secret-uk-first-time">victims
and their lawyers are not allowed to see</a>.
<p>
That's not justice.  They can basically get away with making up
anything at all.


feed_id: a569987bc66e6cf8905a3c2a642fed09
title: Anti-vaxers
uri: Anti-vaxers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Anti-vaxers%29
content:
<p>
Anti-vaxers in Italy 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/23/italys-five-star-movement-blamed-for-surge-in-measles-cases">led
to an increase in cases of measles</a>.
<p>
Everyone ought to be vaccinated.


feed_id: b76e0b779c3584228dec5f7db3a9e851
title: Tories' campaign spending
uri: Tories-campaign-spending
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Tories_campaign_spending%29
content:
<p>
The Tories are being investigated for 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/mar/23/conservative-election-scandal-victory-2015-expenses">illegal
campaign spending</a> which might have been crucial in "winning" the
2015 election.


feed_id: d737f82016af664eda849f30a1265117
title: Legalization of abortion in El Salvador
uri: Legalization-of-abortion-in-El-Salvador
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Legalization_of_abortion_in_El_Salvador%29

content:
<p>
El Salvador is considering a bill to legalize abortion 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/mar/23/el-salvador-anti-abortion-law-overturn-support-building-landmark-move">in
limited circumstances</a>.
<p>
It is not enough, but it is at least a step forward.


feed_id: e0b85f5eea8a9b3226a03725b4bbb723
title: Reports from imprisoned Turkish journalists
uri: Reports-from-imprisoned-Turkish-journalists
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Reports_from_imprisoned_Turkish_journalists%29

content:
<p>
Imprisoned Turkish journalists report 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/23/turkish-journalists-solitary-confinement-maltreatment-jail">abuses
and solitary confinement</a>.


feed_id: d1a521bd0cf0fdfdfc76e3da666e13ef
title: 1000 refugees walk from US to Canada
uri: 1000-refugees-walk-from-US-to-Canada
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%281000_refugees_walk_from_US_to_Canada%29

content:
<p>
1000 refugees have 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/23/us-immigrants-canada-asylum-border-refugees">walked
from the US to Canada</a> seeking a chance to apply for asylum there.


feed_id: 57ec4a2b48c19f10f134b1cf26a6f0b9
title: Gorsuch's anti-human approach to law
uri: Gorsuch-s-anti-human-approach-to-law
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Gorsuchs_anti-human_approach_to_law%29

content:
<p>
Gorsuch showed his pro-business, anti-human approach to law
in the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2017/mar/23/neil-gorsuch-supreme-court-frozen-trucker-alphonse-maddin">case
of the (about to be) frozen trucker</a>.
<p>
He's so bad that the 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#31_July_2016_(US_Chamber_of_Commerce)">US
Chamber of Commerce</a> loves him.


feed_id: 85aa576fb1150a5964ab72a30981104c
title: Bulges in the tundra of Siberia
uri: Bulges-in-the-tundra-of-Siberia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Bulges_in_the_tundra_of_Siberia%29
content:
<p>
Thousands of bulges have appeared in the tundra of Siberia, each based
on a gas pocket which contains 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/3/21/1645671/-Thousands-of-underground-gas-bulges-formed-by-thawing-permafrost-set-to-explode-in-Siberia">lots
of methane</a>.


feed_id: 61f47a272e07423a2d44105d747769d7
title: US immigration thugs
uri: US-immigration-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28US_immigration_thugs%29
content:
<p>
US immigration thugs 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/03/22/mississippi-bill-helps-enable-trumps-sinister-immigration-crackdown">targeted
Austin for raids</a> to punish the city for its sanctuary policy.
<p>
Unauthorized immigrants are already being 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/23/undocumented-immigrants-wary-report-crimes-deportation">scared
away from reporting crimes committed against them</a>, and they will
avoid testifying about crimes.
<p>
They will be even more reluctant to report crimes committed against
other people, or testifying about such crimes.


feed_id: aa6fdbb5ae5420305bd36aa930d7157c
title: UK tax haven
uri: UK-tax-haven
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28UK_tax_haven%29
content:
<p>
The UK threatens to turn into more of a tax haven.  Tax havens are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/22/tax-haven-theresa-may-bad-news-britain-brexit">bad
for their non-rich inhabitants</a>.


feed_id: 06e2d773611aedb4cc9621b3a9f45441
title: US border thugs
uri: 2017-03-30-US-border-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28US_border_thugs%29
content:
<p>
The ACLU accuses a US border thug of 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/22/us-border-agent-sexually-assaults-teenage-sisters-texas">raping
two Guatemalan women at the border</a>.


feed_id: fff93b823c112f836b5929eb340d2f78
title: Westminster terrorist attack a tragedy
uri: Westminster-terrorist-attack-a-tragedy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Westminster_terrorist_attack_a_tragedy%29

content:
<p>
The Westminster [terrorist] Attack is a Tragedy, but It's 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/22/westminster-attack-tragedy-not-threat-democracy">Not
a Threat to Democracy</a>.
<p>
Tories are the threat to democracy.


feed_id: 56ba154a06e8306c3f386443c5abee1d
title: Gorsuch
uri: 2017-03-30-Gorsuch
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Gorsuch%29
content:
<p>
Neil Gorsuch Is Not Another Scalia. Heâs the 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/03/22/neil-gorsuch-not-another-scalia-hes-next-john-roberts">Next
John Roberts</a>.
<p>
(The first one reinterpreted the Voting Rights Act into vacuity
after leading people to think he wouldn't.)


feed_id: 18151caff60a3134ee3b08a5795b6a55
title: Troll's lawyers
uri: Troll-s-lawyers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Trolls_lawyers%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> had lawyers 
<a href="http://observer.com/2017/03/trump-cease-and-desist-kitten-punch-site/">threaten
to sue a woman for making a web site that made fun of him</a>.
<p>
As I understand it, he hasn't got a leg to stand on, but he's trying
to intimidate her.


feed_id: b769ea2c4a5b8c2fcdf94a593fd08d00
title: A call for troll's adviser to resign
uri: A-call-for-troll-s-adviser-to-resign
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28A_call_for_trolls_adviser_to_resign%29

content:
<p>
Anne Frank Center 
<a href="https://lobelog.com/anne-frank-center-calls-for-resignation-of-trump-adviser-sebastian-gorka/">Calls
For Resignation</a> of Trump Adviser Sebastian Gorka.


feed_id: 1fc9594831ae2d8be370b08b6e3344e9
title: Creepy ISPs
uri: Creepy-ISPs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Creepy_ISPs%29
content:
<p>
Five Creepy Things Your ISP Could Do 
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/03/five-creepy-things-your-isp-could-do-if-congress-repeals-fccs-privacy-protections">if
Congress Repeals the FCC's Privacy Protections</a>.  US ISPs did these
things until they were prohibited.


feed_id: f87d9e3a32a003525683bb2a803f0c48
title: Former troll campaign chief
uri: Former-troll-campaign-chief
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Former_troll_campaign_chief%29
content:
<p>
Former Trump Campaign Chief 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/22/former-trump-campaign-chief-paul-manafort-offered-help-putin-russia">'Offered
to Help Putin Advance Interests.'</a>


feed_id: da7b12e94134a990e620e13e7296a51d
title: Arctic ice falls to record low
uri: Arctic-ice-falls-to-record-low
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Arctic_ice_falls_to_record_low%29
content:
<p>
Arctic Ice Falls to Record Winter Low After 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/22/arctic-ice-falls-record-winter-low-polar-heatwaves">Polar
"Heatwaves"</a>.
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> intends to cut EPA funding so we will be in the dark about
how things get worse.


feed_id: e16a5099fea68800608a8fe0a877f058
title: Cost of gunshots in the US
uri: Cost-of-gunshots-in-the-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Cost_of_gunshots_in_the_US%29
content:
<p>
Gunshots in the US cause an average of 
<a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/gun-violence-cost-americans-dollar6-billion-in-health-care-over-the-last-decade">$700
million dollars per year in medical costs</a>.  But it is hard to get
data to study this, because the gun lobby has persuaded Congress to
ban funding the research.
<p>
The National Rifle Association says it campaigns to implement the 2nd
Amendment, but in practice it operates as a lobbying campaign for gun
manufacturers.


feed_id: 867d086e912126da85d603ba8556dd44
title: Prolonged occupation of Palestine
uri: Prolonged-occupation-of-Palestine
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Prolonged_occupation_of_Palestine%29

content:
<p>
David Ben Gurion warned in 1967 that prolonged occupation of newly
conquered Palestine was likely to convert Israel into an apartheid
state. Other subsequent prime ministers recognized that this was
happening, and so did Desmond Tutu.
<p>
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/03/22/top-israelis-have-warned-of-apartheid-so-why-the-outrage-at-a-un-report/">Today's
Israeli politicians</a> say that recognizing this constitutes
"Israel-bashing" and "antisemitism."


feed_id: 71ddd5b72c1bbf350c2762e122fd0154
title: Gorsuch
uri: 2017-03-31-Gorsuch
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Gorsuch%29
content:
<p>


Putting Gorsuch on the Supreme Court is an explicit part of a
right-wing campaign to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/03/27/neil-gorsuch-and-deconstruction-administrative-state">destroy the regulations that protect Americans</a>
from being crushed by corporations.


feed_id: 8a543cb676ffafa682d9c9647fe7df17
title: Another reason to pay cash
uri: Another-reason-to-pay-cash
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Another_reason_to_pay_cash%29
content:
<p>

<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2017/03/27/everyone-is-a-human-trafficker-to-banks">Banks are monitoring account records</a>, purporting to identify those who
enslave prostitutes through patterns of ordinary activities such as
purchases at drug stores and restaurants.  These patterns could just as easily show up in many kinds of life and
business activities, one of which noncoerced prostitution.  If one of them
appears in your account, it could cause you substantial trouble.
<p>
This is one more of many reasons to pay cash.


feed_id: 3285f31cbb7aaaa3647a2ad44cb64fbe
title: Prison for covering face
uri: Prison-for-covering-face
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Prison_for_covering_face%29
content:
<p>


Some US states <a href="http://reason.com/blog/2017/03/27/dressing-like-the-joker-is-a-felony-in-v">threaten people with years in prison</a> for covering their
faces in public.  This was intended to stop Ku Klux Klan mobs from terrorizing blacks,
but the law applies to solitary individuals too.
<p>
Nowadays, the effect of this is to bar people from protecting themselves
from pervasive face recognition cameras.  We cannot stand for it.


feed_id: b88b1d8c679337ac4e976cc1e8f90ff2
title: Trump's energy policies
uri: Trump-s-energy-policies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Trump%27s_energy_policies%29
content:
<p>


The troll's energy policies <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/03/27/attention-donald-trump-new-report-shows-clean-energy-employs-far-more-workers">are bad for US employment as well as for
the climate</a>.
<p>
They are great for fossil fool plutocrats, though.


feed_id: 6d0bcee908fcfb448007bc0b5d321f0e
title: Santander Bank
uri: Santander-Bank
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Santander_Bank%29
content:
<p>


Workers at Santander Bank, from all around the US, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/03/27/workers-shut-down-santander-headquarters-mass-protest">are protesting at
the headquarters</a> against its bad treatment of the workers and the public.
<p>
The latter includes pressuring staff to sell financial instruments
that aren't really in the customers' interests, as well as breaking
various laws.


feed_id: 69486f98250ecf16445790c40df3d55c
title: Scarcity of fresh water
uri: Scarcity-of-fresh-water
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Scarcity_of_fresh_water%29
content:
<p>


Activists are aware of the danger of scarcity of fresh water, but the
measures <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2017/mar/27/aquifers-worlds-reserve-water-tank-asia">they propose to stop this are totally inadequate</a>.
<p>
We need to curb global heating (which makes arid regions drier),
and curb population growth (whic increases the demand for water).


feed_id: 90862f9b450f970032168bbb52545e64
title: Trump attacks the poor
uri: Trump-attacks-the-poor
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Trump_attacks_the_poor%29
content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/mar/27/america-cuts-health-insurance-obamacare-hit-poor-disabled-and-ill">The troll's attack on the poor is not over</a>.


feed_id: d691df806e39d95acaf45edc7ec6b924
title: Privacy of arriving travelers in US
uri: Privacy-of-arriving-travelers-in-US
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Privacy_of_arriving_travelers_in_US%29

content:
<p>


The Knight First Amendment Institute <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2017/mar/27/us-customs-digital-device-searches-privacy-lawsuit-passwords">is suing to get information</a> about
US practices in forcing arriving travelers to show what is in their
computers, in the absence of probable cause or a warrant.
<p>
Just getting more information would not make the state respect our
rights, but might aid subsequent efforts to do so.


feed_id: e5d7ce694915be80034f0cc321e213a9
title: Theresa "Snooper" May
uri: Theresa-Snooper-May
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Theresa_Snooper_May%29
content:
<p>


Theresa "Snooper" May <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/mar/27/downing-street-amber-rudd-authorities-access-encrypted-messages-whatsapp-terrorism">took up the demand to deny Britons strong
encryption</a>.


feed_id: 04b99296fe895e31d293fe2f6e0c40d2
title: Corruption in Russia
uri: Corruption-in-Russia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Corruption_in_Russia%29
content:
<p>


Thousands of people protested against corruption in Moscow and other
Russian cities.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/27/why-have-i-been-arrested-maybe-you-killed-kennedy-the-russian-officer-said">Thugs arrested them violently on absurd charges</a>.
<p>
Those arrested <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/27/russian-opposition-leader-alexei-navalny-at-court-following-arrest">included opposition politician</a> Alexei Navalny.


feed_id: cef924a75d55be411328315fec2032dd
title: Dow and DuPont merging
uri: Dow-and-DuPont-merging
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Dow_and_DuPont_merging%29
content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/mar/27/eu-greenlights-dow-dupont-mega-merger-food-security-fears-climate-change">The EU has permitted the dangerous merger of Dow and DuPont</a>.


feed_id: 4451914719051b7df06ed59a940bcb44
title: Mass protests
uri: Mass-protests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Mass_protests%29
content:
<p>


Mass protests may not win a fight on their own, but <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/27/demonstrations-matter-power-protesters-revolts">they create power</a>
that can change politics.


feed_id: 7be9654000a952acb22f408fde1ca3c0
title: Global heating
uri: 2017-03-31-Global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Global_heating%29
content:
<p>


The worst mass extinction in history was due to global heating that
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/earth-permian-mass-extinction-apocalypse-warning-climate-change-frozen-methane-a7648006.html">reached an average temperature 14C above current temperatures</a>.


feed_id: 0f62a21413704f015ff4325c43468690
title: Turkey
uri: 2017-03-31-Turkey
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Turkey%29
content:
<p>

Erdo?an <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/27/tensions-flare-greece-turkey-answer-provocation-erdogan">is threatening military confrontation with Greece</a>, to get more
votes in the referendum to declare him a dictator.


feed_id: e5dec38acee3a93fcdcb13f70a8fcb98
title: Uber-Wealthy
uri: Uber-Wealthy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Uber-Wealthy%29
content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/27/connecticut-debt-tax-loophole-greenwich-rich-residents">Protesters Target Connecticut's Uber-Wealthy</a> with 'Tax Bills' in Bid to End
Loophole.


feed_id: d8c05811beec24374bbf3abf3546f108
title: FBI's facial recognition database
uri: FBI-s-facial-recognition-database
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28FBI%27s_facial_recognition_database%29

content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/27/us-facial-recognition-database-fbi-drivers-licenses-passports">The FBI's facial recognition database is "out of control"</a>.
<p>
I would not criticize it for being wrong 15% of the time.  On the
contrary, it is dangerous because it is wrong <em>only</em> 15% of the
time.  If it were wrong more, it would threaten us less.  If it were
wrong 99% of the time, it would be a lot safer.
<p>
Likewise, the way to defend blacks' rights is not by making the system
recognize them more accurately, but by making it recognize both blacks
and whites much less often.


feed_id: 621841435a7ea71a96665091c62f8cd9
title: Hong Kong protesters
uri: Hong-Kong-protesters
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Hong_Kong_protesters%29
content:
<p>


Hong Kong <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/27/hong-kong-democracy-activists-charged-day-after-new-city-leader-elected">will prosecute leaders</a> of previous street protests.
<p>
I suppose when Lam talks about "reuniting" the population, that means
in prison.


feed_id: 8b75254f48c0da914ada875187c60d5c
title: Toxic waste
uri: Toxic-waste
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Toxic_waste%29
content:
<p>

I've been told that there are people who are trying to analyze
treatment of personal data in terms of toxic waste.  The idea seems
good to me.  Can anyone put me in touch with people who propose that
idea?  Please write to me at rms@gnu.org.


feed_id: 438222dd925e78492f88cb17cf47f7f2
title: Finland homelessness
uri: Finland-homelessness
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Finland_homelessness%29
content:
<p>


Finland <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2017/mar/22/finland-solved-homelessness-eu-crisis-housing-first">has conquered homelessness</a> through the "housing first" policy
where anyone that becomes homeless is immediately provided with
permanent housing.
<p>
It turns out that this facilitates helping with whatever other
problems person may have.


feed_id: 2c03dcc93678c0dc21b1ebc170d6ac50
title: Cracked firmware in tractors
uri: Cracked-firmware-in-tractors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Cracked_firmware_in_tractors%29
content:
<p>


US farmers are installing cracked firmware in their tractors because <a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/why-american-farmers-are-hacking-their-tractors-with-ukrainian-firmware">that
is the only way to fix them</a>.
<p>
This is a perfect illustration of the tyranny of proprietary software.


feed_id: 4c6658b9930cd93f091d147110fc1ecd
title: White Republican spied
uri: White-Republican-spied
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28White_Republican_spied%29
content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.emptywheel.net/2017/03/20/when-a-white-republican-gets-spied-on-privacy-suddenly-matters/">When a White Republican Gets Spied On, Privacy Suddenly Matters</a>.


feed_id: 624dc5041d6571175b312eec76d6f2ac
title: Technological change
uri: Technological-change
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Technological_change%29
content:
<p>


Technological change is not just technology -- it drives political
change.  Thus, <a href="https://ieet.org/index.php/IEET2/more/Danaylov20170322">technological advances can make most people worse off</a>.

See also https://gnu.org/philosophy/stallmans-law.html.


feed_id: ee7ddbbe87637d374e551947e00ebb28
title: Corbyn
uri: 2017-03-31-Corbyn
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Corbyn%29
content:
<p>


Corbyn <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/mar/26/labour-opposes-henry-viii-powers-rewrite-eu-laws-great-repeal-bill">insists that Parliament make the detailed decisions about how
to change UK law when it exits the EU</a>.


feed_id: fa568da70441a800de30f5f57ac32b47
title: Nuclear disarmament
uri: 2017-03-31-Nuclear-disarmament
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Nuclear_disarmament%29
content:
<p>


All the nuclear states that signed the non-proliferation treaty
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/26/nuclear-states-are-in-breach-of-the-non-proliferation-treaty">are violating the requirement to pursue nuclear disarmament</a>.


feed_id: ca2ec8230b90c2beb582aea1963707f5
title: Civilians getting out from Mosul
uri: Civilians-getting-out-from-Mosul
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Civilians_getting_out_from_Mosul%29

content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/26/shell-shocked-mosul-survivors-tell-of-intense-airstrikes">The pause in fighting in Mosul is enabling some civilians to get out</a>.  They couldn't get out before, because PISSI threatens to kill those
who try to leave.
<p>
The house that the US bombed may have been an example of a war crime
by PISSI, in setting up their gun position on top of civilians.  But that
was not an excuse for the US to drop a bomb that would destroy the
whole house.  There were other ways to attack those PISSI fighters;
there always are.


feed_id: a75237b8298cd58db229494f0336cf39
title: Me-First Age
uri: Me-First-Age
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Me-First_Age%29
content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/26/cruelty-lonely-invisible-personal-friendships">Reject the Cruelty of a Me-First Age</a> That Renders the Lonely Invisible.


feed_id: f41c1008c6fc433192f6e7110e52c114
title: Muslims condemn Islamist terrorism
uri: Muslims-condemn-Islamist-terrorism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Muslims_condemn_Islamist_terrorism%29

content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2017/mar/26/muslims-condemn-terrorism-stats">Muslims condemn Islamist terrorism</a>, over and over and over.
<p>
The article's analogy between Muslims and inhabitants of Kent is
flawed.  No one commits terrorism in the name of Kent.  If someone
from Kent commits terrorism, that person's connection with Kent is an
insignificant detail.  However, some Muslims commit terrorism in the
name of Islam, so the fact that they are Muslims is crucial.
Likewise, some Christians commit terrorism in the name of
Christianity, so the fact that they are Christians is crucial.
<p>
There is no reason for most Muslims to <em>apologize</em> for Islamist
terrorism, since they are not responsible for it.  However, it is very
important for them to <em>condemn</em> Islamist terrorism, and
political Islamism, because that will help steer confused and
alienated Muslims away from Islamism and terrorism.  It behooves us to
highlight their frequently expressed condemnation rather than to deny
its existence.
<p>
The same applies to Christians in regard to right-wing Christian
terrorists.  And if some people in Kent start to commit terrorism in
the name of Kent, it will be imperative for everyone in Kent to
denounce such terrorism.


feed_id: a78223a19084a750dd2e06d9f76dd632
title: Bombing of Mosul and Raqqa
uri: Bombing-of-Mosul-and-Raqqa
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Bombing_of_Mosul_and_Raqqa%29
content:
<p>


The troll's intensified bombing of Mosul and Raqqa is consistent with
the idea of "non-interventionism" which he said he believed in.  <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/03/26/trumps-war-on-terror-has-quickly-become-as-barbaric-and-savage-as-he-promised/">He
said he would make that war more savage</a>, and he seems to be doing so.


feed_id: b2e6d26737e4c76044f77c802804a243
title: Bullying of the press
uri: Bullying-of-the-press
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Bullying_of_the_press%29
content:
<p>


The troll's bullying of the press <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/03/26/trump-insults-the-media-but-bush-bullied-and-defanged-it-to-sell-the-iraq-war/">follows</a> on from Dubya's bullying of
the press.


feed_id: b972c69ea6434fcb319c71aea790d640
title: Israli apartheid
uri: Israli-apartheid
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Israli_apartheid%29
content:
<p>


Israel and the US use their clout <a href="https://consortiumnews.com/2017/03/24/pretending-israel-is-innocent-of-apartheid/">to impose the pretense</a> that Israel
is not practising apartheid.


feed_id: 8893429a980ecb1bb7db639431d7d3b5
title: Female undergratues raped
uri: Female-undergratues-raped
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Female_undergratues_raped%29
content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/25/15-percent-female-undergraduates-texas-austin-raped">Nearly 15% of Female Undergraduates at UT Austin Report Being Raped</a>.


feed_id: 42834c5b1be8cb89b1fc5db31fc89c95
title: Government surveillance
uri: Government-surveillance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Government_surveillance%29
content:
<p>


The Government Is "Incidentally" <a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/washington-markup/government-incidentally-sucking-tens-millions-americans-communications-year">Sucking up Tens of Millions of 
Americans' Communications</a> a Year, And It's a Privacy Nightmare.
<p>
The NSA uses misleading language to misrepresent its practices.


feed_id: 26761e9af29a1af9e499f0d592b325db
title: Encryption ban stopped
uri: Encryption-ban-stopped
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Encryption_ban_stopped%29
content:
<p>


A UK minister proposed to ban companies from offering solid encryption,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/26/amber-rudd-battle-tech-firms-cabinet-whatsapp-david-davis">but the plan was quickly quashed</a>.
<p>
Bravo to those that opposed this.  The casualties of the small recent
terrorist attack on Parliament were insignificant compared to those of
the accidents that happen in Britain every day, but those who advocate
total surveillance will seize on them as an opportunity.


feed_id: b60996d43deab31a16bddc1e42421405
title: Nigel Lang
uri: Nigel-Lang
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Nigel_Lang%29
content:
<p>


Nigel Lang's life <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/matthewchampion/this-mans-life-was-destroyed-by-a-police-typo?utm_term=.knnAnjgye#.aq8dX2EL8">was damaged irrevocably when thugs accused him of
possession of "child pornography"</a> based on making a typo in a search.
<p>
It is wrong to prosecute people for "possession" of copies of any sort of
works, no matter how bad the making of those works may be.


feed_id: 66c62fd09b4e0f703aac2707ec3d7c29
title: Riot Police in Belarus
uri: Riot-Police-in-Belarus
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Riot_Police_in_Belarus%29
content:
<p>


Riot Police in Belarus Attack Protesters <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/25/belarus-lukashenko-protesters-riot-police-attack-minsk">Calling for End to "Dictatorship"</a>.


feed_id: f39983cd510fbc01590e40f839d0250a
title: Mosul offensive
uri: Mosul-offensive
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Mosul_offensive%29
content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/25/iraq-suspends-mosul-offensive-after-coalition-airstrike-atrocity">Iraq Suspends Mosul Offensive</a> after Coalition Airstrike Atrocity.
<p>
We can't tell whether the troll <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/25/mosul-airstrikes-aleppo-vladimir-putin-donald-trump-islamic-state">has made this happen by relaxing rules
of engagement</a>.


feed_id: f118c503afe0494945fac9e60d52614c
title: Chinese professor arrested
uri: Chinese-professor-arrested
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Chinese_professor_arrested%29
content:
<p>


A Chinese who is a professor at an Australian university <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/mar/26/australian-academic-chongyi-feng-prevented-from-leaving-china">was arrested in China
when about to return to Australia</a>.
<p>
One must suspect this is because something he taught or wrote is
officially disapproved of.


feed_id: 202da2f50b37349065e33efb9e132e03
title: China and Hong Kong
uri: China-and-Hong-Kong
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28China_and_Hong_Kong%29
content:
<p>


China <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/26/hong-kong-chooses-new-leader-amid-accusations-of-china-meddling">has once again imposed</a> its own agent as chief official of Hong
Kong.


feed_id: 2a5f4bbfaf2d44b8c094ac7934f3f59b
title: Loss of Arctic sea ice
uri: 2017-03-31-Loss-of-Arctic-sea-ice
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Loss_of_Arctic_sea_ice%29
content:
<p>


The loss of Arctic sea ice <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/26/shrinking-sea-ice-threatens-beluga-whale-robin-mckie">could wipe out beluga whales along with
polar bears</a>.


feed_id: 214237eb5a2607c906825f12525166fb
title: Congressional committee
uri: Congressional-committee
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Congressional_committee%29
content:
<p>


The head of the congressional committee that is supposed to be
investigating links between the troll's campaign team and Russia snuck
off to tell the White House about evidence <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/26/trump-russia-investigation-house-intelligence-devin-nunes">that he hadn't shown to
the committee</a>.
<p>
In effect, he betrayed the committee's mission.


feed_id: 7870c96dde44fc900e337adf7f31a7a0
title: Gorsuch
uri: 2017-03-31-Gorsuch
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Gorsuch%29
content:
<p>


Gorsuch <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/neil-gorsuch-bush-torture-interrogation-policies-emails-2017-3">helped design legal excuses for Guantanamo</a> imprisonment
without trial.
<p>
This demonstrates his unfitness to be any sort of judge.
<p>
Gorsuch <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/25/neil-gorsuch-confirmation-hearing-empathy-analysis">resembles the troll</a> in lacking an aspect of compassion.


feed_id: a406a0efbc60a1e0596feed5ce766eff
title: Medical care
uri: Medical-care
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Medical_care%29
content:
<p>


One of SCROTUS's last-minute changes to its plan to cut off poor
Americans from medical care <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/3/23/1646533/-Trumpcare-gives-new-moms-on-Medicaid-60-days-to-find-a-job-or-risk-losing-coverage">was requiring mothers to go back to work
within two months after giving birth, or else lose coverage</a>.


feed_id: 1d3a5ff9ccdba7a579f323eac4d9afc9
title: US law on surveillance
uri: US-law-on-surveillance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28US_law_on_surveillance%29
content:
<p>


US law today is so lax on state surveillance that it would permit the
president (any president) <a href="http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/could-the-president-spy-on-his-political-opponents/">to arbitrarily spy on political opponents</a>.
<p>
We must change the law to restore the rights that the constitution is supposed
to give us.


feed_id: b9df50f39900dba61cc0272425366f94
title: PISSI
uri: 2017-03-31-PISSI
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28PISSI%29
content:
<p>


PISSI says that <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/26/isis-islamic-state-raqqa-residents-evacuate-tabqa-dam-collapse-fears">US bombing has damaged a dam near Raqqa</a>, and the dam
may now collapse. Civilians are evacuating some part of Raqqa.
<p>
Nobody should bomb dams.  The US should not bomb dams.


feed_id: eb66b39526472c86e5988fd3abb00ee0
title: Gorsuch
uri: 2017-03-31-Gorsuch
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Gorsuch%29
content:
<p>


Gorsuch is a judicial extremist -- his extremely weak interpretation
of the law that offers support for education of disabled children
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/03/22/1646072/-Unanimous-Supreme-Court-overturns-a-Gorsuch-decision-in-the-middle-of-his-confirmation-hearing">was just overturned unanimously by the Supreme Court</a>.


feed_id: 8b5ce1597f5347b661a851628ff6100e
title: SCROTUS
uri: 2017-03-31-SCROTUS
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28SCROTUS%29
content:
<p>


SCROTUS offer multinational corporations <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/03/23/wolf-sheeps-clothing-house-bills-fund-infrastructure-incentivize-tax-dodging">a giant tax cut</a>
in two different variations.


feed_id: 73cf66effb5f4e9f8b30e41ba160215d
title: Digital interruption devices
uri: Digital-interruption-devices
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Digital_interruption_devices%29
content:
<p>


Digital interruption devices have taught people to multitask,
<a href="http://mitp.nautil.us/feature/151/the-distracted-mind">and now many find it difficult to focus on any one thing</a>.


feed_id: 19edc357bb63fef2e595b7dd03363e96
title: Progressives in US
uri: Progressives-in-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Progressives_in_US%29
content:
<p>


Progressives <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/03/13/forget-building-our-own-tea-party-left-can-win-so-much-more">have the support of the majority of Americans</a>.
We can aim to be much stronger than the Tea Party astroturf campaign.


feed_id: 742e3ae41e3f1d918fa428580506de79
title: US Christians
uri: US-Christians
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28US_Christians%29
content:
<p>


Many US Christians <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/3/10/1642315/-Most-of-rural-white-America-will-stick-with-Trump-till-the-last-dog-dies">will stick with the troll</a> no matter how many of
them he kills, because he appeals to their prejudices.


feed_id: 51ac26b4427f721cfd088d6485a4e335
title: Fossil fuel industry
uri: Fossil-fuel-industry
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Fossil_fuel_industry%29
content:
<p>


The Fossil Fuel Industry's <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2017/mar/13/the-fossil-fuel-industrys-invisible-colonization-of-academia">Invisible Colonization of Academia</a>.
<p>
Energy researchers at Harvard, MIT, Stanford and other universities
are funded by fossil fuel companies.


feed_id: 69928884c2317b0165e023428a161f77
title: West's Throwaway Culture
uri: West-s-Throwaway-Culture
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28West%27s_Throwaway_Culture%29
content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/13/waste-plastic-food-packaging-recycling-throwaway-culture-dave-hall">The West's Throwaway Culture Has Spread Waste Worldwide</a>.


feed_id: 8f70595926c0f0c04ca3b7e759e04e16
title: Threats to biodiversity
uri: Threats-to-biodiversity
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Threats_to_biodiversity%29
content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/andes-to-the-amazon/2017/mar/11/top-10-threats-most-biodiverse-place-on-earth">The Top 10 Threats to the Most Biodiverse Place on Earth</a>.


feed_id: 3ea6c65ea08c0b1278e798dc2e8e35dc
title: Louisiana thug
uri: Louisiana-thug
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Louisiana_thug%29
content:
<p>

A Louisiana thug <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/25/louisiana-officer-convicted-of-manslaughter-in-6-year-old-boys-death">has been convicted of manslaughter</a> for killing a
6-year-old boy.
<p>
His father, the driver of a car, had his hands up, but they shot at
him anyway, killing his son.


feed_id: 4db87fa8959f22b918c63bc201e2a80c
title: Singaporean blogger
uri: Singaporean-blogger
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Singaporean_blogger%29
content:
<p>


Singaporean blogger Amos Yee <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/25/singapore-teen-blogger-who-criticised-government-wins-asylum-in-us">has been granted asylum in the US</a>.  He
was jailed in Singapore for criticizing former ruler Lee Kuan Yew, but
ostensibly for "hurting the religious feelings" of people of some
religions.
<p>
"Hurting the religious feelings" of people in some group is part of
freedom of speech.  So is criticizing a current or previous official.


feed_id: 7eda99e470dc4e3aedc9ca239840bcb3
title: Massive surveillance
uri: 2017-03-31-Massive-surveillance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Massive_surveillance%29
content:
<p>


What's the worst that could happen in the US with existing massive
surveillance?  <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23331092-700-whats-the-worst-that-could-happen/">Terrifying repression</a>.


feed_id: be6e6e41afdab96ad2280d1fd9feeff5
title: Keystone XL
uri: Keystone-XL
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Keystone_XL%29
content:
<p>


The Keystone XL pipeline <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/03/24/trump-restarts-keystone-xl-fight-not-tar-sands-pipeline">has been "approved" by the State Department</a>,
but construction is not really approved.  We still have many
opportunities to stop it.


feed_id: ae6684890ba0eea33863af813c6a48d7
title: Medicare
uri: 2017-03-31-Medicare
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Medicare%29
content:
<p>

Democrats <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/03/24/epic-gop-failure-dems-urged-go-bold-medicare-all">should go beyond defending Obama's incomplete socialized
medicine</a> and advocate Medicare for all.
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/03/24/saving-obamacare-not-enough-we-need-medicare-all">Here's why we need that</a>.


feed_id: 184709c83f6ede9007dfc836b446a963
title: Fracking
uri: 2017-03-31-Fracking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Fracking%29
content:
<p>


An appeals court in Colorado <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/03/24/colorado-youth-score-decisive-legal-victory-against-fracking-industry">ruled that fracking must not be allowed</a>
except when it protects public health and the environment.
<p>
Since the Colorado legislature is pro-fracking, I fear it will repeal
the law which the court decision is based on.


feed_id: 81ae12c977bd468f2406ee355526984a
title: Russian military advantage
uri: Russian-military-advantage
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Russian_military_advantage%29
content:
<p>

RAND study: <a href="http://russia-insider.com/en/russia-has-unfair-military-advantage-because-us-must-maintain-800-bases-and-go-halfway-around-world">Russia has a military advantage</a> because it's not fighting
as many wars as the US and doesn't maintain 800 foreign bases.


feed_id: 0ef83f5231625c3f608a1058face3563
title: Farm work in the US
uri: Farm-work-in-the-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Farm_work_in_the_US%29
content:
<p>


Farm work in the US <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/25/undocumented-immigrants-vermont-dairy-industry">pays so little</a> that only unauthorized immigrants
want to do it.
<p>
The US population is growing because of immigration, so we need to
reduce either the birth rate (already around replacement level) or
immigration.
<p>
If these immigrants could not come, the farms would be unable to find
workers for the pay and working conditions they now offer.  They would
have to pay more and offer benefits.  The US would have to set up a
system that enables citizens and authorized residents to make a living
from doing various such jobs.
<p>
That is a change we need.  But it would make dairy products more
expensive -- so we would need to provide more money for poor people to
buy food.  (These changes are needed anyway, and we should fight for
them anyway.)
<p>
It is a mistake to argue, therefore, that the current economic role of
unauthorized immigrants implies they are inherently necessary and that
all immigrants should be welcomed.
<p>
However, this article does show why reducing immigration is a more
complicated matter than simply deportating more people.


feed_id: 5138e2d8f4120eb410b5be138f663e18
title: Eric Trump
uri: Eric-Trump
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Eric_Trump%29
content:
<p>


Eric Trump <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/24/eric-trump-business-conflicts-of-interest">contradicted himself in one speech</a>, saying that he will keep
the troll out of family business interests and that he will brief the troll
on them regularly.
<p>
Unfortunately, the only way to make the troll stop violating the US
Constitution is to impeach him, and SCROTUS won't permit that.


feed_id: d06a01bac4be6626e0b8919fd3509b6e
title: Cutting forests in Tasmania
uri: Cutting-forests-in-Tasmania
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Cutting_forests_in_Tasmania%29
content:
<p>

Tasmania's extractionist government <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/25/why-reignite-tasmanias-forest-wars-to-produce-logs-no-one-will-buy">plans to remove protection</a> from most
of its forests and encourage cutting them down, even though local wood
processors say they will refuse to buy the wood.


feed_id: 743318141fff0cb417ad9b1f53779041
title: Boycott Israel
uri: Boycott-Israel
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Boycott_Israel%29
content:
<p>


Several US states <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/03/23/bipartisan-effort-against-campaigns-corporate-responsibility">have passed laws</a> punishing companies and
organizations that support boycotts targeted at the Israeli occupation
of Palestine.


feed_id: 993b9f16ec47cb4e1173f733a44e8991
title: Preschool in Illinois
uri: Preschool-in-Illinois
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Preschool_in_Illinois%29
content:
<p>


<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2017/03/23/4-year-old-brings-shell-casing-to-presch">A preschool in Illinois suspended a boy as punishment for bringing a
used shell casing to school</a>, and for playing pretend that toys were
guns.  (No word on whether the other children were playing the same
game at the same time.)


feed_id: c28672cf1b135228b1538f5f21a47925
title: Racist terrorism
uri: Racist-terrorism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Racist_terrorism%29
content:
<p>

A racist terrorist <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/24/new-york-hate-crime-stabbing-james-jackson-timothy-caughman">visited New York City</a> to murder blacks from sheer
racist hatred.


feed_id: 70ea5224ce1003fd1d1cc77f669ba210
title: House bombed in Mosul
uri: House-bombed-in-Mosul
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28House_bombed_in_Mosul%29
content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/24/mosuls-children-were-shouting-under-the-rubble-nobody-came">A US or Iraqi plane bombed a house in Mosul</a>, and over a hundred
civilians were buried in the rubble. It appears that PISSI fighters were firing from the roof.
<p>
Was it a wrong decision to bomb that house?  I don't know enough to judge.
In war, mistakes happen; there is no way to avoid them all, but there are
ways to make them happen less often.
<p>
It appears that rescuers could not approach the house until the buried
civilians had died, but I think this wasn't their fault.  The house
was in the middle of a battle.


feed_id: 6981b8da6dfe872adac6c1682bb2fd9e
title: Putin
uri: 2017-03-31-Putin
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Putin%29
content:
<p>

Putin, while meddling in the French presidential election, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/24/vladimir-putin-hosts-marine-le-pen-in-moscow">says he
wouldn't ever do such a thing</a>.


feed_id: 99b6c3ce435d988c57b54313337f2d11
title: Automation danger
uri: Automation-danger
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Automation_danger%29
content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/mar/24/millions-uk-workers-risk-replaced-robots-study-warns">A study estimates that 10 million jobs in the UK could be replaced</a> by
automation by 15 years from now.  That's roughly one third of all jobs.
<p>
I suppose the situation in the US is roughly similar.
<p>
Under a plutocratic state, this will be a disaster for all working
people, an opportunity to drive wages and working conditions down, and
destroy what remains of unions.  If roughly one third of all people
die from this, the plutocrats won't mind.  Meanwhile, technocrats will
admire the deadly efficiency of it all.
<p>
In a democratic society, we can choose which kinds of automation to
permit.  We need to restore democracy, urgently, for this reason among
many others.


feed_id: 04b165b131afbefdc22dfd6d0bf23690
title: Resist tyranny
uri: Resist-tyranny
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Resist_tyranny%29
content:
<p>

<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/24/how-to-survive-tyranny-10-pieces-of-advice-from-turkey">Advice from Turks</a> about how to resist tyranny.


feed_id: 1108a2ab7a6d95b804a97587c3829a86
title: Toronto schools travel ban
uri: Toronto-schools-travel-ban
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Toronto_schools_travel_ban%29
content:
<p>


The Toronto school system <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/24/politics/toronto-school-us-travel-ban/index.html">will no longer arrange student or staff trips
to the US</a>, in response to the uncertainties created by the troll's
harassment of visitors.


feed_id: 2d5f9558e364d62ade7d1876cd658382
title: Release of Arctic methane
uri: Release-of-Arctic-methane
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Release_of_Arctic_methane%29
content:
<p>


Climate scientists <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/earth-insight/2013/aug/05/7-facts-need-to-know-arctic-methane-time-bomb">disagree about</a> whether there is a danger of a rapid
release of Arctic methane that would cause fast global heating.
<p>
How much should the world bet on the theory that this can't happen?


feed_id: 6b8e5057341d594093bbbb4abf002ec8
title: US's recent bombing in Mosul
uri: US-s-recent-bombing-in-Mosul
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28USs_recent_bombing_in_Mosul%29
content:
<p>
Amnesty International says that the US 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/28/mosul-residents-homes-airstrikes-killed-civilians">failed
to take proper precautions</a> to avoid killing civilians in its
recent bombing in Mosul.


feed_id: dd58a5fe39aeed8d47fc420033245f14
title: Refuse to panic
uri: Refuse-to-panic
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Refuse_to_panic%29
content:
<p>
"All terrorists are politely reminded that THIS IS LONDON and whatever
you do to us, we will 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/shortcuts/2017/mar/28/creator-of-that-viral-tube-sign-i-didnt-think-people-would-think-it-was-real">drink
tea and jolly well carry on</a>. Thank you."
<p>
That is the courageous response to a campaign to make a people panic
and do stupid things: help each other refuse to panic.


feed_id: b5c2ce611b7408f24b86cc2691657114
title: Troll fails to oppose right-wing terrorism
uri: Troll-fails-to-oppose-right-wing-terrorism
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Troll_fails_to_oppose_right-wing_terrorism%29

content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> repeatedly fails to oppose right-wing terrorism and bigotry
against blacks.  Now he has said nothing about the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/28/white-supremacist-slew-man-manhattan-president-silent">terrorist
murder of a black</a> in New York.


feed_id: a0d9ab72a45c453be8c6cb464d8759a7
title: Crime wave caused by lead poisoning
uri: Crime-wave-caused-by-lead-poisoning
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Crime_wave_caused_by_lead_poisoning%29

content:
<p>
More confirmation that the US crime wave from 1960 to 1995 was 
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/03/lead-update-white-folks-and-alabama-prisoners">caused
by mass lead poisoning</a>.


feed_id: 130fe6635c55a03a09ed3b771fd4f466
title: Troll's attacks on journalism
uri: Troll-s-attacks-on-journalism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Trolls_attacks_on_journalism%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a>'s attacks on journalism are 
<a href="https://rsf.org/en/news/predators-press-freedom-use-fake-news-censorship-tool">giving
aid and comfort to attacks around the world</a>.


feed_id: 82e3333304c07a875e3ae4181b52d1d8
title: Saboteur of Health
uri: Saboteur-of-Health
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Saboteur_of_Health%29
content:
<p>
Since <a href="/glossary.html#scrotus">SCROTUS</a> couldn't repeal Obama's medical insurance plan, the next step
is for Saboteur of Health Tom Price to 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/03/25/donald-trump-cant-make-deal">mess
up the system quietly</a>.


feed_id: 15b49da4e8711a9cf97b87351fcfbcc5
title: Enslavement of domestic workers
uri: Enslavement-of-domestic-workers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Enslavement_of_domestic_workers%29
content:
<p>
Immigrant domestic workers in Jordan are effectively slaves.  If they
leave their employers, they are supposed to be deported, but they are
often 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/mar/27/migrant-domestic-workers-jordan-abuse-jail">imprisoned
instead</a>.
<p>
The situation in the UK is almost as bad.  The UK generally just
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2012-jan-apr.html#1_March_2012_(UK_Foreign_Workers)">deports
them</a>.


feed_id: d711181e0a8ea78a44124488d105df52
title: Abortion
uri: 2017-04-01-Abortion
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Abortion%29
content:
<p>
Suggestions for 
<a href="https://ieet.org/index.php/IEET2/more/Tarico20170325">how to
talk with your children about your abortions</a>.
<p>
Some women — apparently a substantial fraction — are so
traumatized by giving birth, and subsequent social and state
pressures, that they 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/mar/25/the-everyday-trauma-of-childbirth-made-me-stop-at-one-child">feel
they went mad for several years afterward</a>.
<p>
You can avoid this if you stop at zero children.  An abortion is, in
general, 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2010-nov-feb.html#20%20November%202010%20(Tocophobia%20on%20the%20rise%20in%20Britian)">far
less traumatic than giving birth</a>.


feed_id: d692d21c7645a9c7ad56079c3a717095
title: Kidnapped Vietnamese children in the UK
uri: Kidnapped-Vietnamese-children-in-the-UK
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Kidnapped_Vietnamese_children_in_the_UK%29

content:
<p>
Gangs kidnap street children in Vietnam and bring them into the UK
where they are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/mar/25/trafficked-enslaved-teenagers-tending-uk-cannabis-farms-vietnamese">forced
to work indoors growing marijuana</a>.
<p>
A specific solution for this particular problem is to legalize
marijuana.  However, enslavement of workers happens in 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-jan-apr.html#27_April_2013_(Slavery)">many
areas of work</a>, so no area-specific solution can get tackle the
whole problem.


feed_id: 1bcf0848feb2e6423c5ddd275944b454
title: Reducing global heating
uri: Reducing-global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Reducing_global_heating%29
content:
<p>
An experiment will study 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/24/us-scientists-launch-worlds-biggest-solar-geoengineering-study">injecting
aerosol into the stratosphere</a> to see whether that can reduce
global heating somewhat.
<p>
This is not the best way to try to do it.  I would do nothing about the
other big effect of CO<sub>2</sub>: 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2009-mar-jun.html#11%20March%202009%20(Atmospheric%20CO2%20to%20make%20oceans%20acidic)">ocean
acidification</a>, which is likely to wipe out all coral and
shellfish.
<p>
Another method of geoengineering that could address both problems
is to strew minerals in the sea so as to stimulate growth of sea life.
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/11/giant-icebergs-are-slowing-climate-change-research-reveals">Giant
icebergs do this to a substantial extent</a>, but we don't need
icebergs to dump minerals: ships can do it.


feed_id: 94baeede11744a5bd3739dd77598fb2c
title: Civilians getting out from Mosul
uri: 2017-04-01-Civilians-getting-out-from-Mosul
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Civilians_getting_out_from_Mosul%29

content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/26/shell-shocked-mosul-survivors-tell-of-intense-airstrikes">The pause in fighting in Mosul is enabling some civilians to get out</a>.  They couldn't get out before, because PISSI threatens to kill those
who try to leave.
<p>
The house that the US bombed may have been an example of a war crime
by <a href="/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a>, in setting up their gun position on top of civilians.  But that
was not an excuse for the US to drop a bomb that would destroy the
whole house.  There were other ways to attack those <a href="/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a> fighters;
there always are.


feed_id: 5711b8627dadac738249d1e181fc5393
title: Bombing of Mosul and Raqqa
uri: 2017-04-01-Bombing-of-Mosul-and-Raqqa
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Bombing_of_Mosul_and_Raqqa%29
content:
<p>


<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a>'s intensified bombing of Mosul and Raqqa is consistent with
the idea of "non-interventionism" which he said he believed in.  <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/03/26/trumps-war-on-terror-has-quickly-become-as-barbaric-and-savage-as-he-promised/">He
said he would make that war more savage</a>, and he seems to be doing so.


feed_id: 2863f557896210ab937277b336522306
title: Medical care
uri: 2017-04-01-Medical-care
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Medical_care%29
content:
<p>


One of <a href="/glossary.html#scrotus">SCROTUS</a>'s last-minute changes to its plan to cut off poor
Americans from medical care <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/3/23/1646533/-Trumpcare-gives-new-moms-on-Medicaid-60-days-to-find-a-job-or-risk-losing-coverage">was requiring mothers to go back to work
within two months after giving birth, or else lose coverage</a>.


feed_id: 5fb7c99cc098ff475c9490897f29b8bf
title: Eric Trump
uri: 2017-04-01-Eric-Trump
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Eric_Trump%29
content:
<p>


Eric Trump <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/24/eric-trump-business-conflicts-of-interest">contradicted himself in one speech</a>, saying that he will keep
the troll out of family business interests and that he will brief the troll
on them regularly.
<p>
Unfortunately, the only way to make the troll stop violating the US
Constitution is to impeach him, and <a href="/glossary.html#scrotus">SCROTUS</a> won't permit that.


feed_id: 5297c145bf82869506631231692d42d6
title: House bombed in Mosul
uri: 2017-04-01-House-bombed-in-Mosul
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28House_bombed_in_Mosul%29
content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/24/mosuls-children-were-shouting-under-the-rubble-nobody-came">A US or Iraqi plane bombed a house in Mosul</a>, and over a hundred
civilians were buried in the rubble. It appears that <a href="/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a> fighters were firing from the roof.
<p>
Was it a wrong decision to bomb that house?  I don't know enough to judge.
In war, mistakes happen; there is no way to avoid them all, but there are
ways to make them happen less often.
<p>
It appears that rescuers could not approach the house until the buried
civilians had died, but I think this wasn't their fault.  The house
was in the middle of a battle.


feed_id: 33884cb1489bef1e1d50038256d71f9a
title: Gorsuch
uri: 2017-04-01-Gorsuch
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#29_March_2017_%28Gorsuch%29
content:
<p>
Neil Gorsuch Is Not Another Scalia. He's the
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/03/22/neil-gorsuch-not-another-scalia-hes-next-john-roberts">Next
John Roberts</a>.
<p>
(The first one reinterpreted the Voting Rights Act into vacuity
after leading people to think he wouldn't.)


feed_id: ddeeeaea89cc7956b759d74b36c7c146
title: Tories
uri: Tories
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Tories%29
content:
<p>


The Tories <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/mar/30/great-repeal-bill-will-create-sweeping-powers-to-change-laws-after-brexit">want to use exit from the EU</a> as an opportunity to quietly
"tweak" lots of laws while bypassing Parliament.
<p>
We can all imagine what kinds of changes Tories will sneak in:
weakening human rights, deregulating business, and reducing taxes for
the rich.


feed_id: c1ba29461aef96c478813fcaabced05f
title: Kansas Republican legislators
uri: Kansas-Republican-legislators
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Kansas_Republican_legislators%29
content:
<p>


Kansas Republican legislators <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/03/28/1648065/-After-Defeats-Conservative-Kansas-Republicans-Move-To-Prevent-Democrats-From-Presenting-Bills">have decided</a> never to let a Democrat
get credit for bringing a bill to the floor of the house.


feed_id: 3680a1a88908c34c979b5b50261fbcff
title: US border wall
uri: US-border-wall
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28US_border_wall%29
content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/03/29/trump-wants-slash-medical-research-funding-help-pay-border-wall">Who will pay</a> for the troll's frivolous border wall?  The troll wants
to make people around the world pay with their lives and health.


feed_id: d49aadc40edfe70151fada6736734896
title: Julian Cole
uri: 2017-04-01-Julian-Cole
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Julian_Cole%29
content:
<p>


The UK <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/mar/29/police-officers-face-no-charges-over-man-left-in-vegetative-state">will not prosecute</a> the thugs that piled on Julian Cole and
broke his neck and ended his life as a person. (His body remains "alive".)
<p>
This is a common pattern, to let thugs get away with crimes.


feed_id: ae5e0b45430307b2fe27592cdb747ba2
title: Ties between Trump and Russia
uri: Ties-between-Trump-and-Russia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Ties_between_Trump_and_Russia%29
content:
<p>


Rep. Nunes <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/3/28/1647981/-First-the-Trump-regime-fired-Sally-Yates-Now-they-re-trying-to-muzzle-her">cancelled any more hearings</a> in his supposed "investigation"
of ties between the troll's team and Russia.  There are signs this was
because Sally Yates, former attorney general, was going to testify.
<p>
Why does Yates need a public hearing in order to tell us what she knows?
I have not seen any explanation offered, but I am sure she could say it
to a reporter and reach the public just as well.


feed_id: 04acfa4e9db557663f1448092b16b45c
title: PISSI's war crimes
uri: PISSI-s-war-crimes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28PISSI%27s_war_crimes%29
content:
<p>


Amal Clooney <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/29/amal-clooney-calls-for-collection-of-evidence-of-isis-atrocities">reminds people to preserve evidence</a> of PISSI's war crimes
for the sake of future prosecution.


feed_id: 913d63bf1313b33dbfb2dbd2ee3d571d
title: Alia Ghandi
uri: Alia-Ghandi
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Alia_Ghandi%29
content:
<p>


Alia Ghandi arrived from Iran to visit her sister, a US citizen.
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/29/iranian-woman-detained-oregon-jail">Border thugs put her in jail</a> and won't let anyone talk to her.  They
also refuse to say why.


feed_id: 44900b5f8d519c1d4e80d142efa23070
title: Internet Privacy Rules
uri: Internet-Privacy-Rules
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Internet_Privacy_Rules%29
content:
<p>


As Trump Complains About Alleged Surveillance, Republicans <a href="https://www.democracynow.org/2017/3/29/as_trump_complains_about_alleged_surveillance">Gut Internet 
Privacy Rules</a>.
<p>
That's a Republican for you.  "Mistreat powerless people, not elites like us!"


feed_id: c7fd7f4415ee7d973ab09599e69f5dbd
title: US border control
uri: US-border-control
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28US_border_control%29
content:
<p>


Senator Wyden <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/03/ron-wyden-search-phones-border-airports">plans legislation to limit</a> searches of phones and computers
at the US border.


feed_id: f2a76d1bd54ef60e77d3dbac50c4a25c
title: Fracking
uri: 2017-04-01-Fracking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Fracking%29
content:
<p>


Republicans in Vermont <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/03/28/maryland-ban-shows-fracking-not-partisan-issue">just banned fracking</a> in that state.
<p>
Amazingly, Republicans can actually do a good thing once in a while.


feed_id: 8ef20476f1c4f00e0a4eed8f5fa2ec71
title: Dead Sea
uri: Dead-Sea
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Dead_Sea%29
content:
<p>


The Dead Sea catchment basin had a megadrought 120,000 years ago,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/29/dead-sea-evidence-unprecedented-drought-future-warning-climate-change">coinciding with a period of temperatures considerably warmer than now</a>.
<p>
Global heating may give us a repeat of that.


feed_id: 78ac654b8cc610262324edd1586bb449
title: Taiwanese activist
uri: Taiwanese-activist
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Taiwanese_activist%29
content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/29/missing-taiwanese-human-rights-activist-detained-by-china">A Taiwanese human rights activist was disappeared</a> while visiting China.


feed_id: 9dd3b120b588e529ea0a4f1964a27dbf
title: ISPs customers' data
uri: ISPs-customers-data
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28ISPs_customers%27_data%29
content:
<p>


SCROTUS <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/03/29/to-serve-att-and-comcast-congressional-gop-votes-to-destroy-online-privacy/">voted to let ISPs sell customers' browsing data</a>, and did so
with no conceivable pretext, thus demonstrating the extent of plutocratic
corruption in the US government.
<p>
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/03/29/isp-civil-rights/">All the demand for this vote came from the ISPs that want to profit from it.</a>


feed_id: 66c6235046198f467d4d675663363c7c
title: Rollins college
uri: Rollins-college
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Rollins_college%29
content:
<p>


A student at Rollins college was suspended for saying he felt unsafe
in class after another student talked about beheadings under Shari'a
law.  The suspended student <a href="http://reason.com/blog/2017/03/28/rollins-college-allegedly-suspends-conse">was judged to have made the professor
feel unsafe</a> by saying this.


feed_id: 0365c294b3eb1326a9efdf642899db93
title: Planned Parenthood
uri: 2017-04-01-Planned-Parenthood
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Planned_Parenthood%29
content:
<p>


The people that made covert videos and edited them to present false
accusations against Planned Parenthood <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/29/anti-abortion-activists-charged-undercover-planned-parenthood-videos">face criminal charges</a> for that.


feed_id: a1c26b1b2615978f345e57694bb67256
title: Inequality
uri: 2017-04-01-Inequality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Inequality%29
content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/mar/29/the-great-leveller-walter-scheidel-review-paul-mason">Is it possible to reduce great inequality without a drastic war?</a>
<p>
World War II was not very violent inside the US, but it did reduce
inequality in the US.  Maybe this suggests a way to find a method
that doesn't involve violence somewhere else, either.
<p>
If the great inequality keeps growing, it will lead to violence
far worse than any world war.


feed_id: 70fe7387a25747f5e9daac0d75eeeb5e
title: Waikiki
uri: Waikiki
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Waikiki%29
content:
<p>


Waikiki is forcing homeless people to move somewhere else by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/29/hawaii-homeless-sit-lie-ban-waikiki-displacement">arresting
anyone that sits or lies down on the sidewalk</a>.
<p>
The result is 83% fewer homeless people in Waikiki.  That would be a
great achievement if it were achieved by helping people get housing --
but it's unexcusable to achieve such a "step forward" through punishing
those who are weakest and worst off.
<p>
If the homeless people organize, they could hold a sit-in and pack the
jails, as civil rights protesters did in the 1960s.


feed_id: 277d28e58e2a1ed77505d77c2f55c8e2
title: US immigration thugs
uri: 2017-04-01-US-immigration-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28US_immigration_thugs%29
content:
<p>


US immigration thugs <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/29/americas-deportation-squads-expel-neighbours-we-are-saying-no">selected for deportation immigrants who are
visible leaders</a> in their communities.


feed_id: 1174fddfc6ca46a42ea9429e29e50f93
title: Companies and feminism
uri: Companies-and-feminism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Companies_and_feminism%29
content:
<p>


Companies often use feminism the way they use environmentalism -- <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/29/self-styled-feminist-ceos-arent-empowering-thinx">lip
service only</a> -- and this includes female CEOs as well as males.


feed_id: fd1c147a6db4d6c7d58ce1d6045c112f
title: Anti-deportation activists
uri: Anti-deportation-activists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Anti-deportation_activists%29
content:
<p>


British anti-deportation activists <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/29/arrests-as-stansted-anti-deportation-protesters-lock-themselves-to-plane">chained themselves to a plane</a> to stop
a quiet attempt to deport people who were refused asylum.
<p>
One says her ex-husband says he will murder her if she is deported.


feed_id: b70d25349e5183c30a0d9b857542511b
title: Carl Icahn
uri: Carl-Icahn
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Carl_Icahn%29
content:
<p>


<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/3/27/1647727/-Trump-adviser-Carl-Icahn-is-advising-government-to-cut-the-regulations-that-hurt-his-own-companies">The troll asked Carl Icahn for advice</a> on eliminating regulations.
Icahn suggested ways to increase his own profits.


feed_id: 9c0c87b07f2505472a46bf87f95fa7cc
title: Thug that killed Eric Garner
uri: Thug-that-killed-Eric-Garner
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Thug_that_killed_Eric_Garner%29
content:
<p>


The thug that killed Eric Garner <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/3/22/1646219/-Leaked-documents-show-the-NYPD-officer-who-killed-Eric-Garner-should-have-been-fired-a-long-time-ago">has a long history of unjustified
violence</a> against the public.  If the New York Thug Department cared
about that problem, it would have fired him long ago.
<p>
Better late than never.


feed_id: 5379eeefb046c594a5045958ee6f950f
title: Rape victims
uri: Rape-victims
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Rape_victims%29
content:
<p>


Rape victim agrees with judge: warning women to avoid getting drunk
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/mar/28/victim-backs-judge-over-alcohol-warning">does not constitute putting the blame on victims</a> rather than on rapists.
<p>
This is a crucial distinction.  Making oneself vulnerable doesn't excuse
a serious crime, but it is good to avoid.


feed_id: 59ed46adb13aea17ab7561fb98aa5e33
title: Israeli thug
uri: Israeli-thug
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Israeli_thug%29
content:
<p>


An Israeli thug <a href="http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/video-israeli-police-officer-attacks-palestinian-truck-driver-1476987478">beat up a Palestinian truck driver</a> apparently over an
issue concerning parking.  It is reportedly common practice, but this
time it was caught on video.
<p>
Sounds like the way blacks in the US are treated.


feed_id: 63471806235c5cabe8ed485f33033dd8
title: Mnuchin
uri: Mnuchin
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Mnuchin%29
content:
<p>


Mnuchin <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/mar/28/us-treasury-secretary-steven-mnuchin-trump-lego-batman-plug">showed contempt for ethics requirements</a> by plugging his
company's product during official business. Compounding the offense, he shows no sign of starting to divest from
that company, and his other companies.


feed_id: 051d4e22c8df2e87232d7e54ea7b7a46
title: Aaron Swartz
uri: Aaron-Swartz
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Aaron_Swartz%29
content:
<p>


Researchers <a href="https://theconversation.com/were-suing-the-federal-government-to-be-free-to-do-our-research-74676">are suing</a> to reject the stretched interpretation of the CFAA
that was used to hound Aaron Swartz to death.  It could be used to imprison
them for their research, too.


feed_id: 88e7743bb39ea8119763ce150db85491
title: NY thugs
uri: NY-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28NY_thugs%29
content:
<p>


New York thugs are being <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/28/new-york-port-authority-police-gay-men-discrimination">sued for systematically making false charges</a>
against gay men who go to the toilet.


feed_id: 199f0cb9d4d7487d2326aeddac50435d
title: UK "charities"
uri: UK-charities
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28UK_charities%29
content:
<p>


UK "charities" for the homeless <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/28/homeless-charity-workhouse-workers-rights-exploitation">make them work 40 hours a week</a> for
very little money.  In effect, they are like a workhouse.
<p>
As more Britons become homeless, these low-wage businesses will
increasingly undermine full-wage employment, decreasing the number of
full-wage jobs.  That will make more Britons homeless.  The result
will be a great success for British employers.


feed_id: 4ebe5936b018f8915238eac9d1fa1e25
title: EPA
uri: 2017-04-01-EPA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28EPA%29
content:
<p>


The troll <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/03/28/donald-trump-rewards-fossil-fuel-industry-by-signing-climate-denial-executive-order/">ordered the EPA</a> to "review" (i.e., sabotage) Obama's climate
protection regulations.


feed_id: 9fb1a494fa1c6831dce30cb2cf778299
title: Japanese nuclear reactors
uri: 2017-04-01-Japanese-nuclear-reactors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Japanese_nuclear_reactors%29
content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/28/japanese-nuclear-industry-court-injuction-takahama-greenpeace">Japan will restart some unsafe nuclear power reactors</a>.


feed_id: 2443f6640143863a25492eb16cc72002
title: War in Yemen
uri: War-in-Yemen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28War_in_Yemen%29
content:
<p>


The troll plans to escalate the war in Yemen, for no other reason than
to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/03/27/will-donald-trump-escalate-devastating-war-and-hunger-yemen">make Iran unhappy</a>.


feed_id: 2ecac5c645db7b06e49a1a8a1de41cf5
title: Terrorists background
uri: Terrorists-background
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Terrorists_background%29
content:
<p>


Many lone terrorists, both Islamist and Christian, have a background
in <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/28/lone-attackers-domestic-violence-khalid-masood-westminster-attacks-terrorism">domestic violence</a>.
<p>
This may offer a practical opportunity to identify potential terrorists
and take action.  It's true that only a small fraction of those who
commit domestic violence will be terrorists, but they all call for some
sort of action anyway.


feed_id: ad7f3acfe33eef5cfe67accbe3efe1a1
title: Trump
uri: 2017-04-01-Trump
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Trump%29
content:
<p>


"We pay our elected officials to take care of our communities and our
planet.  Since Trump took office, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/commentisfree/2017/mar/28/america-party-less-caring-21-century-republicans-gop">the GOP has set out</a> only to destroy."


feed_id: 6b5ffd73c5ea78e20cea32163077afff
title: AppStore
uri: AppStore
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28AppStore%29
content:
<p>


After 12 Rejections, Apple <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/03/28/after-12-rejections-apple-accepts-app-that-tracks-u-s-drone-strikes/">Accepts App</a> That Tracks U.S. Drone Strikes.
<p>
Apple should not control what application programs users can install.
That censorship is a <a href="https://gnu.org/proprietary/malware-apple.html">malware functionality</a>, but it's not the only
one that iThings have.


feed_id: f7cda46e394f27bc409f49fbf93933c0
title: Gulen
uri: Gulen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Gulen%29
content:
<p>


Erdo?an asked Germany to spy on 300 supporters of Gülen, but one German
state <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/28/germany-accuses-turkey-of-intolerable-spying-on-gulen-supporters">warned the supporters instead</a>.


feed_id: 26d9b5b241f7831616218de84f62b05e
title: Paris thug
uri: Paris-thug
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Paris_thug%29
content:
<p>


Paris thugs <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/28/police-and-protesters-clash-in-paris-over-death-of-chinese-man">killed a Chinese man</a> who answered the door without putting down
his scissors.  He couldn't speak French and surely had no idea who was
banging on the door.


feed_id: 50e6c110f90378f0e6a5c6bd9298ff2b
title: Paris climate goals
uri: Paris-climate-goals
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Paris_climate_goals%29
content:
<p>


Nearly all the European countries <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/28/only-sweden-germany-france-pursuing-paris-climate-goals-study">are failing</a> to carry out the weak
commitments they made in the Paris conference.


feed_id: ef751579397ae6788ce16c36e53fc7a5
title: Murder of people accused of being witches
uri: Murder-of-people-accused-of-being-witches
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Murder_of_people_accused_of_being_witches%29

content:
<p>
100 men in Papua New Guinea are on trial for 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/28/mass-sorcery-trial-of-more-than-100-men-begins-in-papua-new-guinea">murdering
people they accused of being witches</a>.
<p>
Americans stopped doing this around 300 years ago, but superstition
about witchcraft are 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2010-jul-oct.html#01%20August%202010%20(Witchcraft)">still
dangerous to people in many parts of the world</a>.


feed_id: f869d4b9b4829eb0bb782ba436bcf52a
title: Putting dissidents in mental hospitals
uri: 2017-04-02-Putting-dissidents-in-mental-hospitals
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Putting_dissidents_in_mental_hospitals%29

content:
<p>
Russia is putting Tatar dissidents in mental hospitals by force,
and 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/28/russian-authorities-imprisoning-crimean-tatars-in-psychiatric-hospitals">accusing
them of "terrorism"</a> based on no evidence.


feed_id: a763889a5dad1769942bd4e3783430b0
title: Sabotage of our climate defense plans
uri: Sabotage-of-our-climate-defense-plans
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Sabotage_of_our_climate_defense_plans%29

content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a>'s sabotage of our climate defense plans has now been 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/28/trump-begins-tearing-up-obamas-years-of-progress-on-tackling-climate-change">fully
launched</a>.
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#global heating">Global heating</a> is likely to kill billions of people.  We have no way
to estimate more precisely than that, but it is clear that this
sabotage is likely to increase the death toll by hundreds of millions
if not more.  It could make the difference between killing two billion
and killing nine billion.  (The current population is around seven
billion, but humans, madly, are still increasing it.)
<p>
His saboteurs are steadily 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/28/arctic-researcher-donald-trump-deleting-my-citations">deleting
scientific data collected by years of Arctic research</a>, while also
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#22_March_2017_(Trolls_budget)">planning
to stop the research itself</a>.
<p>
Even if the research is resumed in 4 years, which won't be easy if the
equipment has been destroyed and the teams dispersed, the loss of the
past data would spoil some possible uses of the future data.  Even the
interruption will make that difficult.
<p>
I can imagine denialists' arguing, "Your conclusions are wrong because
you tweaked the data from before 2017 when comparing them to the
post-2020 data", a step which will be necessary because the new
equipment constructed in 2021 won't be exactly identical to what the
saboteurs are tossing in the trash now.
<p>
If you are thinking about having children, meditate on the fact that
the troll's attack on our ecosphere is 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#23_January_2017_(Collapse_of_civilization_inevitable_)">likely
to kill them before they are old</a>.


feed_id: e05d95ff52f823860a11aee5507aefaf
title: Tom Price
uri: 2017-04-02-Tom-Price
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Tom_Price%29
content:
<p>


Tom Price, Saboteur of Health and Human Services, <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/04/price-affair-dark-horse-corruption-scandal-just-waiting-erupt">seems to have
committed insider trading</a> when he was a congresscritter.


feed_id: 078972265d2e5c93f3b95e23433b96e7
title: Venezuela
uri: 2017-04-02-Venezuela
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Venezuela%29
content:
<p>


Venezuela <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/01/venezuela-nicolas-maduro-supreme-court-protests">reversed the ruling that stripped Congress of its powers</a>.


feed_id: 3d7988cfdb7b8d78eedafa9359c1f221
title: Thug sentenced to prison
uri: Thug-sentenced-to-prison
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Thug_sentenced_to_prison%29
content:
<p>


A thug was sentenced to 40 years in prison for killing a 6-year-old.
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/01/louisiana-officer-derrick-stafford-sentenced-killing-boy-autism">The boy and his father were in a car and the father had his hands up</a>.


feed_id: a0db2ed868bb6ee533de6381a7871456
title: Thugs in Paraguay
uri: Thugs-in-Paraguay
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Thugs_in_Paraguay%29
content:
<p>


Thugs in Paraguay <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/01/paraguay-coup-death-of-activist-threatens-to-reignite-protests">raided the headquarters of the main opposition party</a>
and killed one of its activists.


feed_id: 40399645837aae575736056116cdb960
title: Death knell to family planning safeguards
uri: Death-knell-to-family-planning-safeguards
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Death_knell_to_family_planning_safeguards%29

content:
<p>


Pence's Vote <a href="https://rewire.news/article/2017/03/30/pences-vote-delivers-death-knell-family-planning-safeguards/">Delivers Death Knell to Family Planning Safeguards</a> (that
require states to fund Planned Parenthood).
<p>
Women will die from this, and babies will be born with birth defects.


feed_id: 9db98a857b7f01b6b60f023a20e9c1f2
title: Military veterans
uri: Military-veterans
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Military_veterans%29
content:
<p>


A lot of military veterans <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/03/30/when-veterans-become-cops-some-bring-war-home/99349228/">become thugs</a>, and some of them tend to be
violent toward the public.


feed_id: 3cdaba7b620faf5088ac29deb7902721
title: Racism
uri: 2017-04-02-Racism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Racism%29
content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/01/diversity-doesnt-make-racism-magically-disappear">Diversity Doesn't Make Racism Magically Disappear</a>.


feed_id: adc4ca5ff34e0f8d21b2c1942ffeb1d3
title: ISP privacy rules
uri: 2017-04-02-ISP-privacy-rules
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28ISP_privacy_rules%29
content:
<p>


Some states <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/03/31/states-doubling-down-broadbandprivacy-after-congress-sells-out">are working on laws to replace</a> the incomplete ISP privacy
rules that the Republicans just got rid of.
<p>
The Minnesota bill will change little; ISPs will simply arrange for
nearly all users to "consent".  To institute real respect for privacy
at this level of internet use, one has to go further.  For instance,
to forbid ISPs to make note of, or tell anyone, anything about a
user's internet traffic, except under the authority of a specific
court order.
<p>
See https://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html
for more about the issue.


feed_id: cafa3cf3360a33d4846a6315b4b07ef6
title: Gorsuch
uri: 2017-04-02-Gorsuch
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Gorsuch%29
content:
<p>


Democrats ask Gorsuch to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/03/31/senate-dems-ask-gorsuchs-help-expose-secret-donors-backing-his-nomination">help them find out</a> who is funding the
political ad campaign in favor of his nomination.


feed_id: 6076a4a29aea5fda5a95309a8217248c
title: Immigrants
uri: 2017-04-02-Immigrants
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Immigrants%29
content:
<p>


US cruelty towards immigrants <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/01/green-card-arrests-undocumented-immigration-trump">now extends to arresting</a> them when they
visit a government office to apply for permanent residency,
accompanied by their US-citizen spouses and children.


feed_id: f564b6dd119941f8987630af12d2fee4
title: Arab journalists in US assassination target list
uri: Arab-journalists-in-US-assassination-target-list
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Arab_journalists_in_US_assassination_target_list%29

content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/03/31/journalists-sue-trump-over-inclusion-kill-list">Two Arab journalists are suing to be removed from the official United States
assassination target list</a>. 
<p>
They say that they were included in the list by an algorithm.  In
effect, by a killer robot.

<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/03/31/take-me-trumps-kill-list-journalists-urge-us-courts">Here's more info</a>.
<p>
What this shows is that an "unbiased" algorithm does not necessarily
imply it is doing the right thing.


feed_id: c0927d24f2a6b94064105d832da35f2d
title: Terrorists are made in prison
uri: Terrorists-are-made-in-prison
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Terrorists_are_made_in_prison%29
content:
<p>


<a href="http://zope.gush-shalom.org/home/en/channels/avnery/1490963097/">Uri Avnery: Terrorists are often made in prison</a>.
<p>
We'd be safer if we put fewer people in prison.  Perhaps it is impossible
to eliminate prisons, but we could make them smaller.


feed_id: fb336d92fc1a3fa6b83b6b7e33550c1c
title: Obama's medical insurance
uri: Obama-s-medical-insurance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Obama%27s_medical_insurance%29
content:
<p>


Some SCROTUS now say that <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/03/31/repeal-votes-obamacare/">years of campaigning based on repealing</a>
Obama's medical insurance plan was a sham.
<p>
You can't assume they are telling the truth about anything, including
this.  Maybe they seriously intended to repeal it, but never thought
it through; now perhaps they'd rather say they never meant it
than say they were defeated.


feed_id: e3251cbccca35468697ea82ee9da5530
title: US Health Care
uri: US-Health-Care
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28US_Health_Care%29
content:
<p>


Those Indecipherable Medical Bills?  <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/29/magazine/those-indecipherable-medical-bills-theyre-one-reason-health-care-costs-so-much.html">They're One Reason</a> Health Care
[in the US] Costs So Much.


feed_id: 9d84697a1c6ea31b0a1754db4f1365ba
title: Japan's racism
uri: Japan-s-racism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Japan%27s_racism%29
content:
<p>


<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/31/japan-racism-survey-reveals-one-in-three-foreigners-experience-discrimination">Japan's pervasive racism measured</a>: 40% of foreigners living in Japan
have faced housing discrimination.
<p>
The US has racism too, but has made stronger efforts to try to stop
discrimination.


feed_id: ad7c7afb11f4a1dd38fedfedac089ca4
title: Japan keep killing whales
uri: Japan-keep-killing-whales
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Japan_keep_killing_whales%29
content:
<p>


Japan <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/31/japan-kills-whales-annual-antarctic-hunt">goes to great lengths and great expense</a> to keep killing whales,
even sending naval patrols to keep Sea Shepherd away.


feed_id: b46c6f85a164bde71dd866f2d302a2c2
title: British young adults protest
uri: British-young-adults-protest
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28British_young_adults_protest%29
content:
<p>


British young adults 18 to 21 <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/31/housing-benefits-cut-vulnerable-young-people-protest">are planning a large protest on Sunday</a>
against the cuts that are likely to make them homeless, or dangerously
thin.
<p>
It's a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2017/mar/31/class-war-housing-conservatives-young-people-unaffordable">Housing Class War</a> as the Tories Set Their Sights on Young People.


feed_id: 4265673e5fffb71902823b71aabe3497
title: Flynn
uri: Flynn
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Flynn%29
content:
<p>


Flynn asked for immunity from prosecution <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/31/michael-flynn-trump-russia-immunity-prosecution-putin">in exchange for full testimony</a>
about the relationship between the cheater's team and Russia.


feed_id: f1ca1e02edb6cd712842c033d06d1046
title: Depression
uri: 2017-04-02-Depression
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Depression%29
content:
<p>


Depression <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/mar/31/depression-is-leading-cause-of-disability-worldwide-says-who-study">Is Leading Cause of Disability Worldwide</a>, Says WHO Study.
<p>
The amount of depression has increased 20% in the past decade.
It would be interesting to know what caused this.


feed_id: e1597d49c24aeca0c94af5ea19987978
title: Comcast
uri: 2017-04-02-Comcast
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Comcast%29
content:
<p>


The League of United Latin American Citizens, and OCA-Asian Pacific
American Advocates, <a href="https://consumerist.com/2017/03/29/civil-rights-groups-that-received-donations-from-isps-spoke-out-against-internet-privacy/#more-10273512">were lured into attacking Americans' privacy</a>
by Comcast's money.


feed_id: 590962eaa9350f86aa6c58c4904b72e5
title: EULAs
uri: EULAs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28EULAs%29
content:
<p>


It is impossible in practice for consumers to eliminate nasty EULAs by
"voting with their wallet".  <a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/ted-cruz-law-paper-vote-with-your-wallet-doesnt-work">Only regulation can do the job</a>.
<p>
Regulations <a href="http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2017/03/wells-fargo-gets-additional-110-million-wrist-slap-fake-accounts-scandal.html">create the opportunity for class-action lawsuits</a> to enforce them.


feed_id: 3ce90d49941418e9ad9060785b7b8383
title: HB-2
uri: HB-2
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28HB-2%29
content:
<p>


North Carolina has repealed part of HB-2, the part that forced
transsexuals to use only bathrooms for their birth gender, but at the
same time <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/03/30/aclu-opposes-hb-2-proposal-would-continue-discrimination">it has reinforced the ban on antidiscrimination protection</a>
for gay or queer people.


feed_id: 15dfe0186f38e93d876a14fbbc6733c7
title: Republicans and blacks
uri: Republicans-and-blacks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Republicans_and_blacks%29
content:
<p>


In 1970 America had many black-owned businesses, even banks; but most
of them disappeared after <a href="http://washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/marchaprilmay-2017/the-decline-of-black-business/">Republicans smashed anti-trust law</a>.


feed_id: c0fc0d2ae29d4e9bf9b8e4788356ca53
title: Saboteur of Labor
uri: Saboteur-of-Labor
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Saboteur_of_Labor%29
content:
<p>


Acosta as Saboteur of Labor <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/03/30/trumps-labor-nominee-alexander-acosta-more-dangerous-you-think">would knock down minimum wages</a> and subject workers
to unsafe conditions.


feed_id: e7bf06c8563cbf60a404f7468812e1ca
title: Make America insecure again
uri: Make-America-insecure-again
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Make_America_insecure_again%29
content:
<p>


The troll <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/03/30/making-america-insecure-again">is making Americans more insecure</a>, regarding the big dangers
that most Americans face.


feed_id: 51ea806cda224f183d02aef1b14d8765
title: Bannon
uri: Bannon
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Bannon%29
content:
<p>


Prosecutors <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/30/steve-bannon-voter-fraud-charges-florida">got evidence that Bannon committed voter fraud</a>, then
decided not to prosecute him.
<p>
Perhaps Republicans are only really concerned about voter fraud by
hypothetical Democrats.


feed_id: 23d0174372da9b15e56396672aa5d245
title: Impeachment of Rousseff
uri: Impeachment-of-Rousseff
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Impeachment_of_Rousseff%29
content:
<p>


The Brazilian congresscritter that organized the impeachment of
President Rousseff <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/30/brazil-eduardo-cunha-guilty-prison-dilma-rousseff-impeachment">has been sentenced to 15 years in prison</a>.


feed_id: e41b3c0591aef9207b0cca5dffd60480
title: Global heating
uri: 2017-04-02-Global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Global_heating%29
content:
<p>


Global heating <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/30/climate-change-global-reshuffle-of-wildlife-will-have-huge-impacts-on-humanity">is shifting the ranges of many species</a>, while others
can't move; when pests, disease vectors and pollinators shift, that messes
up ecosystems.


feed_id: ce370c0fe1bc232a79f87b8068cc1f15
title: Train wreck
uri: Train-wreck
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Train_wreck%29
content:
<p>


Russia Investigation Heading Toward a Train Wreck Because <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/03/30/russia-investigation-heading-toward-a-train-wreck-because-republicans-dont-care-what-happened/">Republicans Don't Care What Happened</a>.


feed_id: 053b6601162d5be8026ca8b7cc7158ca
title: War in Iraq and Syria
uri: War-in-Iraq-and-Syria
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28War_in_Iraq_and_Syria%29
content:
<p>


The troll <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/30/trump-war-syria-strikes-lie">is dragging the US</a> into an inhumane war in Iraq and Syria.
<p>
The US must stop using bombs against <a href="/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a> fighters that are using
human shields.  Bombs are too powerful.  There are other weapons that
can be used, that won't destroy the whole building.


feed_id: b98e771ef66bddc92853de93f34a9b57
title: Democracy in Venezuela
uri: Democracy-in-Venezuela
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Democracy_in_Venezuela%29
content:
<p>


Venezuela <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/30/venezuela-president-nicolas-maduro-national-assembly">has taken away the powers of the legislature</a> (now controlled
by the opposition) and given them to the presidency.  This means that democracy in Venezuela is openly at an end.


feed_id: f58a55041213debe866950ba8cc916f4
title: Ivanka Trump
uri: Ivanka-Trump
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Ivanka_Trump%29
content:
<p>


Ivanka Trump's role in his administration <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/30/ivanka-trump-wont-save-us-fantasy-climate-change">is to lead people</a> to expect him
not to do his worst.


feed_id: 9f304db709431445b03c10208b97ff04
title: Gay rights
uri: 2017-04-02-Gay-rights
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Gay_rights%29
content:
<p>


Gay rights activists say that the troll's officials <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/30/lgbt-rights-under-trump">are working to undermine</a>
gay rights in many little ways.


feed_id: 14afdf5668e10e21e04505eaa1f9c4f8
title: Solar power system in Australia
uri: Solar-power-system-in-Australia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Solar_power_system_in_Australia%29
content:
<p>


South Australia <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/30/south-australia-to-get-1bn-solar-farm-and-worlds-biggest-battery">will install an enormous solar power system</a> together
with enormous batteries it can use solar energy at night.
<p>
The article describes the batteries as "100 megawatts", which is the
wrong dimension to measure the capacity of a battery.  But this sort
of project is what the world needs -- and not just in one place.


feed_id: ba73001123c8d3227608a9d05a34f183
title: Taxing disposable cups
uri: Taxing-disposable-cups
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Taxing_disposable_cups%29
content:
<p>


Taxing disposable cups <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/30/reusable-incentives-could-slash-disposable-coffee-cup-waste">could be an effective way</a> to encourage reusable
cups.


feed_id: 8e3c3990402b1ed5772bef6ce2c3d289
title: Domestic abuses
uri: Domestic-abuses
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Domestic_abuses%29
content:
<p>


Domestic Abuse <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/mar/30/domestic-abuse-should-be-punished-more-severely-than-non-domestic-judges-told">Should Be Punished More Severely Than Non-Domestic</a>,
[UK] Judges Told.
<p>
The argument seems valid to me.


feed_id: c7214fa2ba82f788d1e4c9888063d5e1
title: Trump sell fighter planes to Bahrain
uri: Trump-sell-fighter-planes-to-Bahrain
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Trump_sell_fighter_planes_to_Bahrain%29

content:
<p>


The troll <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/30/trump-administration-human-rights-fighter-jets-bahrain">decided to ignore Bahrain's repression</a> and sell it fighter
planes anyway.
<p>
Bahrain has no real need for fighter planes, but the sale will enrich
some of the troll's cronies.  <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/30/donald-trump-chases-arms-sales-whatever-the-human-cost">That seems to be his principle arms
policy goal</a>.
<p>
The US claims to support human rights and democracy around the world.
This has been partly false for a long time, but there is a kernel of
truth in it.  <a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> is getting rid of that kernel of truth, and
doing it so blatantly that associating the US with human rights or
democracy will be seen as ludicrous.
<p>
That won't help global human rights, though.  The rivals of the US
are no friends of democracy or human rights.


feed_id: 98daf0dcaece57503cef139b82788e6b
title: Noel Conway
uri: Noel-Conway
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Noel_Conway%29
content:
<p>


Noel Conway, dying slowly from motor neurone disease, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/mar/30/high-court-rejects-challenge-to-ban-on-assisted-dying">may have to
commit suicide long before it is time</a>, so that the UK will not imprison
his family for helping him.
<p>
I wonder if there is a technical solution in his case.  If he hooks
up, while still able, a machine that will inject him with a lethal
dose if three days go by without his pushing a certain button, he will
be able to commit delayed suicide, but no one else will have triggered
it.
<p>
Perhaps his friends would be punished for helping him construct it.
There seems to be no limit to how far "authorities" will go in imposing
the torture that they have legislated.


feed_id: 95af47adb4844e209f332fb7208752ba
title: Trump's deportation campaign
uri: Trump-s-deportation-campaign
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Trump%27s_deportation_campaign%29
content:
<p>


The troll's deportation campaign <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/30/undocumented-workers-deportation-fears-trump-administration-department-labor">has terrified immigrants</a>, so that
they no longer dare complain when employers cheat them.
<p>
Perhaps that is the substantive motive for the crackdown:
to facilitate exploitation of workers.


feed_id: eb255a8ba3f391a055e6be7c0849085b
title: Global heating
uri: 2017-04-02-Global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Global_heating%29
content:
<p>


Global heating <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/30/the-curious-disappearance-of-climate-change-from-brexit-to-berlin">has been relegated to a low profile</a> in Europe's politics.


feed_id: 6c1051f23fc07d43260f90cf742cb939
title: El Salvador banned mining
uri: El-Salvador-banned-mining
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28El_Salvador_banned_mining%29
content:
<p>


EL Salvador <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/mar/30/el-salvador-makes-history-first-nation-to-impose-blanket-ban-on-metal-mining">has banned mining for metals</a>.
<p>
In El Salvador it is probably unfeasible to regulate mining adequately
to protect the environment.  Even the US doesn't seem to be able to do
it.


feed_id: 53088cef16b403f89a8e9a73c8d27757
title: Censorship in Russia
uri: Censorship-in-Russia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Censorship_in_Russia%29
content:
<p>


Censorship in Russia is vague, with no clear rules, so <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/30/arts-putin-russia-censorship-kremlin">artists generally
self-censor</a>.


feed_id: 44b1c8de3ba3892a984589b7e55c7392
title: Dead Sea
uri: 2017-04-02-Dead-Sea
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28Dead_Sea%29
content:
<p>


The Dead Sea catchment basin had a megadrought 120,000 years ago,
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/29/dead-sea-evidence-unprecedented-drought-future-warning-climate-change">coinciding with a period of temperatures considerably warmer than now</a>.
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#global heating">Global heating</a> may give us a repeat of that.


feed_id: d868cf778779de84f40256e466b7c39b
title: War in Yemen
uri: 2017-04-02-War-in-Yemen
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_%28War_in_Yemen%29
content:
<p>


<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> plans to escalate the war in Yemen, for no other reason than
to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/03/27/will-donald-trump-escalate-devastating-war-and-hunger-yemen">make Iran unhappy</a>.


feed_id: 71757b1f4b487ad558e11a12aa95d194
title: Saboteur of Health
uri: 2017-04-02-Saboteur-of-Health
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#31_March_2017_%28Saboteur_of_Health%29
content:
<p>
Since <a href="/glossary.html#scrotus">SCROTUS</a> couldn't repeal Obama's medical insurance plan, the next step
is for <a href="/glossary.html#saboteur">Saboteur</a> of Health Tom Price to 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/03/25/donald-trump-cant-make-deal">mess
up the system quietly</a>.


feed_id: 3d0ffb508b74caf131c5bf736b4d55dc
title: Urgent: Funding for family planning
uri: Urgent-Funding-for-family-planning
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Funding_for_family_planning%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="https://secure.ppaction.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=21271">tell
Congress</a> to preserve Title X funding for contraception and other
family planning.


feed_id: a1516457de9ddef50f95da9dfec62348
title: Urgent: No war on marijuana
uri: Urgent-No-war-on-marijuana
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_No_war_on_marijuana%29
content:
<p>
Massachusetts citizens:
<a href="https://ssl.capwiz.com/aclu/ma/issues/alert/?alertid=76485626&type=ST">Tell
Massachusetts legislators</a> not to launch a war on marijuana.


feed_id: 998beb3e39a7448acbe25e2d4d03d61c
title: Urgent: Kitchenaid
uri: Urgent-Kitchenaid
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Kitchenaid%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: call on Kitchenaid to
<a href="https://act.weareultraviolet.org/sign/kitchenaid_usga/">stop
sponsoring golf tournaments in the troll's golf course</a>.


feed_id: 077fb90239332438734b0167495de9eb
title: Urgent: Filibuster Gorsuch
uri: Urgent-Filibuster-Gorsuch
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Filibuster_Gorsuch%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 16 non-Republican senators have not committed themselves
to
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/03/29/these-are-16-senators-still-undecided-about-filibustering-neil-gorsuch">filibustering
Gorsuch</a>.  Two of them are even thinking of voting for him.
<p>
If one of them is your senator, please phone per office now
to insist on a filibuster.  Say that Gorsuch threats such gory
damage to Americans that it is their duty to fight to the end.
<p>
The Capitol Switchboard numbers are 202-224-3121, 888-818-6641
and 888-355-3588.


feed_id: 705f71d06606b048d8c1f730390da150
title: Urgent: Pocan-Amash-Lieu-Jones letter
uri: Urgent-Pocan-Amash-Lieu-Jones-letter
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Pocan-Amash-Lieu-Jones_letter%29

content:
<p>
US citizens:
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/help-repmarkpocan-justinamas">call
on Congress</a> to support the Pocan-Amash-Lieu-Jones letter, which
calls on the US to justify its support for <a href="/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a>'s
intervention in Yemen.


feed_id: 3bd60070e2a2c0c85f012e683b68d0a5
title: Condemnation for painting
uri: Condemnation-for-painting
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28Condemnation_for_painting%29
content:
<p>


An artist is facing condemnation for <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/02/emmett-till-painting-reopened-america-wounds-race-exploitation-dana-schutz">making a painting of murdered Emmett Till
while being white</a>.  This condemnation is in the name of a supposed "principle" that
certain topics are the property of certain groups, and that no one
else has the right to say anything about them.  If they do, that is
called "cultural appropriation".
<p>
We must reject this "principle" in the name of intellectual freedom.
No topic belongs to a specific group; anyone has the right to comment
on any topic.
<p>
If you think a person lacks the understanding to comment intelligently
and wisely about on some topic, you can say so. 


feed_id: ae4838ccf01301490dc8e59b1bf7b4a1
title: Lawsuit against Trump
uri: Lawsuit-against-Trump
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28Lawsuit_against_Trump%29
content:
<p>
A lawsuit against the troll, for egging on his supporters to attack
some protesters, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/04/02/a-judge-rules-trump-may-have-incited-violence-and-trump-again-has-his-own-mouth-to-blame/">will proceed</a>.  The judge rejected his arguments for
dismissal.


feed_id: 8fbcaef70fa40ef0f5a99a2611dfdd26
title: Censorship in universities
uri: 2017-04-03-Censorship-in-universities
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28Censorship_in_universities%29
content:
<p>
Laura Kipnis wrote a book <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/02/unwanted-advances-on-campus-us-university-professor-laura-kipnis-interview">about her experience with the forces of
prudish censorship</a> and repression in the university where she teaches.


feed_id: 063fb8da4b19b823796cf17e9a8a880c
title: Trump loves al-Sisi
uri: Trump-loves-al-Sisi
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28Trump_loves_al-Sisi%29
content:
<p>
Washington has loved military dictators for decades, but the troll
loves al-Sisi <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/02/abdel-fatah-al-sisi-donald-trump-egypt">to an amazing degree</a>.


feed_id: c7d3003fa9e759f853ad2f94c10a70fb
title: Do-dirty
uri: Do-dirty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28Do-dirty%29
content:
<p>
President Do-dirty's murder campaign <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/02/philippines-president-duterte-drugs-war-death-squads">failed to make Davao safe</a> from
other criminals.  Nor for the former thug that testified he killed 200
people under Do-dirty's order.
<p>
Their standard practice was to kill witnesses too.


feed_id: e2e1540c2a75e8a2c0a9c8d9eb527942
title: dooH niboR
uri: 2017-04-03-dooH-niboR
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28dooH_niboR%29
content:
<p>


Tory tax cuts show that dooH niboR <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/01/huge-tax-giveaway-for-rich-as-poor-are-hit-george-osborne-tax-benefit-budget-changes">still rules Britain</a>.
<p>
Right-wingers got clever in the 1980s.  They make a tax cut that saves
lots of people a little bit, but mainly benefits the rich.  Then they
make cuts that screw a fraction of the non-rich.  Then they say, that
most poor people are better off &mdash just a little.  But not enough
to compensate for the falling wages.


feed_id: f64e0471b2dfc0478e812b9cb593c40a
title: Torture
uri: 2017-04-03-Torture
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28Torture%29
content:
<p>
A law passed in 2016 makes torture illegal.  Will the troll manage to <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/01/obamas-bulwark-against-torture-will-it-stop-trump">make
the US a torturer again</a> despite that law?


feed_id: e7fb994717f14ec39a8c087f83eb0e29
title: Cut foreign aid
uri: Cut-foreign-aid
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28Cut_foreign_aid%29
content:
<p>


The troll plans to cut foreign aid, which <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/01/trumps-foreign-aid-proposal-leaves-us-sinking-island">will cause economic loss</a>
as well as suffering around the world.


feed_id: bb728b3e266f264aef1c48bf9de6403a
title: Laura Lee
uri: Laura-Lee
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28Laura_Lee%29
content:
<p>
Laura Lee, Northern Ireland sex worker and law school graduate, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/02/northern-ireland-sex-worker-overturn-ban-hiring-escorts">is
suing to overturn the law</a> that makes it a crime to hire her for sex.
<p>
It is ironic that one of the harmful effects of the law is that
clients don't call her from their personal phones, so she cannot
identify them.  The danger of being arrested is hardly the only reason
not to have a call to hire a sex worker in your phone records.  If I
were going to hire a sex worker, I wouldn't do it from my own phone.
I wouldn't want her to know my name, not unless we had a deeper
relationship than just sex.
<p>
The reason I have never hired a sex worker is that I look for an
affectionate relationship, not solely sex.  I recognize "You'd have to
pay me to have sex with you" as a rejection, so I am not interested in
her.


feed_id: 95830ed933ef56462fe9ae3ff68f1c8a
title: Copyright power
uri: Copyright-power
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28Copyright_power%29
content:
<p>
There is a push to <a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/03/eff-says-no-so-called-moral-rights-copyright-expansion">extend copyright power</a> in the US.
<p>
This is dangerous, and <a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/misinterpreting-copyright.html">totally false</a> to the legitimate purpose of copyright
(to benefit the public with more works).


feed_id: d40547ad21249ef8f43b8d8709e8253e
title: Young Americans
uri: Young-Americans
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28Young_Americans%29
content:
<p>


<a href="Http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/39978-trump-s-austerity-budget-increases-military-recruiters-power-to-prey-on-youth">The troll's plans would pressure young Americans to join the army</a>.


feed_id: 86939d2f1b3d430293392481214fcfc2
title: Francisco Franco
uri: Francisco-Franco
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28Francisco_Franco%29
content:
<p>
A Spanish woman <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/30/spanish-woman-given-jail-term-for-tweeting-jokes-about-franco-era-assassination">was convicted of cheering</a> for the assassination in 1973
of Franco the dictator's designated successor.  The court ruled this was "glorification of terrorism"!
But the killing of tyrants is rebellion, not terrorism.
<p>
Franco committed massive terrorism.  After the final success of his
military coup, when the Spanish Republic had surrendered, he had tens
of thousands of its supporters killed as prisoners.
<p>
ETA has committed terrorism on other occasions, but not that one.


feed_id: 2dc77342e9f7fbe23d605610b864b852
title: Credit Suisse
uri: Credit-Suisse
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28Credit_Suisse%29
content:
<p>
Several European countries <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/mar/31/uk-raids-dutch-prosecutors-tax-germany-france">have raided the local offices</a> of Credit Suisse,
as well as their own citizens, looking for the fruits of tax evasion.


feed_id: 87c4ac40eb386871f4d723afd67d91a2
title: Georgia
uri: 2017-04-03-Georgia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28Georgia%29
content:
<p>
The state of Georgia <a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/03/public-records-activist-violated-copyright-by-publishing-georgia-legal-code-online/">fights hard to keep</a> the official version of its laws
copyrighted and unavailable to the public.


feed_id: bef2678a5d15a73eab5ca317a2203b07
title: Rich people
uri: Rich-people
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28Rich_people%29
content:
<p>


The rich are not wealth creators, they <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/mar/30/wealth-banks-google-facebook-society-economy-parasites">mooch off the people</a> who do the
work.


feed_id: 13b86c51fd047db3be70405ab55815b6
title: Urgent: Access to Legal Counsel Act
uri: Urgent-Access-to-Legal-Counsel-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Access_to_Legal_Counsel_Act%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/legal_counsel">call on
Congress</a> to pass the Access to Legal Counsel Act.


feed_id: 71f04cc592f3c7896d8cfe7a36c50fc8
title: Urgent: Oppose two bills
uri: Urgent-Oppose-two-bills
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_two_bills%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/oppose-aipac-bills-attacking">oppose
two bills</a>, one designed to provoke conflict with Iran, and the
other that would ban US companies from boycotting products made in
Israel's illegal colonies in Palestine.


feed_id: b23eeda0c11f5437a772b4f781cde3dc
title: Urgent: Minimum wage laws
uri: Urgent-Minimum-wage-laws
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Minimum_wage_laws%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-alec-from-controlling-our-cities">call
on state legislators</a> to stop ALEC from voiding cities' minimum
wage laws.


feed_id: ce30693593f8c0bd087fcce236e8e253
title: Urgent: Block Gorsuch
uri: 2017-04-03-Urgent-Block-Gorsuch
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Block_Gorsuch%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: phone your senators to 
<a href="https://peoplesdefense.org/action/call-senator-action/">filibuster
to block Gorsuch</a>.
<p>
The Capitol Switchboard numbers are 202-224-3121, 888-818-6641
and 888-355-3588.


feed_id: d7a6f59e187b7e6cd5f35095d1f4f9d8
title: Plutocracy killing white males
uri: Plutocracy-killing-white-males
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Plutocracy_killing_white_males%29
content:
<p>
A study suggests that many white males, without college degrees, are
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/28/deaths-of-despair-us-jobs-drugs-alcohol-suicide">dying
of despair because they have no hopes of a good job</a>.
<p>
If this is true, the fact that some of then die using opioids is a
secondary detail.  It is plutocracy that is killing them.


feed_id: e2d522116dab6f8b42f654e0603230a4
title: US Jews protest against occupation
uri: US-Jews-protest-against-occupation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28US_Jews_protest_against_occupation%29

content:
<p>
US Jews 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/03/27/massive-aipac-protest-calls-out-continued-fueling-illegal-occupation">protested</a>
at Israel's pro-occupation lobbying group's congress.


feed_id: 5afb9041c4e96e8674d314c2fae78dd2
title: Immigrant FBI agents
uri: Immigrant-FBI-agents
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Immigrant_FBI_agents%29
content:
<p>
FBI agents who immigrated from some suspect Muslim countries are constantly
at risk of being 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/22/fbi-muslim-employees-discrimination-religion-middle-east-travel">railroaded
out of the agency simply for following the rules</a>.


feed_id: 128e9136e47ab6d5c8637df71c971f3c
title: Right-wing harassment
uri: Right-wing-harassment
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Right-wing_harassment%29
content:
<p>
Right-wing media campaigns are harassing nonpolitical US government
employees, 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/3/23/1646407/-Nonpartisan-government-workers-are-under-attack-by-the-far-right-media">trying
to make them resign in favor of extremists</a>.


feed_id: a6e6e918d685f180e91720f829bd6ca2
title: Troll's plans in Syria unknown
uri: Troll-s-plans-in-Syria-unknown
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Trolls_plans_in_Syria_unknown%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> is putting more US troops in Syria, but we 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/3/25/1647257/-Sen-Chris-Murphy-trump-Is-Dragging-Us-Into-Another-War-No-One-Is-Talking-About-It">don't
know how many or what they are doing</a>.  Neither does Congress.


feed_id: eef42eda7330396ff8c34245d2c90831
title: Koch lobbying to rewrite US constitution
uri: Koch-lobbying-to-rewrite-US-constitution
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Koch_lobbying_to_rewrite_US_constitution%29

content:
<p>
The Koch brothers are 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/03/26/kochs-bankroll-move-rewrite-constitution">lobbying
for a chance to rewrite the whole US constitution</a>.
<p>
To do this in an age of plutocratic power would surely result in a far
worse constitution.


feed_id: b9e31513927051f1cda377656d9299de
title: Ecuador
uri: 2017-04-03-Ecuador
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Ecuador%29
content:
<p>
Economists urge Ecuador 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/03/26/50-economists-warn-against-neoliberalisms-return-ecuador">not
to go back to plutocratic government</a>.


feed_id: e8aa4988a255ba7d219a4285bd8ccb1e
title: Undercut by subsidized crops
uri: Undercut-by-subsidized-crops
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28Undercut_by_subsidized_crops%29
content:
<p>
It's 
<a href="https://theconversation.com/why-coca-leaf-not-coffee-may-always-be-colombias-favourite-cash-crop-74723">impossible
to shift Colombian farmers from coca to some other crop</a> as long as
subsidized crops from the US undercut them in everything else.


feed_id: 2dea50dcaf714d0996a605b7cf1b3bb6
title: New cars less fuel efficient than claimed
uri: New-cars-less-fuel-efficient-than-claimed
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_%28New_cars_less_fuel_efficient_than_claimed%29

content:
<p>
The Australian Automobile Association found that new cars on sale now
give 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/mar/27/new-cars-far-less-fuel-efficient-than-manufacturers-claim-research-finds">25%
worse fuel efficiency than they claim to give</a>.


feed_id: 805d9f391f39c7cdb0d8582a2dc14bfa
title: Automation
uri: 2017-04-04-Automation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28Automation%29
content:
<p>
Economists studying real-world data found that industrial automation
in the US is already 
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/28/upshot/evidence-that-robots-are-winning-the-race-for-american-jobs.html">eliminating
jobs massively and driving wages down</a>.
<p>
This particularly hits the white workers without college degrees, and
may explain the cause of their
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_(Plutocracy_killing_white_males)">epidemic
of suicide</a>.
<p>
It is probably the reason why most of them 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#10_October_2016_(Non-college_white_men)">voted
for the cheater</a>, giving him enough votes that Republican
voter-suppression could deliver a fraudulent "victory".


feed_id: eb9714f5e8df4e7378ea9ed29312638d
title: When automation destroys good jobs
uri: When-automation-destroys-good-jobs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28When_automation_destroys_good_jobs%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/mar/28/poverty-racism-gary-indiana-factory-jobs">Gary,
Indiana</a>, illustrates what happens after automation destroys the
good jobs in racist USA.  The whites were able to leave; the blacks
were stuck there amidst the decay.
<p>
Now automation is 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#16_September_2016_(Loss_of_jobs_to_computers)">coming
for the whites as well</a>.


feed_id: ed3e2cd2c42c9ae4e9ee0efa32cd48b0
title: Internet Payments
uri: Internet-Payments
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_%28Internet_Payments%29
content:
<p>
  <a href="https://stallman.org/articles/anonymous-payments-thru-phones.html">Anonymous
        internet payments using pay phones</a>.
</p>


feed_id: 95caa0b53fd6c1ca52cff2f3e57b7dfd
title: Troll reneging on support for students
uri: Troll-reneging-on-support-for-students
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#4_April_2017_%28Troll_reneging_on_support_for_students%29

content:
<p>
It appears that the troll is 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/03/31/borrowers-chilled-bone-doe-reneges-student-loan-forgiveness">reneging
on federal support</a> for students that were led into debt by private
colleges that cheated them.
<p>
Naturally he'd want to do this, since 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-nov-feb.html#21_November_2016_(Trump_avoids_showing_evidence_in_lawsuit)">he
ran such a "school"</a>.


feed_id: 053c7f794300f10e4c261936b1dfcecc
title: Insider trading by Tom Price
uri: Insider-trading-by-Tom-Price
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#4_April_2017_%28Insider_trading_by_Tom_Price%29
content:
<p>
Tom Price, <a href="/glossary.html#saboteur">Saboteur</a> of Health and Human Services, seems to have
committed insider trading 
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/04/price-affair-dark-horse-corruption-scandal-just-waiting-erupt">when
he was a congresscritter</a>.


feed_id: 300651fcad32d294d5bc1e8d2f5c231a
title: Tories' welfare cuts
uri: Tories-welfare-cuts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#4_April_2017_%28Tories_welfare_cuts%29
content:
<p>
The Tories are cutting welfare for 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/01/george-osbornes-benefit-cuts-legacy-set-to-come-into-effect">single
parents, disabled people, young adults</a>, and 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/apr/01/benefit-cuts-put-pressure-grieving-families">widows</a>.
<p>
Meanwhile, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/mar/31/from-energy-bills-to-dental-work-stand-by-for-uk-national-price-hike-day">prices
of all sorts of products are rising</a>.
<p>
Last-resort help for those at the edge of the abyss is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/public-leaders-network/2017/apr/01/citizens-advice-bureau-council-funding-cuts-benefits-dwp">disappearing</a>.
<p>
These cuts, to be followed by more cuts and more cuts, will force
millions of Britons into the 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#1_April_2017_(UK_charities)">workhouses</a>
that have already been approved.
<p>
This is to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/apr/01/inheritance-tax-relief-1m-residence-nil-rate-band">reduce
taxes on those who inherit houses</a>.
<p>
This prediction is a simple extrapolation from what the Tories have
been doing for the past 7 years.  Step-by-step impoverishment of the
non-rich is the Tory way.


feed_id: 584e8f5b2ff194c916dd4d7311c8d652
title: Urgent: Call on Nunes to resign
uri: Urgent-Call-on-Nunes-to-resign
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#4_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Call_on_Nunes_to_resign%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.couragecampaign.org/sign/NunesResign/">call on
Nunes</a> to resign as chair of the House Committee on Intelligence.


feed_id: 98cd4539eabf47eabada20e9824fec7d
title: Urgent: Medicare for All
uri: Urgent-Medicare-for-All
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#4_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Medicare_for_All%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.boldprogressives.org/survey/medicare-for-all-petition/">call
on all Democrats running for office in 2018</a> to support Medicare
for All.


feed_id: 0d0a0f59b7c78594f509bdb866a0c9f5
title: Israel formally authorizes another colony
uri: Israel-formally-authorizes-another-colony
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#4_April_2017_%28Israel_formally_authorizes_another_colony%29

content:
<p>
Israel formally authorized another colony 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/30/israel-approves-west-bank-settlements-trump-administration">in
the West Bank</a>.
<p>
All the colonies are illegal.  An occupying power is not allowed to
take over land in an occupied territory 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2013-may-aug.html#13_June_2013_(Large_parts_of_Palestine_managed_for_the_benefit_of_colonists)">for
its own use</a>.


feed_id: 044e8f1883c1a39159dce7b6023f5d43
title: EPA disregards its own scientists
uri: EPA-disregards-its-own-scientists
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#4_April_2017_%28EPA_disregards_its_own_scientists%29

content:
<p>
The EPA disregarded its own scientists and 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/03/30/epa-rejects-own-science-greenlight-brain-damaging-pesticide">rejected
a petition to ban the brain-damaging pesticide chlorpyrifos</a>.
<p>
The EPA did that sort of thing 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jan-apr.html#15_April_2016_(Water_pollution_from_fracking)">under
Obama too</a>, which reflects the fact that Obama was a right-wing
Democrat rather than a real liberal or progressive.


feed_id: 681f8ecdc7a591c8424d1f53dbfb5175
title: DOE employees ordered not to say "climate change"
uri: DOE-employees-ordered-not-to-say-climate-change
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#4_April_2017_%28DOE_employees_ordered_not_to_say_climate_change%29

content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/03/30/public-records-sought-expose-trumps-climate-change-censorship">ordered
Department of Energy employees</a> not to use the term "climate
change".
<p>
Ironically, the term was adopted because 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#16_June_2014_(Destroyed_by_global_heating)">Dubya's
officials ordered employees of some departments to stop saying "global
warming"</a>.  The term "climate change" makes it easy to duck the
fact that the change, overall, is going in one specific direction.
<p>
Employees are still permitted to use the terms "global heating" and
"climate mayhem", which give a clearer idea of what is really
happening and what its results are likely to be.


feed_id: 7f8e5ce4e94fe1bf75eba2ef0373fe17
title: Proper diet unaffordable in the UK
uri: Proper-diet-unaffordable-in-the-UK
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#4_April_2017_%28Proper_diet_unaffordable_in_the_UK%29

content:
<p>
8% of the adults in the UK 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/mar/30/poorest-uk-families-struggle-eat-regularly-heathily-food-standards-agency-survey">can't
afford to eat properly</a>.  That's 
<a href="media/62a79bb0.anuran-bevan.jpg" data-original-source="https://stallman.org/images/anuran-bevan.jpg">Tories at
work</a>.


feed_id: 73f27d34b37c568bcfac188b50a18ac5
title: Who voted to allow ISPs to sell customer information
uri: Who-voted-to-allow-ISPs-to-sell-customer-information
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#4_April_2017_%28Who_voted_to_allow_ISPs_to_sell_customer_information%29

content:
<p>
Here's a 
<a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/republicans-who-voted-sell-online-privacy-fcc">list
of Republicans</a> that voted to allow ISPs to sell information about
their customers' browsing.
<p>
The FCC's ISP privacy regulations were 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#30_October_2016_(ISP_privacy_policies)">inadequate
for real privacy</a>, but that is no excuse for replacing them with
nothing.


feed_id: 74e68cbf4abcce3b5532e81784e3f489
title: Urgent: People's Budget
uri: Urgent-People-s-Budget
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Peoples_Budget%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/we-need-a-peoples-budget-kos">Support</a>
the People's Budget.


feed_id: a3bb1a81b13dc0f5ce2f7ce565564499
title: Urgent: Reject Gorsuch
uri: Urgent-Reject-Gorsuch
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Reject_Gorsuch%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://www.unitedforpeace.org/2017/03/24/reject-gorsuch-supreme-court-letter/">tell
your senators</a> to reject Gorsuch because of his complicity in
torture.
<p>
Here is 
<a href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/3/16/1644154/-That-time-Neil-Gorsuch-said-it-was-okay-for-Bush-and-Cheney-to-torture-people">more
information</a> about what he did.


feed_id: ebfa045959071863e268e147e0cbf266
title: Urgent: Network neutrality
uri: 2017-04-06-Urgent-Network-neutrality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Network_neutrality%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.freepress.net/sign/internet_NN_trump/">stand</a>
for network neutrality.
<p>
Please do this even if you have done it before.


feed_id: 98c9f61ce5201a8f6b06a36cfe463f9c
title: Drop in crime in Mexico
uri: Drop-in-crime-in-Mexico
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Drop_in_crime_in_Mexico%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/05/mexico-nayarit-cartel-drug-crime-edgar-veytia">Mexican
State's Drop in Crime Seemed Too Good To Be True</a>.  In fact, it was
true, and it was caused by allowing drug traffic.
<p>
It seems the War on Drugs is as futile and destructive in Mexico as it
is in the US.


feed_id: 04781eaf88b9587492d9ea6419b60676
title: Homeless families in the UK
uri: Homeless-families-in-the-UK
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Homeless_families_in_the_UK%29
content:
<p>
Many homeless families in the UK are being 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/05/homeless-families-housed-out-of-area-growing-problem">housed
in remote places</a> from which it takes a long time to get to school,
daycare, work, or even a supermarket.
<p>
This is the result of long-standing Tory policies, accepted by B'liar
as well, that have reduced the supply of housing available for this
purpose and encouraged speculation in apartments.
<p>
At least the UK still has a policy of giving homeless people housing.
Except when it 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jan-apr.html#26_January_2016_(UK_public_housing)">offers
people housing that they can't live in</a>, and then uses that
worthless offer as an excuse to wash its hands of them.
<p>
The US, for the most part, tells people and even families they can
live on the street and be harassed by bigots (some of whom are thugs).


feed_id: 21754da5c9854fbfd0e2e71d5ade3f9a
title: Loss of genetic diversity
uri: Loss-of-genetic-diversity
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Loss_of_genetic_diversity%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#global heating">Global heating</a> and its effects are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/radical-conservation/2017/apr/05/climate-change-life-wildlife-animals-biodiversity-ecosystems-genetics">changing
the genetics of species around the world</a>, affecting their
behaviors, their metabolism, and in some cases their shape.
<p>
In many cases this adaptation is due to loss of genetic diversity,
since it takes much longer for new diversity to arise.
Many of these species won't be able to keep adapting to further
change at the same rate, let alone the faster changes we must
expect a few decades from now.


feed_id: 8790b733d61c3d42c2d1a6f1579b5424
title: Troll's "grab the pussy" tape
uri: Troll-s-grab-the-pussy-tape
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Trolls_grab_the_pussy_tape%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a>'s "grab the pussy" tape 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/05/donald-trump-pussygate-bully-women">won
him support from people who felt powerless and took it to mean, "I'm
so powerful I can get away with anything."</a>  They enjoyed the
vicarious feeling of power.  How pitiful.
<p>
I fear this is the Republicans' strategy to overcome the demographics
that work against them.


feed_id: 8c453aa9b0b00f3d73fea9092905673d
title: Troll's business ally in India
uri: Troll-s-business-ally-in-India
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Trolls_business_ally_in_India%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a>'s business ally in India is also a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/05/enemy-property-indias-answer-to-trump-wants-to-raze-pakistan-founders-home">right-wing
extremist that threatens human rights</a>.


feed_id: c03acd944ad03f7d441916d557f137ca
title: Anyone over 20 considered a threat
uri: Anyone-over-20-considered-a-threat
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Anyone_over_20_considered_a_threat%29

content:
<p>
A US high school won't let Bryce Maine choose his grandmother as prom
date, because 
<a href="http://www.freerangekids.com/teen-invites-grandma-to-prom-but-school-says-no-shes-a-danger/">anyone
over 20 is considered a threat</a> to the graduating students' safety.
<p>
Remember when teenagers said not to trust anyone over 30?
Now the school says not to trust anyone over 20.
<p>
Senior prom is one of those occasions on which people are pressured
to waste their money on foolish luxuries.  Do you actually need to
spend that money to discover that it isn't important?


feed_id: a4058c07b18a702f8009e2d3da69a2a3
title: Gender bias in pay rates
uri: Gender-bias-in-pay-rates
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Gender_bias_in_pay_rates%29
content:
<p>
Iceland will 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/05/iceland-equal-pay-women-men-law">require
companies to prove their pay rates do not embody gender bias</a>.


feed_id: e37457dd4109179126f06b1dc07bdb74
title: Face recognition used on masses of people
uri: Face-recognition-used-on-masses-of-people
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Face_recognition_used_on_masses_of_people%29

content:
<p>
The FBI and various thug US departments are 
<a href="http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/does_the_fbi_and_department_of_justice_want_to_collect_the_photo_of_every_a">systematically
using face recognition to recognize masses of people</a>.  In some
cases, they match everyone they find.
<p>
New York City is preparing to match the faces of everyone that drives
in and out of the city.
<p>
This creates a danger of total tyranny.  I think Stalin is a better
comparison than Hitler.  The practice should be illegal.
<p>
No one (and that includes the FBI or any thug department) should be
allowed to keep photos of everyone, or a large fraction of the
population, neither alone nor in cooperation with others, nor allowed
to take photos of everyone that passes a certain point or object
except under a very specific court order.


feed_id: a0bbe459c61c2a4b7481e481963077d5
title: Nominee for Saboteur of the FDA
uri: Nominee-for-Saboteur-of-the-FDA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Nominee_for_Saboteur_of_the_FDA%29
content:
<p>
Scott Gottlieb, nominated as <a href="/glossary.html#saboteur">Saboteur</a> of the Food and Drug
Administration, was 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/04/04/scott-gottlieb-opioid/">paid
by pharma companies</a> while he condemned measures to stop companies
from selling opioids.
<p>
The problem of opioid addiction seems to be the result of the harm
done by 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_(Medicaid)">dooH
niboR and plutocracy in general</a>, so the real solution is not in
restricting availability of opioids but in changing the factors that
lead so many people to want to drug themselves into insensibility.
However, Gottlieb is evidently inclined to sell out and should not be
an official.


feed_id: 4de3fb99cacce36ccb34b2a977ac061e
title: US plans to demand travelers' email accounts
uri: US-plans-to-demand-travelers-email-accounts
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28US_plans_to_demand_travelers_email_accounts%29

content:
<p>
The US plans to demand that travelers give access to their email
accounts, meaning basically 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/04/trump-extreme-vetting-visitors-to-us-share-contacts-passwords">all
their private communications</a>.
<p>
This would apply even to people that don't need a visa.
<p>
It would be anxiety-provoking to plan a trip to the US and face the
danger of being denied entry and losing what you've already spent on
the tickets.  Don't expose yourself to this — stay away from the
US.
<p>
I fear that if the US does this, other countries will follow.  The US
introduced the nasty practice of demanding fingerprints from visitors,
and already several other countries have adopted the practice, meaning
that I will never go there again.


feed_id: b0a0affa93105a67a0b40eda5cff8ca2
title: UK sucking up to tyrants for money
uri: UK-sucking-up-to-tyrants-for-money
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28UK_sucking_up_to_tyrants_for_money%29

content:
<p>
For the UK, leaving the EU implies sucking up to every tyrant with
money, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/04/brutal-regimes-tory-brexit-eu-theresa-may-saudi-arabia-terror">even
Salafi Arabia</a>.
<p>
UK's "Need" for trade deals will be an 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/04/uks-need-for-post-brexit-trade-deals-will-trump-human-rights-concerns">excuse
to ignore human rights in other countries</a>, as well as workers
rights both there and in the UK itself.


feed_id: 29e177128eaa7c769adb507c5d67fcf8
title: Troll-Putin communications channel
uri: Troll-Putin-communications-channel
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Troll-Putin_communications_channel%29

content:
<p>
The head of (renamed) Blackwater
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/blackwater-founder-held-secret-seychelles-meeting-to-establish-trump-putin-back-channel/2017/04/03/95908a08-1648-11e7-ada0-1489b735b3a3_story.html">met
with an associate of Putin</a> to set up a secret communications
channel between the troll and Putin.


feed_id: 46761f2816490162aa816ac3ddc4cecb
title: Removal of UK from EU
uri: Removal-of-UK-from-EU
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Removal_of_UK_from_EU%29
content:
<p>
Removing the UK from the EU is an
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/04/ripping-up-protections-brexit-trump-freedom">excuse
to give billionaires "freedom" from regulations that make them pay
decent wages and protect us from them.


feed_id: b25dff56b87d404fd11903b482615ec8
title: Ban on palm oil for biofuels
uri: Ban-on-palm-oil-for-biofuels
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Ban_on_palm_oil_for_biofuels%29
content:
<p>
The European Parliament
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2017/apr/04/palm-oil-biofuels-meps-eu-transport-deforestation-zsl-greenpeace-golden-agri-resources-oxfam">voted
to ban use of palm oil for biofuels</a>.


feed_id: 8509ef79228659a7a7b24e31c69f6bad
title: Bitcoin developer treated as suspected terrorist
uri: Bitcoin-developer-treated-as-suspected-terrorist
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Bitcoin_developer_treated_as_suspected_terrorist%29

content:
<p>
Amir Taaki, British developer of Bitcoin software, went to Rojava to
help the Syrian Kurds.  He wanted to help them technically but they
conscripted him as a soldier.  Since he returned to Britain, the UK
<a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20170403115738/https://www.wired.com/2017/03/anarchist-bitcoin-coder-found-fighting-isis-syria/">treated
him as suspected terrorist</a>, giving incoherent reasons, and refuses
to let him travel.
<p>
Maybe they want to stop him from contributing to Bitcoin software.


feed_id: d7cfbeb10255b0915361fe98681f1ab4
title: US troops in Iraq and Syria
uri: US-troops-in-Iraq-and-Syria
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28US_troops_in_Iraq_and_Syria%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a>
<a href="http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-trump-deployment-20170330-story.html">refuses
to tell the American people how many US troops are fighting in Iraq
and Syria</a>.  It states a number which is false.
<p>
Only whistleblowers will tell us how our government is fighting wars,
which reinforces the point that democracy depends on whistleblowers
and we must do away with any and all surveillance that threatens
whistleblowers.


feed_id: f166086f51ab03eba79a14cba3f6c45e
title: Ethics laws
uri: Ethics-laws
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Ethics_laws%29
content:
<p>
Ethics Laws
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/03/ethics-laws-will-sideline-jared-and-ivanka">Will
Sideline Jared and Ivanka</a> (from giving the troll "advice" about
several important issues).


feed_id: 96551aff9a82ebde5eba145c8c4dfae0
title: Addictiveness of gambling machines
uri: Addictiveness-of-gambling-machines
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Addictiveness_of_gambling_machines%29

content:
<p>
Gambling machines are so addictive that many
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/03/nation-walking-dead">gamblers
feel frustrated when they win</a>.
<p>
It is an absurd idea to prohibit gambling, but the modern practice in
which the state promotes gambling is an attempt to compensate for the
tax revenue that companies and the rich have learned ways not to pay
any more.
<p>
Painkillers are also addictive, and many Americans choose the one for
the same reason they choose the other:
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/03/most-americans-are-getting-poorer-how-healthcare-rich-killing-many-them">loss
of hope for anything better</a>.
<p>
That's because America does not create any good jobs.  Plutocrats
won't let Americans have good jobs; they want all the income for
themselves.
<p>
In the next decade, soon
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#3_April_2017_(Automation)">automation</a>
(promoted by plutocrats) will get rid of many of the existing good
jobs.
<p>
We Americans had better set up a progressive government before
plutocrats kill us.


feed_id: 146011055dfe2a57a5e2353a13237e7c
title: Troll's support for tyrannical regimes
uri: Troll-s-support-for-tyrannical-regimes
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Trolls_support_for_tyrannical_regimes%29

content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a>'s support for nearly all tyrannical regimes has
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/law/2017/apr/04/donald-trump-xi-jinping-abdel-fattah-el-sisi-human-rights">encouraged
repression</a> and puts human rights defenders in greater danger.


feed_id: 836b5224f044d5ae681b04dcf10330d0
title: Car emissions testing
uri: Car-emissions-testing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Car_emissions_testing%29
content:
<p>
In Europe, national governments will
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/apr/04/diesel-vehicles-will-disappear-sooner-than-expected-says-eu-industry-chief">tax
car manufacturers and use the money to pay for emissions testing</a>.
The manufacturers will no longer pay for it.
<p>
We should do this with
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2012-sep-dec.html#26_October_2012_(System_for_testing_medicines_corrupted)">testing
of medicines</a>, too.


feed_id: 4314bf140453db2e9d5538490faf7171
title: Troll's access to money from business
uri: Troll-s-access-to-money-from-business
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Trolls_access_to_money_from_business%29

content:
<p>
The cheater put his business into a trust, but he 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/03/spicer-wont-give-straight-answer-reported-changes-trump-trust">can
secretly get any amount of money out of it whenever he wishes</a>.


feed_id: c27019c976fb5901cc20390ef877b194
title: Former advisor to troll
uri: Former-advisor-to-troll
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Former_advisor_to_troll%29
content:
<p>
Carter Page, former advisor to the troll, is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/03/trump-russia-carter-page-energy-industry-files-spy">accused
of giving documents to a Russian spy in 2013</a>.


feed_id: 226e0545a68167032b1bb80af587a47d
title: Thugs infiltrate Black Lives Matter
uri: Thugs-infiltrate-Black-Lives-Matter
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Thugs_infiltrate_Black_Lives_Matter%29

content:
<p>
New York City thugs infiltrated Black Lives Matter protest groups
so as to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/04/nypd-police-black-lives-matter-surveillance-undercover">read
their communications</a>, while making videos of them to intimidate
them.
<p>
We need to teach thugs that condemning their violence is a form of
defense of law and order.


feed_id: 8e8f1d64c447d816e1202047ec65c8b9
title: Sexist Muslim regimes
uri: Sexist-Muslim-regimes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Sexist_Muslim_regimes%29
content:
<p>
Ayaan Hirsi Ali 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/04/ayaan-hirsi-ali-says-australian-opponents-carrying-water-for-radical-islamists">criticized
Muslim women who don't fight to free women</a> living under sexist
Muslim regimes.
<p>
People have the right to practice a religion, but no religion
justifies denying human rights to anyone.
<p>
I don't agree with the position, attributed to her in the article,
that mosques and Muslim organizations in general are a "conveyor belt"
to terrorism.  For instance, I don't think that those with a Sufi
alignment do that.  I suspect that Salafi-aligned ones do that.


feed_id: 67b3cc9de492cc921f9e8bd608ef4a9f
title: US immigration thugs
uri: 2017-04-06-US-immigration-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28US_immigration_thugs%29
content:
<p>
US immigration thugs held Rony Chavez Aguilar 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/03/31/1649164/-ICE-is-getting-sued-after-detaining-a-U-S-citizen-for-nearly-three-weeks">in
immigration prison for three weeks, with no warrant</a>, while denying
him the opportunity to show a judge that he can't be deported because
he is a US citizen.


feed_id: f31e68c9d9d886f2b54a731dc0e29fed
title: Tories push more children into poverty
uri: Tories-push-more-children-into-poverty
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Tories_push_more_children_into_poverty%29

content:
<p>
The Tories have found an excuse to push some more children into
poverty: 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/03/two-child-limit-on-benefits-are-you-going-to-be-affected">cut
welfare support for children after the first two</a>.
<p>
The world's population is still increasing, so it is important to
adopt policies that reduce the birth rate — but not this way.
Punishing parents after they have children is too late to influence
their decision, and taking it out on the children is totally unjust.
Children don't choose their parents, so they can hardly deserve
poverty because of anything thy did.  Growing up in poverty can stunt
their mental and physical development permanently.
<p>
The first step should be to make sure all potential parents have
access to effective birth control, and to counteract the natalist
pressure they feel.  Meanwhile, we can provide more support to people
that adopt existing children rather than making new ones.


feed_id: 8f5cddf4b8075389e4c6c00b64eb1a11
title: Disrespecting Islam a crime in Tunisia
uri: Disrespecting-Islam-a-crime-in-Tunisia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Disrespecting_Islam_a_crime_in_Tunisia%29

content:
<p>
Even in generally democratic Tunisia, disrespect towards Islam is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/03/tunisian-nightclub-shut-over-muslim-call-to-prayer-remix-orbit-festival">treated
as a crime</a>.


feed_id: 74ac87c0316bd574f2fd823cfa9037cd
title: The West's advice to pieces of Soviet Union
uri: The-West-s-advice-to-pieces-of-Soviet-Union
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28The_Wests_advice_to_pieces_of_Soviet_Union%29

content:
<p>
The West's advice to the pieces of the Soviet Union, based on
neoliberal ideology, led most of them into great inequality and great
poverty, with a decrease in economic activity.  It proves to have been
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/apr/03/putins-illiberal-stagnation-in-russia-offers-valuable-lesson-joseph-stiglitz">very
bad advice</a>.
<p>
In reaction, Russians 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/04/putin-continuum-tsars-russia">turned
from democracy to a strongman</a>.  Not that he is really doing very
well in making ordinary Russians wealthier.


feed_id: 2cd0f5c19c5d0c7fce5b7360bc7d220b
title: FBI and Best Buy collaboration
uri: FBI-and-Best-Buy-collaboration
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28FBI_and_Best_Buy_collaboration%29
content:
<p>
Best Buy management knew that its employees were collaborating with
the FBI to 
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/true-crime/wp/2017/04/03/records-show-deep-ties-between-fbi-and-best-buy-computer-technicians-looking-for-child-porn/">search
customers' equipment</a>.


feed_id: 34935831b996e950a041ea331f22ef18
title: Medicaid
uri: 2017-04-06-Medicaid
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Medicaid%29
content:
<p>
Republicans seek to make Medicaid 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/03/scott-walker-puts-forth-his-cruelest-idea-yet-drug-tests-medicaid-applicants">require
a drug test, or even exclude people without jobs</a>.
<p>
More and more Americans have no jobs, because the economy has no room
for them.  They are not included in the official unemployment rate
because they have given up looking for work (usually because they know
full well they wouldn't find any).
<p>
More and more Americans turn to drugs to escape from despair.  I can't
understand them — I felt plenty of despair, but the idea of
becoming an addict was never tempting.  But it's a fact that they do.
There is never a justification for imposing drug tests, except when a
driver appears to be dangerously intoxicated.
<p>
This scheme amounts to a plan to kill many poor Americans, which will
be an increasing fraction of Americans as the plutocrats reduce the
share of income that goes to everyone else.
<p>
If your relative dies because the rich made per poor or denied per
medical care, think of it as murder.  Indeed, why not hold the funeral
as a protest rally?  Go out on the street chanting, "Republicans
murdered my ____".
<p>
This is not to claim that Democrats are necessarily better.  We should
select the ones like Sanders that oppose plutocracy, and reject the
ones like Clinton that support it.


feed_id: 319017dd320522fbeb926c1d64f8e8b5
title: Possible invasion of Lithuania
uri: Possible-invasion-of-Lithuania
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Possible_invasion_of_Lithuania%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/03/lithuania-fears-russian-propaganda-is-prelude-to-eventual-invasion">Russian
disinformation</a> seems to be preparing for a possible invasion of
Lithuania.


feed_id: b2273d5bb84ad76804c60956a0d2dd72
title: Urgent: Affordable prescription drugs
uri: Urgent-Affordable-prescription-drugs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Affordable_prescription_drugs%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-the-greed-of-the-drug-corporations?nowrapper=true">call
on your senators</a> to cosponsor the Improving Access to Affordable
Prescription Drugs Act.


feed_id: 8a0262778417d36f7392e99e0e170a50
title: Urgent: Medicare for All
uri: 2017-04-06-Urgent-Medicare-for-All
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Medicare_for_All%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.democracyforamerica.com/sign/medicare-for-all/">call
on congressional Democrats</a> to campaign for Medicare for All.


feed_id: 87ea7dc9901ef3c6660d5f9e989f62c7
title: Urgent: Investigate EPA staff
uri: Urgent-Investigate-EPA-staff
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Investigate_EPA_staff%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/monsanto_epa">call on the
EPA</a> to investigate collusion between EPA staff and Monsanto.


feed_id: 736fdd8723dce83498bd2f1e5e6f03df
title: Urgent: Ban trade in shark fins
uri: Urgent-Ban-trade-in-shark-fins
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Ban_trade_in_shark_fins%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.oceana.org/page/6748/action/1">call for banning
trade in shark fins</a> in the US.
<p>
Many species of shark are endangered by this practice.


feed_id: 97c256563d3a1ee7084d53984c3021f5
title: Lisa Davis
uri: Lisa-Davis
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Lisa_Davis%29
content:
<p>
New York City 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/03/identity-theft-racial-justice">insists
on treating Lisa Davis and Lisa S Davis as the same person</a>, even
after they have both explained the problem.
<p>
One is white and one is black.  The black one gets frequent fines from
the racist state for a variety of tiny offenses, which remain on the
other one's record and threaten to mess up her life.
<p>
This case joins many others to demonstrate that pleading guilty to try
to make trouble go away can blow up on you.  They offer you a deal and
they don't tell you the fine print.
<p>
I wonder if Lisa Davis can get her name changed to Lisa Other Davis
while letting Lisa S Davis keep their own shared official identity.


feed_id: 2c3de5cd45dd84c76238b43a081e4437
title: Troll's choice for anti-trust enforcement
uri: Troll-s-choice-for-anti-trust-enforcement
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Trolls_choice_for_anti-trust_enforcement%29

content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> wants an 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/03/28/trump-taps-bush-era-official-who-defended-mega-merger-antitrust-chief">advocate
of mega-mergers</a> as the saboteur in charge of anti-trust
enforcement.


feed_id: a513ea4a7b31f208c2c68e8f0b302579
title: Disney World tracks visitors
uri: Disney-World-tracks-visitors
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Disney_World_tracks_visitors%29
content:
<p>
Disney World seduces half its visitors to wearing trackers that 
<a href="http://gizmodo.com/how-i-let-disney-track-my-every-move-1792875386">monitor
their every move</a>.
<p>
Even nastier, they demand people's fingerprints.  For that reason
alone, don't go!
<p>
The article says that nowadays many theme parks demand visitors'
fingerprints.  Can anyone send me more information about that?
For instance, the names of some other parks that do that?


feed_id: 1f107b3b3a7d92f6576d62c9fcc15958
title: US ambassador to UN boasts of causing fear
uri: US-ambassador-to-UN-boasts-of-causing-fear
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28US_ambassador_to_UN_boasts_of_causing_fear%29

content:
<p>
The US ambassador to the UN boasted of 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/03/28/u-n-ambassador-nikki-haley-doubled-down-on-threats-to-punish-criticism-of-israel/">making
other country's diplomats afraid to mention Israel's colonies in
Palestine's territory (the West Bank)</a> and December's UN resolution
that the US didn't veto.


feed_id: 286ae758f627adf39038853d4346c0ce
title: Prison phone companies
uri: Prison-phone-companies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Prison_phone_companies%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a>'s agents in the FCC are trying their best to 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/03/25/prisons-phones-and-profit">let
prison phone companies gouge inmates and their families
mercilessly</a>.
<p>
The people that run those companies will exploit any loophole, even
one that doesn't exist (because it will work until a court says it
isn't valid).  Prisons should not be allowed to charge prisoners for
their phone calls within the US — calls are so cheap that there
is no point in doing so.


feed_id: 09d1c795e681f9294104e0dbd06e243b
title: End User License Agreements
uri: End-User-License-Agreements
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28End_User_License_Agreements%29
content:
<p>
Corporations Use End User License Agreements to Create a 
<a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/how-corporations-use-end-user-license-agreements-to-create-a-parallel-legal-system">Parallel
Legal System</a>.
<p>
EULAs should be denied legal validity.  More precisely, any contract
that companies say you agree to in order to use a product you have
bought should be automatically void.
<p>
Don't assume people can't live without accepting EULAs.  I have never
accepted one — anything that has an EULA, I refuse to use.  You
can, too!


feed_id: c3ed6c9a565bdc4c42d913933ee338b7
title: Smear article used by Israeli government
uri: Smear-article-used-by-Israeli-government
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Smear_article_used_by_Israeli_government%29

content:
<p>
Jewish Voice for Peace posted a smear article that was published by
the Israeli government.
<p>
Here's 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/03/31/statement-re-israeli-ministrys-attack-jvp-ahead-national-conference-today">what
JVP has to say about it</a>.
<p>
Here's 
<a href="media/005427fe.JVPhateconference.docx.pdf" data-original-source="https://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/JVPhateconference.docx.pdf">the
smear</a> itself.
<p>
Reading between the lines, we can see the usual Israeli practice of
saying its critics are "anti-semitic" (or even criminal), when really
what they are doing is criticizing Israel's occupation of Palestine.
<p>
Some are condemned for participating a Palestinian human rights
lawyers' group, Al Haq.  Ms Wilkommerson was arrested for trespassing
in office of the Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces.  By any
chance, was her presence there a nonviolent protest?
<p>
One point that is true is that various US states have passed laws
against any sort of boycott of Israel, even the boycott I support of
products made in Israeli colonies in Palestinian territory.
<p>
Israel has given up on convincing American Jews to support the
occupation, and now seeks rather to repress whoever wishes to oppose
it.


feed_id: 5e4cf6e46346cb843ed9481944ee0f87
title: UK welfare cuts
uri: 2017-04-06-UK-welfare-cuts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28UK_welfare_cuts%29
content:
<p>
UK welfare cuts will 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/02/welfare-shakeup-will-push-a-quarter-of-a-million-children-into-poverty">"will
push a quarter of a million children into poverty"</a>.  For Tories,
that's considered a step forward.
<p>
It will also be a disaster for people whose relatives die.  One man
with cancer needs to die by Wednesday or his family 
will lose 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/02/cancer-patients-family-stands-to-lose-50k-under-benefit-cuts">around
$60,000</a> over a period of time.


feed_id: 0c5e28d1b5ce4a976c0e4dfd48a1f3c5
title: Russia censors web to block calls for protest
uri: Russia-censors-web-to-block-calls-for-protest
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Russia_censors_web_to_block_calls_for_protest%29

content:
<p>
Russia has 
<a href="https://globalvoices.org/2017/03/31/russian-web-censor-cracks-down-ahead-of-next-anti-corruption-protests/">censored
the web</a> to block calls for anti-corruption protests.
<p>
The Russian state considers corruption a vital industry and protects
it at the expense of human rights.


feed_id: 285e035cd5326c47410ebb613eff7352
title: Outrage doesn't change minds
uri: Outrage-doesn-t-change-minds
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Outrage_doesnt_change_minds%29
content:
<p>
Outrage Makes You Feel Good, But 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/01/outrage-makes-you-feel-good-but-doesnt-change-minds">Doesn't
Change Minds</a>.


feed_id: 1d24a4ce9da160796c655fa3702778ab
title: Right-wing Christian congresscritters
uri: Right-wing-Christian-congresscritters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28Right-wing_Christian_congresscritters%29

content:
<p>
Right-wing Christian congresscritters cite the bible to 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/3/31/1649083/-Who-would-Jesus-starve-GOP-lawmaker-uses-Bible-to-justify-SNAP-cuts">argue
against giving food to the hungry</a>.
<p>
Anyone who's poor doesn't deserve help, according to their kind of
Christianity.  I wonder if it's same the perverse Christianity that
believes that 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2015-may-aug.html#24_August_2015_(Church_and_Money)">"good"
people get the divine reward of wealth</a>.


feed_id: 810f317deb886b79177f54663bcb0c88
title: US workers
uri: US-workers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#5_April_2017_%28US_workers%29
content:
<p>
US workers have been showing for years what causes them to die of
despair.  
<a href="http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/19999/why_white_working_class_americans_are_dying_deaths_of_despair">It's
the companies that have destroyed their jobs</a>.
<p>
The "centrist" Democrats 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-nov-feb.html#11_November_2016_(Democrats)">failed
to offer them a serious hope</a>, so they gave the troll a try.  I
hope they are sane enough in two years to recognize how he betrayed
them.


feed_id: 7cc876e7a4d896f51cf83b4c06e5a10a
title: Urgent: Extend Social Security
uri: Urgent-Extend-Social-Security
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#7_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Extend_Social_Security%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/sanders_ssea">support
Sanders's plan</a> to extend Social Security.


feed_id: d4640f00e2addc77cb2816f76a6cf535
title: Keystone XL pipeline
uri: 2017-04-07-Keystone-XL-pipeline
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#7_April_2017_%28Keystone_XL_pipeline%29
content:
<p>
How much damage will the Keystone XL pipeline be responsible for?
<p>
The pipeline, if built, will transfer around 
<a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/11/17/364727163/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-keystone-xl-oil-pipeline">30
million barrels of oil per year (83 thousand barrels per day)</a>.
That is 
<a href="https://www.iea.org/about/faqs/oil/">0.086% of current oil
consumption</a>.
<p>
The pipeline is planned to operate for 50 years, long enough to reach
visible disaster.  Thus, its oil will be responsible for about .086%
of the damage.  The responsibility is shared by the mines where the
oil is extracted and the plants that burn it, so let's say 1/3 of the
responsibility falls on the pipeline.
<p>
The disaster is likely to destroy 
<a href="http://www.savills.com/_news/article/105347/198559-0/1/2016/world-real-estate-accounts-for-60--of-all-mainstream-assets">most
of humanity and most of humanity's goods</a>.  We can estimate the
size of this disaster as roughly equal to the economic value of all of
humanity's possessions.  That is around 360 trillion dollars.
<p>
.086% of that is around 310 billion dollars.  1/3 of that roughly 100
billion dollars.  That is a rough estimate of the economic damage that
the Keystone XL pipeline will be responsible for.  It amounts to about
2 billion dollars a year, if they keep it running for 50 years, but
breakdown of society may make that difficult before 50 years from now.
<p>
Thanks to Michael Hannon for finding these data.


feed_id: ca3662a886e56af44b7fa5760834c20c
title: Dutch men in solidarity with gay couple
uri: Dutch-men-in-solidarity-with-gay-couple
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#7_April_2017_%28Dutch_men_in_solidarity_with_gay_couple%29

content:
<p>
Dutch Men 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/06/dutch-men-hand-in-hand-solidarity-gay-couple-attacked">Walk
Hand in Hand for Solidarity</a> After Gay Couple Attacked.


feed_id: c14ce5b0d1f562b20e05845d774fa9a3
title: UK rationing glucose blood test strips
uri: UK-rationing-glucose-blood-test-strips
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#7_April_2017_%28UK_rationing_glucose_blood_test_strips%29

content:
<p>
The UK is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/06/nhs-risking-peoples-health-by-rationing-test-strips-diabetes-uk-says">rationing
glucose blood test strips</a>.  This puts diabetics in danger.
<p>
A tax increase can save their lives.


feed_id: 51467d45cb038683a79ca25f686c079f
title: Deaths caused by smoking
uri: Deaths-caused-by-smoking
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#7_April_2017_%28Deaths_caused_by_smoking%29
content:
<p>
Smoking Causes 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/05/smoking-causes-one-in-ten-deaths-globally-major-new-study-reveals">One
in Ten Deaths Globally</a>, Major New Study Reveals.
<p>
In 2015 that amounted to over 6 million people killed.


feed_id: 6437ebf343fe251d842de0d2903ab2ec
title: New Brunswick provides free abortion pill
uri: New-Brunswick-provides-free-abortion-pill
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#7_April_2017_%28New_Brunswick_provides_free_abortion_pill%29

content:
<p>
New Brunswick Becomes 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/05/canada-free-abortion-pill-new-brunswick">First
Canada Province to Offer Free Abortion Pill</a>.
<p>
This is very wise — considering the costs of each additional
human being.


feed_id: 2795e1d14d09445cac25c35d91d76a9b
title: Gentrification
uri: 2017-04-07-Gentrification
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#7_April_2017_%28Gentrification%29
content:
<p>
Neighborhoods of poor people are often "food deserts", but non-rich
people who remain in a gentrified neighborhood find it is a
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/04/food-desert-mirage-gentrify-brooklyn-portland-groceries-snap">"food
mirage"</a> — the fancy stores no longer sell the staples that
they can cook every day at home.


feed_id: 6615c5ce6b3f3820401bb92448eb6496
title: The US EPA
uri: The-US-EPA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#7_April_2017_%28The_US_EPA%29
content:
<p>
If the UK leaves the EU, it will in desperation allow the US EPA to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/05/us-trade-deal-eu-reach-health-safety-food">regulate
its food safety</a>.
<p>
Even under Obama, the EPA had a tendency to surrender to business.
Republicans are taking this to extremes.  That's a danger to
Americans, and if Britons don't cancel the decision, it will be a
danger to them too.


feed_id: 20c5f9012c4b0a07aafeda70743a602f
title: Loss of jobs to automation
uri: Loss-of-jobs-to-automation
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#7_April_2017_%28Loss_of_jobs_to_automation%29
content:
<p>
"Robots & AI Will Likely Claim Your Job, 
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/technodisplacement-the-political-tsunami-bigger-than_us_58de136de4b0efcf4c66a7ae">Sooner
Than You Think</a>."  The article predicts that 75% of Americans will
lose their jobs by 2025.
<p>
The article mentions that 45% of working-age Americans are permanently
out of work.  That figure includes disabled people and people caring
for family members; I don't think, however, that the fact that they
don't have paid jobs reflects an economic failure.  However, a
substantial part of them have given up on finding work, and that is a
real failure.


feed_id: 18acd8f1a455bfae0f6de8f265a320fd
title: Elimination of rules for ISP privacy
uri: Elimination-of-rules-for-ISP-privacy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#7_April_2017_%28Elimination_of_rules_for_ISP_privacy%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/04/trump-move-to-kill-privacy-rules-opposed-by-72-of-republicans-survey-says/">Republicans
and Democrats are equally opposed</a> to the government's elimination
of the weak FCC rules for ISP privacy.


feed_id: 57ae9d670580f0de9c80173047b161cd
title: Hindu extremists
uri: Hindu-extremists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#7_April_2017_%28Hindu_extremists%29
content:
<p>
Hindu extremists in India 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/05/muslim-man-dies-in-india-after-attack-by-hindu-cow-protectors">murdered
a man who was driving a truck containing cattle</a>.
<p>
Such gang violence is spreading in India with encouraging from
governments and the governing Hindu-nationalist party.
<p>
In the US, right-wing extremist movements they use immigrants and
homeless people as the targets, and Muslims.  In India they use
Muslims and Christians as the targets, and sometimes Dalits.
But it's the same tactic.


feed_id: 8e054245e8e90e60efde0dcf3c417f1b
title: ICE
uri: ICE
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#7_April_2017_%28ICE%29
content:
<p>
"I tried to represent an undocumented man rounded up by ICE. I 
<a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/cover_story/2017/04/ice_detainees_enter_an_unbelievably_cruel_system_designed_to_make_them_disappear.html">couldnât
even find him</a>."


feed_id: 67828985b6e30f4d974b9e311b01e739
title: ISP customers' privacy
uri: ISP-customers-privacy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#7_April_2017_%28ISP_customers_privacy%29
content:
<p>
Why You 
<a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2017/04/04/don_t_be_comforted_by_internet_providers_promises_to_protect_your_privacy.html">Shouldn't
Be Comforted by Internet Providersâ Promises</a> to Protect Your
Privacy.
<p>
The right regulation for ISP's handling of data about customers'
browsing is that they should forget it instantly, never showing or
even keeping a copy.


feed_id: e3a5fe84b258143bea0de5f551768276
title: Use of chemical weapons
uri: Use-of-chemical-weapons
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Use_of_chemical_weapons%29
content:
<p>
Assad 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/05/syria-chemical-weapons-attack-what-we-know-khan-sheikhun">seems
to have dropped sarin on a rebel-held Syrian town</a>.
<p>
I would not put it past him to do that, but I have to wonder why he
would do it.  It makes little difference to the military situation,
but spurs international condemnation of him.  What does he think he
has to gain?
<p>
I agree that it is important to punish a state that uses chemical
weapons so as to discourage other states from adopting the practice.
But what practical method is there to punish Assad?  Only a big
escalation of the war could do that, and that in itself would be a
crime.  And what force in Syria could deserve support in fighting
Assad?  The Arab rebels are Islamists, even when they are not
al-Qa'ida or <a href="/glossary.html#pissi">PISSI</a>.
<p>
The only entity that deserves support is Rojava, but Syrian Arabs
would not tolerate being part of a mainly Kurdish statelet.  In the
absence of an Arab force to ally with, there is no realistic way to
punish Assad.  There might perhaps be someone in his part of Syria to
propose as his replacement, but that proposal would not be practically
possible.
<p>
In the long term, perhaps Rojava could inspire a similar secular
democratic movement among Syrian Arabs.  But that would take years.


feed_id: e67415108d9b3630c0d82aabc64ae449
title: Blackwater for China
uri: Blackwater-for-China
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Blackwater_for_China%29
content:
<p>
Erik Prince's new company is a sort of 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/04/05/rep-jan-schakowsky-calls-for-investigation-into-trumps-ties-to-blackwater-founder-erik-prince/">Blackwater
for China</a>.


feed_id: 2a775064d81b1d8f3e0b0ac86485b964
title: Removal of Bannon
uri: Removal-of-Bannon
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Removal_of_Bannon%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/05/steve-bannon-national-security-council-role-trump-shakeup">removed
Bannon from the National Security Council</a>.
<p>
That will hamper him from pushing the US into an unthinking war.


feed_id: ddb748cce461d2fe34f75f343e67b07e
title: Russia wants to follow China
uri: Russia-wants-to-follow-China
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Russia_wants_to_follow_China%29
content:
<p>
Russia wants to follow China in 
<a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2017/04/russia_is_trying_to_copy_china_s_internet_censorship.html">crushing
the internet as a vehicle for dissent</a>.
<p>
Russia proposes 
<a href="https://globalvoices.org/2017/04/05/russian-lawmakers-want-to-ban-kids-from-social-media-require-real-name-registration/">total
surveillance of social networks</a>.


feed_id: 9b48b5045754b9ad288c70ab96316ebf
title: US wars disconnected from the people
uri: US-wars-disconnected-from-the-people
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28US_wars_disconnected_from_the_people%29

content:
<p>
The US government has disconnected its wars entirely from the people.
It doesn't need public support for wars with few casualties, and it
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/04/demobilizing-america-nation-made-war-and-citizenry-unmade-it">ignores
public opinion entirely</a>.
<p>
The low casualty figures are partly because most of the killing is
done with drones.


feed_id: c5c7d42ff8872ec8d15b3cbcd46cb4dc
title: Health insurance
uri: 2017-04-07-Health-insurance
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Health_insurance%29
content:
<p>
Republicans promised they wouldn't repeal the legal requirement for
insurance companies to cover preexisting conditions.  So instead they
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/04/upshot/freedom-caucus-health-care-pre-existing-conditions.html?_r=0">propose
to allow insurance companies to charge an arm and a leg for treatment
for preexisting conditions</a>.
<p>
It has the same result, but it's more deniable.


feed_id: d5772c7d6a96e260645cb523b8c979af
title: Russia prosecutes pacifists as "extremists"
uri: Russia-prosecutes-pacifists-as-extremists
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Russia_prosecutes_pacifists_as_extremists%29

content:
<p>
Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia are 
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/04/world/europe/russia-moves-to-ban-jehovahs-witnesses-as-extremist.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0">prosecuted
as "extremists"</a> because they are pacifists and decline to join
state propaganda activities.


feed_id: 700c759eb7e564e450a81a75096aa0f8
title: Flint residents charged for poisonous water
uri: Flint-residents-charged-for-poisonous-water
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Flint_residents_charged_for_poisonous_water%29

content:
<p>
The Snyder-imposed government of Flint, Michigan, is 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/4/3/1649187/-City-of-Flint-to-residents-Sorry-we-poisoned-you-now-shut-up-and-pay-up">hounding
residents to pay old water bills</a> that were charged for poisonous
water.


feed_id: fa087c18b71e3406402e9a19756d6c4a
title: Immigration thugs undermine justice
uri: Immigration-thugs-undermine-justice
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Immigration_thugs_undermine_justice%29

content:
<p>
Immigration thugs have a policy of capturing witnesses in courtrooms
and deporting them.  This 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/4/3/1649769/-Public-safety-be-damned-ICE-will-continue-arresting-immigrants-at-courthouses">undermines
justice for everyone</a>.


feed_id: 6802b31a04a2d12f71926849398a745a
title: Protecting Data at the Border Act
uri: Protecting-Data-at-the-Border-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Protecting_Data_at_the_Border_Act%29

content:
<p>
The Protecting Data at the Border Act 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/04/04/cdt-supports-protecting-data-border-act">would
protect US citizens from arbitrary searches</a> of their digital
devices or service accounts as they enter the US.
<p>
Human rights apply to foreigners, too.  I think foreigners should have
a way to ask, before they buy tickets, whether the US would demand to
investigate them in any of those intrusive ways.  If the US says at
that time that it has no wish to do search, then that foreigner would
be treated at the border like a US citizen: searching per devices or
accounts would require a warrant.  If the US says at that time that it
might search devices an accounts, it is not too late for that
foreigner to decide to stay away.


feed_id: 8301687f1d26f1fa868fb5914b71534e
title: Adjudication of rape accusations at US universities
uri: Adjudication-of-rape-accusations-at-US-universities
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Adjudication_of_rape_accusations_at_US_universities%29

content:
<p>
US universities have been 
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2017/04/04/six-years-ago-today-obamas-education-dep">ordered
to use unfair procedures</a> to adjudicate accusations of rape, or
unwelcome touching.  They fall way short of our standards of criminal
justice.


feed_id: 4886b88201279b20a948dafc71647060
title: Global heating
uri: 2017-04-07-Global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Global_heating%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/04/carbon-levels-could-hit-pre-human-palms-arctic-state-mid-century">Historical
precedent</a> suggests we are propelling Earth to "palms in the
Arctic" levels of heat.


feed_id: cf45b8cd2fbe6a0f40856b15fa6ff671
title: Frankie Boyle
uri: Frankie-Boyle
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_%28Frankie_Boyle%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/08/donald-trump-obnoxious-karma-reincarnated-as-himself-frankie-boyle">British comedian Frankie Boyle</a> skewers the troll.
  Example: "If the Queen ever has to shake Trump's hand, she will put
on so many gloves she'll look like Mickey Mouse."  I was laughing out
loud all through it.
<p>
However, I had trouble understanding one sentence because of a
confusing pronoun: "Admittedly, any expert psychologist will tell you
that torture does work, but only if you first threaten them with bare
electrical wires."
<p>
Who here are the people to be threatened?  They could only be the
victims — but that would seem to assert that torture works, and
surely that wasn't what Boyle intended.  Eventually I figured out that
"them" was used confusingly as a <em>singular</em> pronoun, an
ill-advised practice.  Boyle should have written, "threaten per with
bare electrical wires."


feed_id: 7123302d926cdbcc3fb995672266902f
title: Proposal to curb "forfeiture"
uri: Proposal-to-curb-forfeiture
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Proposal_to_curb_forfeiture%29
content:
<p>
A 
<a href="http://reason.com/archives/2017/04/05/the-other-side-of-legalized-theft">bipartisan
bill in Congress</a> proposes to curb "forfeiture", which is a
deemotionalized term for "thugs take your property on some random
accusation without ever trying to prove it."


feed_id: 9ba34c94d2fae9ce1f5416bca772371c
title: Tax loopholes
uri: 2017-04-08-Tax-loopholes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Tax_loopholes%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/04/05/rep-lloyd-doggett-introduces-bills-curb-offshore-tax-avoidance-end-tax-gimmicks">Bills
in Congress</a> would take away loopholes that multinationals use for
tax-dodging.
<p>
Do you think Republicans will support them?


feed_id: 0d38ebca07c8a75cc793025a62cbd1c1
title: Ecuadorian presidential election
uri: Ecuadorian-presidential-election
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Ecuadorian_presidential_election%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/05/people-reject-neoliberalisms-return-challenges-remain-ecuador">The
progressive candidate</a> recommended by Correa narrowly won the
Ecuadorian presidential election.


feed_id: 42246f973af79c6320d2cf74e0f247dd
title: Israelis defiantly protest state plans
uri: Israelis-defiantly-protest-state-plans
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Israelis_defiantly_protest_state_plans%29

content:
<p>
The Israeli state plans to make a list of people that advocate
boycotting products of Israel's colonies in Palestinian territory.  A
thousand Israelis protested defiantly saying, 
<a href="http://www.kibush.co.il/show_file.asp?num=75447">"Add me to
your list"</a>.
<p>
They showed real courage.  It's safe for me to advocate this boycott
in the US, though recent politically biased laws now penalize any
company that follows the boycott.  In Israel, its supporters face real
repression.  Under a law passed a few years ago, anyone advocating
such a boycott in Israel is subject to essentially unlimited financial
penalties — as much as any inhabitant of the colonies wishes to
impose.


feed_id: 8c655435011c96164db5bcd8f51d4935
title: Palestinians' land designated as "nature reserve"
uri: Palestinians-land-designated-as-nature-reserve
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Palestinians_land_designated_as_nature_reserve%29

content:
<p>
Israel designated Palestinians' land a "nature reserve" 
<a href="http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=776242">so they
cannot grow anything</a>.  Just now it uprooted olive trees planted
there.
<p>
Nature reserves are useful, but an occupation government has no right
to impose such decisions on the occupied people.


feed_id: c9532369da984cdf6e8a0eb8208c10ef
title: Discrimination against homosexuals
uri: Discrimination-against-homosexuals
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Discrimination_against_homosexuals%29

content:
<p>
An appeal court ruled that 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/05/equality-win-courts-gamechanger-ruling-protects-lgbtq-workers">existing
US nondiscrimination law is violated</a> by workplace discrimination
against homosexuals.
<p>
I suppose this will go to the Supreme Court, but the argument seems
valid to me.


feed_id: 7b79cce86ffa8e61fe082bd89637802c
title: Medicare or death
uri: Medicare-or-death
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Medicare_or_death%29
content:
<p>
For many Americans, it's 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/05/medicare-all-give-me-healthcare-or-give-me-death">Medicare
or death</a>.  Politicians take notice.


feed_id: bb5ee78a0559e970fccecda31b9a9843
title: Left-wing criticism of Israel
uri: Left-wing-criticism-of-Israel
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Left-wing_criticism_of_Israel%29
content:
<p>
Left-wing criticism of Israel often seeps over into antisemitism.
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/06/ken-livingstone-hitler-zionism-jews">This
article</a> analyzes the border zone.


feed_id: 96403cf77b3e8af0209302b052e10355
title: Nonviolent protest
uri: Nonviolent-protest
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Nonviolent_protest%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2017/apr/06/diane-nash-non-violent-protest-civil-rights-gandhi-martin-luther-king">Interview
with Diane Nash</a>, leader of nonviolent protest against racist US
laws.


feed_id: a48a73fe87606fac6863f3792a534ed3
title: Top Price
uri: Top-Price
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Top_Price%29
content:
<p>
The same day that Tom Price bought stock in pharma companies, he also
called an official of a pertinent agency to 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/3/31/1649174/-Tom-Price-bought-stocks-and-took-official-action-to-protect-pharmaceutical-profits-on-the-same-day">lobby
against changing the way Medicare reimburses them</a>.
<p>
The official was at the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation.


feed_id: 3a473f7ca232178f16ae3e952dc679bc
title: Thailand's new authoritarian constitution
uri: Thailand-s-new-authoritarian-constitution
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Thailands_new_authoritarian_constitution%29

content:
<p>
The Thai military have 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/06/thailand-king-signs-constitution-path-polls-election">imposed
their new authoritarian constitution</a> on Thailand.
<p>
It is designed to increase the power of the elite and 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#22_September_2016_(Activist_convicted_by_Thai_military_regime)">reduce
democracy</a>.


feed_id: 5e4f68adcba4fa5d6d96d89173fea266
title: Picture of Putin in drag
uri: Picture-of-Putin-in-drag
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Picture_of_Putin_in_drag%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/04/05/its-now-illegal-in-russia-to-share-an-image-of-putin-as-a-gay-clown/">Russia
Bans Picture</a> of Vladimir Putin in Drag.


feed_id: 4a272bac3df0e2464211b794008d0a1a
title: Snooping on employees in the US
uri: Snooping-on-employees-in-the-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Snooping_on_employees_in_the_US%29
content:
<p>
Employees in the US are 
<a href="http://www.vocativ.com/414570/workplace-spying-surveillance-dystopia-we-work-in/">surveilled
intimately</a>.
<p>
We need laws to protect employees privacy from their employers.
If more employees had unions, they could stop this on their own.


feed_id: ecfb1dbdc28905fac7fcdb638eb8f566
title: Guber to leave Seattle if drivers unionize
uri: Guber-to-leave-Seattle-if-drivers-unionize
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Guber_to_leave_Seattle_if_drivers_unionize%29

content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#guber">Guber</a> says it will leave Seattle if drivers there are allowed to
unionize.  The
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/apr/05/uber-drivers-union-seattle-legal-battle">drivers
say that would be victory</a>.
<p>
They only work for Uber because they feel compelled to do so to
compete with other drivers, so if Uber disappeared, they'd be safe.
<p>
How about passing laws requiring all transportation options to
permit getting a ride anonymously and paying cash?  That would
drive Uber away for sure, and good riddance!


feed_id: 91cc5e32b107aa3abc81235cbe7a43bc
title: The market game
uri: The-market-game
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28The_market_game%29
content:
<p>
The market game 
<a href="https://medium.com/institute-for-the-future/universal-basic-assets-abb08ca2f0fc">worked
tolerably well in the age when masses of workers' work was needed</a>
— with the addition of regulations and social welfare programs
to take care of those who couldn't possibly work.  In the age where
millions of people can't do any work that gets paid, we have to change
these rules.
<p>
However, it is a mistake to evaluate society in terms of people's
chances of getting into the top 20%, or top 50%, or top 5%.
No matter how we arrange the rules, only 1/5 of the people can
get into the top 20%.  The right criterion is how well
the people in the bottom 20% live.
<p>
We all need freedom as well as material things.  When the article uses
the term "open source", it neglects that aspect of 
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">what
software does to its users</a>.


feed_id: 5802f6402cde61c3f1f32ed6f0e2085a
title: Privacy violation by Google Play
uri: Privacy-violation-by-Google-Play
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Privacy_violation_by_Google_Play%29
content:
<p>
Google Play 
<a href="http://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/google-play-store-policy-raises-privacy-concerns-331116">sends
app developers the personal details of users that install the app</a>.
<p>
Merely asking users' "consent" for this is not enough to legitimize
it.  We know that most users have given up on reading just what they
are "consenting" to, and the reason is that they are accustomed to
being told, "If you want to use this service, you must consent to blah
blah blah."
<p>
To truly protect people's privacy, we must stop Google from getting
this personal information in the first place!


feed_id: 6d280ebe85ad8d395be88dfe421e7cbd
title: Guber drivers suing Guber
uri: Guber-drivers-suing-Guber
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Guber_drivers_suing_Guber%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#guber">Guber</a> drivers are suing Guber, accusing it of 
<a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/04/uber-said-to-use-sophisticated-software-to-defraud-drivers-passengers/">programming
its software to cheat them and passengers through misinformation</a>.


feed_id: b720e38b2848b5deb190b0fef25b5a50
title: Thug departments making effort to avoid killing
uri: Thug-departments-making-effort-to-avoid-killing
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Thug_departments_making_effort_to_avoid_killing%29

content:
<p>
Some US thug departments are making systematic efforts to avoid
killing — and 
<a href="http://reason.com/archives/2017/04/06/when-cops-encounter-knives-what-should-t">it
works</a>!  Instead of shooting people dead, they arrest people alive.
Even people who really are dangerous.
<p>
Who could possibly dislike this?  Sessions can.  More generally,
Republicans with simmering anger against minority groups or poor
people can resent not having the chance to kill someone.


feed_id: 484d8d9b9d4aab1afeb64996afe4c257
title: Overprotection of children
uri: 2017-04-09-Overprotection-of-children
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Overprotection_of_children%29
content:
<p>
A bill in Arkansas to allow parents to leave children unsupervised
from time to time was 
<a href="http://www.freerangekids.com/first-state-in-the-nation-votes-on-free-range-bill-of-rights-would-decriminalize-parents-who-let-their-kids-play-outside-or-wait-briefly-in-car/">defeated</a>.
<p>
Any parent who doesn't act as if leashed permanently to per children
is at risk of imprisonment.


feed_id: 912525e2443abf3a145cbcb086a3c3b4
title: Troll's pretense
uri: Troll-s-pretense
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Trolls_pretense%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/06/trump-syria-missiles-assad-chemical-weapons">launched
60 cruise missiles</a> against one of Assad's air bases.
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a>'s pretense of caring about Syrian children is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/06/donald-trumps-senseless-syria-strikes-accomplish-nothing">completely
incredible</a>.
<p>
This also raises the question of what his real reason is.  Perhaps he
is looking for a public way to give the impression he's not friends
with Putin.
<p>
I am not sorry for Assad or his soldiers.  There is some sense in
sending Assad a message to "stop using chemical weapons", if it does
not mean continuing to fight him (which would have the problem of
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#6_April_2017_(Use_of_chemical_weapons)">whose
victory one is fighting for</a>).
<p>
The president should have to get permission from Congress for such
attacks.


feed_id: 73fa2882a95d6ee9270d80232b341215
title: Slavery in supply chains
uri: Slavery-in-supply-chains
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Slavery_in_supply_chains%29
content:
<p>
Mining magnate: 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/07/slavery-supply-chains-andrew-forrest">"We
all had slavery in our supply chains."</a>


feed_id: a0a54a3850262e56d0fb5bbfcd9530bb
title: Great Barrier Reef
uri: 2017-04-09-Great-Barrier-Reef
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Great_Barrier_Reef%29
content:
<p>
Some in Australia 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/apr/07/plan-cold-water-barrier-reef-stop-bleaching">propose
to deploy cooling systems to protect a few often-visited parts</a> of
the Great Barrier Reef.
<p>
Coral reefs are needed for more than just tourism.  They are essential
for many species to survive, including many that humans eat.
<p>
At least the discussion of the issue will remind the public that there
is a serious problem.  Australia must throw off the dominion of the
planet-roasters, then cut down rapidly on its carbon emissions.


feed_id: 0fad05903fd47dea3b11807a083d2b11
title: Thug agency demands Twitter users' identities
uri: Thug-agency-demands-Twitter-users-identities
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Thug_agency_demands_Twitter_users_identities%29

content:
<p>
The US border thug agency has 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/04/06/the-u-s-government-is-trying-to-unmask-an-anonymous-anti-trump-twitter-account/">demanded
Twitter identify the users of an account that makes critical posts</a>
and identify themselves as disaffected government employees.
<p>
The US owes its existence to anonymous pamphleteers who condemned the
injustices of the (British) state.  The right to anonymous publication
is just as important today.


feed_id: 28cdd77d70ee18bd8646a32e57f56f77
title: Republicans change Senate rules
uri: Republicans-change-Senate-rules
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Republicans_change_Senate_rules%29
content:
<p>
Republicans 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/06/senate-nuclear-option-neil-gorsuch-supreme-court">changed
the Senate rules so that Supreme Court nominees cannot be blocked by
filibuster</a>.
<p>
Putting Gorsuch on the Supreme Court will do lasting harm to the US.
<p>
Democrats have gained something by trying their best to block Gorsuch.
The Republicans will suffer the odium of having changed the rules to
force him through.


feed_id: 81aa6ec5347be98cf9627323750d5f04
title: Cruelty of US border thugs
uri: Cruelty-of-US-border-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Cruelty_of_US_border_thugs%29
content:
<p>
The US border thugs, their impulse to cruelty now 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/06/ice-immigration-maribel-trujillo-deportation-mexico">unleashed
by the troll</a>, are deporting unauthorized immigrants who were
previously accepted and leaving their US citizen children behind
alone.
<p>
Maribel's dilemma may become easier to resolve as Republicans continue
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#14_March_2017_(Republicans_despise_non-rich)">changing
the US to be more like Mexico</a>.
<p>
It would be dishonorable for these children to legitimize the cruelty
that has been visited on them.  They should chant frequently,
together, "Shame on Republicans.  Down with Republicans."


feed_id: f79216d91bdf2ad57737c17dfa6529b2
title: Differences between males and females
uri: Differences-between-males-and-females
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Differences_between_males_and_females%29

content:
<p>
Proper scientific study of medical or neurological differences between
males and females 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/06/anti-sex-difference-scientific-rigour-gender-research-feminism">must
separate the variable of sex from others</a> such as body weight and
life experiences.


feed_id: b0471abf697e1e6354efa7aa11e0028c
title: One-day general strike in Argentina
uri: One-day-general-strike-in-Argentina
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28One-day_general_strike_in_Argentina%29

content:
<p>
A one-day general strike in Argentina 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/06/argentina-strike-labor-unions-austerity-wages-inflation">protests
falling real wages</a>.


feed_id: 197ce1cc49d9ce5e21457f8399255997
title: Investigation of troll-Russia ties
uri: Investigation-of-troll-Russia-ties
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#8_April_2017_%28Investigation_of_troll-Russia_ties%29

content:
<p>
Rep. Nunes, citing critics, has "temporarily" got out of the way of
the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/06/devin-nunes-leaves-house-intelligence-committee-russia-inquiry-ethics-inquiry">investigation
of ties between the troll's team and Russia</a>.


feed_id: 01cf51f4ee7d179a998ebf09e7f25635
title: Urgent: Support Medicare for All
uri: Urgent-Support-Medicare-for-All
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#9_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Support_Medicare_for_All%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/sanders_medicare">State your
support</a> for Sanders's planned Medicare for All.


feed_id: 6f1e8b2011c7f979632452221d2ec6bd
title: Israel drifting into tyranny
uri: Israel-drifting-into-tyranny
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#9_April_2017_%28Israel_drifting_into_tyranny%29
content:
<p>
Two former Israeli security chiefs 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/06/former-israeli-security-chiefs-warn-of-tyranny">warned</a>
that Israel is drifting into tyranny.
<p>
Readers of this site will have seen that Uri Avnery has chronicled
Israel's advancing repression of its citizens for years.


feed_id: dbd77ca2b697a1455fbebdbc00e91255
title: Troll's government
uri: Troll-s-government
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#9_April_2017_%28Trolls_government%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> is strewing the government with 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/06/resurrecting-unholy-trinity-torture-rendition-and-indefinite-detention-under-trump">officials
that advocate torture and want to imprison people without trial</a>
until the US ends a war (i.e., forever).
<p>
If the US wants to call them prisoners of war, it should treat them according
to the 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2004-may-aug.html#21%20June%202004%20(Prisoner%20mistreatment%20)">Geneva
Conventions</a>.


feed_id: 2e50ec3fa908974730f5e29a9b4652e5
title: Gorsuch's audition
uri: Gorsuch-s-audition
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#9_April_2017_%28Gorsuchs_audition%29
content:
<p>
Gorsuch auditioned for the job of Supreme Court saboteur with a 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/06/dark-justice-neil-gorsuch-and-his-secret-big-money-backers">series
of dissenting opinions showing plutocrats he was their man</a>.


feed_id: 977e10dde1bbd8e74e4847757decec0d
title: Rejection of excuse for massive surveillance
uri: Rejection-of-excuse-for-massive-surveillance
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#9_April_2017_%28Rejection_of_excuse_for_massive_surveillance%29

content:
<p>
Most Americans have 
<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-cyber-poll-idUSKBN1762TQ">learned
to reject the tiny threat of terrorism as an excuse</a> for massive
surveillance.


feed_id: a7ce7a2ef431250c5d400f0a0a724b15
title: Urgent: Vote on bombing Syria
uri: Urgent-Vote-on-bombing-Syria
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Vote_on_bombing_Syria%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/Syria_War_dems/">call on
Congress</a> to vote on bombing Syria.


feed_id: 0b38a016c756dcbdc0613800ece4a190
title: Resignation from the EPA
uri: Resignation-from-the-EPA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Resignation_from_the_EPA%29
content:
<p>
Michael Cox, on resigning from the EPA, says that 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/07/its-not-me-its-you-epa-staffer-quits-candid-letter-pruitt">Saboteur
Pruitt arouses the derision of the staff</a>.
<p>
Alas, that is probably what he wants to do.


feed_id: 0bf178577374ba04c06925f605267f61
title: Troll's "wag the dog" moment
uri: Troll-s-wag-the-dog-moment
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Trolls_wag_the_dog_moment%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/07/observers-warn-syria-attack-trumps-wag-dog-moment">Bombing
Syria</a> was the troll's "wag the dog" moment.
<p>
Others support my guess that 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/07/trump-hits-his-target-domestic-critics-who-think-hes-too-close-putin-and-not">his
real motive was to distance himself from Putin in the public mind</a>.
<p>
I think that a president who will launch missiles for political
reasons is very dangerous.


feed_id: 427ce7bd0848fe963819223070cbbd0f
title: Troll's illegal bombardment of Syria
uri: Troll-s-illegal-bombardment-of-Syria
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Trolls_illegal_bombardment_of_Syria%29

content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a>'s bombardment of Syria was illegal because he 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/04/07/legal-experts-question-whether-trumps-syria-strike-was-constitutional/">did
not ask Congress for permission</a>.
<p>
Congress would probably have given permission, but that does not
excuse him for not asking.


feed_id: cfcbe1aa41d841e858dd935ce155a32f
title: Urgent: Ban toxic paint-stripping chemicals
uri: Urgent-Ban-toxic-paint-stripping-chemicals
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Ban_toxic_paint-stripping_chemicals%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://secure.earthjustice.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1956">call
on the EPA</a> to ban toxic paint-stripping chemicals and make
manufacturers switch to the safer alternatives.


feed_id: d9eab7cd6d34eafe1cafbfb5738b42b2
title: Urgent: Block Keystone XL pipeline
uri: Urgent-Block-Keystone-XL-pipeline
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Block_Keystone_XL_pipeline%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: 
<a href="http://act.350.org/letter/nokxl-nebraska-comment/">call on
Nebraska</a> to block the Keystone XL pipeline.


feed_id: df1145636d8c478adb1c420b2025d9fc
title: Lifespans of rich and poor Americans
uri: Lifespans-of-rich-and-poor-Americans
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Lifespans_of_rich_and_poor_Americans%29

content:
<p>
Rich Americans have a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/06/us-healthcare-wealth-income-inequality-lifespan">much
longer lifespan than poor Americans</a>.
<p>
It is 
<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27063997?dopt=Abstract&report=abstract&format=text">14
years longer for men, and 10 years longer for women</a>.
<p>
A big contributor to this is that poor people are denied necessary
medical care in the US.
<p>
Republicans to American workers: If you can't make us richer, we are
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/trump-and-republicans-expect-you-to-die-joe-public_us_58bd8453e4b0fa65b844b612">arranging
for you to die</a>.


feed_id: eec8d57d5aa9a5ec4c49c2a99ffc85cc
title: The troll
uri: The-troll
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28The_troll%29
content:
<p>
Bombing 
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2017/04/donald-trump-no-more-presidential-today-he-was-yesterday">does
not make the troll "presidential"</a>.


feed_id: 540fdb24203e7ac25ebb7e7191c7ba64
title: Anonymous dissidents on Twitter
uri: Anonymous-dissidents-on-Twitter
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Anonymous_dissidents_on_Twitter%29
content:
<p>
The US has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/apr/07/twitter-trump-lawsuit-anonymous-account-dropped">backed
off</a> from demanding Twitter identify anonymous dissidents that work
in US immigration.


feed_id: 0edb57337ea749943e4fa75d9393b75e
title: Bombing Syria
uri: Bombing-Syria
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Bombing_Syria%29
content:
<p>
Bernie Sanders: Although Assad as a war criminal is not entitled to complain,
bombing Syria 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/07/sanders-warns-trump-against-dragging-us-another-endless-quagmire">can
put others in danger</a>.


feed_id: e48423ff8590a596c7cce5507943a6ce
title: More droughts to come
uri: More-droughts-to-come
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28More_droughts_to_come%29
content:
<p>
California's long drought is over, but 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/07/california-drought-over-jerry-brown-future-climate-change">global
heating will bring further droughts</a>, even longer and worse than
this one.


feed_id: e348d95d4ec50d44cd2b8ee9bb0532ec
title: Why global heating causes extreme weather
uri: Why-global-heating-causes-extreme-weather
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Why_global_heating_causes_extreme_weather%29

content:
<p>
Scientists 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2017/apr/07/new-study-links-carbon-pollution-to-extreme-weather">have
figured out why</a> global heating causes extreme weather in temperate
zones.


feed_id: 046b67609b388b1d11bbf175786dec0c
title: Victim of Rio Tinto blocked from visiting London
uri: Victim-of-Rio-Tinto-blocked-from-visiting-London
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Victim_of_Rio_Tinto_blocked_from_visiting_London%29

content:
<p>
The 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/apr/07/madagascar-farmer-mining-firm-rio-tinto-agm-ousted-from-land-athanase-monja">UK
government appears to have cooperated with Rio Tinto mining</a> to
block a visit by a victim from Madagascar to the company's annual
meeting in London.
<p>
I distrust on principle all "offsetting" schemes and all claims by
companies that they protect the environment in some subtle way.  Big
companies have so much temptation to falsify these things, and so
little scruple about doing so.


feed_id: 6d225bad23935c6592c58144a9f220f9
title: Nine-year-old suing government of India
uri: Nine-year-old-suing-government-of-India
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Nine-year-old_suing_government_of_India%29

content:
<p>
Nine-year-old Ridhima Pandey is suing the government of India
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/apr/07/nine-year-old-ridhima-pandey-sues-indian-government-over-climate-change-inaction">for
exposing her to future global heating that will result from the
government's present policies</a>.
<p>
There is a substantial chance those policies will kill her, so her
lawsuit is quite justified.


feed_id: 14ceef1b950c6cebf9c865245ee4629d
title: Free housing
uri: Free-housing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Free_housing%29
content:
<p>
Utopian Thinking: 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/10/free-housing-universal-right-free-market">Free
Housing Should Be a Universal Right</a>.
<p>
The article gives too much legitimacy to a supposed "free market"
principle, but that is not a matter of principle at all.  Markets are
a useful system, and we should use them where they give good results.
Where they are harmful, we should not let them cause suffering.
<p>
Moreover, it is a mistake to assert a privilege for the "free" market.
every market is based on certain rules, and there are many legitimate
ways that the rules could be chosen.


feed_id: 24b511c40c98d27a9e2054b9948fbcc7
title: Great Barrier Reef at "terminal stage"
uri: Great-Barrier-Reef-at-terminal-stage
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Great_Barrier_Reef_at_terminal_stage%29

content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#global heating">Global heating</a> is killing the Great Barrier Reef right now.
Scientists say the reef is at 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/apr/10/great-barrier-reef-terminal-stage-australia-scientists-despair-latest-coral-bleaching-data">"terminal
stage"</a>.


feed_id: 4694724f3b714c8b74d33f552428974b
title: $15 tax bill nearly costs family their home
uri: 15-tax-bill-nearly-costs-family-their-home
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28%2415_tax_bill_nearly_costs_family_their_home%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/03/15-tax-bill-cost-family-their-home-trump">A
$15 Tax Bill Nearly Cost a Family Their Home</a>.  If the Republicans
get their way, that will happen to many families.  But not wealthy
ones.


feed_id: a7b049e216ea29ed923dca9870cdefe5
title: Gibraltar
uri: Gibraltar
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Gibraltar%29
content:
<p>
Gibraltar the tax haven and smuggling hub 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/08/defend-gibraltar-condemn-it-as-dodgy-tax-haven">harms
the UK and continental Europe alike</a>.


feed_id: 2bf6df844568ec3ddf51911571ba505e
title: Criticism of Bolivia's oil extraction
uri: Criticism-of-Bolivia-s-oil-extraction
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Criticism_of_Bolivias_oil_extraction%29

content:
<p>
A major Bolivian environmental protection NGO received an order to
remove its massive research library from the university in Cochabamba
in 48 hours.  When the organization said that was impossible, the rector
demanded immediate removal and 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/andes-to-the-amazon/2017/apr/08/top-bolivian-ngo-faces-forced-eviction">threatened
to have students attack the organization</a> (and destroy it,
presumably).
<p>
It is apparently because the organization criticizes the state's oil
extraction.


feed_id: 6cbea25e2c2c4f8391c0f7c4ab32c1e9
title: Tax resistance under troll
uri: Tax-resistance-under-troll
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Tax_resistance_under_troll%29
content:
<p>
Why Tax Resistance Under Trump 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/08/why-tax-resistance-under-trump-needs-its-antiwar-edge">Needs
Its Antiwar Edge</a>.


feed_id: 36128f6492ce2807880a8223039c6669
title: Protests in Kashmir
uri: Protests-in-Kashmir
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Protests_in_Kashmir%29
content:
<p>
An election was held in Kashmir, but hardly anyone voted.  They
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/09/six-die-indian-police-open-fire-kashmir-poll-protesters-budgam-district">protested
instead</a>.


feed_id: a8306ed26b83b0b8a4b523594d41070c
title: Moving Central European University out of Hungary
uri: Moving-Central-European-University-out-of-Hungary
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Moving_Central_European_University_out_of_Hungary%29

content:
<p>
Hungary is on the verge of adopting a law to make the Soros-funded
Central European University move out of Hungary.  
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/09/thousands-protest-in-hungary-over-bill-threat-to-soros-university">Large
protests opposed this</a>.
<p>
The ruling right-wing party has undermined democracy to the point that
it can do basically whatever it wishes.  But it has mostly held back
from doing things that arouse great opposition.


feed_id: 1bf58c421cb380dca1b5ad790045ba1d
title: Economic growth without increasing CO2 emissions
uri: Economic-growth-without-increasing-CO2-emissions
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Economic_growth_without_increasing_CO2_emissions%29

content:
<p>
25 years ago, even right-wingers wanted to avoid global heating
disaster.  One who did so now reports that 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/09/climate-change-good-for-economy-britain-john-major-global-warming">the
world economy keeps growing even though human CO<sub>2</sub> emissions
are not increasing</a>.
<p>
That point is important, but the article also repeats errors that
right-wingers have always done for the benefit of the rich.  For
instance, he talks about how fast the "average Briton" is getting
richer, when in fact most Britons are making ever less.  Apparently he
divides total income or total wealth of everyone in the UK by the
number of people there, and gets a number which is rising because the
rich are getting more.


feed_id: 628f5cd2313048012d9a0b48c94108fb
title: Main US newspapers praise missile attack
uri: Main-US-newspapers-praise-missile-attack
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Main_US_newspapers_praise_missile_attack%29

content:
<p>
The main US newspapers ran 18 articles praising the missile attack on
Syria and
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/09/five-top-papers-run-18-opinion-pieces-praising-syria-strikes-zero-are-critical">none
criticizing it</a>.


feed_id: 93f90c8a0d14e7f9fea44783a95589ca
title: US intends to get into quagmire in Syria
uri: US-intends-to-get-into-quagmire-in-Syria
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28US_intends_to_get_into_quagmire_in_Syria%29

content:
<p>
UN Ambassador Haley asserted the US now 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/09/no-peace-in-syria-until-assad-is-ousted-says-nikki-haley">intends
to fight for regime change in Syria</a>.
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> criticized previous presidents for getting the US into such
quagmires.  It was one of the few good things he said.  I guess we
should not be surprised that he has abandoned it.


feed_id: 85e87d2ff7187d063356175e0b6bd8bf
title: Troll signals threat to attack North Korea
uri: Troll-signals-threat-to-attack-North-Korea
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Troll_signals_threat_to_attack_North_Korea%29

content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/09/us-navy-strike-group-north-korea-peninsula-syria-missile-strike">moving
ships in a way that suggests a threat</a> to attack North Korea.
<p>
This is potentially a dangerous game.


feed_id: 6e7de75a40462249695c8870233d07db
title: Social networks and decreased happiness
uri: Social-networks-and-decreased-happiness
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Social_networks_and_decreased_happiness%29

content:
<p>
A study reports that one hour a day using social networks correlates
with a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/09/social-networks--children-chat-feel-less-happy-facebook-instagram-whatsapp">14%
decrease in overall happiness</a>, for children in the UK.
<p>
This does not prove the social networks make children unhappy.  They
could be turning to those networks because they are unhappy.


feed_id: 7e9f8e376bf45e265f64cfb38a74fa3f
title: UK's historic church buildings
uri: UK-s-historic-church-buildings
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28UKs_historic_church_buildings%29
content:
<p>
The UK is faced with preserving many historic church buildings that
are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/08/cathedrals-financial-crisis-church-england">no
longer wanted as churches</a>.
<p>
I suggest converting these churches into condos, preserving the
outside structure and some particularly interesting parts of the
inside.  This has been done in Boston.


feed_id: 79a791554ac1d46de0ca8ad4344f3c94
title: Israel's national school curriculum
uri: Israel-s-national-school-curriculum
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Israels_national_school_curriculum%29

content:
<p>
Dorit Rabinyan basks in the light of Israel's 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/08/dorit-rabinyan-novel-censorship-israel">politically-based
rejection of her book for the national school curriculum</a>.  Her
book was alleged to promote a threat of encouraging mixed marriages.


feed_id: 619f812c1350abb674710d4d7b031456
title: The blame for Britain's exit from UK
uri: The-blame-for-Britain-s-exit-from-UK
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28The_blame_for_Britains_exit_from_UK%29

content:
<p>
Who should young Britons blame for exit from the UK?  Old people, the
many who voted for it?  Or 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/apr/09/big-issue-young-must-stop-using-older-people-as-scapegoats-brexit">themselves,
the many that did not vote?
<p>
Both, of course.
<p>
It is vital to recognize your own errors, to learn to do better.  But
that's no reason to let others off the hook.


feed_id: 8c13efa7be120aed7f511013f86cb2f7
title: America's healthcare system
uri: 2017-04-11-America-s-healthcare-system
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Americas_healthcare_system%29
content:
<p>
America's Health Care System 
<a href="https://shadowproof.com/2017/04/03/americas-healthcare-system-forces-citizens-turn-crowdfunding-survive/">Forces
Citizens To Turn To Crowdfunding</a> To Survive.
<p>
As long as few people do it, it can work for many of them.
However, I don't think millions of sick Americans are likely to
find enough money this way to pay for their treatment.


feed_id: a730a1247b97fb3fe8f2cdf71f0b464a
title: States resist US plan for national ID card
uri: States-resist-US-plan-for-national-ID-card
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28States_resist_US_plan_for_national_ID_card%29

content:
<p>
Some US states 
<a href="https://rightsanddissent.org/news/real-id-getting-real/">continue
to resist</a> the US plan to turn drivers licenses into national ID
cards.


feed_id: 8cc9dcb4f22f9adc7a48ad08ad3c716e
title: Apple malware bricks iPhone 7
uri: Apple-malware-bricks-iPhone-7
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Apple_malware_bricks_iPhone_7%29
content:
<p>
The iPhone 7 
<a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/iphone-7-home-button-unreplaceable-repair-software-lock">has
DRM specifically to brick it</a> if anyone other than an authorized
repair agent fixes it.
<p>
The term 
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#DigitalLocks">"lock"</a>
is inadequate to describe this sort of malware.  Let's use other words
that show what's really going on.


feed_id: 0404b7911dba951fcc38716135587d7d
title: Endangered species protection
uri: Endangered-species-protection
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Endangered_species_protection%29
content:
<p>
Endangered species protection has saved many species.
Here are some 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/apr/08/endangered-species-conservation-successes">new
examples</a>.
<p>
It can continue to do so, as long as we keep up doing it, and as long
as the threats are what we have known in the past.
<p>
However, when global heating messes up nearly all the 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-may-aug.html#17_May_2016_(New_epidemics)">ecosystems</a>
on Earth, our protection measures will be unable to cope with that.
And we won't have much attention to spare for that when we can barely
keep most humans fed.


feed_id: f4a56f444f7a16ac77192c125905155d
title: California's aquifers
uri: 2017-04-11-California-s-aquifers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Californias_aquifers%29
content:
<p>
In the long term, California's aquifers
<a href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2017/04/globes-supply-underground-water-vanishing">keep
draining</a>.  Wet years don't replenish as much as people take in dry
years.


feed_id: b5a150ccb66c9b96be40862966f4304f
title: Driverless cars
uri: 2017-04-11-Driverless-cars
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Driverless_cars%29
content:
<p>
Driverless cars will have 
<a href="https://plus.google.com/+LaurenWeinstein/posts/QGTZAHmsWX8">trouble
dealing with many problems in the surrounding environment</a>, which
human drivers can recognize without difficulty.
<p>
Don't try using them in Iraq, for instance — they don't
recognize shells exploding.


feed_id: adb2d0437438730767325460211366f8
title: Young Americans longing for 1950s world
uri: Young-Americans-longing-for-1950s-world
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Young_Americans_longing_for_1950s_world%29

content:
<p>
Young Americans 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/08/do-young-women-really-crave-1950s">increasingly
long for a 1950s world</a> in which the men work full time and earn
enough to support the whole family, while the women stay at home.
<p>
I can understand the appeal of that, in comparison with today's world,
in which a couple must both work full time, if they can find work, and
even that barely supports a family.
<p>
Why have things got worse?  Part of the responsibility lies with
plutocracy and business-supremacy treaties, which have 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#27_September_2016_(Free_trade)">knocked
down wages in real terms for most Americans</a>.  Part of it lies with
the fact that we are taking from the Earth's ecosphere 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#13_September_2016_(Soil_our_best_shot_at_cooling_the_planet)">above
its rate of regeneration</a>.  Global heating is 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2012-nov-feb.html#12_November_2012_(Begging_the_US_to_slow_global_heating)">going
to reduce everyone's standard of living</a>, except the rich if they
can buy their way out of their fair share of the damage.
<p>
The ethical way to shield yourself partially from the effects of this
is to avoid having children.  The way to fix the problems for real is
to defeat plutocracy.


feed_id: 8d3a1d9556ca44c72ad465be23f1dc75
title: Death penalty
uri: 2017-04-11-Death-penalty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Death_penalty%29
content:
<p>
It is becoming 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/04/08/arkansas-plans-to-execute-seven-people-this-month-continuing-long-tradition-of-assembly-line-killing/">increasingly
difficult for US states to find drugs to execute people with</a>.
<p>
Since I think the death penalty is wrong regardless of how it is
carried out, I am bemused by the focus on side issues, such as which
people are fit for execution and which are not, or the method to be
used.


feed_id: e5415f0c1ae44f0e0942c0c07727d893
title: Indigenous group rejects billion dollar offer
uri: Indigenous-group-rejects-billion-dollar-offer
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Indigenous_group_rejects_billion_dollar_offer%29

content:
<p>
An indigenous group in Canada rejected a billion dollar offer
that involved accepting a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/true-north/2016/mar/20/by-rejecting-1-billion-for-a-pipeline-a-first-nation-has-put-justin-trudeaus-climate-plan-on-trial">natural
gas export terminal</a>.  Their salmon run, and their global
ecosphere, are worth far more than that.
<p>
Bravo!


feed_id: d8be6be15badf337fca5dfb9d35aebc4
title: Opposition leader banned from politics in Venezuela
uri: Opposition-leader-banned-from-politics-in-Venezuela
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Opposition_leader_banned_from_politics_in_Venezuela%29

content:
<p>
President Maduro of Venezuela 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/09/dictator-maduro-thousands-of-venezuelans-protest-ban-of-opposition-leader">banned
opposition leader Capriles from politics</a>, nominally for 15 years.
<p>
This is the act of an arbitrary government, and can't be justified.
<p>
He continues 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/05/venezuela-western-socialists-nicolas-maduro-abuse">arresting
opposition politicians</a>.
<p>
What makes me sad is that the opposition is right-wing, and its
intention is to surrender the country to the multinationals.  I can't
see a good outcome in any direction.


feed_id: faa080fb279f7579724b4ecf26895ec1
title: Reelection of presidents
uri: Reelection-of-presidents
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Reelection_of_presidents%29
content:
<p>
On the issue, in Paraguay, of permitting 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/09/paraguay-constitution-student-protest-horacio-cartes">reelection
of presidents</a>.
<p>
Allowing a president to be reelected is not necessarily bad in itself,
but it can be part of a scheme to suppress democracy.


feed_id: e5bb1ffdc9f834b7c9ece7b46918ecd9
title: Minnesota moving to punish protests
uri: Minnesota-moving-to-punish-protests
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Minnesota_moving_to_punish_protests%29

content:
<p>
With highway blockades just about the only form of protest that the
major media notice, Minnesota is moving to punish them 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/04/05/minnesota-is-trying-to-crush-black-lives-movement-highway-protests-a-tactic-activists-have-used-for-decades/">prohibitively</a>.


feed_id: 4385a29c6218bfa97e28d2b4fa64c105
title: Australia cancels visit of human rights defender
uri: Australia-cancels-visit-of-human-rights-defender
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Australia_cancels_visit_of_human_rights_defender%29

content:
<p>
Australia 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/apr/08/palestinian-activists-australian-visa-cancelled-on-eve-of-speaking-tour">cancelled
the visit of Bassem Tamimi</a>, Palestinian nonviolent protest leader
and human rights defender.


feed_id: 24d2064ef086214172728afdc111f608
title: Guns and famine
uri: Guns-and-famine
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Guns_and_famine%29
content:
<p>
Feed the Starving?  Guns Are the True 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/apr/06/solving-hunger-famine-feeding-the-starving-simon-o-connell-mercy-corps">Cause
of Famine</a>.


feed_id: 2ef02247a12a6be5223a988e7daea320
title: Overuse of pesticides on farms
uri: Overuse-of-pesticides-on-farms
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Overuse_of_pesticides_on_farms%29
content:
<p>
Most farms 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/apr/06/farms-could-slash-pesticide-use-without-losses-research-reveals">could
use a lot less pesticide and produce the same</a>.


feed_id: fbe2ff185f7b925ba2ad60ff939bded5
title: Pandas
uri: Pandas
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Pandas%29
content:
<p>
Pandas began eating bamboo 2 million years ago, but they 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/may/19/hard-to-bear-pandas-poorly-adapted-for-digesting-bamboo-scientists-find">still
have not properly adapted to digesting it</a>.


feed_id: 798bfe8c924eb18e6c9d68f1ec2ef3d4
title: Apple sued for illegally bricking devices
uri: Apple-sued-for-illegally-bricking-devices
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Apple_sued_for_illegally_bricking_devices%29

content:
<p>
Apple is being sued in Australia for illegally 
<a href="http://www.zdnet.com/article/accc-takes-apple-to-court-over-alleged-misleading-consumer-guarantee/">bricking
devices that had been given "unauthorized" repairs</a>.
<p>
That practice is illegal in Australia, and 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#3_August_2016_(Warranty_void_if_removed_stickers_are_illegal)">in
the US as well</a>.


feed_id: 2d32d9cd2e05c56d75b555d4fceb0720
title: Requiring women to wear high heels
uri: Requiring-women-to-wear-high-heels
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Requiring_women_to_wear_high_heels%29

content:
<p>
British Columbia has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2017/apr/08/canadian-province-makes-it-illegal-to-require-women-to-wear-high-heels">prohibited
employers from requiring women to wear high heels</a>.
<p>
I support this policy.


feed_id: 7549f63e47b3e86386a56b6862531db1
title: Democrats
uri: 2017-04-11-Democrats
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#10_April_2017_%28Democrats%29
content:
<p>
Democrats can't win in West Virginia as long as they keep 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/07/how-democrats-lost-west-virginia-and-coal-miners-trump">pretending
that self-described "job creators" will make it prosperous</a>.


feed_id: c45c3da937403b6eb1a108a6e9925ded
title: Elimination of tuition fees
uri: Elimination-of-tuition-fees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Elimination_of_tuition_fees%29
content:
<p>
New York State is
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/09/poised-make-history-new-york-cusp-tuition-free-college">planning
to eliminate tuition fees in city and state colleges</a>, for students
whose families are not wealthy.
<p>
This is an important thing to do, but society must also provide a
decent life for people who aren't able to graduate from college.


feed_id: 7e892453c7258d8aaf0338c2013d3df5
title: Australian wetlands contaminated
uri: Australian-wetlands-contaminated
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Australian_wetlands_contaminated%29

content:
<p>
Australian wetlands have been contaminated by
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/apr/10/abbot-point-coal-port-spill-causes-massive-contamination-of-queensland-wetland">coal
dust from a nearby coal export terminal</a>.
<p>
This happened because of a powerful storm.  Storms happen normally, so
one must expect it to happen again.  One thing global heating tends to
do is cause more powerful storms.


feed_id: c504e04ab475cdaca8f8a6a07fad909c
title: Protests
uri: 2017-04-11-Protests
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Protests%29
content:
<p>
Protests
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/10/protesting-cnd-iraq-opinion">often
succeed in changing the general public mind</a>, which is a crucial
preparation for changing government policy.


feed_id: 115a4d17c6d327dba2be4af0cfed5331
title: Polio vaccination in Afghanistan
uri: Polio-vaccination-in-Afghanistan
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Polio_vaccination_in_Afghanistan%29

content:
<p>
The Taliban in parts of Afghanistan have
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/apr/10/polio-afghanistan-taliban-health-chief-americans-bomb-children">authorized
polio vaccination</a>.
<p>
It was very dangerous of the US to hide its search for Osama bin Laden
behind the mask of polio vaccination.


feed_id: 164c87e180089d8a008a75188f03e0ac
title: Troll's illegal bombardment of Syria
uri: 2017-04-12-Troll-s-illegal-bombardment-of-Syria
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Trolls_illegal_bombardment_of_Syria%29

content:
<p>
ACLU explains how the troll's bombardment of Syria was
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/09/us-strikes-syria-are-illegal-response-atrocity">illegal
under US law without Congress's approval</a>.
<p>
It should be noted that Obama's initial stated motive for intervening
in Libya was to protect civilians — but this morphed into a
campaign to depose Qadhafi.  <a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a>'s initial stated motive was to
punish (and could morphed into a campaign to depose Assad).
<p>
A punishment, even if deserved, is not as pressing as protecting
civilians.


feed_id: 9ebcdf240164b78f81853bbf30fe56bd
title: "Global Britain"
uri: Global-Britain
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Global_Britain%29
content:
<p>
"Global Britain", the right-wing plan for getting out of the European Union,
means a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/05/global-britain-brexit-financier-arms-merchant-brutal-dictators">bank
and arms merchant for global dictators</a>.


feed_id: 35c16aeef2b42cb1b97da90d3b366a1c
title: Executions in China
uri: Executions-in-China
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Executions_in_China%29
content:
<p>
China 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/11/amnesty-criticises-rogue-state-china-as-global-death-penalty-toll-falls">conceals
the number of people</a> that it executes.


feed_id: 81f87481a7164ff1d6b410de8c991eb7
title: Big pharma's disguised lobbying groups
uri: Big-pharma-s-disguised-lobbying-groups
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Big_pharmas_disguised_lobbying_groups%29

content:
<p>
Disguised lobbying groups connected with big pharma are publishing
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/04/10/drug-price-astroturf/">astroturf
ads against laws to reduce drug prices</a>.


feed_id: aca4ae680a5ead5d097253dda43cb7f1
title: Food service workers in the US
uri: Food-service-workers-in-the-US
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Food_service_workers_in_the_US%29
content:
<p>
Food service workers in the US now feel compelled to 
<a href="http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2017/03/30/how-group-food-service-workers-formed-union-underground/99499038/">hide
their union organization activities</a>.


feed_id: f38c950b42e24b42b5f6dde9d3e4905b
title: Protests in banks that fund oil pipelines
uri: Protests-in-banks-that-fund-oil-pipelines
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Protests_in_banks_that_fund_oil_pipelines%29

content:
<p>
Activists have launched a series of protests in banks that fund oil
pipelines, where they 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/09/manifesto-naive-activism">drop
oil on one of the protesters</a>.
<p>
They clean up the oil before leaving.


feed_id: edde9eb857898b5c0a360796be262d21
title: Agribusiness
uri: Agribusiness
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Agribusiness%29
content:
<p>
North Carolina plutocratist legislators propose to give agribusiness
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/09/nc-lawmakers-want-shield-factory-farms-big-damage-payments-victims">substantial
immunity</a> for damages done through polluting practices.
<p>
If they only have to pay for the physical the damage they cause, and
only to the fraction of victims with the means and time to sue, they
will intentionally continue the practices.


feed_id: c46a5b59f1e965fe9afc6569c95fb4a6
title: Shipping Europeans' data to US companies
uri: Shipping-Europeans-data-to-US-companies
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Shipping_Europeans_data_to_US_companies%29

content:
<p>
The European Parliament 
<a href="https://edri.org/the-european-parliament-adopts-a-resolution-critical-of-the-privacy-shield/">reproached
the agreement</a> that allows Europeans' personal data to be shipped
to US companies even though they don't protect privacy according to EU
law.


feed_id: dab9a4129cfc87b15284de4ff2f3fc7d
title: Cost of cancer treatment in the US
uri: Cost-of-cancer-treatment-in-the-US
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Cost_of_cancer_treatment_in_the_US%29

content:
<p>
The cost of cancer treatment in the US is toxic — it 
<a href="http://nautil.us/blog/cancers-financial-cost-can-be-almost-as-toxic-to-patients-as-the-disease-itself">kills
patients</a>.


feed_id: ff6612a3a9debbc07d79050db7e2dcc6
title: Seizure of people's money by DEA thugs
uri: Seizure-of-people-s-money-by-DEA-thugs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Seizure_of_peoples_money_by_DEA_thugs%29

content:
<p>
The Justice Department reported that over half of the times
that DEA thugs seized people's money, it had 
<a href="http://loweringthebar.net/2017/04/report-no-discernible-connection.html">nothing
to do with any criminal investigation</a>.  The thugs took money
because they could.


feed_id: bbd3a271054c8f5d2e6b20ffb2c7690b
title: Charging 17-year-olds as adults
uri: Charging-17-year-olds-as-adults
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Charging_17-year-olds_as_adults%29
content:
<p>
New York State 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/10/new-york-raises-age-of-criminal-responsibility-teens-adult-prison">will
no longer charge 17-year-olds as adults</a>.
<p>
The article also points out that nowadays there are few decent jobs a
person can get with a criminal record.  In effect, the record destroys
a person's life, and there is no way out except crime.


feed_id: a8a58d6e47701f80a17b0b6875a32901
title: Troll posturing
uri: Troll-posturing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28Troll_posturing%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> is considering 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/4/8/1651622/-Trump-readying-the-U-S-for-first-strike-war-in-the-Korean-peninsula-weighing-nuke-deployment">stationing
nuclear weapons in South Korea, or assassinating North Korea's
troll</a>.
<p>
Storing nuclear weapons in South Korea would be a gesture, since the
US can hit North Korea with nuclear weapons from the sea already.
Whether the gesture is likely to do good or harm, I can't guess.
<p>
Assassinating the troll of North Korea would throw North Korea into
total confusion.  We can't predict what would happen then.  Even if
North Korea is not yet in position to retaliate with nuclear weapons,
it would probably end the truce and resume actively fighting the
Korean War.


feed_id: a72343fd64a7b08877290ef50a924223
title: Urgent: Close offshore tax loopholes
uri: Urgent-Close-offshore-tax-loopholes
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Close_offshore_tax_loopholes%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-the-petition-stop-corporations-from-stashing-profits-offshore">call
on Congress</a> to pass the Stop Tax Haven Abuse Act and the Corporate
EXIT Fairness Act.


feed_id: cb8fbc714f9b2c63342a39295a70fd5e
title: Urgent: Social Security 2100 Act
uri: Urgent-Social-Security-2100-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Social_Security_2100_Act%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/the-social-security-2100-act">Call
on Democrats in Congress</a> to cosponsor the Social Security 2100
Act.


feed_id: 50608b3b9285a90a16686a705536dfb0
title: Whistleblower flees to Singapore
uri: Whistleblower-flees-to-Singapore
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Whistleblower_flees_to_Singapore%29

content:
<p>
Philippine Death Squad Whistleblower 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/11/philippine-death-squad-whistleblower-arturo-lascanas-flees-to-singapore">Arturo
Lascanas</a> Flees to Singapore.
<p>
Too bad the US also makes its whistleblowers flee into exile.


feed_id: 673660c0d1a8934fc42de58a430c670d
title: Hatred towards refugees
uri: Hatred-towards-refugees
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Hatred_towards_refugees%29
content:
<p>
UK politicians 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/11/theresa-may-refugees-croydon-attack">foment
hatred towards refugees</a> and the state makes them live with rats.
Despised for not speaking English, they have to beg for English
lessons.


feed_id: 6f7a14d1dbae615ee076fec3c96a15a9
title: Brutality of shari'a law
uri: Brutality-of-shari-a-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Brutality_of_sharia_law%29
content:
<p>
The brutality of shari'a law manifests itself in a part of Indonesia
where the state has given extremist Muslims 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/11/indonesia-gay-men-facing-100-lashes-for-having-sex">permission
to impose that on the population</a>.


feed_id: e899550e959e08c85a89c2580427c2fd
title: Shell's CEO knowingly approved bribe
uri: Shell-s-CEO-knowingly-approved-bribe
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Shells_CEO_knowingly_approved_bribe%29

content:
<p>
Leaked emails show Shell's CEO knew he was approving a 
<a href="http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/04/10/new-leaks-show-shell-oil-executives-center-billion-dollar-bribery-scheme">large
bribe for Nigerian high officials</a>.


feed_id: 9fc7799f3a87b948258ded0650c68335
title: Accidents
uri: 2017-04-12-Accidents
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Accidents%29
content:
<p>
An Irish judge had the 
<a href="http://www.freerangekids.com/mom-sues-after-daughter-hurt-playing-tag-on-playground-school-should-have-stopped-it/">good
sense not to hold a school liable</a> after children fell down while
running in a school yard and one broke her arm.
<p>
Attempts to find institutions at fault for accidents are driven in the
US by the fact that poor people have no medical coverage to pay the
cost of treatment.  In Ireland, they don't need to sue to pay for
their medical care.  The US should follow Ireland (and every European
country, and Canada) and set up 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#9_April_2017_(Urgent:_Support_Medicare_for_All)">Medicare
for All</a>.


feed_id: d6b14a4ffb3a65f15f9cce9fbaa075a5
title: Troll escalating various US wars
uri: Troll-escalating-various-US-wars
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Troll_escalating_various_US_wars%29

content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> is escalating various US wars, bombing more often in several
countries, and
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/10/not-just-syria-trump-ratcheting-up-wars-world">killing
a lot more civilians</a>.


feed_id: ffaaaf12484ef51422d436dd7493ddae
title: Urgent: Release of troll's tax returns
uri: Urgent-Release-of-troll-s-tax-returns
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Release_of_trolls_tax_returns%29

content:
<p>
In the US: 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/04/10/april-15-national-protests-tax-day-demand-trump-release-his-tax-returns">protest
on April 15</a> to demand that the troll release his tax returns.


feed_id: 79d6af2b81262a9ba29ad94b48a7cc28
title: Troll and his men
uri: Troll-and-his-men
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Troll_and_his_men%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> and his men have 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/11/donald-trump-syria-bashar-al-assad-isis">no
idea what their policy is</a> regarding Assad and Syria.


feed_id: 9d3f32b5672179c915426303bf482291
title: Navy maneuvers kill fish and whales
uri: Navy-maneuvers-kill-fish-and-whales
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Navy_maneuvers_kill_fish_and_whales%29

content:
<p>
US Navy maneuvers near Alaska kill fish and whales with 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/10/war-gulf-no-not-gulf">toxins
and unbearably loud sound</a>.
<p>
The navy avoids recognizing the extent of the problem by not trying to
estimate how many fish are killed.


feed_id: f06c1135f25e9bca42b0cb9b8fc2a91f
title: Destruction of coral reefs
uri: Destruction-of-coral-reefs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Destruction_of_coral_reefs%29
content:
<p>
Destruction of coral reefs could cost humanity a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/apr/12/loss-of-coral-reefs-caused-by-rising-sea-temperatures-could-cost-1tn-globally">trillion
dollars</a>, not to mention hundreds of millions of dead people, and
thousands of extinct species.


feed_id: cc393d3aa2f70aa19d699a8f0debaf33
title: The right to die
uri: 2017-04-13-The-right-to-die
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28The_right_to_die%29
content:
<p>
Noel Conway, dying of motor neuron disease, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/12/terminally-ill-former-lecturer-noel-conway-wins-right-to-fight-assisted-dying-ban">will
have a chance to plead in court</a> to arrange to die when he chooses.


feed_id: 0ef7299044cbcf45fdab59cfc077cb70
title: Economic growth
uri: Economic-growth
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Economic_growth%29
content:
<p>
Instead of growth, economics should
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/12/doughnut-growth-economics-book-economic-model">aim for a world in which everyone thrives</a>.


feed_id: 32de1a89ce617bf200550e0e9ba614e5
title: UK thug accused of planting weapons
uri: UK-thug-accused-of-planting-weapons
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28UK_thug_accused_of_planting_weapons%29

content:
<p>
A UK undercover thug has been accused in court of 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/apr/10/terror-swoop-policeman-allegedly-planted-evidence">planting
weapons to frame people</a>.


feed_id: 7cd46fc20f1d04d83ee78c4ee403fc40
title: Sessions trying to escalate War on Drugs
uri: Sessions-trying-to-escalate-War-on-Drugs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Sessions_trying_to_escalate_War_on_Drugs%29

content:
<p>
Sessions is 
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2017/04/10/how-jeff-sessions-wants-to-bring-back-th">trying
to escalate</a> the War on Drugs.


feed_id: 3dc9ba46ad2f12a5fbb12e2281c9a8f6
title: Commission on Forensic Science
uri: Commission-on-Forensic-Science
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Commission_on_Forensic_Science%29
content:
<p>
Sessions is 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/10/trump-administrations-war-science-reaches-justice-department">going
to abolish</a> the Commission on Forensic Science so that the US can
keep jailing people based on junk science.


feed_id: 01b76b56c4cd9260f0c1448dc09490b9
title: Urgent: Block arms for Salafi Arabia
uri: Urgent-Block-arms-for-Salafi-Arabia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Block_arms_for_Salafi_Arabia%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on the Senate to block arms for <a href="/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a>
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/join-murphy-paul-durbin">until
it cooperates with aid for civilians in Yemen</a>.
<p>
I'd rather 
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2016-jul-oct.html#9_October_2016_(Victims_of_American_terrorism)">cut
off arms for Salafi Arabia entirely</a>, but this is a step in the
right direction.


feed_id: c2acea9f41f856aeebf38bd1f8c160a9
title: 50 American women per month shot dead
uri: 50-American-women-per-month-shot-dead
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%2850_American_women_per_month_shot_dead%29

content:
<p>
50 American women a month are
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/11/domestic-violence-shooting-deaths-women-husbands-boyfriends">shot
dead by men that they were in relationships with</a>.  All in all,
this is a considerably bigger danger than terrorism, though not as big
as cars or tobacco.
<p>
(I use the word "partner" only to refer to business ventures.)


feed_id: f26a57732c3320054863a5a794712085
title: Poisoned by sarin in Syria
uri: Poisoned-by-sarin-in-Syria
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#12_April_2017_%28Poisoned_by_sarin_in_Syria%29
content:
<p>
Evidence from blood of the deceased, and from the empty warehouse that
Assad's air force attacked, shows that the former were poisoned by
sarin and that it 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/11/turkey-says-sarin-gas-was-used-at-syria-chemical-attack">didn't
come from supplies stored there</a>.


feed_id: b6006f4b346992f7a514c45c171ffb21
title: Social Security
uri: 2017-04-14-Social-Security
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#13_April_2017_%28Social_Security%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> has proposed a 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/11/trump-administration-considering-back-door-way-cut-social-security">sneaky
way to create an excuse to reduce Social Security</a>, a few years
from now.
<p>
The existing Social Security tax is 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/04/11/trump-trial-balloon-to-eliminate-social-security-tax-undermines-key-defense-of-the-program/">regressive</a>,
and we could make a better system, but <a href="/glossary.html#scrotus">SCROTUS</a> will only want to make
it worse.


feed_id: 1832d032cb60eecdcc91d11a03a99911
title: Hamas changing to accept coexistence
uri: Hamas-changing-to-accept-coexistence
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#13_April_2017_%28Hamas_changing_to_accept_coexistence%29

content:
<p>
Hamas is 
<a href="https://972mag.com/hamass-new-charter-reveals-a-willingness-to-change/126572/">changing
to accept coexistence with Israel</a>.
<p>
As Palestinians remove the remaining excuses for Israel's occupation
of Palestine's territory in the West Bank, will Israel end the
occupation?


feed_id: 6276cdf045b25c39e5d370ded2d5d838
title: Raided by Israeli thugs
uri: Raided-by-Israeli-thugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#13_April_2017_%28Raided_by_Israeli_thugs%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://palsolidarity.org/2017/04/palestinian-assaulted-and-work-tools-confiscated-during-early-morning-raid-by-israeli-forces/">What
it's like for Palestinian families</a> to be raided by Israeli thugs,
their tools stolen, and their workshops closed.


feed_id: 5fc4014229533786e47c882eb7567cce
title: Facebook
uri: 2017-04-14-Facebook
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#13_April_2017_%28Facebook%29
content:
<p>
Facebook tolerates incitement to violence, 
<a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2017/04/facebook-palestine-implicit-support-oppression-170409075238543.html">when
it is from an Israeli and is directed at Palestinians</a>.


feed_id: a4a8c6bb8b8e4f2e40a2ce93217c1bb6
title: Florida thugs beat up protesters
uri: Florida-thugs-beat-up-protesters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#13_April_2017_%28Florida_thugs_beat_up_protesters%29

content:
<p>
Florida thugs 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/04/11/aclu-florida-statement-arrests-jacksonville-anti-war-demonstration">beat
up anti-war protesters</a>.
<p>
Will they be prosecuted for their vicious way of "serving" the public?


feed_id: 8516dbbc7132f3839093bd4b35fee521
title: Urgent: Fire Bill O'Reilly
uri: Urgent-Fire-Bill-O-Reilly
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#13_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Fire_Bill_OReilly%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/fox_oreilly_dems/">call on
Faux News</a> to fire Bill O'Reilly and stop tolerating sexual
harassment.


feed_id: 191d050e2f3e84354360261471d28353
title: United Airlines
uri: United-Airlines
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#13_April_2017_%28United_Airlines%29
content:
<p>
United Airlines 
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2017/04/10/a-man-wouldnt-leave-an-overbooked-united-flight-so-he-was-dragged-off-battered-and-limp/?utm_term=.681ace6498a6">had
thugs brutally pull a passenger off a plane</a> so it could it seat
one of its pilots instead.
<p>
This was not a case of overbooking, and pulling a passenger out of per
confirmed assigned seat is legally 
<a href="http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2017/04/united-passenger-removal-reporting-management-fail.html">not
equivalent to denying boarding</a>.
<p>
The CEO of United responded with typical corporate PR manipulation,
even telling lies about the poor 69-year-old doctor, until public
condemnation made him back down.
<p>
Many media outlets publicized the passenger's irrelevant previous
criminal history, nothing really horrible, 
<a href="http://dailycaller.com/2017/04/11/journalists-smear-man-dragged-off-united-flight-for-no-apparent-reason/">to
smear him</a>.
<p>
The incident illustrates the point that companies 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/further/2017/04/11/united-airlines-brutal-version-re-accommodating-passengers-isnt-going-over-so">shouldn't
be allowed to decide their own "terms and conditions"</a>.
<p>
If United had kept offering higher and higher rewards for someone to
switch to another flight, it would probably have found a willing
taker eventually.
<p>
There was no reason, under the circumstances, why the thugs should
have done what United asked.  But I would guess that they didn't give
it a second thought.  The airlines have the principle that "the
passenger is always wrong", and the thugs tend to be people who put a
high value on authority and making people obey any sort of authority.
<p>
United's high-handedness 
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2017/04/11/united-did-a-bad-thing-but-the-tsa-has-r">follows
on from the TSA's high-handedness</a>.


feed_id: 5e527f312b2022a378d1d36fa2a7948f
title: Android apps collude to violate user privacy
uri: Android-apps-collude-to-violate-user-privacy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#13_April_2017_%28Android_apps_collude_to_violate_user_privacy%29

content:
<p>
Pairs of Android apps can collude to transmit personal data to
servers.  A study found
<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/04/when-apps-collude-to-steal-your-data/522177/">tens
of thousands of pairs that collude</a>.


feed_id: 727e2db293d63fd7d460435b38206491
title: Troll's promises
uri: Troll-s-promises
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#13_April_2017_%28Trolls_promises%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> made lots of promises to voters, and has 
<a href="http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/update_for_trump_voters_20170411">gone
back on lots of them already</a>.


feed_id: 9a9284e9e2b1b3113d5188312ba79185
title: The blame for Britain's exit from UK
uri: 2017-04-14-The-blame-for-Britain-s-exit-from-UK
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#11_April_2017_%28The_blame_for_Britains_exit_from_UK%29

content:
<p>
Who should young Britons blame for exit from the UK?  Old people, the
many who voted for it?  Or 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/apr/09/big-issue-young-must-stop-using-older-people-as-scapegoats-brexit">themselves,
the many that did not vote</a>?
<p>
Both, of course.
<p>
It is vital to recognize your own errors, to learn to do better.  But
that's no reason to let others off the hook.


feed_id: 07638439bb40e5e32d3c043cc718d87f
title: Internet controlled cooking device
uri: Internet-controlled-cooking-device
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#14_April_2017_%28Internet_controlled_cooking_device%29

content:
<p>
An internet controlled cooking device was working fine, then the
manufacturer 
<a href="https://consumerist.com/2017/04/12/anova-ticks-off-customers-by-requiring-mandatory-accounts-to-cook-food/#more-10275062">sabotaged
it remotely</a> so as to require communication through a remote
server.


feed_id: 6f1f1e04ed256cbf3caf70f3e0724577
title: Urgent: War Powers Act
uri: Urgent-War-Powers-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#14_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_War_Powers_Act%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/congress-explicitly-prohibit">call
on Congress</a> to use the War Powers Act to prohibit escalation in
Syria and Yemen.


feed_id: 845f94ebdbb7f72221a20c08644afeea
title: Tories impoverishing hardworking people
uri: Tories-impoverishing-hardworking-people
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#14_April_2017_%28Tories_impoverishing_hardworking_people%29

content:
<p>
The Tories have run out of ways to impoverish people who are unable to
work or excluded from work, so now they are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/13/cuts-hardworking-families-tories-child-tax-cut-universal-credit">impoverishing
hard-working people</a> too.
<p>
Both kinds of cuts are wrong.   The Tories tried justify the former 
by demonizing people who can't work.  Now they have to demonize people
who work but get low pay.
<p>
The overall aim of Tory policy is to enrich the rich as much as
possible and damn the harm done.  They don't admit this, but the facts
show 
<a href="media/62a79bb0.anuran-bevan.jpg" data-original-source="https://stallman.org/images/anuran-bevan.jpg">it is true</a>.


feed_id: 4431738f60c034cb9010d04b37f0d5b9
title: Freedom of speech in Uganda
uri: Freedom-of-speech-in-Uganda
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#14_April_2017_%28Freedom_of_speech_in_Uganda%29
content:
<p>
Uganda spits on freedom of speech with the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/apr/13/stella-nyanzi-fury-arrest-uganda-president-a-pair-of-buttocks-yoweri-museveni-cyber-harassment">arrest
of someone for insulting the president</a>.


feed_id: c0411e12b15e88c4d5acdb20f8edc673
title: Lead bullets
uri: Lead-bullets
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#14_April_2017_%28Lead_bullets%29
content:
<p>
Lead bullets 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2017/apr/13/from-bullets-to-poison-tales-of-toxic-lead-and-what-makes-it-so-lethal">don't
have to hit you to hurt you</a> — or animals.


feed_id: cacf06bd7e47dfa25622f90c82d1bb9f
title: Killer SF thugs won't be prosecuted
uri: Killer-SF-thugs-won-t-be-prosecuted
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#14_April_2017_%28Killer_SF_thugs_wont_be_prosecuted%29

content:
<p>
San Francisco thugs that 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/12/san-francisco-police-shooting-amilcar-perez-lopez">shot
Amilcar Perez-Lopez in the back and killed him</a> will not be
prosecuted.


feed_id: d72dcc663f2461f17f7cfac36d010a64
title: Useful distraction for troll
uri: Useful-distraction-for-troll
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#14_April_2017_%28Useful_distraction_for_troll%29
content:
<p>
Sadly, Sean Spicer's Hitler Comments Serve as a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/12/donald-trump-distractions-sean-spicer-hitler-comments-syria">Useful
Distraction for Trump</a>.


feed_id: e10d533ae89254e8ffe22283bacc0043
title: ACLU on "extreme vetting"
uri: ACLU-on-extreme-vetting
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#14_April_2017_%28ACLU_on_extreme_vetting%29
content:
<p>
The ACLU explains 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/11/extreme-vetting-visitors-poses-extreme-threat-our-principles-and-our-security">what
is unjust about "extreme vetting"</a> for people visiting the US.


feed_id: 94a61bb8ee9dfbd5dbc02c3ca169fc78
title: Harassed and robbed by lying thugs
uri: Harassed-and-robbed-by-lying-thugs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#14_April_2017_%28Harassed_and_robbed_by_lying_thugs%29

content:
<p>
Anthony McDaniels of Chicago was 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/04/12/victims-of-criminal-cops-in-chicago-are-fighting-to-overturn-their-wrongful-convictions/">arrested
by thugs and imprisoned on their testimony</a>, but it seems they were
lying and just wanted to harass him and take his money.


feed_id: afbb5111aeb18831b677fefe9ee592be
title: More dangerous than terrorists
uri: More-dangerous-than-terrorists
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#14_April_2017_%28More_dangerous_than_terrorists%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/sep/26/snakebites-kill-hundreds-of-thousands-worldwide">Poisonous
snakes</a> kill hundreds of thousands of people a year, but no one
keeps track.
<p>
This is a lot more casualties than terrorists cause.


feed_id: 163e5ba74d959237c13804cf834d07a9
title: Electricity as a basic human right
uri: Electricity-as-a-basic-human-right
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#14_April_2017_%28Electricity_as_a_basic_human_right%29

content:
<p>
The NAACP 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/4/10/1651915/-According-to-the-NAACP-electricity-is-a-basic-human-right-demands-end-to-power-shutoffs">proposes
that electricity should be a basic human right</a>, and thus people
should not be disconnected from it.


feed_id: be2fc6b52a45c1cc4e881ca8ad3757a7
title: Control over copyright policy
uri: Control-over-copyright-policy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#14_April_2017_%28Control_over_copyright_policy%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#scrotus">SCROTUS</a> 
<a href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/03/lets-make-copyright-office-less-political-not-more">propose
to make the office of Registrar of Copyright a political office</a> so
that businesses can have more control over copyright policy.


feed_id: 8dfef0a236b0b6ada268c28e694ff60f
title: Republican deregulation proposals
uri: Republican-deregulation-proposals
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#14_April_2017_%28Republican_deregulation_proposals%29

content:
<p>
A series of Republican deregulation proposals: how they would 
<a href="http://www.epi.org/publication/understanding-the-anti-regulation-agenda-the-basics/">benefit
shady businesses (including giant ones) and hurt Americans in
general</a>.
<p>
This is normal because regulations generally protect the public from
being shafted by businesses.
<p>
We need to regulate business or it will screw us.


feed_id: af2e96ff03f15ae9ce081ced0db0e19e
title: Troll supports tax break for giant companies
uri: Troll-supports-tax-break-for-giant-companies
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#14_April_2017_%28Troll_supports_tax_break_for_giant_companies%29

content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> supports a tax break that would 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/apr/12/trump-tax-holiday-us-companies-apple-oxfam-tax">enable
giant US companies to avoid $300bn in taxes</a>.


feed_id: e84acd0fb51c7a47b4397ed306a29cd3
title: Urgent: Social Security
uri: 2017-04-16-Urgent-Social-Security
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#15_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Social_Security%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-the-petition-dont-let-trump-raid-social-security-contributions">call
on Congress</a> not to let the troll weaken the funding system for
Social Security.


feed_id: 71e6105525dd7f8e7b4aaafbe20dc045
title: United Airlines
uri: 2017-04-16-United-Airlines
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#15_April_2017_%28United_Airlines%29
content:
<p>
United Airlines has a 
<a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/lazarus/la-fi-lazarus-united-low-priority-passenger-20170412-story.html">systematic
practice</a> of ordering passengers off the plane and threatening them
with violence.
<p>
It's not a matter of a few "bad apples", it's the way the barrel was
built that makes all the apples in it go bad.
<p>
And it's not just this one company.  Big companies tend to have rules
that forbid staff to act humanely, because their policy is that the
customer is always wrong.
<p>
Why are the companies so big?  Because the US and other countries
make it too easy for companies to merge.  We need to keep them small
so as to preserve competition.  In addition, the "efficiency" they
achieve by merging is a nice way of saying "fewer good jobs".


feed_id: cbea0bca34a37a0ca57c168b5bafd38d
title: Records of store's customers
uri: Records-of-store-s-customers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#15_April_2017_%28Records_of_stores_customers%29
content:
<p>
Some states are 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/4/11/1652184/-Oregon-responds-to-Sessions-threat-by-creating-a-bill-to-protect-marijuana-customers">prohibiting
marijuana stores from keeping records of who their customers are</a>.
<p>
This should be extended to <em>all</em> stores!


feed_id: df0b1bc097ba879b272a114db209b7ee
title: US internet service providers
uri: US-internet-service-providers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#16_April_2017_%28US_internet_service_providers%29
content:
<p>
US ISPs 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/04/13/telecom-cash-isp/">gave
thousands of dollars to a few legislators that have served them
well</a>.  But that's a tiny fraction of the millions the ISPs will
make by mistreating their customers.  The legislators should say they
were cheated.


feed_id: 72c35f812dc319843c05b927524d1c47
title: Homeless in California's central valley
uri: Homeless-in-California-s-central-valley
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#16_April_2017_%28Homeless_in_California%27s_central_valley%29

content:
<p>
California's central valley is attracting commuters who work in the
San Francisco Bay area, with the result that 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/13/california-homelessness-silicon-valley-tech-commuters">local
people are becoming homeless</a>.


feed_id: 2538b3373bf1da97e5adf4a607f22e9b
title: Thai military government
uri: Thai-military-government
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#16_April_2017_%28Thai_military_government%29
content:
<p>
The Thai military government has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/13/thailand-bans-online-sharing-of-articles-by-three-critics-of-regime">banned
people in Thailand from communicating by internet with three exiled
dissidents</a>.


feed_id: 756e9823c5fc32f1b06db877173a6b44
title: Thug faces investigation for beating up jaywalker
uri: Thug-faces-investigation-for-beating-up-jaywalker
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#16_April_2017_%28Thug_faces_investigation_for_beating_up_jaywalker%29

content:
<p>
A California thug that beat up a man for jaywalking is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/13/california-police-officer-beating-jaywalker-investigation">facing
a criminal investigation</a>.


feed_id: 8c5043d5d5f5dba0abf5e7c786b1f18a
title: Underfunding driving NHS to collapse
uri: Underfunding-driving-NHS-to-collapse
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#16_April_2017_%28Underfunding_driving_NHS_to_collapse%29

content:
<p>
Tory underfunding is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/13/public-anger-nhs-political-tipping-point-may-hammond">driving
the National Health Service to collapse</a>.
<p>
For instance, doctors are quitting because the shortage of doctors has
increased their workload.  In the struggle to cope with acute illness,
prevention has been cut.
<p>
Tories hope to destroy the NHS as an excuse to replace it with a
US-style system where only those who can pay get care.
<p>
Keeping British medical care functioning requires making businesses
pay their taxes.


feed_id: 6f4ebea5f71a8064408b99776fb23bd9
title: Tory contempt for disabled people
uri: Tory-contempt-for-disabled-people
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#16_April_2017_%28Tory_contempt_for_disabled_people%29

content:
<p>
Years of Tory contempt for disabled people has taught a segment
of the British public to 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/13/bullying-disabled-people-government-abuse">regard
disabled people as nuisances</a>.


feed_id: adb8bb860e04f7d270018b52eaa4cb47
title: Title IX
uri: 2017-04-17-Title-IX
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#16_April_2017_%28Title_IX%29
content:
<p>
Under Title IX, US college students accused of any level of sexual
misconduct can be 
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2017/04/12/lawsuit-male-student-accused-of-sexual-h">expelled
with no chance to defend themselves</a>.
<p>
One, who maintained he was harassed by the other, killed himself after
he was declared guilty.


feed_id: e68c3850b2f6d2c6eb3568c0ee1949a7
title: Eritrean agents pressuring exiles in Netherlands
uri: Eritrean-agents-pressuring-exiles-in-Netherlands
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#16_April_2017_%28Eritrean_agents_pressuring_exiles_in_Netherlands%29

content:
<p>
Eritrean agents are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/apr/13/eritreans-netherlands-pressure-youth-congress-yemane-gebreab">pressuring
Eritrean exiles in the Netherlands</a>.


feed_id: 8d586e3ff563c50f4ef8b2c5785a3698
title: Urgent: Ranked choice voting
uri: Urgent-Ranked-choice-voting
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Ranked_choice_voting%29
content:
<p>
Massachusetts citizens: 
<a href="http://www.voterchoicema.org/join/">support the campaign</a>
for ranked choice voting in Massachusetts.


feed_id: bf10ac9530cee1a1a56dd546b585d1df
title: Urgent: Protecting Data at the Border Act
uri: Urgent-Protecting-Data-at-the-Border-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Protecting_Data_at_the_Border_Act%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.demandprogress.org/sign/wyden-border-searches/">call
on Congress</a> to pass the Protecting Data at the Border Act.


feed_id: ecf0dc86c7b1c53c5f4a0a2e19d9fc3e
title: Urgent: Visit your congresscritter
uri: Urgent-Visit-your-congresscritter
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Visit_your_congresscritter%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: visit your congresscritter to 
<a href="http://act.freepress.net/survey/internet_nn_congress_indistrict/">stand
for net neutrality</a>.


feed_id: cd9f0e60966fb60e787ff2af8602f063
title: Urgent: Permission before escalation
uri: Urgent-Permission-before-escalation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Permission_before_escalation%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/join-repzoelofgren-trump">call
on congress</a> to demand that the troll get permission before any
further escalation in Syria.


feed_id: bbd3c1149f816dd39987b1af8facd95c
title: Urgent: Net neutrality
uri: 2017-04-17-Urgent-Net-neutrality
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Net_neutrality%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://act.freepress.net/survey/internet_nn_congress_indistrict/">meet
with Congresscritters</a> to support net neutrality.
<p>
Please explain that network neutrality should be even stronger:
ISPs should not be allowed to take any notice of what is inside
your packets.


feed_id: 67c512edf3ed6af4d5893e7600b046b1
title: Urgent: Spring Break Resistance
uri: Urgent-Spring-Break-Resistance
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Spring_Break_Resistance%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/13/uber-hell-program-lyft-drivers/">participate</a>
in a Spring Break Resistance event.


feed_id: f8ba3148c9729d7f79bfe6b2d55e1add
title: Troll approved use of large bomb
uri: Troll-approved-use-of-large-bomb
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Troll_approved_use_of_large_bomb%29

content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> approved use of a very large bomb to attack PISSI's tunnels
in Afghanistan.  The bomb's blast is 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/04/13/mother-of-all-bombs-never-used-before-due-to-civilian-casualty-concerns/">destructive
up to a mile away</a>.
<p>
Previously, the US had refrained from using this bomb out of concern
for casualties to civilians.
<p>
The likely quantity of civilian casualties would depend on how many
civilians are to be found in the area.  One extreme is that the area
is deserted with no reason for concern.  The other extreme is that it
is a city with thousands of civilians within a mile.  Does anyone know
how it was this time?
<p>
Aside from that, I don't think the size of this bomb makes any ethical
difference.


feed_id: 6aa45604d3b0c0d6235b7b447b3efeff
title: Christians and the troll
uri: Christians-and-the-troll
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Christians_and_the_troll%29
content:
<p>
Here's 
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/58ef5162e4b04cae050dc4c6">what
to show Christians that support the troll</a>.


feed_id: 34c2c50e4a352277051218d5fe485ff8
title: Uber identified and tracked Lyft drivers
uri: Uber-identified-and-tracked-Lyft-drivers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Uber_identified_and_tracked_Lyft_drivers%29

content:
<p>
Uber 
<a href="https://www.engadget.com/2017/04/13/uber-hell-program-lyft-drivers/">hacked
Lyft's ride-management server with phony accounts</a> in order to
identify people that were driving for Lyft.


feed_id: 8c1727f3709a09f9a236c54d5d8fda03
title: Republican "budget director"
uri: Republican-budget-director
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Republican_budget_director%29
content:
<p>
The Republican "budget director" admitted, using Republican code, that
he
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/13/trumps-budget-director-declares-war-american-people">wants
to attack progressive taxation</a>, Social Security, Medicare, and
other government services.


feed_id: 64074d91b38d81754bbaecd6d4d3819b
title: Troll's "America first"
uri: Troll-s-America-first
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Trolls_America_first%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a>'s "America first" turns out to mean 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/13/what-does-america-first-foreign-policy-actually-mean">"US
military first"</a>.


feed_id: e7fa9f45380b9d1cfd828237c5a93e1c
title: Obama's medical care program
uri: 2017-04-17-Obama-s-medical-care-program
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Obamas_medical_care_program%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> plans to shut down Obama's medical care program by 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/13/trump-threatens-healthcare-poor-effort-cut-healthcare-poor">eliminating
the subsidy part</a>.  Many Americans will be unable to afford it.


feed_id: bc6f71497b66a27f59a6c01f6be09d03
title: Corporate welfare
uri: 2017-04-17-Corporate-welfare
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Corporate_welfare%29
content:
<p>
One of the few good things that the troll said he would do was to
eliminate the Export-Import Bank, which provides public subsidy to
businesses.  Not surprising he
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/04/13/some-populist-trump-caves-to-big-business-in-epic-bank-of-boeing-flip-flop/">changed
his mind</a>.


feed_id: 6fed887a3abce8e27ad9f189baf30d3e
title: Chechnya imprisons and tortures gay men
uri: Chechnya-imprisons-and-tortures-gay-men
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Chechnya_imprisons_and_tortures_gay_men%29

content:
<p>
Chechnya is imprisoning gay men and torturing them — 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/13/they-called-us-animals-chechens-prison-beatings-electric-shocks-anti-gay-purge">murdering
some of them</a>.


feed_id: 73bf9e0e11f74e2b10fc6a902c33947b
title: Food safety violations at Mar-a-Lago
uri: Food-safety-violations-at-Mar-a-Lago
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Food_safety_violations_at_Mar-a-Lago%29

content:
<p>
If you have a meeting with the troll at Mar-a-Lago, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/13/mar-a-lago-food-safety-violations-donald-trump">don't
eat anything</a>!


feed_id: 94975f22fa06fc63f6be6c004e403f28
title: Assad attacks foreign journalists
uri: Assad-attacks-foreign-journalists
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Assad_attacks_foreign_journalists%29

content:
<p>
Assad has 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/04/13/assad-suggests-chemical-attack-play-staged-al-qaeda-united-states/">attacked
foreign journalists</a> that tried to cover Syria.


feed_id: 16ccca0e25a413de24e92c72b358a682
title: Troll wants tax cut for multinational banks
uri: Troll-wants-tax-cut-for-multinational-banks
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Troll_wants_tax_cut_for_multinational_banks%29

content:
<p>
The cheater 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/13/you-pay-your-fair-share-shouldnt-wall-street">wants
to give multinational banks a tax cut</a> even on top of all the tax
dodging they do.


feed_id: d582d86a4c3d1bdb531bf11606eb40e0
title: Troll's campaign chairman
uri: Troll-s-campaign-chairman
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Trolls_campaign_chairman%29
content:
<p>
Manafort is 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/4/12/1652494/-AP-confirms-Trump-campaign-chairman-Paul-Manafort-s-shadow-ledger-of-pro-Russian-payments">accused
of getting lots of money from pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine</a>
while serving as the troll's campaign chairman.
<p>
I don't think this by itself constitutes a crime or a treason on the
troll's part, but it adds to suspicion there was one.


feed_id: 8f87212a5b953f377744d4c3b9c2f0fe
title: Christian theocrats
uri: Christian-theocrats
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Christian_theocrats%29
content:
<p>
Christian theocrats in the US have learned to 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/4/12/1652583/-Congratulations-to-conservative-evangelicals-for-elevating-yet-another-pervert-to-power">support
politicians whose conduct they consider totally un-Christian</a>, if
it helps them impose their strictures on the rest of us.
<p>
I would not call Bentley a "pervert".  I don't think having an affair
with someone is wrong, but they say they do.  However, using public
funds for it is a violation of public ethics.


feed_id: b88d4f9f577b664f140f81843c01bedc
title: Doubts about Assad's use of sarin
uri: Doubts-about-Assad-s-use-of-sarin
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Doubts_about_Assads_use_of_sarin%29

content:
<p>
Uri Avnery doubts that Assad used sarin recently, because he had
<a href="http://zope.gush-shalom.org/home/en/channels/avnery/1492111523/">nothing
to gain from doing so</a>.


feed_id: 8829c12864fd672b6a429e44f1caa484
title: Progressive humanist student lynched
uri: Progressive-humanist-student-lynched
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Progressive_humanist_student_lynched%29

content:
<p>
A progressive humanist student in Pakistan was 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/04/14/students-pakistani-university-lynch-classmate-falsely-accused-blasphemy/
">lynched by a mob of religious fanatics</a>.


feed_id: b49df262dc970f9a976d9b72c1146063
title: Syrian rebels and Assad allow evacuation
uri: Syrian-rebels-and-Assad-allow-evacuation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Syrian_rebels_and_Assad_allow_evacuation%29

content:
<p>
Syrian rebels and Assad are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/14/besieged-syria-towns-evacuated-as-regime-and-rebels-begin-huge-people-swap">mutually
allowing besieged villages to evacuate</a>.
<p>
This is a step towards stabilizing their fronts and calming down the
war.


feed_id: aebf888c5e72cef013a5d9c04a7b1077
title: Planned Parenthood funding
uri: Planned-Parenthood-funding
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Planned_Parenthood_funding%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> has 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/13/ducking-cameras-trump-signs-bill-delivering-gut-punch-millions-women">enabled
Republican-controlled states to deny funding</a> to Planned Parenthood
for women's health care because it does abortions.


feed_id: 3ed0e63678497d357521484118a58b7f
title: "Spiritual festival" wrecks environment
uri: Spiritual-festival-wrecks-environment
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#17_April_2017_%28Spiritual_festival_wrecks_environment%29

content:
<p>
A "spiritual festival" in India took place in an area next to and on
the Yamuna river, and wrecked the area so badly that 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/14/spiritual-festival-on-indias-yamuna-river-caused-5m-damage">environmental
remediation will take 10 years and cost around ten million
dollars</a>.


feed_id: d5f157fc7b69e72f1f87c07b4bc3c092
title: Urgent: Electronic Privacy Act
uri: Urgent-Electronic-Privacy-Act
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Electronic_Privacy_Act%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://ssl.capwiz.com/aclu/ma/issues/alert/?alertid=76782626">support</a>
the Electronic Privacy Act.


feed_id: 286d055c53a6b20d2091082916a8aa4e
title: Urgent: Require troll to consult congress
uri: Urgent-Require-troll-to-consult-congress
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Require_troll_to_consult_congress%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: Call for requiring the troll to 
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/join-repzoelofgren-trump">consult
congress before attacking Syria</a>.


feed_id: d392bbf0cf408bcd6fef2a1b09f53b37
title: Urgent: Fund family planning
uri: Urgent-Fund-family-planning
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Fund_family_planning%29
content:
<p>
Massachusetts citizens: 
<a href="https://secure.ppaction.org/site/Advocacy">call on
Massachusetts</a> to fund family planning activities.


feed_id: ae78860251c5054c759d122abf7589a7
title: Stanford trying to censor conference
uri: Stanford-trying-to-censor-conference
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Stanford_trying_to_censor_conference%29

content:
<p>
Stanford University is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/14/stanford-censorship-accusation-trump-poster-michele-landis-dauber">trying
to censor a conference about sexual assault</a> whose organizer wants
to use a picture of the troll.
<p>
The conference is to consider the 
<a href="">Title IX requirements</a> that cover how
schools handle accusations of sexual assault.


feed_id: 065f22e11091f4d700960adc1d6e5e45
title: Urgent: Drop Bill O'Reilly's TV show
uri: Urgent-Drop-Bill-O-Reilly-s-TV-show
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Drop_Bill_OReillys_TV_show%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: 
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/dumporeilly">call on
advertisers</a> to drop Bill O'Reilly's TV show.


feed_id: 17f547749b8579c912d4367af4b84e99
title: Facebook bad for mental health
uri: Facebook-bad-for-mental-health
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Facebook_bad_for_mental_health%29
content:
<p>
Being used by Facebook tends to be 
<a href="https://hbr.org/2017/04/a-new-more-rigorous-study-confirms-the-more-you-use-facebook-the-worse-you-feel">bad
for your mental health</a>.


feed_id: a41ff887ab59cacefd33821a2c33675e
title: Saboteur of Education
uri: Saboteur-of-Education
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Saboteur_of_Education%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#saboteur">Saboteur</a> of Education DeVos has come to the aid of student loan
companies that have been 
<a href="https://consumerist.com/2017/04/11/education-secretary-devos-withdraws-protections-for-student-loan-borrowers/">caught
taking advantage of the students that borrowed from them</a>.


feed_id: e577b4f87571a9ee6cced102dc4bdce7
title: Yahoo disservice to dissidents
uri: Yahoo-disservice-to-dissidents
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Yahoo_disservice_to_dissidents%29
content:
<p>
After Yahoo gave China information about users that were dissidents,
it set up a charitable fund supposedly to aid Chinese dissidents.  A
lawsuit accuses Yahoo of 
<a href="https://phys.org/news/2017-04-yahoo-accused-mismanaging-fund-dissidents.html">diverting
that money to other uses</a>.


feed_id: 0fec6d087832664cab133480bf985ac0
title: Letting companies get away with abuses
uri: Letting-companies-get-away-with-abuses
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Letting_companies_get_away_with_abuses%29

content:
<p>
The reporting on United's bloody ejection of a doctor seated in his
assigned seat has 
<a href="http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2017/04/united-passenger-removal-reporting-management-fail.html">got
many issues wrong</a>, often in ways that help diminish United's
responsibility.
<p>
Indeed Americans tend to grasp at excuses to let companies get away
with abuses — including the abuse of 
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">making
software proprietary</a>.


feed_id: 1e843290baa861aac09792d1cd816b8f
title: Heatland Institute disinformation
uri: Heatland-Institute-disinformation
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Heatland_Institute_disinformation%29

content:
<p>
The <a href="/glossary.html#heatland">Heatland Institute</a> is 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/13/no-place-safe-climate-change-denialists-seek-sway-science-teachers">sending
disinformation packets to high school science teachers</a>, trying to
encourage doubt about global heating.


feed_id: 0fe38d7f18a157df8687012cf63d4f86
title: Urgent: March for Science
uri: 2017-04-20-Urgent-March-for-Science
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#20_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_March_for_Science%29
content:
<p>
Everyone: 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/apr/18/scientists-take-streets-global-march-truth">join
the March for Science</a> on April 22.


feed_id: 35bb8b095f4e1334c9c9e64fb694c02e
title: Urgent: Justice for mauled protester
uri: Urgent-Justice-for-mauled-protester
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Justice_for_mauled_protester%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: 
<a href="https://act.colorofchange.org/sign/Justice_JAX5/">demand
justice</a> for the anti-Trump protester that was mauled by thugs
while handcuffed and pinned down.


feed_id: 6d34aff0c96ed330be873b9f9fda13ea
title: Urgent: Block gay-hating Mark Green
uri: Urgent-Block-gay-hating-Mark-Green
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Block_gay-hating_Mark_Green%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/Green_Army_Secretary">call
on the Senate</a> to block gay-hating Mark Green as Saboteur of the
Army.


feed_id: c691e4d9f20430a87a3a7e8393e302e6
title: Bureaucratic rhetoric
uri: Bureaucratic-rhetoric
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Bureaucratic_rhetoric%29
content:
<p>
Analyzing bureaucratic rhetoric: the 
<a href="https://longreads.com/2017/04/12/the-elements-of-bureaucratic-style/">tricks
used by United Airlines and thug departments everywhere</a> to evade
culpability for mistreating people.
<p>
This form of rhetoric is designed to create the impression that the
abuse was the inevitable action of a system for which no one is
responsible, so the victim did the abuse to perself.


feed_id: 563b1f77adac4d29dae9a47773ac7287
title: Rigidly idiotic US consular staff
uri: Rigidly-idiotic-US-consular-staff
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Rigidly_idiotic_US_consular_staff%29

content:
<p>
Rigidly idiotic US consular staff 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/apr/16/baby-us-embassy-interview-visa-esta-terrorist">demanded
an interview with a baby to see if it was a terrorist</a>.  The baby
was unable, however, to answer their questions.
<p>
The callous practices of consulates, including unlimited delays, often
ruins people's travel even when there is no particular suspicion.
<p>
Combining this with the practice of making airline tickets
nonrefundable shafts people doubly.  Most people cannot afford to buy
new tickets if a visa delay stops them from traveling.


feed_id: b9a9ec0fc70fb8c5d741f69e67ca1fb0
title: Wells Fargo's practice of cheating customers
uri: Wells-Fargo-s-practice-of-cheating-customers
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Wells_Fargos_practice_of_cheating_customers%29

content:
<p>
Activist nuns are 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/16/nuns-take-wells-fargo">pressuring
for an investigation</a> of the root causes of Wells Fargo bank's
practice of cheating customers.


feed_id: d45fb4a48eef77d6adc7bf25d6faa337
title: Saboteur of civil rights in education
uri: Saboteur-of-civil-rights-in-education
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Saboteur_of_civil_rights_in_education%29

content:
<p>
The acting saboteur of civil rights in education is 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/16/dept-ed-hires-anti-civil-rights-crusader-protect-students-nonexistent-civil-rights">opposed
to civil rights</a>.
<p>
The problem US blacks confront goes deeper than the poverty that
increasing numbers of them grow up in and spend their lives in.
(After all, that's happening to whites, too.)  They still experience
the aftereffects of discriminatory law (first slavery, then
segregation), which propagate from generation to generation.  The US
and various states owe compensation to the descendants of people who
were victimized in that way, and the compensation has to be enough to
undo the lasting harm.
<p>
As for education, ideally we would provide every child with a good
education and a safe, unstressful environment to learn in.  We don't
have to use race as a rough approximation for having a disadvantage.
What this requires is money, but we could get it easily if we defeat
<a href="/glossary.html#doohnibor">dooH niboR</a>.


feed_id: c9692f77671a655a3d56fa3802346fa9
title: Richard Falk's criticism of US policy
uri: Richard-Falk-s-criticism-of-US-policy
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Richard_Falks_criticism_of_US_policy%29

content:
<p>
This 2013 article by Richard Falk has been 
<a href="http://richardfalk.wordpress.com/2013/04/19/a-commentary-on-the-marathon-murders/">cited
as an example of "antisemitism"</a>.
<p>
There is nothing antisemitic in that article.  It criticizes US policy
towards the Muslim world and towards Israel, and it mentions the
extent of political influence that Israel exercises on US politics
(through its lobbying arm, AIPAC, whose conference was recently
<a href="https://www.stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#2_April_2017_(US_Jews_protest_against_occupation)">protested
by many American Jews</a>).  But there is nothing in Falk's article
that expresses any attitude about Jews.
<p>
Falk points out that various Israeli officials have also described
the occupation as a policy of 
<a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-apartheid-regime-un-preport-co-author-richard-falk-professor-university-talks-cancelled-a7655206.html">apartheid</a>.
<p>
Falk 
<a href="http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?id=267176">condemns
Palestinian war crimes</a>, too, to the extent that the Palestinian
Authority asked him to resign from his UN post.
<p>
Notwithstanding these facts, an organization called "UN Watch" 
<a href="https://www.unwatch.org/uk-urged-expel-richard-falk-condemned-3-times-antisemitism/">cited
Falk's article as supposed proof</a> that Falk is antisemitic while
calling for the UK to expel him.


feed_id: 8221cb7b4a70538493aeec887ceffc28
title: Republicans eliminating retirement funds
uri: Republicans-eliminating-retirement-funds
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Republicans_eliminating_retirement_funds%29

content:
<p>
Republicans have 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/4/14/1653138/-Republicans-launch-their-crusade-for-elder-poverty-with-repeal-of-automatic-retirement-accounts">eliminated
the retirement funds set up by some cities</a>.


feed_id: 16a4e7e340de96fded007a82bbc99124
title: Troll inherits drone assassination power
uri: Troll-inherits-drone-assassination-power
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Troll_inherits_drone_assassination_power%29

content:
<p>
Drone assassinations killed lots of civilians when they were run by
Obama with restraint.  Because we didn't take that power away from
him, it has now been 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/14/what-have-we-done-executive-power-drones-and-trump">inherited
by the new inhumane bully as president</a>.


feed_id: c48696b9d2821c76995ae4b9776a3a7e
title: Maryland to fund Planned Parenthood
uri: Maryland-to-fund-Planned-Parenthood
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Maryland_to_fund_Planned_Parenthood%29

content:
<p>
Maryland will 
<a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/maryland-becomes-first-state-to-cover-planned-parenthood-costs/">locally
replace the funding</a> for Planned Parenthood that the US government
has cut off.


feed_id: d353f570cd78d855b4ec38f268a0d68e
title: Attacks on women's health care
uri: Attacks-on-women-s-health-care
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Attacks_on_womens_health_care%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#scrotus">SCROTUS</a> and the troll have attacked women's health care 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/13/6-ways-trump-administration-and-congress-have-threatened-womens-health-just-few">6
ways</a>.


feed_id: c4c9a0614ca0d62018eee1952bf6e63e
title: Philosophy in India
uri: Philosophy-in-India
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Philosophy_in_India%29
content:
<p>
Philosophy in India 
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.in/aakash-singh-rathore/indian-academias-shunning-of-$">treats
Dr Ambedkar's ideas as untouchable</a>.


feed_id: e81b038a7f6e902af7185036c907ed21
title: Right-wing demonization of George Soros
uri: Right-wing-demonization-of-George-Soros
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Right-wing_demonization_of_George_Soros%29

content:
<p>
Today's right-wing, including the Republicans, demonizes George Soros
and 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/15/dirty-tricks-demonise-george-soros">attributes
to him almost magical powers</a> to defend free elections and freedom
of speech.


feed_id: f7fbf3f95169ca127a7d126965e40c59
title: "Competition" between ISPs
uri: Competition-between-ISPs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Competition_between_ISPs%29
content:
<p>
The FCC proposes an absurd definition of competition between ISPs,
<a href="https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/04/one-broadband-choice-counts-as-competition-in-new-fcc-proposal/">designed
to allow them to gouge customers</a>.
<p>
That reflects the general policy of Republicans to help business
against Americans.


feed_id: ff3f162ca5066a31a9a8e4cdd33cbf88
title: Immigrants and increased wages
uri: Immigrants-and-increased-wages
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Immigrants_and_increased_wages%29
content:
<p>
In the US, 
<a href="http://reason.com/archives/2017/04/14/welcoming-immigrants-means-higher-wages">cities
with more immigrants show increases in wages</a>.
<p>
It is possible that immigrants increase wages in a way that would work
for everyone if everyone did it.  But it is also possible that
immigrants increase wages in a city by pulling good jobs away from
other cities.


feed_id: 41bd92a70a6e679c920efbd4b2c108b9
title: Large companies' tax returns
uri: Large-companies-tax-returns
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Large_companies_tax_returns%29
content:
<p>
Labour pledges to make large companies 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/apr/15/labour-plans-clampdown-on-sweetheart-deals-to-close-36bn-tax-gap">show
full tax returns</a>.


feed_id: efa4728ba2b597fedfdaaa0dd7925121
title: Troll's oil drilling plans
uri: Troll-s-oil-drilling-plans
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Trolls_oil_drilling_plans%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> is quietly 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/15/energy-lobbyists-linked-trumps-offshore-drilling-plans">planning
to reopen US coasts to oil drilling</a>, in cahoots with oil company
lobbyists.


feed_id: c3ea7c427694fa1645f8ea669f300a59
title: US interventionism
uri: US-interventionism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28US_interventionism%29
content:
<p>
The cheater has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/16/donald-trump-america-first-foreign-policy-syria-china-russia">cancelled
his pledge</a> to reduce US interventionism.


feed_id: 7445f41a1c7d14ffeaa299f9609d8b46
title: Troll's tax returns
uri: 2017-04-20-Troll-s-tax-returns
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Trolls_tax_returns%29
content:
<p>
US citizens have 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/14/we-people-do-care-about-trumps-taxes">strong
and pressing reasons</a> to care what is in the troll's tax returns.


feed_id: 9948d20cbd71c7615a81fa8a75128bb0
title: Proposed censorship at US border
uri: Proposed-censorship-at-US-border
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Proposed_censorship_at_US_border%29

content:
<p>
[Proposed] Censorship at the [US] Border 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/14/censorship-border-threatens-free-speech-everywhere">Threatens
Free Speech Everywhere</a>.


feed_id: 010dfd9310add7ff2f7fd422edce299b
title: Iran's TV censorship
uri: Iran-s-TV-censorship
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Irans_TV_censorship%29
content:
<p>
A moment of carelessness reveals 
<a href="https://globalvoices.org/2017/04/14/censorship-undressed-iranian-state-tv-cuts-broadcast-mid-sentence/">Iran's
strict TV censorship</a>.


feed_id: ffdcaa62e234d8a8781366704c5b0066
title: Letting children learn on their own
uri: Letting-children-learn-on-their-own
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Letting_children_learn_on_their_own%29

content:
<p>
In general, the way to keep your children safe from the occasional
adult that might want to do them harm is to 
<a href="http://www.freerangekids.com/a-mom-molested-as-a-child-tells-parents-to-make-your-kids-safe-from-sexual-predators-stop-hovering/">let
your children learn how to handle doing things alone</a>.
<p>
Age 9 seems rather late for a child to start walking around the city
alone.  The children in my elementary school walked to and from school
at age 6.  This was not in some quiet rural village — it was in
the center of the world's largest city, in Manhattan.


feed_id: 41928bfff8f1b2dbebf76814dad637be
title: Central European University
uri: Central-European-University
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Central_European_University%29
content:
<p>
Hungarians protested in Budapest 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/15/hungary-protests-soros-university-closure-threat">against
the law to shut the Central European University</a>.
<p>
The Hungarian right-wing regime has a strategy of undermining
democratic government and human rights in ways that hold short of
stirring up strong opposition.


feed_id: f206fc27b1ea8750a7e162d9edd9ff49
title: Ad-blocker
uri: Ad-blocker
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Ad-blocker%29
content:
<p>
A clever ad-blocker can now detect ads semantically, and even
<a href="https://freedom-to-tinker.com/2017/04/14/the-future-of-ad-blocking/">distinguish
Facebook ads from the rest of Facebook</a>.  Is this useful?  Not for
me.
<p>
I'm not interested in blocking ads from appearing on my screen.  I
object to most internet ads because they are surveillance systems and
I resent being tracked.
<p>
Ironically, it seems that this clever ad-blocker allows ads to surveil
in the process of detecting them.  From my point of view, this defeats
the purpose.
<p>
As for distinguishing ads from other material on Facebook, why even
think about it?  Facebook is a surveillance system, pure and simple.
The ads do surveillance and everything else does surveillance.  To
avoid being tracked by Facebook is simple: don't have an account,
and block its other surveillance methods.
<p>
The aspect of Facebook that does require blocking in a browser
is the Like button, which does surveillance even on users that don't
have Facebook accounts.  But it's not an ad.


feed_id: 6996a6f030c799a64194e72b54d24484
title: Bahrain
uri: 2017-04-20-Bahrain
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Bahrain%29
content:
<p>
The Bahrain Grand Prix car race brings reporters that give repressive
state a pretty image.  The reporters will be 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/15/formula-one-bahraini-lives-stop-grand-prix">deported
if they cover anything but the race</a>.


feed_id: aee23f1e65ef6df44bba7869fd9d2198
title: Urgent: Labor Department rule
uri: Urgent-Labor-Department-rule
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Labor_Department_rule%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: call on the Labor Department to proceed with rule to 
<a href="http://act.demandprogress.org/letter">require retirement
investment advisers to act in their clients' best interest</a>.


feed_id: 18fdf09816da6b9c90099b61f1aae3fd
title: Urgent: No anti-immigrant plan funding
uri: Urgent-No-anti-immigrant-plan-funding
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_No_anti-immigrant_plan_funding%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://ssl.capwiz.com/aclu-action/issues/alert/?alertid=76838626">call
on senators</a> not to fund the troll's anti-immigrant plans.


feed_id: 6b7a721165ff4993597b48f2cacb5d96
title: Urgent: People's Climate March
uri: 2017-04-21-Urgent-People-s-Climate-March
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_People%27s_Climate_March%29

content:
<p>
In the US: 
<a href="https://peoplesclimate.org/">join the People's Climate
March</a> on April 29.


feed_id: 65b7009047eb62a5668691f77fe959b8
title: Urgent: Social Security funding
uri: Urgent-Social-Security-funding
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Social_Security_funding%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/trump_social_security">call
on Congress</a> to reject any proposal to undermine the funding for
Social Security.


feed_id: 59d0c7434bef100664020ff6d64c864e
title: Hindu theocratic party BJP
uri: Hindu-theocratic-party-BJP
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Hindu_theocratic_party_BJP%29
content:
<p>
Several leaders of the Hindu theocratic party BJP will face trial for
participating in the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/19/indian-minister-to-stand-trial-over-1992-babri-mosque-demolition">destruction
of a famous historic mosque</a>.
<p>
The mosque was built hundreds of years ago by Muslim conquerors on a
sacred Hindu site and destroyed an old Hindu temple.  By modern
standards, that was a crime too.  However, there was no need to
respond to an ancient crime with a new crime.  The former, destroyed
Hindu temple cannot be brought back.  The site is nothing special for
Muslims; moving the mosque to another site, if necessary taking it
apart stone by stone and rebuilding it elsewhere, would have restored
the site to Hindus without destroying the mosque.
<p>
In restitution, the mosque could have been moved to another site.


feed_id: f6c86e7f74d673178b730313c8f04040
title: EU's subservience to business and banksters
uri: EU-s-subservience-to-business-and-banksters
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28EUs_subservience_to_business_and_banksters%29

content:
<p>
Mélenchon aims to save the European Union by 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/19/jean-luc-melenchon-french-president-europe">correcting
its great wrong</a>: subservience to business and banksters.
<p>
The EU and the IMF have imposed austerity on France, 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/04/18/european-authorities-policy-constraints-are-hampering-french-economic-growth-and">barring
the French state from doing anything to reduce the unemployment and
inequality</a> that feed both right-wing extremism and Islamism.


feed_id: df9c02165775f8f248b10880d1efae8a
title: Chants of murder and rape in Burundi
uri: Chants-of-murder-and-rape-in-Burundi
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Chants_of_murder_and_rape_in_Burundi%29

content:
<p>
The paramilitary youth auxiliary of Burundi's dictator chants to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/apr/19/un-human-rights-chief-condemns-grotesque-rape-chants-burundi-youth-militia">murder
and rape people opposed to the dictator</a>.


feed_id: 419667eb2da7a4acde76ff3c63ece8ee
title: Facebook
uri: 2017-04-21-Facebook
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Facebook%29
content:
<p>
Facebook Wants [its useds] You to 
<a href="https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/04/facebook-wants-you-to-stare-even-more-at-the-real-world-through-your-phone-camera/">Stare
Even More at the Real World Through Your Phone Camera</a>.


feed_id: 13a1da7b162e0c35be108ee0b56e438f
title: A "cashless" economy
uri: A-cashless-economy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28A_cashless_economy%29
content:
<p>
A "cashless" economy is one where the 
<a href="http://www.activistpost.com/2017/04/cashless-economy-moneys-never-idle-money.html">banks
have power over everything</a>.


feed_id: f31a1c1ba3843cce6010c38f87c5d238
title: US border thugs spit on the law
uri: US-border-thugs-spit-on-the-law
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28US_border_thugs_spit_on_the_law%29
content:
<p>
US border thugs arrested Juan Manuel Montes when he didn't have his
wallet on him, and 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/18/trump-first-deportation-dreamer-daca-mexico">deported
him</a> without allowing him to get his wallet and show he was
protected from deportation.
<p>
Those agents spit on the law they were supposed to enforce, just as
they spit on Montes's rights.  "We can take away your rights by
closing our eyes to them and saying we don't see them."  These little
not-sees deserve a sharp punishment.


feed_id: 46217f5c415d1331e2f9235f45aeee03
title: Troll's negotiations with China
uri: Troll-s-negotiations-with-China
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Trolls_negotiations_with_China%29
content:
<p>
When the troll negotiates with China, he asks for 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/19/ivanka-trump-brand-china-trademarks-day-us-president-met-xi-jinping">advantages
for Ivanka's business</a>.


feed_id: ab2a36adc3e6e0ca835994ac12d2d122
title: The nuclear agreement with Iran
uri: 2017-04-21-The-nuclear-agreement-with-Iran
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28The_nuclear_agreement_with_Iran%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> has 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/19/iran-nuclear-deal-trump-administration-approves-agreement-but-review-looms">backed
off cancelling the nuclear agreement with Iran</a>.  That is a relief,
since this agreement is the best chance of avoiding Iran's getting
nuclear weapons.


feed_id: 19073098d8e5a464d56f2124eb953b23
title: Measuring effects of psychedelic drugs
uri: Measuring-effects-of-psychedelic-drugs
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Measuring_effects_of_psychedelic_drugs%29

content:
<p>
Brain scans give a 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/apr/19/brain-scans-reveal-mind-opening-response-to-psychedelic-drug-trip-lsd-ketamine-psilocybin">concrete
and measurable meaning</a> to the "higher state of consciousness"
produced by psychedelic drugs.


feed_id: 36c19817c94f9ec952efeba0494baca4
title: Global heating
uri: 2017-04-21-Global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Global_heating%29
content:
<p>
In some parts of the US, global heating will mean that a wildfire 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/18/wilder-fires-and-rising-waters-climate-impacts-coming-americas-door">burns
your house</a>.


feed_id: d419d890a76c86dc8aaf72db5b1411e0
title: Campaign to elect progressive Democrats
uri: Campaign-to-elect-progressive-Democrats
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Campaign_to_elect_progressive_Democrats%29

content:
<p>
Sanders, with DNC chair Tom Perez, are 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/18/bernie-sanders-tom-perez-anti-trump-democrats-tour">campaigning
to elect progressive Democrats</a>.


feed_id: b3afd29bfb24d304785a196a3fe3b086
title: Tax on sugary drinks
uri: 2017-04-21-Tax-on-sugary-drinks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Tax_on_sugary_drinks%29
content:
<p>
The tax on sugary drinks in Berkeley, California, 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/18/first-us-sugar-tax-sees-soft-drink-sales-fall-by-almost-10-study-shows">reduced
sales by 15% compared with nearby towns</a>.
<p>
It's a shame that people are buying more water, rather than drinking
more water from the faucet.


feed_id: bca95bd0e9a40454bf6dfe8865ba5815
title: Student jailed for a joke
uri: Student-jailed-for-a-joke
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Student_jailed_for_a_joke%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/18/student-cassandra-vera-tweet-case-puts-free-speech-under-spotlight-in-spain">Jail
for a Joke</a>: Student's Case Puts Free Speech under Spotlight in
Spain.
<p>
What could be wrong about assassinating a high official of a
dictatorship?


feed_id: f225e83b284e9f6b099766fb8e07a5c4
title: Criminal groups in Colombia
uri: Criminal-groups-in-Colombia
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Criminal_groups_in_Colombia%29
content:
<p>
Criminal groups are moving in on the 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/18/colombia-farc-rebels-armed-groups">areas
of Colombia which the FARC used to control</a>.


feed_id: ed207400401316d87999af91691d8023
title: Shooting down North Korean test missiles
uri: Shooting-down-North-Korean-test-missiles
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Shooting_down_North_Korean_test_missiles%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/18/us-military-shoot-down-north-korea-missile-tests">On
the idea</a> of shooting down North Korean test missiles.


feed_id: 8354163042ffcf68447098f16d5a337d
title: Indian government hostility towards Muslims
uri: Indian-government-hostility-towards-Muslims
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Indian_government_hostility_towards_Muslims%29

content:
<p>
As the Indian government 
<a href="https://thewire.in/123008/india-hindutva-narendra-modi-rss-muslims/">ramps
up hostility and threats towards Muslims</a>, few Hindus support their
rights.
<a href="https://stallman.org/archives/2014-jul-oct.html#11_September_2014_(Hindu_fanatics)">Christians
and Dalits face repression there too</a>.
<p>
Modi supports bigotry by doing nothing to discourage it.


feed_id: f17a4f9154c68dd0f58cda11dfe632a0
title: Alex Jones' radio shows
uri: Alex-Jones-radio-shows
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Alex_Jones_radio_shows%29
content:
<p>
Alex Jones' lawyer claimed in court that what Jones says in his radio
shows is just an 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/18/worried-about-the-us-being-led-by-a-tyrant-who-may-destroy-the-earth-blame-alex-jones">act
designed to manipulate the public</a>.  In other words, it's all
dishonesty.


feed_id: bf85495f85c093bbb736d29ccad1bdcb
title: Multinational giants in agriculture
uri: Multinational-giants-in-agriculture
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Multinational_giants_in_agriculture%29

content:
<p>
The European Union 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/17/battle-feed-world-david-vs-goliath">favors
multinational giants in agriculture</a> — no wonder over 1/3 of
the farms have disappeared since 2003.


feed_id: 43c32a8d0cbb96aecccf6d75c4335c01
title: Education about science
uri: Education-about-science
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Education_about_science%29
content:
<p>
Americans need to be educated about 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/17/nothing-beats-science-explaining-how-world-works">what
science means and why we need it for understanding how the world
is</a>.


feed_id: 50790e6f01c1d9431c23f46d37a4f091
title: Censorship imposed on US universities
uri: Censorship-imposed-on-US-universities
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Censorship_imposed_on_US_universities%29

content:
<p>
Students, sometimes supported by faculty, are 
<a href="http://reason.com/blog/2017/04/17/these-institutions-are-betraying-their-o">imposing
censorship on some US universities</a>.
<p>
Precisely because the troll uses bullying and censors those who oppose
him, we need to reject censorship.


feed_id: 3a29def701d575872efe226949a5989b
title: Thugs teach children to report on parents
uri: Thugs-teach-children-to-report-on-parents
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Thugs_teach_children_to_report_on_parents%29

content:
<p>
US thugs have a 
<a href="http://reason.com/archives/2017/04/16/recognize-resist-report">long
history</a> of teaching children to report on their parents.
<p>
Resistance to this recruitment is important, but I hope young people
will see the difference between snitching on your parents for using
pot and reporting theft.


feed_id: 27663630b912e58347b6228b6a0b6e1a
title: Extortion of public money by sports teams
uri: Extortion-of-public-money-by-sports-teams
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Extortion_of_public_money_by_sports_teams%29

content:
<p>
We should not let sports teams 
<a href="http://reason.com/archives/2017/04/17/publicly-funded-ballparks-are-for-sucker">extort
public money for their stadiums</a>.
<p>
It would be useful to have state laws that prohibit city governments
from directly contributing in any way to the construction of stadiums.


feed_id: 964fcb48216e6c039a43c5e657aa4b64
title: School-to-prison pipeline
uri: 2017-04-21-School-to-prison-pipeline
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28School-to-prison_pipeline%29
content:
<p>
Virginia legislator Mike Mullin 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/4/16/1652891/-Working-to-end-the-school-to-prison-pipeline-An-interview-with-Virginia-Delegate-Mike-Mullin">proposes
to narrow the intake</a> of the school-to-prison pipeline.


feed_id: de60452f111d3d815fbe307f04ce79cd
title: Right-wing fanatics circulating lies
uri: Right-wing-fanatics-circulating-lies
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Right-wing_fanatics_circulating_lies%29

content:
<p>
Groups of right-wing fanatics are circulating 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/4/15/1653366/-Armed-Trump-fans-are-contemplating-a-shooting-war-with-progressives-and-anti-facists">lies
to justify a future campaign to massacre progressives</a>.


feed_id: 368c1ee157fbc85d36ce589cd6f011e2
title: Multinational corporations
uri: Multinational-corporations
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Multinational_corporations%29
content:
<p>
Multinational corporations are 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/04/17/happy-tax-day-heres-how-corporations-plan-to-screw-you-over/">lobbying
all around the world to pay less in taxes</a>.
<p>
The result is that (1) we pay their share, or (2) our governments are
impoverished and can't carry out their responsibilities, or (3) a
combination of the two.


feed_id: d2e1633545823608f86f550205b02dcd
title: United's bloody removal of Dr. Dao
uri: United-s-bloody-removal-of-Dr-Dao
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Uniteds_bloody_removal_of_Dr._Dao%29

content:
<p>
United's bloody removal of Dr. Dao should not be blamed on the
algorithm that selected him rather than some other passenger as the
one to remove.  It was the 
<a href="https://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/more/rinesi20170417">fault of
United executives and managers</a> that chose the policy of pulling
passengers off planes by force.


feed_id: f6f3530567a523c79bf8dfbc5522a917
title: US national parks in 2050
uri: US-national-parks-in-2050
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28US_national_parks_in_2050%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/17/artist-redesigns-national-parks-posters-2050-showcasing-climate-devastation">What
US national parks will look like</a> in 2050 if we don't stop global
heating.


feed_id: ea6ee9c00eb39a0eee836898b577ec72
title: UK to cancel citizenship of Assad's wife
uri: UK-to-cancel-citizenship-of-Assad-s-wife
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28UK_to_cancel_citizenship_of_Assads_wife%29

content:
<p>
The UK 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2017/apr/17/could-asma-al-assad-be-stripped-of-her-british-citizenship">plans
to cancel the citizenship of Assad's wife</a>.
<p>
She is clearly supporting a tyrant, and may be guilty of some crimes.
But it is always wrong to strip people of their citizenship for
crimes.


feed_id: e8527f4c39fb746a1163d5ad28a83b75
title: Zachariae Isstrom glacier breaking up
uri: Zachariae-Isstrom-glacier-breaking-up
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Zachariae_Isstrom_glacier_breaking_up%29

content:
<p>
Greenland's Zachariae Isstrom glacier is breaking up.  Over time, this
will raise sea level by 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/nov/12/collapsing-greenland-glacier-could-raise-sea-levels-by-half-a-metre-say-scientists">half
a meter</a>.
<p>
That is in addition to the sea level rise from other sources,
which is predicted to be up to meter by 2100.
<p>
Of course, other unpredicted melting could occur too.


feed_id: 9663f108294b8b5fe98941f939062079
title: Bloodthirsty enemies of Assad
uri: Bloodthirsty-enemies-of-Assad
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#20_April_2017_%28Bloodthirsty_enemies_of_Assad%29
content:
<p>
The enemies of Assad are in many cases 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/04/17/trumps-abrupt-regime-change-pivot-raises-concerns-about-a-mad-max-syria-should-assad-fall/">just
as bloodthirsty as he</a>.


feed_id: 13aa18b6b06ed33452c50d19bf816ad3
title: The example set by Trump and Putin
uri: The-example-set-by-Trump-and-Putin
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#20_April_2017_%28The_example_set_by_Trump_and_Putin%29

content:
<p>
"Leaders such as Turkish president look at Trump and Putin and
conclude 
<a href='https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/17/erdogans-referendum-victory-unsurprising-in-a-strongman-world-turkish-president-trump-putin-democracy'>democracy
can be made to be what you want it to be</a>."
<p>
The referendum was 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/17/turkey-vote-referendum-curtailed-fundamental-freedoms-european-observers">not
held in a free and fair way</a>.


feed_id: 9e67196b98a4b5a31862042510270733
title: Shrinking glacier in Canada
uri: Shrinking-glacier-in-Canada
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#20_April_2017_%28Shrinking_glacier_in_Canada%29
content:
<p>
A shrinking glacier in Canada 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/apr/17/receding-glacier-causes-immense-canadian-river-to-vanish-in-four-days-climate-change">caused
the Slims river to disappear completely</a> in just four days.


feed_id: d370cf6730fa4587afb11c1fcc3caa6f
title: Check cashing services and payday lenders
uri: Check-cashing-services-and-payday-lenders
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#20_April_2017_%28Check_cashing_services_and_payday_lenders%29

content:
<p>
Why poor Americans use 
<a href="http://reason.com/reasontv/2017/04/12/lisa-servon-banking-credit-payday">check
cashing services and payday lenders</a>.  It's not that they are
unaware of the costs.
<p>
Overall, it seems that they are living so close to the edge of being
broke that they are constantly pushed around by short term necessity.
They can't afford to deposit checks in a bank that won't charge a fee.
<p>
The solution to this is to make things better for the poor.


feed_id: 4e9bdf50ae9200e3c43d4115d57666d7
title: When CIA threatens to destroy Wikileaks
uri: When-CIA-threatens-to-destroy-Wikileaks
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#20_April_2017_%28When_CIA_threatens_to_destroy_Wikileaks%29

content:
<p>
When the CIA threatens to destroy Wikileaks, it 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/04/14/trumps-cia-director-pompeo-targeting-wikileaks-explicitly-threatens-speech-and-press-freedoms/">threatens
freedom of the press in general</a>.


feed_id: a6d464b6f0ae272b1a23fddba9565f02
title: Massive surveillance monopolies
uri: Massive-surveillance-monopolies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#20_April_2017_%28Massive_surveillance_monopolies%29
content:
<p>
How Google, Facebook and Amazon subverted the internet and converted
it into a platform for 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/apr/17/move-fast-and-break-things-review-google-facebook-amazon-exposed">massive
surveillance monopolies</a>.


feed_id: 7bb0671b86253a248c20fe8532fea121
title: The "war on drugs"
uri: The-war-on-drugs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#20_April_2017_%28The_war_on_drugs%29
content:
<p>
At the practical level, the "war on drugs" is 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/17/war-drugs-racist-donald-trump-embracing-open-arms">implemented
in a racist way</a>.  When Sessions says he wants to "bring it back",
it means he wants to accentuate the racist repression of it.


feed_id: 1c74f0d22a25181f0f3323b6e1801062
title: White privilege
uri: White-privilege
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#20_April_2017_%28White_privilege%29
content:
<p>
It's easier to understand what white privilege means if we recognize
that there are 
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gina-crosleycorcoran/explaining-white-privilege-to-a-broke-white-person_b_5269255.html">other
dimensions of privilege</a> and they all operate simultaneously.


feed_id: 22a4ea1a73e745319e2a07f8ef89b8f2
title: The world's nuclear warheads
uri: The-world-s-nuclear-warheads
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#20_April_2017_%28The_worlds_nuclear_warheads%29
content:
<p>
"Most of the worldâs nuclear warheads are 
<a href='https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/17/nuclear-war-has-become-thinkable-again-we-need-a-reminder-of-what-it-means'>now
in the hands of men who are prepared to use them</a>."


feed_id: a1e79f9e1bcab98f9ab851ff4772a7b3
title: Human-caused global heating
uri: 2017-04-21-Human-caused-global-heating
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#20_April_2017_%28Human-caused_global_heating%29
content:
<p>
Human-caused global heating is on the verge of going 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2017/apr/17/humans-on-the-verge-of-causing-earths-fastest-climate-change-in-50m-years">faster
than all natural events in the entire 420-million-year record of past
climate</a>.


feed_id: 752cfa9be393dfad10904908e024db9d
title: Canada's extractivist policies
uri: Canada-s-extractivist-policies
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#20_April_2017_%28Canadas_extractivist_policies%29
content:
<p>
Canada says all the right things about global heating, but in its
actions it 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/17/stop-swooning-justin-trudeau-man-disaster-planet">continues
extractivist policies</a>.


feed_id: 1d44084df37fe38885862ff1d802d619
title: Turkey's constitution
uri: Turkey-s-constitution
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#20_April_2017_%28Turkeys_constitution%29
content:
<p>
Erdo&gbreve;an seems to have has succeeded in 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/16/erdogan-claims-ultimate-power-turkey-after-nearly-split-vote">changing
Turkey's constitution to give the president power to do what he
likes</a>.
<p>
The vote was close, and the opposition says it will challenge a large
fraction of the votes.


feed_id: f3e51436b0fdaccd15775c71cd031214
title: Israeli Shoots Palestinian
uri: Israeli-Shoots-Palestinian
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Israeli_Shoots_Palestinian%29
content:
<p>
For the Israeli army, <a href="https://972mag.com/when-shooting-a-teen-in-the-back-is-a-professional-error/126560/">shooting a Palestinian teen in the back</a> is
"professional error".
<p>
Apparently "error" covers lying about the events, too.


feed_id: a357ad4e1ccbdcf4cbd44267244ec230
title: Israel Ethnic Cleansing
uri: Israel-Ethnic-Cleansing
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#21_April_2017_%28Israel_Ethnic_Cleansing%29
content:
<p>
Beyond apartheid to ethnic cleansing: the rabbi that leads a
significant Israeli electoral party 
<a href="https://www.richardsilverstein.com/2017/04/15/israeli-chief-rabbis-endorse-ethnic-cleansing-non-jewish-servitude/">
calls for expelling all non-Jews from
Israel</a>.


feed_id: 19d000c667eb99af5752b851eab30047
title: Philosophy in India
uri: 2017-04-22-Philosophy-in-India
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#19_April_2017_%28Philosophy_in_India%29
content:
<p>
Philosophy in India 
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.in/aakash-singh-rathore/indian-academias-shunning-of-ambedkar-the-philosopher-reeks-of/">treats
Dr Ambedkar's ideas as untouchable</a>.


feed_id: 2f9b74a9c0fcf6e42807f02fdeb862d1
title: Urgent: Bring Juan Manuel Montes back
uri: Urgent-Bring-Juan-Manuel-Montes-back
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#22_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Bring_Juan_Manuel_Montes_back%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/tell-secretary-kelly">call
on Saboteur of Homeland Security Kelly</a> to bring Juan Manuel Montes
back from Mexico, since he was deported unjustly.


feed_id: 8a4bb930149402adadcd31e9e3aca80a
title: Exxon wants permit to drill for Russia
uri: Exxon-wants-permit-to-drill-for-Russia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#22_April_2017_%28Exxon_wants_permit_to_drill_for_Russia%29

content:
<p>
Exxon is asking the State Department (run by a former Exxon CEO) for a
waiver to permit it to drill for oil in Russia 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/19/payout-time-exxon-seeks-waiver-us-sanctions-drill-russia">in
despite of US sanctions against that</a>.


feed_id: 0f26ec2fa6cd9b17c89c8a03e43d0724
title: DNC chair fails to criticize Wall Street
uri: DNC-chair-fails-to-criticize-Wall-Street
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#22_April_2017_%28DNC_chair_fails_to_criticize_Wall_Street%29

content:
<p>
DNC chair Tom Perez is 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/19/under-perez-dnc-still-resisting-call-name-enemy">holding
back from criticizing Wall Street</a> even while touring with Sanders.


feed_id: 0ef9e59b1d36820d860518e654870af6
title: Death penalty
uri: 2017-04-22-Death-penalty
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#22_April_2017_%28Death_penalty%29
content:
<p>
Arkansas Fights to Execute Two Men 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/04/20/arkansas-fights-to-execute-two-men-without-testing-dna-evidence-that-could-exonerate-them/">Without
Testing DNA Evidence That Could Exonerate Them</a>.
<p>
This is standard practice for cruel systems of "justice": they don't
want anyone even to imagine doubting their decisions.


feed_id: 10368cc7656e137efde3409c3798d3ad
title: UN Security Council Threatened North Korea
uri: UN-Security-Council-Threatened-North-Korea
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#22_April_2017_%28UN_Security_Council_Threatened_North_Korea%29

content:
<p>
The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/20/un-security-council-north-korea-nuclear-tests-sanctions">UN Security Council has threatened North Korea</a> with sanctions if it
continuous nuclear testing.
<p>
This warning has the support of China, so Mr Kim will find it
difficult to defy. It has a chance of succeeding as a diplomatic solution
to the problem of North Korea's nuclear weapons.


feed_id: d94a618f37b8e1b07f536761364246d5
title: Urgent: Planned Parenthood
uri: 2017-04-23-Urgent-Planned-Parenthood
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#22_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Planned_Parenthood%29
content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/protect_pp_cr">Tell
Democrats</a>: Stand strong.  No cuts to Planned Parenthood.


feed_id: 1dfc1f162525ff6a1d088a0c643a4a17
title: Urgent: Fair taxes for Wall Street
uri: Urgent-Fair-taxes-for-Wall-Street
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#22_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Fair_taxes_for_Wall_Street%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-the-petition-demand-wall-street-pay-its-fair-share-of-taxes?nowrapper=true">call
on Congress</a> to make Wall Street pay its fair share of taxes.


feed_id: 2e0896adbcdbe46b733258832db1ba56
title: Urgent: Resist surrender of rights
uri: Urgent-Resist-surrender-of-rights
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#22_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Resist_surrender_of_rights%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/trump_government_shutdown">tell
Democrats in the Senate</a> not to surrender our rights if Republicans
take the budget hostage.


feed_id: 3638a79b460e83ff5ab12677e064270e
title: Urgent: Oppose attack on Yemenite port
uri: Urgent-Oppose-attack-on-Yemenite-port
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#22_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_attack_on_Yemenite_port%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: call on senators to tell <a href="/glossary.html#salafi">Salafi Arabia</a> 
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/stand-with-sentoddyoung">not
to attack the Yemenite port of Hodeida</a>.  That bombardment is
causing famine in Yemen.


feed_id: 7f654d5020d8c826b31e32cd1de6eeb1
title: Democrats that serve Wall Street
uri: Democrats-that-serve-Wall-Street
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#22_April_2017_%28Democrats_that_serve_Wall_Street%29

content:
<p>
Democrats that serve Wall Street 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/20/democratic-partys-anti-bernie-elites-have-huge-stake-blaming-russia">use
Russia as a smokescreen</a>.


feed_id: 7449a9a1b351f7b98ee9f093055a7ba3
title: Taxing meat
uri: Taxing-meat
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#22_April_2017_%28Taxing_meat%29
content:
<p>
Could a Tax on Meat 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/21/vat-on-meat-save-planet-climate-change-9-billion-people">Help
Us Save the Planet</a>?
<p>
Even if a tax on fossil fuels solves most of the problem, there ought
to be a special tax on cows because of their methane emissions.


feed_id: e21b3f65f01ca9f99c8b8964671bd563
title: Palestine's Nelson Mandela
uri: Palestine-s-Nelson-Mandela
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#22_April_2017_%28Palestines_Nelson_Mandela%29
content:
<p>
Uri Avnery: 
<a href="http://zope.gush-shalom.org/home/en/channels/avnery/1492778721/">Palestine's
Nelson Mandela</a>.
<p>
The article mentions Menachem Begin, leader of the Irgun.  It also
mentions that Palestinians that fight to end the Israeli occupation
say they should be treated as prisoners of war.
<p>
Ironically, that's what the Irgun said the same thing to the British,
who treated them as terrorists.


feed_id: 035f4c225a6549f29b180a8d5247d4a0
title: Prosecuting Wikileaks
uri: Prosecuting-Wikileaks
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#22_April_2017_%28Prosecuting_Wikileaks%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a>'s men now say they 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/apr/21/arresting-julian-assange-is-a-priority-says-us-attorney-general-jeff-sessions">want
to prosecute Wikileaks and maybe Julian Assange too</a>.
<p>
Prosecuting Wikileaks 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/21/wikileaks-prosecution-endanger-future-journalism">would
endanger journalism in the US</a>.


feed_id: 5f565aa7e522a5ef541b0c051655823a
title: Predictable warmongers
uri: Predictable-warmongers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#22_April_2017_%28Predictable_warmongers%29
content:
<p>
With the influence of unpredictable warmonger Bannon gone, watch out
for the influence of the predictable warmongers, the 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/20/bannon-down-pentagon-neocons">neocons</a>.


feed_id: 3b709355275037af01f4998f43b2c47a
title: "Labor market reforms"
uri: Labor-market-reforms
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#22_April_2017_%28Labor_market_reforms%29
content:
<p>
The IMF is trying to pressure India into 
<a href="http://www.newindianexpress.com/business/2017/apr/19/imf-asks-india-to-go-for-labour-market-reforms-1595158.html">"labor
market reforms"</a> that would probably, as such things typically do,
make for increases in production for the benefit of the rich, together
with reduction in income for the poor.


feed_id: 5d448161a9b262714576d9ffd7fc3c68
title: Traffic ticket robots
uri: Traffic-ticket-robots
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#22_April_2017_%28Traffic_ticket_robots%29
content:
<p>
In some states, 
<a href="http://reason.com/archives/2017/04/19/where-radar-cameras-fear">irate
people have got rid of robots that give out traffic tickets</a>.
<p>
Other robots that snoop on people on the street
can do much nastier things than give you a fine.


feed_id: 51fad459a0547e8bb1e82afeada72766
title: Wall Street Democrats Blaming Russia
uri: Wall-Street-Democrats-Blaming-Russia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#22_April_2017_%28Wall_Street_Democrats_Blaming_Russia%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/20/democratic-partys-anti-bernie-elites-have-huge-stake-blaming-russia">Democrats that serve Wall Street use Russia</a> as a smokescreen.


feed_id: a444219392184883129271ebaa27133a
title: Urgent: Regulation of natural gas
uri: Urgent-Regulation-of-natural-gas
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#23_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Regulation_of_natural_gas%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: phone your senators to protect the regulation to 
<a href="https://www.earthworksaction.org/action/phone/blm_cra">limit
leaking or frivolously burning natural gas</a>.
<p>
The Capitol Switchboard numbers are 202-224-3121, 888-818-6641
and 888-355-3588.


feed_id: c020dccc5228bb24a945cfc11b3d0db0
title: Hate crimes
uri: Hate-crimes
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#23_April_2017_%28Hate_crimes%29
content:
<p>
Fresno Shooting Decried as Anti-White Hate Crime, But Truth Is
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/19/fresno-shooting-hate-crime-kori-ali-muhammad">Complicated</a>.
<p>
It seems that many hate crimes are the outgrowth of "mental health
issues that were never properly treated".  Most of the culprits choose
blacks or women as victims.


feed_id: e311b1b16e0c3481e2de262c3bfb2532
title: Trump congratulates dictator
uri: Trump-congratulates-dictator
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#23_April_2017_%28Trump_congratulates_dictator%29
content:
<p>
Trump to Erdogan: 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/19/trump-erdogan-congrats-your-dictatorship">Congrats
On Your Dictatorship</a>!


feed_id: 2422da04a9e394a20292bdbad52e4600
title: Global heating will help terrorist groups
uri: Global-heating-will-help-terrorist-groups
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#23_April_2017_%28Global_heating_will_help_terrorist_groups%29

content:
<p>
Terrorist groups will 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/apr/20/climate-change-will-fuel-terrorism-recruitment-adelphi-report-says">exploit
disasters, and food and water shortages, caused by global heating</a>.
<p>
The article calls the disasters "natural", but that is incorrect.


feed_id: 1f487841066ea1606c8ac9d3c0f78cfd
title: Pentagons denies facts
uri: Pentagons-denies-facts
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#23_April_2017_%28Pentagons_denies_facts%29
content:
<p>
The Pentagon 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/04/19/u-s-bombed-mosque-syria-killing-dozens-civilians-investigators-conclude/">denies
the facts</a> in order to refuse to acknowledge that it bombed a
mosque in Syria.


feed_id: efd94db3c82edca3afb86d368ebd8e30
title: Troll's business partners in Indonesia
uri: Troll-s-business-partners-in-Indonesia
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#23_April_2017_%28Trolls_business_partners_in_Indonesia%29

content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a>'s business partners in Indonesia are 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/04/18/trumps-indonesian-allies-in-bed-with-isis-backed-militia-seeking-to-oust-elected-president/">trying
to overthrow President Widodo</a>.


feed_id: 9e2a4c600e5961b908c76a0b0a74a2b4
title: Avoiding further "wars of choice"
uri: Avoiding-further-wars-of-choice
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#23_April_2017_%28Avoiding_further_wars_of_choice%29
content:
<p>
The US 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/18/our-misguided-wars-choice">should
change its institutions to avoid further "wars of choice"</a>, since
they are likely to destroy other countries and could conceivably
destroy the US.
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a> is doing exactly what is likely to start another war in the
Middle East, exactly what will make it a disaster, and 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/18/how-lose-next-war-middle-east-short-answer-fight-it">exactly
what will make peace impossible</a>.
<p>
Is it possible that that is not a coincidence?
That some influential interests in the US desire exactly that?


feed_id: e20e0a2fbabc174886c77d025a3d101a
title: War on painkillers
uri: War-on-painkillers
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#23_April_2017_%28War_on_painkillers%29
content:
<p>
The War on Painkillers: Florida has 
<a href="http://reason.com/archives/2017/04/18/how-florida-entraps-pain-patients-forces">sentenced
thousands of old people to long prison terms</a> (basically, life in
prison) for selling a handful of painkiller pills.


feed_id: f6a81b7e470032d0ea0573f95c89f2e1
title: Thugs encourage treating public harshly
uri: Thugs-encourage-treating-public-harshly
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#23_April_2017_%28Thugs_encourage_treating_public_harshly%29

content:
<p>
When thugs lead businesses such as United Airlines to expect the their
help in confrontations with the public, they 
<a href="http://reason.com/archives/2017/04/18/united-and-the-cops-are-just-the-latest">encourage
companies to treat the public harshly</a>.
<p>
United's policy decision to order Dr Dao off the plane to make room
for a pilot was wrong, but it was the thugs that started the violence
on that day.
<p>
However, at a deeper level, it is the political influence businesses
have gained over what should be democracy is the reason that thugs are
there encouraging businesses to use thugs to intimidate the public.


feed_id: bcb675b95465199846b83292a0ddb4ec
title: Zika in Puerto Rico
uri: Zika-in-Puerto-Rico
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#23_April_2017_%28Zika_in_Puerto_Rico%29
content:
<p>
Puerto Rico is covering up the birth defects caused by Zika by
<a href="https://www.statnews.com/2017/04/18/zika-virus-puerto-rico-pregnancies/">piecemeal
denial</a>.


feed_id: 3ef44083a942fd2899769a702f3a7eda
title: Military rule in Thailand
uri: 2017-04-24-Military-rule-in-Thailand
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#23_April_2017_%28Military_rule_in_Thailand%29
content:
<p>
The military rulers of Thailand have 
<a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/04/18/thailand-junta-making-mockery-criminal-offense">declared
that mocking them is a crime</a>.
<p>
Freedom of speech includes the right to criticize, offend, insult,
even mock anyone (and any group, organization, practice or belief).
<p>
Please don't visit Thailand for tourism.


feed_id: 84585690fc923ad028ada3520fb541ef
title: Bias taken on by AIs
uri: Bias-taken-on-by-AIs
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#23_April_2017_%28Bias_taken_on_by_AIs%29
content:
<p>
AIs that work by trained neural nets, rather than full understanding,
<a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/04/princeton-scholars-figure-out-why-your-ai-is-racist/">take
on bias embodied by the connotations of words that they use</a>.
<p>
The only known way to avoid this effect is via human-level
intelligence.


feed_id: 1c64e34280f8340bbfaa66e6c364594e
title: Spyware on phones
uri: Spyware-on-phones
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#23_April_2017_%28Spyware_on_phones%29
content:
<p>
Hundreds of thousands of people have 
<a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/inside-stalkerware-surveillance-market-flexispy-retina-x">installed
spyware on the phones of other people they know</a>, to track their
movements and actions.
<p>
I think it is wrong to do this to your own children.
It is like putting them in a prison.


feed_id: 7709e3d8583d8a42cfe42c2b35bfc179
title: Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike
uri: 2017-04-24-Palestinian-prisoners-on-hunger-strike
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#23_April_2017_%28Palestinian_prisoners_on_hunger_strike%29

content:
<p>
Palestinians in prisons in Israel have started a hunger strike to
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/17/palestinian-prisoners-israel-hunger-strike">demand
that Israel allow them family visits according to its laws</a>.
<p>
Holding Palestinians from the West Bank prisoner outside the West Bank
(for instance, in Israel) 
<a href="http://www.addameer.org/publications/deportation-policy-palestinian-prisoners-detainees-israeli-detention">violates
the Geneva Conventions</a>.


feed_id: fa534f66ecaa9c2ff3a97b25a7a793b7
title: Right-wing Senator Feinstein
uri: Right-wing-Senator-Feinstein
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#23_April_2017_%28Right-wing_Senator_Feinstein%29
content:
<p>
Right-wing Democratic Senator Feinstein is meeting lots of criticism
from progressive constituents for the 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/18/waffling-single-payer-and-trump-resistance-feinstein-faces-angry-boos">floppiness
of her resistance to SCROTUS</a>.
<p>
It's true that one senator can't overcome <a href="/glossary.html#scrotus">SCROTUS</a>.  All the Democratic
senators together sometimes can't stop <a href="/glossary.html#scrotus">SCROTUS</a>.  But they can stop
<a href="/glossary.html#scrotus">SCROTUS</a> from passing legislation — and they can contribute to
the swell of opinion that will elect a progressive Congress.


feed_id: 956702fae943c969c691dbcb559491e7
title: Democratic Party centrism
uri: Democratic-Party-centrism
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#23_April_2017_%28Democratic_Party_centrism%29
content:
<p>
The Democratic Party 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/18/democratic-party-must-finally-abandon-centrism">Must
Finally Abandon Centrism</a>.
<p>
When you threaten to transfer back a substantial part of what the rich
have taken from the poor, the rich scream as if they were dying.  And
they claim that we will lose gigantic amounts of (nonexistent)
trickledown from them.
<p>
Thus, if we fail to make the rich scream, it means we are not trying
hard enough to make them share the gains with the rest of us.


feed_id: d8906d5dd7384c643f8847a9ec6c5aa0
title: Islamists in Jakarta
uri: Islamists-in-Jakarta
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#23_April_2017_%28Islamists_in_Jakarta%29
content:
<p>
Islamists in Jakarta succeeded in 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/19/divisive-campaign-for-jakarta-governor-sees-muslim-candidate-elected">stirring
up religious vote</a> to defeat the governor of Jakarta.
<p>
Even worse, they did this by accusing him of "blasphemy".  That was
unjust at two levels, since (1) it was false and (2) it is an
injustice to make that a crime at all.


feed_id: a42f6b5a7876cd07b4b88d643d7acaa1
title: Tropical diseases
uri: Tropical-diseases
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#23_April_2017_%28Tropical_diseases%29
content:
<p>
We are making 
<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/apr/19/world-health-organization-record-breaking-progress-neglected-tropical-diseases">great
progress</a> towards eliminating various tropical diseases that infect
large numbers of poor people.
<p>
Along with this, we need to make great progress in reducing the birth
rate, or we will increase other replacement afflictions.


feed_id: 341c1034adbb81a1f1f57ab0395a2503
title: Teens and Sexting
uri: Teens-and-Sexting
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#23_April_2017_%28Teens_and_Sexting%29
content:
<p>
ACLU: <a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/speak-freely/teens-who-engage-sexting-should-not-be-prosecuted-sex-offenders">Teens Who Engage in 'Sexting'</a> Should Not Be Prosecuted as Sex Offenders.


feed_id: 3d0f61904af19ba322b2de260c2e0ce7
title: Detroit Needs Affordable Water
uri: Detroit-Needs-Affordable-Water
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#23_April_2017_%28Detroit_Needs_Affordable_Water%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/04/21/detroit-needs-affordable-water-not-more-shutoffs">Detroit Needs Affordable Water, Not More Shutoffs.</a>


feed_id: 7d871460563cb40d3f19b583f5dd18a9
title: Urgent: Fair taxes for Wall Street
uri: 2017-04-24-Urgent-Fair-taxes-for-Wall-Street
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#22_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Fair_taxes_for_Wall_Street%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-the-petition-demand-wall-street-pay-its-fair-share-of-taxes">call
on Congress</a> to make Wall Street pay its fair share of taxes.


feed_id: 9f018d51136d40c37dfe625b62efe7a0
title: Renting in Sex
uri: Renting-in-Sex
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#24_April_2017_%28Renting_in_Sex%29
content:
<p>
One effect of expensive rents is that people are <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/19/sex-rent-logical-extension-leaving-housing-to-market">invited to pay the
rent in sex.</a>
<p>
Agreeing to sex as rent is a solution for one person, in the sense
that person obtains lodgings for less money.  However, when you
look at society as a whole, this doesn't make the situation any better.
If X obtains lodging this way, some Y becomes homeless.
<p>
To improve the housing situation for everyone in the short term, we
need either rent control or a lot of new housing construction.  A lot
of new housing construction will drive rents down while making space
for more people.  Rent control won't increase the amount of space
available, but it will enable all the renters to get food as well as
housing.
<p>
In the long term, <a href="/articles/children.html">having fewer children</a> will help tremendously.


feed_id: 3a7fe86ad758e786872915590fb11900
title: Israel Disallows Kemal Hawwash To Visit Relatives
uri: Israel-Disallows-Kemal-Hawwash-To-Visit-Relatives
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#24_April_2017_%28Israel_Disallows_Kemal_Hawwash_To_Visit_Relatives%29

content:
<p>
Because Kemal Hawwash has endorsed a boycott of Israeli products,
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/british-professor-kamel-hawwash-palestinian-citizen-israel-ban-entry-anti-bds-law-see-family-easter-a7682471.html">Israel will never again allow him to visit his relatives in Palestine</a>.
<p>
The Palestinian campaign for BDS is a nonviolent, political response
to the violence of the occupation.  Israel's refusal to let its
supporters visit Palestine, just like its refusal to let them visit
Israel, is a violation of their human rights.


feed_id: 7bbe70e1c2a3280bf3758015e5c07338
title: Israel Trial of Palestinian Poet Dareen Tatour
uri: Israel-Trial-of-Palestinian-Poet-Dareen-Tatour
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#24_April_2017_%28Israel_Trial_of_Palestinian_Poet_Dareen_Tatour%29

content:
<p>
The absurd <a href="http://mondoweiss.net/2017/04/furious-palestinian-prosecution/#sthash.RM51wrsu.dpuf">trial of Palestinian poet Dareen Tatour</a>.
<p>
Arabs in Israel are prosecuted for "incitement" under very loose criteria,
while Israelis are never prosecuted, not even for specific death threats.


feed_id: a308ab9df0911e49ae27e8c24a894cbf
title: Old Diet Reanalysis
uri: Old-Diet-Reanalysis
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#24_April_2017_%28Old_Diet_Reanalysis%29
content:
<p>
Reanalysis of <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/records-found-in-dusty-basement-undermine-decades-of-dietary-advice/">old diet studies</a> casts doubt on the idea that saturated fats
lead to heart disease.
<p>
This supports the idea that the cause of the increase in heart disease is sugar.


feed_id: 45a7aeabc3f82eaf1a60428977b2e166
title: France and Globalization
uri: France-and-Globalization
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#24_April_2017_%28France_and_Globalization%29
content:
<p>
A pundit says that the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/23/populism-france-left-right-elections">new political division in France</a> is "for
globalization" or "against globalization".
<p>
I think the crucial point is not to allow globalization to occur in a way
that gives business more power over states and people's.  That's the kind of
globalization we have had.


feed_id: e6b8bb6fdbd02deafc4c1f41be3c261f
title: US Banking Sactions Against Iran
uri: US-Banking-Sactions-Against-Iran
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#24_April_2017_%28US_Banking_Sactions_Against_Iran%29

content:
<p>
US banking sanctions against Iran, which were never entirely lifted,
are causing <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/iran-blog/2017/apr/21/law-firm-reports-surge-in-iranians-uk-bank-accounts-being-closed-sanctions-iran-nuclear-deal-trump">UK banks to close the bank accounts of Iranian students in
the UK</a>, putting them in financial trouble.


feed_id: db398dd9af6ac8eddfd237d73867f148
title: PAT RIOT Act
uri: 2017-04-24-PAT-RIOT-Act
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#24_April_2017_%28PAT_RIOT_Act%29
content:
<p>
ACLU: the PAT RIOT Act was designed to <a href="https://www.aclu.org/blog/speak-freely/time-reform-debate-new-documents-shed-light-governments-surveillance-americans">vacuum up Americans' communications</a>
so the FBI can find them and read them.
<p>
Then the government pretends that only foreign terrorists are being searched.


feed_id: 1dd1ef4ae9494232cbe59a730e90f553
title: Apple Forbids Recyclers From Extracting
uri: Apple-Forbids-Recyclers-From-Extracting
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#24_April_2017_%28Apple_Forbids_Recyclers_From_Extracting%29

content:
<p>
<a href="https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/apple-recycling-iphones-macbooks">Apple forbids recyclers of Apple computers</a> from extracting any
usable spare parts from them, by imposing nasty contracts.
<p>
Apple's conduct should be forbidden by law so that no company can ever do this.


feed_id: a03b4775026aff5032a8ddece59165d4
title: Urgent: Stop glorification of war
uri: Urgent-Stop-glorification-of-war
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#25_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_glorification_of_war%29

content:
<p>
Everyone: 
<a href="https://act.credoaction.com/sign/stop_glorifying_war">call on
the US media</a> to stop glorifying war and weapons.


feed_id: eab778e45f945eb15887b2bdc2f500c7
title: Urgent: Oppose "right to work" bill
uri: Urgent-Oppose-right-to-work-bill
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#25_April_2017_%28Urgent%3A_Oppose_right_to_work_bill%29

content:
<p>
US citizens: 
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/stop-national-right-to">oppose
the misnamed "right to work" bill</a>, intended weaken unions and pave
the way for cuts in wages and workers' benefits.


feed_id: f63a07ac078f66c2f89b3a23a60561b8
title: Student loans
uri: Student-loans
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#25_April_2017_%28Student_loans%29
content:
<p>
44 million Americans have student loans, and 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/20/congrats-graduates-heres-your-diploma-and-debt">almost
half have fallen behind on payments</a>.
<p>
One way to fix this problem is to allow people to get rid of those
debts through bankruptcy — an option that Republicans eliminated
around 15 years ago.


feed_id: 7d141540b82900bf904c9cdebae6e721
title: EPA
uri: 2017-04-25-EPA
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#25_April_2017_%28EPA%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#saboteur">Saboteur</a> Pruit has 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/4/20/1654631/-Pruitt-EPA-prepares-to-shred-a-second-round-of-scientific-studies-to-please-chemical-companies">turned
the EPA into the Environmental Persecution Agency</a>.


feed_id: 5cc9528aedab7f81ba7f681cca1debc5
title: Mississippi swindles single mother
uri: Mississippi-swindles-single-mother
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#25_April_2017_%28Mississippi_swindles_single_mother%29

content:
<p>
Welfare for a single mother in Mississippi is a swindle: 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/4/19/1654417/-What-life-is-like-on-welfare">get
$200 of aid, and pay back $2500 a few years later if the father
doesn't pay for it</a>.  The slide into the trap is made smooth with
lies.
<p>
Part of the state's job is to help people avoid the situation of
having a baby and no money for food.  The first step is to teach
everyone what that is like, and offer reliable birth control to all.


feed_id: 3175b6c3e2c1aa72ae256c0e62d45d7d
title: Sleazy Republican businessman
uri: Sleazy-Republican-businessman
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#25_April_2017_%28Sleazy_Republican_businessman%29
content:
<p>
A Republican businessman was so sleazy that he 
<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/4/18/1654052/-A-chief-RNC-digital-strategist-s-1-million-racket-direct-all-party-business-to-your-own-company">squeezed
money out of the Republican party</a>.


feed_id: 956f2295c62a4f44d75a2219550ee434
title: Troll's "Buy American" policy
uri: Troll-s-Buy-American-policy
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#25_April_2017_%28Trolls_Buy_American_policy%29
content:
<p>
<a href="/glossary.html#trump">The troll</a>'s "Buy American" policy has 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/20/donald-trumps-buy-american-initiative-lie">loopholes
to protect Wall Street's profits</a> from manufacturing in other
countries.


feed_id: 37d91e0bac5123bde5d450e4a56b963a
title: Ignorance and craving combined
uri: Ignorance-and-craving-combined
url: https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#25_April_2017_%28Ignorance_and_craving_combined%29
content:
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/views/2017/04/20/peoples-climate-changing-directions-its-too-late">Bhikkhu
Bodhi</a>: in Buddhist terms, global heating denial shows the combined
effect of ignorance and craving.


feed_id: b57ed2fc06e7fc1cb616b35216753259
title: Republican plan to cut off medical coverage
uri: Republican-plan-to-cut-off-medical-coverage
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#25_April_2017_%28Republican_plan_to_cut_off_medical_coverage%29

content:
<p>
Two groups of Republicans have agreed on a compromise plan for how to
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/20/trumpcare-30-gops-zombie-healthcare-plan-keeps-getting-worse">cut
off medical coverage for millions of Americans</a>.


feed_id: f08fd9327879388045ec438af12ce931
title: Snooping on Bose headphone users
uri: Snooping-on-Bose-headphone-users
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#25_April_2017_%28Snooping_on_Bose_headphone_users%29

content:
<p>
Users are suing Bose for distributing an app, to set parameters in its
headphones, which also 
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/04/19/bose-headphones-have-been-spying-on-their-customers-lawsuit-claims/">snooped
on the users' activities</a>.
<p>
The suit accuses that this was done without the users' consent.  If
the fine print of the app said that users gave consent for this, would
that make it acceptable?  No way!  It 
<a href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html">should
be flat-out illegal to design the app to snoop at all</a>.


feed_id: 632a208ea6edd67ff6f5e74ec9403aa1
title: Dow Chemical lobbying to discard study
uri: Dow-Chemical-lobbying-to-discard-study
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#25_April_2017_%28Dow_Chemical_lobbying_to_discard_study%29

content:
<p>
Dow Chemical is lobbying the US government to discard
<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/buzzflash/commentary/dow-chemical-pushes-trump-administration-to-scrap-pesticide-study">its
own study</a> which showed certain pesticides endanger wildlife.
<p>
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2017/04/20/dow-pressures-trump-administration-abandon-work-protect-endangered-species">More
info</a>.


feed_id: 39f2612cf81da7f0d534f2b4f920bf1a
title: Tax money spent on dirty nuclear plants
uri: Tax-money-spent-on-dirty-nuclear-plants
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#25_April_2017_%28Tax_money_spent_on_dirty_nuclear_plants%29

content:
<p>
Nuclear power companies are 
<a href="http://www.truth-out.org/buzzflash/commentary/nuclear-power-bums-bailouts-and-bankruptcy">making
taxpayers pay to keep dirty nuclear plants running</a>.
<p>
The longer a nuclear power plant keeps running, the more dangerous it
gets.  The environment inside the reactor is corrosive; things change
their shape and move, and it is hard to tell what's going on inside.
Instead of paying extra to keep these plants running, we pay to build
storage and renewable energy capacity.


feed_id: 0b18bfa4065e10c974eaa4d29e948110
title: Use of donations for troll's inauguration
uri: Use-of-donations-for-troll-s-inauguration
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#25_April_2017_%28Use_of_donations_for_trolls_inauguration%29

content:
<p>
Companies used donations for the troll's inauguration 
<a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/04/20/trump-inauguration-bankrolled-firms-seeking-government-favor">as
a way to obtain changes in laws and regulations</a>.
<p>
Gordon Sondland wanted to donate a million dollars to the troll's
inauguration, but when people saw his name on the donor list, he said
he had changed his mind for ethical reasons.  But actually he
funnelled the money through 
<a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/04/21/portland-executive-covertly-donates-1-million-to-inauguration-after-being-shamed-over-trump-support/">four
front corporations</a>.


feed_id: df59d65579884ac49682c6c4c14e4441
title: Illegal thug infiltration of protests
uri: Illegal-thug-infiltration-of-protests
url:
https://stallman.org/archives/2017-jan-apr.html#25_April_2017_%28Illegal_thug_infiltration_of_protests%29

content:
<p>
Washington DC thugs 
<a href="https://rightsanddissent.org/news/spite-local-law-limiting-investigations-first-amendment-assemblies-dc-police-infiltrated-anti-trump-activist-group/">illegally
infiltrated inauguration protests</a>.


