Because a better USA is possible, some people challenge a culture in which we know the price of everything and the value of nothing.—-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_geJUxfRsBY     –Dec 8, 2022 In this week’s Riverwatch the DRBC approves regulations covering the import of frack waste water and the export of water for drilling despite the concerns of environmental groups and residents, construction of a pipeline replacement project under the Delaware River continues and neighbors living near a planned hotel raise concerns.

–end of riverwatch info–

From lakotalaw—-We write together to you today as unci and takoja (grandmother and granddaughter) because though the topic is difficult, we hope the bond we share illustrates the difference it makes for Native children when they’re raised by their relatives. DeCora’s journey, from childhood under her grandmother’s roof to becoming an organizer for Native justice just like her unci, shows why it’s best for Native children to gain understanding of their own cultures and communities in the homes of their kin. But let’s be 100 percent clear that there can be another outcome entirely when that doesn’t happen. 

Before we go further, please be warned that we will be discussing a case involving the sexual abuse of an adopted Native child. We take no pleasure in talking about this, but it is important that we do. If nobody addresses the dark things — if we don’t shed light on them — then they’ll just keep happening. We understand this is painful to hear about. We also know, from listening to relatives with similar stories, that it is even more painful to live through.

In early November, South Dakota Assistant Attorney General Mandy Miller filed charges including rape, aggravated incest, and sexual contact with a child under sixteen against Joel Koskan, a candidate for South Dakota State Senate. Because victims are and should be protected, we don’t know her identity, but reports say she’s an enrolled member of a South Dakota tribe. 

We all know that South Dakota routinely fails to adhere to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), and its Department of Social Services is financially incentivized to place Native children with non-Native families. Following the decades-old blueprint that began with Indian boarding schools, the State has continued the theft of our young ones, who continue to endure the erasure of our culture from their lives and suffer through abuse and neglect.

The details of the allegations against Koskan are too disturbing to repeat. We recommend reading this article by Native reporter Darren Thompson if you’d prefer to get the full scope of the charges. In the end, there can be no consolation when considering the devastation of a child, and we pray for her healing. One saving grace: Because of the incredible bravery it took to speak out and expose Koskan’s predatory behavior, he subsequently lost his State Senate race to his opponent, Shawn Bordeaux — an enrolled member of the Rosebud Nation.

Know that your friendship with Lakota Law helps to change the game. It empowers us to fight for ICWA in the courts and amplify these issues in the press, like when we worked with NPR journalist Laura Sullivan on the report linked above. And it’s putting the two of us in position, along with our Wasagiya Najin grandmothers’ group at the Cheyenne River Nation, to create a tribally-run child welfare department (or, as we call it, a family restoration department). It’s going to take continued dedication from all of us to properly protect our children. Please stay by our side and keep our young ones in your hearts.

Wopila tanka — our deep thanks for your love and friendship.
Madonna Thunder Hawk, Cheyenne River Organizer
DeCora Hawk, Field Organizer

The Lakota People’s Law Project—-end of lakotalaw info–

All that glitters isn’t gold—-https://mronline.org/2022/12/08/hakeem-jeffries-and-the-railroad-workers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hakeem-jeffries-and-the-railroad-workers&mc_cid=03331880c0&mc_eid=2833cdb99b   —

The Black Agenda Report team is proud to have coined the phrases “Black misleadership class” and “Black political class.” These words cannot be uttered and written too often because they name and shame the people who work alongside the neoliberal and imperialist order in the United States while also pretending to act on behalf of Black people, whose needs are antithetical to those of the oligarchy.

Nancy Pelosi’s time was up. A new face was needed, a younger face, and yes a Black one from a big city. Who better to give the impression that change was afoot when it actually wasn’t. Jeffries will be ready the next time his services are needed to crush workers or do something else that the ruling class requires of him. The Black first is all too often a person who is co-opted or who is simply ambitious and knows how to play the game.–end of mronlne info–

From organicconsumers  –https://www.organicconsumers.org/bytes/revitalizing-organics-health?utm_medium=email&utm_source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=OB+785+Thursday+Send&utm_content=OB+785+Thursday+Send  —

–end of organicconsumers info–

From russellbrand  —  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuM6vMQY1L8                     —

They Created “75% of All Chronic Disease” | Vandana Shiva On Big Food

–end of russellbrand info–

****As one who would be perfectly contented to retain the Senate if they adhered to Oaths of Office more than to Citizens United campaign donations, one is interested in a topic raised as to the reason we maintain the US Senate—-

 This is a reminder of how much we don’t know.  This brings one around to Howie Hawkins, who continues to impress with original thought.  We also could acknowledge Hawkins often speaks to censored information.
One such topic about which one would never have even considered, is whether the USA needs The Senate.  Apparently The Senate is little other than expensive window dressing, promoting hierarchical interests, and too often placed in positions of power by big-money via Citizens United.  But the public gets to fund this curiosity of pompous supremacy.  Who knew?
The Democratic Branch of the Republican/Democratic Duopoly are especially functional in voter suppression—–https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNbdkuU1edw          —#GreenSocialist Notes #76
Howie Hawkins brings up the concept of whether the USA needs the Senate.  Apparently according to some people, the Senate isn’t necessary.  This brings up the blockage from the Senate of many bills that would benefit We The People.  Combined with Citizens United that promotes big-money interest choice of Senators, in which laws are passed that benefit big-money interest rather than We The People, and that We The People support economically, the members of the Senate, this seems a good topic for discussion.
The US Constitution doesn’t seem to sanction elections run by political Parties, and to permit control of political debates by political Parties seems equally corrupt.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ7kn2-GEmM       —

Ross Perot in 1992 on NAFTA and the “Giant Sucking Sound”

Centralization is the lifeblood of the R&D duopoly.  It’s the way to enforce capitalism onto workers in 2022.———————–We can do better———-

That “we are a 2-Party system” is a fabrication of the Republican/Democratic duopoly and spread by MSM.  In FACT the majority of voters aren’t either registered Democratic or Republican.  The censorship about this info must be envied by bureaucrats of the Former USSR and their simplistic style of 1-Party elections.  

Regardless of which character sits in the Oval Office, We The People have work to do to maintain principles of our democratic (small d) Constitutional republic.  Several items to challenge—*We need the integrity of ranked-choice voting so voters won’t feel compelled to “hold your nose and vote”*Censored debates must be stopped.  The Democratic/Republican duopoly pretends to legitimate debates in what is nothing other than another campaign show.  Independent debates run by uninterested sponsors such as The League of Women Voters, must be restored.  (Access www.debates.org to understand the extent of duopoly control).  The so-called Debate Commission is a corporation to promote the Democratic corporation and Republican corporation, not to inform We The People*Challenge and stop gerrymandering that is a trick especially of the Republican branch of the duopoly.*Stop voter suppression by political Parties, and especially confront and stop Party suppression, which is the over-arching approach to voter suppression.  Party suppression seems to have been the responsibility of the Democratic corporation*Promote by law ranked-choice voting, so we won’t be told again, by D&R duopoly, to “hold your nose and vote”
If these issues are handled, our next elections can be honorable. 
*******************************************************************https://news.gallup.com/poll/15370/party-affiliation.aspx—-Political Party affiliation of voters.
    https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/league-refuses-help-perpetrate-fraud–LEAGUE REFUSES TO “HELP PERPETRATE A FRAUD”

WITHDRAWS SUPPORT FROM FINAL PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE–end of lwv info–Murray Bookchin, who founded social ecology, a theory that strongly influenced early Green Socialist thought, strongly advocated the discussion and study group as the first step of any revolutionary movement. A group of individuals meets to expand their knowledge of radical thought and form a radical intellectual community; through the give and take of discussion, can eventually form ideas for next steps in organizing and political activity. According to Bookchin, study groups help create solidarity and a shared language — with a shared coherent vision — for building a mass, organizing, political movement!