C-Span is a resource that is as good as it gets on the topic of transparency.  Without information a democracy doesn’t function.  And by the way, as heard on a Bill Moyers Show, government don’t do democracy, people do.  

The preliminary call-in topic was whether income taxes are fairly shared.

A caller mentioned that considerations of voters doesn’t matter because lobbyists influence lawmakers (possibly based upon big-money interest campaign donations?).  The caller reminded that We The People have a bi-partisan (We The People are separate from the D&R duopoly) consensus on, for example, outlawing of assault rifles and support of reproductive freedom.  As we “run government like a business”, democratic (small d) consensus of We The People is irrelevant in the face of big-money interest influence upon lawmakers.

Another topic highlighted on C-Span was about electric vehicles.  This timely topic is fascinating and probably at this point raises more questions than answers.  A personal view on the topic of technology is that it is desirable as long as it serves humanity rather than becoming the master of humanity.  The place in the middle seems to be marketing and exploitation.  The place in the middle, the diversion one might say, is corruption.

For example, we could question whether simple transportation doesn’t better serve the needs of the most people when it is less delicate and computerized.  Is transportation durable in, for example, Upstate NY winters, when it is similar to driving around in a glorified cell phone?  Does it adequately hold up to the elements?  Jeff Gilbert mentioned more than once that gas-powered vehicles also catch on fire as an answer to a supposed characteristic in EV’s.  As one who has owned and operated gas-powered vehicles for over 50 ears, one suspects this is an overstatement.  It isn’t helpful for proponents of EV’s to be unrealistic about them.  

In-home charging abilities also seem crucial and desirable.  The cost is probably prohibitive for most people, especially for the general public who wish vehicles as simple and reliable transportation rather than an ego trip.

9:15AM–C-Span–caller–paraphrase–EV’s burst into flame if the battery gets wet.  (One’s gas-powered vehicle all ready shows signs of delicacy due to computer components on Upstate NY back roads.  Wetness is just part of the game, generally speaking.This feels like another tactic by industry of gathering enhanced profits and circling liability back onto the consumer when a battery gets wet, which it is bound to do eventually, and industry tells consumer, well, we told you so.  If government wasn’t “run like a business”, consumer protection would be a thing.)

Jeff Gilbert continued to repeat the safety of EVs “if used correctly”.  This could be an industrial set-up, also known as marketing.  Another industry ‘scuse is “accidents will happen”.https://www.c-span.org/video/?527289-4/washington-journal-jeff-gilbert-discusses-proposed-emissions-limit-electric-vehicle-sales  –APRIL 18, 2023  | PART OF WASHINGTON JOURNAL 04/18/2023

Washington Journal

Jeff Gilbert on Proposed Emissions Limit and Electric Vehicle Sales

Jeffery Gilbert talked about the Biden administration’s proposed emissions limit and push to increase electric vehicle sales.–end of c-span info–

As an environmentalists I’m in support of EV’s, but not as a tool of exploitation of consumers by industry.  One’s home is small, well insulated and heated with heat pumps.  The first heat pump didn’t work efficiently, but the newer model is working well.  Technology often becomes more efficient and less expense over time.  One hopes the same is true of EV’s.

C-Span–10:00AM–Marcy Kaptor, D-Ohio–gave an impassioned description of corruption and public-office bribery in the nuclear industry in her region, complicated with dangerous conditions to the public and outages.  

Outages seem to be a liability imposed upon the public by industry.  In the face of industry objection to ubiquitous solar powered systems, the current system surely isn’t an answer.  So what specifically is the objection by industry to ubiquitous solar systems?

Ubiquitous solar systems, it seems, could be local without need for widespread grid inclusion.  This is a protection from outages due to weather, accident, or terrorism.  Local systems could employ and be maintained by local workers.  This is good for the local economy.  

MSM news is awash with stories of a WSJ reporter being held in Russia.  This is not desirable, but isn’t limited to Russia.  To highlight this story while ignoring the story of the prosecution of Julian Assange seems wrong.  Especially remembering NATO is accusing Putin of war crimes, which may surely be FACTual when we remember “war crimes” is an oxymoron; but MSM forgets the charge against Assange is due to reporting about US war crimes.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/jun/15/julian-assange-indictment-fails-to-mention-wikileaks-video-that-exposed-us-war-crimes-in-iraq        —

‘Shameful’ Collateral Murder footage shows Apache helicopter mowing down 11 civilians – including two Reuters journalists – in Baghdad

–end of theguardian info–

From popularresistance  –https://popularresistance.org/breaking-seven-members-of-congress-take-a-stand-for-assange/   —

This letter is a long time coming. Standing up for Julian Assange demands political courage, which is too often in short supply in Washington DC. Defending Rights & Dissent relentlessly pushed members of Congress to lead the letter. Thanks in part to our efforts, seven members of Congress – Reps. Tlaib, Omar, Bowman, Bush, Casar, Ocasio-Cortez, and Pressley – have at long last joined the scores of international parliamentarians and foreign leaders calling for Assange’s release.–end of popularresistance info–

https://popularresistance.org/iccs-putin-arrest-warrant-based-on-state-dept-funded-report/              —

The ICC prosecutor appeared to have based his arrest warrant on research produced by Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL). Yale HRL’s work was funded and guided by the State Department’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, an entity the Biden administration established in May 2022 to advance the prosecution of Russian officials.

When I, Jeremy Loffredo, visited a youth music camp in Russia in November 2022, I was unaware that the US government would soon exploit altruistic programs such as the one I witnessed to advance political warfare.–end of popularresistance info–

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAhMTzrd3Uc     —

“You Just Lied!” Elon’s Rant & Pentagon Papers BOMBSHELL #109 Stay Free With Russell Brand PREVIEW

–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!