Daily News Digest June 17, 2024
Images of the Day:
Bedib: America Is Back!
Since World War I, ‘the war to end all wars’, there have been perpetual wars for perpetual peace, this Laura Gray’s cartoon from the front page of The Militant August 18, 1945, Under the Banner Headline: “There Is No Peace”
The Rise of Capitalism was Under the Banner of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity! Now There is Less Liberty, More Inequality, and Less Fraternity of Humanity! Every Day, From Global Warming to Global War There is a New Example of Capitalism in Imperialist Decay!
Capitalism as a Failed System: World Capitalism Has Been Aware of the Comming Catastrophe of Global Warming Over 6 Decades Ago and Did Nothing!: Under Capitalism — Human Lives Don’t Matter Capitalism Does Not, and Never Has, Worked for the Masses! In Its Death Agony, Capitalism Is Traveling About The World Like The Five Horsemen of the the Apocalypse, Spreading Racism, War, Famine, Pestilence, Death, and Misinformation! The very future of Humanity Is Now At stake!
During This Economic Crisis, Capitalism’s Three-Point Political Program: Austerity, Scapegoat Blacks, Minorities, and ‘Illegal’ Immigrants for Unemployment, and The Iron Heel! For Decades, Blacks Have Been Subjected to The Iron Heel! Currently, the US Capitalist Class is Divided Over When — Not If, to Apply It to Everyone! Globaly, With the Current Gaza War, The Right of Assembly is Under Attack! Due to Years of Austerity, Cuts to Public Health Care, And An Anti-Science and Profiteering President, The United States Still Leads the World In Coronavirus Cases and Deaths in the World!
The Majority of the World, Despite the Media Monopoly’s Lies, are Opposed to the Palestinian Genocide and Global Warming — The 1% Minority Funds Them! At, this Time in History, Capitalism is Exposing the Fact That it is Opposed to Majority Rule/Democracy!
Always Remember: That President Obama, With a Majority Democrat Legislature Supported the Wall Street Bailout and Remember, That he Established, in writing, the United States Capitalist Austerity Program. — The Race to the Bottom/Pauperization of the 99%!
Democracy?: As the Capitalist Robber Barons Steal from the 99%, Only the 1% Voted For Austerity! The 99% Should Decide On Austerity — Not Just The 1%, Who Profit From Austerity!! Under Austerity, All of the World Will Eventually Be Pauperized, Humbled, and Desecrated Like Greece and Puerto Rico.! Socialism Means True Democracy, that the 99% Will Rule, Not the Few!
Quotes of the Day:
The hefty death toll of Palestinian civilians in the Nuseirat operation was of lesser concern to President Joe Biden than the welfare of Israeli hostages. Speaking in Paris, Biden welcomed “the safe rescue of four hostages that were returned to their families in Israel. We won’t stop working until all the hostages come home and a ceasefire is reached.” The sanguinary episode at Nuseirat is hard to stomach, even by Biden’s rubbery standards. It stands to reason. The entire operation had the buttressing of what the New York Times reported to be “intelligence and other logistical support” from the United States. Two Israeli intelligence officials also confirmed that “American military officials in Israel provided some of the intelligence about the hostages rescued Saturday.” And let us not forget murderous military hardware, readily supplied from US defense companies. It follows that the lives of Israeli hostages, dubbed “diamonds” by their rescuers, are invaluable, the precious stones of Israeli-US policy. The Palestinians, on the other hand, are mere coal dust. — Diamonds and Cold Dust: Slaughter at Nuseirat
The expression military–industrial complex (MIC) describes the relationship between a country’s military and the defense industry that supplies it, seen together as a vested interest which influences public policy.[1][2][3][4] A driving factor behind the relationship between the military and the defense-minded corporations is that both sides benefit—one side from obtaining weapons, and the other from being paid to supply them.[5] The term is most often used in reference to the system behind the armed forces of the United States, where the relationship is most prevalent due to close links among defense contractors, the Pentagon, and politicians.[6][7] The expression gained popularity after a warning of the relationship’s detrimental effects, in the farewell address of U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower on January 17, 1961.[8][9] In the context of the United States, the appellation is sometimes extended to military–industrial–congressional complex (MICC), adding the U.S. Congress to form a three-sided relationship termed an “iron triangle“.[10] Its three legs include political contributions, political approval for military spending, lobbying to support bureaucracies, and oversight of the industry; or more broadly, the entire network of contracts and flows of money and resources among individuals as well as corporations and institutions of the defense contractors, private military contractors, the Pentagon, Congress, and the executive branch.[11] — Military–Industrial Complex
Podcasts/Videos of the Day:
Cornel West Interview: Lauren Jauregui (formally of the group, Fifth Harmony) and Dr. Cornel West, highlighting the urgent need for a new progressive leader in America. This engaging discussion emphasizes the critical issues facing our nation and the unique solutions Dr. West brings to the table. Key Points from the Conversation:
- Beyond the Duopoly: Lauren Jauregui discusses the limited media coverage of third-party candidates and the necessity of exploring options beyond the Republican and Democrat duopoly. She highlights the need for a leader who truly represents the people, not corporate interests.
- Historical Struggle for Justice: Dr. West reflects on the historical and ongoing struggle for justice, emphasizing the importance of moral consistency and advocating for equality across all demographics, including race, gender, and sexual orientation.
- Grassroots Movement: Dr. West stresses the significance of grassroots organizing and the power of collective action. He calls for a movement that prioritizes the needs of the marginalized and oppressed, challenging the status quo and envisioning a more just society.
“I Ain’t Reading All That; Free Palestine”
Supreme Court Protects Access to Mifepristone, But War on Abortion Rights Continues to Escalate
United States:
The United States is not a Democracy (A government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly)! Only the 1%, through their ownership of the Republicrats and who profit from war and the war budget, vote for War and the war budget — A policy, which Gore Vidal called a Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace. — The 99% Should Decide On War — Not Just The 1% Who Profit From War! Under a Democracy, The 99% would have the right to vote on the policy of Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace! The United States takes from the poor and gives to the Rich. Tax the Rich! — They Can Afford ford To Pay! Both Parties Support U.S. Capitalism’s Wars! (The Only War the Democrats Opposed was the Civil War!)
We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the hands of a few, but we can’t have both. — Louis D. Brandeis Quotes
Gluttony is a Sin, But Religious Bigots Never Condemn the Gluttony of the Rich!: Billionaires’ Ball: Gluttony and Hubris in an Age of Epic A society top-heavy with billionaires may seem like a paradise of upward mobility, but it actually more closely resembles a boneyard of broken dreams for all but a lucky few. Between 1980 and 2008, the incomes of the bottom 90 percent of Americans grew by a meager 1 percent compared to a whopping 403 percent for the top .01 percent. We tend to regard these large fortunes as proof of a meritocracy, yet there is no evidence that members of today’s super-rich are any more talented or hardworking than were the elite of a generation ago. Via vivid profiles of billionaires—ranging from philanthropic capitalist Bill Gates and the infamous Koch brothers to brazen private equity baron Stephen Schwarzman—Billionaires’ Ball debunks the notion that they “deserve” their grand fortunes, when such wealth is really a by-product of a legal and economic system that’s become deeply flawed and is now threatening the quality of life and very functioning of our democracy.
‘We Need Medicare for All Yesterday’: US Healthcare Spending to Hit $7.7 Trillion “The jaw-dropping figures,” said one advocate, “highlight the need to move to Medicare for All immediately.” A federal analysis released this week projects that U.S. healthcare spending is set to rise to $7.7 trillion by 2032 and account for nearly 20% of the nation’s economy, findings that single-payer advocates described as yet another indictment of the country’s for-profit system and further evidence of the need for Medicare for All.
The Billionaires’ Robber Baron Government: ‘Resign Immediately’: Clarence Thomas Took Even More Secret Trips on Billionaire’s Jet “The next trip Justice Thomas takes should be into retirement. Resign,” wrote one Democratic lawmaker. The Senate Judiciary Committee revealed Thursday that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas took at least three additional undisclosed trips on a private jet owned by Texas billionaire Harlan Crow, a finding that prompted yet another round of calls for the right-wing judge to step down. New details of Thomas’ luxury travel emerged from negotiations between the Senate committee—which authorized a subpoena for Crow last year—and the billionaire’s attorneys.
In the Wanton Disregard for Human Life —The United States’ Military Industrial Complex Leads the Way! — The Priorities of Capitalism!: ‘Scandalous’: G7 Nations Spend 62 Times More on Military Than Humanitarian Aid “Too many governments are putting far more resources towards acquiring weapons of war than helping those suffering the deadly impacts of conflict.” “More must be invested in eradicating poverty and fostering peace and development, not fueling war and destruction,” said one campaigner. Despite historic levels of forced displacement due to armed conflict, Group of Seven member countries have increased their military expenditures to record highs while they slash spending on humanitarian aid for people affected by wars that these powerful nations often started or stoked, an analysis published Friday revealed.
There’s Never a Debt Ceiling for the Military-Industrial Complex! While the Biden-McCarthy deal denies food to hungry people, it increases Pentagon spending by tens of billions. Regardless of what Americans on the left or the right may think about the debt ceiling agreement reached over the Memorial Day weekend by President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) there can be no serious debate about the fact that the deal provides a good sense of what is on and off the table when it comes to budget priorities. Denying food to hungry people? Yes, that’s on the table. Despite the fact that the Food Research & Action Center says that “the expansion of cruel, harsh, and arbitrary time limits on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for older unemployed and underemployed adults struggling in the labor market will only deepen hunger and poverty,” Democratic and Republican leaders agreed to a plan that limits access to nutrition programs.
Behold The World Gently Listen to a reading of this article (reading by Tim Foley): The dead children don’t affect me like they used to. The images. The videos. They still disturb and horrify, but not like they did in the beginning. Not anywhere close. And, honestly, I hate it. I hate that that part of me has been stolen.
U.S. Funded Palestinian Genocide:
Israel is Using United States Nuclear Warfare!: Ban On Weapons Containing Depleted Uranium
Question for written answer E-003483-15
to the Council Rule 130. Miguel Viegas (GUE/NGL)
There is now enough convincing data to prove that Israel has criminally used depleted uranium weaponry, particularly in the Gaza Strip in August 2014. Israel acquired more than 1 000 GBU-39 (‘Guided Bombs with Uranium’) bombs in the United States of America shortly before Operation ‘Cast Lead’, as well as DIME ammunition (‘Dense Inert Uranium Explosive’). Depleted uranium is a lethal poison. When these bombs explode (used prolifically to penetrate Hamas bunkers), the uranium catches fire and the ashes spread for miles around, poisoning the population (including the Israeli army). I ask the Council, whether or not, it is willing to move towards a process to ban the use of weapons containing depleted uranium, thereby following resolutions adopted in the past by the European Parliament.
Israel Used US Bombs in May Attack on “Safe Zone” in Rafah That Killed 45 The Boeing-made bombs were dropped on a camp specifically built for displaced . Israel used U.S.-made bombs in a brutal attack on a displacement camp in Rafah that killed 45 Palestinians in May, a new investigation reveals. According to The New York Times, on May 26, Israel deployed two 250-pound bombs — Boeing’s GBU-39 “small diameter” bombs that caused a blast that could kill and injure in a 570 foot radius — on sheds built for residential purposes in Kuwaiti Al-Salam Camp 1. There were roughly 60 camps within 500 feet of the blast, according to the investigation.
Palestinians Ask Federal Court to Rule Biden Is Complicit in Israeli Genocide “Genocide can never be a legitimate foreign policy choice,” plaintiffs argue in case against Biden, Blinken and Austin. Alawsuit accusing U.S. President Joe Biden and some of his top officials of complicity in genocide had its latest hearing this week after being dismissed earlier in the year. On June 10, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco heard arguments in the plaintiffs’ appeal in Defense for Children International – Palestine v. Biden. The lawsuit was filed on November 13, 2023, by the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) on behalf of Palestinian human rights organizations Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P) and Al-Haq, as well as three Palestinian individuals who live in Gaza and five Palestinian Americans who have family in Gaza.
Environment:
Fund Climate! — Not Genocide! One of Many Ways to Begin to End Global Warming: Expose ‘Greenwashing’ — Tax the Polluters 100%! After World War II Rosa Luxenburg Coined the Slogan: ‘S0cialism or Barbaism’! Now the Slogan Should Be: ‘Ecosocialism or Ecocide’!
Capitalism’s Wars for Oil: When Bodies Start Stacking Up From Climate Change-Related Disasters, Will These Monsters be Held to Account?
A National Chainsaw Epidemic A national chainsaw epidemic exists in America’s woodlands. A recent article in the New York Times titled “Plans for an Ailing Forest Include Logging” exemplifies this trend. In the article, officials in Oregon say that we must cut down the forests—including green trees to arrest the forest health crisis. Conveniently, precisely what constitutes a forest “health” crisis is defined by the timber industry, forestry schools and public management agencies like the Forest Service and BLM.
Chomsky & UN Forewarnings Revisited I recently attended a family affair in Upstate NY and was informed that climate change articles, like this one, are too negative, causing close relatives to shutdown and going so far as to ignore articles, too gloomy, too negative, do something more positive. My response: Analyzing the planet’s climate system by studying peer-reviewed scientific publications for over a decade, every year has gotten worse and worse, no letups, more negatives every year… there’s nothing positive about climate change to write about. And people need to know the truth about anthropogenic-led crashing of ecosystems. Furthermore, one of the key reasons why many Americans don’t accept climate change as an existential issue is because they have been shielded from the most impactful events of climate change, from the truth as experienced by the rest of the world, e.g., Europe’s five-year average temperature has been running 2.3°C above pre-industrial, a danger zone according t0 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which under the 2015 Paris Agreement, nearly 200 countries agreed to limit global warming to no more than 2.0° Celsius by 2100 to avoid significant and potentially catastrophic changes to the planet. Hmm. Ipso facto, 75% of Spain is at risk of desertification, according to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.
Black Liberation/Civil Rights:
Labor:
Economy:
World:
Colombians Welcome Chiquita’s Guilty Verdict, But Thousands More Deserve Justice Thousands more have yet to receive justice from Chiquita, and other companies are also guilty of similar rights abuses.
Education, Health, and Welfare:
The government of the United States can pass laws in a few days to spend tens of trillions of dollars for war and the bailout of Wall Street and the bankers. Yet, those who, pass universal healthcare for themselves, but cannot spend even one trillion dollars for universal health for those who are ‘governed’! This is what is considered, by the powers to be, a democracy and part of the democratic way. — Roland Sheppard, Let the People Vote on Healthcare