I have spent a few hours looking at the lies and misrepresentations about Social Security and Medicare being put forward by MAGAt Republican politicians and their propaganda media. It really is amazing stuff because it is almost entirely bogus. They just spew this stuff and, I guess, think their audiences are too stupid to see through their lies. Paul Krugman, as usual brings clarity to this discussion. I am not using his primary New York Times commentary because I know it is behind a paywall.
MAGAT Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida Credit: Gage Skidmore
When President Joe Biden gave his 2023 State of the Union address on Tuesday night, February 7, he aggressively vowed to protect Social Security and Medicare from GOP efforts to “sunset” or undermine those programs. Biden made it clear that he was not talking about all Republicans or all conservatives, but he was definitely calling out the Republicans who believe that Social Security and Medicare should be abolished or privatized.
Far-right Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida), for example, has proposed that Social Security and Medicare, instead of being renewed automatically, should be reevaluated by Congress every five years. After a five-year period, Scott has argued, Congress should be required to either refund the programs or terminate them. Even Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) has criticized Scott’s proposal as a bad idea.
A common talking point on the far right is that Social Security and Medicare are unsustainable in their current form and need to be either ended or turned over to the private sector.
Jake Bittle, Environmental Commentator - The Guardian (U.K.)
Stephan:
For several decades I have been telling you these internal migrations were coming and, now, as the article describes, it has started. Depending on which study one looks at somewhere between 10 and 15 percent of Americans are going to lose their homes and be caught up in what is going to be an an ongoing catastrophe and politicians, particularly Republican politicians, are not doing anywhere near what needs to be done to prepare for what is coming.
The effects will be different in every place, but almost everywhere safe shelter will get scarcer and more expensive, loosening people’s grip on the stability that comes with a permanent home.’ Credit: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty
Over the past decade, the US has experienced a succession of monumental climate disasters. Hurricanes have obliterated parts of the Gulf Coast, dumping more than 50-inches of rain in some places. Wildfires have denuded the California wilderness and destroyed thousands of homes. A once-in-a-millennium drought has dried up rivers and forced farmers to stop planting crops. Many of these disasters have no precedent in living memory, and they have dominated the headlines as Americans process the power of a changing climate.
But the disasters themselves are only half the story. The real story of climate change begins only once the skies clear and the fire burns out, and it has received far less attention in the mainstream media.
In the aftermath of climate disasters, as victims try to cope with the destruction of their homes and communities, they start to move around in search of […]
Four-day work week. If that became the norm what would be the effect? Is there any actual data on this? As it happens there is, and here it is. And what does it show? Once again that fostering wellbeing produces the best social outcome. And, once again, it is clear that politicians like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, who actually serve in office to foster wellbeing are the kind of politicians Americans should elect. So the question is: Why don't they?
Subtracting a work day added a lot for both workers and businesses, according to new findings from a study of 61 companies in the U.K. U.S. Bernie Sanders said that it’s time for American companies to move toward a four-day workweek, with no loss of pay. Credit: Getty
Four-day workweek for the win.
Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who votes with Democrats, says even more businesses need to turn to the four-day workweek.
“With exploding technology and increased worker productivity, it’s time to move toward a four-day work week with no loss of pay. Workers must benefit from technology, not just corporate CEOs,” Sanders tweeted Tuesday.
His comments come on the heels of new research on the four-day workweek. Companies in the U.K. that experimented with a four-day workweek last year reported more revenue and less staff attrition, while most workers participating in the trial said they experienced less burnout, fewer negative emotions and more satisfaction with their work-life balance.
David Badash, Staff Writer - AlterNet / New Civil Rights Movement
Stephan:
In contrast to Democrat Elizabeth Warren, and Independent Bernie Sanders who, as described in the previous article, are working to foster wellbeing the Republican Party has made Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene one of its leaders and she... well she is trying to destroy the United States and split it into two countries. Or, if that can't be accomplished, at least she wants the laws to be changed so that if a Democrat moves to a Republican-controlled state they are not allowed to vote. I think political scum to describe Greene would actually be an understatement.
MAGAt Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene Credit: Screengrab
Promoting her Presidents’ Day call for red and blue states to separate from each other, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) on Tuesday said “Democrat” voters should be banned from voting their “values” by being banned from voting at all – for five years – if they move to a red state.
Greene, who was never censured after falsely calling President Joe Biden a “liar” during the State of the Union address just weeks ago, has been ginning up her base by attacking liberals and Democrats and the LGBTQ community, especially transgender people.
“I think would be something that some red states could propose is well, okay if, if Democrat voters choose to leave these blue states where they cannot tolerate the living conditions, they don’t want their children taught these horrible things, and they really changed their mind on the types of policies that they support, well, once they moved to a red state, guess what? Maybe you don’t get to vote for five years. […]
White supremacists are attacking Asian Americans with a dramatically increased frequency. So in America what is the response? Why, of course, Asian Americans are arming themselves. I understand the response. What I don't understand is why Americans can't seem to understand that more guns only enrich weapons corporations and result in more death. The real problem is white supremacy and the Republican Party which is promoting it.
Kris He, left, and David Liu discuss a purchase at Liu’s gun store. Credit: Kyung Lah / CNN
The 22-year-old immigrant from mainland China walked past a Trump flag, past the rifles, and headed to the glass case displaying handguns. He didn’t grow up around guns, but after seeing the gun store’s website in Chinese, he hoped owner David Liu would answer some of his questions.
“I speak Mandarin and Cantonese. They can use their mother tongue and talk to me. I will try to explain to them about the law and about the safety of firearms,” said Liu.
Liu opened Arcadia Firearm & Safety in 2016, hoping to reach the growing Asian American population in the suburban sprawl east of Los Angeles. The store sits above a Chinese restaurant, just a few minutes’ drive from Monterey Park. The mass shooting in that majority-Asian community last month is the reason why He sought to get a gun license.
