Luca

In some ways, elections are the opposite of democracy. But these two entirely different concepts have been hopelessly confused. The result? Oligarchic rule continues, regardless of which party wins. It's time to explore better ways. My column. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

General elections are a travesty of democracy – let’s give the people a real voice | George Monbiotwww.theguardian.com Our system is designed for the powerful to retain control. Participatory democracy and a lottery vote are just two ways to gain real representation, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

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Why are multimillionaires and billionaires like Peter Thiel, Rupert Murdoch, Travis Kalanick, Steven Mnuchin, and others are rallying behind Trump? Yes, the tax cuts. But there's more. The more Trump tears down democracy, the safer the oligarchy becomes.

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'Assumir que se é contra o aborto significa declarar que se aceita que as mulheres voltem a abortar clandestinamente pondo em perigo a saúde e até a vida. Significa também aceitar que apenas as mulheres ricas poderão abortar em condições dignas'

Sebastião Bugalho gagueja quando fala de IVGwww.publico.pt O receio de declarar sem reservas a sua posição sobre o aborto ficou à vista de quem assistiu à entrevista.

Enquanto as ofensas de André Ventura são enquadradas canonicamente como manifestações da liberdade de expressão, os ativistas ambientais pacíficos são sistematicamente retratados no nosso espaço público como criminosos. Liberdade de expressão de quem?

Liberdade de expressão de quem?app.expresso.pt Enquanto as ofensas de André Ventura são enquadradas canonicamente como manifestações da liberdade de expressão, os ativistas ambientais pacíficos são sistematicamente retratados no nosso espaço públi...

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Memo to the media: Don't write about corporations suddenly lowering prices without mentioning how their profits have been skyrocketing or their tax bills have been shrinking. They could have kept prices lower all along. They chose note to. Give people the full picture.

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'Bankers profited at the expense of the rest of society. In dollar terms, the cost to the rest of us exceeded the banks’ gains. Neoliberalism in practice was what can be described as “ersatz capitalism,” in which losses are socialized and gains privatized.' lithub.com/survival-of-...

Survival of the Wealthiest: Joseph E. Stiglitz on the Dangerous Failures of Neoliberalismlithub.com Political debates often don’t take on quite the sophistication and complexity of the intellectual debates that lie behind them and, in part, motivate them. With the Iron Curtain coming down in 1991…

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Remember: If markets were actually competitive, corporations would keep their prices as low as possible as they competed for customers. Instead, the concentration of the American economy into the hands of a few corporate giants gives them the power to raise prices with impunity.

The US supreme court is neither honorable nor functional anymore | Moira Doneganwww.theguardian.com The upside-down flag at Samuel Alito’s house after the Capitol attack reveals how disgraceful our supreme court has become

The Trump hush-money trial reveals a seamy world shot through with moral rot | Robert Reichwww.theguardian.com The former president’s orbit is a sell-or-tell, catch-and-kill society where money and power are the only true values

Totally agree.

As Europe’s power shrinks, its fear is growing – and the result is huge mistakes | Nathalie Tocciwww.theguardian.com Scared of Ukraine losing and scared of Russia being beaten, of migrants, Gaza and Trump, the EU is making poor choices at home and abroad, says Guardian Europe columnist Nathalie Tocci

Identidade e Falta de Empatia: quando os “valores morais” conservadores da família tradicional valem mais do que o amor.

Identidade e Falta de Empatia: quando os “valores morais” conservadores da família tradicional valem mais do que o amorapp.expresso.pt A verdade é que estas noções reais de família, que não a tradicional — a monoparental, a co-parentalidade, a maternidade/paternalidade em comunidade, os pais/mães homossexuais — vêm destabilizar uma o...

What a shame!

Gaza war surgeon feels ‘criminalised’ after being denied entry to Francewww.theguardian.com Prof Ghassan Abu-Sitta says Schengen-wide ban imposed by Germany appears to be attempt to silence witness testimony

That's really alarming.

Surreal claims, lawfare and abuse: toxic politics in Spain reflect the new Europewww.theguardian.com Pedro Sánchez is not alone in EU in facing ‘harassment through the media and the courts’ aimed at forcing him out of politics

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Luca

Trump is the greatest fantasy of the mediocre white man. He's living the dream: rich, powerful, unaccountable and need not put any effort into anything, he blurts out whatever comes to mind and everyone has to pretend it's true and clever and such a good idea, sir.

seems very much part of the idea that Trump is consciously a celebration of white mediocrity. “we can be shit and look like shit and still occupy the most powerful office in the world, and you, ordinary white mediocrity, can live vicariously through me.”

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024...

Sanders hits back at Netanyahu: ‘It is not antisemitic to hold you accountable’www.theguardian.com US senator says Israeli prime minister using antisemitism to distract attention from ‘extremist and racist government’ policies

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Modern fascists always attack women, immigrants, & LGBTQ+ people first. They long for a white-led, patriarchal, theocratic society. Remember that when you see reproductive rights, gay rights, and migrant rights stripped away.

As long as big companies are allowed to operate in nearly oligopoly, that's the result.

Today’s CPI report shows meat & poultry are among the highest items pushing inflation. Maybe that's because just 4 companies now control processing of 80% of beef, nearly 70% of pork, and almost 60% of chicken. Without competition, corporations can get away with price gouging.

The only thing that matters is greed. Who cares about climate change?

Shell has threatened to quit the London stock market in what would be a hammer blow to the City. Chief executive Wael Sawan said the oil giant was looking at ‘all options’ – including the possibility of moving its share listing to New York. www-thisismoney-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.this...

City shock as Shell threatens to quit London for U.S.www-thisismoney-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org Shell chief exec Wael Sawan (pictured) said the oil giant was looking at 'all options' - including the possibility of moving its share listing to New York.

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In the past decade, Boeing spent nearly $70 billion on buybacks and dividends while simultaneously cutting corners on production. This mindset is all too common in corporate America: Maximize profits and investor returns no matter the cost to everyone else. Hello?

It looks like it's possible!

For extremists trying to tear down democracy, this was pretty peacefulwww.theguardian.com The government’s commissioner for countering extremism said the marches are an ‘environment for radicalisation’

Really chilling!

‘My ultimate and absolute revenge’: Trump gives chilling CPAC speech on presidential agendawww.theguardian.com Unbound and unhinged, ex-president vilifies immigrants before devolving into bizarre riffs, including calling himself a ‘total genius’

And this is working not only in the US.

Wow, a different interpretation and a correction of a mistake (even if the effect is limited and mainly theorical).

A State Supreme Court Just Issued Another Devastating Rebuke of the U.S. Supreme Courtslate.com The decision rejected the U.S. Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Second Amendment.

New level of foolishness ...

US rightwing conspiracy theory touts Taylor Swift as ‘Pentagon asset’www.theguardian.com Far-right influencers make absurd claim singer an ‘election psyop’ to ‘manipulate’ voters after ‘rigged’ Super Bowl favors Chiefs