activism
Grassroots campaigns have proven instrumental in bringing about political, social or environmental change; you've got to start somewhere-might as well start here.
Arrested for Wanting to Live?
Last Thursday I logged on to Facebook and was shocked to see videos of Capitol Police forcibly removing disabled protestors from the hallway in front of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's office. It was appalling to see how the protestors, who were exercising their constitutional right, were being treated. One of my friends was among those forcibly removed from their wheelchairs and carried out. With her hands zip-tied behind her back, she was later put back in her chair so she could be loaded into a police bus and taken away to be officially arrested and processed. Thankfully she is alright. The recently aired Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017, released June 22, will treat approximately 75 million Americans with that same level of care and compassion regardless of age, race, gender, or ability.
By Erin Vallely9 years ago in The Swamp
Grenfell Tower Fire and the Dominate Ideology
Those responsible, along with their allies within society, are now furiously denying their involvement, blaming everything from EU to the opposition, whilst trying to discredit those who fight for the victims within the political arena. For a saving of two pounds per square inch, the Kensington and Chelsea Tenant Management Organization who were responsible for Grenfell Tower refurbishment failed to install fire-resistant cladding. The £8.7 million refurbishment also failed to install a sprinkler system, or even cover basic fire safety equipment. Even when the local authority is “doing the right thing” by evacuating and rehousing those affected, media outlets insinuate that these measures are unfair and unjust. Despite the obvious political choices made to save money at the expense of providing people with lower incomes with safe housing and its repercussions, it is those who stand for the poor and want change who are in the wrong.
By Phillip Woodford9 years ago in The Swamp
£1bn Deal Agreed Between Conservatives & DUP and The Death of Austerity
Following the shambolic election campaign, embarrassing Queen's Speech and the controversial move to hold a 2-year parliamentary session, Theresa May has today announced that a deal has been reached between the Conservative Party and the right-wing DUP.
By Jordan Catto9 years ago in The Swamp
Why Can Democrats Take Heart After Losing Four Special Congressional Elections in a Row?
Much has been made of the Democratic loss in the special House election held for Georgia's 6th District near Atlanta. It has been the most expensive campaign for a U.S. House seat in, like, forever; upwards of $50 million US. The reason so much was spent (most from sources outside of GA) is that Jon Ossoff, the Democratic candidate, was not supposed to have a chance of winning this district; no Democrat has for the last 40 years. Further, this district has produced two of the most conservative legislators that Congress has seen, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Rep. Tom Price (now charged with dismantling the Affordable Care Act a.k.a Obamacare) as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Trump administration. Yet win it he almost did in the guerrilla primary in a field of 16+ candidates with 48.1% of the vote. (If he had received 50.001%, he would have won in the 1st round.) The closest runner-up, Karen Handel, a conservative out of the Price mold, received just 19.8%.
By Scott Belford9 years ago in The Swamp
Dear Black People
Before slavery, the inferiority of Africans did not exist and definitely not in the way it is perpetrated now. People from different parts of the world were not reduced down to the basic epithets of ‘black’ and ‘white’ but were referred to by their nation name. Slavery changed all that, making it necessary to label African people in a particular way to fuel the trade and stem any early counter arguments against it. The problem is, people across the world have taken these lies as gospel and that is the basis for much of modern racism against African peoples.
By Dre Joseph9 years ago in The Swamp
A Handbook to Ending Injustice.
A specter is haunting the world. The specter of capitalism! Today five of the richest people in the world own more than half of the world's wealth. Five people own more than three billion people.This inequality is a part of the capitalist society, some have too little whilst others live in excess. The driving force of this inequality is the notion that freedom is material accumulation and individual competition. But, can this be changed? According to Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels, yes it can.
By Phillip Woodford9 years ago in The Swamp
#GA6 Was a Reminder - Not a Referendum
The special election held for the open congressional seat in the 6th district of north suburban Atlanta was supposed to be a movement. People I know as far away as California sent money to the Jon Ossoff campaign in hopes of beginning a revolution of sorts against the ideology of the Trump administration.
By Jennifer Gulbrandsen9 years ago in The Swamp
Fade to Black
When most people see a spider in their house, more often than not, their first reaction is, "Oh shit? Where's my slipper!" or something along those lines. Oddly enough, though, "house" spiders do not aim to harm us (humans), they're simply just trying to get from point A to point B in their ordinary, daily lives as insects. They're just trying to do what spiders do--eat bugs, give birth to smaller baby spiders and, of course, avoid becoming a tiny gush stain on the mean end of a size 10.5 slipper).
By Dre Joseph9 years ago in The Swamp
The End of the US Constitution
Reading that title what first comes to mind? Do you think I am anti-American? Do you immediately assume I am a rebelling millennial? Do you assume I don't know any better? Or perhaps you are intrigued? You have come across something you have thought about, but never dreamed of speaking aloud?
By Brian Paredes9 years ago in The Swamp
Freedom? More Like Controlled Movements
The world in which we live spins around space, and orbits the sun; gravity holds us down. Common sense right? I know. But something many don’t seem know or think about, expect the few that long for freedom, is how come we don’t get to feel the unknown? How come we're always protected, obeying the rules, and forced by laws of nature? How come our safety and health is so important to others and not so much ourselves? Almost as if we're apart of something bigger, a bigger plan, for the human race.
By Alexandra Clausen9 years ago in The Swamp
