fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
Why Interviewers Ask about Ethical Dilemmas: How to Answer
By: Eva Ai
Tags: Ethics, Job Interview, Communication Skills

Image from https://www.wisbar.org/NewsPublications/InsideTrack/Pages/Article.aspx?Volume=8&Issue=16&ArticleID=25016

Almost every type of interview — whether for a job, medical school, community service position, or other — will ask you to describe a time you dealt with an ethical dilemma or a time when your values were challenged.

The purpose of this question is to determine that you have sound ethical decision making, you generally deal transparently with people, and your values align with the core beliefs of the organization. The interviewer posits that if you’ve been ethical in the past, you will be in the future.

Take this as an opportunity to show you’re a person of integrity with a transparent approach to resolving difficult problems.

Here are some pointers to answering the question.

Avoid these no-no’s

Some answers are better than others. Do not answer this question with an unsubstantiated, general statement of how you believe honesty is the best policy — that’s a well-worn reply. Do not say you volunteer a lot or give to the homeless as a way to prove you are nice — that’s not the question. And definitely do not give an example where you were unethical and had a change of heart — that’ll only raise more questions about you.

Find one or two strong examples from your experience

When thinking of examples from your experience, choose an unambiguous ethical conflict. Avoid picking a situation where the ethical dilemma was dubious or subjective. A colleague being lazy and not taking their share on a project is a bad practice that should be corrected, but it’s not the clear ethical dilemma interviewers are looking for.

Instead, pick a lapse we can all agree was wrong. For instance, you discovered an instance of lying or cheating within the company. Or a colleague wanted to overbill a client. Or someone at work was being called names or harassed by a colleague or superior. Those are unambiguous examples you can lean into in your answer.

Use the STAR method to talk about it

We have a video tutorial on the STAR method here. We find that the STAR method is a direct, clear and logical framework for answering all kinds of interview questions. STAR stands for: Situation, Task, Action, and Result. When you structure your response to this question, first talk about the Situation surrounding the ethical dilemma. Second, talk about the Task needed to resolve it. Third, the Actions you took. And fourth, the Result of your actions. Spend only 30% of your time on the S &T and 70% on the A & R.
How we addressed unconscious bias in the hiring process.
By: The Big Search
Tags: Executive Search, Job Interview, Diversity, Hiring, Diversity And Inclusion

Data revealed that the final job interview stage can put female candidates at a disadvantage compared to male candidates. This was how we addressed it.

Studies have shown that companies with an equal balance of genders in their senior leadership enjoy higher levels of productivity and innovation. They also find it easier to attract new female talent, who look at existing female leaders and believe that they, too, can have opportunities to progress.

It is encouraging that gender diversity remains top of mind for many companies at the moment, because there is still a long way to go. A 2018 study on female leadership by McKinsey & Co. estimates that if companies continue at their current rate of hiring and promoting, the number of women in management will only increase by 1% over the next 10 years. But statistics for the rest of the workforce look more optimistic: from 2014–19, the number of women in Facebook’s technical teams has increased from 15% to 23%, close to 2% every year. Google, likewise, has made similar progress.

Unconscious bias, the major obstacle in hiring

There are several simple (but not necessarily easy) improvements that a company can make to develop diverse talent or create inclusive leaders. One way is to address the unconscious bias in a hiring process.

What is unconscious bias? It is a tendency to favour other people who look, think and act like oneself, and it is an instinctive part of human nature. Status quo bias can, likewise, cause hiring managers to pick finalists who have a preference for maintaining the current state of affairs.

Unconscious bias may be an involuntary response - the good news is that data-driven, analytical processes can be put in place to reduce bias from the very first glance of the résumé to the final round of interviews.

Case Study: Addressing bias in the hiring process

As we help companies scale, we are regularly reminded of how easily unconscious bias can slip into the hiring funnel. Here is how with one change made a significant impact on removing a piece of it.

We were tasked with building out the Executive team for a digital client, including hiring for leadership roles in the People and Marketing departments. Our client emphasised that the searches must be diverse and inclusive. Yet, after the hires were made and we analysed the numbers, we found that while more than 50% (sometimes as high as nearly 75%) of the candidates we presented were female, our client ended up hiring male candidates each time.
Answering the job interview question: “Why should we hire you?”
Tags: Job Hunting, Job Interview, College, Careers, Jobs

Image courtesy of Pexels.com

One of the best questions you can be asked in an interview is the “Why should we hire you question?” because the interviewer is basically giving you a chance to pitch yourself to them. If you are unprepared and stammer through an answer, the chances you’ll get the job are low. However, if you deliver a strong and well thought out answer, not only will you impress the interviewer, you may convince them to hire you on the spot. So, let’s get you prepared.

Variations of this question

“Why are you the right fit for this position?” · “Why should I hire you over anyone else?” · “What can you contribute to this job?” · “What are your strengths?”

What the hiring manager is looking for

Remember, the hiring manager wants the best person for the job. They are looking for very specific skills, experiences, and motivations. When they ask this question, they are looking for the person who fits their expectations best.

What your goal should be

Your goal should be to discover the top skills and abilities the hiring manager is looking for and to persuasively describe how your experience, strengths, and qualification align to those.

Preparing for this question

Start by reading through the job description and picking out the top 3–5 qualifications you think the hiring manager is looking for. (Another helpful exercise to discover these qualifications is to speak with people who work at the company or in the role you are applying for.) Of the qualifications you discovered, pick the 2 or 3 that fit your skills and experiences best, these are the ones you will share in your answer. For each of the qualifications you picked to use for your answer, come up with a few data points to help you communicate how strongly qualified you are. If possible, try to be unique and share things that will set you apart from another candidate.
In my first job, one of my seniors used to say, I would give a job to a needy male candidate than…
By: Atul Kadlag
Tags: Simple Living, Jobs, Mindfulness, Job Interview

In my first job, one of my seniors used to say, I would give a job to a needy male candidate than female candidate, since most of the time female candidate buys the costly luxurious items for them.

I agreed to him on that day, since I also saw many of my female friends spending unnecessary on them like costly spectacles, sandals etc.

This is true with some of male friends as well, they are also like that.

Now the question is how to identify who is needy?

I have taken many technical interviews, in that technical knowledge only I can evaluate.

However, when it comes to HR interviews, it is the HRs responsibility to identify the right needy person.

I believe that the person who is needy do better work, learn fast & are more dedicated.

I think role of HR is critical here & if they do their job sincerely it would be easy for identifying the right candidate, regardless of the gender bias.

That is why there are some questions around the family, hobbies etc.

I would suggest asking few more question to the candidate which is:

“How are you going to spend your months salary?”

“What are your financial plans?”

“What are your views on living standard & how you live?”

I think everyone should live by the principle of “Simple living & high thinking”

thoughts?
Product manager as part of the interview team
By: Elena Sviridenko
Tags: Product Management, Job Interview, Leadership, Product Development, Software Development

In my experience, during the interview, the candidate is evaluated on the four aspects:

Professional expertise

Teamwork skills and work attitude

Character

Determination to the long-term engagement with the product

The first two are to be left to the technical specialists and HRs. It is the last two where a product manager should step in. The mismatch in either of them would be a show stopper.

Expertise can be acquired, shortfalls in the teamwork skills and work attitude can be dealt with in most cases.

Whereas character sits deep inside the person and is hardly changeable. It manifests itself in the personal goals and motivators, and the ambitions a candidate wants to satisfy by joining your company.

A person with the right character would be an asset. To the contrary, the unsatisfied ambitions and unachieved goals will eat away at the employee’s productivity, motivation and loyalty, finally resulting in the dismissal, which would be a ‘lose-lose’ outcome for both sides — waste of time and efforts.

Your job during the interview is to identify the character and figure out how you can utilize it best. This may even end up in the candidate taking an absolutely different position in your company, as to the best advantage of both sides.

Skills develop with practice, the character stands. So you better bed on the latter.

“Hire character. Train skill.”

— Peter Schutz

Another key aspect the product manager should assess is the candidate’s determination to the long-term engagement with the product. One typically depends on the attractiveness of the product to the candidate.

Some may look for the complex and technologically challenging products, others — for enjoyment. Some may fall for the consumer-facing solutions, others — for the B2B. It is your call to identify what kind of products the candidate is passionate about and impartially contrast compare those to what you have.

Losing interest in the product will result in the employee quitting and moving elsewhere in pursuit of novelty. Product development is a marathon, and you certainly do not want sprinters on it.

To mitigate the risk of the candidates disinterested in your product to apply for the position, add the key information about the product into the job posting and/or provide the link to the product page on your website. You may want to cover the product mission, the target audience, the market, the key components, and the underlying technology.

The better awareness of the product you create for the candidate, the higher the chances to onboard an awesome and a well-fitting character.
Every Single Bernie Sanders Wearing Mittens Meme
By: Jay Ponti
Tags: Memes, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Inauguration

January 20th might have been Joe Biden’s Inauguration Day, but Bernie Sanders giving zero fucks and wearing mittens to the event won the internet.

You’re welcome.

UPDATE: 1/21/21 I tried to keep up, but there were just too many #BernieMittens memes. The internet remains undefeated.

Nothing shocking

Bernie Road

Dark Side of the Bern

Lunch at Center for American Progress

American climate policy be like, “this is fine”

We are grateful for you Bernie

He goes out on the ledge for the working class

Mitch better have my money

Shannon Sharpe gets it

Just another day at the office

With a little help from my friends

2020 has been a wild ride

Warm mittens for Hot Ones

They really are the worst

You’re fired!

Salty

Gryffindor!

Four score and twenty-seven dollars ago

He’s watching out for you

God save the Bern

I hate to break it to you Tom, but Trump is a fascist

The Bern-dalorian

Bernie Sand Wars

Corporate Greedo

Beam me up Bernie!

What smells like shoe polish?

The Bern-dega

Up Schitt’s Creek

Hamilton tickets were on sale at Costco

Sorry kids, it’s not for me, I prefer Pete Seeger

What the hell are we all smiling about?

Working Man’s Bern

‘Janet! Dr. Scott! Janet! Brad! Bernie!’

Nobody buts Bernie in a corner

Bernie’s Gambit

Bernie getting schwifty

These clowns

Feel that Bern

You mess with the Bern, you get the horns

Bernie’s Avengers

Deadpool 3 is gonna be lit

Inconceivable!

Daaaaaaammmmmmnnnnnn!!

These memes are neverending

Keep your friends close

Fuhgedda bout it

Baby wants mittens!

If the mittens don’t fit you must acquit!

I’ll have one with everything

Take the B-Train

That’s one small step for man…

One giant leap for Bern-kind

The struggle continues

Let’s paint a happy little Bernie

I’ll have the matzah

Always wear your mittens when crossing the Delaware

Fellowship of the Bern

Bernie of Winterfell

Bern of Thrones

We need Medicare for all

The inauguration we all really wanted

_________________________________

Thanks for reading!

From Occupy to Standing Rock, Jay Ponti has been a grassroots political organizer. He was the co-creator of #BankExit, the campaign which ignited billions in fossil fuel divestments. He has masterminded direct actions with Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon, and other luminaries, which received international media attention.

Jay was a strategist for the 2017 California Poor People’s campaign that coordinated simultaneous actions occupying capitol buildings in 35 states where over 2500 people were arrested to stand for climate justice, criminal justice, health care as a human right, undocumented rights, homeless rights and many other critical issues facing our nation.

Click here to download a free chapter on direct action tactics from his soon be released book The Political Revolutionary’s Handbook.

How to Create Vision, Strategies & Solidarity

for Sustainable Social Movements

LEARN FROM 21+ EXPERTS IN POLITICS, MARKETING, ACADEMIA, AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING. Over 30 hours of free training content.

CLICK HERE to register for free
Biden is boring
Tags: US Politics, Bernie Sanders, Trump, Biden, Inauguration

Now a lot of mean, bitter people with frankly too much time on their hands — have been tweeting this account, an account whose owner has dared to suggest that Biden is rather boring and frankly, it should have been Bernie.

Now white supremacists do not get booted out of the White House every day — I get it people are happy, blah blah blah. But Tories don’t take a day off, so why should I?

George is right when he says it should have been Bernie. Have you seen where Bernie’s mittens are from? Unlike the Democratic Establishment, he puts his money where his mitts are!

Also I reserve the right to call something boring. Biden’s speech — boring. And in contrast to Trump? Exceedingly boring! The trouble is Trump and Boris are *interesting* at the very least, we need to learn from this. And are they really so much worse than white libz? I think not!

I will not clap and cheer for a man simply because he is not a white supremacist. Where’s the moves to cancel student debt? Where’s the tearing down of the wall? Where’s freedom for Palestine?

Besides, I reserve the right to be bored by someone who, and I quote, is barely sentient. Reminds me of happier times when I was writing for BBC News Quiz and we put together excellent jokes about how elderly and senile Vince Cable was; it was all very amusing stuff.

And while we’re on the topic, you’re not a Yank, so stop celebrating something you don’t understand. If you don’t know your history of great American presidents — Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Hamilton — then, frankly, why are you spending so much time tweeting that one old white guy has been replaced by another even-older even-whiter guy. Again, boring!
This little analogy is so good as I wipe my coffee up that spewed forth from my laughing mouth…
By: John Allen
Tags: Revolution, Progressive, Bernie Sanders, Politics, Joe Biden

This little analogy is so good as I wipe my coffee up that spewed forth from my laughing mouth, and gather my thoughts again. Sometimes I’ve felt the voting machines suffer the same fate as little bro. It is time to wake to the fact that we are managed by powers outside normal control(and elections) to contain the masses into a cohesive unit of reasonable solidarity. They drone us into autonomous, compliant, respectable citizens. The tools used are varied, and effectively mixed throughout the media streams, woven into narratives where we DO want to belong, where we feel an uncanny discordance if we feel we are straying from the crowd. “Managed democracy” as the late Sheldon Wolin so aptly termed. So it’s high time to put down any ‘controller’, most likely now plugged into the corporate(MSM) media streams, step back a little, and think for yourselves.

Sure Bernie offered hope where there hasn’t been any for so many years. He at least got some people to look outside the going streams of numbed compliance, and offered a peek at something better for the majority of our lower classes. Maybe we do end up with a democratic candidate that seems recently lobotomized which assure a Trump win. But the young folks everywhere will have Bernie, and Tusli, to thank for glimpses into a different future. One with more social offerings for a better future. One that may end some of the regime change nonsense that displaces millions and creates new aggressive enemies where we didn’t have any before. Because if we all awaken in concert with real effective change we may have a better future. Peace, The Ol’ Hippy
Socialist Sanders Is a Millionaire
By: Philip A.
Tags: Bernie Sanders

Can a self-proclaimed socialist be a millionaire?

Apparently so.

And the same socialist claims that label while officially being registered as an independent (who’s entering the 2020 Presidential Election as a Democrat).

Regardless of politics, Senator Sanders should make people stop and take stock of our current system. The reality that he argues for a redistribution of wealth and simultaneously feels confident in building wealth should make voters wonder . . . is he sincere?

Only two years ago, Bernie Sanders purchased a lakefront vacation home, valued at over $600,000. While anyone should have the right to use their money as they choose, it is curious to see someone have a strong stance against selfish, wealthy people and at the same time live a life that few Americans can.

Sure, people say, Bernie may have a second home, but he isn’t the 1%!

Is he balanced or insincere?

According to the National Association of Homebuilder’s Website, Eye On Housing, only 5.6% of the 2016 housing stock in the United States was used for second homes. That means Bernie Sanders has the financial backing to have a lifestyle only 6% of the population enjoys.

So Bernie isn’t the 1% . . . just the top 6%.

This post is not meant to bash anyone, but to ask one major question — is Bernie Sanders more dependable than any of his Democratic competitors? He may talk about doing good things, but actions speak louder than words. His personal accumulation of wealth does not resonate with his message or outspoken values.

He may call for revolution, but I think he’s been carefully planning his retirement.

The strangest part of this narrative is Sander’s response to his wealth in a CNN interview (link attached below). When asked about his wealth, Sanders said that he is a millionaire because he wrote a best selling book, and that if you wrote a book, you could be a millionaire too!

Yes, Bernie, welcome to the free market system. You produced something that had a demand, and now you have more resources than before.

While Senator Sanders has taken heat for his response, his popularity among young voters seems to be steady. It will be interesting to see how the 2020 election continues, and I wonder if his competitors will take time to point out these inconsistencies.
The problem as I see it, isn’t so much the progressive circular firing squad because the base can…
By: James O'Brien
Tags: Rural, Bernie Sanders, Rural Healthcare, Deplorables, Trump

The problem as I see it, isn’t so much the progressive circular firing squad because the base can be counted on to vote for their nominee. The challenge is winning swing voters and some of the opposition’s faithful. Trump did a masterful job with Bernie Sanders’ supporters and other coalitions. He started by not calling them deplorable and stupid, which really rallied them to active opposition.

Yet I have these liberal Democrat friends who continue to bash and humiliate so many different types of voters in Trump’s base. Rural Americans take it on the chin the most… “how can you be so stupid” is the drumbeat pounding in social media comments across every platform. These proud underserved, underrepresented voters have a message back, “Fuck you and the horse you road in on.” They were pissed before the election and they remain that way as they are very loyal after placing their support.

My friend was saying how stupid Trump is for talking about windmills causing cancer. That is same as calling every rural citizen who has health issues they believe are related to wind farms they live near stupid. The Canadian College of Family Physicians began publishing their findings related to actual patients. People are getting sick, they weren’t sick before the wind farms, they were sick after they began operating- are they stupid? Stupid is laughing at someone who might have cancer related to a wind farm but nobody knows it yet because the issue hasn’t been widely studied and desperately needs to be.

If the brand on the left is about acceptance, open-mindedness and empathy- stop being so close-minded, exclusive and mean.
Bernie Campaigning in Republican States On Infrastructure
Tags: Infrastructure, Bernie Sanders, Politics, Education, Policy

Senator Sanders is talking to Republican voters in Iowa and Indiana. Good.

Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash

It’s no secret that I was one of his biggest supporters of the 2020 primary campaign. One of the things that attracted me to him was that he spoke from the heart and talked about policies, and talk to people regardless of political affiliation with respect and honesty. That authenticity is something that is lacking among mainstream Democrats, and that appeals to not just independents but Republicans.

One of my Republican coworkers ended up supporting him in his previous run. He disagreed with him on social issues, but when he heard Sanders discuss trade policy, climate change, and getting ripped off by Big Pharma he endorsed him. “I spend more on healthcare than my extended family does in Canada. If I was sold a car for twice the price, I’d expect it to be twice as good. Instead I’m spending $700 a month while my Canadian counterparts are spending $180. It’s insane” he said to me.

The story from today on MSN was Bernie Sanders campaigns in pro-Trump districts to get more Republican support for the reconciliation package. It would include investments for infrastructure, climate change, housing, college, and more. The only thought that came to mind was why aren’t other Democrats doing this?

While the corporate press has been largely focused on the inadequate $1 Trillion privatized infrastructure plan with a mileage tax, the $3.5 Trillion plan over ten years benefits the bottom 90% rather than the top 1%. It expands Medicare to include coverage for dental care and vision; makes community college tuition free and invests in infrastructure over ten years. It has no mileage tax in it, provides paid family leave (like other industrialized countries have), invests in mitigating the impact of climate change, affordable housing, and make sure the wealthiest corporations finally pay their fair share in taxes.

If you truly believe in something you must be willing to put yourself out there and fiercely advocate for it. That is what Bernie Sanders is currently doing behind the scenes. And if his colleagues follow suite, it might work.
Progressive Democrats Should Abandon the Socialist Label
By: A.N. Bradford
Tags: American Politics, Bernie Sanders, Social Democracy, Socialism, Democratic Party

What is socialism? Well, the classical definition is ‘a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state.’ Based on this definition, not one elected Democrat in either chamber of Congress is a socialist, not even the junior senator from Vermont and self-described democratic socialist Bernie Sanders.

Instead, progressives within the Democratic Party align with a center-left position that has long been the dominant ideology in European politics — social democracy. Social democrats toe the line between capitalism and socialism. They have come to the rather sensible conclusion that each system has its strengths and weaknesses, and that a society is most stable and prosperous when the two are mixed. The result of this blending of economic systems is the creation of a social market economy. In a social market economy, the free market exists alongside the central government. It is the responsibility of the central government to provide expansive social services and to intervene in the market in order to maintain its integrity.

This economic system is the foundation of the post-1945 European success story. After all, it was the social market economies of Western Europe — whose creation was subsidized by American taxpayers through the Marshall Plan — which eventually prevailed against the socialist Eastern Bloc.

So, why do many progressive Democrats describe themselves as socialists? Is it ignorance? Is it stubbornness? Perhaps, given the Democratic Party’s leftward shift in recent years, progressives are no longer afraid of being characterized as radical by their Republican foes. Their acceptance of the socialist label is then an affirmation of what they believe is the true political ideology of the Democratic Party.

If this is true, then it is not only a mistaken affirmation, as well as a misguided one. Republican politicians and operatives are expected to rely heavily on the ‘Democrats are socialists and socialism=evil’ line in the 2022 and 2024 elections. By continuing to erroneously identify as socialists, progressive Democrats are needlessly giving their opponents ammunition in these upcoming political battles.

Though it seems unlikely at this stage, progressives should abandon the socialist label and proudly identify as social democrats. Not only would it be an accurate ideological descriptor, but it also might allow them to avoid the pitfalls which Republicans have planned for them in future elections.
Section 1881A is M4A in waiting
By: David Soll
Tags: Aoc, Bernie Sanders, Nina Turner, Medicare For All, Joe Biden

About six months ago I wrote HERE how President Joe Biden could, at the stroke of a pen invoke Section 1881A of the Social Security act to instantly expand Medicare to cover every single American. My argument is sound, but admittedly lacked a few details that would have strengthened my overall case.

Since my work was published, I have read a few attempts across the internet that made me begin to think I might have been mistaken. But it turns out that is not the case. Turns out, if you only read the parts that reinforce your assumptions, as I initially did, you find your argument is destroyed or made stronger.

And so, I read, then reread the entirety of the provision within Section 1881A. I studied it, I Googled terms as needed, and discovered that I was in fact correct in my original analysis. Only it turns out I left out a very important piece of evidence.

That evidence is Section (d) which states “Emergency Declaration Defined. — For purposes of this section, the term “emergency declaration” means a declaration of a public health emergency under section 104(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980.”

In other words, a national emergency must be declared for this provision to be invoked by the president, regardless of who is in the Oval Office. And so it is, with the global pandemic called Covid-19 the Department of Health and Human Services did just that on Jan 27th, 2020. Declaring the entire nation to be under a public health emergency.

An argument could be made that even the Environmental Protection Agency could invoke the Superfund law to add an extra layer to make this happen. Admittedly, I have zero background in law. But I understand words when they are placed in a particular order.

My motivation for writing that article back in February 2021 was to speak about what kind of legacy is Joe Biden willing to leave after his time is done. The fact that we are still under a national public health emergency, and the language of Section 1881A appears to bolster this line of thinking, should make everyone who has read this far to stand up and demand President Biden invoke Section 1881A immediately.
Could Trump beat Brown in Ohio?
By: David Peck
Tags: Sherrod Brown, Donald Trump, 2020 Presidential Race, Bernie Sanders, Polling

Could Trump beat Brown in Ohio?

How do we measure confirmation bias in the belief that Sherrod Brown is better attracting mid-western white voters than President Trump.

Are we getting a little over our ski’s in our hope that Donald Trump’s high negatives would guarantee a Brown victory in Ohio, much less in the electoral college.

What did the Ohio voter’s say? This horserace poll from the end of November shows Brown ahead of Sanders and beating Trump: “ Brown bested Trump 48 percent to 42 percent, with 10 percent undecided. Brown also had an 8-percentage point net favorable rating compared to respondents 6-percentage point net unfavorable opinion of the president.” Yet basing an opinion on 648 registered voters in Ohio polled at the end of last November by automated telephone interviews paid for by an unnamed liberal group — years in advance of actual voting — might be described as something other than confirmation bias — the selective search for and consideration of information that confirms one’s beliefs. Interpreting voting history is far more reliable, because it is real, actual data of what voter’s did — and therefore, far more free of confirmation bias, than this early horserace poll.

So let’s look at actual voting behaviour: Trump won Ohio by 8 against HRC, whom also had high negatives; Brown by 6% to a very weak candidate. Brown’s opponent was weaker by another measure; his campaign was vastly out spent. Brown spent over 25 million to his opponent’s less that 4 million, but why did the winning of this 6% cost so much? Brown himself points to changing demographics producing a more conservative tint to the electorate: “The vast swath of the country between Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and St. Louis — except for a few cities such as Columbus and Chicago — has grown more conservative as its population ages and its demographic makeup stagnates.”

Brown’s “support in the blue-collar Mahoning Valley around Youngstown has been in decline throughout his Senate career..”

There are large groups in Brown’s last win, that voted once for Trump, and are likely to do so again; but how many of the 2, 841, 005 Trump voters — almost 600,000 more than Brown won in 2018—might just be feeling that their vote was confirmed and vote for Trump again, because of incumbency, in addition to the I voted for the winner and that makes me part of this big group of winners affect. I’d worry a little more about the actual results showing that Trump won far more of the white working class than Brown — in Ohio. But what data is available to estimate how these Trump voters would vote in a 2020 contest in Ohio against Sherrod Brown?
Multiracial Working Class Stands Up
By: Jean Hhricik
Tags: Free, War, Bernie Sanders, News, Feminist

Multiracial Working Class Stands Up

Disclaimer — -The following isn’t a news report. This is opinion developed from many sources, some of which are included for clarity, transparency, and rebuttal, and is the Free Speech that shares ideas.

Multiracial Working Class Stands Up…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsvCqfUV9mM

Live Q&A with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

If the US judicial system had retained the preliminary control of commercial interests by honoring the ability for local communities to rescind Corporate Charters when such corporation harmed people or nature, this privileged system wouldn’t have happened — -

https://insideclimatenews.org/news/16102019/exxon-oil-sands-trial-climate-change-fraud-new-york-rex-tillerson----The energy Exxon produces today is more polluting, according to the attorney general’s complaint, because the company took the potential costs of climate change less seriously than it represented to investors. — -end of insideclimatenews info — -

By the same token, if justice was meted out equally, the USA wouldn’t have a burgeoning population of minority people who are incarcerated for low-level crimes and perhaps the actual danger to the general public would not occupy the White House — -https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/01/donald-trump-scandals/474726/--

— https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp5JCrSXkJY--------

Buffalo Springfield — For What It’s Worth 1967

The danger from nuclear war seems to expand as one considers the caliber of politicians that apparently We The People deserve, since we voted them into office. — -https://e-activist.com/page/message?mid=76fa9b12a3d6439e8297c54cbc909b2a

Those who built this nation raises voices — -

https://www.laprogressive.com/calling-all-class-traitors/?utm_source=LA+Progressive+NEW&utm_campaign=0747a30e88-LAP_News_4_15_April_17_PC4_15_2017_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_61288e16ef-0747a30e88-286972237&mc_cid=0747a30e88&mc_eid=e213faa886-----

The working class of everyday people living paycheck-to-paycheck will determine the outcome of this election. The Sanders campaign is organizing an army of one million-plus volunteers to call, text, canvas and inspire millions of new voters over the next many months. When we bring those millions into this movement, we will not only win the primary but dispense of Trump in the general. We will also be poised to fight and win the larger post-election struggle for transformative policy. — -end of laprogressives info — -

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

Krystal Ball: White feminist meltdown over AOC’s Bernie endorsement — — -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hce74cEAAaE-----

The Troggs — Wild Thing
Something Americans Should Seriously Chew On!
By: Michael Weddle
Tags: Bernie Sanders, Usa World Ranking, Politics, Education, Dumbing Of America

Something Americans Should Seriously Chew On!

3/26/20 Update:

2/28/20 Example of What Not To Buy, and Why!

38% of Americans wouldn’t buy Corona beer “under any circumstances” because of the coronavirus, according to a recent survey.

11/8/19 Example of Genius Addition:

Hall of Shame for America:

Statistics are like a bikini. What they reveal is interesting; however, what they conceal is crucial!

48% of Americans believe states rights led to the Civil War, and not slavery. Source: Texas Board of Education.

* 56% of Americans think Arabic numerals should not be taught in our schools. Source: Survey from Civic Science.

* Interestingly, 22 percent of Americans could name all five Simpson family members, compared with just 1 in 1,000 people who could name all five First Amendment freedoms. Do you remember them? Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition for redress of grievances. Awe, who cares — the Simpsons are too good! Source: McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum.

* Only 28.4% of US college students knew James Madison as the father of the US Constitution. Most (59.4%) thought it was Thomas Jefferson who wasn’t event present at the Constitutional Convention because he was then ambassador to France. Source: American Council of Trustees and Alumni.

* Incredulously, nearly 40% of college graduates didn’t know Congress has the power to declare war. Half did not know US senators served six-year terms and members of the US House two-year terms; and half did not know it is the US Senate that tries an impeachment proceeding. Source: American Council of Trustees and Alumni.

A 2018 study of ignorance in 37 nations found the US ranked 23rd as the most ignorant among them. Here are the countries surveyed: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong (SAR, China), Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey and the USA. Source: Ipsos MORI.

Solution?

Elect Bernie Sanders President of the United States! We need a leader who will govern for the needs and opportunities of people; and not for profiteering of corporations

Additional Reading:

Twitter — 9:58 PM · Jul 24, 2021
Bernie Sanders: Strength in Diversity
By: Justin Christopher Ayd
Tags: Bernie2020, Diversity, Our Revolution, Bernie Sanders, Nina Turner

Photo Credit: The Denver Post

Coming off the enthusiasm and disappointment from the 2016 presidential election, I feel compelled and energized to do my part, however small, to advocate for the political leader I’m most aligned with and inspired by.

More than two weeks ago, I created this campaign ad addressing the ‘Bernie Bro’ narrative. The narrative — or myth, if you will — which has been disproven time and again, states his supporters are predominately white males. The recent presidential endorsements from progressive powerhouses Ilhan Omar (MN), Rashida Tlaib (MI), and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY) help to demonstrate this is far from the truth. In addition, I personally know more female Bernie supporters than male supporters.

Bernie’s ability to connect with people from all walks of life and attract a diverse following without pandering is the cornerstone of what makes him who he is. His unwavering 50-year history calling out America’s injustices speaks for itself. He has been advocating for gay rights since 1972, universal healthcare since 1987, and made it his life’s mission tackling income inequality and the astronomical greed in corporate America, where the top one-tenth of one percent owns as much wealth as the bottom 90%. Since 1982, the three richest U.S families — Waltons, Mars candy family, and the Koch family— all saw their wealth increase by 6,000%, “meanwhile, the median household wealth went down 3 percent over the same period.” During this same time, “between 1983 and 2013, the wealth of the median black household declined 75 percent (from $6,800 to $1,700), and the median Latino household declined 50 percent (from $4,000 to $2,000)”, according to the Institute for Policy Studies.

This is a moral outrage. As Nina Turner, co-chair of the Bernie 2020 campaign states in the ad, “He stands up and uses the people’s power to speak out against injustice.”

There’s a good reason why Bernie Sanders has been voted over and over the best, most popular, and most trustworthy member of the US Senate. Quite simply, he cares. Bernie is, and always has been, a true champion of the people. As Bernie will say, “It’s not about me, it’s about us.”
Business during the pandemic and building back green
Tags: Ethical Business, Startup, Sustainability, Covid 19, Impact Investing

Business during the pandemic and building back green

Nearly 8 months ago, I came to you with an update about how we got ready and planned to face the coming months. In a nutshell here is what we did:

Contacted all our promoters to learn about their expectations and financial condition for the following months.

Offered the introduction of a 6-month grace period and loan extension to those whose activity was going to be affected the most.

Monitored the development of the outbreak in all the markets our promoters had operations in.

Validated all the contractual arrangements with our community of investors (getting over 96% rate of approval) and did our best to protect the interest of both sides.

I hope GoParity team is doing well and I would like to congratulate you for your hard work and for, as always, finding sustainable projects during this time and being able to renegotiate those which were affected by Covid-10.

A GoParity investor

GoParity during the pandemics

Managing in times of Covid-19

In early March we launched the first fundraiser in Portugal together with other startups with whom we co-founded the Tech4Covid19 movement. We raised more than 200.000€ from over 7.000 donors and learned some valuable lessons.

In total, 8 promoters asked for the introduction of a grace period and of a loan extension. Of those, only one has not been able to go back to regular payments, due to the severe consequences of the pandemics in its activity, being our only loan in arrears at the moment.

Alongside several other organizations on the green side of the economy, we have been advocating for a green economic recovery. It is not yet a mainstream discourse but it keeps gaining strength and I was very pleased to read this piece by the recently appointed European Commissioner for Financial Services Mairead McGuiness.

In fact, our community of investors seems to be very well aligned with the need to use money for good, and thus September and October consecutively were our best months ever in user growth and investment volume.
Integrating Stakeholder Capitalism: Lessons from Japan
By: Handshake Partners
Tags: Impact Investing, Capitalism, Japan, Social Impact

Gapponshugi: A Shibusawa neologism referring to the ‘pooling of monetary capital, managerial talent, and labor to serve the public interest.’

As the world’s third largest economy, Japan’s actions have a significant impact on global challenges. In recent years, Japan’s inherently sustainable agenda has attracted substantial attention in its financial markets. As the world focuses on adapting meaningful business practices to balance the social and economic disruption of COVID-19, it is important and insightful to look back at the historic practices of ethical capitalism in Japan.

In the 19 thcentury, Shibusawa Eiichi, “the father of Japanese capitalism”, was a key figure in the establishment of industry and commerce during Japan’s emergence from the country’s Second Industrial Revolution. Through his extensive travels, he learned that profits could, and should, coexist with social good. In 1873, Shibusawa established the Dai-ichi Bank, Japan’s first bank (now a part of the Mizuho Financial Group) along with 600 other organizations including Japan Red Cross and the first women’s university. His fundamental beliefs of the intertwined nature of social and financial success meant that the organizations were built around these core values.

Although Shibusawa is often called “the father of Japanese capitalism”, he did not use the direct word “capitalism” (“shihon shugi”). He instead used the word “gappon shugi” which is translated as “stakeholder capitalism”, weaving the needs and values of all stakeholders into the capitalist system.

From Japan’s industrial inception, the values and practices of stakeholder integration have been at the core of everything the nation has achieved. These fundamental practices serve as a powerful roadmap for other countries across the world striving to shift to similar trends.

Academic James Abegglen found that “ when US managers ranked nine corporate aims, they prioritized return on investment, share price and market share. Their Japanese peers opted for market share, return on investment and new products, ranking share price ninth.”

Despite its seemingly idyllic approach, Japan still has a long way to go. Japan is second to last in both the percentage of women in management as well as women on boards. A new study found that Japan represents one in three of the top 10 lenders to projects driving biodiversity loss.

Even though these detrimental practices exist, Japan provides a prime model for stakeholder capitalism and the integration of thoughtful stakeholder leadership into its corporations. Japan continues to lead by example in its recent pledge to reach carbon neutrality by 2050, an ambitious goal that sharply accelerates the country’s global warming mitigation targets.

Read more here on how Japan’s ethical capitalism has lessons for the world on ESG.
Why We Invested: Eka Ventures
By: Big Society Capital
Tags: Investment, Startup, Venture Capital, Impact Investing, Tech For Good

As Eka Ventures announces the close of its fund, we are delighted to share background on why we invested earlier this year.

Our mission is to grow the social investment market to improve people’s lives in the UK. One of the ways we do this is through our venture investments, supporting an ecosystem that nurtures and scales innovative ways of tackling social problems.

We believe it is possible for purpose-led startups to deliver strong financial returns and meaningful social impact. At the heart of this are values-aligned venture investors who are thoughtful about impact and bring deep expertise in venture investing.

Eka Ventures shares our belief that purpose-led startups can deliver social change, and is building its firm on the premise that impact and financial return can go hand in hand.

A strong track record in venture investing

Eka is a VC firm investing at Pre-A and Series A into consumer technology companies that are building a healthy, inclusive and sustainable economy. Founding partners Jon Coker, Camilla Dolan, and Andrew Richardson bring a wealth of experience in scaling early stage businesses and have invested and collaborated together extensively prior to forming Eka. Over the last decade, they have invested with companies including Elder, an elderly care platform helping people stay in their home for longer and Gousto, an online grocery business delivering healthy and affordable food through a low waste supply chain.

Thoughtful thesis

Eka’s investment thesis is built on ‘shared value’, whereby social and/or environmental impact is delivered in parallel with financial returns. They see a compelling role for this approach in preventative health care, inclusive financial services, and sustainable supply chain technology. High quality impact practice is at the core of Eka’s investment approach, as they look to assess both the impact potential and the ways in which impact drives value for each company they support. Their first investment, Urban Jungle is a great example of a startup that has a focus on impact and is seeing commercial value in taking this approach. Urban Jungle is a technology-enabled insurance provider, using behavioural data to assess an individual with factors that they can control rather than demographics. This helps them design affordable products that are more transparent, fairer and more effective at reaching and serving customers who need insurance most.

Eka’s strong team dynamic, expertise in venture investing, and compelling thesis for delivering both impact and financial returns makes them an exciting partner for our work in impact venture. We look forward to building an impactful relationship with Eka over the years to come.