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Where are our Public Servants?
By: Matt Keene
Tags: Congress, Term Limits, Poverty, Social Justice, Covid 19

The inability of Congress to address the economic catastrophe — not a crisis, a catastrophe — is shameful. While other Western countries have stepped up with relief for individuals and businesses devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, our elected officials mud-wrestle in political gamesmanship.

Nothing gets done for one primary reason: regardless of the nature and severity of a crisis, whether economic, health, security, or otherwise, members of Congress are shielded from it. They simply do not suffer along with the average American. Their paychecks and healthcare are guaranteed. Too many enter Congress with a modest net value and miraculously transform into millionaires. Because they don’t feel our pain, they don’t experience any sense of urgency. And, inexplicably, even appeals to morality, compassion, and civic duty seem to fall on deaf ears.

It’s disgusting. That we continue to vote in these grifters election cycle after election cycle exacerbates the problem. They aren’t held accountable. On the rare occasions where incumbents are bounced, we seem to replace them with more self-serving thieves. The evil are rewarded and the good corrupted, while the bottom falls out of what used to be an American middle class, and too many visit the emergency room for primary medical care, a food kitchen for their kids’ next meal, and homeless shelters for a roof for the night after an eviction.

It’s long past time to restore the mission of the government as “by and for the people” by elevating to leadership positions Americans motivated not by self-interest but by a spirit of service.
To Move Our Nation Forward, House Budget Dems are Fighting for an Economy that Works #ForThePeople
By: House Budget Committee Majority
Tags: Income Inequality, Coronavirus, Congress, House Democrats, Economy

To Move Our Nation Forward, House Budget Dems are Fighting for an Economy that Works #ForThePeople House Budget Committee Majority ·Dec 16, 2020

Our nation’s federal budget is more than a bottom line, it’s a statement of our nation’s values. That’s why in the 116th Congress, the House Budget Committee has been busy examining the issues that will support strong economic growth.

We’ve held 31 hearings, heard from 111 witnesses, and published 85 reports. And through it all we’ve remained focused on ensuring every American has the opportunity to succeed.

As we look ahead to a new Congress and a new year, we’ll continue to fight for a budget that works for the American people and moves our nation forward.
How the Mitch Stole Christmas
By: Cap Action
Tags: Trump, Congress

This piece was originally published in the December 15, 2020 edition of CAP Action’s daily newsletter, the Progress Report. Subscribe to the Progress Report here.

Photo by Maria Oswalt on Unsplash

“Mitch McConnell, or more aptly Ebenezer Scrooge”

— Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)

McConnell and Trump left millions to suffer and now 300,000+ to die — many painfully and alone. It didn’t have to be like this.

Share this on Twitter and Facebook to get the facts out:

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Congressman Adam Schiff — Live from Cornell University
By: Victor Shi
Tags: Politics, Congress, Students, College, Interview

This episode of Intergenerational Politics comes to you from our live virtual podcast event at Cornell University’s Political Union. Hosts Jill Wine-Banks and Victor Shi talk to Congressman and Chair of the United States House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Adam Schiff (D-CA) about Trump’s conduct and what laws are needed to prevent a future repeat, as well as looking at the results of and lessons from the 2020 congressional races, and what it all means to the future of the Democratic and Republican parties.

Enjoy below!

Intergenerational Politics is a podcast created by Jill Wine-Banks and Victor Shi dedicated to engaging all generations in politics with weekly unfiltered conversations with experts across the nation. Be sure to subscribe to and rate us on Apple Podcasts.
ANCA, HALC, IDC WELCOME INITIAL US SANCTIONS ON TURKEY
By: Hellenic Leaders
Tags: United States, Congress, Foreign Policy, Turkey, Sanctions

WASHINGTON, DC — The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC) and In Defense of Christians (IDC) hailed the Trump Administration’s imposition of sanctions on Turkey’s military procurement agency and its officers in response to Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems.

The U.S. sanctions include a ban on all U.S. export licenses and loans to Turkey’s defense procurement agency. They also freeze the assets and restrict visas of the organization’s president and three other senior officials. and an asset freeze on its president, Ismail Demir, among other government officials.

Over the last two Congresses, ANCA, HALC and IDC have prioritized holding Turkey accountable for its violations of US and international law and its destabilizing behavior in multiple regions. The joint advocacy efforts included in person lobbying, social media campaigns, an advertisement in the New York Times, and call-in/email campaigns to members of Congress and the Trump Administration.

According to Toufic Baaklini, President and Chairman of IDC, “While we have much more work to do, today’s announcement is a welcomed U.S. response to an increasingly rogue Ankara. We look forward to continuing to ramp up the pressure in 2021”

“We join today with our HALC and IDC partners in welcoming this first step to hold Turkey accountable for its reckless conduct,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “We look forward to working with our advocacy allies during the next Congress and with the incoming Biden Administration to build upon today’s actions,” added Hamparian.

“US policy on Turkey has finally shifted from appeasement to accountability,” said HALC Executive Director Endy Zemenides. “These sanctions are a positive first step and a clear signal to Ankara that it is not above the law. Yet they remain a first step. Sanctions are not the end game. Ending Turkey’s rogue state like behavior is. We remain committed to work with our partners at ANCA and IDC to ask the next Congress and the incoming Biden Administration to build on today’s development,” concluded Zemenides.

Last week, the U.S. Senate and House overwhelmingly approved the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which also called for sanctions against Turkey for their purchase of the Russian S-400s.

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Democrats are Sufficiently Divided, No Republican Needed
By: Michael Krebs
Tags: Politics, Congress, Divided Government, Republicans, Democrats

Lately, with Biden about to become President, I’ve heard the GOP argue that Republicans should be in control of the Senate, if not the entire Congress, because the U.S. Government was intended to be divided. That the Senate is intentionally slow-moving and is supposed to put a check on the President.

For starters, it should be obvious this is just a line since they don’t sing that tune when the President is a Republican. And I could go on about how Sen. Mitch McConnell isn’t a “check” on Democrats but rather is just the Grim Reaper of change (his words, not mine).

Instead, what I want to say here is that, even with only Democrats in office, the government would already be divided. Just look at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (aka. AOC) and Rep. Nancy Pelosi to see the tension between the two sides. And the same party division holds in the Senate.

Within the Democratic Party, there are the Progressives and there are the Moderates. The Progressives are the ones who want single-payer health care, for example. They’re the ones that want a wealth tax. And they’re the ones that want to Defund The Police. The Moderates, on the other hand, want a more capitalist-friendly solution to health care such as the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). They want to raise taxes with more moderation and, for police reform, they see a measured approach involving allocating funds to non-lethal forces.

If a Republican candidate chooses to show up and debate the actual issues that matter to people — like Health Care — then I’d be thrilled to see that competition of ideas and solutions. However, if all they can argue is the need for a divided government, then look no further than the Democrats. No Republican need apply for that role.
The U.S. Government (Congress Fundamentals)
Tags: Life, Senate, Politics, Congress, House Of Representatives

This is part 1 of a 3 part series. This article is about Congress, the second and third will be about the other two branches.

Congress is 1 of the 3 branches in the United States government. It has a bicameral system, meaning having two branches or chambers. Those two are the Senate, and the House of Representatives. Each help propose and ratify bills. They make up Congress, and the legislative branch.

The Senate is located on the north side of the Congress building. It consists of 100 members, 2 from each state. The 2 senators represent their entire state, whatever it may be. Their are 3 requirements needed to run for a state senator, this includes all 50 states. At least an age of 30 years, have a U.S. citizenship for at least 9 years, and finally a residence of the state the senator is representing at the time of the election. Each serve 6-year terms, unless something else happens. Every 2 years, elections are held for 1/3 of the senate. So, you will never see 2 senators being elected at the same time, unless a special election occurs. A special election usually only occurs in a few states, and that’s due to sudden events. Like if a senator died during his or her term, or couldn’t participate in the next election. They have the power to impeach federal officials, approve presidential appointments, and ratify treaties. The leader of the Senate is the current vice president, if he cannot physically be there for some reason, then the Pro-Tempore becomes the leader.

The House of Representatives is located on the north side of the Congress building. It consists of 435 members, each dependent on the states population. There are so many because each represent their own district. Some states may have 3, and other may have 40 or 50. Their are also 3 requirements needed to run for a representative. You must be at least 25 years of age, obtain a citizenship for at least 7 years, and reside in the district where he or she represents. They serve 2 year terms, all being elected every 2 years. They have the power to initiate revenue bills, impeach federal officials, and elect the president in case of an electoral tie (which rarely happens). The leader of the House is the Speaker of the House. The Speaker of the House is elected by the representatives, and must receive a minimum of 218 votes out of 435.
Have States and Governors Used K-12 CARES Act Funding?
By: Dan Lips
Tags: Congress, Schools, K 12 Education, Policy, Covid 19

Members of Congress are currently discussing providing new emergency funding for American K-12 education. On December 1st, a bipartisan group of Senators announced a framework for a new COVID-19 relief package that would include $82 billion for K-12 and higher education.

In March, Congress passed and President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provided $30.75 billion to the U.S. Department of Education for an Education Stabilization Fund, “to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally.” The Education Stabilization Fund fund included $16.2 billion for K-12 education, including $13.2 billion for an “Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief” (ESSER) fund and $3 billion for a “Governor’s Emergency Education Relief” (GEER) fund. The Department of Education awarded ESSER grants to state education agencies and GEER funds to the nation’s governors.

In November, the Department of Education published a website to provide data about how Education Stabilization Funds were being spent. The website features a map of state pages with data showing that amount of ESSER and GEER funding provided to the state and whether the funds had been spent as of September 30, 2020.

Table 1 presents a state-by-state overview of the amount of funds awarded to each state for the ESSER and GEER grant programs and the amount that states had spent as of September 30th. At that time, $13.7 billion of the $16.2 billion awarded had not yet been spent.

It is possible and perhaps likely that governors and state education agencies have spent additional GEER and ESSER funding since September 30th. It is also possible that states or governors have obligated the funding but not yet spent it. The Department of Education explains that the data portal “will be updated frequently” and, in early 2021, “the Department will begin to post information from state, outlying areas, and IHEs’ annual reports regarding their use of ESF grant funds.”

However, the currently available data from September 30th should help Congress understand what funds remain available to state education agencies and governors as lawmakers consider new federal emergency education aid.

At the end of September, more than half of the states had spent less than 10 percent of their ESSER funds. Thirty governors had spent zero percent of GEER funding at that time.

With Congress considering $82 billion in new aid, lawmakers should recognize that new emergency education aid for state education agencies and governors is unlikely to be used for several months and may not be used during the 2020–21 school year. Instead, Congress should provide emergency education aid directly to vulnerable and low-income students affected by prolonged school closures.
It Is Time To Work Together For The Good Of The Country
By: Floyd Mori
Tags: Elections, Politics, Congress, Joe Biden, Donald Trump

It Is Time To Work Together For The Good Of The Country

Photo by Michael on Unsplash

There has been too much hate

The United States of America has seen extreme division over the last four years with Donald Trump as President. There has always been division. With two major political parties in opposition to each other, there are always contrary views. Division is nothing new, but the division since the Trump Presidency began has been more profound and evident.

There are many former members of the U.S. Congress who have stated that it was more civil in Congress when they served. People could disagree without the hate that we see now. They could compromise and come together in agreement. If you ever watched some of the recent Congressional hearings on television, you could see that they are full of hate as people speak to or about each other. They attack the other side mercilessly. They are not willing to compromise for the most part. It is not a healthy situation.

Although Melania Trump had intended at the beginning of Trump’s term in office that she would make bullying her major effort, that did not work since she is married to the biggest bully of all. Trump bullies people every day with his hurtful and harmful tweets. He treats people cruelly such as calling the Georgia Republican governor names because he was unwilling to do Trump’s bidding.

Joe Biden has been declared the winner of the Presidential election of 2020. When the electoral college certifies it, Trump should finally accept it. His conspiracy theories and claims of an unfair election have been thrown out by the courts. He must be extremely angry that his chosen members of the Supreme Court did not back the suit by the Texas attorney general.

It is time for Congress and all persons involved in government to come together and work for the good of the United States of America. The division has been so evident and hateful. It needs to end for the country to move ahead effectively.

It has been my privilege to have personally met a lot of people in government, including President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris, as well as many members of Congress on both sides of the aisle. They all have good qualities although they are not perfect. They can and should be able to work together for the good of the nation.

There are too many problems facing the United States at the current time. The coronavirus pandemic, racism, the economy, and division are just some of the problems. The leaders of the nation need to be able to work together to bring about change.

It is about time.
Querido Senator Lee, a Latino Museum is Needed
By: Joél-Léhi Organista
Tags: Opinion, Latino, Congress, Utah, Latino Museum

in The New York Times
Seven Decades of Trailblazing Journalism
By: Josh Resnik
Tags: Congress, Journalism, Capitol Hill, Policy Making, Washington DC

Nelson and Henrietta Poynter founded Congressional Quarterly in 1945 based on a simple yet important premise. As Nelson put it:

“The federal government will never set up an adequate agency to check on itself.”

Since then, CQ and Roll Call — which was founded a decade later and focused on Capitol Hill’s people, personalities, and politics — have remained two of journalism’s most iconic brands, serving not only as watchdogs, but as hallmarks of quality, balanced, in-depth coverage.

This year marks the 75th and 65th anniversary of CQ and Roll Call, respectively. The need for publications like these is as important as it was seven decades ago. And in many ways, it’s more urgent.

1979: Tip O’Neill giving an interview to press before the official opening of the 96th Congress. (Photo by Maureen Keating/CQ Roll Call)

As it turns time to reflect on the past 75 years, and on this year in particular, it’s with awe and admiration that I think about the work of our journalists (along with their brethren doing similar work for other publications around the world).

This year has brought a combination of disruption and difficulty that has not been seen in our lifetimes, including thousands of lives lost daily to the pandemic and our system of government being tested in unprecedented ways. Yet we are only able to bear witness to all of it because of the ethos that drives reporters to do this work day in, day out, in the face of personal health concerns and a government that has despotically declared the media the enemy of the people (which, of course, hearkens back to Nelson Poynter’s stated foundation for CQ).

CQ and Roll Call have been trusted to deliver comprehensive, accurate and objective reporting on the workings of our legislative and regulatory systems. Our readers include every congressional office, the vast majority of federal agencies, and thousands of organizations. These are the individuals who influence, write, vote on, and enforce legislation and regulations. And I’d like to think that the excellent work produced by the CQ and Roll Call teams helps them do so in as educated and prepared a way as possible. If so, we are helping them to carve a path out of the current chaos.

Please join us as we continue to look back and look ahead, and as we celebrate seven decades of CQ and Roll Call’s trusted, authoritative, and award-winning journalism. On Tuesday, December 15, at 11:00 AM ET, we are hosting a virtual anniversary celebration for employees, partners, customers and friends of the newsroom.

Register here.

On behalf of CQ Roll Call and FiscalNote, we want to say thank you. Thanks to our loyal subscribers, the journalists who’ve built our legacy, and the people who make Capitol Hill come alive. We couldn’t do this without you.
New Defense Act Includes Provisions to Rename Military Bases That Celebrate the Confederacy
By: Amy Shearn
Tags: United States, Politics, Congress, Military, Defense

New Defense Act Includes Provisions to Rename Military Bases That Celebrate the Confederacy

Photo: Michael Duva/Getty Images

The National Defense Authorization Act is on its way to the Senate, despite President Donald Trump’s impotent threat to veto it. As CNN reports, “the House of Representatives on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a sweeping defense bill with a veto-proof majority after a veto threat from President Donald Trump sharply divided Republican lawmakers, forcing them to choose between loyalty to him and legislation that sets defense policy for the country.”

This act authorizes defense spending and sets Pentagon policy. This year, it also includes provisions on how much money Trump can designate for his border wall and “another that would require the military to rename bases that were named after figures from the Confederacy.” According to Defense News, “The House appropriators’ plan includes $1 million for ‘the renaming of installations, facilities, roads, and streets that bear the name of confederate leaders and officers since the Army has the preponderance of the entities to change.’”

The vote — and Trump’s threat to veto — left House Republicans split, but the victory was sweeping enough to be veto-proof, “a major rebuke to the president.”
‘Appeasement politics’ more important for Congress: Karnataka BJP
By: India Ahead News
Tags: Bengaluru, Congress, Bjp

Bengaluru (Karnataka): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, December 10, slammed the Indian National Congress by saying that the latter, by opposing the recently passed Karnataka anti-cow slaughter bill was proving that ‘Appeasement politics’ was more important than the sentiment of the Hindu community.



The official handle of the BJP in Karnataka tweeted, “By opposing #CowSlaughterBan, communal @INCKarnataka is proving that “Appeasement Politics” is more important to it than sentiments of Hindus. Should one’s parents be sent to retirement homes after they become old? Is this what @siddaramaiah & @DKShivakumar propose?”



https://twitter.com/BJP4Karnataka/status/1337059474658484224



The Karnataka assembly on Wednesday, December 9, passed the controversial anti-cow slaughter bill.



The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill-2020 aims a complete ban on the slaughter of cows in the state and stringent punishment, including imprisonment of minimum three years to seven years, and a minimum penalty of Rs 50,000 which could be extended upto Rs five lakh for those who indulge in smuggling, illegal transportation and slaughtering of cows.



The Congress party has expressed fears that the bill might be misused for polarisation on communal lines. Whereas the ruling BJP has been saying that the bill is for the protection of the cows which are holy to the Hindus.



(With inputs from ANI)
Why a Federal Marijuana Legalization Bill is Imperative
By: Maria Paulina Samson
Tags: Congress, Marijuana Legalization, Controlled Substance Act, Uspto, Farm Bill

Marijuana legalization was a big winner in last November’s elections. 5 states overwhelmingly voted to legalize marijuana for both recreational and medical use, and 11 other states as well as the District of Columbia already approved recreational marijuana use before Election Day. Is federal marijuana legalization on the horizon? Clearly, there is a shift in national opinion on marijuana.

On December 4, the House of Representatives passed a marijuana legalization bill called the MORE Act. This is the first time either house of Congress ever voted on the issue. The bill would not only decriminalize its use, but also remove it from the federal Controlled Substances Act. However, the current Senate is unlikely to take up the bill, stalling any sweeping reform on the matter.

Despite state-level advances and obvious momentum towards marijuana legalization, there’s a long road ahead. As long as marijuana is on the federally controlled substances list as a Schedule 1 narcotic, CBD products can’t get IP protections.

The Controlled Substances Act (the “CSA”) is the last and most difficult hurdle for marijuana legalization. Passed in 1970, the CSA is the supreme law on cannabis use. Over the last few decades, states may have enacted their own bills regarding marijuana cultivation, but without a bill overturning this section of the CSA, cannabis companies are unlikely to gain any USPTO trademark protection.

For instance, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTAB”) affirmed a USPTO decision that denied an application for “hemp oil extracts sold as an integral component of dietary and nutritional supplements.” The applicants, the Stanley Brothers, made products containing cannabidiol (“CBD”). They sought to get the mark “CW Hemp” registered to label their brand. The USPTO based their decision on the CSA which still considers marijuana use to be illegal and unlawful.

The 2018 Farm Bill created an exception to the outright marijuana prohibition for “industrial hemp.” This industrial hemp exception allowed for the growth and cultivation of the cannabis sativa plant that contains less than 0.3% THC as allowed by state law. While the Farm Bill allows the growth of industrial hemp, it doesn’t go much farther. The Farm Bill does not protect or create any more exceptions for the illegal use of hemp after it is cultivated. Therefore, cannabis companies, such as the Stanley Brothers, are barred from seeking any federal IP protections.

Ultimately, the TTAB decision to affirm the Stanley Brothers decision will stand as precedent so long as the CSA stand on marijuana is the law. Cannabis use will continue to be a developing matter in politics as many argue that the criminalization of marijuana has disproportionately impacted people of color. The future of cannabis use is unclear as a new balance of power is established in the next year. Regardless, it is imperative to the future and progression of cannabis use to reform the CSA.
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar Full Interview: Unity, Covid-19 Bill, and Advice for Students
By: Victor Shi
Tags: Senate, Politics, Congress, Students, Amy Klobuchar

In this episode, Jill Wine-Banks and Victor Shi are joined by United States Senator Amy Klobuchar from the great state of Minnesota. We talk about the challenges facing the Biden administration during this time of partisan gridlock, the status of the covid-19 relief package, and her advice for students during this difficult period.

Enjoy below:

Intergenerational Politics is a podcast created by Jill Wine-Banks and Victor Shi dedicated to engaging all generations in politics with weekly unfiltered conversations with experts across the nation. Be sure to subscribe to and rate us on Apple Podcasts. You can also watch us on YouTube!
Business Liability for COVID: Finding a Middle Ground
By: Pablo Vazquez
Tags: Congress, Business, Economics, Finance

Business Liability for COVID: Finding a Middle Ground

Disclosure and evaluation of risk are central to American life as we know it, it’s time we use them to address the debate on COVID liability for businesses.

The United States economy is currently in pain, but the best is around the corner. For months now, the United States Congress has been unable to pass meaningful relief for the economy. Progress seems to have been made, but we are still seeing disagreements on liability protection for businesses and state and local government relief. I have no opinion on state and local government relief, I see both sides of the argument. However, business liability protection is an issue which I believe to have a simple solution: health and safety disclosures.

Businesses and other locales should be obligated to disclose the health and safety measures being taken to protect patrons. This information should be available at the entrance and other convenient areas as well as on a website, if applicable. Eventually, Google will add the option for this to be added to the business’ profile, making the information even more accessible. If a business discloses its practices and someone gets sick as a result of visiting the business, the business should be protected from liability, that is unless the plaintiff can prove that the business was negligent in following its disclosed practices.

I would liken this solution to nutrition facts on food labels. Food makers disclose which ingredients and which nutrients are in its products, so consumers can make educated decisions regarding their health. That is exactly what we need for businesses in the COVID era. If you go to a local brewery, you should have a right to know the measures being used to keep people safe. After all, by going to a restaurant you are risking getting sick. By requiring these disclosures, patrons can make educated decisions and more adequately assess risks. Conversely, businesses should not be liable if patrons get sick and all disclosed protocols are followed. You would not press charges if you had an allergic reaction to a snack that says, “May contain peanuts,” at least any reasonable person wouldn’t.

The main problem I have with my idea is that it would place immense pressure on employees and management to enforce the health protocols that the business has promised. Businesses would need to ensure compliance of policies or potentially face litigation.

As with any issue in America today, this is more complex than anything I could fit on one page. There are smaller issues that would need to be ironed out, but I think this achieves something we desperately need right now: fairness. Democrats are concerned with the incentives that providing unlimited liability protection for businesses; Republicans are concerned with the wellbeing of businesses (both of these are simplifications of each party’s arguments). I believe that this idea can address each party’s concerns in a fair and non-partisan way.
Please Don’t Call the Cops
By: S M Chen
Tags: Ketamine, Police Brutality, Kate Brown Governor, Racism, Covid

About a month ago, Kate Brown, Democratic governor of OR, in an effort to increase compliance with COVID-19 restrictions, urged people to call the cops on those not observing such restrictions.

Here is one link:

Ms. Brown likened it to calling the cops on your neighbors because they won’t turn the music down.
Quick one on why this govt can’t #EndSARS
By: Cheta Nwanze
Tags: Endsars, Nigeria, Police Brutality, Politics

By now it should be obvious that there is precious little willpower on the part of the government to do what has been asked of it and disband the obnoxious police unit called SARS. The best we are going to get is renaming the unit, shifting positions, and outright belligerence like the shameful spectacle of policemen refusing to work because they felt hurt by the protests, and today’s fun and games of the IG asking a court to stop all the panels into police brutality.

I think it’s important to ask why the government seems so unable, and indeed unwilling, to stop police brutality. I’ve given it a bit of thought, and for me, the answer comes down to money. Nigeria is pretty skint. You see, broke, is when I’ve finished paying my kids’ school fees, but I know that by the end of the month my employer will transfer some money to me. At that point, I don’t have cash in hand, but I know that a few weeks hence, that problem will be sorted. So it behoves me to plan properly so that the cashless period won’t last too long.

Bankrupt on the other hand, is when on a salary of ₦100k per month, I have to pay school fees of ₦75k per term for each of four kids, which translates to ₦300k every four months, or ₦75k per month, and then still take a loan that I have to service with ₦19k per month. That essentially leaves me with ₦6k per month to do everything else, and we all know that it is pretty much only Agege bread that can be eaten each day with ₦6k per month these days…

Yes, Nigeria spent 94% of its revenue settling gbese in the first half of this year, and therein lies the problem.

I’ve had cause to ask this before: what happens when Nigeria’s federal government finally runs out of money to a) continue servicing its rather expansive patronage networks; b) pay the members of the security services?

You see, as far as the Nigerian system is concerned, there are three topline charges — debt, because after we were “forgiven” in 2003, the lenders gave themselves sense, and since then, any time we want to dig into that hole, our loans are structured as ISPOs (irrevocable standing payment orders) that are taken at source. We can’t avoid those. The other two topline charges are, first, the patronage networks — political hangers-on who the elite believe to have influence, religious and traditional rulers.

The final topline charge are the security services. They have to be kept sweet because they have guns, and you don’t want your DSS bodyguard arranging with kidnappers to pick your wife up you know.

The problem is, if you have only 6% of your revenue left after paying gbese, then you don’t have much to settle Kasali. So you have to choose between Kasali and Chief as to who will get settled.

This problem is solved when you realise that you’ve given Kasali a gun, so he can go and settle himself. So you turn a blind eye, and it doesn’t matter what some silly little kids say. Kasali has to eat.

That is the end of my story.
Oink!
By: Josh Herring
Tags: Social Justice, BlackLivesMatter, Poetry On Medium, Police Brutality

Oink!

One bang, two bang, three bang, four

they celebrate when his body hits the floor

too many shots in the air

for his life, they have no care

It’s a lose-lose scenario, you see

even when you obey

they still hold the power to take your life away

and they take advantage of that

knowing they’ll get paid leave

and the tip of a cap

15, 20 times too many

how many shots does it take

to show it’s the black man you hate?

They’ll let the school shooter walk

but will shoot the black man if he talks

our bodies destined to be surrounded in chalk

there has to be a standard for all

because who do we call when the police man breaks the law
Black Lives Matter is a Libertarian Movement
By: A New Kind Of Peace
Tags: Libertarianism, Police Brutality, Politics, BlackLivesMatter, Government

Earlier this year, a Reality Check Insights survey Race and Policing in America polled 1,400 respondents and found that Democrats were far more likely (63%) than Republicans (5%) to support Black Lives Matter. The 2020 Democratic party platform states very clearly its support for BLM. The two-party system in US politics has now reached a point where Democrats support big government while rejecting police brutality.

This inconsistency in the Democratic party ideology demonstrates a failure of two-party politics and presents an opportunity for a political movement embracing a peaceful, live-and-let-live philosophy to thrive.

To make this point a bit clearer, consider that law and law enforcement are fundamentally intertwined. Without law enforcement, individuals and organizations don’t adapt their behavior to abide by government’s laws. There is a symbiotic relationship between law and its enforcement, and a bigger government must be accompanied by a bigger police force. Just ask Norway about its experiment with optional tax payment.

The key insight is that if law implies law enforcement, then defunding the police means disarming the government and its laws. Violent, imperfect, and biased law enforcement is a price we pay for our laws and regulations. The Democratic party claims to believe in Black Lives Matter, but it means very little when coupled with efforts to expand government across the board.

Neither major US political party takes BLM seriously. The only US political party that advocates for a small, less violent government across the board is the Libertarian party. 🗽✊🏿
The #EndSars Movement Inspired A New Wave of Creatives Across The Diaspora
By: Branda Ayo
Tags: Nigeria, Police Brutality, Diaspora, Endsars, Nigerian Politics

Photo taken by Emmanuel Mensah Agbeble

As the Nigerian government continues to coerce, deny, and downplay the #EndSars movement, Nigerian youth and black people across the diaspora are still standing firm to amplify the message.

In November, The Guardian reported that Nigerian officials were blocking necessary aid by imposing fines on support groups and made allegations via social media that the Lekki Toll Gate Massacre was being exaggerated. This comes a few weeks after they reportedly disbanded the corrupt police unit, SARS.

Nigerian Lives Matter

As I watched my Nigerian friends on social media express outrage and pain at their country’s actions, I also saw a movement of creatives being inspired to step up and speak out. Creatives like Petah Jay who spoke out during many of NYC’s first demonstrations, and Emmanuel Sasu, doing the work of photo-documenting the movement.

Seeing my friends and fellow citizens of the diaspora coming together in this painful time reminds me of the same unity we expressed for George Floyd & Breonna Taylor for #BlackLivesMatter. This is a message that needs to continue being shared. Whether on the continent or across the diaspora, this is something that should matter to all of us.

#BuhariSoroke #EndSarsNow

Chinyere M. Ugokwe, the founder of Dashiki Pride and Afreekmoji, is using her social influence to create social change. As an outspoken creative and Nigerian American, she made it a priority to uplift her community and denounce all efforts aimed at undermining the movement.
Endangered Species
Tags: Blm, BlackLivesMatter, Police Brutality, Help

You ever been scared to kiss your family goodbye and walk out the house not knowing if you’ll make it back home or not? You ever been scared not knowing next time your loved ones see you is on the news or in a casket?

Getting rejected or not even a call back from jobs because your voice wasn’t as appealing over the phone. Not even getting the chance to be considered for opportunities because of your birth name.

Going to college all four years to get your Bachelor’s degree then a few more for your Master’s and Doctorate’s degree, but still being treated as though your achievements are nonexistent. Not having those same equal opportunities because you’re inheriting daddy’s business.

You ever watched your people get killed by a cop on camera and watch the cop get away with paid leave and a slap on the wrist. Watching interviews of parents mourning, cities burning, and a country lacking leadership.

I never knew what it meant to be an African American until 2020. To be afraid of the next words to come out the President’s mouth, to catch a virus that is ten times as deadly to you than everybody else, or not knowing who the next trigger happy cop will shoot. I had a wake up call as thirteen year old back in 2012 when Trayvon Martin died. Not knowing what will come next to my people or myself because I watched a murderer walk free. With a constant target on our backs because the color of our skin and without any probable cause at all. Being hunted and sought out by white militias and policemen, we apparently should trust with our lives. No, I’m not blaming anybody for these issues because black people kill black people too but being African American anywhere in this world in dangerous.

Everybody wants to listen to rap music and steal from our culture because it looks cool. Knowing if they had the choice to become black they would reject the offer without a second look. That is the issue, don’t scream black lives matter if you don’t cherish black lives. Don’t steal our culture if you don’t want to face the same issues while doing so.

Animals aren’t the only ones going extinct.
Casey Goodson, Jr.
By: Dawn Downey
Tags: Police Brutality, BlackLivesMatter, Social Justice, Racism, Police Shooting

Casey Goodson, Jr. fell onto his kitchen floor, his house keys dangling in the door lock. He’d been fatally shot by a county sheriff’s deputy in Columbus, Ohio. He was black. He was twenty-three. He was home. When the report flashed across the evening news on December 4, 2020, I leaped from my chair and fled the room. I didn’t want to feel the urge to vomit again. I didn’t want to collapse onto my knees again. I didn’t want to scream. I fled and forgot. But the words and images gnawed at me for a week. When my stupor broke, I was shocked by my unwillingness to feel empathy or compassion. Shocked by the ease of slipping into numbness. How often? How many more? Stop counting, Dawn. This was the first time Casey Goodson, Jr. was killed by the police. I will remember him.
A New Photography Project Calls Attention Back to Amadou Diallo Shooting
By: Tracey Ford
Tags: Culture, Police Brutality, Art, Photography, Racism

A New Photography Project Calls Attention Back to Amadou Diallo Shooting

Before George Floyd and the many others we marched for this year, there was Amadou Diallo, who was shot 19 times in the doorway of his Bronx, New York, apartment by plainclothed officers 21 years ago. The four officers involved were acquitted. One of them, officer Kenneth Boss, was eventually promoted.

Photographer Steven John Irby’s latest project, 41 to ’99: A Photo Essay, centers Diallo’s murder — the tragic killing of an unarmed Black man by police. The officers fired 41 bullets at Diallo, who they mistook for a rape suspect and claimed was reaching for a gun. Diallo was unarmed and reaching for his wallet to identify himself.

Irby’s photo essay is the first of a series of projects emerging from Ava DuVernay’s Law Enforcement Accountability Project (LEAP). The program plans to support 25 projects over the course of the next two years — including mediums like film, theater, photography, dance, and so on — via DuVernay’s nonprofit Array Alliance.

“I wanted to make sure that we launched with a case that was a deep wound that had never healed,” DuVernay told the Washington Post. “That case created so much harm beyond the death of our brother because of the secrecy and the years-long lack of visibility into what was going on then,” she adds. “No one was truly held accountable in the way that many feel should have been.”

Check out 41 to ’99: A Photo Essay here.
Minneapolis Police Attack Black Man in George Floyd Square — CALI FM RADIO
By: Lashaun Turner
Tags: Minneapolis, George Floyd, Police Brutality

Minneapolis Police Attack Black Man in George Floyd Square — CALI FM RADIO Lashaun Turner ·Dec 16, 2020

A Minneapolis officer with concealed badge number kneels on a Black man’s back in a Dec. 4 incident in the same place where George Floyd was killed.

https://www.cali.fm/category/the-daily-blackness/
Impact Saturday: Unlike the Police, the Internet is Your Friend
Tags: Police Brutality, Internet, Social Media, Opportunity, Research

So many people actually have a phobia (or maybe apathy) for checking for things online; probably people who do not know that the littlest worries they have can be solved by the internet. Others really wish that they could use the internet but do not know how to go about it.

Impacty brings good news to social sector workers who fall into any of the categories stated above –The internet is your friend, and amazingly so.

In this short article, we would be giving you tips on what the internet can do for you. There are a million of them but we’ll be sharing key help nuggets.

Research: Social workers whose work primarily depend on research, statistics, figures, history, patterns or facts can make a best friend out of the internet. The internet is a home for whatever research work you have to make. Just use the right search words and you’ll get the best results.

Polls: For some social work which depend on current reality, opinions or suggestions, making polls online can help out greatly. Using Google Forms is one of the most available, affordable (actually free) and popular ways to conduct polls.

Reach & Visibility: The internet, through social media specifically can help you showcase your work, reach more people and be visible to the right people. Impacty Community is here to throw more light on that through our programs.

Meaningful Partnerships and Opportunities: Show me a successful social worker, and I’ll show you multiple meaningful partnerships and collaborations which that organisation or individual has had. The internet helps foster this. Opportunities abound in social work and they are right here on the internet.

We hope this article was helpful. For more, do contact us. We are ready to help.
Here We Are
Tags: Dionne Brand, Police Brutality, Black Feminism, BlackLivesMatter, Breonna Taylor

In Dionne Brand’s Verso 55, the Canadian poet imagines an exchange between the souls of those held captive in the cells of Ghana’s Door of No Return and a group of Black travelers visiting the site.

As the visitors enter to pay their respects and offer thanks, the ancestors awaken and express their astonishment:

“…they felt happy for us, we were still alive.

Yes, we are still alive we said.

And we had returned to thank them.

You are still alive, they said.

Yes we are still alive.

They looked at us like violet; like violet teas they drank us.

We said here we are.

They said, you are still alive.

We said, yes, yes we are still alive.

How lemon, they said, how blue like fortune.”

I think of this verse often. I imagine a similar reaction from those we’ve lost to police murder and the prison industrial complex. Those who’ve spent their final moments in handcuffs and chokeholds and with knees on their necks. Those who were taken while playing video games and sleeping in bed and eating ice cream and playing in parks and carrying sandwiches.

We’ll continue to say their names and tell their stories so that hundreds of years from now when our offspring return to the places their lives were stolen, they might be beheld with the same astonishment:

You are still alive?

Yes. We are still alive, here we are.

You are still alive.

Yes, yes. We are still alive.
Hate Crime
By: Michelle Torez
Tags: Police Brutality, BlackLivesMatter, Equality, Racism, Poetry

Caring is not in fashion, the old just gets replaced with the new

the police keep saying ‘keep the peace’

while targetting a certain few.
SPOTLIGHT Fall 2020
By: Spotlight Staff
Tags: Blm, BlackLivesMatter, Police Brutality

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FALSE: Uganda’s Electoral Commission boss did not make this statement about police brutality against opposition candidates
Tags: Uganda, Elections, Police Brutality

FALSE: Uganda’s Electoral Commission boss did not make this statement about police brutality against opposition candidates

A Facebook post with remarks allegedly made by Uganda’s Electoral Commission (EC) chairman, Simon Byabakama, on armed officers beating presidential candidates, is FALSE.

The post claims the EC boss urged the public to stop seeking the commission’s intervention on the matter, saying, “Don’t ask us to stop police or the army from beating presidential candidates. We don’t have that mandate to tell police what to do. The commander in chief is Museveni. Go and ask him for permission.”

However, the commission’s spokesman, Paul Bukenya, told PesaCheck on phone that the statements were fake and were not made by the chairman.

On November 26, 2020, the Electoral Commission boss wrote to the Inspector General of Police, Okoth Ochola, about the blocking and or disruption of scheduled presidential candidates’ campaign meetings.

In his letter to the IGP, Justice Byabakama urges the Uganda Police to ensure that electoral activity takes place in a peaceful manner with no disruption or blocking of campaign programmes.

The claim comes amid complaints of police brutality against opposition presidential candidates, who say they have been denied access to the mass media while on the campaign trail.

PesaCheck has looked into a Facebook post with remarks attributed to the Electoral Commission chairman, Simon Byabakama, about the assault of opposition presidential candidates at the hands of Ugandan police and the army and finds it to be FALSE.