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Politics shouldn't be treated as team sport, but voters who insist on doing so should try viewing it as a matter of the people's interests vs corporate interests. Just one look at how Congress votes vs how they buy stocks proves how self-interest can supersede political ideology. ImageImageImageImage
"Politico identified about 30 percent of members of the House and Senate who are currently active in the stock market. Several of these members play in the markets over which they have some direct legislative responsibility"

politico.com/story/2017/05/…
"Lawmakers reported holding tens of millions of dollars in tech and pharmaceutical stocks. Congress continued to invest in these companies even as it debated how to deal with rising drug prices and tech giants’ intrusions of privacy"

theguardian.com/us-news/2019/s…
"Studies show that politicians’ portfolios consistently outperform the market. One analysis of 61,998 stock trades showed that politicians outperformed the market by 20%, with the portfolios of high-ranking Republicans beating the market by a whopping 35%"
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
Politicians who claim they can't be bought are often the ones doing the buying. Republican Congressman and Montana gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte is a perfect example of this: ImageImageImageImage
Politicians' public stances are often at odds with their private investments and accepted donations. Democratic Congressman and candidate for Senate Joe Kennedy is a perfect example of this: ImageImageImageImage
Congress' constant inaction on climate change is not merely a matter of ideology...

Congress' recent rejection of a 10% cut in the Pentagon's budget was not merely a matter of ideology...

"51 members of Congress and their spouses own between $2.3 and $5.8 million worth of stocks in companies that are among the top 30 defense contractors"
readsludge.com/2020/01/13/the…
People were rightfully outraged by Senators profiteering during a pandemic, but it's wild that this outrage isn't shared when Congress members also profit from their votes on healthcare, climate action, and even the military-industrial complex. One was bound to lead to the other. ImageImageImageImage
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Tuxedo Mask
@TheLoveBel0w
In this 1984 interview, Little Richard speaks on persevering through racism in the music industry, bringing people together, and the artists he was grateful for.
Malcolm X on why we need to redefine "progress"
Today marks the 99 year anniversary of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. 300 people were killed and hundreds more injured by heavily-armed racists for the crime of prospering while Black in America.

Here's a first-hand account from survivor Venice Sims, who was just 17 at the time:
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Tuxedo Mask
@TheLoveBel0w
THREAD: The line between inept government and bought government is often blurred, and that's intentional. Those doing the buying have convinced people that policies for the greater good are "pie in the sky," but that their looting of the commonwealth isn't. A reversal is overdue.
The fact that the economic costs of a pandemic and mass deaths have taken precedence over the human costs doesn't expose a broken system, it exposes how the system is designed. Treating these failures as incompetence rather than intentional only serves to absolve the profiteers.
It's no coincidence that expanding the social safety net in meaningful ways is dismissed as "pie in the sky," but the growing and profitable industry of public benefit suppression isn't.

motherjones.com/politics/2019/…
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@TheLoveBel0w
From medicare-for-all to wealth inequality, this pandemic vindicated many of Bernie's policy positions. For Biden to have a chance in November, he will have to acknowledge through his platform that a return to normal simply isn't enough for many who suffered under the status quo.
Biden needs to look at his enthusiasm numbers and adapt accordingly. Betting solely on people's enthusiasm to vote against Trump won't be enough. He will need both.
The best route to party unity is for Biden to address people's legitimate concerns. Going forward, it will be important that Biden and his supporters not confuse constructive criticism and appeals for introspection with bad faith attacks.

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