Mammon category archive
“Money To Burn” 0
“The Arc of Deductibles” 0
Thom talks with Wendell Potter about the current state of health insurance.
Visit Wendell Potter’s Center for Health and Democracy.
It’s Not the Labor that’s Short. It’s the Paychecks. 0
At the Des Moines Register, Maria Reppas remembers her time working in a restaurant and makes the case that small business owners (such as restaurants) are grousing about the wrong shortage. A snippet (emphasis added):
Instead of a mythical labor shortage, the United States has a livable wage shortage.
The Pity Party 0
(Warning: Short commercial at the end.)
Follow the Money 0
At Above the Law, Joe Patrice looks at a law firm that’s cashing in on representing maskless marauders and anti-vaxxers.
It’s Bubblelicious, The Origins Issue 0
Thom looks back at the inception of the right-wing think tank bubble.
Taming the Toxic Titans of Tech 0
This is a relatively long video (a little less than half an hour), but well worth a listen.
Accounts Receivable (Updated) 0
Afterthought:
I am not surprised that the right-wing bubble is filled with statements and political cartoons attempting to place the blame for the temporary interruption to gas supplies to the southeastern U. S. on President Biden, even though it was caused by (likely Russian) cyber-gangsters and an American company’s inadequate security practices.
Fact is absent from right-wing discourse.
Anyone who has paid attention to businesses’ attitudes towards cyber-security has seen that security is often treated as an afterthought–a troublesome expense to be minimized–rather than as an essential aspect of doing business.
No, the blame for the success of this ransomeware attack rests squarely on the pipeline’s operator’s incompetence.
Addendum:
In the Tampa Bay Times, cyber-security expert Mark Khan’s article supports my conclusion as to where the responsibility for this security breech lies and offers hints for protecting systems from being pwned.
The Money That Was Followed 0
In a follow-up relevant to the previous post, David and his guest, Jim Freeman, Director of the Social Movement Support Lab at the University of Denver and author of the book “Rich Thanks to Racism: How the Ultra-Wealthy Profit from Racial Injustice,” discuss how businesses and plutocrats (yes, I think that seemingly archaic term is appropriate) profit from maintaining racism.
All That Was Old Is New Again, Coralling Customers Dept. 0
If you are like us, you’ve probably found yourself relying more on streaming services for diversion and documentaries in these viral times. At the same time, you may have also noticed the proliferation of media streaming services and encountered increasing difficulty finding something worth your while and conveniently available amongst the deluge of drek and the torrent of trash.
The EFF makes a convincing argument we’ve seen this all before.