Too Venal for Words category archive
Vaccine Nation 0
Farron comments on what happens when a science denier is put in charge of an agency that (supposedly) relies on science.
Our Society Is in Decay 0
Exhibit One: Florida Man.
Afterthought:
I don’t think it’s much of a stretch to posit that today’s Republican Party has abandoned the concept of “promoting the general welfare.”
The Plane Truth 0
Farron is less than sympathetic to Donald Trump’s hurt fee-fees about being called out for criticized for accepting a bribe an emolument.
DOGE Bull and the Rule of Lawless 0
At the Idaho State Journal, Jim Jones explains why he is concerned how Elon Musk’s DOGE has been sweeping up data from federal agencies in violation of laws designed to protect the privacy of citizens’ day. Methinks he raises legitmate concerns. Here’s a couple of snippets from his piece:
(snip)
There is great concern that the targeting of migrants with the powerful master database could be a test run for using that system against U.S. citizens who oppose Trump policies.
Mean for the Sake of Mean Likes
0
An Upper Darby woman was convicted of torturing animals and then posting the videos on social media.
(snip)
Investigators say she did it to get likes and follows.
One more time. “social” media isn’t.
Republican Thought Police 0
If the truth hurts, well, just tell truth to take a hike.
The Rule of Lawless 0
At Above the Law, Kathryn Rubino notes that Donald Trump has now set his sights on British lawyer and International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan for (gasp!) prosecuting. She goes on to note that
Trump’s bold sanction play for lawyers doing their jobs is yet another attack on the rule of law.
The distressing details are at the link.
“History Does Not Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes”* 0
At the Detroit Free Press, John Lindstrom hears a rhyme. Here’s a bit of the cadence:
Clearly Trump is behaving as though he is above the law . . . .
_________________
*Mark Twain.
A Notion of Immigrants, Reprise 0
Mary Trump lists the lies told by the lying liars in the Trump maladministration to justify his persecution of immigrants.
On the Spectrum, Vaccine Nation Dept. 0
Secretary of HHS Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has resurrected the debunked claim that vaccines cause autism, and, in so doing, may well jeopardize the public’s health.
At Psychology Today Blogs, Sam Goldstein takes a deep dive into what science has learned about autism over the past half century or so. He makes three main points; follow the link for a detailed exploration of each.
- Most of autism’s rise is due to (increased–ed.) awareness, not an actual increase.
- Genetic causes of autism are firmly established by decades of research.
- Autism now includes many with social learning differences, not just disability.
I commend his article as a worthwhile read to arm yourself against the dis- and misinformation spread by the anti-VAX movement,
DOGE Bull 0
As one who has lived through hurricanes (after Donna, we were without power for eight days and my father had to sink a well so that we had water), I do not think that gutting the NOAA is a good idea.
Afterthought:
I do not think it is beyond the realm of plausibility to suggest that one of our major political parties no longer believes in promoting the general welfare.
Vaccine Nation 0
Emma and the crew discuss how anti-VAX lies endanger public health the public’s health.
Influencer Idiocy 0
He wanted “likes.”
Deservedly so.
I sometimes fear that the Disinformation Superhighway is speeding us to a society of stupid.
This New Gilded Age 0
At the Washington Monthly, Richard W. Painter investigates the incestuous relationship between a roll-call of billionaires and the Trump maladministration.
Just go read it for yourself.
Vaccine Nation 0
Elon Musk’s DOGE to states currently dealing with measles outbreaks: You’re on your own, pals.
Also, too . . . .
Suffer the Children 0
That’s no scripture, but that is apparently a Republican family value.
How Republicans Support the Troops, One More Time 0
Republicans erase more veterans, apparently because they weren’t white enough.