Semi-regular political linkspam: Brave New World edition

[owlmoose]

Welp, here we are. Day 7. Here's hoping we make it the rest of the way.

• More proof that California is not remotely fucking around: Governor Jerry Brown's State of the State address. He's previously had some strong words on taking action against climate change, but he laid down the law on a bunch of other issues too: immigration, healthcare, etc. California has 10% of the nation's population and the world's sixth largest economy; that's a lot of weight to throw around, and I fully support doing it. I have friends who keep making noises about a "Calexit", but I think that's both mean-spirited and short sighted. We need to be leading the charge against Trumpism, not running in the other direction.


• Protest Works: Jamelle Bouie on the power of the 1/21/17 Women's March and why it proves we need to stay on the offensive.


• Fortunately, it looks like there are a lot more protests in the works: The Scientist March (no date set yet, but they seem to be moving quickly), the Tax March on April 15th, a National Pride March on June 11th (I might even try to get to DC for that one). I think a big protest every two months, with rapid response gatherings in response to specific things like the immigration rallies yesterday and the GOP gathering in Philadelphia today, sounds about right. I hope we can keep it up.


• As these protests, marches, and rallies come together, I hope that we can be mindful of the many legit criticisms of the Women's March around intersectionality. This is one example, on race issues, but there are many, many others. We can celebrate the good aspects of the march while still listening to the critiques, learning from them, and trying to do better next time.


• From 2016 but always relevant: Why Rep. John Lewis is not to be trifled with.


• One of my favorite pieces of resistance (much as I hate that it needs to be done) are the "rogue" Twitter accounts being created by government employees to get around the limits that the new administration has been placing on the spread of information. Unofficial accounts for the National Park Service and individual parks, NASA, the EPA, the USDA, and over a dozen others have started popping up. StollmeyerEU is maintaining an updated list here. Who knew that, when the revolution came, that the National Park Service would be leading the way? (Well, maybe this lady.)

And for today's bit of fun: remains of giant prehistoric otters have been found in China.

Comments

[forestofglory]

I'm happy to see our state actively resisting but as state we have some long standing issues that are going to get in the way if we don't fix them. I am mostly thinking of people 13 here because government programs cost money. But it would be great if we could get our water system in better shape too. I am planning to write my state reps about these issues.

[lassarina]

Fuck yeah, California. (Also, please don't Calexit, we need your leadership and love and also the wine, because wine is how I plan to get through the next 4 years.*)

* I am mostly jesting, as I barely drink anymore, and wish to be clear that I am not actually making self-destructive decisions here and now I killed the joke real good and dead, didn't I.