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Though set in the UK, the article below applies equally to other countries, where the illusion that we can  "persuade" elected champions of corporate profiteering to support progressive causes is a self-defeating diversion from our real task. As stated in the article, this is "the building of alternative institutions of collective power and decision making, outside of the state." With most politicians it's not a question of not comprehending reality or of worrying that more radical policies will alienate middle-of-the-road voters.

April 21 2021

The pharmacy and health insurance giant gave $5 million to Partnership for America’s Health Care Future.

And what are the chances that ‘little brother’ Trudeau is doing the same?

April 21, 2021

The law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service has been quietly running a program that tracks and collects Americans’ social media posts, including those about planned protests, according to a document obtained by Yahoo News.

Apr. 22, 2021

“Instead of creating new vaccine billionaires, we need to be vaccinating billions in developing countries.”

Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca—three of the world’s top coronavirus vaccine manufacturers—have paid out a combined $26 billion in dividends and stock buybacks to their shareholders over the past year, a sum that could fully fund the cost of inoculating Africa’s entire 1.3 billion-person population.

Apr. 21, 2021

Apr. 22, 2021

‘I do believe this will save lives.’ Labour leaders and analysts say more must be done.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the B.C. government says it would like paid sick days to be available to all workers, but it has so far avoided stepping in to fill the gap.

Mar 30, 2021

How cannabis can be part of an affordable housing future — not just one for eco-conscious elites.

Winter in Paris is notoriously clammy, and this winter was no exception. But Gregory Ferembach didn’t need to turn on his heat much. One reason? The walls in his public housing building are lined with one of nature’s best insulation materials: hemp.

“We’re never cold in winter,” Ferembach said in French. “The kids walk around barefoot all the time, or even in their underwear.”

April 21, 2021

"Thanks for being part of this movement. Thanks for being part of this party."

In two consecutive sentences, federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh's speech to his party's recent convention referenced a central source of both division and potential dynamism.

Is the NDP a party, or a movement? And does it matter?

Tue, April 20, 2021