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14 votes
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US offers nearly half-a-million Venezuelan migrants legal status and work permits following demands from strained cities
16 votes -
Copying US president Franklin Roosevelt, Joe Biden uses executive power to create a New Deal-style American Climate Corps
60 votes -
US national debt tops $33 trillion for first time
10 votes -
US President Joe Biden's decision to skip Climate Ambition Summit called a 'disgrace'
24 votes -
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a lawsuit Saturday against five major oil companies and their subsidiaries over climate change
45 votes -
This Obamacare disaster had a surprising turnaround
16 votes -
US President Joe Biden strongly defends auto workers in first remarks after strike
29 votes -
Hunter Biden indicted on US federal gun charges
23 votes -
Bill to legalize Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes in California heads to Governor Newsom's desk
27 votes -
Speaker Kevin McCarthy directs a House panel to open an impeachment inquiry into US President Joe Biden
37 votes -
Who's running for US president in 2024? Meet the candidates — and likely candidates — vying for your vote
27 votes -
A proposed law to ban caste discrimination in California has touched a nerve, led to controversy
41 votes -
US President Joe Biden: Don't give Wall Street control of our public water systems
New advisory report pushes disastrous privatization schemes Link to the article This week, President Biden’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council issued a report recommending the privatization...
New advisory report pushes disastrous privatization schemes
This week, President Biden’s National Infrastructure Advisory Council issued a report recommending the privatization of the nation’s water systems.
The chair of the advisory council is the CEO of Global Infrastructure Partners, an infrastructure investment bank with an estimated $100 billion in assets under management that targets energy, transportation, digital and water infrastructure.
The report recommends, among other things, that the federal government “[r]emove barriers to privatization, concessions, and other nontraditional models of funding community water systems,” and open up all federal grant programs to support privatized utilities.
Food & Water Watch Public Water for All Campaign Director Mary Grant issued the following response:
Water privatization is a terrible idea. President Biden should have never appointed an investment banker to chair an advisory council for the nation’s infrastructure. Wall Street wants to take control of the nation’s public water systems to wring profits from communities that are already struggling with unaffordable water bills and toxic water.
Privatization would deepen the nation’s water crises, leading to higher water bills and less accountable and transparent services. Privately owned water systems charge 59 percent more than local government systems, and private ownership is the single largest factor associated with higher water bills — more than aging infrastructure or drought.
Instead of relying on Wall Street advisers, President Biden should support policies that will truly help communities by asking Congress to pass the Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity and Reliability (WATER) Act (HR 1729, S 938). After decades of federal austerity for water, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was a step forward, but it provided only about seven percent of the identified needs of our water systems. The WATER Act would fully restore the federal commitment to safe water by providing a permanent source of federal funding at the level that our water and wastewater systems need to ensure safe, clean and affordable public water for all.
Certain resources/commodities/services like water, food, electricity and health should remain in public domain. I don't understand the askance that is associated with this view.
Once these fall to the profiteering domain, we will be sucked dry and forced to accept abnormal standards as normal to gain access to these which in first place should be in public domain protected in public interest by public representatives.
These resources will be and are used by IMF and sister organisations that are usually called "banks" as leverage to get their debts serviced or sold as AAA+ securities.
They tried that with real estate but that burst since a physical house doesn't just disappear which leads to emergence of derelict patches within the estates. This would certainly destroy the demand and the dead estate would translate into toxic securities by just being there and not disappearing. Similarly things that are too volatile will also not be accepted as essential by the public as was the case with electronics/net. So that's not worth it.
But what if the resource or commodity is essential, which means it has sustained demand, as well as it is volatile enough which means it vanishes after its monetary utility. Now that's "gold". Theoretically its value will not only be retained but it may even increase with no downside. Perpetual profitability.
55 votes -
US President Joe Biden is still trying to forgive student debt in ‘a very direct confrontation’ with US Supreme Court, expert says
59 votes -
Carbon removal should be a public good
30 votes -
Hydrogen, additionality, & Joe Manchin
5 votes -
US federal grants will replace tunnels beneath roads that let water pass but not fish
16 votes -
US Education Department readies latest tranche of student debt relief but faces new legal challenges to the program
18 votes -
Is keeping Donald Trump in the 2024 US election beneficial to Democrats?
Yes, Trump has a real chance of winning in 2024 and that would be dangerous for the world in many ways. On the other hand Trump seems like the easiest candidate for the presumptive nominee...
Yes, Trump has a real chance of winning in 2024 and that would be dangerous for the world in many ways.
On the other hand Trump seems like the easiest candidate for the presumptive nominee President Biden to beat.
- A lot of Americans are rightly scared shitless of Trump and will turn out to vote against him.
- Trump is likely to try to dodge debates which benefits Biden, who has a stuttering problem and a gaffe problem.
- Trump is elderly, like Biden so that somewhat neutralizes the age issue for Biden.
If Trump was removed from the election DeSantis might become the front runner or nominee
- He is young, and the age issue would be on Biden again
- He might have the debates Trump would have eschewed and do well in them
- DeSantis would likely pick up Trump's base in that situation
The worst scenario with Trump being removed from the election would if someone other than DeSantis became the nominee
- Again, the age issue would be a thing for Biden again
- The unknown nominee could be a better debater than Biden
- The unknown candidate would have neither Trump's nor DeSantis's baggage, causing more voters to stay home or swing voters picking him/her over Biden
Edit:
To clarify, I mean what would happen if Trump was kept entirely out of 2024 - no 3rd party runs, no vote splitting.
45 votes -
White House unveils ban on US investment in Chinese tech sectors linked to the military
41 votes -
US President Joe Biden to designate a new national monument surrounding the Grand Canyon
45 votes -
‘Republican stooge’: Robert F Kennedy Jr mocked in the US after it’s revealed half his Super PAC funding comes from GOP mega donor
30 votes -
US President Joe Biden's IRA shuts Africa out of critical minerals supply chains
6 votes -
US Congress is debating the controversial surveillance power in section 702 - White House and privacy advocates have strong opinions
10 votes -
US President Joe Biden signs historic order moving prosecution of US military sexual assault outside chain of command
133 votes -
Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon says US President Biden must stop approving new fossil fuel projects
28 votes -
"Gen Z for Change" leader interrupts US President Biden's press secretary to demand climate action
40 votes -
Bernie Sanders 'disappointed, but not surprised,' as US Senate rejects 10% military spending cut
17 votes -
US workers are dying in heat wave but Joe Biden administration is still working on federal standards for working in extreme heat
29 votes -
2022 guidance from President Biden's administration assures doctors they’ll be protected by US federal law for providing emergency abortion care even if their state bans the procedure
40 votes -
US Supreme Court strikes down President Biden's student loan forgiveness: Now what?
117 votes -
What we know about the Washington State man arrested near Barack Obama’s home with hundreds of rounds of ammo
34 votes -
US Democrats and Republicans share core values but still distrust each other
27 votes -
US President Joe Biden's Federal Transit Administration announces $1.7 billion in grants for electric bus fleets and infrastructure
34 votes -
What the hell happened to the California of the ’50s and ’60s?
12 votes -
Alabama town gets first Black mayor, but the previous one won't leave
46 votes -
US President Biden can probably forgive student debt even if SCOTUS rules against him
28 votes -
White House launching $5 billion program to speed coronavirus vaccines
3 votes -
Chinese spy balloon flies over the United States: Pentagon
16 votes -
US citizens can now sponsor refugees directly. Here’s how to apply.
9 votes -
Year of public service, proposal by MD Governor Wes Moore
6 votes -
US President Joe Biden signs marriage equality bill into law
16 votes -
Brittney Griner released by Russia in one-for-one prisoner swap for arms dealer Viktor Bout
5 votes -
Pew Research Center's US political typology
7 votes -
Just days after promising advertisers that Twitter would not be a “free-for-all,” Elon Musk promoted a right-wing rumor about the vicious hammer assault on Paul Pelosi
29 votes -
The 2022 Nuclear Posture Review: Arms control subdued by military rivalry
10 votes -
US will take in some Venezuelans, expel others to Mexico
5 votes -
The Biden-Harris administration's US student debt relief plan
35 votes -
California first US state to offer free meals to all public school students
24 votes