#lobbyists

[liberalsarecool]

We need to end lobbyism as we know it. Corporate bribery is the worst way to provide a human right like health care.

Sad that $800 million/year in bribes costs us $650 billion/year in savings.

[relaxedstyles]

[reality-detective]

Matt Gaetz exposes how Lobbyists buy Congress 🤔

[stoicmike]

Technology and crime are merging -- a marriage made in hell… -- Michael Lipsey

[odinsblog]

THIS WEEK, WASHINGTON’S top Israel lobby is rallying its supporters to go to Capitol Hill and falsely claim to lawmakers that people aren’t starving in Gaza and Israel isn’t blocking aid shipments, according to talking points obtained by the American Prospect.

Israel has led a brutal siege on Gaza since Oct. 7, when Hamas killed 1,139 Israelis and kidnapped more than 200. More than 31,000 Palestinians have been killed, 2 million have been internally displaced, and hundreds of thousands are at imminent risk of famine, according to the United Nations.

The powerful lobbying group American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, is working to maintain support for Israel’s war, amid increased protests and public outcry. This week, AIPAC convened in Maryland for its annual policy conference, which it uses to marshal its donors and supporters to serve as a grassroots lobbying army in the halls of Congress.

The Prospect obtained a copy of AIPAC’s talking points for supporters heading to the Hill — and they are extreme, to say the least. The documents instruct supporters to claim that “reports that people are starving in Gaza are false,” and say that “Israel is not blocking the delivery of aid to Gaza.”

The AIPAC talking points additionally claim that Hamas wants people to believe Gazans are starving in order to “exert pressure” on Israel, and argues the “United States must not fall into Hamas’ trap.”

These claims from AIPAC are false. Gazans are starving on a massive, unprecedented scale. According to the United Nations, 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza — almost the entire population of the region — are facing “crisis or worse levels of food insecurity.” Half a million of those included in that figure face “catastrophic” levels of food insecurity.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) — a leading food security analysis and advocacy group — classifies the Gaza Strip as being in Phase 4 “Emergency” status food insecurity, with a high risk of imminent famine conditions.

(continue reading)

[goddessdiary]

Why You Need to Save Seeds & How to Grow Your Own Food

Why Save Seeds?

Over the past century, small-scale seed-saving has nearly vanished, with farming dropping from 40% of Americans in 1900 to less than 1% today. Mechanized agriculture and the rise of patented genetically modified seeds have replaced regional agriculture, with four corporations (Bayer, Corteva, ChemChina, and BASF) patenting & controlling most of the seed market. Between 1903 and 1983, the U.S. lost 93% of its seed diversity, while 75% has been lost globally, fueling a broader biodiversity collapse that threatens food security.

As climate change intensifies, the need for diverse & locally grown crops is more urgent than ever. Regions like California face extreme weather wildfires, threatening staples like corn and forcing shifts in agricultural practices. Restoring seed diversity and encouraging regional plant breeding can help adapt to these changes and protect the food supply.

What you’ve read is based on facts, but what I’m about to say is my opinion. No one should own seeds. What’s next, water? Oh wait, people own that too. Personally, I think it is morally & ethically wrong to patent & control basic resources that are essential for survival. It’s sick. Have you ever wondered why so many seedless produce options are available? Sure, they’ll say it’s due to consumer preferences, but who asked for that? Why would companies (who only care about profit) go through the trouble and expense of genetically modifying food to fit our supposed needs? They do it because they don’t want you to have seeds, save them, and grow your own food. They want you to keep paying for everything and depend on them. Did you know that there are male and female species of trees, and the female plants bear fruit, while the male plants release pollen that triggers allergies for months. Want to guess what type of trees they plant all around cities? Male. It’s rare to see a public tree with apples or oranges on it. So, not only do they deny us fruit in public spaces, but they also contribute to allergy problems and runny noses that require medication for months. Look it up, knowledge is free.

What You Can Do:

1. Shop at local farmers markets (if and when you can), because they have locally grown and seasonal produce

2. Grow your own food! If that’s too much or you don’t have the resources to start a garden, see if there is a community garden you can be a part of or at least grow herbs you regularly cook with. You can do indoor plants/herbs by the window or under a lamp that mimics sunlight.

3. Save & harvest seeds from the produce you buy

4. Barter with neighbors/friends/community members. For example, if they have chickens you could trade potatoes or cucumbers for eggs or any type of service like mowing a lawn or sewing/ repairing clothing. Research and hone skills that are very useful, get good at what you resonate with.

5. Grow your own food & herbs

6. Educate yourself on topics like what lobbyist corruptions own which food brands and what to boycott or avoid and how to grow certain types of food (they all have unique preferences for soil and water and sunlight) etc

Saving & Harvesting Seeds:

Choose healthy looking heirloom or open pollinated varieties, make sure they’re not hybrids or sickly

Let the produce fully ripen

Harvest Seeds:

*For vegetables (like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers): scoop out seeds & clean them

*For beans: let them dry on the plant & shell them

*For grains: harvest when fully ripe & thresh to remove seeds

*For herbs: let flowers dry & collect seeds

Clean the Seeds: remove any plant matter or pulp from the seeds

Dry the Seeds by laying them out to dry in a cool, dry area for about a week

Store the seeds in paper envelopes, glass jars, or cloth bags. Label with seed type & harvest date. Keep in a cool, dry, and dark place

Easiest Produce to Save Seeds From: tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, lettuce, herbs

How to Grow Your Own Food:

1. Choose What to Grow

•Start with easy crops: radishes, lettuce, basil, mint, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, zucchini, spinach, strawberries, beans, peas, garlic, and hot peppers

•Pick plants suited to your climate and season

2. Find the Right Location

•Select a sunny spot (most veggies need 6–8 hours of sunlight)

•Ensure the area has good drainage to prevent waterlogging

3. Prepare the Soil

•Test soil pH (ideal for most crops: 6.0–7.5)

•Add compost or organic matter to enrich nutrients… consider composting

4. Decide Between Seeds and Starters

•Seeds: Cheaper, take longer, good for root veggies like carrots

•Starter Plants: Easier, faster, ideal for tomatoes, peppers, or herbs

5. Plant at the Right Time

•Follow seed packet / plant label instructions for timing and other details

•Avoid planting too early or late in the season (based on the plant) to prevent frost damage

6. Water Regularly

•Water deeply 1–2 times per week (more in hot climates). Avoid overhead watering to reduce mold and disease; water at soil level

7. Mulch and Weed

•Add a layer of mulch (straw, wood chips) to retain moisture and prevent weeds

•Pull weeds regularly to reduce competition for nutrients

8. Feed Your Plants

•Use natural fertilizers like compost tea or fish emulsion every few weeks. Avoid over-fertilizing, which can harm roots and attract pests

9. Protect From Pests

•Use companion planting (look into that)

•Install netting, row covers, or natural deterrents like neem oil if pests appear

10. Harvest at the Right Time

•Pick vegetables when they are ripe but not overgrown (check size/color guide)

•Harvest regularly to encourage more production

11. Do Your Own Research

•Test your soil and your environment to make sure it’s good for what you’re trying to do

•Look into permaculture and homesteading, try to make your garden the most efficient and sustainable it can be

[aunti-christ-ine]

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

Trump Just Made Bribing Politicians Legal Again

Donald Trump issued an executive order regarding receiving gifts from lobbyists.

Buried in Donald Trump’s rescission of dozens of Biden administration executive orders, the president has reversed a rule that thwarted the power of lobbyists in Washington.

Biden’s Executive Order 13989, titled “Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Personnel,” required members of the executive branch to sign an ethics pledge stating they would not receive gifts from lobbyists or lobbying organizations.

The Biden-era pledge also included several clauses related to a “revolving door ban,” which prohibited all employees entering the government from working with regulations and contracts related to their former employer or former clients for a period of two years from their appointment.

The revolving door ban also prohibits lobbyists joining the government from working on matters that they had personally lobbied for or engaged in, participating in the “specific issue area in which that particular matter falls,” or seeking employment with an agency they had lobbied within two years of their appointment.

The pledge included a “golden parachute” agreement, where employees had to agree not to accept payment from their former employer to join the administration.

The ethics commitment was part of Biden’s efforts to crack down on shadow lobbying, by which former government officials are able to influence policy without registering as lobbyists.

Clearly, Trump doesn’t have the same concerns. At the start of his first administration, Trump imposed a similar, even harsher rule against lobbying that prevented his former employees from lobbying for five years. He repealed that order in 2021. Dozens of Trump’s aides were able to get round that rule anyway because it was only ever weakly enforced, according to Open Secrets.

Trump has rescinded the Biden version of that executive order as part of one of his own first executive orders that repealed more than 75 of Biden’s executive orders.

Under Trump, it will be legal to bribe politicians again, the revolving door of Washington will continue to swing, and calls to “drain the swamp” will fade into nothing more than a dull murmur.