Just Some Tidbits
Me being me, I've got to share :). Recently I've noticed a couple articles in the alternative press about ways to move towards a green economy, taxing the rich for a more equitable and fair country, and so on. On the other hand, I've also noticed the usual depressing news.

One Way to Move Forward to a Green Economy - No More Weapons:
Workers in the military-industrial complex support moving their jobs and manufacturing resources from military to civilian use. This is not surprising to me, people are not generally stupid, they know that making more and more weapons and military machines doesn't help anyone really. The article talks about two reports, one of which discusses how the military-industrial complex developed, and how much pollution, environmental destruction 'dollar for dollar, military spending creates far fewer jobs than spending on other sectors like education, health-care, and mass transit' and relative poverty the industry creates. The other report was a survey of, admittedly a small number, of workers in the military industrial complex in the US and Britain. Many of them think moving towards green industry, halting spending on weapons (and moving that spending to civil production and social projects) and not making new weapons is a good idea. I agree, it's a great idea, let's do it!

Workers building a bus in 2018 in CA ( from the article above)

Another Way Forward to a Better Society and Economy:
Oxfam, a global group that champions economic justice, amongst other things, released its annual report on how much the rich take from our economies, our environment, etc. They time this report to coincide with Davos. Anyway, the report discusses tax rates, historical tax rates (like the the 'good ole 1950s in the USA when the richest were paying something like 90% in taxes and the world's first mass middle class emerged) and how the tax rates on the richest need to be raised. I love this quote from the WWI era when taxes were being raised:

“If the government has a right to confiscate one man’s life for public purposes,” War Finance Committee chair Amos Pinchot pronounced, “it certainly ought to have the right to confiscate another man’s wealth for the same purposes.”

(note there's a typo in the article. It mentions 2017, but I think it means 1917). Heck, I support it! Tax the Rich, Feed the Poor!

In More 'Normal' Environmental News:
Biden has issued more permits for oil and gas well-drilling on public lands in his first two years than Trump did in the same period of his 'reign'. This is yet more evidence that it doesn't matter which side, donkey or elephant, is in control; they are all basically the same when it comes to oil, gas, and drilling. Lots of nice talk on the donkey side, but not all that much action. No talk on the elephant side, and no action.

On a More 'Funny' or Ironic Note - Who Coulda Predicted This?
Ok, maybe a lot of us. A British equity firm (aka a strip 'em and dump 'em firm) acquired the Democratic Party's campaign tech firm, NGP Van, and... ohh, troubles. Maybe this is why many of the begging emails have stopped?

A Final Comment
I ordered a couple of books from PM Press last week and they just arrived. The books are on aspects of the history of Punk music in England. I'm excited to start reading them, and going back into my memories of that time of my life. I love PM Press. It' radical, in some ways, and supports workers and socialism. When I read their books or website I get kinda ... weird - riled up and hopeful.

One of the books I got: The Fascist Groove Thing: A History of Thatcher's Britain in 21 Mixtapes is gonna be really fun to read. I am going to listen to each mixtape (after I collect all the music) while reading it!

So, thanks for reading, let us know what you think about the above and what's happening with you and what you are learning, paying attention to, pissed off about - whatever!