• 69 Posts
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Joined 2 years ago
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Cake day: July 30th, 2023

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  • I mean, isn’t that kind of how migrant workers have always operated? 🤔

    Good PDF here:

    https://pvarts.org/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Yaya-Timeline-of-Agricultural-Labor-USA.pdf

    I’m going to snip out some choice bits I personally found interesting, but the whole thing is worth a read:

    "1860s-1930s: Farming became a large-scale industry.

    The U.S. began importing Asian labor as African Americans moved into other industries and as the need for labor increased.

    By 1886, 7 out of every 8 farm workers were Chinese. Japanese and Filipino workers were also brought into the country.

    1882: The Chinese Exclusion Act banned the employment of Chinese workers. It was the first major attempt to restrict the flow of workers coming to the U.S.

    1914-1918: During World War I, migration to the U.S. from Europe declined, increasing the demand for Mexican labor to fill the void.

    During this period, growers lobbied to create the first guest worker program, allowing more than 70,000 Mexican workers into the U.S. The program ended in 1921.

    Based on this history, we can argue that in modern times not much has changed: farm workers continue to be some of the most exploited workers in the U.S.

    This broken immigration system fails to recognize the people who work hard to put food on grocery store shelves, restaurants, and dinner tables across the country.

    Instead, they are marginalized and face abuse, detention, and deportation."

    I’d also say this… the first home I remember was on a farm just outside city limits. Next door to a saw mill and across the street from railroad tracks. Yes, yes, I have slept through an earthquake. ;)

    For the kids in that area at that time, the summer job was “berry picking”. It is the most tedious, hot, sweaty, back breaking, mind-numbing, finger aching work any human being can ask another human being to do.

    The idea that we treat those workers any less than any other worker should be criminal.







  • Just got this email, waiting for the “leopards eating faces” moment:

    From: [email protected]

    "Social Security Applauds Passage of Legislation Providing Historic Tax Relief for Seniors

    The Social Security Administration (SSA) is celebrating the passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill, a landmark piece of legislation that delivers long-awaited tax relief to millions of older Americans.

    The bill ensures that nearly 90% of Social Security beneficiaries will no longer pay federal income taxes on their benefits, providing meaningful and immediate relief to seniors who have spent a lifetime contributing to our nation’s economy.

    “This is a historic step forward for America’s seniors,” said Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano. “For nearly 90 years, Social Security has been a cornerstone of economic security for older Americans. By significantly reducing the tax burden on benefits, this legislation reaffirms President Trump’s promise to protect Social Security and helps ensure that seniors can better enjoy the retirement they’ve earned."

    The new law includes a provision that eliminates federal income taxes on Social Security benefits for most beneficiaries, providing relief to individuals and couples. Additionally, it provides an enhanced deduction for taxpayers aged 65 and older, ensuring that retirees can keep more of what they have earned.

    Social Security remains committed to providing timely, accurate information to the public and will continue working closely with federal partners to ensure beneficiaries understand how this legislation may affect them."



  • It’s going to be really bad this time, and I was watching the talking heads on the news discounting the CBO report by saying “Naw, naw, it’s cool… see it’s going to cause economic growth… everything is going to be fine!”

    And I’m like “That’s a lie, and it was a lie when Reagan said it 45 years ago. It’s NEVER ONCE worked out that way.”

    But nobody in the media is willing to follow up with that question: “So why didn’t the growth happen all the other times we tried this?”



  • Biden’s primary problem was that he could not comprehend where the criticism was coming from and would re-frame it in such a way as to absolve responsibility.

    Look at the complaints about the Afghanistan evacuation. It was COMPLETELY fucked up and fucked up in ways that were 100% self inflicted.

    People tried to tell him, Guam offered to help evacuate civilians, it was all denied under the black and white premise of “Well, we can’t stay, we have to get out, what do you want from me?”

    Nobody is saying “stay”, we’re saying look at the order of operations. Can we please get all the civilians out first? Apparently nobody thought of that. Can we not leave behind any usable gear for the Taliban to take over? Yeah, nobody thought of that either.

    Look at the complaints about inflation and the economy. Outright denial there was even a problem. Clinton could have told him “It’s the economy, stupid!” Biden? “What are you talking about, Jack? We have the best economy in the world! In… the… WOOOOORRLLLLD!”