#the coalition states

[xccentriktigress]

"Ah, my friend - you're a gentleman, and a scholar, and a fine judge of scantily-clad women."

Darren to Brian, RIFTS: Sonic Boom - Chapter 3

[numerous-bees-in-a-skin-suit]

he wants YOU

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

By Annie Norman

The public learned last fall of one particularly controversial element of United States Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s 10-year plan for the U.S. Postal Service that would be rolling out soon. Essentially, the function of sorting and delivering mail would be consolidated into regional centers, leaving empty former sorting space in the back of post offices. No layoffs were announced.

At first glance, this sounds innocuous, but seasoned postal observers suspect that with less activity happening at smaller or rural post offices, they become vulnerable to a reduction in hours or closure. This leads to the kind of job losses that initially present as don’t worry, we’ll relocate you to the regional center but are experienced by postal workers as if I don’t commute two hours there and back each day or more, I lose my job.

In response, The Save the Post Office Coalition, which I coordinate, wrote to the Secretary of the USPS Board of Governors to ensure the board was made aware of emails from 160,000 postal customers across the country urging them to stop the disastrous elements of DeJoy’s plan before it’s too late.

Among the several thousands of personalized messages, we highlighted a handful in our note:

“The USPS provides a service to the public. It was never intended to be a profit-making business. I’m disappointed & ashamed at where politics seem to be taking us.”

— David B. (veteran) Seattle, Washington.

“As a former United States Postal Service employee and as someone who regularly uses the [USPS], I ask you to do something about DeJoy, who continues to degrade everything about the postal service — especially the service part of it.”

— Kristin F. in Cottonwood, Indiana.

“It is important for seniors like me to be able to count on a dependable means of getting medications without having a further drain on our resources.”

— Peter L. in Los Angeles, California.

“I believe that a well supported and functioning post office is a hallmark of a healthy, advanced nation. Stop DeJoy’s undemocratic plan now before it’s too late.”

— Janet M. in Downers Grove, Illinois.

“We senior citizens depend on USPS. Please help keep it viable.”

—Joanne L. in Akron, Ohio.

“Our postal service should be about serving us rather than serving businesses that give it money.”

— Douglas L. in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

We have yet to hear a response or acknowledgement that the messages from the public were received, and DeJoy continues to make it clear that he doesn’t want anyone asking questions about his 10-year plan.

On the same day that USPS leadership received our coalition’s messages, the Postal Regulatory Commission issued a public inquiry order to DeJoy asking that USPS provide details on the sorting and delivery changes under his plan. In the order, the Commission said it “notes that stakeholders have expressed concerns regarding a lack of a forum to explore the impacts of these proposed changes.”

DeJoy responded with an objection to the Commission’s inquiry. On May 17, DeJoy delivered congressional testimony for the first time in nearly two years at a hearing of the House Oversight Subcommittee on Government Operations. Rep. Summer Lee asked him why USPS is objecting. In his response, DeJoy was openly hostile toward the postal regulator, accusing them of actively participating “in the destruction of [USPS].”

Just last month, DeJoy sat down with the press for a 90-minute interview where he once again doubled down with an adversarial attitude toward postal regulators who seek details for the public on his 10-year plan, calling the Commission’s inquiry “nonsense,” saying, “We don’t need to be babysat.”

On May 22, DeJoy delivered the keynote address at the 2023 National Postal Forum where he spoke at length touting his efforts to implement “dramatic changes” and increase the pace of his 10-year plan. The postmaster general told the audience that “dramatic changes must be done at a pace, and with a tenacity that is rarely seen.” However, these changes are a mystery to many, and for a public institution, this mystery is dangerous.

If the past is any guide, the effects of potential post office closings and reduced hours will be devastating, particularly to rural and Indigenous communities. The Save the Post Office Coalition organized a petition to the Postal Regulatory Commission and the USPS Office of Inspector General urging them to stop DeJoy’s “dramatic changes” and demand public input, and so far has received over 131,000 signatures from the public who regularly use the postal service.

The bottom line is that the public has a right to more transparency and input in the decision-making process at a public institution. This requires engagement with said public — which DeJoy is actively resisting. When you put a rich, white, private-sector executive who isn’t used to public accountability and cooperation in charge of a treasured public institution, such a clash might be inevitable. It’s plain DeJoy doesn’t have the temperament for public service.

Communities across the nation want dramatic change at the post office too, but that dramatic change is not to be secretive or a surprise; it must be a shift toward protecting and expanding the public footprint and services available at the post office to meet new needs and change with the times. The People’s Postal Agenda outlines a framework for an expanded USPS that includes things like postal banking, expanded nonbank financial services like bill payment and ATMs, WiFi in parking lots, and public electric vehicle charging.

We still remember former President Donald Trump’s plan to privatize the post office, right before he put his thumb on the scale to have his donor DeJoy appointed as postmaster general. We also remember DeJoy’s role in sowing public fear and uncertainty in the vote-by-mail process by slowing down the mail and then sending out mailers to voters that meeting their state’s deadline would not ensure their vote would arrive in time to be counted, causing him to be sued by the NAACP and Public Citizen, as well as secretaries of state.

There is nothing to suggest that DeJoy has abandoned the privatization vision of the people who got him the job. So it’s our job as citizens to make absolutely sure any upcoming “dramatic changes” to the post office don’t shrink and privatize the institution but protect and expand it for generations to come.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Gabe Fleisher at Wake Up To Politics (10.07.2024):

This morning also marks the beginning of the Supreme Court’s 2024-25 term, which will be the focus of today’s newsletter. The court’s last term was marked by highly charged political cases, several of them decided with the six conservative justices in the majority and the three liberal justices in the minority, including Trump v. United States (which set the standard for how presidents can and can’t be prosecuted) and Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo (which significantly reduced the power of the regulatory state). The court also weighed in on disputes over racial gerrymandering and bump stocks for firearms (also along the same 6-3 battle lines), as well as cases involving January 6th, social media, abortion pills, opioids, pollution, and Donald Trump’s eligibility to run for the White House (all of which were decided along more mixed ideological lines). [...]

That’s the context in which the nine justices will appear from behind the bench this morning to hear their first oral arguments of the term at 10 a.m. ET. The term ahead does not — yet — have as many controversial cases on the docket, but there are still several high-profile disputes. Here are some of the key cases to watch this term:

United States v. Skrmetti: After years of the issue roiling the country, this will be the Supreme Court’s first formal foray into adjudicating transgender health care. The case stems from the federal government’s challenge to a Tennessee law banning puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and gender-transition surgeries for minors. The court’s decision will have broad national ramifications, likely carrying over to the 24 other states with similar prohibitions on the books.

Garland v. VanDerStok: Like last term, which included multiple gun control cases, the Supreme Court will take up another Biden administration gun regulation later this week. This one involves “ghost guns,” firearms that are put together with kits at home — and therefore don’t have serial numbers and are untraceable by authorities. In 2022, the Justice Department unveiled a rule requiring vendors who sell ghost guns to treat them as fully completed firearms; gun rights groups are now challenging the regulation.

Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Paxton: Another hot-button culture war issue is at the center of this case, which involves challenges to a Texas law requiring pornographic websites to verify their users’ ages. The Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the adult entertainment industry, is arguing that the law violates their First Amendment rights, while Texas says the statute protects children. As in 10 other states with similar laws, the site Pornhub has opted to block access to users in Texas rather than comply with the requirements.

Other cases involving the death penalty, nuclear waste, and vaping are also poised to reach the court.

SCOTUS will have some big cases on the docket this term:

United States v. Skrmetti (gender-affirming care)

Garland v. VanDerStok (ghost guns)

Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton (age verification)

[pureheroine2013]

The fact that science is not at the base of everything is so baffling to me. Everyone is just claiming things and arguing without any backup and meanwhile We Can Know Stuff. I’m not sure if anyone told you guys but there are ways to find out this stuff

[news4dzhozhar]

Verified charities and aid organizations with their websites if you want to donate to help Palestinians. If you cannot afford to donate, please share this post.

[agentfascinateur]

"A ceasefire should be imposed on Israel. There is no other way to stop this carnage in Gaza..."

- Francesca Albanese, UN Rapporteur

#I agree

#I volunteer

[madtomedgar]

I often wonder what the world would look like if pressing local or state level issues people claim to care about generated the same kind of action and enthusiasm that massive national news stories with complicated power mapping do. Idk even when I'm 100% with the people who are up in arms. Like what if just as many people in MA had turned out for the ROE act as turned out to protest the overturn of Roe after the fact? What if the rent control actions were as well attended as the ceasefire actions? I have had many instances where I am trying to get progressive people who regularly go to big demonstrations to show up for something state level they have said they care about and they just won't. And what I'm left with after that is the conclusion that where their interests actually are is feeling like a part of something big and heady rather than accomplishing a concrete goal and that's. Demoralizing.

[profanetools]

the worst part of mostly making up your own fanon is that if something doesn't exist you just have to make it up yourself.

by which i mean, i'm trying to think what shape dwemeri spycraft and intelligence takes (especially in the late first council era), what those organisations (if any) look like, how centralised they are, how observant and privacy-impeding they are, all off the cuff just to make a very stupid joke

[gothicprep]

something I wish more people understood is that wanting palestinian independence and anti-zionism are distinct political positions.

[awesome-casuallyfamouscollector]

There are already 14 countries in the 'drone coalition' founded by Latvia, and after a decision made by the government April 16 Latvia will send the first significant cargo of drones to Ukraine, Prime Minister Evika Siliņa (New Unity) told the media after a cabinet meeting Tuesday.

Siliņa said the first batch of drones requested by Ukraine is ready, according to LSM's Latvian language service, without quoting her directly(..)

P.S. Considering the failure of the Americans deliver what they promised in Ukraine, it is critically important for the other democratic countries to develop their own military industry and reduce their dependence on the armaments produced by US companies!

The current slogan in the military industry today: "Made in Europe!!!" In crisis situations, in the case of Israel and Ukraine, the behavior of American politicians shows that they cannot really be trusted! European countries must learn from the painful experience of Israel and Ukraine and develop their own national armament industry much more actively...

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Daniel Marans at HuffPost:

Matt Brooks, executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, summed up the Republican pitch to Jewish voters succinctly in his speech to the Republican national convention in Milwaukee on Tuesday evening. “My message today to the Jewish community is clear: There is only one pro-Israel party, and it’s the Republican Party,” Brooks declared, as Jewish convention attendees waved yellow signs with the words, “We are Jews for Trump.” In keeping with their historically Democratic leanings, in 2020, the overwhelming majority of Jewish voters opted for President Joe Biden over former President Donald Trump.

And Trump, whose daughter Ivanka converted to Judaism before marrying Jared Kushner, has even disparaged Jewish Democrats, claiming they “hate Israel.” But Trump’s allies apparently see an opening following Hamas’ deadly terror attack on Israel on Oct. 7. Democrats remain divided on support for the ferocious invasion of Gaza Israel launched in response, which has killed more than 38,000 Palestinians, the vast majority of whom are civilians. Brooks’ message got greater amplification on Wednesday — the theme of the day’s programming was “Make America Strong Again,” and it focused heavily on foreign relations and the military. The lineup of primetime speakers included, in quick succession, Orthodox Jewish campus activist Shabbos Kestenbaum; Orna and Ronen Neutra, the parents of an American citizen, Omer, captured by Hamas while serving in the Israeli military; and former Rep. Lee Zeldin, a Jewish Republican who ran an unexpectedly spirited race to unseat New York Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2022.

Kestenbaum, a recent graduate of Harvard University, has already made national waves with his criticism of pro-Palestinian campus activism, which he has said veers into antisemitism. He is now suing Harvard for allegedly violating his and other Jewish students’ civil rights. [...] Kestenbaum, a registered Democrat who was so progressive in 2020 he posed with then-congressional candidate Jamaal Bowman, told the Forward earlier this week he still supports many domestic progressive policies, such as raising the minimum wage and the Green New Deal, but said progressives’ abandonment of Israel and refusal to take antisemitism seriously had pushed him to accept Republicans’ invitation to speak at their convention. In his remarks on Wednesday, Kestenbaum sounded every bit the true believer in Trump’s second term, listing the ways in which he believed Trump would stand up for pro-Israel Jewish students and what he sees as the anti-American streak in higher education.

[...] In fact, Biden, who has expressed pro-Israel views dating back to the 1970s, has angered many on the left, as well as Arab American and Muslim voters, with his refusal to impose material consequences for what many human rights groups and Western governments have determined are Israeli war crimes in Gaza. Biden showed his dedication to Israel by shepherding a foreign aid bill through Congress in April that included $26 billion in military and economic assistance to Israel, along with $1 billion in humanitarian aid for Palestinians. Like other recent presidents from both parties, Biden has instead mostly expressed his disapproval of Israeli decisions in conversations with Netanyahu. He won some progressive praise in May for pausing a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, on the grounds that those munitions pose unnecessary danger to civilians in dense areas, but he has yet to follow through on promises of a broader weapons cutoff in the event of a massive Israeli invasion of Rafah.

[...] Brooks might have been overstating the case. But given how divided rank-and-file Democrats are on the topic of Israel, many national party leaders would just as soon avoid the topic. It is hard to imagine a speaker making a similar request of the crowd at the Democratic national convention in Chicago this August, let alone getting that kind of positive response.

With Jewish speakers (including lifelong Dems) being featured at the RNC, the GOP sees a play to win over Jewish voters incensed at the fairly still pro-Israel Democratic Party’s increasingly pro-Palestinian turn, especially after October 7th.

[homebrew-rifts]

Coalition IAR-2 Abolisher Robot

Originally released on p. 35 of Rifts Sourcebook 1

The Abolisher, Infantry Assault Robot (IAR-2), is another giant vehicle that is part of the Coalition States' military forces. Unlike the UAR-1 Enforcer, which is designed specifically to combat ground troops in an urban/city environment, the Abolisher is a frontline infantry unit with long-range capabilities and heavy firepower for obliterating enemy troops. The focus of its armaments is anti-robot and anti-tank, hence the six heavy cannons bristling around what appears to be the head. The rim of cannons has given the 30 foot (9 m) robot the nickname 'Thorn Head."

The heavily armored bot is a massive, humanoid shaped, all terrain assault vehicle designed to withstand heavy bombardment. However, in keeping with the frightening Death's Head motif, the Abolisher is designed to look like a massive skull with arms and legs. The two eyes are infra-red and conventional light searchlights for night assaults. The upper skull body can rotate 360 degrees and is operated by a five-man crew. Two soldiers are gunners operating three cannons each, the pilot and the copilot/communications engineer (either the pilot or copilot can fire the small, forward facing, dual laser turret) and the top hatch gunner, usually a SAMAS.

The big guns are devastating weapons that can blast an enemy from all sides simultaneously. The robot's arms and hands are powerful and lethal in hand to hand confrontations (can rotate 180 degrees at the shoulders). On top of the behemoth is a Gunner's Hatch which allows a SAMAS or soldier to perch himself on the head and fire at the enemy from the top of the robot. An inner hatch locks automatically, preventing the enemy from easy access should the top gunner be killed; the inner hatch can only be opened by one of the pilots.

The only real disadvantage to the 30 foot (9 m) giant is that its incredible weight and large size reduce its speed and maneuvering capabilities. Although great in the field as an outer perimeter defense or as an infantry assault unit (tank with arms and legs), its speed and size make it an easy target (hence the heavy armor). Unless one wishes to destroy a city, the bot is not well suited for city conflicts. Its weapons are too powerful for use in the city, able to demolish an S.D.C. skyscraper in mere moments, and its size and bulk makes maneuvering through narrow streets difficult. Still, it is excellent for city defense, being able to be placed wherever needed, and ideal for infantry combat.

IAR-2 Abolisher: Size 9 (Huge), Crew 5+2, Strength d12+10, Toughness 60 (36), Pace 14+d10 (70 MPH)

Notes: MDC Armor, Shoulder STS-Cluster -4 to hit and 24 Hardness.

Weapons:

6 x C-144 Auto-Cannons (Spaced 360 degrees around the crown of the bot; Range 100/200/400, 5d12+5 Mega Damage, AP 12, RoF 1)

Anti-Personnel Lasers (belly gun)

Black Market Cost: 80 Million credits, Rarity -4

[news4dzhozhar]

This isn't the first time. Back in 2010 the Freedom Flotilla for Gaza turned into a massacre when the IOF murdered 10 of the participants and imprisoned the rest. This time they can't even get out of Turkey due to 1 bogus delay after another. They are trying to bring food and desperately needed supplies to those in Gaza.

[donkeysanddug]

Today marks the 53rd anniversary of the shootings at Kent State University.  On May 4th, 1970, the Ohio National Guard randomly fired into a group of students protesting the Nixon Administration’s bombing of Cambodia (which was technically a neutral country in the Vietnam War).  Thirteen students were struck by bullets and four were killed.  

Of the four killed, two were not even participating in the protest.  The guard simply became frustrated and fired on unarmed college students.  People have claimed all sorts of things about the demonstration to justify the shootings but the reality is there is no evidence to support any of the claims.  They just turned, in unison, and fired into a crowd.  

Donkeysanddug supports freedom of speech, the right to assembly, and student activism.