We Will Not Be Silent

We Will Not Be Silent
by C.A. Matthews

We will not be silent
We will not be forced to stay quiet while injustices occur
We will not pretend that domestic terrorism doesn't happen here
We will not say that what happens to our fellow Americans doesn't matter in the long run just as long as we have our Netflix and our Starbucks
We will not let go of our mantra: "Health care is a human right!"
We will not agree that a woman acknowledging a sexual assault committed against her is somehow "selfishly ruining" a man's career and legacy 
We will not kowtow to political bullies who attempt to shut us down because we choose to think outside of the box and support progressive candidates of all persuasions

We will not be tricked into staying home on election day or voting for the "lesser evil" because, as we know, evil is still evil
We will not acknowledge false leaders, leadership and hypocritical thinking
We will not condone endless wars and imperialism
We will not cheer while innocents suffer for the sake of a billionaire's bottom line or an oilman's wet dream
We will not consider our fellow human beings "illegal" because of the color of their skin, their religion or their country of origin  
We will not permit children to be locked into kennels
We will not sit idly by and let the world go to hell in a handbasket if there's a remote chance that our speaking out and sharing information with others can turn the tide of tyranny and bring about a future to believe in
We will not stop crying out like a voice in the wilderness
We will not give in to despair and bemoan our fate and the fate of our planet without a fight
Welcome to the Revolution Continues
We will not be silent

 Our featured blogger this week shows us what it means to be forced into silence throughout history .

Censorship

by Coast Watcher

Censorship (noun)

1a. The institution, system or practice of censoring b. The actions or practices of censors, especially censorial control exercised repressively. Source: Merriam Webster dictionary

Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information, on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient" as determined by a government or private institution, for example corporate censorship. Source: Wikipedia.

Censorship, the suppression of words, images, or ideas that are "offensive," happens whenever some people succeed in imposing their personal political or moral values on others. Censorship can be carried out by the government as well as private pressure groups. Censorship by the government is unconstitutional. Source: ACLU

The First Amendment--Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances--protects against government restrictions on or interference with the content of speech. The First Amendment applies to government at the national, state, and local level. 

Suppression of dissenting voices is the hallmark of dictatorships—both secular and religious—and has occurred throughout history. In the twentieth century repressive regimes achieved it through official examination and prohibition of books, plays, periodicals, films, radio, and later television programs. News reports were vetted to ensure they played to the government narrative. They were altered to suppress ideas said government found objectionable or offensive. Even in relatively liberal Britain, the office of the Lord Chamberlain had the responsibility of censoring plays and movies from 1737 up until 1968.

The militarized dictatorships of Mussolini, Hitler and Stalin saw the major imposition of censorship upon the populace. Post-war Germany saw a complete revulsion against the Nazis and all they stood for, which led to its own form of censorship. Under the current German law of haßsprache (hate speech) it is illegal to depict any kind of glorification of the Nazis and their emblems, including the crooked swastika--something which has caused problems with Germany's Hindu community since the true swastika is an emblem of their faith. In the twenty-first century we have the new phenomenon of internet censorship.

I suspect we all know what a dumpster fire Facebook turned into before, during and after the 2016 election. Let’s not forget the deliberate use of child pornography to attack the Facebook pages of Bernie Sanders’ supporters on the eve of the 2016 New York primary. A certain party favoring the Clinton campaign had no compunction in using a particularly vile and rightly censored means of crippling her opponent, for which Clinton never apologized nor condemned.

Facebook recently carried out a purge of over 800 political pages in these closing weeks of the mid-term primaries. The message is clear—corporate censorship is a real and potent force in support of the current right-wing regime in the White House and Congress. In fact corporate censorship has probably overtaken government censorship in terms of widespread use and effectiveness.  

"The extent of Internet censorship varies on a country-to-country basis. While most democratic countries have moderate Internet censorship, other countries go as far as to limit the access of information such as news and suppress discussion among citizens. Internet censorship also occurs in response to or in anticipation of events such as elections, protests, and riots." (Wikipedia)

It’s no secret that polling machines have been and are being rigged to give a result of use to The Establishment. It’s no secret that governmental and corporate activities which directly contravene the Constitution are being reported in the independent online media while the mainstream media remains strangely silent—until you consider that a mere handful of people own 90% of all mainstream media outlets in the United States and these people have a vested interest in the status quo. It would be interesting to know the opinion of those people about Trump’s continuous attacks on fake news, in other words anything that throws his governance (or lack thereof) into a bad light—which is every day now.

It’s vital to the interests of the people of this country and the world beyond for news to be reported and information disseminated. Even humble outlets such as this blog have their part to play in keeping freedom of speech alive. That’s why I close this piece with the heartfelt request to share the blog post widely, so that we may hold our "betters" and those who govern us to account.  

Related links:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/censorship

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship

https://www.aclu.org/other/what-censorship

http://gilc.org/speech/osistudy/censorship/

https://ncac.org/resource/what-is-censorship

BIO: Coast Watcher is doing his best to spread the word of progressive revolution in spite of the odds. He vows to keep speaking out and demonstrating that the worst periods in history can indeed repeat themselves and, therefore, we have to remain vigilant at all times. He will not be silent!



More on Facebook purging alternative media sites from The Real News Network. https://youtu.be/PgXv6igtW3c

  ***

Calling them out whether they like it or not. Don't let them shut us down!

The Revolution Continues has set up an easy way to donate to the cause of taking on the corrupt system and keeping it ad-free. Three years plus without obnoxious ads (that many news sites have to cover costs) has been great, but the editor does have to pay for internet, electricity, etc., out of her own pocket, and she would like to be able to pay her contributors in the future. 

Please consider donating a buck, $5, $10 or $20--any amount you can share with us to keep this progressive site going without those awful ads is appreciated. Help us become a strong alternative voice protesting against the corrupt establishment and its paid-off corporate mouthpieces. Give to TRC today. Thank you.
 

You can donate via Paypal at http://paypal.me/camatthews 
And thanks to a generous reader, we have a new domain name. 
Please share the link: http://therevolutioncontinues.com
Power to the people and not the corporations!

***

From Health Care Voter:

We don't have to remind you what's at stake in this election.

Contrary to President Trump's tweet earlier this week, Republicans will NOT protect people with pre-existing conditions. In fact, they're literally suing right now to eliminate the Affordable Care Act and those protections.

We need all hands on deck to stop the Republicans' plan to repeal the ACA, cut Medicaid and Medicare, and rip away health care from millions of Americans if they win in November. And to make sure we stop the Republican health care sabotage, we need your help.

Today, reach out to your friends and family with our new outreach platform to make sure they head to the polls on November 6 (or earlier if your state has early voting!).

The most effective way to hold the Republicans accountable for their years of senseless and hurtful attacks on our health care is for you -- yes, YOU -- to reach out to your friends and family directly.

Tell them why you're a Health Care Voter and what this election means to you. Your voice and conversation will have a much larger impact on them than any ads or news articles ever will. Ask them what issues they're concerned about and remind them that their voice can, and will, make a difference.

We need to do everything we can in these next 11 days to save our health care -- and this is one of the most important ways you can help.

Take action today to protect our health care by encouraging your friends and family to vote in this election.

We can't do this without you,
The Health Care Voter Team

***

Two days after the Pittsburgh shooting, and in the wake of a racist shooting in Kentucky and the pipe bomb mailings, I remain profoundly sad, angry and determined.

Sad for the lives lost and for the families that will forever, for all of their lives, have to grapple with the tragedies. And so sad for our country that such things could happen.

Of course, racist violence is nothing new in America, but that does not make these incidents any less heartbreaking and sickening.

Angry, because as is painfully apparent, these are not random acts of violence.

We’ll never know what internal demons speak to someone who shoots and kills 11 people in a synagogue, or who sends explosives by mail to prominent political figures who he finds objectionable, or who opens fire on people in a grocery store.

But we do know what external voices are speaking to these individuals.

We know the social environment in which they live.

Let’s be very clear: This is not about a problem of polarization on “both sides.”

This is about the increasing extremism on the right.

It’s about the rampant racism on social media, the conspiracies of Alex Jones and the zealotry of Fox News.

But above all — far above all — it is about President Trump.

It is the president who more than anyone sets the tone of our political culture.

This President of the United States routinely spews not just nasty and uncivil remarks, but engages in racist, anti-immigrant and hateful speech, embraces conspiracy theories, many with anti-Semitic overtones, and winks and nods at — and sometimes overtly encourages — political violence.

The horrible truth is, I’m surprised we haven’t experienced more political violence under Trump.

I know you share my grief and outrage.

I hope you also share my determination.

Donald Trump does not get to define who we are as a people.

We do.

Our retort to Trumpian proto-fascism must be love and solidarity.

Each and every one of us, in every circumstance in which we encounter it, must confront and denounce anti-Semitism, racism, anti-immigrant “nationalism,” sexism and homophobia.

There are no “others.”

We need to show that, as a society, we care about, and take care of, every human being.

Everybody counts, and no one gets left behind.

We need also to recognize the teaching of Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Power without love is reckless and abusive and love without power is sentimental and anemic.”

We must evidence that love and solidarity not just in words but policies and priorities that show we value everyone.

Trump draws his political strength and bases his appeal not just on deep reservoirs of racism, but on a profound sense of grievance and alienation.

For many, the attraction of Trump is that he rejects the trappings of a system they believe, rightfully, is rigged to benefit elite insiders.

Trump validates the sense of alienation among his more rabid followers by calling the system rigged — using our word — evidencing his disdain for accepted norms and protocols.

And he redirects their anger away from the forces and institutions that are actually disrupting communities, directing it instead to scapegoat vulnerable communities.

In response, we need to explain, again and again, how Trump is governing by corruption, and enriching and empowering the plutocratic class.

But even more, we have to advocate, demonstrate real commitment to, and ultimately win policies to cure the rigged system and offset the nation’s historic and obscene wealth, income and power inequality.

We must build vibrant, growing social movements to displace Trump’s right-wing demagoguery by building the power to win an aggressive, progressive agenda.

We have to continue to come together to figure this out together.

We have to continue to take care of each other.

I know we will.

Thank you for everything you do for a better and kinder America, and a better and kinder world.

With love and determination,

Robert Weissman
President, Public Citizen

Gone Votin'

Gone Votin'

by Still Bernin'

What else is there to tell you? By now you're either painfully awake or blissfully ignorant, wrapped in a cocoon of consumerism and mass media propaganda and gone fishin'. There is no in-between. You're either a part of the problem or you're fighting like heck alongside your fellow activists to help solve it.

So which is it? Which side are you on--and your family members, neighbors,

friends, co-workers and online casual acquaintances? It's time to choose teams. Start building your "voting team" and make plans on how and when you'll vote on November 6 or earlier if possible. Most municipalities have early voting, so make the most of it. There's no excuse for not voting by saying you don't have any time free on a Tuesday anymore!

Be prepared. You're going to come across some real doozies of reasons why a friend or family member can't vote this time around. Here are a couple I've encountered so far:

"We don't vote--we just complain about things." 

"My vote doesn't make any difference. They'll do what they wanna do no matter how we vote."

"The election is rigged. They control they voting machine tallies and purge voters off the rolls. Why bother?"

"Voting for a third party candidate is paramount to 'throwing my vote away.' But I don't support either of the corrupt establishment parties, so I'm protesting them by not voting." 

"I can't get to the polls. My boss will fire me if I leave work early/arrive late."

And so on. 

I suspect you have some good replies to these types of excuses for not voting, but in case you don't, here are some of mine:

"You don't get bitchin' rights if you don't have any skin in the game. Get off your backside and vote or you can shut up forever."

"How do you know your vote 'doesn't make a difference'? If everyone thinks that it does make a difference--and enough of us show up to vote--then perhaps we'll send a strong message to the corrupt system that we're mad as hell and

we're not going to take it anymore!"

"How are we going to expose and overturn the corrupt system if we don't show them up?  If we want to expose them for the crooks they are, then we have to catch them in the act. We have to vote (or attempt to vote) and document what's happening so we can convict them."

"The only way you 'throw away your vote' is by not voting. Vote your conscience and not what others tell you to do. As Eugene V. Debs said: I'd rather vote for what I want and not get it, than vote for what I don't want and get it."

"I can take you to the polls--no problem! I also have a number you can call and these nice folks can take you to the polls. If you're boss threatens to fire you for voting, then let me talk to him and I'll remind him that's illegal." 

(Editor's note: In the Toledo area, you can call 419-Vote-Now for a ride to the polls from the Jobs for Justice/Interfaith Worker Justice Coalition. If you have or  expect any troubles at the poll, read this article: "What To Do If Someone Tries to Stop You From Voting.")

Our planet and people don't have much time left if we don't turn things around soon. It's not time to go fishin'--it's time to go voting. We the People must take our righteous indignation to the streets and the voting booth. We must vote our conscience and morals and not what the political pundits of TV tell us. We've got to raise the volume a little louder and make our numbers swell even greater if we are to ever are going have a chance of taking our country back from the one-percenters bent on destroying it for their profits without a concern for our lives.

BIO: Still Bernin' will be seen on the highways and by-ways encouraging voters to get to the polls in the coming days. Get out there and join Bernin' and make a difference--Vote!

***

 
Here's more on who is behind the censoring of 800+ alternative media pages and other news stories the mainstream media doesn't want you to know--like voter purges beyond your imagination. And I didn't know why Sears was filing bankruptcy. The vulture capitalists are at work again destroying American jobs and community in order to line their already bulging pockets. More reasons to vote! https://youtu.be/nyaHbYLXwMc

*** 

Why do we let the corrupt status quo dictate our actions? Support this blog and tell them where they can go!

The Revolution Continues has set up an easy way to donate to the cause of taking on the corrupt system and keeping it ad-free. Three years plus without obnoxious ads (that many news sites have to cover costs) has been great, but the editor does have to pay for internet, electricity, etc., out of her own pocket, and she would like to be able to pay her contributors in the future. 

 

Please consider donating a buck, $5, $10 or $20--any amount you can share with us to keep this progressive site going without those awful ads is appreciated. Help us become a strong alternative voice protesting against the corrupt establishment and its paid-off corporate mouthpieces. Give to TRC today. Thank you.
 

You can donate via Paypal at http://paypal.me/camatthews 
And thanks to a generous reader, we have a new domain name. 
Please share the link: http://therevolutioncontinues.com
Power to the people and not the corporations!

*** 

A fireside chat with Jill Stein and 

Constance Gadell-Newton

Have you seen Jill Stein’s latest Fireside Chat ?

You can watch the video here :
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsH6X9JfgEo

In her October 17th Fireside chat, Jill Stein discusses the disappearance of Jamal Khashoggi and US support for the brutal Saudi Arabian regime, and talks with Ohio Green Party candidate Constance Gadell-Newton about how she's getting her message out despite being excluded from media, polls and debates.

Their conversation goes into a discussion of how our tax dollars are used against us, how the growth of militarism around the world hurts us locally, and how the support of the Green Party can help promote social justice.

100 % Green Energy by 2030 is an Ohio Green party goal which includes the creation of a green economy, creation of jobs in the energy transition, protecting water, a moratorium on fracking and injection wells, shutting down the pipelines that cross Ohio. In less that eleven years, we have the power to completely change the face of Ohio and become a state that leads in the production of clean energy.

Jill reminds us that we are not powerless. Now is the time to stand up for the courage of our convictions. We have to vote for what we want and need, and not concede to what we think is the worst of two evils. To help spread the word, Jill Stein asks us to like and share this video, and to spread the word every way we can. Constance Gadell-Newton will win the election with just 34 % of the vote in a three-way race. If only half of all unaffiliated voters in Ohio vote for her, she’ll win! The Green Party of Ohio needs 3 % of the vote to maintain party status, offering a choice, and a voice for all Ohioans.

Constance Gadell-Newton, and the Green Party of Ohio needs your vote. We are counting on you to come out and vote on November 6th. If you have family or friends, neighbors or co-workers, who will also benefit from our plan for Ohio, feel free to pass on this message, post it on the social networks, spread the word!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsH6X9JfgEo

Thank you so much for your help!  Let's win in 2018! Please visit our website to see our platform or make a donation:  www.ConstanceforOhio.com  `

*** 

 From Common Cause:

We all deserve a say in our future -- and our democracy works best when every eligible voter can cast a vote and have their vote counted. 

That’s why every election year, thousands of ordinary Americans step up to serve their communities as Election Protection volunteers. Together, we make that foundational principle of our democracy -- that everyone should be equal on Election Day -- a reality. 

This year, I’m asking you to step up as an Election Protection volunteer -- to make sure no voter is silenced, and help your neighbors participate in our democracy. 

You can make a major difference this year by committing to help voters at the polls this Election Day. Sign up today as a non-partisan poll monitor with Common Cause and help make sure every vote counts.

VOLUNTEER

As a nonpartisan volunteer poll monitor, you will assist voters on Election Day should they encounter any problems voting. You’ll receive training, get materials, meet other volunteers and our professional staff, and on election day help voters know their rights -- and how to get help. 

Volunteers commit to taking at least one Election Day shift to stand outside of assigned polling location after receiving training. You will distribute “Know Your Rights” cards to voters, answer basic questions from voters at the polls, and help voters resolve any problems that occur, with the help of trained legal professionals. 

Volunteers like you will be voters’ first line of defense against suppression tactics, confusing laws, outdated infrastructure, and other impediments to making themselves heard. 

Sign up as an Election Protection volunteer today and we’ll reach out with all the information you need to get started.

 

Thanks for all you do,

Marilyn Carpinteyro, Chief of Internal Affairs
and the team at Common Cause

 ***

How does war impact people differently around the world? Tune in to our next free webinar on October 24 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (GMT minus 4), featuring three different global perspectives on war & militarism. RSVP here.

Our October 24 webinar will feature:

• David Swanson, Director of World BEYOND War, who will speak from the perspective of a resident in the United States, the world's largest warmonger, and what it means to be an anti-war activist at a time when global opinion polls show that the U.S. is seen as the greatest threat to world peace.
• Kathy Kelly, Co-Coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence, who will speak from the perspective of someone who has experienced war firsthand. Kathy has lived in active combat zones in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Haiti, Lebanon, Gaza, and Palestine.
• Barry Sweeney, World BEYOND War Ireland Coordinator, who will speak from the perspective of a resident of a less militaristic society, Ireland. How would people in Ireland react if half of their tax money was spent on war, as it is in the U.S.? Do Irish people feel that their country has any enemies? Despite being a less militaristic society, how does the Irish government facilitate U.S. warmongering?

Don't miss this interesting conversation!

What: Webinar: Global Perspectives on War
When: Wednesday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (GMT minus 4)
Where: Your computer or telephone!
Sign up to participate.

All of our webinars are free & open to the public. The webinars are recorded, so if you can't join the live discussion, you can watch the video afterwards, which will be posted on this page.

Greta Zarro
Organizing Director
World BEYOND War
greta@worldbeyondwar.org

***

The chemical industry is trying to pull one over on us. And the House of Representatives is about to do the industry’s bidding. Big Ag’s buddies in Congress have snuck a dangerous provision into this year’s farm bill, a must-pass piece of legislation that has huge implications for the country’s food system. This provision would preempt local governments from adopting their own pesticide regulations. It would strip away local bans on Monsanto’s cancer-causing glyphosate. Essentially, Congress thinks that Big Ag and the pesticide lobby should determine what chemicals are safe to have in our parks and playgrounds. No way. I know the power of community activism. And we ALL need to pull together right now. We have a right to protect our communities and our health. Your representative needs to hear from you TODAY if we are going to stop this bill. Click here to urge your representative to fight back against Big Ag and stand with community activists. This is an outrageous attack on community activists and local governments’ authority! If passed, this bill would undo more than 150 restrictions on the use of hazardous pesticides in parks and on playgrounds in one fell swoop. We can’t allow Big Ag to strip away our power. We have a right to protect our local parks and playgrounds from toxic pesticides like glyphosate. It’s time to stand up and fight for our health and our environment! Please join me right now and tell your representative to stand up for your community. Big Ag shouldn’t dictate how local governments can protect their citizens! Contact your representative today. Urge him or her to vote NO on stripping community pesticide restrictions.

Thanks for your support.

Erin Brockovich

We Won't Need Money On Mars

We Won't Need Money On Mars
by C.A. Matthews

After I walked out of a convention panel discussion on possible cooperative efforts for humankind to colonize/utilize space, it hit me: We won't need  money on Mars or experience any of the ensuing headaches it causes. 

Once we've settled more or less permanently on another celestial body far from Earth, we won't need to encourage the destructive "screw your neighbor" mentality of our current materialistic system of governance and society any longer.  Goodbye late-stage capitalism!

Money will become completely useless after we've left Earth. Here's why I think its days are numbered:

1. Once human beings are far from home, they will be forced to depend upon each other for life itself. This is no mean feat. Upon landing on Mars (or the Moon or really anywhere outside of Earth in our solar system) to set up a colony, humans will need to do three things right away: build a protective shelter, produce a breathable atmosphere, and find a way to provide food and water. There's no avoiding or delaying these essential things, so--

2. Colonists will have to focus their time and energy on creating and providing these essentials for themselves and the other colonists. Life on Mars won't become a reality TV show game where each participant fights to be the last man standing and willingly sacrifices others to "win" the game. Oh, no, no, no! Every single person who has traveled great distances to colonize a new world will be necessary for the survival of everyone else. Every scientist, technician, agriculturalist, biologist, botanist, doctor, medic, psychologist, engineer, computer programmer, chef, artist, writer, musician, juggler, mother, father, child will be essential to the success of the mission and cherished because--

3. Every life will be seen as sacred and vital. There will be no "throw away people" like the homeless are seen in our current society. Humans will have to work together to build a protective shelter, such as a dome in a crater where humans can breathe and not explode due to lack of pressure, and it will become a communal home for all. Basic needs will be met--food, water, clothing, shelter--because all individuals are considered worthy of having those needs met. What purpose will it serve to hoard loads of material objects to prove one individual is more worthy when all are considered equals?

We will truly live "in community' with each other or, in other words, we'll live communally when we move to another world. Mi casa es su casa takes on a whole new meaning when you're living hundreds of millions of miles away from Earth. Of course we'll need scientists and medical personnel, but we'll also need those who will keep us sane and functioning, and psychologists, entertainers and artists alike provide needed services in that area. People who can't relax and enjoy themselves after a hard day's work  are prone to depression, which could compromise the health and safety of all. So it would be foolish to expel creative personalities into the vacuum of space or not feed and care for them. Each and every individual is rare and precious to the community and cannot easily be replaced.

For once in human history, we won't (or at least we shouldn't) feel the need to slaughter our fellow human beings in vast numbers to steal their land

and natural resources. We'll have to live together in a shelter (pressurized dome) by necessity. We'll need every individual to help each and everyone else to survive on a harsh world that wasn't created with our kind of life in mind. There will be no need to encourage the materialistic urge to take from others in order to survive since it is self-defeating. The "economic games" we currently play will at last be revealed for what they are--selfish, evil and downright destructive acts of sociopaths.

For instance, how does foreclosing on thousands of families' homes in 2008 help those families or the community (country) at large? It doesn't. How does bailing out billionaire bankers and real estate tycoons help grow food or provide clean water for the community (country) at large? It doesn't. Why did the US government take the second action and not the first then? This lack of moral leadership simply won't work on Mars. Maintaining peace and harmony is an important part of keeping everyone alive far from home. Greed will not be tolerated. And let's face it, greed doesn't work very well for us nowadays, does it?

Humanity's future in space looks brighter in contrast to the present here on Earth since we'll at last be forced to confront the shortcomings of the capitalist system. Before we pack our bags, however, we'll need to prepare ourselves through education.

For example, there are many great articles and videos online on the topic of Modern Monetary Theory (#MMT for short) which explain more on how humankind is moving away from the restrictive concept of money. There are many great articles and videos on the topic of Universal Basic Income (UBI) where no person is considered worthless since all are given an income to cover the bare necessities of life. There are many articles and videos on universal health care ("Medicare For All") that prove how much more cost effective providing health care to all is as well as being compassionate and caring.

Learn all you can about these subjects now before you decide to take a long trip to a distant planet. You'll be glad you did. Better yet, you'll be able to help implement these concepts right now on this planet. Your children and grandchildren will thank you.

The future of humankind doesn't have to be dark and depressing like the world of the Hunger Games. It can be optimistic like Star Trek (at least, the classic series).  We just have to work together to arrive at a destination that works for all and not just a few.

Related videos and articles:

Chris Hedges: Manufacturing Culture or Consent
https://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/2018/10/13/chris-hedges-manufacturing-culture-or-consent/

What Is MMT And How It Works w/Stephanie Kelton  https://youtu.be/5baKgv7Zl5g

What is Monetary Oppression?
https://beanstocksworld.wordpress.com/2017/10/12/what-is-monetary-oppression/


A New Way to Stop the Big Banks
https://youtu.be/ZfPZEb618Tk

Late Stage Capitalism is Killing America w/Chris Hedges
https://youtu.be/_Anaiu6muz8 

***

If you can read this blog, consider yourself lucky. Lee Camp explains why in the following short video. Anti-establishment voices are being silenced without cause and without warning. Tomorrow your favorite podcast or online magazine could simply disappear, so please keep sharing this blog and all progressive news and views links with others. Thank you! https://youtu.be/qY80X6H72gU

More on the Facebook and Twitter purging:
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2018/10/12/cens-o12.html
 ***

The Truth Is More Valuable Than Money--Share Them Both!

The Revolution Continues has set up an easy way to donate to the cause of  spreading the truth. Three years plus without obnoxious ads (that many news sites have to cover costs) has been great, but the editor does have to pay for internet, electricity, etc., out of her own pocket, and she would like to be able to pay her contributors in the future. 

 

Please consider donating a buck, $5, $10 or $20--any amount you can share with us to keep this progressive site going is appreciated. Help us become a strong alternative voice protesting against the corrupt establishment and its paid-off corporate mouthpieces. Give to TRC today. Thank you. 

You can donate via Paypal at http://paypal.me/camatthews 

And thanks to a generous reader, we have a new domain name. 
Please share the link: http://therevolutioncontinues.com

Power to the people and not the corporations!

 ***

Add your name NOW and tell the Department of Health and Human Services to stop barring journalists from immigrant detention centers >>

 

TAKE ACTION

We deserve to know what’s happening in our names behind the closed doors of immigrant detention centers in the U.S. 

Right now, our government is detaining tens of thousands of immigrants, including over 12,000 children¹ -- a number that’s skyrocketed due to the Trump administration’s zero-tolerance policies. Some prisons that were at 30% capacity just one year ago are now up to 90% full² -- and many hold young children who have been forcibly separated from their parents. 

But we have no idea what condition these children and their families are kept in, or how they’re being treated -- because the Department of Health and Human Services isn’t letting journalists report on it. We deserve to know what’s going on in these facilities -- and our democracy relies on having a free and fair press that can investigate them. 

We have a right to hold our government accountable and demand justice for those being held in immigrant detention centers -- but to do that we must be privy to what’s really going on in these prisons. And that can’t happen without a free, uninhibited press. Now is the time to speak out and demand that the press be allowed to do their job -- so we can do ours. 

This can’t wait another day. Sign the petition and demand that journalists are granted full access to immigrant detention centers -- so we can know the truth.

 

Earlier this year, we learned that immigration officers were separating children from their families at the border, thanks to diligent reporting by investigative journalists. This outraged millions of Americans, and motivated a wave of civic activism -- spurring important nationwide conversations and policy changes. 

That is how our democracy is supposed to work. An informed public should be able to speak up, take action, and really make a difference in their government. But we can’t have an informed public without a free press -- and right now, the Trump Administration could be violating basic human rights behind a veil of secrecy. 

We need to show the Trump administration that we won’t stand for it. Our democracy depends on it. 

Stand together and demand that journalists be given immediate access to immigrant detention centers -- so they can report what’s going on.

 

Thanks for all you do,

Yosef Getachew, Director of Media and Democracy
and the team at Common Cause

 ***

The Midwest doesn't need a new tar sands pipeline.

Stop the Line 3 pipeline from threatening water, climate, and Indigenous rights. 

SIGN THE PETITION

Did you know that the pipeline company Enbridge wants to build a new, Keystone XL- sized tar sands pipeline through the Midwest? This is about to happen and we need to act. 

The plan is to build a pipeline with 300-plus miles crossing Minnesota's northern lakes, the headwaters of the Mississippi River, and Indigenous treaty lands. This dangerous project puts the climate, water, and communities at risk — and people all along the route are resisting this project. 

Water is vital for life. Wildlife and humans need clean water to survive. We must stop oil pipeline companies from putting groundwater, lakes, and rivers at risk of oil spills.

We are standing together with our friends and allies in Minnesota. We need you with us to tell Governor Mark Dayton he needs to do everything in his power to stop Line 3.

SIGN THE PETITION

If Line 3 is built, that means that this dangerous tar sands oil would put the water, communities, and the climate at risk, as well as treaty rights for the Indigenous Nations the pipeline would pass through. If this oil spills in water, it can’t be fully cleaned up.

There’s a lot at risk! We don’t need more pipelines, and we can’t build more if we are serious about tackling climate change. We need more renewable energy solutions that will safeguard the planet now and for future generations.

Governor Dayton has a key role to play in protecting Minnesota, the climate, and the water from the impacts of yet another tar sands pipeline. He oversees the state agencies that will decide on Line 3. So let’s show the Governor that there's already public pressure from across the country telling him to stop this pipeline!

We are counting on you!

Together in resistance,

Vicky Wyatt
Climate Campaigner, Greenpeace USA

P.S. The next few months are crucial in the fight to stop this tar sands pipeline from being built! Take action today and ask Governor Dayton to stop the pipeline.

***

From Americans for Tax Fairness:

The Nuns on the Bus are back on the road again. This time for tax fairness!

The Tax Ju$tice Truth Tour is heading around the country, eventually ending at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida with a Tax Justice Parade and Fiesta for the Common Good. Between now and Election Day they’ll be traveling through competitive districts, holding Congressional Republicans accountable for their vote on the #GOPTaxScam.

Click here to see the full list of stops on the Nuns on the Bus Tax Ju$tice Truth Tour. And RSVP for one nearest you!

Americans for Tax Fairness Action Fund is supporting these events and more -- highlighting how the Trump-GOP tax cuts are giving giant handouts to the richest 1% and big corporations, providing tax breaks to outsource jobs, and threatening critical services from health care to Social Security, and education to food stamps. 

Since being founded in 2012, the Nuns on the Bus have played an important role in highlighting numerous social justice issues across the country. With Congressional Republicans’ relentless attacks on critical services for working families, we are thrilled to stand side-by-side with the Nuns on the Bus, demanding tax fairness and an investment in our country’s future.

Click here to find an event near you and RSVP today!

With just 24 days until Election Day, join us in helping expose the truth about the Trump-GOP Tax Scam.

Thank you for all that you do to demand a tax system and an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few.

Best,
Eileen Toback
Campaign Director
Americans for Tax Fairness Action Fund