Derping in the USA

[gotsnowgotslush]

ALEC 2013 Agenda Harkens Back to a Bygone Era

40 years of Derp!

"When ALEC was born, Richard Nixon was president. Gasoline was 40 cents a gallon and the minimum wage was $1.60 an hour."
- Nick Surgey

Visiting the site of the celebration of 40 Years of Derp, Hate, Racism and Sexism
Aug 8, 2013

Demonstrators staged a “die-in” outside the Palmer House Wednesday morning as part of a series of protests of
the American Legislative Exchange Council conference. More than 70 people, many wearing hoodies with stickers
reading “Repeal Stand Your Ground” affixed to them, assembled outside the hotel and played dead to protest the
legislation which ALEC helped to write.

Wednesday was the first day of the lobbying organization’s 40th annual conference and the second day groups protested
at the hotel. On Monday, six people were arrested.

"The nuances in the Florida Stand Your Ground law enabled George Zimmerman “to get away with murder.”

“The fact is a grown man with a gun stalked an unarmed teen while he was walking back to his house."

"That’s the world ALEC wants to create.”

- Carl Gibson

ALEC Chicago conference included education sessions for lawmakers on how fracking can increase profits via exporting natural gas,
corporate tax write offs for school privatization, laws which could delay benefits to temp workers and renewing the group’s objection
to linking the minimum wage to the consumer price index.

The historic and sumptuous Palmer House hotel in Chicago hosted the 40th anniversary gathering of plutocratic scum. Hookers, strippers, drugs, booze!

Meanwhile, political prisoners in Chicago suffer for years at the hands of brutal, violent, volatile, and sick minded prison guards
because they dared to speak out against the corruption of everything America citizens hold dear.

 

[mark_j]

Never heard of it.

It's beginning to seem that there are some folks who really should stop writing this sort of political/conspiracy tripe.

My guess is that this person was still wearing diapers and wiping his shit on the walls when Nixon was Pres.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

You, mark_j will spout all the hateful, bigoted, racist, sexist lines, that ALEC wants you to say ? Why would you want to do that ? Payoff for you ?

 

[mark_j]

You, mark_j will spout all the hateful, bigoted, racist, sexist lines, that ALEC wants you to say ? Why would you want to do that ? Payoff for you ?

HAHAHAHAH, typical.

And no I won't for two reasons. One, I don't even know who or what ALEC is. Two, even if I did (which until you posted that C&P I had no idea it even existed) I wouldn't subscribe to that sort of ideology.

But, go ahead and call me all that stuff if it makes you feel better. I'm pretty sure you are the consummate expert on such matters.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Public relations professionals sometimes prepare "talking points" for executives or other corporate clients to help the client focus their
public comments to agreed "key messages". These key messages are often developed based on opinion polling and focus group research.

Free speech is OK for a talking point, but if free speech means bad publicity for Republicans, police will make sure that free speech will be cut off-

May 6, 2013 - In anticipation of protests at ALEC's recent meeting in Oklahoma City, state legislators were handed a set of talking points
that read "The American Legislative Exchange Council recognizes the first amendment rights of free speech and assembly, and asks that
_____ do the same," apparently to prepare legislators for press questions about citizen activism. But ALEC didn't live up to those spoon-
fed talking points: ALEC assembled a dossier of disfavored reporters and activists, kicked reporters out of its conference who might write
unfavorable stories, and managed to boot a community forum critical of ALEC from its reserved room.

Even before the Oklahoma meeting ALEC had been taking steps to keep its proceedings secret. It sent advance agendas to legislators
via a Box.com link, making the records more difficult to obtain via public records requests, and most legislators told CMD they did not
have a single ALEC-related record in their office that could be released under the public records law. In March, ALEC posted some of its
model bills online in a shallow effort to appear "transparent," but its actions suggest the organization is far more committed to secrecy.
More than 600 firefighters, teachers, environmentalists, and church leaders carried signs reading "ALEC is Not OK" and chanting "back-
room deals are ALEC's game/sweetheart deals for corporate gain," while a giant inflatable pig wearing a banner reading "Hi, my name is
ALEC" floated overhead.

Two big rigs adorned with Teamsters logos circled the convention center, honking their horns and blowing air brakes. Harold A. Schaitberger,
President of the International Association of Fire Fighters, told the crowd that ALEC's "sole purpose is to develop the most anti-worker, anti-
employee, anti-union, anti-middle class, pro-business, pro corporation policies, legislation and agenda possible."

Inside, white men in dark suits milled in the lobby of the Renaissance Hotel and the neighboring Cox Convention Center. Laughter floated through
the hotel bar as corporate lobbyists (with a "private sector" tag on their name badge) huddled with state legislators (wearing "public sector" tags).

Oklahoma City Police Officers in full uniform -- but reportedly off-duty and paid by ALEC -- stopped anyone not wearing a name badge from entering
ALEC's sections of the convention center.

Dr. George Young Senior, a Pastor at the Holy Temple Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, highlighted how ALEC is where the struggles of communities
of color, workers, environmentalists and others converged -- and how people need to unite against the forty-year-old organization to fight back.

"If we let this go on for another forty years," he said, "next time they won't just move us out of our room, they will kick us out of the whole building!"

http://yubanet.com/usa/ALEC-Assembl...klahomans-Say-ALEC-Is-Not-OK.php#.Uggm5G1GvIU

Smirking Republicans, are making jokes about shutting people up ? Who yells about First Amendment rights, the loudest ?

 

[mark_j]

And your point is?

Oh yeah, it's got to be the fault of those evil republicans right?

Personally, I don't give a rat's ass about whether it is a perceived Republican or Democrat issue.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

As you might have noticed, I asked questions of you. Not knowing you, I do not know your views, or your preferences.

All I know, is that you left a nasty impression, sometime in the past, on this board. I was guessing you might be a kind
and thoughtful person, since you do own horses. I was mistaken.

 

[mark_j]

As you might have noticed, I asked questions of you. Not knowing you, I do not know your views, or your preferences.

No, actually you assumed what my preferences were with this little gem:

You, mark_j will spout all the hateful, bigoted, racist, sexist lines, that ALEC wants you to say ? Why would you want to do that ? Payoff for you ?

At no point did Carl Gibson say anything about 40 years of derp. That was your opinion, not his. Further the second C&P mentions nothing about "Republicans" until you added the little footnote at the end.

Seems to me that after doing a small amount of digging, ALEC is nothing more than a policy think tank. Yes they are attended by legislators past and present and do make suggestions as to general legislative actions that do lean toward, shall we say, more conservative issues. But I fail to see where that should make any difference. The other side of the aisle has their "policy think tanks and legislative action groups" which do the same thing.

I really don't have an opinion about either one. Both make good suggestions and bad. getting all bent up over it is counter productive.

All I know, is that you left a nasty impression, sometime in the past, on this board. I was guessing you might be a kind
and thoughtful person, since you do own horses. I was mistaken.

I love it! Yeah you are right, you don't have a fucking clue who I am, or anything about my politics. Further, my politics have nothing to do with how I care for my boarders or my own horses. They get the best care that I and my boarders can afford. Horses really don't have political opinions, at least in the way we humans do. Their main concern is good feed, a safe environment, good grooming, a sense of purpose, companions and occasional treats. Other than that they really don't care about my politics.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Three questions-

You, mark_j will spout all the hateful, bigoted, racist, sexist lines, that ALEC wants you to say ?

Why would you want to do that ?

Payoff for you ?

You never answered those questions.

The words of mark_j-

"Never heard of it." [ALEC]

"It's beginning to seem that there are some folks who really should stop writing this sort of political/conspiracy tripe."

(People have documented where the money goes, and have documented who gets the money. They study the facts.
They document what happens, and where it started, and who was involved.)

"My guess is that this person was still wearing diapers and wiping his shit on the walls when Nixon was Pres."

(I, gsgs, do not know who you were referring to. The reference to diapers and human waste- Is this why Zumi calls some people shit stains ? IDK)

"No, actually you assumed what my preferences were with this little gem: "

At no point did Carl Gibson say anything about 40 years of derp. "

(OK My personal opinion is that ALEC is one of the sources of derp. My opinion is that ALEC has caused 40 years of derp, hate, bigotry, racism, sexism.)


"That was your opinion, not his."

(Yes. That is true. That is my opinion.)

Further the second C&P mentions nothing about "Republicans" until you added the little footnote at the end.

(Yes, there are sleazy and unethical people who call themselves Democrats. They even get elected as Democrats. The mask comes off.)

"Seems to me that after doing a small amount of digging, ALEC is nothing more than a policy think tank. "

"Yes they are attended by legislators past and present and do make suggestions as to general legislative actions that do lean toward, shall we say, more conservative issues."

"But I fail to see where that should make any difference. The other side of the aisle has their "policy think tanks and legislative action groups" which do the same thing."

(Yes, mark_j . Let us pretend that they is no behemoth organization joined with others of like mind, behind the curtain. Let us pretend
that nothing ugly and untoward is happening. If that is so, why do they make such an effort to hide what they do, from the public ?)
/end sarcasm icon

"I really don't have an opinion about either one. Both make good suggestions and bad. getting all bent up over it is counter productive."

(ALEC carved out a plan, formed instructions to take everything away from people who died, who gave blood, sweat, and tears to earn.
Unethical people who sold their souls and killed their hearts dead, to be able to say evil things and do evil thing evil things with a mask of smiles.)

"I love it! Yeah you are right, you don't have a fucking clue who I am, or anything about my politics. Further, my politics have nothing to
do with how I care for my boarders or my own horses. They get the best care that I and my boarders can afford. Horses really don't have
political opinions, at least in the way we humans do. Their main concern is good feed, a safe environment, good grooming, a sense of purpose,
companions and occasional treats. Other than that they really don't care about my politics."

(Could you send your horses to a slaughter house, so they can be sold as meat ? Would you send other people's horses, to a slaughter house ?)

 

[KingOrfeo]

Never heard of it.

And that's the way they like it.

Chicago—The American Legislative Exchange Council wraps up its fortieth annual conference in Chicago today, after facing what organizers estimate to be the largest protest in the organization’s history on Thursday.
 
Despite the recent exodus of dozens of corporations and a public attempt to tamp down some pieces of its more explicitly far-right agenda, this year’s ALEC conference made clear that the group still wants to operate in secret, away from potential criticism—and with a group of corporations and interest groups that are as committed as ever to anti-worker, anti-environment, pro-gun legislation.

On Wednesday, I headed to the hotel’s third floor to receive a press pass for the conference at a table staffed by two interns. Upon hearing the publication’s name and receiving an editor’s letter on Nation letterhead, one stiffened. He quickly disappeared behind a curtained-off area a few feet away to make a call, while his partner seemed unaffected.

“We just have to confirm; we’ll be able to print one out in a moment,” she stated, without explaining what was being confirmed.

Seconds became minutes and the seated woman seemed to grow nervous herself, repeating her previous statement before I saw, in my peripheral vision, the young man poke his head out behind the curtain to make a dramatic hand gesture to the young woman while whispering on the phone, then quickly darting out of view when I turned my head to look at him. After three increasingly comical hand signs and quick recoils, she stated exasperatedly, “I have no idea what you’re saying.”

Nonverbal secret hand signs having failed, he emerged from behind the curtain and opted for traditional verbal communication. “I’m sorry, media registration closed a week and a half ago. We can’t let you in.”

“But she just said you could print off a pass for me,” I said.

“No, registration closed a week and a half ago,” he repeated, ignoring my point.

A frustrating back-and-forth indicated little progress would be made here (Nation writer Rick Perlstein had a similar experience). Nearby was the exhibition area, so instead of returning to the elevator, I walked in. The exhibitors included prominent free-market think tanks like the Heritage Foundation, the Cato Institute and the American Enterprise Institute; several pro-life groups; the National Rifle Association, who first brought Stand Your Ground laws to ALEC; the National Right to Work Committee; and the climate change-denying Heartland Institute—all groups whose influence can be seen in the model legislation ALEC has helped develop.

The Heartland Institute, an ALEC member, was a sponsor of Thursday’s conference breakfast, as the Center for Media and Democracy (who produced the “ALEC Exposed” series with The Nation last year) reported today. The event carried a $40,000 price tag and allowed the group’s president, Joseph Bast, to speak on climate change denialism. Heartland drew headlines last year for a billboard associating “belief” in climate change with Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber.

The NRA’s prominent presence at the conference exhibition hall was noteworthy, as the group had given the appearance in the past that they were no longer associated with ALEC. The NRA had been heavily involved in ALEC’s Public Safety and Elections task force and hosted an annual shooting event providing ammo, guns and barbecue to conference attendees. After working with ALEC to spread Stand Your Ground laws throughout the country, both groups drew criticism in the wake of the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin, due in part to Florida’s version of the bill. ALEC disbanded the task force responsible for that legislation last year.

Despite ending the task force, ALEC appears to be maintaining a relationship with the NRA.

In the exhibition hall, I met Bill Brawley, an amiable, talkative Republican representing North Carolina’s 103rd district in his state legislature. The convention was the third for Brawley, who emphasized that he is a strong supporter of much of the right-wing legislation that has sparked North Carolina’s “Moral Mondays” protests. According to Brawley, he serves on ALEC’s international relations task force. He sees the growing pushback against ALEC as part of a larger trend of the “demonization of the opposition in American political discourse” and “a sign that [ALEC’s] ideas are good.”

Framing ALEC as merely one pole within a “healthy marketplace of ideas,” with the National Conference of State Legislators on the other, Brawley says “the reason you’re hearing all this [opposition to ALEC] is because ALEC is very successful in opposing traditional progressive ideals.” It isn’t that the ALEC’s corporate members enjoy an undue influence in politics; it’s that ALEC happens to be on the side of an agenda “which we were democratically elected to carry out.”

Brendan Fischer, general counsel for the Center for Media and Democracy, was in Chicago for the conference and finds this characterization questionable. “It seems very unlikely that people elected their legislators to go on a corporate-funded trip for three days so they can be lobbied by special interests,” Fischer says.

If ALEC was indicative of a “healthy marketplace of ideas,” he asks, why is the group so secretive? “Why isn’t the public represented in these meetings? Why is it so difficult to access ALEC materials and model legislation?” Far from promoting a healthy level of ideological competition in the US, Fischer says, “ALEC exists almost exclusively to allow corporate interests to access legislators to push legislation that will support their very narrow agenda. There’s no discussion of what’s best for all people or a legislator’s constituents. ‘Both sides’ aren’t in the room at the ALEC conference—it’s whoever can pay the most to sponsor a workshop or meeting. They get to call the shots.”

Thursday’s protest drew thousands of protesters from a wide variety of community, environmental and religious groups, as well as numerous unions. The rally shut down Monroe Street in the city’s downtown, filling an entire block with protesters and spilling out onto streets on both ends.

At one point, Jorge Ramirez, president of the Chicago Federation of Labor, sarcastically “thanked” ALEC for bringing together such a diverse gathering of organizations, before encouraging the crowd to turn and face the hotel and point at the conference-goers above, chanting, “Shame on you!”

Standing on the street after the rally ended, Halli Mulei, a first officer and member of the United Chapter of Airline Pilots Association, said she and other pilots’ union members’ participation was “not about us personally—it’s about supporting all workers.”

“It’s not un-American to want a decent wage and a pension,” she says. “ALEC wants to destroy that.”

Later in the day, after most of the rally and media had dispersed, police arrested six protesters, at one point using a metal barricade to push against a small group and tackling protesters in the crowd.

The exposure ALEC has faced over the past three years has led many of the world’s largest companies, including General Electric, Amazon, McDonald’s, General Motors and others, to exit the organization. But ALEC still wields enormous influence in state legislatures across the country. By the CMD’s count, 466 bills resembling ALEC’s model legislation have been introduced this year alone. And even with ALEC claiming it no longer pushes some of its most noxious policies like Stand Your Ground and voter ID, such bills have continued to spread across the country.

Chicago’s mass protests seem to indicate that a pushback to ALEC could be growing as the group’s reactionary agenda is exposed and groups like organized labor join the fight. But given the group’s collective corporate power, impressive recent legislative achievements and continued ties to groups like the NRA, ALEC does not appear to be slowing or moderating its activity in the near future.

 

[mark_j]

Three questions-

You, mark_j will spout all the hateful, bigoted, racist, sexist lines, that ALEC wants you to say ?

Why would you want to do that ?

Payoff for you ?

You never answered those questions.

Yes I did. But you were so clouded with your preconceived notions about me that you couldn't or wouldn't see it. So I'll set the record straight in such a way that even the most witless dullard such as yourself will understand;

Question 1: No.
Question 2: No need since answer to question 1 is no.
Question 3: See answer 1

Is that clear enough for you?

The words of mark_j-

"Never heard of it." [ALEC]

"It's beginning to seem that there are some folks who really should stop writing this sort of political/conspiracy tripe."

(People have documented where the money goes, and have documented who gets the money. They study the facts.
They document what happens, and where it started, and who was involved.)

So what?

Does this make ALEC any different from any other political organization?

"My guess is that this person was still wearing diapers and wiping his shit on the walls when Nixon was Pres."

(I, gsgs, do not know who you were referring to. The reference to diapers and human waste- Is this why Zumi calls some people shit stains ? IDK)

Originally the writer of the C&P you posted. As it turns out that Carl didn't write the quip about Nixon, I'll have to assume you unless you are older than 45.

"No, actually you assumed what my preferences were with this little gem: "

At no point did Carl Gibson say anything about 40 years of derp. "

(OK My personal opinion is that ALEC is one of the sources of derp. My opinion is that ALEC has caused 40 years of derp, hate, bigotry, racism, sexism.)

Ok, now this I can respect. Since you are entitled to your own opinion. At least you have the cajones to admit that it is your opinion, not the writer of the article.

"That was your opinion, not his."

(Yes. That is true. That is my opinion.)

Further the second C&P mentions nothing about "Republicans" until you added the little footnote at the end.

(Yes, there are sleazy and unethical people who call themselves Democrats. They even get elected as Democrats. The mask comes off.)

Wanna know the truth? Most politicians should be drowned. That whole "to serve the public" schtick is pure horse shit. At least with horse shit you can spread it out in the fields and it will help the grass grow. Can't say that for most politicians. In my opinion most of them are narcissistic assholes who are in it for the reasons other than public service.

"Seems to me that after doing a small amount of digging, ALEC is nothing more than a policy think tank. "

"Yes they are attended by legislators past and present and do make suggestions as to general legislative actions that do lean toward, shall we say, more conservative issues."

"But I fail to see where that should make any difference. The other side of the aisle has their "policy think tanks and legislative action groups" which do the same thing."

(Yes, mark_j . Let us pretend that they is no behemoth organization joined with others of like mind, behind the curtain. Let us pretend
that nothing ugly and untoward is happening. If that is so, why do they make such an effort to hide what they do, from the public ?)
/end sarcasm icon

Try applying that same logic to any other PAC. What makes them any different from ALEC? I think you'll find that none of them are as transparent as you might think despite whether they are progressive or conservative.

"I really don't have an opinion about either one. Both make good suggestions and bad. getting all bent up over it is counter productive."

(ALEC carved out a plan, formed instructions to take everything away from people who died, who gave blood, sweat, and tears to earn.
Unethical people who sold their souls and killed their hearts dead, to be able to say evil things and do evil thing evil things with a mask of smiles.)

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yadda, yadda, yadda.

Conservatives want to kill grandma, deny health care to everyone who can't afford to pay for it, want dirty water and dirty air, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Stop believing the rhetoric and demagoguery for a while and actually use your brain.

"I love it! Yeah you are right, you don't have a fucking clue who I am, or anything about my politics. Further, my politics have nothing to
do with how I care for my boarders or my own horses. They get the best care that I and my boarders can afford. Horses really don't have
political opinions, at least in the way we humans do. Their main concern is good feed, a safe environment, good grooming, a sense of purpose,
companions and occasional treats. Other than that they really don't care about my politics."

(Could you send your horses to a slaughter house, so they can be sold as meat ? Would you send other people's horses, to a slaughter house ?)

No to both questions. But then they really have no bearing the discussion at hand, do they?

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

Is my face ever red, with shame! mark_j, I owe you an apology- I will give no excuses for this "witless dullard's" mistake.

I am sorry, that I insisted that you give me answers to questions, that you had already answered-

"And no I won't for two reasons. One, I don't even know who or what ALEC is. Two, even if I did (which until you posted that C&P
I had no idea it even existed) I wouldn't subscribe to that sort of ideology."

"But, go ahead and call me all that stuff if it makes you feel better. I'm pretty sure you are the consummate expert on such matters."

What I do not understand, is why you responded to a thread and post, that does not apply to you. You told me, yourself, that it is subject that you,
yourself, knew nothing of. I will confess that I was knocked off balance, by your acid insults, toward the people who dedicate themselves to bringing
the truth to light.

As to your answer to my questions about horse slaughter-

No to both questions. But then they really have no bearing the discussion at hand, do they?

My questions do have a bearing on the discussion. ALEC is involved with the laws that govern slaughter houses.

I asked these two questions of you, to gauge how much you cared about your horses, and horses in general.

I know that I do not want horses to suffer from fear, abuse, pain, and a horrible and gruesome death.

http://billmoyers.com/2013/07/10/alec-activists-and-ag-gag/

 

[RobDownSouth]

...Conservatives want to ...deny health care to everyone who can't afford to pay for it....

Are you saying they don't?

 

[mark_j]

Are you saying they don't?

Can you prove that this is what they actually said? Or is it another manifestation of someone talking points?

 

[mark_j]

Is my face ever red, with shame! mark_j, I owe you an apology- I will give no excuses for this "witless dullard's" mistake.

I am sorry, that I insisted that you give me answers to questions, that you had already answered-


What I do not understand, is why you responded to a thread and post, that does not apply to you. You told me, yourself, that it is subject that you,
yourself, knew nothing of. I will confess that I was knocked off balance, by your acid insults, toward the people who dedicate themselves to bringing
the truth to light.

Truth to light? You have to be kidding. Are you actually going to tell me that this guys reporting is the truth? Looked more to me like he was bellyaching over the fact that he was denied access to a private convention.

As to your answer to my questions about horse slaughter-



My questions do have a bearing on the discussion. ALEC is involved with the laws that govern slaughter houses.

I asked these two questions of you, to gauge how much you cared about your horses, and horses in general.

I know that I do not want horses to suffer from fear, abuse, pain, and a horrible and gruesome death.

http://billmoyers.com/2013/07/10/alec-activists-and-ag-gag/

Since there are no currently active Equine slaughterhouses operating in the U.S. my guess is that the legislation suggestions are geared more to other commercial operations involving animal harvesting.

 

[gotsnowgotslush]

{gsgs comment -I will confess that I was knocked off balance, by your acid insults, toward the people who dedicate themselves to bringing
the truth to light.}

Truth to light? You have to be kidding. Are you actually going to tell me that this guys reporting is the truth?
Looked more to me like he was bellyaching over the fact that he was denied access to a private convention.

Think of it this way- How many cells does you body have ? How many internal organs ?
Being denied access, when permission was already granted, is just one symptom,
of one of the many diseases the body is suffering from.

Mitt Romney made his infamous remark about the "47%," behind closed doors-

"There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him,
who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care
for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it. That that's an entitlement.
And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what.... These are people who
pay no income tax. (Mitt Romney was caught in a lie, about who pays taxes, because of truth seekers.)

"Forty-seven percent of Americans pay no income tax."

So our message of low taxes doesn't connect. So he'll be out there talking about tax cuts for the rich. I mean, that's what they sell
every four years. And so my job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility
and care for their lives."
/end Mitt Romney gaffe

What is done behind closed doors, and why it is being done, does get found out. People who are brave enough to challenge barriers,
and the powerful and their allies, deserve respect. They are beaten, tear gassed, tormented, and cuffed in an inhuman manner.
They are the ones who call an alarm, when they see the symptoms of disease, within the body of our politics and policies.

As to the question of slaughter houses, meant for horses-

Since there are no currently active Equine slaughterhouses operating in the U.S. my guess is that the legislation
suggestions are geared more to other commercial operations involving animal harvesting.

03/22/13

The video shows Tim Sappington of Dexter leading a seemingly healthy horse by a rope to a spot in a dirt road. He strokes his nose
and neck, says, "All you animal activists, Fuck you," then shoots it in the head.

Chaves County Sheriff Rob Coon said the department is bracing for things to get worse as the company nears a final inspection by
federal regulators with the hope of opening horse slaughter operations next month.

News about the man who executed the horse, and the horse slaughter company

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4bPCqxtCUQ


http://billmoyers.com/2013/07/10/ale...ts-and-ag-gag/
(message within link)

Ag-Gag Laws Silence Whistleblowers

Muckrakers and activists have been working to expose the brutality of industrialized meat production since Upton Sinclair’s writing of The Jungle in 1906. But an ALEC model bill known as “The Animal and Ecological Terrorism Act” would make it a crime to film at animal facilities — such as factory farms or slaughterhouses — with the intent to “defame the facility or its owner.” So-called “ag-gag” laws that appear inspired by the ALEC model have been passed in several states. This report, produced by Okapi Productions, LLC and the Schumann Media Center, Inc. looks at the effect of these laws on both our food supply and our freedom of speech.

/end bill moyers link to Alec activity that concerns efforts to silence those who would bring truth to light

http://billmoyers.com/2013/08/09/an-exposed-alec-faces-mass-protests-and-calls-for-scrutiny/

An Exposed ALEC Faces Mass Protests and Calls for Scrutiny

ALEC has been decried by labor, environmental and clean government groups in state capitols across the country. National political figures, such as Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, are launching inquiries into how the group promotes its legislative agenda. And this week, as ALEC gathers its corporate and legislative “members” in the city of its founding to celebrate four decades of service to special interests and ambitious politicians, demonstrations against the group have drawn thousands of union members, civil rights activists and social justice campaigners into the streets of Chicago.

If you are interested in ALEC or slaughter houses for horses, there is a wealth of links, online.

If you are interested in government corruption and the export of American wild horses, there is much collected on that issue, too.

 

[mark_j]

Think of it this way- How many cells does you body have ? How many internal organs ?
Being denied access, when permission was already granted, is just one symptom,
of one of the many diseases the body is suffering from.

Interesting. So by this analogy we should just open up senate conferences, boardrooms, rotary conventions, cabinet meetings, union halls and just about any other closed door meeting to every swinging dick who wants to come in?

All in the name of 'truth' you understand.

Mitt Romney made his infamous remark about the "47%," behind closed doors-

"There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him,
who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care
for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you name it. That that's an entitlement.
And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what.... These are people who
pay no income tax. (Mitt Romney was caught in a lie, about who pays taxes, because of truth seekers.)

"Forty-seven percent of Americans pay no income tax."

So our message of low taxes doesn't connect. So he'll be out there talking about tax cuts for the rich. I mean, that's what they sell
every four years. And so my job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility
and care for their lives."
/end Mitt Romney gaffe

Mitt was basically right, in my opinion. What got him was probably the fact that he didn't have the percentages correct. I think the estimation was a little high. Needless to say, once the media got hold of this recording it got blown way out of context.

What is done behind closed doors, and why it is being done, does get found out. People who are brave enough to challenge barriers,
and the powerful and their allies, deserve respect. They are beaten, tear gassed, tormented, and cuffed in an inhuman manner.
They are the ones who call an alarm, when they see the symptoms of disease, within the body of our politics and policies.

I have no problem with peaceable protest, petition for redress, or any of that stuff. And yes sometimes these folks get beaten, tear gassed and arrested. Most of the time those who are arrested are either not charged or charged with a minor infraction and released. What I have a problem with is folks who use protests as an excuse to vandalize and destroy other peoples property (think WTO/May Day protests in Seattle a few years ago).

As to the question of slaughter houses, meant for horses-



03/22/13

The video shows Tim Sappington of Dexter leading a seemingly healthy horse by a rope to a spot in a dirt road. He strokes his nose
and neck, says, "All you animal activists, Fuck you," then shoots it in the head.

Chaves County Sheriff Rob Coon said the department is bracing for things to get worse as the company nears a final inspection by
federal regulators with the hope of opening horse slaughter operations next month.

News about the man who executed the horse, and the horse slaughter company

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4bPCqxtCUQ


http://billmoyers.com/2013/07/10/ale...ts-and-ag-gag/
(message within link)

As it is I hope Tim Sappington is enjoying his unemployment for that stunt and I hope they charge him with animal cruelty. Valley Meat was right to fire him after that. Not only was the vid in poor taste it reflects badly on Valley Meat and the image of them being a humane operation. As it is, I haven't heard whether a permit has been granted for operation. Last I knew it was still tied up in court (Aug 2).

Ag-Gag Laws Silence Whistleblowers

Muckrakers and activists have been working to expose the brutality of industrialized meat production since Upton Sinclair’s writing of The Jungle in 1906. But an ALEC model bill known as “The Animal and Ecological Terrorism Act” would make it a crime to film at animal facilities — such as factory farms or slaughterhouses — with the intent to “defame the facility or its owner.” So-called “ag-gag” laws that appear inspired by the ALEC model have been passed in several states. This report, produced by Okapi Productions, LLC and the Schumann Media Center, Inc. looks at the effect of these laws on both our food supply and our freedom of speech.

/end bill moyers link to Alec activity that concerns efforts to silence those who would bring truth to light

http://billmoyers.com/2013/08/09/an-exposed-alec-faces-mass-protests-and-calls-for-scrutiny/

Part of this is in response to several ALF acts in the late 90s where they were firebombing research labs and several other facilities. The idea was to change the laws so that these folks could be charged with a form of domestic terrorism instead of garden variety arson.

An Exposed ALEC Faces Mass Protests and Calls for Scrutiny

ALEC has been decried by labor, environmental and clean government groups in state capitols across the country. National political figures, such as Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, are launching inquiries into how the group promotes its legislative agenda. And this week, as ALEC gathers its corporate and legislative “members” in the city of its founding to celebrate four decades of service to special interests and ambitious politicians, demonstrations against the group have drawn thousands of union members, civil rights activists and social justice campaigners into the streets of Chicago.

ALEC is not alone here, it just happens to be your pet Svengali it appears.

If you are interested in ALEC or slaughter houses for horses, there is a wealth of links, online.

If you are interested in government corruption and the export of American wild horses, there is much collected on that issue, too.

With the exception of ALEC I'm fairly aware of the national movement regarding this issue. However most of my work is at the state and local level.

 

[RobDownSouth]

Can you prove that this is what they actually said? Or is it another manifestation of someone talking points?

The Rapepublicans campaigned on "Repeal and Replace" in 2012.

They lost.

Now, they've dropped all pretense of "replacement".

The 40-odd repeal bills passed by the Rapepublican house offer no new alternative, which illustrates that they want the existing flawed system to continue.

 

[LiFeNdEaTh]

thanks for sharing

 

[trysail]

...I was knocked off balance, by your acid insults, toward the people who dedicate themselves to bringing the truth to light...

The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule.​

-H. L. Mencken​

 

[BotanyBoy]

Can you prove that this is what they actually said? Or is it another manifestation of someone talking points?

Has the GOP or other right wing party ever uttered so much as a positive breath about public health care that wasn't of direct economic interest to them?

Have they ever tried to pass any public health care legislation that went beyond 'we don't want to pay'??

The only time I have ever seen a Republican promote public health care by the government is when they or their constituents are supplying the government with the supplies for that public care at the standard bloated price.

If you can point out anything even churched up to try resemble altruism in RW health care policy I'm open.

But as far as I know it's been "every man for himself or you're a dirty commie/socialist!!" for as long as I can remember.