Texas invested $200 million in businesses [ to "create" 1600 jobs in Texas ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/24/texas-governor-rick-perry-startup-fund-review ) . It turns out that some of the companies don't really exist, aren't in Texas, don't pay their taxes, etc. As a way to boost employment, this is ineffective. As investment, it wasn't very good either; it made only a little money for the state. [ Raising the minimum wage would create a lot more jobs ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#08_July_2014_(States_That_Raised_Their_Minimum_Wages) ) , but that would not please the [ employers that want workers to be desperate ]( https://www.stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#19_July_2014_(Workers_safety_nets) ) . Paul Ryan [ says the US government should eliminate welfare requirements and give money to states ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/24/paul-ryan-poverty-plan-welfare ) to use to help the poor. Texas will give this money to companies to "create jobs", thus ensuring that the poor gain nothing from it.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_July_2014_%28Investing_in_businesses_to_create_jobs%29

Texas has started [ asking for fingerprints from everyone that renews a driver's license ]( https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140721/09452027954/texas-dept-public-safety-quietly-starts-demanding-full-set-prints-drivers-license-applicants.shtml ) . People are not required to give all the fingerprints, but the state tricks them into thinking so. Demanding even one fingerprint is an injustice.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_July_2014_%28Tricking_people_into_giving_fingerprints%29

Israel [ shelled civilians sheltering in a UN compound ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/24/gaza-crisis-israeli-shells-kill-15-un-school-compound ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_July_2014_%28Civilians_in_UN_compound_shelled%29

UK thugs systematically [ spied on families campaigning for justice after relatives were killed or maimed ]( http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jul/24/undercover-police-spying-justice-campaigns-20-years ) — in many cases, by thugs. [ More information ]( http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jul/24/secret-met-police-unit-information-justice-campaigns ) . It has a certain logic. People whose relatives you've shot might be plausible nuclei for opposition and you might want to sabotage their campaigns.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#25_July_2014_%28Systematic_spying_by_UK_thugs%29

Glyn Moody: ISPs that want to sort traffic into fast and slow lanes [ might join with Big Brother to ban encryption ]( https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140721/06280227950/another-reason-defending-net-neutrality-nsa-surveillance.shtml ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#26_July_2014_%28Network_neutrality_and_encryption%29

The UK government is [ cutting subsidies for renewable energy ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jul/24/uk-renewable-energy-subsidies-capped-at-200m-a-year ) so can give more to nuclear power and fossil fuels.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#26_July_2014_%28UK_cutting_renewable_energy_subsidies%29

A gate agent for Southwest Airlines [ forced a passenger to delete a tweet that called the agent "rude" ]( http://arstechnica.com/business/2014/07/man-ejected-from-southwest-flight-for-tweeting-that-a-gate-agent-was-rude/ ) , on pain of missing the flight. Airline employees have the power to kick any passenger off a flight arbitrarily — all they have to do is claim they feel threatened. This power goes to the heads of some of them. It's the same sort of impunity that thugs enjoy.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#26_July_2014_%28Airline_passenger_forced_to_delete_tweet%29

There was a rumor that ISIS ordered genital mutilation for all females, but ISIS [ says it never did this ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/24/isis-deny-ordering-fgm-girls-mosul ) . I doubted the rumor, as I knew that Islam does not require FGM.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#26_July_2014_%28Rumor_about_ISIS-ordered_FGM%29

Israel now [ admits it shelled another school ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/24/israeli-strike-un-school-gaza-kills-women-children ) (in use as a refugee shelter) in Gaza. As usual, Israel says it was because some Palestinians were firing from the school. I am skeptical; I don't think they could have done that without being noticed by the UN staff. Supposing there are Hamas fighters shooting from a school, which is a war crime, that would not mean Israel is entitled to target the school with any and all weapons. Israel would have to use methods, such as direct fire, that are not likely to stray off target to hit civilians elsewhere on the grounds. Israel justifies attacks on hospitals and schools by claiming that Hamas has facilities near them, but [ Israeli army headquarters is also near a hospital ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/24/gaza-hamas-fighters-military-bases-guerrilla-war-civilians-israel-idf ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#26_July_2014_%28Israel_admits_shelling_another_school%29

Israeli soldiers [ shot 100 protesters ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/25/israeli-soldiers-kill-palestinian-west-bank-protest ) in Nablus, killing several.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#26_July_2014_%28100_protesters_shot_in_Nablus%29

Privatizations of poultry inspections in the UK led to [ widespread unsanitary conditions ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/24/scandal-profits-come-before-food-safety ) , so that most chicken is contaminated by bacteria that can make people sick if the chicken is not properly cooked. So why does the US government want to follow the same path?
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#26_July_2014_%28Privatized_poultry_inspections%29

[ Over 50 Israeli Reservists Declare 'We Refuse to Serve' ]( http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/07/24/over-50-israeli-reservists-declare-we-refuse-serve ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#26_July_2014_%28Israeli_reservists_refuse_to_serve%29

[ Why Average Internet Users Should Demand Significant Section 702 Reform ]( https://cdt.org/blog/why-average-internet-users-should-demand-significant-section-702-reform/ ) . Reforming law for snooping on our internet traffic is only a part of what we need to do to [ prevent a society of total surveillance ]( http://gnu.org/philosophy/surveillance-vs-democracy.html ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#26_July_2014_%28Section_702_reform%29

In the US: [ sign up to boycott Walgreens ]( http://action.usaction.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=641&track=usaction ) if it moves its HQ outside the US.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#26_July_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Keep_Walgreens_HQ_in_the_US%29

Israel set the stage for wars in Gaza by pulling out settlers and ground troops [ while maintaining the occupation in every other way ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/25/guardian-view-causes-fighting-gaza ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#26_July_2014_%28Israel_set_the_stage_for_wars_in_Gaza%29

Iran has [ arrested four journalists ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/25/iran-washington-post-tehran-reporter-jason-rezaian-journalists-arrrested ) , including three Americans, for no obvious reason.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#26_July_2014_%28Iran_has_arrested_four_journalists%29

The More Male-Dominated a Field, [ the Less It Cares about Domestic Violence ]( http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/25/domestic-violence-mps-sportsmen-women ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#26_July_2014_%28Domestic_Violence%29

[ Seven-Year Jail Term for Saudi Photographer ]( http://en.rsf.org/saudi-arabia-seven-year-jail-term-for-saudi-23-07-2014,46692.html ) . And many other journalists and dissidents.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#26_July_2014_%28Seven-Year_Jail_Term_for_Saudi_Photographer%29

US citizens: Tell the RESTORE Council to [ get moving on restoring the damage from the Big Spill ]( http://support.edf.org/site/R?i=WVLw-Wub7xoiLX1zomzOdw ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#26_July_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Restoring_damage_from_the_Big_Spill%29

Republicans in the US Congress distrust climate models, and to make sure they can continue to do so, [ they voted to eliminate funding for validating climate models ]( http://thebulletin.org/climate-change-if-we-pretend-it-isn%E2%80%99t-happening-will-it-go-away7333 ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#26_July_2014_%28Republicans_in_the_US_Congress_distrust_climate_models%29

In the US: ask Trader Joe's to [ commit not to sell meat made from animals raised using antibiotics. ]( https://secure3.convio.net/engage/site/Advocacy;jsessionid=744AB493D0D03671AA8C6C2FD03F0A5E.app338b?pagename=homepage&page=UserAction&id=11370 )
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#26_July_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Meat_made_from_animals_raised_using_antibiotics%29

Uri Avnery explains what is needed to [ end the Gaza war once and for all ]( http://zope.gush-shalom.org/home/en/channels/avnery/1406281947/ ) . He also points out how Arab dictators' support for Israel is likely to create pressures for more extreme Islamism, a la ISIS.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#27_July_2014_%28What_is_needed_to_end_Gaza_war%29

The US [ ranks near the bottom in energy efficiency ]( http://www.ipsnews.net/2014/07/u-s-ranks-near-bottom-globally-in-energy-efficiency/ ) . The [ funded campaign to keep use of fossil fuels as high as possible ]( https://www.stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#13_July_2014_%28US_fossil_fuel_subsidies%29 ) is evidently quite successful.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#27_July_2014_%28US_ranks_near_the_bottom_in_energy_efficiency%29

A student in Colombia is being [ prosecuted for sharing an academic article ]( https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/07/colombian-student-faces-prison-charges-sharing-academic-article-online ) , under a law imposed on Colombia by the US. Colombia should tear up that treaty.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#27_July_2014_%28Prosecuted_for_sharing_an_academic_article%29

US citizens: tell Congress to [ stop listening to the Chamber of Commerce ]( http://action.whistleblowers.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=14547 ) and broaden, not reduce, incentives for business whistleblowers.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#27_July_2014_%28Urgent%3A_Stop_listening_to_the_Chamber_of_Commerce%29

The US is [ conscripting universities into the War on Sharing ]( https://torrentfreak.com/university-sets-fines-worse-for-pirating-students-140724/ ) . Even if a university is unable to resist the pressure to bully its students this way, that does not excuse the university for failing to apologize and condemn the pressure. The article repeats the enemy's propaganda term "piracy". [ Please don't refer to sharing by a term that means attacking ships ]( http://gnu.org/philosophy/words-to-avoid.html#Piracy ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#27_July_2014_%28US_conscripting_universities_into_the_War_on_Sharing%29

Phillip Morris, the tobacco company, continues trying to bully Uruguay (and by extension many other countries) into [ retreating from policies to discourage smoking. ]( http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/07/21/3462255/latin-american-country-big-tobacco/ ) This campaign is capable of killing millions of people. The article alas spreads confusion when it uses the term "intellectual property". That term is pure confusion and should never be used. The tobacco companies use it as propaganda, and to repeat it is to support their propaganda.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#27_July_2014_%28Phillip_Morris_continues_trying_to_bully_Uruguay%29

Piketty's proposal for [ global tax on wealth is his idea for saving the world ]( http://boingboing.net/2014/06/24/thomas-pikettys-capital-in-t.html ) from growing concentration of wealth that will lead either to a bloody revolution or the world of the Hunger Games.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#27_July_2014_%28Global_tax_on_wealth%29

The Israeli peace movement [ is a small remnant of what it used to be ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/26/gaza-israel-palestinian-protest ) , as overt racism and right-wing hatred takes over the country. Peace campaigners face not only [ physical violence ]( http://thelefternwall.com/2014/07/26/pepper-sprayed-pursued-in-north-tel-aviv/ ) but also [ legal repression ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2013-may-aug.html#13_June_2013_%28Constitutionality_of_Israels_anti-boycott_law%29 ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#27_July_2014_%28Israeli_peace_movement%29

The US published satellite photos with evidence that [ Russia is firing rockets to attack Ukraine. ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/27/satellite-images-us-show-russian-rocket-fire-into-ukraine )
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#27_July_2014_%28Russia_is_firing_rockets_to_attack_Ukraine%29

The practice of evidence-laundering allows the US government to use NSA surveillance information secretly and [ secretly deny Americans fair trials ]( http://dissenter.firedoglake.com/2014/07/23/parallel-construction-unconstitutional-nsa-searches-deny-due-process/ ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#27_July_2014_%28The_practice_of_evidence-laundering%29

The US closed its embassy in Libya due to the [ fighting between militias ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/26/us-closes-embassy-libya-militia-battles-tripoli ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#28_July_2014_%28US_closes_embassy_in_Libya%29

Central American leaders implore Obama to spend billions to [ help them end gang violence ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/26/central-american-leaders-obama-border-policy ) , rather than on repelling the children fleeing from it. One thing they need is to tear up the plutocratic treaty [ CAFTA ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2011-mar-jun.html#01_June_2011_(Guatemala_Global_Food_Crisis) ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#28_July_2014_%28Central_American_leaders_meet_with_Obama%29

Israeli bombardment has [ leveled entire neighborhoods in Gaza ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/26/gaza-pause-bombing-destruction-seen-israel ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#28_July_2014_%28Entire_Gazan_neighborhoods_leveled%29

The FBI conducted a mandatory study of how drones threaten civil liberties and privacy, and now [ refuses to tell the public its conclusions ]( https://www.muckrock.com/news/archives/2014/jul/24/fbi-refuses-release-drone-privacy-assessment/ ) . This is one more element in the US government's systematic contempt for the Constitution and human rights.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#28_July_2014_%28FBI_hides_its_conclusions_about_drones%29

The US is conspiring with Yemen to keep Sharif Mobley disappeared in a secret location and [ refuse to tell his lawyers where to find him ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/25/us-diplomats-contact-yemen-citizen-sharif-mobley ) . I expect they are torturing him too.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#28_July_2014_%28US_conspiring_with_Yemen%29

The [ UN reports ]( http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/07/25/gap-between-rich-and-poor-widens-global-safety-net-danger ) that life is getting more precarious around the world.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#28_July_2014_%28Life_getting_more_precarious%29

ISIS has imposed [ Saudi-style oppression of women ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/25/iraq-islamic-state-full-veil-warns-wear-women-punishment ) , ordering them to cover their faces and hands and not to travel without a man. Women in the area oppressed by ISIS should carry guns under their mandatory loose clothing, and shoot ISIS supporters opportunistically.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#28_July_2014_%28ISIS_imposes_oppression_of_women%29

The World Bank proposes to shred its environmental protections by [ allowing governments to opt out from them ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jul/25/leaked-world-bank-lending-policies-environmentally-disastrous ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#28_July_2014_%28Shredding_environmental_protections%29

The Everglades are now [ threatened by invasive plants and pests ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/25/everglades-trees-felled-deadly-fungus ) . Has anyone noticed that global heating will drown the Everglades, over time?
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#28_July_2014_%28Everglades_threatened%29

[ UN Warns Countries With Draconian Abortion Bans That They re Violating Human Rights ]( http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/07/25/3464116/united-nations-abortion-human-rights/ ) . Given the danger posed by human population increase, governments should provide abortion gratis and conveniently.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#28_July_2014_%28Abortion_bans%29

Arizona is [ hitting record temperatures ]( http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/07/25/3464391/phoenix-temperature-records/ ) , even at night. One of the effects of greenhouse gases is to prevent the ground from cooling off at night by radiating infrared into space.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#28_July_2014_%28Record_temperatures_in_Arizona%29

Tamil boat people who were imprisoned at sea have been [ brought to Australia ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/28/asylum-seeker-court-hearing-is-brought-forward-following-transfer-to-mainland ) , but it is not clear how their asylum cases will be held. In particular, it is not clear why Australia wants Indian officials to interview them.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#28_July_2014_%28Tamil_boat_people_brought_to_Australia%29

Australia approved a new coal mine which will be the [ world's biggest ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jul/28/largest-coal-mine-in-australia-federal-government-gives-carmichael-go-ahead ) . Thus we speed towards global disaster.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#28_July_2014_%28Australia_approves_new_coal_mine%29

Research on bees is [ tainted by involvement of pesticide companies ]( http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jul/28/bee-research-funding-pesticides-mps ) . The non-plutocratic way to fund this research is to tax the companies more, just as we must tax the pharma companies more and not let them fund tests of the effects of drugs.
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#28_July_2014_%28Pesticide_companies_taint_bee_research%29

Even businesses object to plans to make unemployed people waste their time [ filing hopeless job applications ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/28/industry-concerned-about-coalitions-40-job-applications-a-month-plan ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#28_July_2014_%28Plans_to_waste_unemployed_peoples_time%29

A mob of fanatical Muslims in Pakistan [ lynched a "heretical" grandmother and two of her grandchildren ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/28/ahmadi-woman-children-killed-pakistan-mob-attack ) . The thugs say they could not stop the mob. Will they arrest any of the murderers? The government of Pakistan encourages this violence with its [ law against blasphemy ]( https://stallman.org/archives/archive-2002.html#Shaikh ) , which violates basic human rights. This stems, in turn, from the general arrogance of Islam, which we see also in the [ actions of ISIS ]( https://www.stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#28_July_2014_(ISIS_imposes_oppression_of_women) ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#28_July_2014_%28Fanatical_Muslims_lynch_heretics%29

Destroying Hamas [ would make room for a more extreme replacement ]( http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/27/destroying-hamas-wont-solve-conflict-warns-us-intelligence-head ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#29_July_2014_%28Destroying_Hamas%29

A Colorado judge ruled that [ promotion of mining takes precedence over human health in Colorado law. ]( http://www.commondreams.org/news/2014/07/25/colorado-judge-lets-fracking-trump-public-health )
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#29_July_2014_%28Mining_takes_precedence_over_human_health%29

An additional reason to distrust the report of the official investigation of the September 2001 terrorist attacks is that they were [ based on evidence obtained by the CIA using torture ]( http://web.archive.org/web/20080407223205/http://deepbackground.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/30/624314.aspx ) . This is in addition to the fact that the [ investigation was corrupted. ]( https://stallman.org/archives/2003-nov-feb.html#29_February_2004_%28Bush_9/11_Deposition%29 ) So please [ support the campaign for a proper investigation ]( http://ae911truth.org ) .
Ссылка: https://stallman.org/archives/2014-may-aug.html#29_July_2014_%28Official_investigation_of_the_Sep._2001_terrorist_attacks%29