Mothers: I Feel Like That Should Be Celebrated

This Sunday is Mothers Day. To my mother: Thank you for being awesome and my best friend (although this will likely be the one and only time I will admit that). I love you! Now on to some news.

Farming White Entitlement

“A group of white farmers from Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Ohio filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration, alleging their exclusion from a federal pandemic loan forgiveness program targeted at minority farmers is a violation of their constitutional rights. They argue their exclusion from the program due to their race denies them equal protection under the law.”

“The program, launched as part of the American Rescue Plan passed in March, set aside roughly $5 billion in loan forgiveness for “socially disadvantaged” farmers and ranchers who have been disproportionately harmed by Covid-19. Socially disadvantaged is defined as farmers and ranchers as those who “have been subjected to racial or ethnic prejudice because of their identity as members of a group,” including Blacks, American Indians, Hispanics, Alaskan natives, Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders.” Forbes: White Farmers Sue Biden Administration, Alleging Racial Discrimination In Stimulus Package For decades on decades, minority farmers have been left out of essentially all programs and funds given to America’s farmers and one of the few times they have some money set aside for them, white farmers are crying about their constitutional rights.

Unemployed Tough Love

“Greg Gianforte, Montana’s governor, announced his state will stop participating in the federal program that has given unemployed workers additional unemployment payments since the start of the pandemic – in an apparent attempt to get Montanans back to work, and he plans to give those who choose to do so something he calls a return-to-work bonus.”

“Currently with the federal unemployment addition, Montana residents receiving assistance get between $351 and $810 weekly. Gianforte’s new plan will cut out those additional payments starting 27 June, and “incentivize Montanans to re-enter the workforce” with a single “return-to-work” bonus of $1,200 after one full month of work, which will only go to the first 12,500 workers to claim it. Montana Department of Labor estimates, nearly 25,000 people are currently filing unemployment claims, a good chunk of whom the governor is eager to push into the state’s 14,000 or so job openings.” Guardian: Montana’s Republican governor pulls pandemic payments – is he for real?  This makes perfect sense: cut off people’s necessary federally funded money, so that a little over half can get jobs and leave the other 10,000+ struggling. That is excellent governing. 

It’s Coal Outside

Wyoming is living in the early 1900s. They still think coal is a hot new thing. “Wyoming has now come up with a novel and controversial plan to protect its mining industry – sue other states that refuse to take its coal. A new state law has created a $1.2m fund to be used by Wyoming’s governor to take legal action against other states that opt to power themselves with clean energy such as solar and wind, in order to meet targets to tackle the climate crisis, rather than burn Wyoming’s coal.” Guardian: Wyoming stands up for coal with threat to sue states that refuse to buy it You literally cannot make this stuff up. Instead of adapting to changing times, the plan is to use the judicial system to force states back in time. Coal is NOT the future. Best get on board now, or you will be left behind. I mean why don’t we bring back the horse and buggy as a primary mode of transportation; forget electric cars. 

Ready, Aim, Fire!

“The South Carolina House voted to add a firing squad to the state’s execution methods amid a lack of lethal-injection drugs. The bill, approved by a 66-43 vote, will require condemned inmates to choose either being shot or electrocuted if lethal injection drugs aren’t available. The Senate already had approved the bill in March, by a vote of 32-11.The state is one of only nine to still use the electric chair and will become only the fourth to allow a firing squad. South Carolina last executed a death row inmate 10 years ago Thursday.” Associated Press: South Carolina House adds firing squad to execution methods It is baffling how this is a priority. Also really! A firing squad? I guess. Why do Republicans insists on trying to turn back time?