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1000 results for “Bureau”
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Depuis fin 2024, le projet de recherche-action PLUVALUH (Promouvoir L’Usage et la Valorisation en Agriculture de l’Urine Humain) auquel le programme OCAPI participe, s’intéresse à la mise en place de filières de valorisation agricole des nutriments contenus dans l’urine humaine. Il vise à contribuer à l’émergence de celles-ci en se focalisant sur des expérimentations sur trois territoires distincts :
- le plateau de #Saclay,
- le bassin Lyonnais,
- le territoire d'#Angers Loire Métropole.L’objectif est, sur la base de ces retours d’expériences, de faciliter la prise de décision pour des réplications sur d’autres territoires et le passage à grande échelle.
Ce projet de trois ans, financé par #FranceAgriMer, est mis en œuvre en partenariat avec les Chambres d’agriculture d’Ile-de-France, des Pays de la Loire et du Rhône, avec les associations POLE VEGETAL LOIRE-MAINE (#APVLM), et Terre et Cité , le BHR – Bureau Horticole Régional, ainsi que l'UMR #EcoSys (#INRAE) et l’École nationale des ponts et chaussées.
Pour en savoir plus sur le projet : https://www.leesu.fr/ocapi/pluvaluh-promouvoir-lusage-et-la-valorisation-en-agriculture-de-lurine-humaine/
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Depuis fin 2024, le projet de recherche-action PLUVALUH (Promouvoir L’Usage et la Valorisation en Agriculture de l’Urine Humain) auquel le programme OCAPI participe, s’intéresse à la mise en place de filières de valorisation agricole des nutriments contenus dans l’urine humaine. Il vise à contribuer à l’émergence de celles-ci en se focalisant sur des expérimentations sur trois territoires distincts :
- le plateau de #Saclay,
- le bassin Lyonnais,
- le territoire d'#Angers Loire Métropole.L’objectif est, sur la base de ces retours d’expériences, de faciliter la prise de décision pour des réplications sur d’autres territoires et le passage à grande échelle.
Ce projet de trois ans, financé par #FranceAgriMer, est mis en œuvre en partenariat avec les Chambres d’agriculture d’Ile-de-France, des Pays de la Loire et du Rhône, avec les associations POLE VEGETAL LOIRE-MAINE (#APVLM), et Terre et Cité , le BHR – Bureau Horticole Régional, ainsi que l'UMR #EcoSys (#INRAE) et l’École nationale des ponts et chaussées.
Pour en savoir plus sur le projet : https://www.leesu.fr/ocapi/pluvaluh-promouvoir-lusage-et-la-valorisation-en-agriculture-de-lurine-humaine/
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#Edito Couper le budget de la SSR en deux. Les conséquences d’un oui à l’initiative «200 francs ça suffit» sont difficilement imaginables. Délocalisation totale à Zurich? Fermeture des bureaux régionaux? Clap de fin pour le cinéma suisse? Une chose est sûre: aucune entreprise ne survit en voyant du jour au lendemain son budget réduit de moitié.
✍️ Un édito (accès libre) de Sophie Dupont à retrouver sur notre site ⬇️
https://lecourrier.ch/2026/03/01/ssr-qui-profite-du-crime/ -
#Edito Couper le budget de la SSR en deux. Les conséquences d’un oui à l’initiative «200 francs ça suffit» sont difficilement imaginables. Délocalisation totale à Zurich? Fermeture des bureaux régionaux? Clap de fin pour le cinéma suisse? Une chose est sûre: aucune entreprise ne survit en voyant du jour au lendemain son budget réduit de moitié.
✍️ Un édito (accès libre) de Sophie Dupont à retrouver sur notre site ⬇️
https://lecourrier.ch/2026/03/01/ssr-qui-profite-du-crime/ -
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bigthink:
"NASA’s next X-ray mission, AXIS, has been killed""The path to exploring the high-energy Universe was clear + compelling. Here's how 2025's cuts are still causing NASA casualties in 2026."
"Yet 2025’s headcount reduction at NASA, facility closures at Goddard, + .. government shutdown made meeting bureaucratic deadlines impossible. The AXIS mission is now dead, .."
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/nasa-x-ray-axis-killed/
11.3.2026
#Astronomie #astronomy #AXIS #GSFC #NASA #Raumfahrt #SpaceFlight #Weltraumteleskop
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bigthink:
"NASA’s next X-ray mission, AXIS, has been killed""The path to exploring the high-energy Universe was clear + compelling. Here's how 2025's cuts are still causing NASA casualties in 2026."
"Yet 2025’s headcount reduction at NASA, facility closures at Goddard, + .. government shutdown made meeting bureaucratic deadlines impossible. The AXIS mission is now dead, .."
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/nasa-x-ray-axis-killed/
11.3.2026
#Astronomie #astronomy #AXIS #GSFC #NASA #Raumfahrt #SpaceFlight #Weltraumteleskop
-
bigthink:
"NASA’s next X-ray mission, AXIS, has been killed""The path to exploring the high-energy Universe was clear + compelling. Here's how 2025's cuts are still causing NASA casualties in 2026."
"Yet 2025’s headcount reduction at NASA, facility closures at Goddard, + .. government shutdown made meeting bureaucratic deadlines impossible. The AXIS mission is now dead, .."
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/nasa-x-ray-axis-killed/
11.3.2026
#Astronomie #astronomy #AXIS #GSFC #NASA #Raumfahrt #SpaceFlight #Weltraumteleskop
-
bigthink:
"NASA’s next X-ray mission, AXIS, has been killed""The path to exploring the high-energy Universe was clear + compelling. Here's how 2025's cuts are still causing NASA casualties in 2026."
"Yet 2025’s headcount reduction at NASA, facility closures at Goddard, + .. government shutdown made meeting bureaucratic deadlines impossible. The AXIS mission is now dead, .."
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/nasa-x-ray-axis-killed/
11.3.2026
#Astronomie #astronomy #AXIS #GSFC #NASA #Raumfahrt #SpaceFlight #Weltraumteleskop
-
bigthink:
"NASA’s next X-ray mission, AXIS, has been killed""The path to exploring the high-energy Universe was clear + compelling. Here's how 2025's cuts are still causing NASA casualties in 2026."
"Yet 2025’s headcount reduction at NASA, facility closures at Goddard, + .. government shutdown made meeting bureaucratic deadlines impossible. The AXIS mission is now dead, .."
https://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/nasa-x-ray-axis-killed/
11.3.2026
#Astronomie #astronomy #AXIS #GSFC #NASA #Raumfahrt #SpaceFlight #Weltraumteleskop
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#AbrahamLincoln: "#democracy is #government of the #people - by the #people - for the #people"
but #democracy is not perfect per default, it needs constant #reform to become better and better (not worse and worse how it was made by (#financial #taxavoiding #lobbyists and other #lobbyists = #corruption)
how to reform democracy? a #conversationwithai: #deepseek
<think>
Alright, I'm trying to figure out how to reform #democracy so that decisions are made faster and are more competent, while also reducing incompetence and corruption. This is a big question because democracy as it stands has a lot of #issues, but it's still considered one of the better systems out there <- read this?First off, I know that one of the main problems with democracies is that #decisionmaking can be #slow, especially in #large #countries.
There are so many #checks and #balances that sometimes it feels like nothing gets done.
So maybe making decisions faster requires #streamlining some processes.
But how? Maybe reducing #bureaucracy or changing how legislation is passed?
Another issue is #incompetence. I've seen elected officials who don't seem to have the right skills or knowledge for their roles. <- this #AI has seen things!
How can we ensure that #leaders are actually #competent?
Perhaps through better #education #requirements, or maybe having #experts in certain fields advise them more #effectively.
#Corruption is another huge #Problem seems like #money plays a big role in #politics, which can lead to decisions that favor #donors over the people.
#Campaign #finance #reform might help here, but I'm not sure how feasible that is given current laws and court rulings, especially in places like the #US with #CitizensUnited.
#Voter #engagement is also a factor.
If more people participate, maybe there's more #accountability.
But getting people to vote when they feel their votes don't matter is tough.
Maybe changing voting systems, like ranked-choice voting, could make elections feel more representative and increase turnout.
I've heard about #sortition, where #random #citizens are #selected for #decisionmaking bodies.
That might bring in diverse perspectives and reduce corruption since the average person isn't as beholden to special interests.
But would people take it seriously? I'm not sure how effective that would be compared to elected officials.
#Technology could play a role too.
Maybe using #online #platforms for #participatory #budgeting or #policy #discussions.
It could make #government more #transparent and involve citizens more #directly.
However, there's the risk of #misinformation and #manipulation online.
#Term #limits are another idea.
They might prevent politicians from becoming too entrenched and corrupt, but they can also limit institutional knowledge and lead to a #revolvingdoor of #inexperienced #leaders.
#Anticorruption agencies seem necessary, but they need to be #independent and well #funded.
If they're controlled by the government, they won't be effective.
How do you ensure their independence?
#Media #literacy is important because if people are #better #informed, they can make #better #decisions at the #ballotbox.
But with so much #misinformation out there, improving media literacy is a big challenge.
I'm also thinking about proportional representation.
Maybe switching to a system where more parties have seats could lead to more diverse and representative governments, reducing gridlock.
But it might also make forming a government harder if no single party has a majority.
What about making voting mandatory?
It increases turnout but can also lead to people voting without being informed, which doesn't necessarily improve the quality of decisions.
Another thought is focusing on #local #governance.
If more decisions are made at the local level where people can be more involved and informed, it might lead to #better #outcomes #overall.
But not all issues can be handled locally; some require national or international coordination.
I'm also considering how #education plays into this.
Better #civic #education could make voters more informed and engaged.
It starts from a young age teaching about #government #structures, #roles, and the importance of #participation.
#Transparency is key too.
If governments are more open about their processes and decisions, trust might increase. Things like #FOIA requests in the U.S. help, but they can be slow and sometimes
incomplete.#Incentivizing #good #governance through awards or recognition might motivate leaders to perform better, but it's not a sure fix for deeper systemic issues.
Encouraging #whistleblowers is important because they can expose #corruption before it becomes entrenched.
Protecting them legally would make others more willing to come forward.
Public-private partnerships could bring in expertise from the private sector, but there's a risk of corporate influence if not managed properly.
Inclusive decision-making ensures that all groups have a voice, which leads to more equitable policies.
It requires active efforts to involve marginalized communities.
Independent judiciaries are crucial because they can check the other branches and enforce laws against corruption.
But judicial appointments can be politicized, which undermines their independence.
Finally, cultural shifts towards valuing integrity over power might help reduce corruption. But changing a culture is slow and difficult, especially in large, diverse societies.
Putting all these thoughts together, it seems like reforming democracy requires a multi-faceted approach addressing both structural issues and cultural factors. It's not just about tweaking one part but making comprehensive changes that promote competence, transparency, and accountability while ensuring representation and reducing corruption.
</think>
Reforming democracy to enhance decision-making efficiency, competence, and reduce corruption involves a multifaceted approach that addresses both structural and cultural aspects of
governance. Here is an organized strategy based on the thought process:### Structural Reforms
1. **Streamline Decision-Making Processes:**
- Reduce bureaucratic layers and adopt more agile legislative processes to accelerate decision-making without compromising thorough consideration.2. **Campaign Finance Reform:**
- Implement strict regulations on campaign contributions and promote public financing of elections to diminish the influence of money in politics.3. **Proportional Representation:**
- Introduce proportional representation systems to ensure diverse representation, which can lead to more inclusive and efficient governance.4. **Term Limits:**
- Enact term limits for elected officials to prevent entrenchment, while ensuring mechanisms for knowledge retention and smooth transitions.5. **Independent Anti-Corruption Agencies:**
- Establish independent bodies with strong investigative and prosecutorial powers to combat corruption effectively.### Enhancing Competence
1. **Expert Advisory Bodies:**
- Integrate expert panels in decision-making processes to provide informed guidance on complex issues.2. **Civic Education:**
- Improve education systems to foster informed voters through civic engagement and critical thinking skills.3. **Sortition (Citizen Juries):**
- Experiment with sortition to involve diverse citizen perspectives, enhancing
representativeness and reducing corruption risks.### Reducing Corruption
1. **Transparency Measures:**
- Increase government transparency through open data initiatives, accessible meetings, and robust freedom of information laws.2. **Whistleblower Protection:**
- Strengthen legal protections for whistleblowers to encourage the exposure of corruption without fear of retribution.3. **Judicial Independence:**
- Ensure the judiciary is independent and impartial, free from political influence, to uphold rule of law and check executive power.### Voter Engagement and Participation
1. **Voting System Reforms:**
- Adopt ranked-choice voting and proportional representation to ensure votes count more meaningfully and increase voter satisfaction.2. **Compulsory Voting:**
- Consider mandatory voting with incentives for informed voting, potentially reducing apathy and increasing political engagement.3. **Participatory Budgeting:**
- Involve citizens in budget decisions through digital platforms to foster transparency and accountability.### Technological Integration
1. **Digital Platforms:**
- Utilize technology for participatory governance, enabling real-time public input on policies and fostering informed discussions.2. **Media Literacy Programs:**
- Launch initiatives to combat misinformation, promoting a better-informed electorate capable of discerning credible sources.### Cultural Shifts
1. **Incentivizing Good Governance:**
- Recognize and reward ethical leadership through awards or public acknowledgment to promote integrity in governance.2. **Cultural Values:**
- Foster societal norms that prioritize transparency, accountability, and integrity, encouraging leaders to adhere to high ethical standards.### Conclusion
Reforming democracy requires a comprehensive approach that combines structural changes with cultural shifts. By streamlining processes, enhancing
competence through education and expertise, reducing corruption through transparency and independent oversight, and engaging citizens more
effectively, democracies can become more responsive, efficient, and just. This multifaceted strategy aims to rebuild trust in governance and ensure
decisions truly reflect the will of the people. -
#AbrahamLincoln: "#democracy is #government of the #people - by the #people - for the #people"
but #democracy is not perfect per default, it needs constant #reform to become better and better (not worse and worse how it was made by (#financial #taxavoiding #lobbyists and other #lobbyists = #corruption)
how to reform democracy? a #conversationwithai: #deepseek
<think>
Alright, I'm trying to figure out how to reform #democracy so that decisions are made faster and are more competent, while also reducing incompetence and corruption. This is a big question because democracy as it stands has a lot of #issues, but it's still considered one of the better systems out there <- read this?First off, I know that one of the main problems with democracies is that #decisionmaking can be #slow, especially in #large #countries.
There are so many #checks and #balances that sometimes it feels like nothing gets done.
So maybe making decisions faster requires #streamlining some processes.
But how? Maybe reducing #bureaucracy or changing how legislation is passed?
Another issue is #incompetence. I've seen elected officials who don't seem to have the right skills or knowledge for their roles. <- this #AI has seen things!
How can we ensure that #leaders are actually #competent?
Perhaps through better #education #requirements, or maybe having #experts in certain fields advise them more #effectively.
#Corruption is another huge #Problem seems like #money plays a big role in #politics, which can lead to decisions that favor #donors over the people.
#Campaign #finance #reform might help here, but I'm not sure how feasible that is given current laws and court rulings, especially in places like the #US with #CitizensUnited.
#Voter #engagement is also a factor.
If more people participate, maybe there's more #accountability.
But getting people to vote when they feel their votes don't matter is tough.
Maybe changing voting systems, like ranked-choice voting, could make elections feel more representative and increase turnout.
I've heard about #sortition, where #random #citizens are #selected for #decisionmaking bodies.
That might bring in diverse perspectives and reduce corruption since the average person isn't as beholden to special interests.
But would people take it seriously? I'm not sure how effective that would be compared to elected officials.
#Technology could play a role too.
Maybe using #online #platforms for #participatory #budgeting or #policy #discussions.
It could make #government more #transparent and involve citizens more #directly.
However, there's the risk of #misinformation and #manipulation online.
#Term #limits are another idea.
They might prevent politicians from becoming too entrenched and corrupt, but they can also limit institutional knowledge and lead to a #revolvingdoor of #inexperienced #leaders.
#Anticorruption agencies seem necessary, but they need to be #independent and well #funded.
If they're controlled by the government, they won't be effective.
How do you ensure their independence?
#Media #literacy is important because if people are #better #informed, they can make #better #decisions at the #ballotbox.
But with so much #misinformation out there, improving media literacy is a big challenge.
I'm also thinking about proportional representation.
Maybe switching to a system where more parties have seats could lead to more diverse and representative governments, reducing gridlock.
But it might also make forming a government harder if no single party has a majority.
What about making voting mandatory?
It increases turnout but can also lead to people voting without being informed, which doesn't necessarily improve the quality of decisions.
Another thought is focusing on #local #governance.
If more decisions are made at the local level where people can be more involved and informed, it might lead to #better #outcomes #overall.
But not all issues can be handled locally; some require national or international coordination.
I'm also considering how #education plays into this.
Better #civic #education could make voters more informed and engaged.
It starts from a young age teaching about #government #structures, #roles, and the importance of #participation.
#Transparency is key too.
If governments are more open about their processes and decisions, trust might increase. Things like #FOIA requests in the U.S. help, but they can be slow and sometimes
incomplete.#Incentivizing #good #governance through awards or recognition might motivate leaders to perform better, but it's not a sure fix for deeper systemic issues.
Encouraging #whistleblowers is important because they can expose #corruption before it becomes entrenched.
Protecting them legally would make others more willing to come forward.
Public-private partnerships could bring in expertise from the private sector, but there's a risk of corporate influence if not managed properly.
Inclusive decision-making ensures that all groups have a voice, which leads to more equitable policies.
It requires active efforts to involve marginalized communities.
Independent judiciaries are crucial because they can check the other branches and enforce laws against corruption.
But judicial appointments can be politicized, which undermines their independence.
Finally, cultural shifts towards valuing integrity over power might help reduce corruption. But changing a culture is slow and difficult, especially in large, diverse societies.
Putting all these thoughts together, it seems like reforming democracy requires a multi-faceted approach addressing both structural issues and cultural factors. It's not just about tweaking one part but making comprehensive changes that promote competence, transparency, and accountability while ensuring representation and reducing corruption.
</think>
Reforming democracy to enhance decision-making efficiency, competence, and reduce corruption involves a multifaceted approach that addresses both structural and cultural aspects of
governance. Here is an organized strategy based on the thought process:### Structural Reforms
1. **Streamline Decision-Making Processes:**
- Reduce bureaucratic layers and adopt more agile legislative processes to accelerate decision-making without compromising thorough consideration.2. **Campaign Finance Reform:**
- Implement strict regulations on campaign contributions and promote public financing of elections to diminish the influence of money in politics.3. **Proportional Representation:**
- Introduce proportional representation systems to ensure diverse representation, which can lead to more inclusive and efficient governance.4. **Term Limits:**
- Enact term limits for elected officials to prevent entrenchment, while ensuring mechanisms for knowledge retention and smooth transitions.5. **Independent Anti-Corruption Agencies:**
- Establish independent bodies with strong investigative and prosecutorial powers to combat corruption effectively.### Enhancing Competence
1. **Expert Advisory Bodies:**
- Integrate expert panels in decision-making processes to provide informed guidance on complex issues.2. **Civic Education:**
- Improve education systems to foster informed voters through civic engagement and critical thinking skills.3. **Sortition (Citizen Juries):**
- Experiment with sortition to involve diverse citizen perspectives, enhancing
representativeness and reducing corruption risks.### Reducing Corruption
1. **Transparency Measures:**
- Increase government transparency through open data initiatives, accessible meetings, and robust freedom of information laws.2. **Whistleblower Protection:**
- Strengthen legal protections for whistleblowers to encourage the exposure of corruption without fear of retribution.3. **Judicial Independence:**
- Ensure the judiciary is independent and impartial, free from political influence, to uphold rule of law and check executive power.### Voter Engagement and Participation
1. **Voting System Reforms:**
- Adopt ranked-choice voting and proportional representation to ensure votes count more meaningfully and increase voter satisfaction.2. **Compulsory Voting:**
- Consider mandatory voting with incentives for informed voting, potentially reducing apathy and increasing political engagement.3. **Participatory Budgeting:**
- Involve citizens in budget decisions through digital platforms to foster transparency and accountability.### Technological Integration
1. **Digital Platforms:**
- Utilize technology for participatory governance, enabling real-time public input on policies and fostering informed discussions.2. **Media Literacy Programs:**
- Launch initiatives to combat misinformation, promoting a better-informed electorate capable of discerning credible sources.### Cultural Shifts
1. **Incentivizing Good Governance:**
- Recognize and reward ethical leadership through awards or public acknowledgment to promote integrity in governance.2. **Cultural Values:**
- Foster societal norms that prioritize transparency, accountability, and integrity, encouraging leaders to adhere to high ethical standards.### Conclusion
Reforming democracy requires a comprehensive approach that combines structural changes with cultural shifts. By streamlining processes, enhancing
competence through education and expertise, reducing corruption through transparency and independent oversight, and engaging citizens more
effectively, democracies can become more responsive, efficient, and just. This multifaceted strategy aims to rebuild trust in governance and ensure
decisions truly reflect the will of the people. -
#AbrahamLincoln: "#democracy is #government of the #people - by the #people - for the #people"
but #democracy is not perfect per default, it needs constant #reform to become better and better (not worse and worse how it was made by (#financial #taxavoiding #lobbyists and other #lobbyists = #corruption)
how to reform democracy? a #conversationwithai: #deepseek
<think>
Alright, I'm trying to figure out how to reform #democracy so that decisions are made faster and are more competent, while also reducing incompetence and corruption. This is a big question because democracy as it stands has a lot of #issues, but it's still considered one of the better systems out there <- read this?First off, I know that one of the main problems with democracies is that #decisionmaking can be #slow, especially in #large #countries.
There are so many #checks and #balances that sometimes it feels like nothing gets done.
So maybe making decisions faster requires #streamlining some processes.
But how? Maybe reducing #bureaucracy or changing how legislation is passed?
Another issue is #incompetence. I've seen elected officials who don't seem to have the right skills or knowledge for their roles. <- this #AI has seen things!
How can we ensure that #leaders are actually #competent?
Perhaps through better #education #requirements, or maybe having #experts in certain fields advise them more #effectively.
#Corruption is another huge #Problem seems like #money plays a big role in #politics, which can lead to decisions that favor #donors over the people.
#Campaign #finance #reform might help here, but I'm not sure how feasible that is given current laws and court rulings, especially in places like the #US with #CitizensUnited.
#Voter #engagement is also a factor.
If more people participate, maybe there's more #accountability.
But getting people to vote when they feel their votes don't matter is tough.
Maybe changing voting systems, like ranked-choice voting, could make elections feel more representative and increase turnout.
I've heard about #sortition, where #random #citizens are #selected for #decisionmaking bodies.
That might bring in diverse perspectives and reduce corruption since the average person isn't as beholden to special interests.
But would people take it seriously? I'm not sure how effective that would be compared to elected officials.
#Technology could play a role too.
Maybe using #online #platforms for #participatory #budgeting or #policy #discussions.
It could make #government more #transparent and involve citizens more #directly.
However, there's the risk of #misinformation and #manipulation online.
#Term #limits are another idea.
They might prevent politicians from becoming too entrenched and corrupt, but they can also limit institutional knowledge and lead to a #revolvingdoor of #inexperienced #leaders.
#Anticorruption agencies seem necessary, but they need to be #independent and well #funded.
If they're controlled by the government, they won't be effective.
How do you ensure their independence?
#Media #literacy is important because if people are #better #informed, they can make #better #decisions at the #ballotbox.
But with so much #misinformation out there, improving media literacy is a big challenge.
I'm also thinking about proportional representation.
Maybe switching to a system where more parties have seats could lead to more diverse and representative governments, reducing gridlock.
But it might also make forming a government harder if no single party has a majority.
What about making voting mandatory?
It increases turnout but can also lead to people voting without being informed, which doesn't necessarily improve the quality of decisions.
Another thought is focusing on #local #governance.
If more decisions are made at the local level where people can be more involved and informed, it might lead to #better #outcomes #overall.
But not all issues can be handled locally; some require national or international coordination.
I'm also considering how #education plays into this.
Better #civic #education could make voters more informed and engaged.
It starts from a young age teaching about #government #structures, #roles, and the importance of #participation.
#Transparency is key too.
If governments are more open about their processes and decisions, trust might increase. Things like #FOIA requests in the U.S. help, but they can be slow and sometimes
incomplete.#Incentivizing #good #governance through awards or recognition might motivate leaders to perform better, but it's not a sure fix for deeper systemic issues.
Encouraging #whistleblowers is important because they can expose #corruption before it becomes entrenched.
Protecting them legally would make others more willing to come forward.
Public-private partnerships could bring in expertise from the private sector, but there's a risk of corporate influence if not managed properly.
Inclusive decision-making ensures that all groups have a voice, which leads to more equitable policies.
It requires active efforts to involve marginalized communities.
Independent judiciaries are crucial because they can check the other branches and enforce laws against corruption.
But judicial appointments can be politicized, which undermines their independence.
Finally, cultural shifts towards valuing integrity over power might help reduce corruption. But changing a culture is slow and difficult, especially in large, diverse societies.
Putting all these thoughts together, it seems like reforming democracy requires a multi-faceted approach addressing both structural issues and cultural factors. It's not just about tweaking one part but making comprehensive changes that promote competence, transparency, and accountability while ensuring representation and reducing corruption.
</think>
Reforming democracy to enhance decision-making efficiency, competence, and reduce corruption involves a multifaceted approach that addresses both structural and cultural aspects of
governance. Here is an organized strategy based on the thought process:### Structural Reforms
1. **Streamline Decision-Making Processes:**
- Reduce bureaucratic layers and adopt more agile legislative processes to accelerate decision-making without compromising thorough consideration.2. **Campaign Finance Reform:**
- Implement strict regulations on campaign contributions and promote public financing of elections to diminish the influence of money in politics.3. **Proportional Representation:**
- Introduce proportional representation systems to ensure diverse representation, which can lead to more inclusive and efficient governance.4. **Term Limits:**
- Enact term limits for elected officials to prevent entrenchment, while ensuring mechanisms for knowledge retention and smooth transitions.5. **Independent Anti-Corruption Agencies:**
- Establish independent bodies with strong investigative and prosecutorial powers to combat corruption effectively.### Enhancing Competence
1. **Expert Advisory Bodies:**
- Integrate expert panels in decision-making processes to provide informed guidance on complex issues.2. **Civic Education:**
- Improve education systems to foster informed voters through civic engagement and critical thinking skills.3. **Sortition (Citizen Juries):**
- Experiment with sortition to involve diverse citizen perspectives, enhancing
representativeness and reducing corruption risks.### Reducing Corruption
1. **Transparency Measures:**
- Increase government transparency through open data initiatives, accessible meetings, and robust freedom of information laws.2. **Whistleblower Protection:**
- Strengthen legal protections for whistleblowers to encourage the exposure of corruption without fear of retribution.3. **Judicial Independence:**
- Ensure the judiciary is independent and impartial, free from political influence, to uphold rule of law and check executive power.### Voter Engagement and Participation
1. **Voting System Reforms:**
- Adopt ranked-choice voting and proportional representation to ensure votes count more meaningfully and increase voter satisfaction.2. **Compulsory Voting:**
- Consider mandatory voting with incentives for informed voting, potentially reducing apathy and increasing political engagement.3. **Participatory Budgeting:**
- Involve citizens in budget decisions through digital platforms to foster transparency and accountability.### Technological Integration
1. **Digital Platforms:**
- Utilize technology for participatory governance, enabling real-time public input on policies and fostering informed discussions.2. **Media Literacy Programs:**
- Launch initiatives to combat misinformation, promoting a better-informed electorate capable of discerning credible sources.### Cultural Shifts
1. **Incentivizing Good Governance:**
- Recognize and reward ethical leadership through awards or public acknowledgment to promote integrity in governance.2. **Cultural Values:**
- Foster societal norms that prioritize transparency, accountability, and integrity, encouraging leaders to adhere to high ethical standards.### Conclusion
Reforming democracy requires a comprehensive approach that combines structural changes with cultural shifts. By streamlining processes, enhancing
competence through education and expertise, reducing corruption through transparency and independent oversight, and engaging citizens more
effectively, democracies can become more responsive, efficient, and just. This multifaceted strategy aims to rebuild trust in governance and ensure
decisions truly reflect the will of the people. -
'Whack-a-mole': FBI allegedly fires, rehires, then refires agents linked to Jack Smith's anti-GOP Arctic Frost crusade
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'Whack-a-mole': FBI allegedly fires, rehires, then refires agents linked to Jack Smith's anti-GOP Arctic Frost crusade
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Anecdotally among people I know & through rumblings on social media, I'm starting think that Citizens Advice Bureaus are having a real capacity problems, as people are waiting to speak to advisors for weeks (in some cases months) & seem to be getting a poor (partial) response when the contact CABs are about specific support.
My guess is that the CABs are being hit be rising demand & more complexity in the support required?
If so, a worrying development for the vulnerable.
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OwO what's this, a PERSONAL ART?????
Say hello to Secretary, my beloved wyvern who popped up in my head 10 years ago(https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18409199/). Really happy to have a proper ref 🥹
Just a design challange critter at first, but sparked my inspiration along the way and became a fully fleshed out OC. This ref has grown a lot since the first sketches and what was supposed to be a 2 days job ended up being a 20 days one. I regret nothing though . I am very happy and proud I have completed a complex personal artwork after all those years, and managed to do so right before I leave to Awoostria :D
I also updated his ArtFight profile: https://artfight.net/character/4427......the-secretary
REF IN HIGHER RESOLUTION: https://mega.nz/file/eKIj2Trb#SYTD6.....pbHQaZfZABdyvM
ABOUT SECRETARY :blobcatcoffee:
- Pedantic bureaucrat with a short temper.
- He considers himself a gentleman, afternoon tea is a duty.
- He wears glasses because of his short-sightness and to emphasize his high intellect in the eyes of others.
- Even though other wyverns go around on 4 digits, he walks on 2. It is unworthy of nobleman to walk on 4.
- Secretary shares the same world as Chmurka. (Fantasy steampunk vibes, he manages taxes from flying ships merchants)
- No one knows his real name and he is happy to be called by his position only.They meet when her crew attacks the ship Secretary is on. He recognizes her as one of the higher up merchants he met earlier in the palace. When she realizes she got a witness, she kidnaps him. During the imprisonment on her ship Secretary manages to persuade her, that if she lets him go he will help her cover up her pirate voyages and basically launder her money. This deal leads to a specific relationship those two find each other in. Secretary gets very nervous around her and is very scared she will spill the beans and make him loose his whole career (or kill him, but loosing his face is worse!!!). Chmurka is very proud and self-dependent. She doesn't like to kill the innocent and make the job dirty, but at the same time she hates being dependent on someone and that he knows her secrets.
Chmurka is pretty tall, but still much shorter than Secretary who can tower over her while walking on two legs. That doesn't stop her from bullying him of course
He is covered with silky, long , grey feathers which from far away might look like fur. Well defined muscles are hidden under the fluff.
The official's robe is inspired by chinese hanfu.
#wyvern #dragon #art #furryart #wyvernart #dragonart #secretarybird #myoc #personalart #refsheet #referencesheet #MastoArt
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OwO what's this, a PERSONAL ART?????
Say hello to Secretary, my beloved wyvern who popped up in my head 10 years ago(https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18409199/). Really happy to have a proper ref 🥹
Just a design challange critter at first, but sparked my inspiration along the way and became a fully fleshed out OC. This ref has grown a lot since the first sketches and what was supposed to be a 2 days job ended up being a 20 days one. I regret nothing though . I am very happy and proud I have completed a complex personal artwork after all those years, and managed to do so right before I leave to Awoostria :D
I also updated his ArtFight profile: https://artfight.net/character/4427......the-secretary
REF IN HIGHER RESOLUTION: https://mega.nz/file/eKIj2Trb#SYTD6.....pbHQaZfZABdyvM
ABOUT SECRETARY :blobcatcoffee:
- Pedantic bureaucrat with a short temper.
- He considers himself a gentleman, afternoon tea is a duty.
- He wears glasses because of his short-sightness and to emphasize his high intellect in the eyes of others.
- Even though other wyverns go around on 4 digits, he walks on 2. It is unworthy of nobleman to walk on 4.
- Secretary shares the same world as Chmurka. (Fantasy steampunk vibes, he manages taxes from flying ships merchants)
- No one knows his real name and he is happy to be called by his position only.They meet when her crew attacks the ship Secretary is on. He recognizes her as one of the higher up merchants he met earlier in the palace. When she realizes she got a witness, she kidnaps him. During the imprisonment on her ship Secretary manages to persuade her, that if she lets him go he will help her cover up her pirate voyages and basically launder her money. This deal leads to a specific relationship those two find each other in. Secretary gets very nervous around her and is very scared she will spill the beans and make him loose his whole career (or kill him, but loosing his face is worse!!!). Chmurka is very proud and self-dependent. She doesn't like to kill the innocent and make the job dirty, but at the same time she hates being dependent on someone and that he knows her secrets.
Chmurka is pretty tall, but still much shorter than Secretary who can tower over her while walking on two legs. That doesn't stop her from bullying him of course
He is covered with silky, long , grey feathers which from far away might look like fur. Well defined muscles are hidden under the fluff.
The official's robe is inspired by chinese hanfu.
#wyvern #dragon #art #furryart #wyvernart #dragonart #secretarybird #myoc #personalart #refsheet #referencesheet #MastoArt
-
OwO what's this, a PERSONAL ART?????
Say hello to Secretary, my beloved wyvern who popped up in my head 10 years ago(https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18409199/). Really happy to have a proper ref 🥹
Just a design challange critter at first, but sparked my inspiration along the way and became a fully fleshed out OC. This ref has grown a lot since the first sketches and what was supposed to be a 2 days job ended up being a 20 days one. I regret nothing though . I am very happy and proud I have completed a complex personal artwork after all those years, and managed to do so right before I leave to Awoostria :D
I also updated his ArtFight profile: https://artfight.net/character/4427......the-secretary
REF IN HIGHER RESOLUTION: https://mega.nz/file/eKIj2Trb#SYTD6.....pbHQaZfZABdyvM
ABOUT SECRETARY :blobcatcoffee:
- Pedantic bureaucrat with a short temper.
- He considers himself a gentleman, afternoon tea is a duty.
- He wears glasses because of his short-sightness and to emphasize his high intellect in the eyes of others.
- Even though other wyverns go around on 4 digits, he walks on 2. It is unworthy of nobleman to walk on 4.
- Secretary shares the same world as Chmurka. (Fantasy steampunk vibes, he manages taxes from flying ships merchants)
- No one knows his real name and he is happy to be called by his position only.They meet when her crew attacks the ship Secretary is on. He recognizes her as one of the higher up merchants he met earlier in the palace. When she realizes she got a witness, she kidnaps him. During the imprisonment on her ship Secretary manages to persuade her, that if she lets him go he will help her cover up her pirate voyages and basically launder her money. This deal leads to a specific relationship those two find each other in. Secretary gets very nervous around her and is very scared she will spill the beans and make him loose his whole career (or kill him, but loosing his face is worse!!!). Chmurka is very proud and self-dependent. She doesn't like to kill the innocent and make the job dirty, but at the same time she hates being dependent on someone and that he knows her secrets.
Chmurka is pretty tall, but still much shorter than Secretary who can tower over her while walking on two legs. That doesn't stop her from bullying him of course
He is covered with silky, long , grey feathers which from far away might look like fur. Well defined muscles are hidden under the fluff.
The official's robe is inspired by chinese hanfu.
#wyvern #dragon #art #furryart #wyvernart #dragonart #secretarybird #myoc #personalart #refsheet #referencesheet #MastoArt
-
OwO what's this, a PERSONAL ART?????
Say hello to Secretary, my beloved wyvern who popped up in my head 10 years ago(https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18409199/). Really happy to have a proper ref 🥹
Just a design challange critter at first, but sparked my inspiration along the way and became a fully fleshed out OC. This ref has grown a lot since the first sketches and what was supposed to be a 2 days job ended up being a 20 days one. I regret nothing though . I am very happy and proud I have completed a complex personal artwork after all those years, and managed to do so right before I leave to Awoostria :D
I also updated his ArtFight profile: https://artfight.net/character/4427......the-secretary
REF IN HIGHER RESOLUTION: https://mega.nz/file/eKIj2Trb#SYTD6.....pbHQaZfZABdyvM
ABOUT SECRETARY :blobcatcoffee:
- Pedantic bureaucrat with a short temper.
- He considers himself a gentleman, afternoon tea is a duty.
- He wears glasses because of his short-sightness and to emphasize his high intellect in the eyes of others.
- Even though other wyverns go around on 4 digits, he walks on 2. It is unworthy of nobleman to walk on 4.
- Secretary shares the same world as Chmurka. (Fantasy steampunk vibes, he manages taxes from flying ships merchants)
- No one knows his real name and he is happy to be called by his position only.They meet when her crew attacks the ship Secretary is on. He recognizes her as one of the higher up merchants he met earlier in the palace. When she realizes she got a witness, she kidnaps him. During the imprisonment on her ship Secretary manages to persuade her, that if she lets him go he will help her cover up her pirate voyages and basically launder her money. This deal leads to a specific relationship those two find each other in. Secretary gets very nervous around her and is very scared she will spill the beans and make him loose his whole career (or kill him, but loosing his face is worse!!!). Chmurka is very proud and self-dependent. She doesn't like to kill the innocent and make the job dirty, but at the same time she hates being dependent on someone and that he knows her secrets.
Chmurka is pretty tall, but still much shorter than Secretary who can tower over her while walking on two legs. That doesn't stop her from bullying him of course
He is covered with silky, long , grey feathers which from far away might look like fur. Well defined muscles are hidden under the fluff.
The official's robe is inspired by chinese hanfu.
#wyvern #dragon #art #furryart #wyvernart #dragonart #secretarybird #myoc #personalart #refsheet #referencesheet #MastoArt
-
OwO what's this, a PERSONAL ART?????
Say hello to Secretary, my beloved wyvern who popped up in my head 10 years ago(https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18409199/). Really happy to have a proper ref 🥹
Just a design challange critter at first, but sparked my inspiration along the way and became a fully fleshed out OC. This ref has grown a lot since the first sketches and what was supposed to be a 2 days job ended up being a 20 days one. I regret nothing though . I am very happy and proud I have completed a complex personal artwork after all those years, and managed to do so right before I leave to Awoostria :D
I also updated his ArtFight profile: https://artfight.net/character/4427......the-secretary
REF IN HIGHER RESOLUTION: https://mega.nz/file/eKIj2Trb#SYTD6.....pbHQaZfZABdyvM
ABOUT SECRETARY :blobcatcoffee:
- Pedantic bureaucrat with a short temper.
- He considers himself a gentleman, afternoon tea is a duty.
- He wears glasses because of his short-sightness and to emphasize his high intellect in the eyes of others.
- Even though other wyverns go around on 4 digits, he walks on 2. It is unworthy of nobleman to walk on 4.
- Secretary shares the same world as Chmurka. (Fantasy steampunk vibes, he manages taxes from flying ships merchants)
- No one knows his real name and he is happy to be called by his position only.They meet when her crew attacks the ship Secretary is on. He recognizes her as one of the higher up merchants he met earlier in the palace. When she realizes she got a witness, she kidnaps him. During the imprisonment on her ship Secretary manages to persuade her, that if she lets him go he will help her cover up her pirate voyages and basically launder her money. This deal leads to a specific relationship those two find each other in. Secretary gets very nervous around her and is very scared she will spill the beans and make him loose his whole career (or kill him, but loosing his face is worse!!!). Chmurka is very proud and self-dependent. She doesn't like to kill the innocent and make the job dirty, but at the same time she hates being dependent on someone and that he knows her secrets.
Chmurka is pretty tall, but still much shorter than Secretary who can tower over her while walking on two legs. That doesn't stop her from bullying him of course
He is covered with silky, long , grey feathers which from far away might look like fur. Well defined muscles are hidden under the fluff.
The official's robe is inspired by chinese hanfu.
#wyvern #dragon #art #furryart #wyvernart #dragonart #secretarybird #myoc #personalart #refsheet #referencesheet #MastoArt
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Blogue de la Révolution Verte : L'écologie au bureau - Entrepreneuriat social
Plus :
https://www.revolutionverte.fr/p/lecologie-au-bureau.html?spref=tw#marketingagency #MarketingSuccess #marketingtips #RSE #ESG #Terre #ecologie #soutenable #durable #equitable #ethique #societal #entreprise #entrepreneur #SCOP #cooperative #bio
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Blogue de la Révolution Verte : L'écologie au bureau - Entrepreneuriat social
Plus :
https://www.revolutionverte.fr/p/lecologie-au-bureau.html?spref=tw#marketingagency #MarketingSuccess #marketingtips #RSE #ESG #Terre #ecologie #soutenable #durable #equitable #ethique #societal #entreprise #entrepreneur #SCOP #cooperative #bio
-
Blogue de la Révolution Verte : L'écologie au bureau - Entrepreneuriat social
Plus :
https://www.revolutionverte.fr/p/lecologie-au-bureau.html?spref=tw#marketingagency #MarketingSuccess #marketingtips #RSE #ESG #Terre #ecologie #soutenable #durable #equitable #ethique #societal #entreprise #entrepreneur #SCOP #cooperative #bio
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Lazy Caturday Reads: Just Another Crazy Day in the USA
Good Afternoon!!
Sophia and her kitten, by Lena Revo
It’s just another crazy day in the USA. Our “president” is a madman who has surrounded himself with sycophants and assorted insane groupies. The news today is just as insane as it was yesterday and the day before and the day before that. What else can I say? Here’s what’s happening as of this morning.
The top story is still the Comey indictment.
The Wall Street Journal: Trump Overcame Internal Dissent to Get His Case Against Comey.
President Trump asked advisers directly last week: Where were the prosecutions that he wanted to see?
He had been hearing from allies that the Justice Department wasn’t moving aggressively against the people who had investigated and prosecuted him, according to people familiar with the matter. Chief among them was former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey.
Senior Justice Department officials told him the evidence against Comey wasn’t a slam dunk, and prosecutors in Virginia didn’t want to bring the case. Other White House officials worried that such a case could end badly.
Trump told the DOJ officials to make the best case they could, officials said. He said any lack of evidence was just like what he faced in his own criminal cases, the people said.
On Thursday, Attorney General Pam Bondi delivered, extracting from a grand jury a two-count indictment against Comey related to five-year-old congressional testimony. Comey says he is innocent. The grand jury appeared to have some doubts, rejecting one additional count against Comey.
In the process, Bondi has effectively transformed the Justice Department in Trump’s second term, from an independent enforcer of the law into an extension of the White House that has pursued Trump’s foes and their associates with relish.
The Comey family is in Trump’s crosshairs.
Comey, who oversaw the initial 2016 investigation into the Trump campaign’s alleged ties to Russia that dogged much of the president’s first term, has emerged as one of the Justice Department’s biggest targets for retribution along with his family.
In July, it fired Comey’s daughter, Maurene Comey, who had been a star federal prosecutor in Manhattan, with a supervisor telling her only that the decision “came from Washington.” On Thursday, Troy Edwards Jr., a son-in-law married to another daughter, resigned from the U.S. attorney’s office in Alexandria, saying that he was doing so to uphold his oath to the Constitution.
“My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump,” Comey said in a video after his indictment. The longtime Republican served as a senior Justice Department official in the administration of President George W. Bush and was nominated as the FBI director by President Barack Obama, before Trump fired him in 2017….
…Comey’s indictment thrust the Justice Department into uncharted territory, with Trump’s clearest breach yet of rules designed to insulate the agency from partisan pressure after the Watergate scandal roiled the agency more than five decades ago.
Tensions over the case came to a head last week after some administration officials, including Ed Martin, a Justice Department official pursuing cases of interest to Trump, privately told the president that the Justice Department was slow-walking cases against Trump critics, people familiar with the discussions said.
The Trump-appointed U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia, Erik Siebert, had told colleagues he didn’t see a case against Comey or Democratic New York Attorney General Letitia James, people familiar with the matter said.
Last Thursday, an administration official called Siebert and told him he would likely be fired.
Kat, Cat, by Katherine Ace
According to the WSJ, AG Pam Bondi and Deputy AG Todd Blanche defended Siebert, but to no avail. Trump replaced Sibert with Lindsey Halligan, an insurance lawyer who had never prosecuted a case. Halligan then presented the case to a grand jury by herself and obtained 2 indictment of Comey. Only 14 of 23 grand jurors voted to indict him on 2 of 3 counts. Apparently, Bondi is in the Trump’s dog house now, although he’s telling people he still likes her. Trump said yesterday he expected and hoped for more indictments of his political enemies.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Lindsey Vaala expressed confusion and surprise at some points during the seven-minute court session when a federal grand jury impaneled in Alexandria, Virginia, returned the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey Thursday night.
According to a transcript of the proceedings obtained by CBS News, Judge Vaala asked the newly named interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan — a former Trump personal lawyer — why there were two versions of the indictment.
A majority of the grand jury that reviewed the Comey matter voted not to charge him with one of the three counts presented by prosecutors, according to a form that was signed by the grand jury’s foreperson and filed in court. He was indicted on two other counts — making false statements to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding — after 14 of 23 jurors voted in favor of them, the foreperson told the judge.
But two versions of the indictment were published on the case docket: one with the dropped third count, and one without. The transcript reveals why this occurred.
“So this has never happened before. I’ve been handed two documents that are in the Mr. Comey case that are inconsistent with one another,” Vaala said to Halligan. “There seems to be a discrepancy. They’re both signed by the (grand jury) foreperson.”
Halligan didn’t know why two versions had been published and claimed she had only seen the one with two indictments–which she had signed herself, presumably because no line prosecutor had been willing to do so. The questioning went on for awhile.
I wonder who Halligan will find to prosecute the case? Will she do it herself? Comey has a very good attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, remember him? He was the special prosecutor in the CIA leak case during the George W. Bush administration.
Josh Gerstein and Kyle Cheney at Politico: Why the case against James Comey may end in humiliation for Trump’s DOJ.
The indictment of James Comey, ordered up by President Donald Trump in a breathtaking breach of Justice Department independence, is being welcomed with glee in MAGA circles.
But the case against the former FBI director and longtime Trump nemesis may quickly end in disappointment — and even humiliation — for the prosecutor who was conscripted by the president to bring the charges.
Nataliya Bagatskaya, A Glass of Milk
The bare-bones indictment secured by that prosecutor, Trump loyalist Lindsey Halligan, is exceptionally weak, former prosecutors and legal experts say. Fundamental problems with the case itself — as well as the unusual events that preceded the indictment — will make it difficult to bring Comey to trial, let alone secure a conviction.
Former federal terrorism prosecutor Andy McCarthy called the charges “poorly done” and predicted they will be thrown out by a judge well before any trial.
“The whole thing is just bizarro,” McCarthy said. “This is the kind of thing that should never ever happen. … This case should never go to trial because it’s obvious from the four corners of the indictment that there’s no case.”
The issues that could doom the case include the overt political pressure by Trump to bring the indictment, Halligan’s own inexperience, peculiarities in the indictment itself and even a five-year-old technology issue.
Read all the details at Politico.
Alan Feuer at The New York Times (gift link): Trump’s Repeated Attacks May Undercut Case Against Comey.
Even before James B. Comey, the former F.B.I. director, was indicted this week, legal experts were already questioning whether the case might be vulnerable to an uncommon but powerful legal attack: allegations that President Trump, who has long called for Mr. Comey to be jailed, had pushed the Justice Department into opening an improper vindictive prosecution.
Such speculation gained at least a little steam this week after Mr. Trump weighed in on the charges, which center on whether Mr. Comey lied to Congress, in a manner that seemed to prejudge his guilt.
“Whether you like Corrupt James Comey or not, and I can’t imagine too many people liking him, HE LIED!” Mr. Trump wrote on social media on Friday morning. “It is not a complex lie, it’s a very simple, but IMPORTANT one. There is no way he can explain his way out of it.”
The remarks by Mr. Trump were not the first time he had shared — or over-shared — his opinions about whether Mr. Comey should be prosecuted, evincing what defense lawyers may seek to argue was a political animus by the Justice Department.
By Stu Morris
Last weekend, in an even more pointed social media post, Mr. Trump ordered Attorney General Pam Bondi to immediately get to work prosecuting Mr. Comey and two of his other enemies, Letitia James, New York’s attorney general, and Senator Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California.
“They’re all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done,” Mr. Trump wrote, adding, “JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”
While vindictive prosecution motions are notoriously difficult to win, the president’s voluble vitriol and his incessant need to be on the attack could provide defense lawyers with an avenue to protect the very people he most wants to punish.
“Ironically, by demanding the prosecutions, Trump may have undercut any possibility of success by providing the people on his ‘enemies list’ with a built-in defense,” Joyce Vance, a former U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, wrote in a recent blog post on the subject.
Use the gift link to read the rest if you’re interested.
Trump has chosen the next city to get his fascist beatdown–Portland, Oregon.
AP: Trump says he’ll send troops to Portland, Oregon, in latest deployment to US cities.
President Donald Trump said Saturday he will send troops to Portland, Oregon, “authorizing Full Force, if necessary” to handle “domestic terrorists” as he expands his controversial deployments to more American cities.
He made the announcement on social media, writing that he was directing the Department of Defense to “provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland.”
Trump said the decision was necessary to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities, which he described as “under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for details on Trump’s announcement, such as a timeline for the deployment or what troops would be involved. He previously threatened to send the National Guard into Chicago without following through. A deployment in Memphis, Tennessee, is expected to include only about 150 troops, far less than were sent to the District of Columbia for Trump’s crackdown or in Los Angeles in response to immigration protests….
The ICE facility in Portland has been the target of frequent demonstrations, sometimes leading to violent clashes. Some federal agents have been injured and several protesters have been charged with assault. When protesters erected a guillotine earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security described it as “unhinged behavior.” [….]
“We’re going to get out there and we’re going to do a pretty big number on those people in Portland,” he said, describing them as “professional agitators and anarchists.”
The Washington Post: Trump deploys troops to Portland, authorizing ‘full force’ if necessary.
President Donald Trump said Saturday that he will send troops to Portland, Oregon, and to immigration detention facilities around the country, authorizing “Full Force, if necessary” and escalating a campaign to use the U.S. military against Americans that has little modern precedent….
Portrait with Cat by Arsen Kurbanov
Portland has been a target of right-wing politicians for the way it has handled racial-justice protests as well as its homeless population, tolerating encampments in the central part of the city. But Trump will again encounter the dynamic he did when he deployed the National Guard in Los Angeles — a military deployment in a state run by a Democratic governor who objects to the decision and will have grounds to fight it in court.
It was not immediately clear whether Trump plans to deploy active-duty troops, National Guard members, or both, to Portland. As was the case in similar discussions in other cities, there are legal limits to how he can do so.
One official familiar with the discussion on Saturday said defense officials were seeking clarity on what Trump desires in this situation. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak frankly about private planning.
wweek.com Portland: Federal Agents Amass in Portland, Local Officials Say.
President Donald Trump has dispatched federal agents to Portland, local elected officials said in a hastily scheduled press conference on Friday night. Those agents have amassed at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office on the South Waterfront and have been observed in other locations across the city, officials said.
“We now have a sudden influx of federal agents in our city,” Mayor Keith Wilson said. “We did not ask for them to come. They are here without precedent or purpose.”
Over and over, officials described the agents’ arrival as an attempt to goad residents into a confrontation that would give the president a pretext for a military crackdown.
“This is the ‘Don’t take the bait’ press conference,” said U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). “Their goal is to create an engagement—an engagement that will lead to conflict. President Trump has one goal. His goal is to make Portland look like what he’s been describing it as. Let’s not grant him that wish.”
The phalanx of local officials assembled at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Northeast Portland—ranging from the majority of city councilors to two members of Congress—admitted they weren’t sure whether the federal ingress into Portland consisted of military officers or merely agents from the Federal Protective Service.
More details at the link.
We may soon learn how much damage Trump has done to the National Weather Service.
Hannah Natanson and Brady Dennis at The Washington Post (gift link): National Weather Service at ‘breaking point’ as storm approaches.
Some National Weather Service staffers are working double shifts to keep forecasting offices open. Others are operating under a “buddy system,” in which adjacent offices help monitor severe weather in understaffed regions. Still others are jettisoning services deemed not absolutely necessary, such as making presentations to schoolchildren.
The Trump administration’s cuts to the Weather Service — where nearly 600 workers,or about 1 in every 7, have left through firings, resignations or retirements — are pushing the agency to its limits, according to interviews with current and former staffers.
By Ramy Salah Hefny
The incoming head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has promised to prioritize filling those jobs, and the White House recently granted the Weather Service an exemption from a government-wide hiring freeze. But as the Atlantic hurricane season peaks and wildfires ramp up in the West, hundreds of positions remain vacant, staff said. Forecasters are currently watching two storms, including one that could pose a threat for the eastern United States by early next week.
So far, exhausted employees have maintained weather monitoring and forecasting almost without interruption, staff said. But many are wondering how much longer they can keep it up. If the government shuts down next week when funding runs out, many employees could also find themselves working without pay, at least temporarily.
“We have a strained and severely stretched situation,” said Tom Fahy, legislative director for the National Weather Service Employees Organization, the union that represents the agency’s workers. The Weather Service has a famously dedicated workforce, he said, but workers can put in only so many long hours and extra shifts. “There’s a breaking point.”
Fahy said two offices — one in California’s Central Valley and another in western Kansas — no longer have enough staffing to operate around the clock. And, he added, “there are still a dozen offices across the country that are operating on reduced staffs.”
Use the gift link if you want to read more.
Pete Hegseth’s power play
I’m sure you’ve heard about the weird meeting Pete Hegseth has order hundreds of top military officers to attend in person.
Natasha Bertrand and Alayna Treen at CNN: Hegseth’s surprise gathering of top military brass is to deliver speech on ‘warrior ethos,’ sources say.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s surprise gathering of hundreds of generals and admirals in Virginia next week is being called so he can describe the administration’s reinvention of the Department of Defense as the “Department of War” and outline new standards for military personnel, according to half a dozen people familiar with the planning.
“It’s meant to be a show of force of what the new military now looks like under the president,” a White House official told CNN.
The meeting is expected to resemble “a pep rally” where Hegseth will underscore the importance of the “warrior ethos” and outline a new vision for the US military, said three of the sources. He is expected to discuss new readiness, fitness and grooming standards the officers are expected to adhere to and enforce.
“It’s about getting the horses into the stable and whipping them into shape,” said a defense official familiar with the planning. “And the guys with the stars on their shoulders make for a better audience from an optics standpoint. This is a showcase for Hegseth to tell them: get on board, or potentially have your career shortened.”
WTF?!
Hegseth’s team is planning on recording his speech and releasing it publicly later, three of the sources said, and the White House is planning to amplify it, the White House official said.
As of Friday, there were no plans for Hegseth to make a major national security-related announcement as part of the meeting, all of the sources said, making it even more surprising that he has ordered the officers to attend in person and leave their posts for what will essentially be a major speech.
By Ektarina Yastrebova
As of now, there isn’t expected to be a weapons showcase for the officers as President Donald Trump suggested, according to the White House official and one of the sources familiar with the planning. Trump is not currently planning to be involved or attend the meeting on Tuesday, two officials told CNN.
The original idea for the unprecedented gathering of generals and admirals was Hegseth’s, the White House official and one of the sources familiar with the planning said. Hegseth later let the White House know about the plans, but Trump himself knew very little about the details when he was asked about it in the Oval Office on Thursday, the White House official said.
I’m no military expert, but isn’t it kind of dangerous to have our enemies know that all those top generals and admirals will be in one room for an hour or so?
The Guardian: US military brass brace for firings as Pentagon chief orders top-level meeting.
US military officials are reportedly bracing for possible firings or demotions after the Trump administration’s Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth, abruptly summoned hundreds of generals and admirals from around the world to attend a gathering in Virginia in the upcoming days.
The event, scheduled for Tuesday at Marine Corps University in Quantico, is expected to feature a short address by Hegseth focused on military standards and the “warrior ethos”, according to the Washington Post.
The order to attend the meeting, which has been described as unusual and unprecedented, was reportedly issued with little explanation – and prompted military personnel stationed overseas to have to make last-minute travel arrangements.
A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed the upcoming gathering to the Guardian, saying that Hegseth “will meet with his senior military leaders”, but did not provide any further details.
According to the Times, the Pentagon informed congressional committees overseeing the military on Friday that Hegseth intends to use the gathering to share with “most senior service members his intent for the department”, including new guidance on “military fitness standards and several other areas of interest”.
Sources cited by the Post say that Tuesday’s address will be the first of three short lectures by Hegseth. The second, the Post reported, will reportedly focus on the defense industrial base, and the third on deterrence.
More stories of possible interest
The New York Times: Trump Fired a U.S. Attorney Who Insisted on Following a Court Order.
Shuyler Mitchell at Mother Jones: “Extremely Disturbing”: What Does Trump’s “Antifa” Executive Order Actually
Claire McCaskill at MSNBC: Hegseth’s mystery military meeting broadcasts a damaging message of U.S. instability.
The New York Times: F.B.I. Fires More Agents, Including Those Who Knelt During Racial Justice Protests.
CNN: ‘I’m absolutely terrified’: Federal workers brace for potential government shutdown, mass layoffs.
That’s it for me. What’s on your mind today?
#catArt #caturday #DonaldTrump #JamesComey #LindseyHalligan #NationalWeatherService #PamBondi #PeteHegseth #PortlandOR #ToddBlanche
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„And above all a belief in the sanctity of refereeing as an end in itself, rather than, you know, the annoying but necessary minimum layer of bureaucracy required for this multibillion-pound sporting product to function.“
