#bankrupt — Public Fediverse posts

This is #brilliant (from Democratic Socialists of America USA)

“I used to wonder how it was possible that Trump could have won in 2016, and then again in 2024, given how emotionally #toxic and depraved he is.

“I don’t wonder anymore. I think he won for that exact reason. Because he carried at least one broken shard to reflect the broken shards in millions of others.

“If you’re a racist, you found your guy. If you’re a misogynist, you found your guy. If money is your only religion, you found your guy. If your heart is armored shut, you found your guy. If you mock the disabled, you found your guy.

“If intelligence makes you insecure, you found your guy. If you’re a sexual predator, you found your guy. If you trade in #humiliation and #conspiracy and filth, you found your guy.

“If you’ve never done a single hour of emotional inventory, you found your guy. If you cheat, stiff contractors, #bankrupt your obligations, and call it savvy, you found your guy. If you lie as easily as you breathe, you found your guy. If cruelty feels like strength, you found your guy.

“If wh*** #grievance is your comfort food, you found your guy. If your ego is a black hole no title can fill, you found your guy. If #warmongering fuels your ego, you found your guy, If #empathy feels like weakness and #dominance feels like oxygen, you found your guy.

“If he’d only carried one or two of these pathologies, he might have been dismissed as just another loud, damaged man. But he carried a buffet of them.

“That was the appeal. Millions could locate themselves somewhere in the wreckage. They didn’t have to agree with all of it. They just had to recognize a piece of themselves in it.

“It was never really about him. It was about the #Validation. The #absolution. The #permission. He didn’t invent the #resentment he amplified it. He didn’t create the #cruelty he #normalized it. He gave millions the #intoxicating relief of hearing their ugliest #impulses echoed back at rally volume.”

https://www.dsausa.org/

#SLAPPs In Europe: How The #EU Can Protect Watchdogs From #AbusiveLawsuits

In their new policy paper, #Liberties and other rights and #pressfreedom groups explain why abusive lawsuits (SLAPPs) against watchdogs and journalists threaten #democracies in Europe and what governments and the EU should do tackle it.

by Linda Ravo
January 13, 2022

"The European Commission is set to shortly unveil its proposal for EU-wide measures against SLAPPs. In a new policy paper published today, Liberties and other rights and press freedom groups which form the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (#CASE), explain what SLAPPs are, how big of a threat they are to watchdogs in Europe, and propose what governments and the EU should do tackle the problem.

Censorship by litigation

"Citizens are supposed to be in charge of their democracies. #Watchdogs like #journalists, #rights #defenders and #activist groups are key to enable citizens to get informed, shape their opinions, and keep an eye on people in power to make sure they do what is best for all of us.

"As we explain here, SLAPPs (an acronym which stands for 'strategic lawsuit against public participation'), are a form of abuse of law and justice that #corrupt politicians and powerful #businesses across Europe increasingly make use of to #harass, #bankrupt and intimidate #journalists, activists and other watchdogs into silence. Helped by expensive and unscrupulous law firms, they sue them on grounds of meritless and abusive claims with the purpose of shutting down acts of public participation, including public interest journalism, #PeacefulProtest or #boycotts, #advocacy, #whistleblowing, or simply speaking out against abuse of power."

https://www.liberties.eu/en/stories/slapp-case-submission/43948

#DigitalFreeSpeech #DirectAction #Fascism #CriminalizingDissent #WaterProtectors #ForestDefenders #EnvironmentalActivists #ClimateActivists #ClimateJustice #SilencingDissent #CorporateColonialism #EcoActivists #Censorship #HumanRightsViolations #Article20 #RightToProtest #SlowMarch #BigOilAndGas