How Facebook Suppresses Opposing Views and Reinforces Enclaves
Comments (2) Facebook and other online communities are unintentionally suppressing opposing views and isolating us into “enclave discussions” instead of public exchanges. Here’s how.
Category: Politics
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Democracy In Action: Ohio, Wisconsin, and …
“There’s something happening here. What it is, ain’t exactly clear.”
In Ohio, public employees needed 231,000 citizens’ signatures to force a statewide ballot regarding SB5 — which outlawed collective bargaining by Ohio’s public employees.
This past Wednesday, opponents of that law delivered petitions with 1,298,301 signatures — more than five times the required number.
Common Goals and Other People’s Intentions
Comments Off on Common Goals and Other People’s Intentions Sometimes when we criticize others, we find a mirror. Here’s my story, and my plea that we stop talking past each other, and instead focus on our common goals for our children’s education.
Education Reform: Perverse Incentives
Comments Off on Education Reform: Perverse Incentives Over the past few weeks, I’ve read many dozens of news articles, editorials, and research studies about current “education reform” efforts.
Today, I realized that nearly all the “disputed” ideas involve accusations of perverse incentives.
Wisconsin? Really? (Every Vote Counts)
Comments Off on Wisconsin? Really? (Every Vote Counts) The most expensive judicial election campaign in history. In Wisconsin? Really?
School Funding and Teachers’ Cars
Today, I was astonished to read a blog post in which a parent, angry about her local school’s budget battle, wrote of her desire to smash teachers’ “expensive sedans” in a school parking lot on “back to school night.”
Marsia Mason, please note: if I find your car in a parking lot . . . Read more »
Damages From the Illinois “Advertising-Nexus” law
Comments Off on Damages From the Illinois “Advertising-Nexus” law Illinois enacted an “Advertising-Nexus” tax law yesterday, triggering some serious negative consequences — while collecting no additional sales taxes. Here’s a quick summary of the law’s impact:
Sales Tax Fairness, Advertising-Nexus Laws, and Common Sense
One of the “Advertising Nexus” tax bills (pending in the California legislature) is scheduled for hearing tomorrow (Monday) in Sacramento. Yesterday, I found this editorial on the American Booksellers’ web site, and was annoyed enough to write this reply: Read more »
Unity vs. “Divide and Conquer”
Comments Off on Unity vs. “Divide and Conquer” In response to a financial crisis fueled by corporate greed, Republicans now seek to further empower corporations and disenfranchise voters. Read more »
Illegally-Posted Campaign Signs
Today, I took a long walk in Hayward, and I was outraged to see how many campaign signs are illegally posted on public property, and on vacant private lots. Starting today, when I have time, I’m going to start pulling down signs that are obviously posted illegally. Most of these will be signs for Nadia Lockyer, who is the most prolific campaign-sign lawbreaker I’ve noticed. Read more »
