Tony Stark @TonyStark@democracy.town

Long piece; definitely worth the read.

Amazing/disgusting that the same funders and the same chaos agents keep popping up over and over again - but the organizations keep changing their names, to make it look like myriad grassroots groups are unified on this issue.

Everyone should read this article. Care about democracy before it's gone.

“It’s not just about voter suppression. What I’m really worried about is election subversion. Election officials are being put in place who will mess with the count.”

The Big Money Behind the Big Lie | The New Yorker-
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/09/the-big-money-behind-the-big-lie

@SteveRogers
Well done! It seems not all Republicans have succumbed to the Big Lie.

Kudos to the elected officials in Maricopa County -- the majority of which are Republicans, including one that defeated a Democrat in that election -- that have opposed the farce from the beginning.

These are responsible Republicans as opposed to the GQP Republicans that are sitting in the Arizona Senate supporting this adolescent nonsense from the former guy.

Arizona audit: Maricopa County, Dominion won't comply with subpoenas-
https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/08/02/maricopa-co-and-dominion-face-monday-deadline-ariz-senate-election-subpoenas/5434136001/

Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya was told she was competing in the 4x400 relay, a race she did not train for. When she criticized the decision, she was escorted to Haneda Airport to be sent home to Minsk. Tsimanouskaya asked Japanese police for protection as she feared she would be imprisoned. Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko's son runs the country's Olympic Committee.

Today, Poland offered Tsimanouskaya a visa. Her husband and child have fled Belarus.

This #SongOfTheDay was released over 30 years ago, and was one I found haunting as a young teenager. It's about Pinochet's Chile, which fortunately fell in 1980 in a referendum. Lukashenko has been the dictator of Belarus for 27 years, and elections are not free or fair.

People do not want to be thrown in jail if they criticize their government. Not in Chile, not in Belarus, not anywhere. American autocrat wannabes are playing with fire as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS_bN5ECJTI

@TPol
Hybrids seem fairly logical for a number of humans although moving towards full electric will have the least negative environmental impact over the long term.

However, I do not understand why they gambled highly on hydrogen fuel cells. Maybe it was the same humans who think massive grills that take up the entire front end of the car are the wave of the future.

In any case, this is a poor choice. Perhaps they learned it from the tobacco lobby.

After people who enjoy living in a democracy discovered that Toyota decision-makers do not share those values, those decision-makers decided to double down

There is a strong correlation between people who value living in a democracy and people who value living on a non-polluted planet. It appears that Toyota decision-makers value neither of these things. They were recently caught continuing to donate to congressional Republicans who support the January 6th insurrectionists after promising to cease those donations. Now the New York Times reports that Toyota is lobbying against fuel-efficient vehicle standards and electric vehicles.

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/07/toyota-bet-wrong-on-evs-so-now-its-lobbying-to-slow-the-transition/

#Comics
#Biography

#JohnLewis
#CivilRights

MARCH was an amazing and inspiring series, and I'm eagerly looking forward to the sequel RUN, from the late, great, Rep John Lewis.

First you MARCH, and then you RUN

John Lewis finished this graphic memoir as he died. He wanted to leave a civil rights ‘road map’ for generations to come.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/08/02/john-lewis-graphic-novel-run/

@PixxburghGirl @TonyStark @MariaHill

That's grassroots right there! Thank you for taking considerate and friendly action. If that employee gets his vaccination you may have very well saved theirs and more lives down the line.
Good work Pixx!

@TonyStark @MariaHill
People in any store I will go to have to wear masks unless they're vaccinated.

I was surprised how many young employees in Trader Joe’s were wearing masks on Friday. Knowing this, I asked the employee at the checkout if he was vaccinated.

He was taken back. I’m ok with that. I can ask about your vaccine status. He said no. I asked why not? He said he didn’t have time to get it. I pointed to the Walgreens right across the street that my whole family got vaccinated at and let him know it’s literally right across the street, you can walk in, and it's free. I told him the story of my friend who died. I told him about the young employees who worked for my clients who couldn’t go back to work because they got so sick 8 months ago and have long lasting symptoms.

2 stores near me mandated vaccines for employees this weekend. Those are the only 2 places I'm going to go. More will follow. That's how it is going to play out.

Forcing people to take public health measures is not the way epidemiologists want to go about it. But when the alternative is millions of deaths, better that business are requiring vaccines for employees and customers than letting infections spread.

(No one is holding you down and sticking a needle in your arm. Rather, you won't be allowed to do the things you want to do, like go to a restaurant, without presenting your vaccination card. Or work in a particular job without proof of vaccine, or possibly a test every 48 hours. Do you like that swab up your nose?)

#GetVaccinated #VaccinesSaveLives

https://www.wired.com/story/the-dam-is-breaking-on-vaccine-mandates/?utm_source=pocket-newtab

@DrHankPym
Everyone who voted for DeSantis should absolutely be ashamed. The rest have every right to be angry.
At this rate. Florida would be better off voting LokiGator into the Govonership.

@TonyStark
It's absurd& tiresome to be at the mercy of these fools who refuse to vaccinate. The rest of us have all done our part, and these anti-vaxxers are holding us back whilst screaming their latest mashup of politicalized disinfo.

I just tried to talk to a co-worker yesterday who still swears (despite all the evidence I showed her on the CDC& WHO websites) that the vaccination contains live virus& you can catch C-19 from the shot. (It doesn't, you can't)
#GetVaccinated

Granted this is the same girl who swears that applewood bacon is vegetarian because it's made with apples, so you see what I'm up against. huge facepalm

@TonyStark
This infrastructure bill will help the entire country! Thank you, President Biden!

It's not just Florida doctors. It's all doctors who understand this danger. It's all people who understand this danger.

Florida doctors are ‘angry and ashamed’ at governor Ron DeSantis as state becomes national Covid epicenter |
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/florida-ron-desantis-covid-delta-b1894764.html

@TonyStark
Freedom's just another word for "I don't care if I infect other people."

We have a lot on the #ElectionsCalendar this week!
Many states and cities are holding #PrimaryElection These are a chance to make sure the best candidates make it to the November ballot!

Tucson #Arizona has a Municipal Primary Election

Both Wichita and Topeka, #Kansas have Primary Elections.

There's a Special Primary for #Michigan State Senate in Districts 8 & 28
#Michigan also has Municipal Primaries in both Detroit and Lansing.

There's a statewide #SpecialElection in #Missouri for the St. Louis Community College District.

#Ohio has Congressional District special primary elections in both Districts 11 & 15

Finally, a Primary Election for #Washinton state.

Check out your State Election site to know who's on the ballot. Look into the candidates and make an informed vote.
#LocalElectionsMatter

@TonyStark
My family and friends have ALL done our part without any of the incessant whining…masked up, distanced, and first to put up our hands to get vaccinated. We’re fully vaccinated and ready to get on with life.

I and everyone I know are so freaking tired of these idiotic morons who refuse.