During 2009 a suite of proposals was developed to catalyse a culture of retirement saving, particularly among low earners, to make Britain's income-in-retirement (note: not 'pension') landscape sustainable1. The approach was to consider the state pension, occupational pension schemes, public sector pensions and income derived from personal retirement savings as a single system, with the premise that the structure of the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST)2 scheme — formally the Personal Account — is significantly flawed.
All regulated pensions, including NEST, lack sufficient flexibility to accommodate a U-shaped spending pattern in retirement; high in the early years of active retirement, followed by lower outgoings in the more sedentary years, but then picking up with expensive long-term care. In addition, people increasingly want to work after reaching the state pension age (SPA) and delay the realisation of their retirement-focused savings, with no desire to purchase a lifetime annuity. Access to funds before the age of 55 (from April 2010) is also not permitted; a huge disincentive to saving.
Given low earners' small contributions, the NEST is also likely to produce derisory income in retirement for them. Why should they forego what little disposable income they may have for an uncertain return, the disincentive reinforced by the scope to lose benefits through the iniquity of means-testing?
Notwithstanding these flaws, the NEST is now under the political microscope; last November's Pre-Budget Report delayed the introduction of employer contributions to save money; these contributions would have been a tax-deductible expense and attracted national insurance contribution (NIC) tax relief. Shortly thereafter, one of the last two remaining Personal Account Delivery Authority (PADA) systems bidders, Great-West Life, pulled out, leaving only Tata CS; perhaps an untenable situation?
>> The state pension should be substantially increased 10 years after the SPA to a level that lifts eligible pensioners above the guarantee credit limit and out of poverty.
>> State Second Pension (S2P) accruals should cease. S2P and S2P national insurance contribution (NIC) cash flows would be re-engineered to help finance the additional cost of the larger state pension for senior citizens. Financing is also assisted by more people contributing full-rate NICs.
>> The NEST contributions should be increased to 7% of gross earnings (3% employee with a 1% tax credit, and 3% employer). The NEST is currently based upon 8% of NI band earnings, which is an unnecessary complication and also meaningless to most people. The employee tax rebate rate would therefore be 25% for everyone, providing a significant incentive for 20% taxpayers to contribute more than the 3% minimum.
>> The NEST contributions of the low-paid should be enhanced by the state, perhaps up to 3% of median earnings (about £750 per year). Their asset pools would then be likely to produce a post-SPA income that would help them to be self-reliant in later life.
>> Savers should be free to bequeath their unused NEST assets to third parties free of any inheritance tax liability, provided that the assets go into a retirement savings scheme. This would encourage a cascading of wealth down the generations and reinforce the sense of personal ownership of NEST assets.
Confident that the state would sustain them in their later years, savers would then be free to concentrate their NEST-derived income on 10 years of active retirement immediately following the SPA, rather than having to stretch it out until they die, via a compulsory annuity (which penalises those with shorter life expectancy, often the less well-off).
This approach would substantially boost incomes during the period of more active retirement. Consequently, an amended NEST is more likely to be a suitable retirement savings product, not just for low earners but also for those in their forties and fifties, because it delivers income in retirement relatively rapidly. This would particularly benefit those with shorter life expectancy, as they can realise all of their NEST assets by the time they become senior citizens.
Annual contributions to the NEST are capped at £3,600, simply because the government buckled under the onslaught of the pensions industry's vested interests. The consequence is that those who wish to save more will have to engage with at least one other retirement savings vehicle (more complexity) or opt out of the NEST. Indeed, the division between NEST and other savings vehicles is entirely artificial, care of the cap.
Unfortunately, most of us are not equipped to rationalise the array of perplexing products, each offering different attributes that make them hard to compare. At the root of this complexity is tax. We have multiple tax regimes in each of the three phases of long-term saving (accumulation, decumulation and post-death), not least because two very differently taxed industries (savings and pensions) are pretending to be one. If saving for retirement was simplified, we as a nation would save more.
Proposals on exactly how to achieve this will be revealed in the coming months but as an appetiser, consider this: why not bring pensions and ISAs together under a combined annual contributions limit of £40,000, say, with tax relief at the marginal rate? There would then be no need for a lifetime limit. The savings industry could offer a lifetime savings platform (LSP), which would host a flexible, instant-access account (today's ISA, taxed TEE3, but without the division between cash and stocks and shares) and a retirement ISA (RISA), taxed EET.
The saver should be able to transfer surplus funds from the ISA into the RISA and receive tax relief regardless of other contributions that year. Auto-enrolment into an LSP could come with the option for employers to contribute to either account, although ISA contributions would be a taxable benefit akin to paying wages. Some pre-SPA access to the RISA ought to be permitted (up to 25% of asset value).
Ultimately, we should aim to establish a single, unified tax framework for all tax-incentivised savings products, including tax harmonisation between the savings and pensions industries. This taxation Holy Grail could be the ISA's TEE, with upfront tax relief (£29.9bn in 2008-09, heavily skewed towards the wealthy) redeployed to boost the basic state pension (£50.5bn in 2008-09) by some 60%; a dramatic simplification that would transform Britain's savings landscape.
Furthermore, we would then catalyse a virtuous circle because we could recoup a large proportion of the £7.9bn spent on pension credit and achieve a huge saving in administration costs, thereby freeing up more funds to further increase the basic state pension. Only then could the government claim to meet what should be its only pensions objective: to address pensioner poverty by providing a minimum state pension above the means-testing threshold.
A wholly TEE framework does, however, present at least one significant challenge; the lack of an upfront incentive to save for the long term. A compromise could be to cap upfront tax relief to the standard rate of tax (20%), irrespective of the saver's marginal rate of tax, partly financed by ending the 25% tax-free lump sum at SPA.
There is one further step that could be taken; we could enhance the ISA capabilities and give upfront tax relief (at a flat rate of 25%, say) to attract savings. Any pre-SPA withdrawals would require repayment of the relief, so the net effect would then be TEE, as ISAs today. Post-SPA withdrawals, however, would not require repayment of the incentive, but would be taxed as income; the ISA would then operate as EET. Thus, with hindsight, funds that ended up being locked away for the long term would be taxed as if they were a pensions savings product.
Some degree of asset 'lock-up' may be required to ensure that people do have some assets at retirement, but as they approach SPA, the loss of tax relief would be an increasing disincentive to withdraw funds. Post- SPA contributions would not receive tax relief, but withdrawals of these contributions would be tax-free.
This approach would synthesise, in a single product, ISAs' instant access (as TEE) with the upfront incentive world of pension saving (EET). It could perhaps be branded as a 'Super ISA' or Lifetime ISA ('LISA'), ISA being the most trusted savings brand. It could replace all tax-incentivised pension savings products and, at a stroke, provide the unified tax regime that simplification demands. Britain would then save more.


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Alliance Party Says Trump-Pelosi Stimulus Standoff Hurting Millions of Americans; Two Parties Again Put Politics Above the Welfare of the People
The failure of President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to reach an agreement on the second round of stimulus to ease the suffering of millions of Americans is a game of political hardball where neither side wins and the American people lose.
That's the assertion of the leadership of the Alliance Party, the nation's fastest-growing independent third party, with candidates running Nov. 3 for offices in 26 states.
"It is difficult to imagine arguing over a billion here and a billion there while millions of people are in food lines, unemployed, being evicted, missing mortgages, going without healthcare and suffering illness and death from the corona virus," declared Alliance Party National Chair Jim Rex.
"Once again, as any impartial observer can ascertain, both sides are interested in reaching an agreement to relieve economic suffering only if it can be turned into political advantage for their party and its candidates for the upcoming election. They have dug in their heels at a time of unprecedented economic pain for millions in this country."
According to CBS News, Pelosi had previously rejected a $1.8 trillion proposal by the White House, arguing that it did not do enough on provisions such as testing and tracing and on funding for childcare. Economists warn that failing to inject another dose of fiscal stimulus could stall the recovery, given the ongoing pandemic and economic headwinds.
"Unfortunately, what history tells us is that when a large enough percentage of a nation's citizens are hungry, cold, sick, without shelter while at war – in this case in a life-or-death struggle with a deadly virus – the situation is ripe for revolution," said Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente, the Alliance Party's presidential candidate, with vice presidential running mate Darcy G. Richardson. "That's not part of the American spirit or in our national psyche as a remedy for needed change, or at least it has not been until now.
"The Republicans and Democrats once again have proven they are unfit to govern. America needs and deserves the responsive, caring government envisioned by the Alliance Party, its candidate and supporters."
Presidential candidate De La Fuente lauds Maine high court for decision allowing rank choice voting to proceed Nov. 3
On the ballot in Maine, De La Fuente believes Mainers have a chance to make history and send a message to the two ruling parties that they are dissatisfied with the parties' focus on maintaining power and their lack of accountability.
Alliance Party of Maine presidential candidate Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente today congratulated Maine Supreme Judicial Court justices for their ruling allowing rank choice voting to proceed statewide for the Nov. 3 election. The ruling makes it possible for new, fresh political voices to be heard when independent thinkers are ranked and chosen to represent all of the people.
"I believe like in the movie The Network, the voters of this nation and especially Maine are 'mad as hell and they're not going to take it anymore,'" declared De La Fuente, now in his second run for the presidency. "Rank choice voting provides Maine voters the opportunity to vote for me, and other third party and independent candidates like me, to take office and begin to bring about the necessary changes this state and nation so desperately need."
The court disagreed with arguments heard Tuesday on whether the Maine GOP collected enough signatures to force a "People's Veto" referendum on a state law extending the rank choice voting system used in congressional races to presidential elections.
"For too long, the political elite of this country have left so many people out of the process, showing they don't understand and don't care about the challenges average people face day in and day out, especially with COVID, joblessness, ongoing environmental damage and racial injustices," said De La Fuente. "I am running to change all of that for Mainers – and for all in America.
"The two ruling parties and their representatives have allowed huge inequalities to develop in America in healthcare, education, food security, justice, foreign policy, environmental risks and housing," said Jim Rex, former Education Secretary in South Carolina, and chairman of the Alliance Party. "Rank choice voting can be a remedy for those evils, and the people of Maine should be proud that they are leading the nation in challenging a broken system – and making history in the process."
ABOUT THE ALLIANCE PARTY
The Alliance Party and its candidates believe that we should put our national effort towards excelling in the critical areas that determine quality of life for Americans, our global communities, and our planet itself. This requires that at a national level we have a unified vision of what success looks like, as well as unity of effort to achieve our objectives. We believe we must immediately set our sights on winning the gold in the critical areas of economic renewal, climate change, providing quality and affordable healthcare, and educating the future generations of Americans to successfully compete on the world stage. These tasks should begin immediately, Without regard for partisan politics, ideological constraints, or historical limitations. To learn more, visit TheAllianceParty.com
Alliance Party and its presidential candidate De La Fuente: Support VoteSafe campaign to empower electorate during pandemic
The Alliance Party and its presidential candidate Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente today announced their full support for the VoteSafe movement to make sure all states and U.S. territories have accessible, secure mail-in ballots and safe, in-person voting sites, and that congress provides the states with the resources necessary to protect their voters and elections.
"Ensuring that Americans can vote safely and securely amidst the pandemic is not a partisan issue. It's good for Republicans, Democrats, and everyone else," declared Tom Ridge, former Governor of Pennsylvania (R), First Secretary of Homeland Security and Co-Chair of VoteSafe. "Let's remember that voting isn't a privilege, it's a responsibility of citizenship. Responsibility also rests with government to make certain that every American has the right to vote safely during this public health crisis."
VoteSafe co-chair along with Ridge is former two-term governor of Michigan Jennifer M. Granholm.
VoteSafe is a cross-partisan coalition of election administrators and organizations that endorse the simple principle that every American has the right to vote safely amidst the pandemic.
VoteSafe is committed to ensuring voters have options: expanded access to absentee ballots as well as safe, sanitary, and accessible in-person voting locations. Nonpartisan research shows that mail-in ballots are secure, and that they do not advantage one party over the other. VoteSafe does not support or oppose politicians or parties.
"Our goal is to ensure the safety of all voters as they exercise their constitutional right. Doing so is not a partisan issue; it is an American issue. We are committed to ensuring that the right to vote safely transcends politics and partisanship, and we call on the two ruling parties to support this movement as well," said De La Fuente.
Pandemic enhances control of electoral process by the two ruling parties; The Alliance Party urges e-signature process for candidate nomination
The Alliance Party, the national organizational arm of a political reform movement, with affiliates and candidates in two dozen states, is calling on the states to enact legislation allowing voters to provide electronic signatures to petitions to place candidates on ballots because in-person contact to gather signatures is impossible during the pandemic.
"We know the Democrats and Republications don't want competition at the ballot box, and have always done all they could to limit ballot access by candidates with other party affiliations," said Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente, the Alliance Party's nominee for president of the United States. "Allowing the pandemic to further constrain and control the electoral process flies in the face of every sacred principle of Democracy so cherished by our founding fathers."
According to Ballotpedia: Electronic signature software may be used to gather electronic petition signatures. Using such software, individuals may electronically sign an initiative or referendum petition online from home or another location, or they may be required to electronically sign on a petition circulator's mobile device. For candidate nominating petitions, government websites may allow electronic signing through the submission of an ID number, such as a driver's license number.
ILLINOIS LEADS THE WAY
After agreeing that the pandemic has limited ballot access by restricting personal contact needed to have candidate nominating petitions signed, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled last month that for only this election cycle, petition signatures may be collected remotely. Candidates may mail voters a petition or share a digital file online or by email. Voters then can print it out, sign it and either send a hard copy to the candidate through the mail or electronically in an emailed attachment or as a photograph.
"Of course, we welcome the ruling by the Illinois Supreme Court and urge other states to take the same action," said Tim Cotton, National Political Director for the Alliance Party. "Unfortunately, the court's order was the result of a lawsuit filed by two non-ruling parties, the Libertarian and Green. It is a sad day in America when you have to file a lawsuit be able to participate in Democracy. The Alliance Party urges other states to do the right thing and follow the progressive example set by Illinois."
The Alliance Party believes it is time to elect candidates who will end corruption, stagnation and partisan politics. It is time to bring back American values and emphasize the importance of integrity and honor. Its members believe that if we want to be the example for the rest of the world to emulate, we must achieve success by leading our nation towards better outcomes in combating the human challenges we all hold in common: climate change, poverty, ignorance, healthcare, income inequality, and injustice. We must earn the credibility to lead through superior achievement, because no one wants to emulate a loser. America must truly outperform global standards if we want to be the gold medal winner of nations.
The Alliance Party, and its candidates, believe that we should put our national efforts towards excelling in the critical areas that determine quality of life for Americans, our global communities, and our planet itself. This requires that at a national level we have a unified vision of what success looks like, as well as unity of effort to achieve our objectives. We believe we must immediately set our sights on winning the gold in the critical areas of climate change, providing quality and affordable healthcare, and educating the future generations of Americans to successfully compete on the world stage. These tasks should begin immediately. Today. Without regard for partisan politics, ideological constraints, or historical limitations.
On ballot in Maine, presidential candidate De La Fuente unveils education plan; Calls for nationwide virtual classes with top educators teaching online
Alliance Party of Maine presidential candidate Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente today announced his plan to create an online network of virtual universities in which leading faculty will provide post-secondary instruction online at no cost, and local public schools will be funded to strengthen their online teaching technologies.
De La Fuente, and his staff have been working on fleshing out details for the national Education for Everyone (E4E) plan since January.
"With the realities thrust upon us by the pandemic, my plan to provide nationwide online university-level learning and strengthen virtual teaching technology in local public schools will ensure we continue to provide opportunities for an effective education for everyone," declared San Diego resident De La Fuente, a lifelong businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist now in his second bid for the presidency.
De La Fuente is the Alliance Party's nominee for president in Maine, with running mate Darcy G. Richardson. He is also the presidential nominee for the American Independent Party, the Reform Party of the United States, and the Natural Law Party in Michigan.
RURAL AREAS TO BE FOCUS
Recognizing that many rural areas and some working poor households may not have access to internet bandwidth to participate in the virtual education programs, De La Fuente said he will order the Federal Communications Commission to undertake a national survey of underserved areas and households, prepare a budget to achieve coverage where needed, and ask Congress to authorize the funding required to provide full online access as warranted.
De La Fuente's E4E initiative includes allocating funds to enable K-12 public schools nationwide to renovate or build new, high-tech, high-speed internet connectivity systems capable of reaching and teaching students online, and also will provide funding for in-home laptops through partnerships with major computer manufacturers.
E4E also will embrace and empower our nation's community and technical colleges, which are our most efficient and inexpensive delivery system now for training and educating millions of Americans. Many are already tuition free. All should be tuition free and offer both in person and virtual instruction.
De La Fuente: Congress and Trump must act to save lives;COVID, poverty and food insecurity devastating Americans
With numerous studies concluding that suffering and death among the nation's poor and minorities are being intensified by food insecurity and the effects of COVID-19, presidential candidate Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente is calling on Congress and President Trump to take emergency action to get food to starving families and ramp up testing among at-risk populations.
"Government inaction is killing us," declared De La Fuente, the POTUS nominee of the Alliance Party. Since that nomination, the Reform Party, American Delta Party and Natural Law Party have also nominated him in a multi-party effort to place De La Fuente on the ballot in many states. He is now in his second run for the presidency.
"They have turned a blind eye to the misery of so many Americans whose plight has been documented in numerous scholarly studies completed this spring and summer," declared De La Fuente. "Their inaction is not only shameful, but criminal."
De La Fuente has analyzed many of the most recent research findings, including:
Poverty and Covid-19: Rates of Incidence and Deaths in the United States During the First 10 weeks of the Pandemic
COVID-19 Lays Bare Vulnerabilities in U.S. Food Security
Poverty and Food Insecurity Could Grow Dramatically as Covid-19 Spreads
Food insecurity will be the sting in the tail of COVID-19
Record levels of food insecurity in the U.S. because of COVID-19
"There are more studies, more scholarly research and ample white papers reporting on this crisis unfolding among the impoverished and minorities in our nation," said De La Fuente. "How many more will it take to get the attention of Congress and Trump to motivate them to help these at-risk populations before they are decimated?"
The COVID Racial Tracker, a joint project of the Antiracist Research & Policy Center and the COVID Tracking Project, found:
Nationally, African American deaths from COVID-19 are nearly two times greater than would be expected based on their share of the population.
In 42 states plus Washington D.C., Hispanics/Latinos make up a greater share of confirmed cases than their share of the population.
Presidential candidate Roque De La Fuente, son of Mexican immigrants,salutes Hispanic contributions to America during Hispanic Heritage Month
Alliance Party presidential candidate Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente, the son of Mexican immigrants, today called on Americans to help celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by acknowledging the contributions Hispanics continue to make to the quality of life in America and around the world.
Hispanic Heritage Month, first observed in 1968, begins tomorrow on September 15. The month-long celebration ends October 15.
Hispanic and Latino Americans are the second largest ethnic group in the U.S., with 52 million people or 16.7% of the national population; 47 million are American citizens.
The projected Hispanic population of the United States for July 1, 2050 is 132.8 million, or 30.2% of the nation's total projected population on that date.
"Hispanics are excelling as leaders and productive, loyal employees in all areas of American life and business," declared De La Fuente, a lifelong businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist in his second bid for the presidency. "It is with pride that I know our positive impact on the quality of life in America will continue to increase, and we will be playing an ever greater role in decades ahead in helping this nation flourish."
De La Fuente, fluent in Spanish and English, is the Alliance Party's nominee for president, with running mate Darcy G. Richardson. He is also the presidential nominee for the American Independent Party, the Reform Party of the United States, and the Natural Law Party in Michigan.
DE LA FUENTE "ORGULLO LATINO" ROLE MODEL FOR OTHERS
De La Fuente's business and industrial interests, financial ventures, real estate transactions, commercial and corporate enterprises in numerous U.S. states and overseas have generated tens of thousands of jobs with payrolls over six decades estimated to be in the billions of dollars.
"As I have lived the American Dream for me and my family, enjoying opportunities to work hard and smart in order to achieve success in business and life, my fervent hope is that I may be a role model for other young Hispanic men and women who must overcome the unique challenges all minorities face in America as they reach for the stars," De La Fuente asserted.
De La Fuente: Congress and Trump must act to save lives; COVID, poverty and food insecurity devastating Americans
De La Fuente: 2-party monopoly is stifling the progress of America; Presidential candidate says new voice, new vision can bring change
Alliance Party and Reform Party presidential candidate Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente today called on the voters to reject the failed two-party monopoly on government and to embrace reforms mandated by the Alliance and Reform parties that will restore American unity, bring an end to dysfunctional government and institute a system of fairness, equality and justice for all.
"Our aims are not to move the direction of the country left or right, but forward," declared De La Fuente, a lifelong businessman, philanthropist and entrepreneur now in his second run for the presidency. "We want to create a revitalized, world-leading United States, an America 2.0 that will provide better outcomes in combating the human challenges we all have in common: climate change, poverty, ignorance, sickness, income inequality, and injustice."
De La Fuente and other candidates who have challenged the duopoly have learned through experience how the Republican and Democrat parties limit ballot access to eliminate competition to solidify their grip on power in the U.S.
""Their consistent unwillingness to put partisanship and ideology aside to work together to help solve critical problems facing our nation, such as the suffering and death from the Covid-19 pandemic, their failure to effectively address the economic crisis and their inability to take meaningful steps to end systemic racism, are just some of the examples that prove we can no longer continue to allow our future as a nation to be limited by these two inept, self-servicing enterprises.
"The only political incentive greater than the lust for power is the fear of losing it," said De La Fuente. "Americans must begin to use their votes – not just their voices – to bring about the changes necessary to enable all of us to progress together to the more perfect union still envisioned and hoped for by the vast majority of us.
"We know that career politicians in both parties despise term limits. And yet, if term limited candidates begin defeating them, they will quickly come to accept that a more narrowly defined term in office is preferable to none at all," De La Fuente concluded.
De La Fuente: Trump School Plan Will Expose Millions to Virus; Presidential Candidate Says Creative Use of Virtual Learning Needed
Alliance Party and Reform Party presidential candidate Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente today called on President Trump to rescind his order demanding public schools to open next month, labeling it "irrational, politically-driven and potentially catastrophic."
He pointed to research that shows children are carriers of the corona virus, with those 10 and older more serious carriers.
"When you think of the danger putting large groups of children together poses not only to the teachers who are being asked to instruct them, but to the families of the children themselves, and to the families of the educators being asked to interact with them all day long, you can easily conclude that Trump's demand is pure insanity," declared De La Fuente, a lifelong businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist now in his second bid for the presidency
"Public education is a state responsibility, directed and funded by states. I recommend that local districts and school leaders, including parents and teachers, be allowed to creatively examine all options, including virtual learning, as they deal with this unprecedented set of challenges. No elected official, federal or state, should be haranguing parents or local elected school boards into having five-day-a week face to face instruction at this time."
Because of the lockdown, millions of parents have not kept up with the other vaccinations that children are supposed to be getting periodically, so there is a danger of old diseases mixing with the corona virus just as the annual flu season begins as well.
"We all know that Trump's position on schools, and those of his elected sycophants, is solely about trying to accelerate the opening of the economy to bolster his chances in the November election. It has nothing to do with the potential for hundreds of thousands of additional deaths. It is also another attempt by the far right to advance the cause of school vouchers by setting up public schools for failure," De La Fuente declared.
Trump Fails to Sweep Delaware GOP Primary with Only 88%; Challenger De La Fuente Gets 12%, Indicating Voter Disfavor
Republican presidential challenger Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente denied President Donald Trump a sweeping victory in the Delaware Presidential Primary last week by earning 12% of the vote to Trump's 88%, a result that analysts say is an early indication of erosion of Republican support for the president.
At one point in the vote tally, De La Fuente had 26% of the vote compared to Trump's 76%. And in one of Delaware's three counties, Newcastle, De La Fuente won 17.9% of the vote compared to Trump's 82.1%. De La Fuente did not campaign in Delaware.
To date, De La Fuente has tallied more votes against Trump than any of Trump's GOP challengers. Only former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld has come close with 9.3 % of the vote in the GOP primary in his home state of Massachusetts, and a tally of 9.1% in the New Hampshire GOP primary.
"Trump is always saying that the only meaningful poll is the ballot box," said De La Fuente, a lifelong businessman, philanthropist and serial entrepreneur in his second run for the presidency. "The fact that almost 4,000 Republicans voted for me instead of Trump should send a clear message to Trump and the GOP that people have had enough of him and are seeking another voice, another candidate, another way."
The final tally was Trump with 28,689 votes to De La Fuente's 3,900.
"With vast name recognition because of his lifelong celebrity status and more than three years in the presidency, compared to little known De La Fuente, Trump should have swept the election with close to 100%," said Jim Rex, longtime political analyst, former Commissioner of Education for South Carolina and Chair of the Alliance Party. "I think the fact that one in seven voters in the GOP primary chose De La Fuente is clear evidence the president is beginning to lose favor among the party faithful."
De La Fuente is also the Alliance Party's nominee for president, with Darcy G. Richardson as his running mate.
Reform Party Nominates Roque "Rocky" de La Fuente for President, He Was Their Nominee in 2016, and Is Also the Alliance Party Nominee.
The Reform Party today nominated lifelong American businessman and serial entrepreneur Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente for president in an online presidential nominating convention in which more than 70% of the delegates voted for him.
De La Fuente was also the Reform Party's nominee in 2016, and last month was selected as the presidential nominee for the Alliance Party. His running mate in both parties is Darcy G. Richardson.
In an online convention of assembled Reform Party delegates, De La Fuente received 17 votes. Candidate Max Abramson, who is a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, received four. J. Ben Zion, Founder, and Chair of the Arizona Transhumanist Party, who is also an Independent Party Presidential candidate in the 2020 election, received one. Candidate Soraya Faas had withdrawn before the vote and endorsed De La Fuente.
The Reform Party is only on the ballot in Florida.
DE LA FUENTE'S ACCEPTANCE SPEECH
"Now, the real work begins," said De La Fuente. "Our priorities are clear: To make significant strides in achieving our mission to fundamentally change the governing structure in this nation. The American people know the current process of our national government is broken. We must convince the American people we are the solution. We must remind them of the almost forgotten principles on which this nation was founded. First among those is a near-sacred dedication to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, which has been ruthlessly abused, illegally manipulated, plainly ignored and regularly misused to gain partisan political advantage.
"I have a vision of an America that ranks as the very best example in the world in the outcomes that determine the quality of life of our citizens. I have a vision for an America that combats the human challenges we all hold in common: immigration, climate change, poverty, ignorance, sickness, income inequality, and injustice."
About Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente
Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente is living proof that the American Dream can be achieved by those who are inspired to pursue it. He has an amazing record of success. From earning an FAA license to fly single engine planes at the age of 20 to owning 29 automobile dealerships and becoming Chairman of the National Dealers Council for the third largest automobile manufacturer in the world by the age of 28, he's in a league by himself. He created a banking network in 1982 to help address Mexico's economic crisis and established impressive real estate holdings throughout the United States while creating thousands of new jobs along the way. In 1992, Rocky became the first Hispanic American to serve as a Delegate-At-Large for the State of California at a National Convention. He holds a bachelor's degree in Physics and Mathematics (Magna Cum Laude) and an honorary doctorate from UNESCO. Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente has been a great success in his political career, achieving great acceptance among the Latino community.
Alliance Party presidential candidate Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente Calls for Pandemic Task Force, and an end to Trump-Obama
WINNSBORO, S.C. (May 21, 2020) – The Alliance Party presidential candidate Roque
"Rocky" De La Fuente urges President Trump and former President Obama to cease their war of words and blame-game over the management of the Covid-19 outbreak and instead focus their energies on taking stronger steps to work together to end the pandemic.
De La Fuente said that as president, he will create and fully fund a Future Pandemic Task Force staffed by medical and scientific experts and highly regarded economists to proactively
plan for early detection and quicker response time for universal testing, treatments, vaccine development and economic intervention alternatives.
"The childish name-calling during this school-yard tiff between Trump and Obama is a waste of time and energy that could be put to much better use if they both worked together like adults to find a long-term solution to this and future pandemics," De La Fuente said."Further, their spat is distracting the public and the media from other pressing challenges facing the country that need to be met and overcome, a situation that is typical
when you have only two ruling parties drowning out other voices."
Obama has publicly and privately criticized the Trump Administration three times in the past month for what he says is lack of leadership in response to the pandemic, once calling it
"an absolute chaotic disaster."Trump has responded, calling Obama "a grossly incompetent president.""This is further evidence that the two-party system in this country is badly broken. The division, acrimony and failure to work together to find solutions to our country's problems does harm to the Democracy and every citizen these people have taken oaths to serve. We need change, and I predict there will be sweeping change at the ballot box this November," declared James Rex, Ph.D., National Chairman of the Alliance Party.
The Alliance Party and its candidates believe that we should put our national effort towards excelling in the critical areas that determine quality of life for Americans, our global
communities, and our planet itself. This requires that at a national level we have a unified vision of what success looks like, as well as unity of effort to achieve our objectives. We believe we must immediately set our sights on winning the gold in the critical areas of economic renewal, climate change, providing quality and affordable healthcare, and educating the future generations of Americans to successfully compete on the world stage. These tasks should begin immediately, Without regard for partisan politics, ideological constraints, or historical
limitations. To learn more, visit TheAllianceParty.com
Rocky De La Fuente wins Alliance Party presidential nomination
The Alliance Party, the national organizational arm of a political reform movement, with affiliates in two dozen states, announces that its delegates voted today to nominate Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente as their presidential candidate and Darcy Richardson as his vice presidential running mate.
The ticket was chosen in what is believed to be the nation's first online presidential nomination convention today. "Now, the real work begins," declared De La Fuente in his acceptance speech. "Our priorities are clear: To make significant strides in our mission to fundamentally change the governing structure in this nation, we must continue to unite with all other small parties to become the powerhouse of change this nation needs to break the two-party monopoly."
Since 2016, De La Fuente, 65, the son of immigrants, has energetically involved himself in efforts to bring about political change in America. The San Diego resident and longtime American entrepreneur, businessman and political reformer was the nominee of both the Reform Party and his American Delta Party for president of the United States in the 2016 election. That year, he was also an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic presidential primary. He also ran for the U.S. Senate in 2018 in nine states simultaneously.
"The Constitution has been ruthlessly abused, illegally manipulated, plainly ignored and regularly misused to gain partisan political advantage," De La Fuente said. "We must convince America that we are the change agents that can bring an end to government corruption, stagnation and partisan politics. We must convince America that we can bring back American values and emphasize the importance of integrity and honor. We must convince America that we are a new political party with a modern, fiscally responsible, common sense, nonpartisan, problem solving agenda. We must convince America that we will provide a new kind of politician – a term limited, transparent public servant who puts country before party and solutions before ideology."
Richardson, 65, is an American author, historian and political activist. He was the Reform Party of Florida's nominee for governor in 2018. In the 2012 presidential election, Richardson challenged incumbent Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination for president in five state primaries.
The Alliance Party is the political arm of a nationwide movement to elect public servants who will end corruption, stagnation and partisan politics. It is time to bring back American values and emphasize the importance of integrity and honor. Its members believe that if we want to be the example for the rest of the world to emulate, we must achieve success by leading our nation towards better outcomes in combating the human challenges we all hold in common: climate change, poverty, ignorance, healthcare, income inequality, and injustice. We must earn the credibility to lead through superior achievement, because no one wants to emulate a loser. America must truly outperform global standards if we want to be the gold medal winner of nations.
The Alliance Party and its candidates, believe that we should put our national efforts towards excelling in the critical areas that determine quality of life for Americans, our global communities, and our planet itself. This requires that at a national level we have a unified vision of what success looks like, as well as unity of effort to achieve our objectives. We believe we must immediately set our sights on winning the gold in the critical areas of climate change, providing quality and affordable healthcare, and educating the future generations of Americans to successfully compete on the world stage. These tasks should begin immediately. Today. Without regard for partisan politics, ideological constraints, or historical limitations.
LAST MAN STANDING: ROCKY DE LA FUENTE CONTINUES TRUMP PRIMARY CHALLENGE
[March 28, 2020] – With the withdrawal of former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld after disappointing results in the Super Tuesday and subsequent March 17th round of Republican primaries, the GOP establishment and its media allies pounced on an opportunity to declare the race over and President Donald Trump the lone remaining option.
That's a comforting narrative for Trump loyalists worried about November, but there's one problem with it: It's just not true.
Despite desperate party establishment attempts to keep him off ballots or even cancel primaries altogether, California businessman Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente remains in the race.
One out of 25 Republicans in Illinois — "Land of Lincoln" — voted for De La Fuente in the March 17 primary. He's on the ballot in Delaware, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Connecticut, and Louisiana. He's also seeking — or possibly suing for — ballot spots in the D.C., Puerto Rico, Oregon and Maryland primaries, the latter of which has been rescheduled for June 2nd.
Where most observers see a long shot, De La Fuente sees a last-ditch opportunity: A chance for Republican voters to shed themselves of a second Herbert Hoover and avoid losing control of the White House for two decades and Congress for 60 years again.
Like Hoover's handling of the 1929 financial crash and subsequent Great Depression, Trump's response to the COVID-19 pandemic "was shameful and will prove tragically costly," De La Fuente says, "both in terms of human lives and a needlessly devastated economy from which we won't soon recover."
"The longer Republican voters continue making Trump the face of their party, the worse they'll do in future elections and the longer it will take for America to regain lost social and economic ground," he says. "A healthier and more viable party in the long run requires a better nominee."
San Diego, CA- Headquarters has just announced that Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente has qualified for three more states ballots. Voters in Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New York will see De La Fuente on the ballot for President of The United States GOP Primary. This marks the 20th state overall for which he has qualified.
Prior to this week's news, De La Fuente (better known as "Rocky") had already qualified in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Missouri, Utah, Vermont, California, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, Idaho, Massachusetts, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Delaware, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
"Sanford and Walsh have both dropped out of the race. That leaves me, William Weld, and Donald Trump as the contenders in the race. I am the only one to qualify in some of these states. I will be the only option for Republican voters who oppose our President," said Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente in an interview late Wednesday.
As the political environment shifts and appears to be more divisive than functional, De La Fuente's Chief of Staff, Angela Fisher, responded by saying, "Upon reviewing the data, it seems as though youth have aligned with our candidate. He has been fighting corruption within elections since 2016 and is a champion in fighting FOR all Americans. He believes all Americans deserve the same opportunities to achieve the American Dream."
Rocky often states that America is more than geography. It is more than political rivalry and theater. America was made great by providing and ensuring the freedom to build a dream. The American Dream is both the ideal and the workhorse that has made this nation and its people great.
He has developed the street smarts and common sense that will serve him in bringing transformation and practical solutions to the problems that Americans face. Just as Rocky battled in court for nine years and won the right to fly the American flag on a prominent landmark to honor our country, he will fight for the American Dream.
"Rocky" Roque De La Fuente is living proof that the American Dream can be achieved by those who are inspired to pursue it.
Direct Media Inquiries to: Angela (Fisher) Velasquez 727.490.9911 media@rocky2020.org
First-in-Race, GOP challenger to Trump; Qualifies to Appear on the Ballot in, First-in-Nation Primary State, New Hampshire
San Diego, Ca.- Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente has qualified to appear on yet another ballot. New Hampshire residents officially have a choice on February 11, 2019 as he becomes the first, and currently the only, Republican candidate to be listed on the ballot.
New Hampshire marks the 5th state Rocky will appear on the ballot. Campaign headquarters confirms that he will appear on the ballot in VT, DE, AL, NH, and CA and that they have submitted the required fees and/or documents, petitions or other; to qualify in CA, FL, UT, and GA.
Campaign manager, Alicia Dearn, replied to the announcement, "This campaign IS going to put any other primary challenger to the task. We will create fair laws whilst qualifying for the ballot in all 50 states and Washington D.C. It is time to level the field for all candidates of the future."
The campaign plan is aggressive and well-funded. The team has grown exponentially and expects to increase the pace. Alejandra, a national director on the campaign team said today, "We are committed to giving a voice to the fine people of these United States. Together We Are Stronger!"
De La Fuente is actively pursuing election reform. Having faced a wide variety of ballot access barriers, election anomalies, and election fraud in the past, he has the experience and wherewithal to confront the injustice and create meaningful change.
"Rocky" Roque De La Fuente is living proof that the American Dream can be achieved by those who are inspired to pursue it. He has an amazing record of success. From earning an FAA license to fly single-engine planes at the age of 20 to owning 29 automobile dealerships and becoming Chairman of the National Dealers Council for the third largest automobile manufacturer in the world by the age of 28, he's in a league by himself. He created a banking network in 1982 to help address Mexico's economic crisis and established impressive real estate holdings throughout the United States while creating thousands of new jobs along the way. In 1992, Rocky became the first Hispanic American to serve as a Delegate-At-Large for the State of California at a National Convention. He holds a bachelor's degree in Physics and Mathematics (Magna Cum Laude) and an honorary doctorate from UNESCO.
For more information, please visit www.rocky101.com; Interviews available
Direct Media Inquiries to: Angela (Fisher) Velasquez 727.490.9911 americanresolution@mail.com

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Convert SQL query/subqueries to LINQ Original:
select *, (PlanBasedOnDataUseage - CurrentPlanPricePerMonth) as MonthlyOverageInvoiceAmount from

(
Select *  ,

(select top 1 PricePerMonth from accounttypes where IsDeleted = 0 and AvailableOnline = 1
and  RecordsPerMonth > 0) as PlanBasedOnDataUseage
 ,
(select top 1 AccountTypeName from accounttypes where IsDeleted = 0 and AvailableOnline = 1
and  RecordsPerMonth > 0) as SuggestPlanBasedOnDataUsage
from
(
select
 ClientID, ClientName, ClientEmail, AccountOwnerName,
 AccountExpiryDate,
 DATEADD(day, DAY(AccountExpiryDate)-1,
 CAST(
  cast(YEar(GETDATE())as nvarchar(4)) +
  replace(str(cast(Month(GETDATE())as nvarchar(2)), 2), ' ', '0') + '01'
   as datetime)
 ) as MonthlyRollOverDate
 , AT.RecordsPerMonth as CurrentPlanMentionsMaxPerMonth
    , AT.AccountTypeName as CurrentPlanAccountType
 , AT.PricePerMonth as CurrentPlanPricePerMonth
 from clients C
 inner join AccountTypes AT on C.AccountTypeID = AT.AccountTypeID
 LEFT OUTER JOIN AccountOwner AO on AO.AccountOwnerID = C.AccountOwnerID
 WHERE
 AT.AccountTypeName not in ('Standard', 'Demo', 'Trial') and
 AccountExpiryDate > getdate()
  AND
  (
    DATEADD(day, DAY(AccountExpiryDate)-1,
     CAST(
      cast(YEar(GETDATE())as nvarchar(4)) +
      replace(str(cast(Month(GETDATE())as nvarchar(2)), 2), ' ', '0') + '01'
       as datetime)
     )

   >=
    --Monday Last Week
    dateadd(d, -7, DATEADD(wk, DATEDIFF(wk, 0, GETDATE()), 0))
  AND
    --Calc MonthlyRollOverDate
      DATEADD(day, DAY(AccountExpiryDate)-1,
       CAST(
        cast(YEar(GETDATE())as nvarchar(4)) +
        replace(str(cast(Month(GETDATE())as nvarchar(2)), 2), ' ', '0') + '01'
         as datetime)
       )
   <=
    -- THis Monthday
    DATEADD(wk, DATEDIFF(wk, 0, GETDATE()), 0)

  )
) as ClientsRollingOverThisWeek

) as ClientsRollingOverThisWeekWithRealPlanAttached

where (PlanBasedOnDataUseage - CurrentPlanPricePerMonth) > 0

A: You can use Linqpad to display the SQL output of LINQ queries.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


An upper low, well structured in WV imagery, affects the Iberian Peninsula during the forecast. This low gradually feels the influence of an approaching N-Atlantic trough, which results in a marginal speed-up of that low to the NE. At the same time, weakening is forecast and this trough will open up to a wave over France during the night.
Quiet conditions persist for the rest of Europe with strong ridging/surface high pressure in place. The progressive SW-erly flow over N-Europe results in unsettled weather with showers/sporadic short-lived thunderstorms. Marginal BL moisture and modest mid-level lapse rates preclude supportive CAPE build-up and therefore no thunderstorm area was added.
Questionable boundary layer moisture damps overall thunderstorm probabilities. However, surface dewpoints are forecast to increase a bit beneath plume of steep mid-level lapse rates, which may offer up to 400 J/kg MLCAPE over N-Spain. 0-6 km DLS remains at or below 10 m/s, so pulsating and short-lived storms are forecast. The main risk will be marginal hail with an isolated large hail event possible due to steep lapse rates and a cool and dry subcloud layer. This may also assist in a few strong downdraft events. Limited instability and weak shear preclude a level 1. After sunset, a cooling BL assists in a rapid decay of showers and thunderstorms.
Steep mid-level lapse rates mix northeastwards ahead of a cold front, which approaches NW France during the night hours from the NW. At the same time, a tongue of maritime air advects ahead of the cold front beneath those lapse rates. Also, a weak pre-frontal convergence zone sets-up from W-CNTRL France to NE France with weak forcing above. GFS again is the only model with more robust surface dewpoints recovery ahead of the front, whereas the rest of the models remain much more conservative. Some MUCAPE evolves over N-France but weak forcing prevents thunderstorm initiation. We can't rule out an isolated and short lived non-severe thunderstorm event over N-France, but expected coverage remains too sporadic for a lightning area.
We expanded the 15-% thunderstorm all the way towards SW-France, where EZ and GFS both indicate enough MLCAPE for an isolated thunderstorm event before 00Z.


Ultimately, I believe that love in and of itself is enough to satisfy our human need for connection and belonging. It is beautiful, fulfilling, enduring and infinite. However, I believe that love is simply not enough to sustain a relationship. My belief is that love serves as the foundation of a successful relationship, but it's the work of love that ultimately sustains that relationship. There's a distinct difference between the existence of love and the sustainability of a loving relationship.
What is the work of love? The work of love is the collection of conscious, continuous actions that are a direct reflection of the meaning of love for the two in partnership. In other words, the two must understand what loves means to each other and work DAILY to DO that love. The work of love is essential to sustaining a loving and committed relationship.
Now, I do think people should be honest with themselves (and their partners) and communicate their expectations and desires in a relationship. Some individuals are fine with commitment as the essential aspect of the relationship and they are less concerned about the presence of love. On the other hand, some are more focused on the daily presence of love and companionship, that they are less concerned about commitment. And there's no shade or judgment if that's what you want. With that stated, my perspective is rooted in my desire to be in a loving AND committed relationship.


text:
Fun With A Flag On Top - Lincoln Logs Review
I received this toy free for review, all views and opinions are my own honest evaluations. See Disclosure.
If you judge a toy by it's enduring quality and it's lasting fun, then nothing can stack up to Lincoln Logs. As a child I played with a set of Lincoln Logs and I remember how fun it was to stack them up and build what was a mansion in my eyes. When we received this Horseshoe Hill Station play set for review all those fun memories came flooding back to me. Excitedly tearing into the package I realized I should probably let my son play with them first. I was a good mommy and handed them over to let the Booper. He had a chance to experience the joy of building on his own before I jumped in and we built the station together.
We used the included directions to put the station together, then we found it was fun to create our own house so we had lots of extra pieces to build a fence for the horse and cowboy. As you can see from the picture above the Booper had to get down and walk the cowboy into his newly built ranch home. He had a great time taking the roof off so he could see the cowboy figure inside the house. Making his voice sound really deep in what I assume he thinks sounds like a cowboy the Boop said, "This is my house, and I like it!". We took the play outside so we could have plenty of light to see inside the buildings we made. This fun 83 piece set included the cowboy, horse, roof, door, and a flag (which was very important to the Boop).
It's not complete without the flag!
Good toys are fun alone, but some of the best toys know how to play well with others. Lincoln Logs can endure through all the new trends in toys because they have the ability to fit into your child's play. Like most boys the Booper loves cars and trucks. One day while playing with his cars an idea popped into his head...he needed garages! He came running to me with his box of Lincoln Logs and his cars and asked me to help him build garages. Together we made a simple "garage" for his toy cars, so he could easily roll them in and out as he played. It wasn't long before he could build this for himself, but he still asks me for help just to have a play buddy. I loved when the Boop stacked a few logs together and pulled up his car to the "gas station" complete with guzzling sound effects! His imagination always amazes me.
Lincoln Log "Garages"
From a child of the 80's and now my 3 year old son too, Lincoln Logs are built for fun with a flag on top!
For lots of toy news be sure to follow Knex brands on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.
Steph Comp January 22, 2016 at 7:44 AM
I love the garage. He should be proud of his house. He did a great job and had fun. The flag is just the cherry on top. :)
Sherry Compton


text:
The Role of Free Knowledge and Free Software in Education and Research
by Matt Lee — published Dec 15, 2008 — last modified Dec 16, 2008 05:46 AM — filed under: RMS Speech
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Christ University, Hosur Road. Room to be determined.
Free Software in Ethics and in Practice
Vancouver, BC, Canada. Room 101/102/201, George F. Curtis Law Building, 1822 East Mall. Richard Stallman will speak about the Free Software Movement, which campaigns for freedom so that computer users can cooperate to control their own computing activities. The Free Software Movement developed the GNU operating system, often erroneously referred to as Linux, specifically to establish these freedoms. This speach will be accessible to all audiences and the public is encouraged to attend.
Copyright vs. Community
by Matt Lee — published Dec 02, 2008 — last modified Jan 21, 2009 01:14 PM — filed under: RMS Speech
Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Room 2370, Murray Fraser Hall, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N.W. Copyright developed in the age of the printing press, and was designed to fit with the system of centralized copying imposed by the printing press. But the copyright system does not fit well with computer networks, and only draconian punishments can enforce it. The global corporations that profit from copyright are lobbying for draconian punishments, and to increase their copyright powers, while suppressing public access to technology. But if we seriously hope to serve the only legitimate purpose of copyright--to promote progress, for the benefit of the public--then we must make changes in the other direction. This speech will be the Annual Merv Leitch Lecture at the Faculty of Law. Admission is free and no registration is required.
The Free Software Movement
by Matt Lee — published Dec 02, 2008 — last modified Jan 06, 2009 10:15 AM — filed under: RMS Speech
Waterloo, Canada. University of Waterloo. Hagey Hall Theatre of the Humanities, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West. Richard Stallman will speak about the Free Software Movement, which campaigns for freedom so that computer users can cooperate to control their own computing activities. The Free Software Movement developed the GNU operating system, often erroneously referred to as Linux, specifically to establish these freedoms. This talk will be accessible to all audience and the public is encouraged to attend. Admission is free.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Room H-763. Room number and exact time to be determined. Richard Stallman will speak about the Free Software Movement, which campaigns for freedom so that computer users can cooperate to control their own computing activities. The Free Software Movement developed the GNU operating system, often erroneously referred to as Linux, specifically to establish these freedoms.
Troy, NY. Darrin Communications Center, room 308, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Richard Stallman will speak about the Free Software Movement, which campaigns for freedom so that computer users can cooperate to control their own computing activities. The Free Software Movement developed the GNU operating system, often erroneously referred to as Linux, specifically to establish these freedoms. This speech will be accessible to all audiences and the public is encouraged to attend.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. McInnis Auditorium, 2nd floor, Dalhousie Student Union Building, 6136 University Avenue. Richard Stallman will speak about the Free Software Movement, which campaigns for freedom so that computer users can cooperate to control their own computing activities. The Free Software Movement developed the GNU operating system, often erroneously referred to as Linux, specifically to establish these freedoms. This talk will be part of the Dalhousie Student Union Speaker Series.
by Matt Lee — published Nov 28, 2008 — last modified Dec 04, 2008 07:53 AM — filed under: RMS Speech
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Main Auditorium, Kerala University Campus, Kariavatton. Richard Stallman will speak about the Free Software Movement, which campaigns for freedom so that computer users can cooperate to control their own computing activities. The Free Software Movement developed the GNU operating system, often erroneously referred to as Linux, specifically to establish these freedoms. This speech will be part of the International Seminar on Democratic and Secular Education.
by Matt Lee — published Nov 24, 2008 — last modified Jan 06, 2009 06:47 AM — filed under: RMS Speech
Krakow, Poland. Building U2 (Centrum Dydaktyczne), AGH (Krakow Technical University), Ul. Reymonta. Copyright developed in the age of the printing press, and was designed to fit with the system of centralized copying imposed by the printing press. But the copyright system does not fit well with computer networks, and only draconian punishments can enforce it. The global corporations that profit from copyright are lobbying for draconian punishments, and to increase their copyright powers, while suppressing public access to technology. But if we seriously hope to serve the only legitimate purpose of copyright--to promote progress, for the benefit of the public--then we must make changes in the other direction. This talk will be part of the second edition of IT Giants in Kraków conference, Free Software for Free Thinkers.
Kolkata, India. Science City. Detailed location to be announced. Copyright developed in the age of the printing press, and was designed to fit with the system of centralized copying imposed by the printing press. But the copyright system does not fit well with computer networks, and only draconian punishments can enforce it. This speech will be part of the Freedom in Computer Technology - 2008 conference organized by Institute for Open Technology and Applications. The global corporations that profit from copyright are lobbying for draconian punishments, and to increase their copyright powers, while suppressing public access to technology. But if we seriously hope to serve the only legitimate purpose of copyright--to promote progress, for the benefit of the public--then we must make changes in the other direction.
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GNU Spotlight with Brandon Invergo: Sixteen new GNU releases!
LibrePlanet 2015: Day one roundup
Welcome to LibrePlanet 2015!
Obama and Congress go off the rails trying to fast track TPP


Ty Campbell – Tekin – Smaller, Smarter, Faster!
Meet Brad Perry. Outdoor recreational enthusiast. Photographer. Scale Ultra Zero Limits Award Winner. Brad picked up an RC vehicle a few years ago and ran with it. Literally, he runs miles upon miles with his Scale Ultra Axial Bomber through, up, down and over some of the most amazing terrain in the country. Pushing himself to the limits and doing what few in the world do with RC is a passion. The goal is miles and lots of them, as many as he and his rig can rack up. To power the adventures, Brad chose to run Tekin. Dependable, powerful and highly tunable are just a few of the advantages we offer the enthusiast and when you're counting on your equipment to hold up to the abuse of long journeys, we put in the time to develop the gear. To prove it, we teamed up with Brad to put our servos, ESCs and motors to the ultimate test. With close to 300mi racked up in just a few short weeks, Brad has the confidence his Bomber is equipped to go anywhere he chooses to go and he sure doesn't plan on taking it easy. His biggest accomplishment of the year to date happens to be the 58.2mi "Death Run". Check it out!
He happens to take some pretty OK photos out on trail also.
We got together with Brad to find out more about what drives him to strive for such extreme goals.
Brad: Most of my life has been spent in the outdoors and has revolved around extreme sports. When I was 12 I joined the Youth Climbing League and first learned how to climb. Around the age of 14 I got sponsored by factory GoPed for racing motorized scooters. At the same time I was really into riding BMX bikes and Rollerblading. That's around the time I first picked up a camera to document our escapades. Around 2005 when I was 19 I picked up and left the Bay Area and moved to South Lake Tahoe. I got a job at a ski resort where I could ski more than 100 days in a year. This is also the time I first started doing freelance photography work. In climbing I helped establish first ascents in bouldering areas all around Lake Tahoe. I also helped shoot photos for the Lake Tahoe Bouldering guidebooks. I worked both jobs for years until the spring of 2016 when I was able to take on photography as my full time job. I got a job shooting the Tahoe 200 ultra-marathon later that fall. Watching their drive and dedication was inspirational and I was hooked on long distance anything from that point on.
What got you into the RC hobby?
Brad: I kept getting injured climbing and needed something to do on my rest days. It was also fun to bring along when I would shoot landscapes because there is a lot of down time waiting for the right lighting. After attending my first Axialfest and learning about ScaleUltra and the 5k it sparked something. I left asking myself what trails can I do? How far and how fast can I go? I was hooked from there.
What is it about this segment of RC you enjoy the most?
Brad: The physical and mental correlation it takes. Trail running alone can be a difficult thing for some people to do. Your brain always has to be a few steps ahead of yourself so you don't trip and fall. Add in driving the truck at speed on difficult terrain and it becomes very mentally taxing.
Can you explain what Scale Ultra is?
Brad: On paper Scale Ultra is a race where a driver along with their truck has to survive a 5k run. To me Scale Ultra is so much more. It's an overall lifestyle to me and I love trying to push among the RC community. Taking on the "Ultra" side of it and trying to push the distance and capabilities of not just the truck but of myself. Setting FTK (Fastest Time Known) records on famous trails and summits and sharing them with the community.
Do you have any advice or tips for people that may want to get into the hobby?
Brad: Running isn't for everyone at first. Start slow and work your way up. Proper running footwear is key.
What is your favorite rig to drive?
Brad: That's a hard one but I do love my Axial Bomber. It's such a stable and strong platform to run with.
What made you choose Tekin to power your adventures?
Brad: The tight knit family feel of the team.
Any personal goals for 2018?
Brad: Here are a few of my smaller goals; do a run that has over 10,000ft of vertical climbing. Do over 70 miles in a single day. Summit the highest peak in Nevada. Do a 14,000ft peak in Colorado.
Brad is close to the 300mi mark for 2018 with his Tekin-powered Bomber. He runs a T-440 servo, RX4 and ROC412 4200kV Element Proof setup to push his rig over and through anything he happens to encounter. We will be tracking his adventures this entire year and watching the miles add up!
The Element Proof RX4 has proven to take water, mud and snow in stride and the Element Proof ROC412 line of motors are no different. Designed to handle whatever you can throw at it, these motors are pretty much ready out of the box to take on the trails. Sensor connections are the weakest link in any system that is going to see moisture, so we provide the proper dielectric grease with every RX4 and ROC412 EP motor.
The first step is completely optional and not necessary, but you can use M3 set screws to fill the 4 extra mounting holes in the motor's face plate. A small dab of blue thread lock will keep them in place.
The second step is to grease up the sensor connections. Put a good amount directly in the sensor port, don't be shy!
Next you should apply some grease to the sensor cable plug. The rear of the pins are somewhat exposed and need to be coated to avoid any shorting.
Plug the greased sensor cable into the greased sensor port. You can wipe away excess grease that squishes out or I use my finger and dab it around the plug edges. The more you can seal it up the better!
Last thing to do is install the motor and go play! It is highly recommended to disassemble the motor regularly to clean and dry components and oil the bearings if you play in the water often. A clean motor is a happy motor and happy motors keep trucks on the trail. Adventure your way!
RX4 Trail Prep – Tackle the Elements!
Plan on using your RX4 around some water, mud, snow or all of the above? Check out this short article with some helpful tips to protect your ESC!


Situated on 30 acres of beautifully manicured gardens and farmland, Parklands Resort & Conference Center Mudgee is the gateway to the Mudgee food and wine region. It is located only 1km from the historic township and sits at the start of the famous Mudgee food and wine trail with over 40 cellars. The hotel is the ideal place for business, leisure and special events. We offer the largest conference facilities in the Central West Region.
The Mudgee Region features fresh produce, delectable drink options.
Situated on 30 acres of beautifully manicured gardens and farmland, Parklands Resort & Conference Center Mudgee is the gateway to the Mudgee food and wine region.
With country resort style accommodation in the heart of Mudgee food and wine region, the hotel offers 68 rooms and suites situated on 30 acres of beautifully manicured gardens and farmland.
The Vine Restaurant and Bar offers the freshest local produce, classic country style meals and an extensive wine list from surrounding cellars. Relax by fireplace or enjoy the countryside from our terrace.
The Vine Bar offers an extensive wine list from surrounding cellars, light snacks and other refreshments.


DARK (Devils Angels Riders Klub) is a group of 150+ passionate superbikers with active chapters in Mumbai, Pune, Ahmednagar, Ratnagiri and Silvassa, and soon coming with many new chapters in various parts of India. Founded in 2012 by Samit Wadhawan, the All Zone Co-ordinator is Ryan Fernandes. The zonal admins for various regions are Anil Patil (Mumbai), Aditya Yadnapilay (Pune), Darshan Jain (Ratnagiri), Abdul Kadir: (Ahmednagar) and Vimal Panchal (Silvassa). With a tag line of 'If it's a Superbike, It must be DARK', the club members indulge in various rides and their most memorable ride was Riding to Goa for India Bike Week 2016.
The club members have supported various social causes like being associated with 'Being Human' Foundation, Road Safety awareness programs, Thane Safety Week fitness marathons etc. They recently participated in Triathlon, Thane - a Throttle supported event. The members have participated in events like IIT Techfest(Mumbai) and have inspired college students on the art of riding Superbikes with safety.


While slavery is still a thing, and stores are closing at record levels, it may perhaps be no surprise that thousands of people lined up in the blistering sun for the change of getting a low-wage physically-demanding job with Amazon. And while Federal Reserves official state that the economy is almost at full-employment, facts seem to indicate otherwise. Above, a video showing massive homeless camps in California.
The promise of $14 an hour is what drew Rebecca Dorman, 25, to the hiring fair. She has two jobs — at McDonald's and Save A Lot — but it's still difficult to make ends meet, she said.
A few yards away, Albert Wellons, 48, of Baltimore agreed. "There's just no jobs out there," he said.


text:
Home / Pregnancy / Pregnancy and Health
Drug addicted newborns: a national disgrace
By Robin Wulffson MD G+ May 1 2012 - 1:02pm
Opiates such as Oxycontin and Vicodin are potent pain killers that are frequently prescribed for patients suffering from chronic pain, cancer, or postoperative pain. Unfortunately, they are often abused either by individuals who have a prescription or obtain them from illegal sources. They also are highly addictive. Sadly, many pregnant women take these drugs during pregnancy. After delivery, the affected infants go through withdrawal, which may be fatal.
According to a new study by researchers at the University of Maine, the number of US newborns with drug withdrawal is on the rise because of the mothers' abuse of prescription medication as well as illegal substances such as heroin. They published their findings online on April 30 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
The researchers note that overdose mortality and dependence rates are highest among disadvantaged, young adults in rural areas in locations such as Maine and Kentucky. In addition, young women are almost twice as likely as men to abuse opiate medications. The result of this sad statistic is that among women who abuse the drugs during pregnancy, their newborns suffer from drug withdrawal, which has been termed the neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). The researchers note that the incidence of NAS in the United States soared from 1.20 per 1,000 hospital births per year in 2000 to 3.39 per 1,000 hospital births per year in 2009. The situation has impacted healthcare throughout the US, primarily for state Medicaid budgets.
To treat the affected infants, methadone treatment programs to control withdrawal symptoms have escalated. In addition, prescription monitoring programs have been implemented to identify opiate medication use patterns (i.e., opiate prescriptions are tracked and individuals who are "shopping" for physicians to prescribe opiates are identified). If infants do not undergo a methadone treatment program, they may require to long-term care for the resultant developmental and behavioral disorders; thus, placing an added financial burden on state resources. Even infants who undergo a withdrawal program may have long-term difficulties in critical regulatory areas of sleep, feeding, and autonomic function (the portion of the nervous system that regulates involuntary action in areas such as the intestines, heart, and glands).
The study points out that over the last decade, no improvement in NAS treatment efficiency has occurred (measured by length of stay (LOS)). In addition, during the same period, healthcare expenditures for NAS have increased. The investigators reviewed hospital complications of NAS infants, which concurred with previous studies that the syndrome was linked to increased rates of prematurity, respiratory disease, and seizures. They noted that opiate withdrawal is often exacerbated (worsened) by the mothers' use of other drugs during her pregnancy such as antidepressants and other psychiatric medication. They explain that the withdrawal from these medications is milder than opiates; however, the combined withdrawal complicates newborn care and often extends LOS. In addition, NAS Neonatal abstinence syndrome withdrawal severity affects adaptation to postnatal life in
The study authors reported that 60-80% of newborns exposed in utero to opiates develop NAS and require prolonged hospitalization, averaging 16 days; however, considerable uncertainty exists regarding the best treatment course should be for these infants. They note that hospitals and healthcare professionals are impacted by the increase in NAS incidence; thus, they can expend substantial efforts to develop improved treatment protocols.
Reference: JAMA
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text:
<?php

/* @var $this yii\web\View */
/* @var $form yii\bootstrap\ActiveForm */
/* @var $model \frontend\models\SignupForm */

use yii\helpers\Html;
use common\models\Image;
use yii\bootstrap\ActiveForm;
use common\core\lib\Constants;

$this->title = '修改企业信息';
$this->params['breadcrumbs'][] = $this->title;
$this->params['breadcrumbs'][] = ['label' => $model->username, 'url' => ['view', 'id' => $model->id]];
?>

                    审核状态

<?= Constants::getAudit($model->status) ?>

                    <?php
                    if($model->status == 2) {
                        ?>

                        未通过原因

<?= $model->deny_info ?>

                        <?php
                    }
                    ?>

                    <?php $form = ActiveForm::begin([
                        'fieldConfig' => [
                            'template' => '{label}
{input}{error}
',
                            'labelOptions' => ['class' => 'col-sm-2  control-label'],
                            'inputOptions' => ['class' => 'form-control']
                        ]
                    ]); ?>

                        ID

<?= Yii::$app->user->identity->id ?>

                    <?= $form->field($model, 'username')->textInput(['autofocus' => true]) ?>

                    <?= $form->field($model, 'company_name')->textInput() ?>

                    <?php // $form->field($model, 'company_tel')->textInput() ?>

                    <?= $form->field($model, 'contact_name')->textInput() ?>

                    <?= $form->field($model, 'company_tel')->textInput() ?>

                    <?= $form->field($model, 'license_num')->textInput() ?>

                    <?= $form->field($model, 'license')->fileInput() ?>

                        <?= Html::img(Image::getImage($model->license),['width'=> '200px', 'height'=>'200px']) ?>

                    <?= $form->field($model, 'organization_num')->textInput() ?>

                    <?= $form->field($model, 'organization')->fileInput() ?>

                        <?= Html::img(Image::getImage($model->organization),['width'=> '200px', 'height'=>'200px']) ?>

                    <?= $form->field($model, 'tax_num')->textInput() ?>

                    <?= $form->field($model, 'tax')->fileInput() ?>

                        <?= Html::img(Image::getImage($model->tax),['width'=> '200px', 'height'=>'200px','class'=>'col-sm-offset-1;']) ?>

                        城市

                                <select class="prov form-control" id="companyreg-province" data="<?= $model->province ?>" name="CompanyReg[province]"></select>

                                <select class="city form-control" id="companyreg-city" data="<?= $model->city ?>" name="CompanyReg[city]" disabled="disabled"></select>

                                <select class="dist form-control" id="companyreg-country" data="<?= $model->country ?>" name="CompanyReg[country]" disabled="disabled"></select>

                    <?= $form->field($model, 'company_address')->textInput() ?>

                    <?= $form->field($model, 'industry')->textInput() ?>

                    <?= $form->field($model, 'introduct')->textarea() ?>

                    <?= $form->field($model, 'id')->hiddenInput()->label(false) ?>

                        <?= Html::submitButton('确认', ['class' => 'btn btn-primary col-sm-offset-2', 'name' => 'signup-button']) ?>

                    <?php ActiveForm::end(); ?>

<?php

$upusername = Yii::$app->session->getFlash('upusername') ? 1 : 0;

$js = <<<JS

if($upusername != 0){
    layer.alert("账号以存在", {icon: 6});
}

var province = $("#companyreg-province").attr("data");
var city = $("#companyreg-city").attr("data");
var country = $("#companyreg-country").attr("data");
    $("#city").citySelect({
        prov: province,
        city: city,
        dist: country,
        nodata: "none",
        required: false
    })

JS;

$this->registerJs($js);

?>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Maga Lahi, located on the 1st floor, in the lobby area is perfect for mid-sized meetings, events and group activities that involve up to 50 participants. The large hall can be coordinated with tables/chairs, podium depending upon each groups request.
Located near Guam International Airport and Tumon Bay, Wyndham Garden Guam would be a convenient choice for all your special events. Whether you're planning a corporate event, business function or family reunion, we could arrange special hotel rates for groups requiring 10 rooms or more.
The Wi-Fi network is excellent here as with every part of the hotel and throws in capabilities – wired or wireless, to broadcast events internationally via the web or Telepresence or via similar technologies.


The elegant lakeside resort of St. Wolfgang in Austria saw the presentation, last Thursday (March 23), of the B-Racing RSLine team's 2006 attack on the international GT racing season - in front of over 300 guests, among them FIA GT supremo Stephane Ratel…. and never was there a dull moment – writes Johannes Gauglica.
With plenty of entertainment, music, and the sights and sounds of thoroughbred racecars, as well as some equally spectacular eye candy of the female variety, the ambitious evening's programme was pulled off in slick fashion, something that will hopefully continue throughout B-Racing's season.
The whole town received a Lamborghini "soundbite" when the Murcielago R-GT, with B-Racing test driver Bastian Kolmsee at the wheel, as well as other racecars and road cars prepared by Reiter Engineering, took to the street for a quick "concours".
We give long-time Reiter Engineering collaborator Peter Kox full marks for a series of very neat donuts with the GT2 Diablo, but we are quite convinced he broke a few traffic laws.
To reiterate, the B-Racing RSLine drivers for 2006 are Norbert Walchhofer (FIA GT and LMS), Ben Leuenberger (above, right - LMS), Christophe Bouchut (FIA GT), and (the bespectacled) Michele Bartyan (FIA GT); in the new FIA GT3 series, Andreas Mayrzedt of Austria will drive a Gallardo, with his team-mate yet to be announced.


text:
Could Hillary Clinton Be the Champion Campaign-Finance Reform Needs?
The former secretary of state is an unlikely reformer—which is precisely why she might be a particularly effective one.
Lawrence Lessig
Exactly fifty-five years ago today, Roy Wilkins, executive secretary of the NAACP, addressing the biennial convention of the American Jewish Congress, joined a growing chorus of liberal leaders effectively declaring a boycott against Lyndon Johnson's candidacy for president. Wilkins praised Richard Nixon and "all the Senator-candidates … except Senator Lyndon B. Johnson." Three months earlier, Americans for Democratic Action had declared "Johnson Rejected" in its editorial. As it quoted a Democratic member of Congress, "ADA, union officials and colored leaders may not have the votes to put a presidential candidate across at the convention, but they sure have the votes to block a man." Johnson was the man these groups would block.
The overwhelming sense of Wilkins' speech is "enough." The NAACP had just turned 51. Since its birth, it had seen great progress. But 95 years after slavery, it was finally time for America in general—and in the strong sense of the speech, the Democratic party in particular—to make equality of citizenship its central value. The bending to the political power of southern racists had to end. "Silence [by northern whites] under these conditions means tacit approval." African Americans were "finished," Wilkins declared, "with segregation." Both the "Republican and Democratic party platforms ... must ... speed first class citizenship for Negro Americans."
Subjecting Billionaire Donors to Scrutiny
Some Democrats today are in a similar place to where Roy Wilkins was in 1960. And for the reasons his movement had then, they too should say, "Enough."
The issue today isn't the racism of the old south (though obviously, if we must still remind ourselves that #BlackLivesMatter, racism remains a central issue for modern American politics). The issue is corruption. And not for some priggish, moralistic reason. Modern American political corruption has become the central mechanism by which the equality of citizens in America today is denied. And in modern America, it's not just African Americans who need to fight for an equal voice in our elections. It is all Americans—or practically all Americans.
For America has evolved a political system that gives to the tiniest fraction of the 1 percent unprecedented political power. Almost a century ago, Texas gave birth to the "White Primary," which explicitly excluded African Americans from the right to participate in selecting the candidates who could run in the General Election. Today, America has evolved a Green Primary, which effectively excludes 99.9 percent of Americans from the right to participate in selecting the candidates who get to run in both the primary and general elections. That selection is made through money, as candidates dance before their donors (just think of Marco Rubio dancing in the Sheldon Adelson primary), begging the rich to support them. Americans have thus allowed money to corrupt the basic commitment to equality of citizenship, just as they once allowed racism to corrupt the basic commitment to equality of citizenship. And unless at least one party stands up and defends a commitment to equality among citizens, that seems unlikely to change.
Yet this is becoming an increasingly difficult position for Democrats to take. The leading candidate in the Democratic primary for the 2016 nomination for president has become enmeshed in a welter of stories raising questions about the relationship between the public good and the private interests of herself and her husband, including their family foundation. First a book by Peter Schweizer, then a series of articles in The New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal, and now an investigative series by the International Business Times all raise the question of whether the Clintons have traded public position for private gain, and more troublingly, whether public policy has been bent by Clinton or those loyal to Clinton to encourage private gain.
The Clintons have responded to these charges by attacking their principal source. Schweizer is a conservative partisan, they insist. They have taken issue with specific charges: Clinton was not paid to give speeches in Ireland, the campaign has said. And they have also responded by insisting that no one has pointed to a "smoking gun." As George Stephanopoulos asked again and again it in a particularly harsh interview with Schweizer (before he had revealed that he himself was a donor to the Clinton Global Initiative), "Do you have any evidence that a crime may have been committed?"
This response is truly astonishing—as if the only legitimate question that can be raised about high-government officials is whether they have broken the law. I am quite certain that the Clintons have not broken the law. They are both brilliant lawyers. They are both surrounded by teams of brilliant lawyers. In my view, there is zero chance that any transaction happened in a way that could trigger the incredibly narrow regulations of "quid pro quo" bribery or influence statutes.
But to suggest that criminality is the only relevant standard is to betray an astonishing blindness to the core problem of corruption in America today. When Democrats rail against the influence of the Koch brothers, are they saying they believe the Koch brothers are criminals? That the Kochs have engaged in quid pro quo bribery with Republican representatives and members of the Senate? That if critics only looked carefully enough, they'd find a smoking gun? I certainly am not. Or when activists ridicule the Supreme Court's obliviousness in Citizens United to the influence of unlimited expenditures in American politics, is that because they are insisting the money is actually a quid pro quo? Because they believe that the only problem with this money is if there is a quid pro quo? Again, that's not my understanding of the problem with SuperPACs.
I fear Democrats have fallen into a fatal case of denial—fatal to the cause of winning in the 2016 election. Because the defense "we are not crooks" (The Clintons) will be no more effective than "I am not a crook" (Nixon). And the questions that have been raised not just by partisans but by an increasing number of reporters will be pressed again and again over the next 15 months until America can't miss that there's something deeply troubling here, even assuming that there is not a "crime."
The question is not whether Hillary Clinton is a criminal. Of course she is not. The question is whether she can carry the mantle of a reformer. Can she really stand above the cesspool that is Washington—filled not with criminals but with decent people inside a corrupted system trying to do what they think is good—and say, this system must change. And does she really see the change that's needed, when for the last 15 years, she has apparently lived a life that seems all but oblivious to exactly Washington's problem.
The great irony of Roy Wilkin's speech, of course, was that he was exactly wrong. The one man who it turned out could deliver to Americans a commitment to racial equality was the one man Wilkins said African Americans would not support. It is hard to read history carefully and conclude that anyone else but Johnson could have overcome the racists in the Senate, and pass the Civil Rights and then Voting Rights Bill. If Wilkins had gotten his way, Martin Luther King would never have glimpsed the Promised Land before he was killed.
But Wilkins was so wrong only because the stand he took was so right. African Americans and civil-rights activists set the bar that Johnson recognized he needed to clear. And so he cleared it. The skepticism about Johnson determined what success for Johnson would be. Once that target had been painted, the extraordinary ambition of perhaps America's greatest politician carried America to a place not even Wilkins could dream of.
The same could be true of Hillary Clinton. There is no doubt that she is by far the most qualified candidate running for President. No one has the experience that she has. No one has the depth of knowledge. No one has the personal insight to the incredible burden the office of the President is.
But Hillary Clinton has a Johnson problem. It is completely fair, on the basis of her record so far, for Americans to wonder whether she even gets the problem of corruption in America, and whether she recognizes its equality-destroying character. She wants to be the public "champion." But does she see what she must champion against?
If she is to staunch the slow bleed that is the inevitable consequence of the questions that continue to be raised, she needs to speak, clearly and powerfully, to demonstrate her recognition. Voters need to hear that she sees just why there is a problem with the mixture of influence that has surrounded her, her husband, and the Clinton Foundation. They need to be assured that those questions won't continue if she's president. Will her husband continue to take hundreds of thousands of dollars to speak in third world countries? Will he praise dictators while his friends sign contracts with their corrupt regimes? Will the empire-building end? Or will it just continue, now fueled with the influence of the most powerful office in the world?
And much more importantly, voters also need to see that Hillary Clinton understands the profound changes that America's democracy needs—not just with money in politics but with every flaw that denies Americans equal voice in their government. It is not enough to make cheap promises to push a constitutional amendment, as she has done. Reversing Citizens United alone won't fix the problem. Washington will not change until the economy of influence fueled by the lobbying-industrial-congressional complex is radically changed. And that won't happen until Congress changes the way campaigns are funded. To earn the public's trust now, Clinton must make the public funding of public elections the first issue in her presidency, just as Johnson made passing the Civil Rights Act the first issue of his administration.
It is 227 years since James Madison promised a "representative democracy" "dependent on the people alone," where "the people" meant "not the rich more than the poor." America should give that representative democracy a try.


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If you're anything like us Joes in the office, you probably haven't been able to snag yourself a pair of beautiful Yeezys. And much like us, that's probably left you sad. But while you might not be able to grab a pair you can wear, you can buy some Yeezys in air freshener form thanks to the lovely Joes at Sole Flavours!
Yes, you can now support Yeezus by purchasing the 'YZY' air freshener, which have been designed by Sole Flavours and Kick Posters. And guess what? They're a whole load cheaper than the actual thing.
The YZY fresheners are available in two packs; one is made up of the 'Turtle Dove' and 'Oxford Tan' colorways, smelling of 'Forest Fresh' and 'Juniper Breeze' respectively; while the other packs the 'Pirate Black' and 'Moonrock' silhouettes and smells like 'New Car' and 'Melon'.
You can get hold of the YZY air fresheners now at the Sole Flavours Website where they're being sold for £6 per pack. They also do some Nike and Vans air fresheners if Yeezys aren't your thing!