Citizens' Daily Lobby

This is an important issue, and I’ll quote directly from Move On rather than trying to paraphrase.

Big news: according to reports, Google is about to cut a terrible deal with Verizon that would end the fair, open Internet as we know it.¹

The reported Google-Verizon deal would allow giant corporations to control which websites load quickly and easily on the Internet and dump everyone else onto an Internet slow lane. This is exactly the kind of unequal playing field that Google itself has opposed in the past.²

We only have a few days to stop it, so we’re launching a grassroots protest calling on Google to scuttle the deal. Will you sign our emergency petition to Google? Click here to sign:

http://pol.moveon.org/google/?id=22383-17217716-aeXBmWx&t=4

The petition says: “Google: Say no to the reported agreement with Verizon to kill Net Neutrality and the open Internet.”

The Internet was founded on the principle that all data is equal—and that no corporation should be able to decide whose data goes faster or slower. It’s this principle, called Net Neutrality, that has made the Internet such an amazing platform for individual speech, democratic action, and entrepreneurial creativity.³

And until now, Google—which uses the corporate motto “Don’t Be Evil”—has been a staunch defender of Net Neutrality.⁴ But now, Google is threatening to turn the Internet into a closed, pay-to-play, cash cow for large corporations. This move is evil, and Google knows it.

Here’s why this is a big deal. President Obama’s new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair initially came out strong for Net Neutrality, in line with the President’s campaign promises.⁵ But the big telecom companies launched a lobbying frenzy, and soon the FCC was meeting with them behind closed doors.

Because Google and Verizon are two powerhouse corporations that have historically been on opposite sides of this issue, an agreement between them will put enormous pressure on the FCC to go along with their recommendations. Essentially, two giant corporations may be deciding the future of the Internet—if the Obama administration goes along, and if the public doesn’t push back right away. Click here to help stop them now:

http://pol.moveon.org/google/?id=22383-17217716-aeXBmWx&t=5

Google was once a champion on this issue—Google chief executive Eric Schmidt once attacked “phone and cable monopolies” who “want the power to choose who gets access to high-speed lanes and whose content gets seen first and fastest.”⁶

But today’s news stories report that under the new deal, Verizon could be allowed to give some sites preferential treatment. Even more ominously, it appears that Verizon would have free rein to discriminate on the mobile Internet (smartphones, cell phones, etc). Since that’s where most people will access the Net going forward, this would essentially spell the end of Net Neutrality.

Google has issued a short, carefully worded statement challenging some of the details in The New York Times story, but it hasn’t denied that it is going along with this agreement to kill Net Neutrality.⁷ So much for “Don’t be evil.” Will you sign our petition today and tell Google not to be evil on Net Neutrality?

http://pol.moveon.org/google/?id=22383-17217716-aeXBmWx&t=6

Thanks for all you do.

–Kat, Justin, Carrie, Steven, and the rest of the team

1. “Google and Verizon Near Deal on Web Pay Tiers,” The New York Times, August 5, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/technology/05secret.html

2. “Google Just Killed Net Neutrality,” Gizmodo, August 5, 2010
http://gizmodo.com/5605310/google-just-killed-net-neutrality

3. “Network Neutrality Fact Sheet,” Common Cause, April 6, 2010
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87794&id=22383-17217716-aeXBmWx&t=7

4. Google Investor Relations: Code of Conduct, accessed August 5, 2010
http://investor.google.com/corporate/code-of-conduct.html

5. “FCC Chair Proposes Net Neutrality Rules,” Digital Daily, September 21, 2009
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=87795&id=22383-17217716-aeXBmWx&t=8

6. “Google Just Killed Net Neutrality,” Gizmodo, August 5, 2010
http://gizmodo.com/5605310/google-just-killed-net-neutrality

7. “Google Denies Priority Internet Access Deal With Verizon,” PC Magazine, August 5, 2010
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2367436,00.asp

If you think politics should be for people (the old fashioned, biologically embodied kind, that is) add a few more corporations to your boycott list.   Other corporate donors to Minnesota Forward, the conservative PAC making headlines for its support of Tom Emmer,  are the Regis Corporation (mall salons), Best Buy, and Securian Insurance.

I think those of us boycotting these corporate donors need to make our position very clear.  We are not boycotting to protest corporations buying conservative candidates.  We are boycotting because we do not believe corporations should buy ANY candidate in any election.  Period.

If you are one of those people who firmly believe your dollar is better spent at Target than at WalMart, you might want to reconsider.   Target is taking advantage of the Citizens United decision, and the corporation is casting its vote with the far right in Minnesota.  The corporation contributed over $150,000 dollars to Tom Emmers, GOP candidate for governor.  Emmers is a poster child for the Moral Majority, or whatever they are calling themselves these days.   He is anti-gay rights and supports Arizona’s  new, draconian immigration law.  His campaign donated to a Christian punk rock group that is on record as saying executing gays is moral.  With 7 kids, Emmer’s not just anti-abortion.    (Can I get an “every sperm is sacred?”)

Target joins 6 other companies that gave at least $100k to the GOP backed political action committee Minnesota Forward. The group freely admits that it is made possible by the Citizen’s United case, and that the group will support pro-business candidates. Story here.   Is it any secret that for-profit corporations are going to support the GOP?   Private industry over government over the individual is the rule of thumb for the free market.

Our ability as private citizens  to influence the government is inversely proportional to the amount of corporate cash flowing into campaign coffers.   It is vitally important that citizens take back their power.  Vote with your dollar to keep corporations out of government.  Shop locally owned small businesses.  Let the megaretailers know you will not give one single dollar of your income to them until they leave government to the people.  Start with Target.  Boycott Target today.   You may join the protest at MoveOn.org.

If you are interested in hearing first-hand accounts of the oil spill tragedy in the Gulf,  come out on Thursday to the Gulf Voices Fly Out event at the Oyster Bar.   From Audubon Arkansas:

Clean Energy Works is hosting the Gulf Voices Fly-Out in order to share the personal stories of the devastating effects of the Deepwater oil disaster with communities and members of the press across the country.

Four Gulf Coast residents directly affected by the disaster will be traveling to Arkansas for approximately 24 hours in order to educate the people in the state about the effects of the oil disaster on business, health and ecosystems. The public is encouraged to attend.

The disaster in the Gulf affects real people whose stories resonate across the country. These Gulf Coast residents are seeing firsthand how America’s dependence on oil and other fossil fuels hurts our economy, our environment and their unique way of life in the Gulf. The worst environmental disaster in our nation’s history is happening in our backyards. The environmental, economic and human costs that come with our continued dependence on dirty fossil fuels is too high for our communities to bear any longer.

What: A roundtable discussion and media availability.
When: Thursday, July 15th at 11:00 AM
Where: The Oyster Bar
3003 West Markham Street
Little Rock, AR 72205-5853
Who: Rick Roberts, Executive Director, Snook Foundation (Sarasota, FL)
Linda Hawkins, Health Care Professional (ret.) (Abita Springs, LA)
Linda Schuch, Owner, Island Seafood Market (St. Petersburg, FL)
Joe Morris Doss, Bishop, Episcopal Church (New Orleans, LA)

The role of government subsidy of industry, if any, should be to support important, but struggling industries, or to bring new industries into an area.   Currently, government subsidies often work as huge handouts, in the form of tax breaks, to profitable corporations.  Big Oil is no exception.  Even while earning record profits, these corporations have enjoyed tax breaks totaling as much as $45 billion a year.   BP received $225,000 a day by writing off the rent on the Deepwater Horizon rig.

Climate Progress sums up the situation nicely.  “So, essentially, the U.S. taxpayer paid BP to lease a rig that was incorporated in a foreign country for the purpose of avoiding the U.S. corporate tax.”

It’s time to let Congress know the American taxpayer is tired of subsidizing the wealthiest corporations on the planet through tax breaks.  Write Senators Lincoln and Pryor today.  CREDO is circulating this petition that you may sign on-line as well.  (Please note that Sen. Pryor requires a letter through his website as he does not accept petitions and letters from outside groups.  Cut-and-paste works well, but please add a personal touch.)

“At a time of soaring deficits and record unemployment, there’s no excuse for giving Big Oil a $35 billion bailout. I call on my elected officials to end the Big Oil Bailout by repealing all dirty fuel tax breaks and investing the money in green jobs instead. We have to get serious about supporting new, clean energy companies and breaking our addiction to oil.”

According to USA Today, Wal-Mart continued to sell the now-confirmed toxic Mylie Cyrus line of jewelry in spite of known test results that demonstrated high levels of cadmium.   A separate line of bracelet charms was also determined to be contaminated with toxic levels of cadmium.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. had learned of cadmium in the Mylie Cyrus jewelry, as well as in an unrelated line of bracelet charms, back in February, based on an earlier round of tests by a chemistry professor, but had continued selling the items. It said as recently as last month that it would be too difficult to test products already on its shelves.

In its statement, Wal-Mart did not say whether it would also remove the bracelet charms.

The bad press did have a positive result.  Wal-Mart will now test items that are “already on the shelf,” and it is pulling the Mylie Cyrus line.

Albeit on a smaller scale, this is exactly the corporate mind-set exhibited by BP and TransOcean in the Deepwater Horizon disaster.    If  the bottom line is more important than the health of our children, one should not be surprised that  the health of the environment is taken so lightly.     Wal-Mart portrays itself as the friend of working -class families, bringing them goods at rock-bottom prices.    Willingly leaving toxic items on the shelf to be marketed to children is not the action of a benefactor.

The current limit for corporate liability in cases like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill is capped at $75 million.  The estimated cost of clean-up and restoration is already estimated to be close to a billion dollars.    That’s going to leave the US taxpayer holding the bag for over 90% of the clean-up.  It’s time that corporations are held accountable for their mistakes.    The risks of doing business should be borne by the corporation, in exchange for the privilege of doing business.  That privilege amounts to about $14 billion dollars of profit yearly for BP.  Transnational corporations should not be allowed to create environmental disasters in this or any other country without making full restoration.

You can take action today by signing a petition at Firedoglake asking the Senate to end the liability cap.

When a company like BP conducts reckless projects that destroy our environment and our communities, they should assume full liability for their actions and be held financially responsible for paying any damages.

The current liability cap on companies who pose such a threat to our collective safety and livelihood ultimately puts taxpayers on the hook for cleaning up someone elses mess.

We, the undersigned, demand the Senate eliminate the liability cap and force companies to pay for their disasters in full.  Taxpayers cannot be expected to bailout another irresponsible corporate giant.  We need accountability in business now.

Progressive groups like CREDO are calling on the Obama administration to take action against BP for the alleged negligence and incompetence that led to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.    Although the current liability cap is set at a measly $75 million, less than BP makes in profits in a single day, the EPA could sanction the oil giant by suspending its contracts to the tune of billions of dollars in lost revenue.    There’s ample reason to do so, according to CREDO.

Prior to the current Gulf spill, EPA had linked BP to at least four instances of criminal misconduct and BP has paid tens of millions in fines for environmental crimes. According to the public interest investigative journalists at Pro Publica, the EPA is considering re-evaluating BP and determining whether the company’s actions leading up to and following the Deep Horizon spill are evidence of an institutional problem inside BP that would qualify for debarment action.

You may sign a petition here urging the EPA to sanction BP.

BP isn’t the only company that should be in the spotlight.  TransOcean, the company running the Deepwater Horizon rig at the time of the explosion, is planning to pay out dividends worth a billion dollars to shareholders.   18 Senators, including our own Mark Pryor and Blanche LIncoln (yes, that’s Murkowski Amendment Blanche) signed a letter demanding an investigation of TransOcean, which, incidentally, will make an additional $270 million dollars in profit off the insurance policy on the rig.  The Senators claim the rig was insured for more than it was worth.  Full story at Politico.

Meanwhile, the Obama administration is balking at Democratic requests to raise the liability cap on  oil-drilling corporations to $10 billion or higher, according to the Huffington Post. Decisive action by President Obama on this issue would resound with voters of all but the most rabid Right persuasion.  Sainthood would be within his grasp if he assumed leadership and demonstrated that the United States is in control of the Louisiana Gulf Coast and clean-up efforts, not BP.  Handing over the Louisiana beaches, the livelihood of thousands of Gulf-coast families, and the welfare of a fragile ecosystem to a trasnational corporation isn’t helping his image right now.

With all the well-deserved negative press BP is getting over its irresponsible behavior in the Gulf, one would think the company would give 100% effort to resolving the problem.   Not so.  Shareholders still rule, and getting the job done cheaply is still more important than getting the job done well.  Think Progress reports that BP chose to buy an oil dispersant known to be among the least efficient and most toxic.

Of 18 dispersants whose use EPA has approved, 12 were found to be more effective on southern Louisiana crude than Corexit, EPA data show. Two of the 12 were found to be 100 percent effective on Gulf of Mexico crude, while the two Corexit products rated 56 percent and 63 percent effective, respectively. The toxicity of the 12 was shown to be either comparable to the Corexit line or, in some cases, 10 or 20 times less, according to EPA.

So far, the company has put over 400,000 gallons of this stuff in the water.   The product comes from Nalco, a former BP subsidiary, and a company that still has close executive ties to BP.   To make matters worse, the formula for Corexit is proprietary, and it’s difficult to predict what long-term effects may be.

It’s time not only for a boycott of BP, but for consumers to take back the environment and their health from megacorporations.  Consumers have a right to know what’s being put into the Gulf of Mexico.  We have a right to know what’s being put into the ground closer to home here in Arkansas, in natural gas fracking operations around the state.

In spite of the recent hoopla over job exportation, the fact of the matter is that so-called free trade was supported by both sides of the proverbial aisle, and came to full fruition during the Clinton years.  Unless a candidate specifically says s/he would do something about job exportation, s/he probably won’t.  What’s more, “doing something” about the problem is bigger than any one candidate or even one party,  thanks to the international treaties that are involved.   Bill Halter points fingers at Lincoln for voting for free trade agreeements, but doesn’t make it explicitly clear that he opposes these agreements.   (If I’m missing something, please chime in.  My view is that Halter’s views on Labor put him a far better position than Lincoln on this issue to begin with).

The latest news on this front, coming hard on the heels of heavy rhetoric and a racist commercial from Americans for Job Security, is an upcoming Whirlpool plant closure in Indiana.  The AFL-CIO has started a petition drive urging Whirlpool to “keep it  made in America.”  (The group should target retailers with the same message).  You may sign the petition here.  The move by Whirlpool, recipients of $19.3 million in stimulus funds last year, will involve 1100 jobs in Indiana.