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    • Jan 1, 2020
    • 8 min read

Bisbee Wire #22

Updated: Jan 12, 2020

editor: Fred Miller      December 29, 2019     #22 December 2019

Hello,


The end of the year usually brings lists of what happened the past 12 months and the last decade this year. Clearly there is far too many important events to single out a few things or a few peeps. However in Bisbee the year began in turmoil that had adverse administrative and fiscal ramifications, stayed in turmoil as various issues teed off various peeps/groups, and has ended in turmoil that has the citizenry shouting at the council about paws, parking, and punitive regulatory ramifications. In short; another normal Bisbee year.

Please set your bullshit meter on high cause it is, ta da! election year. I hope to have a overview, well maybe an underview, of local, county, state, national political races in a 'political' issue sometime in the next month or two. Also in the year there will be more on the Bisbee economy, business buzz, and the many cherry picked articles designed to inform, inflame, and illustrate that knowledge is powerful, facts matter, and action gets results.

It has become clear that most repugnicans have willfully,  skillfully, and shamefully sold their creepy souls for a few pieces of silver and crumbs of power trying to lead us into the chaos of modern Fascism. There has never been a dictator that has risen to power without the legal and legislative compliance of elected and appointed politicians. Historically, the US has been relatively immune to the siren song of despotism. However the McSallys, McConnells, and many others at the national, state, and county levels are providing the legislative cover for the nefarious Ditzy Donald, and his third rate sleazy scammers that are stripping away our rights and personal and environmental protections, while stealing our tax money. They have never been more effective.

Whew! That was a lulu of a rant.

This is truly a watershed year in our national history. I sincerely hope that you will, in whatever way you can-become active or more active-and help do the many things that can contribute to a more humane and just community.

In the meantime, new possibilities, endeavors, and personal development signal that Hope for Better remains fresh in a new year.

fred DAVE BARRY'S YEAR IN REVIEW

Hopefully you'll be able to read this without a sub.  He remains one of the funniest guys around. https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/2019/12/29/dave-barrys-year-review/?arc404=true


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POLITICS

JUST DO IT

Wherever you live in Arizona, whatever you do for a living, whoever you support at the local, state, or national level, or even if you haven't started making up your mind yet, your help is needed to make a difference.  

These suggestions come from civic engagement. beyond voting. http://www.cebv.us

Some of what you can do: Go to a meeting (either party) of your legislative district. Don't know what district you're in? Check HERE. Then Google will help you find your local LD group. (PS--if you're an Independent or NP (no party), go to both and see which is most compatible with your values.)Sign up to be a Deputy Registrar to register people to vote. Here's a LINK to Maricopa Co trainings on Dec 31 and Jan 9. If you're in another county, check your county recorder's site. Think of an organization you believe in, and check their Facebook page for events. For example, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is having tons of introductory events all over the state. Follow your AZ legislators on Twitter. Don't know who your legislators are? Find your legislative district and then find your Senator HERE and Representative HERE. While you're at it, add their names, emails & phone numbers to your phone.Did you know you can sign many Arizona candidates' petitions online? Go HERE--and drop $5 in the pail to qualify them as a Clean Elections Candidate. Donate to your most local candidate--school board, town council, county supervisor, mayor, anyone SUPER local who you'd like to see making decisions that affect your daily life. They do! (And you don't have to donate much) Then put a local candidate's sign in your yard to show you support your local candidates, and inspire others. Find a petition to Outlaw Dirty Money and sign it. Then take one sheet and ask others to sign


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REQUEST TO SPEAK AT THE LEGE This is valuable for tracking what the repugnican dotards are doing to us. It is an avenue for getting our voices heard; commenting on and tracking legislation in committees and on the floor. The 2020 Legislative Session will convene on Monday, January 13, 2020. RTS runners are at the Capitol frequently setting up RTS accounts, and we will let you know as soon as your account is created. We will also send instructions and helpful links, and you will receive the Legislature Weekly (Iyer Report). Go here to register so you can comment on proposed bills, write your legislator, and https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScdjBMoAJrjHD57GGegmdUCKAowcr93K4vQA6a7_AjyElBtrQ/viewform & &


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EUREKA! A CALENDAR FOR POLITICAL EVENTS STATEWIDE

This is an invaluable source for meetings and events. Post, read, go. https://azresist.info/


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A PROGNOSIS FOR DEMOCRATS


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AN ANALYSIS OF REPUGNICANS AND DEMOCRATS

More on trying to explain the mainstream political parties and whether they are changing or just being more vocal about who they are. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/what-unites-republicans-may-be-changing-same-with-democrats/

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THE CONTREMPTS OF THE RULING CLASS ABOUT TARIFFS

The pleonastic language of this paper from the Federal Reserve illustrates the discussion and division within the ruling sector about Ditzy Donald's tariffs.  The disruption of supply chains are impacting profits and investment leading to stagnation and unemployment in key industries. https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/feds/files/2019086pap.pdf

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91 MEGA-CORPORATIONS PAID NO TAXES IN 2018

Amazon, Cheveron, IBM and Corporations pay much less tax thanks to Ditzy Donald. https://itep.org/corporate-tax-avoidance-in-the-first-year-of-the-trump-tax-law/

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THE CORPORATE CON

We already know large (and small) corporations are cuting worker bennies in order to make more money, this article offers examples of corporate lying. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/dec/29/boeing-amazon-business-ethics-robert-reich?utm_term=RWRpdG9yaWFsX0d1YXJkaWFuVG9kYXlVUy0xOTEyMjk%3D&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=GuardianTodayUS&CMP=GTUS_email

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And this from https://popular.info ...There is a yawning gap between the publicly stated values of powerful corporations and their political activities. A paper published by Harvard Business School (HBS) this month concludes that corporations have "funded, perpetuated, and profited from political dysfunction."

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DEVOS IS SUCCEEDING IN FAILING PUBLIC SCHOOLS


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ARIZONA TAX BREAKS FOR CORPORATIONS...NO OVERSIGHT,

ZILCH FOR EDUCATION

A legislative committee responsible for oversight of hundreds of millions of dollars in income tax credits has not met since 2015. How have those tax credits worked out? It was hard to tell when members gathered for a rare meeting ...

...The panel of lawmakers asked how many jobs Apple created at a Mesa data center constructed with the help of a tax credit. Officials from the Arizona Commerce Authority couldn't answer.

How much water are farmers saving with a tax credit to encourage irrigation efficiency? No clue on that, either.

And lawmakers could not calculate how many students received help with private school tuition costs under a $6 million tax break intended to aid children with disabilities or living in foster care.

"We're really not getting much out of you guys," Rep. Pamela Powers Hannley, D-Tucson, told a duo of officials from the Arizona Commerce Authority, which manages some of the state's tax incentives. The state offers more than 50 income tax credits, which added up to around $600 million during the fiscal year that ended in mid-2018. Critics of the state's list of tax credits argue this is money Arizona's government is giving up instead of spending on other pressing concerns, such as public schools or roads.Some are well-known, such as the family tax credit. Other credits are used by one or two businesses — or by no one at all. But many of these credits do not include any performance measures, leaving lawmakers with a dearth of data to analyze whether these breaks are fulfilling a purpose or are just ways to skip out on paying taxes.

Democrats and Republicans alike on the Joint Legislative Income Tax Credit Review Committee expressed their puzzlement with a system that is something of a black box."How do we as the (elected officials) know the law we passed is being implemented as we said it should be?" state Sen. J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, wondered aloud.


Who benefits, and why info is limited

Some data from the state's myriad tax credits are confidential due to taxpayer privacy rules while other data are kept secret for proprietary reasons. Some potentially important figures seem to be unavailable simply because no one has ever asked. Apple, for example, is the only company the state has approved to use a particular tax credit for facilities with renewable energy.

The state will not disclose the cost of the tax credit, though it is worth up to $5 million a year. And while the Arizona Commerce Authority has approved Apple under criteria set out as conditions for receiving the credit, the agency says it cannot share some details with the Legislature, such as the number of jobs created at the facility....

...Meanwhile, 108 taxpayers used a tax credit to pay for water-saving agricultural equipment at a total cost of $2.7 million last fiscal year.Those using the credit must submit a plan to the federal government, but the state is not gathering data on how much water the program is saving or whether the plans are worthwhile.

The committee voted to require data on water savings as part of the credit. Mesnard said he would sponsor legislation during the coming session to include the requirement in law. The committee also voted to end two tax credits that it appears few taxpayers are using.


DIGITAL DEALS

NEW YORK TIMES HAS A DEAL FOR DIGITAL SUBS

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TECHNOLOGY

WHO IS WATCHING YOU?

This guide to Digital Privacy from Consumer Reports is invaluable in helping understand how much of your personal data is being given/taken from you and then resold and offers some ways to stop the theft. https://www.consumerreports.org/privacy/who-is-watching-you/ ........................ PRINTING A HOUSE IN 24 HOURS

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A BUNCH OF SHORTCUTS FOR THE IPHONE

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EVERYTHING ELSE

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BEST OF. THE GUARDIAN LONG READS

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RETURNS TO AMAZON TIPS

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ART AS AN ECONOMIC DRIVER

Unfortunate title, but quite interesting article. Thanks to JB for this. https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-rise-of-the-rural-creative-class?utm_source=pocket-newtab

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ORGANIZATIONAL BUY BACK OF  MEDICAL DEBT

RIP Medical Debt, a nonprofit started in 2014 by two former debt collectors, uses donations to buy large bundles of medical debt for pennies on the dollar. Collection agencies typically sell debts for a fraction of the cost to bill collectors, who then pursue the original amount. It takes roughly $100 to erase $10,000 worth of debt. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-12-25/eagle-rock-church-erases-medical-debt-poor-los-angeles-county

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