Monthly Archives: July 2021

Social media censorship is a potent threat to freedom of speech – Washington Times

Posted: July 25, 2021 at 3:28 pm

ANALYSIS/OPINION:

On Thursday of last week, White House press secretary Jen Psaki revealed that the Biden Administration is actively monitoring Facebook to flag problematic posts related to the coronavirus for censorship.

In terms of actions [] that we have taken or were working to take, I should say, from the federal government. Weve increased disinformation research and tracking within the Surgeon Generals Office. Were flagging problematic posts for Facebook that spread disinformation, said Ms. Psaki.

The following day, the press secretary elaborated on the White Houses position, saying that users who post misinformation should be banned on every social media platform. When asked by a reporter, President Biden even went as far as to accuse Facebook and other social media platforms of killing people.

This coordinated attempt by the White House to dictate and coerce private companies into what can and cannot be published on their platforms is a blatant violation of freedom of speech. No matter where one stands on the subject of COVID-19 vaccinations or the pandemic, this merging of government and corporate power is undemocratic.

What makes this even more insidious is that de-platforming individuals on social media have proven to be highly effective in halting the spread of ideas in the public sphere. In a research paper published by the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism - The Hague, J.M Berger found that all available data points toward the effectiveness of suspensions and suppression for limiting the recruitment and propaganda reach of violent extremist organizations like ISIS.

Similar effects can be observed when de-platforming is targeted against far-right groups. A study found that Reddits decision in 2015 to ban various hate groups led to less hate speech on the site. It was found that users who participated in the banned subreddits left the site, while those who remained dramatically reduced their hate speech usage.

Deplatforming is certainly an effective tool when it comes to countering terrorist and like-minded extremist groups online. But the fact that this tactic is being used against individuals and organizations that do not fit these categories is a terrifying abuse of power.

Such a tactic has proven to be just as effective in manipulating mainstream electoral campaigns. One of the most egregious examples of this was when Facebook and Twitter censored the New York Post over the papers exposs about Hunter Bidens emails and corruption. In other words, social media platforms baselessly characterized the Posts investigative journalism as misinformation and blocked it.

This type of censorship significantly affected the 2020 presidential election. A news report from the Media Research Center shows that 17 percent of Biden voters would not have voted for the Biden-Harris presidential ticket if they knew at least one of the eight news stories that were suppressed by big tech and mainstream media outlets.

The danger lies in the fact that Psaki has yet to explain what the White House identifies as misinformation regarding COVID-19 vaccinations. This is especially pertinent, considering how Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris have made repeated statements undermining vaccine confidence during the campaign. The fact is that neither the White House nor Facebook has shown any desire to protect freedom of speech as an inalienable right.

Free speech is not an absolute human right, said Helle Thorning Schmidt, member of Facebooks Oversight Board and former Prime Minister of Denmark, at a Politico Europe event. It has to be balanced with other human rights.

Throughout the world, authoritarian regimes have repeatedly restricted access to the internet to control their citizens lives. The most recent example is Cuba, where the government shutdown of the web has made it harder for Cubans to organize against communist rule. With social media effectively becoming the new public square, state-sanctioned de-platforming by the Biden Administration must be viewed as a dangerously effective means of government coercion.

Bradley Martin is the Executive Director for the Near East Center for Strategic Studies. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter @ByBradleyMartin

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Why The Threat To Free Speech Suddenly Looks Much Bigger – The Free Press

Posted: at 3:28 pm

What do Donald Trump winning the presidency in 2016, the Capitol Protests on January 6, and Joe Biden missing his July 4th Covid-19 vaccination target all have in common?

According to many of todays left-wing politicians and media pundits, Facebook, and social media in general, are partially to blame for all three. Google Democrats blame Facebook, and youll see what I mean.

On the other end of the spectrum, Republicans blame social media for censoring their ideas due to a perceived anti-conservative bias. Unfortunately, banning former President Trump from all social media didnt help alleviate those concerns.

Many Americans no doubt long for simpler days where people logged onto Facebook to find old friends and play FarmVille and Mafia Wars, but I digress.

Both left and right agree on one thing, however. Social media is a significant battleground in shaping Americas political landscape. Seventy-two percent of US citizens of voting age actively use some form of social media, while 69 percent of Americans in the same group use Facebook alone, according to data from Socialbakers. Overall, 82 percent of the population in the United States had a social networking profile, which translates into 223 million US social media users as of 2020.

There is no question that social media companies and their platforms wield incredible power and influence, especially in journalism and the media. Back at the beginning of the pandemic, The New York Post ran an op-ed suggesting that the coronavirus might have leaked from a lab. Facebook stepped in and claimed that this opinion was false information.

Over a year later, Facebook decided that the lab leak hypothesis isnt conspiratorial and will allow stories and opinions on that subject to be shared.

The New York Post also published a story about Hunter Bidens emails before the last election. In response, Twitter and Facebook both limited the storys reach and ultimately locked the NY Post Twitter account for about two weeks before reversing its decision. The New York Post is not some no-name conspiratorial blog. The paper was started in 1801 by Alexander Hamilton and has more than 2.2 million Twitter followers and more than 4.4 million Facebook followers.

Later in front of the Senate Judiciary Committees hearing regarding censorship and suppression on social media during the 2020 election, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey admitted that the censoring of the Hunter Biden story was a mistake.

In both instances, social media companies took it upon themselves to be the arbiters of truth, and in both cases, their decisions proved to be wrong.

Social media is also incredibly effective in amplifying individual voices and helping to coordinate collective action. This is why totalitarian governments such as China severely restrict social media and the internet. Its also why Cuba completely shut off the internet in response to anti-government protests.

But that could never happen here in the United States, right?

Unfortunately, its not beyond the realm of possibility that an American tech company could consider censorship as a good business model, whether for profit or self-preservation. One prime example of this comes from Google and the development of their heavily censored Chinese search engine dubbed Project Dragonfly. After The Intercept broke the story, Google eventually canceled it due to extensive pressure from employees and even Congress.

There are calls for Big Tech and Big Government to work even more closely.

The NSA wants Big Tech to build back doors into the encryption technology used by various tech firms. Others are openly praising Chinas censorship of the internet, stating that the Wests model of free speech is obsolete compared to Chinas.

When governments and private businesses begin to act in concert and move in lockstep, we risk bringing George Orwells 1984 into reality. Theres a name for this, a term weve heard screamed from the rooftops throughout Donald Trumps tenure in politics.

Fascism.

But dont take my word for it, lets hear from Benito Mussolini himself, who stated the following in his Labour Charter of 1927:

The intervention of the state in economic production takes place only when private initiative is lacking or is insufficient or when political interests of the state are involved. Such intervention may assume the form of control, assistance, or direct management. (emphasis added.)

Many people in government today, on both sides of the political aisle, feel that the states political interests are most definitely at stake when talking about social media. President Trump recently sued Big Tech, claiming that his removal from social media platforms amounted to state action.

Meanwhile the White House made the startling admission that they are flagging problematic posts for Facebook that spread disinformationBiden claims Facebook is outright killing people,and have identified about 12 people that are producing 65% of anti-vaccine information

Let me reiterate that point. The government has identified 12 individuals who they deem problematic and have reported them to a private company for speech they have classified as misinformation.

This comes on the heels of Facebook testing new Anti-Extremism warning prompts, informing users that they may have been exposed to extremist content while also asking users if they are worried about a friend who may be becoming an extremist. Its not a coincidence that these pop-up warnings come after Bidens attorney general testified that White supremacists are the most serious domestic terror threat facing the United States.

Beyond that, the Biden Administration is considering partnering with private firms to monitor extremist chatter online. The definition of extremism, and who gets to define it, is a question that should concern everyone.

While private companies should be free to enforce their terms of service, it would appear that they are being coerced and pressured to bend to the governments will. There is still a wall, however fragile, between Big Tech and US Intelligence agencies. Free speech as we know it depends on that wall holding.

So what are some answers? First, let me identify what I do not see as solutions.

On the social media front, the answer to this problem should not come from government legislation or regulation but rather from creating both a free market and free speech environment that fosters competition and lowers barriers to entry; however, that wont be enough.

As individuals, we have to decouple ourselves from the centralized nature of social media and begin to move back to a decentralized model, similar to what the internet looked like at its inception.

The internet of the past was primarily individual websites, or blogs, unshackled from the constraints of social media. We are so used to logging into Facebook as a one-stop-shop for our content or searching for an app in Apple or Googles App stores that we forget we still have a web browser on our phone.

Companies like Substack are also popping up for independent writers and journalists to publish their content and get paid for it (outside of the censoring eye of social networks). And then, there are protocols like LBRY, a blockchain-based file-sharing and payment network that powers decentralized platforms, primarily social networks and video platforms. LBRYs creators also run Odysee, a video-sharing website that uses the network.

While the content on Odysee is moderated to remove videos that promote violence and terrorism, it is a model for what a decentralized internet could look like.

The First Amendment states that Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech. As we have learned, private companies are under no such obligation. However, they can (and should) play an essential role in creating a culture that reinvigorates the spirit behind the First Amendment.

James Madisons original First Amendment draft, which overall was much more descriptive than the one that ended up in the Bill of Rights, gives a little more insight into what he was thinking on this subject. It reads in part:

The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their right to speak, to write, or to publish their sentiments

Doesnt that sound like a modern-day Facebook post?

The digital newsfeed has replaced the public square, and Big Tech, whether they like it or not, has a responsibility to help to facilitate the free exchange of ideas.

Its also worth noting that in both the original and final versions of the First Amendment, theres no qualifier excluding misinformation. The founders understood that unpopular opinion and information was the most important kind of speech in need of protection. So much so that many wrote under pseudonyms for their safety.

The digital newsfeed has replaced the public square, and Big Tech, whether they like it or not, has a responsibility to help to facilitate the free exchange of ideas.

In the final analysis, American social media companies base their entire business model around monetizing individual self-expression. They can and should serve as champions of free speech, especially when confronted with government pressure.

Adam Johnston is a libertarian-conservative writer and contributor to freethepeople.org (@FreeThePeople)

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Letter: Who is the fascist here? | Letters | theworldlink.com – Coos Bay World

Posted: at 3:28 pm

The ancient Romans had a symbol of power called a "fasces." It was a bundle of rods tied together with an axe facing outward. The modern definition of "fascism" is "a government system with strong centralized power, permitting no opposition or criticism" and a "fascist is a person who is dictatorial."

In a recent letter, a person used their free speech to write about 14 people who travelled to Washington on January 6 and implied that something should be done about them (freedom of travel). The Family Faith and Fun event attendees should not get a pass (freedom of association, freedom of religion). A man is criticized for circulating a petition and being elected to office (freedom of speech and freedom to vote for his opponent). A radio host is criticized (freedom to change the dial). A band that is playing a genre of music the person does not like should not get gigs at the county fair (right to work and freedom of speech and freedom to go to the animal barns or the carnival rides).

So, someone wants to place limits or "do something about" people and ideas they do not agree with. Our country is strongest when we listen to each other and work together and cooperate with each other. So, who is the "fascist" here? I spent a year in Vietnam and three years in the Air Force as a Race Relations Officer and have never been as disturbed as I was by that letter, yet I am glad to have spent the time in the service to allow the person to write it.

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Tales from the Coffeeshop: Threat of UN words and free speech – Cyprus Mail

Posted: at 3:28 pm

DJ VU. We appeared to have engaged in some time travel in the last week and returned to the eighties when high anxiety gripped the country over the wording or punctuation of some UN statement or resolution and we mobilised all our diplomatic weapons and our Soviet friends to prevent the Turkophile West, led by the perfidious Brits, from shafting us.

World affairs have changed since then but we returned to the UN for support, which experience has shown counts for nothing, after Turkeys man in the north Ersin Tatar announced the opening of 3.5 per cent of the fenced-off area of Varosha, in the presence of his lord and master Erdo, and invited Greek Cypriots to apply to return to their properties.

The Turk-loving Brits, being the UN penholder on Kyproulla, behaved as they did in the eighties and drafted the statement of UN Security Council presidency that expressed concern about the announcement on Varosha without mentioning Turkey or the Turkish Cypriots. We were stabbed in the back, once again, but some friendly countries Ireland, India and China helped us out.

They expressed objections to the first draft and the second draft, while the Yanks reportedly also wanted a stronger statement so Britain backed down and a third draft that condemns the announcement in Cyprus by Turkish and Turkish Cypriot leaders was finally approved.

It was another diplomatic triumph, which by condemning Turkey by name ensured nobody in the world would think it was Kazakhstan that was opening Varosha.

THE REACTION was also eighties style with the CyBC playing nothing else, which was a small mercy as it drastically downplayed its Covid fearmongering. Suddenly, the wording of a UN statement posed a greater threat to our society than the unvaccinated.

Phil relived the Brit-bashing days of the eighties, with the front-page banner headline British life-jacket for Turkey on Friday. On Saturday it reported that London proved, yet again, the bad demon of the Cyprus issue with the games the British played in the UN with the aim of Turkey and Tatar not being accused and for a text that was tailor-made to Turkeys agenda to be adopted.

Peculiarly, Mother Russia did not come to our rescue this time, like the Soviet Union used to do back in the good old days. Russia, according to reports from New York, expressed no objection to the Brits unacceptable first and second drafts. The CyBCs Trito presenter in conversation with the New York correspondent about this dismissed the lack of any objection from Russia because Russias principled stand is a given.

It gets worse. The Russian foreign ministry appeared to have taken a leaf out the book of our bad demon in its official announcement about Varosha, avoiding mentioning Turkey or the Turkish Cypriots by name and restricting itself to expressing serious concern about rather than condemning the unacceptable, possibly, unilateral actions.

The announcement fully satisfied our good demons local cheerleader-in-chief, former foreign minister Erato Kozakou Markoulli, who tweeted We thank Russia for unwavering support, deemed significant in view of British efforts to taint provisions of resolution.

TO SHOW the natives that it was pro-active and divert attention from another fine mess he and Prez Nik had landed us in our foreign minister called the ambassadors to brief them about the governments stance. First Nikos Christodoulides briefed the ambassadors of the five permanent members of the Security Council and then those of the EU countries.

Christodoulides, accompanied by an entourage of minions, adopted a sad and sombre look and told EU ambassadors, in a rather dramatic tone, that this was the worst day for Cyprus after the invasion. He said the government would ask for the calling of an extraordinary European Council to discuss the Varosha move and then asked that each member-state condemn Turkeys action separately rather than consider they were covered by the EU announcement.

He also warned that if we did not receive adequate EU support Kyproulla would not back any proposal for sanctions against third countries. Then he asked for questions, but there was silence, which had never happened before. No ambassador expressed support to the government either. Only the third in line of the French embassy (the ambassador had attended the meeting of the P5) got up to talk and give his governments support. We cant even blame the bad demon, who has departed the Union, for this lack of solidarity from our EU partners.

MEANWHILE our political leaders have embarked on a patriotic campaign to make any Famagustan contemplating applying to the immovable property commission feel guilt for betraying the national cause.

The national council scaled new heights of hypocrisy by saying the Varosha announcement dealt a big blow to the prospects of the resumption of the talks for securing a comprehensive settlement based on the resolutions of the UN, international law.. Prez Nik, Diko, Edek and Elam are suddenly crying because the talks for a settlement they do not want will not resume.

And while they respected the individual right to property and acknowledged nobody could prevent it being exercised a prospective application to the so-called commission carries serious risks in relation to Turkeys goals. Famagustans who applied, in short, would help Turkey realise its goals. Havent our politicians already done that?

THE TURKISH invitation was a trap, politicians have warned. But even if there was a 50 per cent probability that it was a trap, there was also a 50 per cent chance of returning to or being compensated for their properties, which is a much bigger probability than the zero per cent offered by Prez Nik and the rest of our politicians. It is not that much of a gamble.

Retired Famagusta judge Giorgos Arestis in an emotional outburst on Trito also took the trap line, telling his fellow townspeople that the Turks would not allow anyone to return but most probably offer compensation that was much lower than the value of the property they might offer 100 grand for a property worth one million he said.

It did not cross his mind that the property if a Famagustan avoids falling into the Turkish trap and dutifully waits for a settlement is worth nothing.

WE SAW the police state in action when it arrested epidemiologist Dr Elpidoforos Soteriades on Monday not because he had taken part in the appalling violence at the Dias groups palatial premises but for speaking at the Sunday demo outside the presidential palace and challenging the Covid truth-speak.

Soteriades, who has questioned Covid restrictions and the efficacy of vaccines, was released on Friday after being charged with illegal assembly, conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor and violating the quarantine law. Dissent is not permitted in a police state.

While a flood of statements were issued by parties and organisations to condemn the violence at the Dias offices as an attack on freedom of speech there was not a word of protest about a man being arrested for exercising his right to free speech. The only person to publicly protest against the arrest was the crackpot Bishop of Morphou whose support must have been an embarrassment to Dr Soteriades.

PREZ NIK was so moved by what had happened at Dias on Sunday he decided to pay a visit the next day to see the damage caused and underline his commitment to free speech. The state would not tolerate such actions and would not allow the media to be silenced, he trumpeted.

The highlight of the visit was the performance of the Dias supreme boss Zeus Hadjicostis, who menacingly waved his finger at Nik angrily telling him this is your last chance to prove you exist, presumably seeking action by the state.

Zeus was not wearing a face mask when he greeted the prez, who was. Have the police fined him or is Zeus exempt? If anything it should be a premium fine for putting the head of state, who is in the vulnerable category, at Covid risk.

MASTER of all forms of diplomacy and foreign minister Christodoulides appears to have added energy to his portfolio. On Friday he signed an MoU for cooperation in the oil and gas sector with Lebanons Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Zeina Akar. Why hadnt our Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry Natasa Pilidou, who, as her title clearly states, has the energy portfolio, signed the MoU? Has Christodoulides decided to anoint himself Minister of Everything that Generates Positive Personal Publicity?

WHENEVER presidential elections approach the name of lawyer Marios Eliades is heard as a potential candidate. Although it is always heard, he has never been a candidate. Speaking to a friend, recently, Eliades told him that he hoped to stand in 2023. When his friend told him that he would be too old by the then, the wrong side of 75, Eliades replied, dead seriously: I will be the Joe Biden of Cyprus.

ON TUESDAY morning, on the way to work I decided to stop at my local greengrocer to buy a bunch of glistrida (sorry but I do not know the English name) to cut into my packed lunch of koucha (broad beans). At the door a man asked to see my SafePass. I got out my phone on which I had a scan of my vaccine certificate, but before I could press anything it went dead because it needed charging.

I decided to go back home to get the actual certificate because having koucha with glistrida was worth the inconvenience. I returned with the card and was allowed in but the glistrida was all gone. The moral of this Patroclos fable is if you want to buy glistrida always keep your vaccination card on you.

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Two dozen cars lead parade in Creswell to protest fines related to Fourth of July parade – The Register-Guard

Posted: at 3:28 pm

Proud Boys organizer Joseph Biggs charged in Capitol riots

A self-described leader of the Proud Boys was charged for his role in the Capitol riots; authorities said Joseph Biggs encouraged other extremists.

Staff Video, USA TODAY

About two dozen cars carrying a fraction of the hundreds who attended a controversial Fourth of Julyparade gathered Saturday to lead another procession through Creswell and down Oregon Avenue to pass by City Hall.

People gathered to demonstrate and protest the fines two organizers received for the parade July 4, which was held without a city permit.

The organizers of that parade were each given two citations a $50 fine for organizing and participating in the parade and a $2,500 fine for "soliciting or confederating to violate an ordinance."

Read more:

Proud Boys help lead unpermitted Fourth of July parade in Creswell, drawing hundreds

Creswell Fourth of July parade organizers fined, including one affiliated with Proud Boys

A flyer announcing the protest encouraged people to bring their flags, their vehicle and their "American spirit."

"If you have to ask permission, are you really free?" the flyer stated.

Attendees mingled on West Lane near the old Foster Farms plant for about an hourbefore about two dozen cars wove through a neighborhood and through town, driving slowly and honking their horns.

They flew American flags and flags supporting former President Donald Trump and police and held signs reading "A law repugnant to the Constitution is VOID" and "Mostly peaceful protest."

Writing on vehicle windows called the parade an exercise of free speech.

One woman used a megaphone during the parade to encourage people to read the Bill of Rights and protect freedom of speech.

A Lane County Sheriff's Office deputy talked briefly with attendees as they were staging for the parade and then left, but seemed to track the progress of the parade an hour later.

Sgt. Marvin Combs, the on-duty sergeant, told The Register-Guardpeople were making a lot of calls to dispatch about the parade. But as of 2 p.m., about two hours into the parade, he said he wasn't aware of anything that presented a criminal issue for law enforcement.

Contact city government watchdog Megan Banta at mbanta@registerguard.com. Follow her on Twitter @MeganBanta_1.

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Conservative leaders say Biden admin is ripping the U.S. Constitution to shreds in scathing open letter – Fox News

Posted: at 3:28 pm

Media top headlines July 22

In media news today, Politico and CNN writers criticize Nancy Pelosi's rejection of GOP picks for riot committee, a former Google consultant give his opinion on how to combat misinformation, and WaPo's Josh Rogin says 'Fauci was wrong' about denying NIH funded Wuhan 'gain of function' COVID-19 research

A group of conservative leaders declared President Joe Bidens administration is "ripping the U.S. Constitution to shreds" in a scathing open letter that demands the White House and federal government be fully transparent about all actions to restrict speech.

"Its assault on Americas freedom of speech is terrifying. It is the hallmark of dictatorships," the letter obtained by Fox News said.

The Biden administration said last week it was working with Facebook to flag what it considers misinformation related to coronavirus, raising significant free-speech concerns.

"We, the undersigned, demandBig Tech firms immediately and publicly announce that they will not comply with calls from the federal government to censor dissenting viewpoints. Not on COVID-19 and not on any other topic.Furthermorewe call on those companies to resist further demands for such outrageous censorship of dissenting voices," the letter said.

FORMER GOOGLE CONSULTANT: GOVERNMENT CAN HELP COMBAT MISINFORMATION, BUT NOT THE WAY BIDEN IS DOING IT

"The Biden administration is guilty of violating the mostbasic fundamentalprinciples of a free and open society. President Joe Biden shockingly claimed Facebook is killing people because it doesnt completely censor its site in ways the administration approves. Though he later backed off this claim a bit, multiple members of the administration are moving to quash free speech on social media following that autocratic rationale," the letter continued. "Those who comply and do not speak out are guilty of being complicit in a creepy and repugnant form of Orwellian thoughtcrime. We are fast approaching the nightmarish reality of 1984 or worse."

Indeed, Biden walked back his comment and declared it was a handful of Facebook users who are "killing people" by spreading misinformation.

The conservative leaders led by Media Research Center president Brent Bozell demanded "the White House, the federal government and private entities be fully transparent about all government actions to restrict speech," while adding its also the responsibility of Congress to limit the federal governments attempts to "bully or intimidate" private entities to control free speech.

"Our First Amendment was written to protect all speech, not just what the Biden administration deems safe and socially acceptable," the letter said.

TWITTER EXPLODES AFTER PSAKI URGES BIG TECH TO UNITE ON BANS FOR MISINFORMATION SPREADERS

The letter ends by declaring the group will "do everything legally in our power to resist that egregious overreach" if the federal government does not immediately cease and desist from its actions to coerce private companies to quash free speech in the United States.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Young Americas Foundation president Gov. Scott Walker, Leadership Institute Morton Blackwell, Citizens United president David Bossie, AFAC director of government affairs Sandy Rios, Tradition, Family, Property, Inc. president Preston Noell III, presidential historian Craig Shirly, NSIC Institute founder Kevin D. Freeman, American Target Advertising president of corporate affairs Mark Fitzgibbons, Constitutional Congress, Inc. chairman J. Kenneth Blackwell, The Martin Organization founder Rod D. Martin and president Christina Murphy Lusk are among the conservative leaders to sign the letter.

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Conservative leaders such as Heartland Institute vice president JimLakely, LifeNews editor Steven Ertelt, Western Journal founder Floyd Brown, American Experience president John Hinderaker, Raven Strategies president Christie-Lee McNally, Eagle Forum chairman Anne Schlafly Cori, American Principles Project director Jon Schweppe, American Principles Project president Terry Schilling, ConservativeHQ managing editor George K.RasleyJr., WND vice President David Kupelian, Rio Grande Foundation president Paul J. Gessing, Family Research Council president Tony Perkins, International Organization for the Family president Brian S. Brown and Human Events publisher Will Chamerlain also signed the letter, in addition to many more prominent figures.

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Basic income guarantee pilot scheme for the arts sector

Posted: at 3:28 pm

The Government has committed to prioritise a basic income guarantee pilot scheme for artists.

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin said this was the number one recommendation from the sector through the Arts and Culture Recovery task force.

The Minister described the pilot scheme as "unprecedented support" and said it would involve a significant number of artists.

The National Campaign for the Arts described the news of the basic income pilot as a "historic milestone" for artists and arts workers and said it was a reflection of a nation that truly and authentically understands and supports the artistic process.

Chair of the NCFA, Angela Dorgan said that after five years of lobbying, by NCFA members past and present, "myself and the steering committee are thrilled to see a Basic Income pilot for artists and arts workers included in the Economic Recovery Plan 2021".

"We look forward to seeing the details of the pilot as they emerge and continuing to input and advocate for our community," she said.

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Basic income guarantee scheme to be piloted for artists

Posted: at 3:28 pm

A scheme guaranteeing a basic income for artists is to be piloted as part of the Governments economic recovery plan.

Minister for the Arts Catherine Martin announced on Tuesday that she had secured a Government commitment to prioritising the scheme.

Ms Martin said a proposal for the pilot scheme would be developed by July in partnership with Minister Heather Humphreys of the Department of Social Protection.

This was the number one recommendation from artists and the sector through the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce Report Life Worth Living, she said.

It is an unprecedented move and the pilot scheme will involve a significant number of artists.

We recognise that bold steps are necessary for our invaluable and much treasured arts community to come back stronger than ever before.

The Minister confirmed that a separate new fund of 11.5 million for the entertainment industry, including festivals, conferencing and large events, was agreed at Cabinet today with Tnaiste Leo Varadkar.

The Events Sector Covid Support Scheme (ESCSS) will support SMEs which are not eligible for the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS).

Ms Martin also said the new Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS) will open for the live performance industry on June 9th.

The payment is targeted at helping bands, musicians, suppliers and music businesses, with payment levels ranging from 2,500 to 5,000 dependent on business turnover and costs.

Crucially, the plan specifically recognises the unique challenges that have been faced by sectors

Ireland

Recovery plan: PUP to be cut, business supports an...

A separate 5 million in funding to support live music in villages and towns across the country has now also been released for local authorities, Ms Martin said following the Cabinet meeting.

Amounts of 285,000 are now available to Dublin local authorities, and 143,000 to other local authorities, to facilitate the programming of outdoor live performances over the summer months.

The Minister said the national economic recovery plan included tens of millions of euro in ongoing support for sectors such as tourism, hospitality, live events and the arts.

Crucially, the plan specifically recognises the unique challenges that have been faced by sectors such as tourism, the events sector, Gaeltacht, sports, arts and culture and media, and sets out a package of supports that are being put into place to safeguard and stimulate these sectors, she said.

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Basic income guarantee scheme to be piloted for artists

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Inflation Is Something to Be Concerned About Now – Daily Signal – Daily Signal

Posted: at 3:27 pm

Inflation has been accelerating this year, and it isnt hard to see why.

Government spending has been so overwhelming that even former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers, a Democrat, said recently:

We are printing money. We are creating government bonds. We are borrowing on unprecedented scales.

Those are things that surely create more of a risk of a sharp dollar decline than we had before. And sharp dollar declines are much more likely to translate themselves into inflation than they were historically.

Summers foresees the rise in inflation harming the poor the most. Others at risk include savers and people on fixed incomes.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which keeps track of inflation, reported July 13 that inflation was 5.4% in June, the highest percentage jump since 2008.

Inflation has been increasing on a seasonally adjusted month-over-month basis at an accelerating rate also, as the following graphic shows.

The Heritage Foundations Index of Economic Freedom contains ample evidence from around the world that widening deficits and a growing debt burden erode a countrys economic vitality by stripping its people of their economic freedom and condemning them to the mercy of government edicts and orders that prevent them from using their own ingenuity to thrive.

The U.S. has fallen to 20th place in the world in economic freedom, out of 178 countries rated. We are now in the middle rankings of the mostly free countries, our lowest ranking ever, and thats almost entirely due to our treacherous decline in fiscal health, which is calculated based on government debt and deficits.

The U.S. fiscal health score in the 2021 index is a very poor 34.9 out of 100. By contrast, the five countries making the cut as economically free have an average fiscal health score of 91.4.

Unsound government fiscal positions have often disturbed macroeconomic stability and induced economic uncertainty in countries around the world.

If fiscal health was the only consideration in ranking economic freedom, the U.S. would rank only 152nd in the world out of 178. The fiscal health score alone would put us in the economically repressed category.

The U.S. deficit in the 2020 fiscal year was a record $3.13 trillion, 122% higher than the previous record of $1.41 trillion set in 2009. To make matters worse, spending in the first nine months of fiscal year 2021 was 5.8% more than the first nine months of fiscal 2020.

Trillions of dollars more in deficit spending is being sought by policymakers on nonessential items, such as the newly coined term human infrastructure, an abomination that treats humans as nothing more than a cog in a societal machine.

In addition, as Heritage Foundation President Kay C. James has said:

This new definition of shovel-ready infrastructure includes massive amounts of corporate welfare, a huge expansion of Medicaid benefits, federal rules to undermine right-to-work laws across the country, a Civilian Climate Corps that would use billions of taxpayer dollars to fund legions of environmental activists, and billions in subsidies for buying electric vehicles.

But redefining language is nothing new for the left. When it cant win public opinion with the truth, it changes the meanings of words to trick the public into its way of thinking.

Its time the Biden administration stops pretending that inflation is not happening. Economic freedom is not automatic, nor a given, and government must limit its debt and deficits if we are to preserve our fundamental liberties.

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UPDATE 2-Brewin’s funds at another record as crisis spurs investment planning – Reuters

Posted: at 3:27 pm

* Shares up 2% on the midcap index

* Companys total funds up 6.5% at 56 bln pounds

* CEO says growth will ease in current quarter (Adds CEO comments, share move)

July 23 (Reuters) - Another quarter of robust inflows helped British wealth manager Brewin Dolphins total funds reach a fresh record, but its boss said the rate of growth will likely slow in the current quarter as people go on vacations after months of virus curbs.

After a 6.1% annualised growth in net flows in the three months to June, Brewin CEO Robin Beer told Reuters that it would be unlikely to achieve that in the current quarter as Britons go on holidays after the so-called Freedom Day earlier in the week when all pandemic restrictions were lifted.

Brewins gross discretionary fund inflows were 1.3 billion pounds ($1.79 billion), marking the second straight quarter of record money coming in, of which over 70% was from new clients.

Vaccination drives, a clearer economic outlook and a surge in savings during lockdowns have encouraged people to commit to investment planning, helping money managers post record funds under management.

Brewins net inflows came in at 700 million pounds for the third quarter of its fiscal year ending in September, boosting total funds by 6.5% to 56 billion pounds - breaking an earlier record of 51.4 billion pounds as of March.

Shares in Brewin rose 1.6% to 359 pence by 0949 GMT, taking year-to-date gains to nearly 18% - outperforming the wider index .

Beer expressed confidence that the momentum will continue into next financial year as face-to-face meetings have resumed, increasing the chances of signing new clients who might have been reluctant to trust someone with their money over virtual meetings.

He also told Reuters on a call that even as restrictions ease and peoples discretionary spending goes up a bit, the health crisis and months of being locked down in their homes have made people realise the importance of financial planning. ($1 = 0.7271 pounds)

Reporting by Muvija M and Aby Jose Koilparambil in Bengaluru; editing by Vinay Dwivedi and Philippa Fletcher

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