stacking the deck

STOP, LOOK, LISTEN! by Kathy Sherretts

The wrestling over the Senate tax bill is underway, and it seems that any form it finally takes will result in a bigger wealth gap. Don't forget to write to your senators and representatives and tell them what you think their priorities should be as this bill is debated.
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For those of you who feel guilty about the sheer amount of time you spend absorbing all the political detritus from the US, here's a fun new way to get your politics and improve your Spanish at the same time: Slate Magazine's new "Gabfest en Español: I had never heard the phrase "tragarse el sapo" before—but it's perfect!

Kathy Sherretts

Article:
The Conversation: Why we need to save the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau by Jeff Sovern, Ann L. Goldweber, and Gina M. Calabrese
Before Congress created the bureau in 2011, consumer protection was rolled into the missions of a bunch of different agencies, where regulators often gave it a back seat. The CFPB is under attack from Republican members of Congress who want to lift bank regulations or eliminate the agency altogether. 

Board Game:
Preitauer Black History Collection: Blacks and Whites, the Board Game from Psychology Today
In 1970 Psychology Today published a board game where players were divided into white and black, and had to make economic progress while competing with each other. Based on Monopoly, the idea was to demonstrate how the odds were stacked against black people by having different rules for each race in the game.

It’s worth noting that the original version of Monopoly itself, called ‘The Landlord’s Game‘, was designed to demonstrate how the current economic system led to inequality and bankruptcy.

Graphic:
The Washington Post: Facebook Ads the Russians targeted at different groups by Dan Keating, Kevin Schaul and Leslie Shapiro
Based on Facebook's user preferences .Russian data experts tried to influence voter behavior and exploit divisions in American society on hot-button issues. Did you see any of these ads or messages during campaign season?

The anniversary of the 2016 election is Wednesday, Nov. 8. Join us to raise a glass at Merchant Pub in celebration of the fact we've survived a whole year of the new abnormal. And watch the video by American Resistance Sevilla's own Karen McCann: Post-Election Stress Disorder: Should You Be Worried?
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For more ways to take action check out the action plans put together by PAGE (Progressive Action Global Exchange), Americans of Conscience, and Indivisible; or join/watch session 3 of the Fall 2017 Resistance School sessions: Theory of Change with Jessie Ulibarri. It will be alive this Thursday at 7 PM EST. (A little late for Spain, but you never know.) You can also watch it later at the Resistance School website.