Policies

Ex-members of the IRA and the British military have rarely encountered each other since the 1998 Good Friday agreement brought to an end 30 years of violence that had claimed more than 3,700 lives. Four former members of the British army and four former members of the Irish Republican Army commenced a meeting that was intended to start a process of reconciliation among men who had once been the most implacable of enemies.

A state lawmaker in Missouri has proposed an earth-shattering bill: The Missouri Anti-Corruption Act, which would put an end to unlimited gifts from lobbyists by restoring campaign contribution limits, and also close other loopholes that lead to corruption. But, perhaps most surprisingly, it was a Republican who introduced this bill.

Over in Denmark, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries is working toward what has been deemed the ‘world’s most ambitious’ plan for surging organic food across the country. Excitingly, the new strategy involves doubling organic farming in order to serve more organic food in the nation’s public institutions.

NYC Police Commissioner Bill Bratton announced that possession of 25 grams or less of cannabis would no longer be an arrestable offense. As marijuana arrests become more lenient, and the acceptance of cannabis possession frees up resources for other pursuits for law-enforcement personnel, hopefully the state of New York will follow with its own laws accepting cannabis.

“Our love for each other is there,” Blanchard said. “We’re happy to finally have a legal paper to show we are who we are.” Blanchard, 54, recalled times in the past when strangers would drive by his home and yell gay slurs at him and his partner. “We’re still just people. We’re not any different than anyone else.”

In the area plagued by ‘taxation without representation’ that has affectionately become known as the District of Criminals – where the federal government and lobbyists make deals so shady it would make Al Capone blush – possession of marijuana has been legalized by way of a referendum during last night’s election.

On this episode of Breaking the Set, Abby Martin speaks with former Congressman and three time presidential candidate, Ron Paul, discussing his views on the ramifications of expanding the war against ISIS into Syria, how US foreign policy has exacerbated the growth of Islamic extremism, the hypocritical partnership with Saudi Arabia, and the marginalization of alternative views outside of the two party system.

Clearly the solution to destitution that leads to malnutrition and starvation is addressing the socioeconomic disparity that created it in the first place. But No. The monopolies that benefit from this disparity the most propose to feed the Third World with genetically modified gruel to make up for the fact that poor populations cannot access a normal, balanced diet.