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New York Times

Republican Party, Emmanuel Macron: Your Friday Evening Briefing New York Times That was the question the morning after the bill's passage. Democrats say they'll capitalize on anger over the bill to take back the House in 2018. That's why they sang Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye) during the vote. And they were speaking from ...

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Republican Party, Emmanuel Macron: Your Friday Evening Briefing - New York Times

A liberal journalist went on a Twitter tirade late Friday over the Republican plan to replace Obamacare, calling for family members of Republicans who voted for the bill in the House to die.

Kurt Eichenwald, a senior writer for Newsweek, decried the American Health Care Act in a Twitter rant on Friday. He said he hopes that every Republican congressman who voted for Trumpcare has a family member get a long term condition, then lose their health insurance and die. Image source: screenshot

Eichenwald added that he wants Republicans who voted for the bill to feel its alleged effects in their own families:

When challenged why he was wishing ill upon the families of Republicans, Eichenwald doubled down. He told a Twitter user that he wants GOP congressman to be tortured because they only gain empathy when something bad happens to them.

Because I want them to be tortured. GOPrs only gain empathy when they are touched by the consequences, never before, Eichenwald wrote.

Eichenwald added in reply to another user: I wish it on the ppl who chose it for me. Why should they not feel the consequences of their inhumanity?

Eichenwald later explained that part of his rage stemmed from Republican congressmen allegedly celebrating the passage of the Obamacare repeal bill.

They want to drink beer celebrating killing people? Then it should be their loved ones who die, he tweeted.

However, the allegations that GOP congressman celebrated the bills passing with beer isnt true at all, despite claims by politicians, media members and celebrities.

Still, in a long, 482-word statement to the Daily Caller, Eichenwald expressed his outrage with Republicans, who he said need to feel the effects of the AHCA.

He said:

The only way people incapable of empathy will understand reality is when they face it. So yes, to save millions, I think the people who inflicted these consequences on strangers should see the consequences up close and personal.

The goprs in congress didnt just send out a tweet wishing for me to face my own death. They actually voted to do it. If people dont give a damn about the consequences of what they do, they should face those consequences. They shouldnt all be inflicted on strangers.

I want them to feel what millions of us are feeling tonight fear, desperation, a knowledge that any moment could start the countdown to our deaths.

To be noted, Eichenwald later deleted his original tweet calling for Republican family members to die. He rewrote his tweet with the same message using softer language.

Millions like me tonight dont know if GOP health bill will pass & kill them. I hope those who vote for it someday face same anguish we do, he wrote.

The health care bill passed by the House on Thursday is not yet law. The Senate hasnt yet heard the bill, and they are expected to pass their own version of the bill, complicating the law making process.

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Liberal journalist blows up over GOP health care plan, calls for Republican family members to die - TheBlaze.com

"Republicans are trying to do this to affordable health care," Perriello says to the camera as, behind him, a car compacter begins to do its work on an ambulance.

Perriello goes on to note that he voted for the Affordable Care Act during his time in Congress and pledges to ensure that "this" -- the ambulance being steadily flattened by the compacter -- "never happens in Virginia"

It's a very good ad. Part of that is because Perriello is a good communicator. (There's a reason he held, albeit briefly, a Republican-leaning district in the Old Dominion.) But, the bigger part of the ad's effectiveness is in the image -- an ambulance getting crushed -- married with the notion that Republicans, left to their druthers, are in the process of doing just that to Virginians' health care.

Now, it's important to note that Perriello is running this ad in the context of a Democratic primary, not a general election. (He faces off with sitting Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam on June 13.)

Why? Because it encapsulates the problem that Republicans have, politically speaking, in this bill: As it currently reads, the legislation takes away things that are either a) popular b) relied upon or c) both.

From scrapping the mandate banning insurance companies from discriminating against those with pre-existing conditions to the proposed freeze of Medicaid expansion funds in 2020, the bill's impact will primarily be on the negative side in the near term for many people.

When people have something -- even if they don't love it -- they don't want it taken away. The fear of losing something you need is a very powerful motivator.

It remains to be seen whether the ad catapults Perriello to the Democratic nomination. (He started the race late and behind Northam.) If he does win -- and moves on to the general election -- I'd expect to see more of this sort of ad from his side. And if Perriello winds up winning the governorship on the back of an anti-AHCA/anti-Trump message, you can bet every Democratic campaign in the country will produce some version of the ad above.

Democrats and Republicans are watching this race very closely. This ad should add -- ahem! -- to that focus.

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This TV ad should scare every Republican who voted for the House health care bill - CNN

Technology can both centralize power, and it can subvert it. It can broadcast one voice, or it can cultivate a multitude of voices. It can foster opposition, and it can bring empathy.

But instead of describing how technology can improve our democratic process in the future, Ill highlight a social action thats already building momentum toward such an improvementand consider how technology can support that.

The 2016 election cycle demonstrated what happens when media outlets favor views over integrity, and audiences favor validation over depth. Outlets subsidized by ad impressionscoupled with audiences willing to share articles that confirmed their biasesprovided feedback loops to push some outlets to cater to bias. The walls between points of view thickened. There now seem to be multiple realities, each with media outlets to support them with fragments of a story instead of the full picture. Because of this divisiveness, people cannot understand each other, and even choose to ignore each other.

Post-election shock among those who did not believe Donald Trump could win the presidency appeared online, followed by organizing and action across a range of expressive outlets. In this, a new form of media emerged. Sticky notes placed on subway tiles revealed fear, love, and hope. Posters were made for protests, and then displayed publicly afterwards. For many, this public expression offered a renewed sense of purpose and confidence around activism.

Interactive and participatory media allows viewers to get involved, to become expressive, and give voice. It is inviting and contagious for those who share viewsseeing enough notes and posters in public makes it more welcoming to add your own. Visible support for a cause can translate into momentum. The communication is both digital and physicalexemplified by handmade posters and stories, which are then shared online. These stories build solidarity among those who share a vision for the future of the country, and they remind people that they arent alone. Stories can be personal, and convey vulnerability. They can also cultivate empathy to thin the wall between dissonant points of view. While most of the stories may not resonate across different opposing views, even just a few can start building bridges of understanding.

This kind of public participatory media encourages civic action. It moves from digital support to public support only when it is clear that such actions have an impact.

My tech suggestion isnt a shiny new product or algorithm. Its something simpler and familiar, but essential. People must document recent victories to give them visibility. When there is no sense of impact, people can feel jaded. Document the legislation that comes from public action. This isnt a complex tech solution, but with the proper attention it can have a wider lasting impact. It can celebrate public creativity, voice, and civic action.

Exploring interactive and participatory media encourages public expression and builds momentum. Documenting the impact closes the feedback loop. When purpose and momentum wane, these narratives show that participation can create change, and build a stronger democracy.

This article is part of a collaboration with the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University.

Originally posted here:
Democracy Needs Storytellers - The Atlantic

BBC News

Poland march: Thousands protest against 'curbs on democracy' BBC News Thousands of Polish opposition supporters have been marching in Warsaw to protest against what they see as curbs on democracy imposed by the governing party. The opposition Civic Platform (PO) has accused the Law and Justice Party (PiS) of trying to ... Trump Slogan Turned on Head in Poland's Pro-Democracy RallyBloomberg all 23 news articles »

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Poland march: Thousands protest against 'curbs on democracy' - BBC News