Zoom Public Meetings Haven’t Saved Democracy

You know how the same handful of ranting cranks and lobbyists monopolize government and community outreach meetings? Moving meetings online was supposed to broaden the base of citizen participation.

Didn’t happen. New research found that moving housing hearings online in Massachusetts ‘did not remedy systemic skews in participation.’

“Relative to all voters in the community, online participants in local hearings in Massachusetts during the pandemic were whiter (by a 13 percent margin), older (22 percent likelier to be over the age of 50) and more likely to be homeowners than renters (a 25 percent gap). These gaps are roughly the same as Einstein and her co-authors observed with in-person housing meetings pre-pandemic. The only difference is that partisanship went up on Zoom: Republicans were less likely to participate in local meetings online.”

— “Thought Zoom Would Save Local Democracy? It Hasn’t.” Michael Hendrix, Governing

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Image (“Public Meeting on Zoom”) by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

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Maria Butina Elected to Russian Parliament

Maria Butina — ex-convict,  NRA Lifetime Member, unregistered Russian foreign agent, AU grad student, Tai Chi fan, GOP sexy-time associate, and deportee — has been elected to Russia’s national legislature, the Duma. She’s not representing her Siberian hometown, but Kirov, presumably because it’s known as the City of Redheads.

While we do not know if she’s been congratulated by her US pals, who include GOP operative Paul Erickson, Trump campaign aide J.D. Gordon, NRA officials David Keene and Peter Brownell, she did get campaign donations from her American ex-lover, Trump-supporting former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne.

More:

“After 15 Months in U.S. Prisons, She Now Sits in Russia’s Parliament,” Valerie Hopkins, New York Times

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Top image (“Maria ‘Natasha Fatale’ Butina, after Jay Ward and Alex Anderson“) by Mike Licht. Download a copy here. Creative Commons license; credit Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com

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Night Life

“Night Life,” written by Willie Nelson, recorded by Marvin Gaye, 1966.

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A Soulful Hanukkah In Brooklyn

Brooklyn’s Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings cook the sizzling latkes out of Hanukkah, all 8 days of it, in this video by musician and illustrator Rich Terrana. The tune is on the Holiday Soul Party album. The band recorded a live version of “8 Days” at the NPR studio in DC .
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings website

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Seven Lonely Days

“Seven Lonely Days,” written by Alden Shuman, Marshall Brown, and Earl Shuman, recorded by Martí Brom, 2012.

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For What It’s Worth

“For What It’s Worth,” written by Stephen Stills, recorded by Los Lobos, 2021.

Los Lobos website

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I’ve Got My Ticket

“I’ve Got My Ticket,” recorded by the Brooklyn Allstars, 1964.

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These Arms Of Mine

“These Arms Of Mine,” written (and originally recorded) by Otis Redding, recorded by Joan Osborne, 2002.

Joan Osborne website

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Someday I’ll Smile Again

“Someday I’ll Smile Again,” wriiten by Josh Caterer, and recorded by him with Smoking Popes, 2018.

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Baby It’s You

“Baby It’s You,” written by Burt Bacharach, Luther Dixon, and Mack David, recorded by Smith, 1969. Gayle McCormick (vocal), Larry Moss (organ), Rich Cliburn (lead guitar), Alan Parker (guitar), Jerry Carter (bass), Robert Evans (drums), John Horrigan (drums).

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