Things I learned while looking up other things, 2020.6.11
Dear friends,
This edition of this newsletter should be called "things I learned that I should have known already" or "things I learned while I followed the protests on Twitter, trying to figure out when and where my son might get tear-gassed by police" or "things that should make everyone so ANGRY. SO ANGRY."
The worst thing is that there are too many to list. Here are just a few.
First, the obvious: "Too many citizens prefer to cling to brutal and unjust systems than to give up political power, the perceived benefits of white supremacy and an exploitative economic system." [Michelle Alexander, via Laura Olin's newsletter]
Elinor Ostrom (the 2009 winner of the Nobel for Economics) found that "Surprisingly, against common assumptions, they found that the smaller the police force, the more positively residents evaluated the police services they got." (tweet thread) (Defund the police.)
"A 2017 study by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) found that in the ten most populous states, an estimated 2.4 million people lose a combined $8 billion in income every year to theft by their employers. That's nearly half as much as all other property theft combined last year—$16.4 billion according to the FBI. And again, EPI's findings are only for ten states." [GQ article]
Knowledge for knowledge's sake is one thing; knowledge in the service of justice is far superior. I hope we take what we learn (however lately acquired, however obvious) and our anger and use it to create positive, radical change. (And even if you've already donated [lots of suggestions here] maybe today also send what you can to your local food bank? Curfews make hungry people hungrier.)
Send me what made you angry, or what moved you to action, or both.
Your friend,
Erin
This edition of this newsletter should be called "things I learned that I should have known already" or "things I learned while I followed the protests on Twitter, trying to figure out when and where my son might get tear-gassed by police" or "things that should make everyone so ANGRY. SO ANGRY."
The worst thing is that there are too many to list. Here are just a few.
First, the obvious: "Too many citizens prefer to cling to brutal and unjust systems than to give up political power, the perceived benefits of white supremacy and an exploitative economic system." [Michelle Alexander, via Laura Olin's newsletter]
Elinor Ostrom (the 2009 winner of the Nobel for Economics) found that "Surprisingly, against common assumptions, they found that the smaller the police force, the more positively residents evaluated the police services they got." (tweet thread) (Defund the police.)
"A 2017 study by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) found that in the ten most populous states, an estimated 2.4 million people lose a combined $8 billion in income every year to theft by their employers. That's nearly half as much as all other property theft combined last year—$16.4 billion according to the FBI. And again, EPI's findings are only for ten states." [GQ article]
Knowledge for knowledge's sake is one thing; knowledge in the service of justice is far superior. I hope we take what we learn (however lately acquired, however obvious) and our anger and use it to create positive, radical change. (And even if you've already donated [lots of suggestions here] maybe today also send what you can to your local food bank? Curfews make hungry people hungrier.)
Send me what made you angry, or what moved you to action, or both.
Your friend,
Erin
Don't miss what's next. Subscribe to Things Learned While Looking Up Other Things: