Episode 3. Please Release Me, Part II

We the Village

Please Release Me, Part I

Can privilege inhibit the capacity to empathize? Can we entrust billionaires to make policies that serve us all—that promote equity? With voices from the April 15, 2017, Tax March and a review of social psychologist Paul Piff’s experiments on how having lots transforms our actions, this is a conversation about how the wealthy play by different rules, what that might be costing US taxpayers given the new administration’s proclivities, and why that means we as a people have to fight every day for all of us to be heard and protected. Hear a few ideas on getting involved from Santa Barbara, California, marchers and speakers, Maricela Morales, Sean Tucker, and Cathy Murillo. And learn about SB 562, a bill that just might ensure health insurance for all—at least in California, to start.

“We have to fight literally every day, not just when we come together en mass…. Love does conquer fear. Let’s take love and integrity and honesty and compassion and bring this mo fo down.”

—Maricela Morales, CAUSE

Credits: Original music on this episode was composed and performed by Alanna Leavy. The clip of “Mentira” was by French-born Spanish singer Manu Chao on his album, Clandestino, which features songs he wrote while traveling through South America. The clip of “Please Release Me, Let Me Gogo” was by the Belgian-based Neon Judgement. Matthew Starley read the chapter titles. Santa Barbara Tax March protestors included Venice and Asher, Bernadette, Linda, Karen, Jennifer, and others. Speakers were Maricela Morales of CAUSE, Sean Tucker, and Santa Barbara City Councilwoman Cathy Murillo. Heather Brady got that Monopoly board to pose oh so opulently. James Salay pointed the Village host to the Monopoly experiments years back during a long philosophical discussion of money and its functioning in the world. “Please Release Me, Part II” was compiled and produced by Holly Starley. The episode was recorded, in part, in KJUC, KCSB’s AM studio. Thank you to everyone everywhere who stands up against injustice and oppression.

Links and extras from Ep 3. Please Release Me, Part II

Tax March

CAUSE (Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy)

Check out Paul Piff's TED Talk about his social psychology experiments using games like Monopoly and what they reveal about privilege, social behavior, and empathy.

Here's an analysis of those experiments by Michael Ricciardi for Planetsave.

? Manu Chao's "Mentira" on his album Clandestino

? "Please Release Me, Let Me Gogo" by The Neon Judgement

Pod Save America, "a political podcast for people not yet ready to give up or go insane." Check out "When you pop the canister, snakes pop out," the April 17, 2017 episode, for some thoughts on how we know actions like calling Congress and going to Town Hall meetings are working.

The complete text of SB 562 - "The Healthy California Act"

Some news on and analysis of Senate Bill 562: "California Single Payer Bill SB 562 Clears First Hurdle" (National Nurses United, YubaNet, April 28, 2017); "California single-payer healthcare bill passes first committee test" (Los Angeles Times, April 26, 2017); "Universal Health Coverage in California Gets Closer" (Rocklin and Roseville Today, May 1, 2017); "California’s healthcare-for-all bill passes first committee" (Mercury News, updated May 6, 2017)

Weigh in on this bill or anything else: Contact CA Assemblywoman Monique Limón (click the yellow button on the right). Contact CA Senator Hannah Beth Jackson. Find your California representatives. Learn all about the California Senate.

Here's a link for more information if you want to join a citizens' advisory board in Santa Barbara to help shape local policy.

On taxpayer costs to protect Trump and his family while they live and travel: "How much is Donald Trump’s travel and protection costing, anyway?" (The Washington Post, March 17, 2017); "Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Trips So Far May Have Cost Taxpayers Up To $10 Million" (Fortune, February 21, 2017); "Protecting Trump Tower cost NY City $24 million from election to inauguration" (Reuters, Feb 22, 2017)

New news on costs to protect the 45th since the recording of the podcast: "Trump's security costs for one day in NYC equivalent to entire summer in Bedminster, N.J." (CBS News, May 5, 2017); "Trump busting presidential norms with weekend getaways" (Politico, May 5, 2107)

Credits: Original music on this episode was composed and performed by Alanna Leavy. The clip of “Mentira” was by French-born Spanish singer Manu Chao on his album, Clandestino, which features songs he wrote while traveling through South America. The clip of “Please Release Me, Let Me Gogo” was by the Belgian-based Neon Judgement. Matthew Starley read the chapter titles. Santa Barbara Tax March protestors included Venice and Asher, Bernadette, Linda, Karen, Jennifer, and others. Speakers were Maricela Morales of CAUSE, Sean Tucker, and Santa Barbara City Councilwoman Cathy Murillo. “Please Release Me, Part II” was compiled and produced by Holly Starley. The episode was recorded, in part, in KJUC, KCSB’s AM studio. Thank you to everyone everywhere who stands up against injustice and oppression.