Neil Spark
@neil333.bsky.social
I’m working to make the world a better place by promoting democracy, human rights and self-improvement, themes of the novels I write. Opinions are mine only. neilspark.com
Reposted by Neil Spark
Our story from early this week on the lack of explanation on Labor's objections to proposed changes to the lobbyist register -- the Rockliff govt axed funding for the three positions to implement the changes #politas
tasmanianinquirer.com.au/news/labor-c...
tasmanianinquirer.com.au/news/labor-c...
Tas Labor coy on objections to lobbying disclosure code
The Tasmanian Labor Party has not explained why it opposes changes proposed by the Integrity Commission to the lobbyist code of conduct.
tasmanianinquirer.com.au
July 18, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Our story from early this week on the lack of explanation on Labor's objections to proposed changes to the lobbyist register -- the Rockliff govt axed funding for the three positions to implement the changes #politas
tasmanianinquirer.com.au/news/labor-c...
tasmanianinquirer.com.au/news/labor-c...
Reposted by Neil Spark
There has been no Labor announcement on governance or integrity reforms since then taslabor.org.au/our-plan/our...
Former Labor leader Bec White & then Shadow Attorney General Ella Haddad announced a policy ahead of the 2024 state election #politas
tasmaniantimes.com/2024/03/on-i...
Former Labor leader Bec White & then Shadow Attorney General Ella Haddad announced a policy ahead of the 2024 state election #politas
tasmaniantimes.com/2024/03/on-i...
Our plan
taslabor.org.au
July 18, 2025 at 5:25 AM
There has been no Labor announcement on governance or integrity reforms since then taslabor.org.au/our-plan/our...
Former Labor leader Bec White & then Shadow Attorney General Ella Haddad announced a policy ahead of the 2024 state election #politas
tasmaniantimes.com/2024/03/on-i...
Former Labor leader Bec White & then Shadow Attorney General Ella Haddad announced a policy ahead of the 2024 state election #politas
tasmaniantimes.com/2024/03/on-i...
Reposted by Neil Spark
Asked by TI about Labor's opposition to proposed changes to the lobbyist register at a June 5 media conference, Dean Winter said:
"We will be outlining during this campaign a fresh start for integrity in this state. We need to make sure there is major reform here". #politas
"We will be outlining during this campaign a fresh start for integrity in this state. We need to make sure there is major reform here". #politas
July 18, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Asked by TI about Labor's opposition to proposed changes to the lobbyist register at a June 5 media conference, Dean Winter said:
"We will be outlining during this campaign a fresh start for integrity in this state. We need to make sure there is major reform here". #politas
"We will be outlining during this campaign a fresh start for integrity in this state. We need to make sure there is major reform here". #politas
Reposted by Neil Spark
Absolutely right. It's ultimately not up to either Labor or the Liberals to say they won't work with the Greens or independents that don't "support their agenda." It's up to them to respect the outcome of the election. #politas
With the Tassie election tomorrow, it's important to remember that minority governments are actually pretty common in Australia, and can be pretty effective.
Read the fact sheet on how parliaments share power ⤵ australiainstitute.org.au/post/how-par...
Read the fact sheet on how parliaments share power ⤵ australiainstitute.org.au/post/how-par...
How parliaments share power | Fact Sheet
Parliaments are made to share power.
australiainstitute.org.au
July 18, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Absolutely right. It's ultimately not up to either Labor or the Liberals to say they won't work with the Greens or independents that don't "support their agenda." It's up to them to respect the outcome of the election. #politas
“Tasmania’s two major political parties have not explained how they would address concerns about a lack of transparency about political meetings with lobbyists just days before a state election.”
#politas
tasmanianinquirer.com.au/news/labor-c...
#politas
tasmanianinquirer.com.au/news/labor-c...
Tas Labor coy on objections to lobbying disclosure code
The Tasmanian Labor Party has not explained why it opposes changes proposed by the Integrity Commission to the lobbyist code of conduct.
tasmanianinquirer.com.au
July 17, 2025 at 4:48 AM
“Tasmania’s two major political parties have not explained how they would address concerns about a lack of transparency about political meetings with lobbyists just days before a state election.”
#politas
tasmanianinquirer.com.au/news/labor-c...
#politas
tasmanianinquirer.com.au/news/labor-c...
Reposted by Neil Spark
Over the past week, our substack ifyoucankeep.it got about 3 times more new subscribers from bluesky vs. twitter and 20 times more than threads
If you can keep it | Protect Democracy | Substack
In 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked: what kind of government have you created? He answered, "a republic — if you can keep it."
From Protect Democracy, a nonpartisan, nonprofit group working to preve...
ifyoucankeep.it
December 5, 2024 at 9:48 PM
Over the past week, our substack ifyoucankeep.it got about 3 times more new subscribers from bluesky vs. twitter and 20 times more than threads
Reposted by Neil Spark
The world’s richest 1% have more wealth than the bottom 95% put together, according to Oxfam.
There is no moral justification for this extraordinary level of inequality.
It's distorting politics, rigging our markets, and granting unprecedented power to a handful of people.
There is no moral justification for this extraordinary level of inequality.
It's distorting politics, rigging our markets, and granting unprecedented power to a handful of people.
World’s top 1% own more wealth than 95% of humanity, as “the shadow of global oligarchy hangs over UN General Assembly,” says Oxfam | Oxfam International
www.oxfam.org
December 4, 2024 at 10:11 PM
The world’s richest 1% have more wealth than the bottom 95% put together, according to Oxfam.
There is no moral justification for this extraordinary level of inequality.
It's distorting politics, rigging our markets, and granting unprecedented power to a handful of people.
There is no moral justification for this extraordinary level of inequality.
It's distorting politics, rigging our markets, and granting unprecedented power to a handful of people.
@gracewhitmore.bsky.social
Thanks for the follow Grace. I hope my posts enlighten, inform and even entertain,
Thanks for the follow Grace. I hope my posts enlighten, inform and even entertain,
December 5, 2024 at 5:35 AM
@gracewhitmore.bsky.social
Thanks for the follow Grace. I hope my posts enlighten, inform and even entertain,
Thanks for the follow Grace. I hope my posts enlighten, inform and even entertain,
Reposted by Neil Spark
This shits me off. This is not how you fix youth crime. It's the worst way to fix youth crime. It's pandering to dumb voters at the expense of results. I'm proud to have helped get the ball rolling on a nation leading project here in Tas to show how it's really done. #auspol #politas
Queensland’s Liberal National party government has acknowledged their signature youth crime legislation will “directly discriminate” against children, by limiting their “protection from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment”.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Children will get sentences ‘more punitive than necessary’ under new crime law, Queensland LNP admits
Attorney general Deb Frecklington acknowledges bill will likely increase number of children in state watch houses
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2024 at 7:57 PM
Reposted by Neil Spark
Trump’s chief of staff was a corporate lobbyist.
His pick for transportation secretary lobbied for airlines.
The richest person in the world and another billionaire will run a new department of “efficiency.”
They’re telling us exactly who they will work for.
His pick for transportation secretary lobbied for airlines.
The richest person in the world and another billionaire will run a new department of “efficiency.”
They’re telling us exactly who they will work for.
Trump at the Lobbyist Trough
The unifying thread of the team around the president is that they sell their services to corporations for money.
prospect.org
December 3, 2024 at 8:15 PM
Trump’s chief of staff was a corporate lobbyist.
His pick for transportation secretary lobbied for airlines.
The richest person in the world and another billionaire will run a new department of “efficiency.”
They’re telling us exactly who they will work for.
His pick for transportation secretary lobbied for airlines.
The richest person in the world and another billionaire will run a new department of “efficiency.”
They’re telling us exactly who they will work for.
Reposted by Neil Spark
Trump will try to take credit for the massive investments made in manufacturing/tech under Biden and the Democrats.
It's just like how he took credit for the economy he inherited from Obama.
Do not let him get away with it.
It's just like how he took credit for the economy he inherited from Obama.
Do not let him get away with it.
December 3, 2024 at 10:00 PM
Trump will try to take credit for the massive investments made in manufacturing/tech under Biden and the Democrats.
It's just like how he took credit for the economy he inherited from Obama.
Do not let him get away with it.
It's just like how he took credit for the economy he inherited from Obama.
Do not let him get away with it.
Reposted by Neil Spark
Really illuminating following the South Korea coup on Bluesky vs the other place
-Chronological timeline so much faster/more efficient than algo soup
-Trusted info (like @sarahjeong.bsky.social!) rose quickly
-No visible misinfo or chaff
-Lots of helpful lists of journalists
@bsky.app has the juice
-Chronological timeline so much faster/more efficient than algo soup
-Trusted info (like @sarahjeong.bsky.social!) rose quickly
-No visible misinfo or chaff
-Lots of helpful lists of journalists
@bsky.app has the juice
December 3, 2024 at 10:53 PM
Really illuminating following the South Korea coup on Bluesky vs the other place
-Chronological timeline so much faster/more efficient than algo soup
-Trusted info (like @sarahjeong.bsky.social!) rose quickly
-No visible misinfo or chaff
-Lots of helpful lists of journalists
@bsky.app has the juice
-Chronological timeline so much faster/more efficient than algo soup
-Trusted info (like @sarahjeong.bsky.social!) rose quickly
-No visible misinfo or chaff
-Lots of helpful lists of journalists
@bsky.app has the juice
Reposted by Neil Spark
As a former trustee of Social Security, I'm worried the program is in danger of running dry. Why?
As the rich have gotten richer, more of their income has escaped the cap on the SS payroll tax.
We can fix this by scrapping the cap. Watch.
As the rich have gotten richer, more of their income has escaped the cap on the SS payroll tax.
We can fix this by scrapping the cap. Watch.
How the Super Rich Are Killing Social Security | Robert Reich
Social Security taxes are rigged for the rich — and the program is in danger because of it.A CEO earning $20M/yr pays Social Security taxes on ~1% of their i...
www.youtube.com
December 4, 2024 at 1:00 AM
As a former trustee of Social Security, I'm worried the program is in danger of running dry. Why?
As the rich have gotten richer, more of their income has escaped the cap on the SS payroll tax.
We can fix this by scrapping the cap. Watch.
As the rich have gotten richer, more of their income has escaped the cap on the SS payroll tax.
We can fix this by scrapping the cap. Watch.
Reposted by Neil Spark
Reading the pardon coverage...I don't think the significance of the Gaetz/Patel/Bondi nominations has sunk in. People still aren't getting what a politicized DOJ and FBI, with the power to arrest/bug/harass anyone for any reason, would be able to do.
December 3, 2024 at 6:59 AM
Reading the pardon coverage...I don't think the significance of the Gaetz/Patel/Bondi nominations has sunk in. People still aren't getting what a politicized DOJ and FBI, with the power to arrest/bug/harass anyone for any reason, would be able to do.
Reasons for optimism. www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Trump Will Overplay His Hand. Here’s How to Be Ready.
I lived through the rise of authoritarianism in Turkey. Here’s what I learned.
www.politico.com
December 4, 2024 at 4:55 AM
Reasons for optimism. www.politico.com/news/magazin...
@lhsfk.bsky.social thank you for the follow Amelia. Looking forward to the conversation.
December 4, 2024 at 1:46 AM
@lhsfk.bsky.social thank you for the follow Amelia. Looking forward to the conversation.
Reposted by Neil Spark
What do many of Trump's cabinet and admin picks have in common? Let me connect some dots.
Trump’s testosterone-poisoned picks
Toxic masculinity is all about male dominance and female subservience. It is closely allied to fascism.
buff.ly
November 27, 2024 at 3:16 AM
What do many of Trump's cabinet and admin picks have in common? Let me connect some dots.
Reposted by Neil Spark
Trump's second admin includes FIVE billionaires and at least FOUR multi-millionaires.
They'll personally reap the windfall of Trump's next round of tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy, financed by cuts to the social safety net.
Is this really the "party of the working class"?
They'll personally reap the windfall of Trump's next round of tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy, financed by cuts to the social safety net.
Is this really the "party of the working class"?
Trump’s Billionaire Cabinet Picks Reflect Agenda Written By-and-For Billionaires, Big Corporations - Accountable US
An Accountable.US review found President-elect Trump has now tapped five billionaires and several other ultra-high net-worth individuals to head key agencies despite campaigning on promises to help wo...
accountable.us
November 27, 2024 at 6:49 PM
Trump's second admin includes FIVE billionaires and at least FOUR multi-millionaires.
They'll personally reap the windfall of Trump's next round of tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy, financed by cuts to the social safety net.
Is this really the "party of the working class"?
They'll personally reap the windfall of Trump's next round of tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy, financed by cuts to the social safety net.
Is this really the "party of the working class"?
Reposted by Neil Spark
Something to keep in mind.
November 13, 2024 at 5:45 PM
Something to keep in mind.
Reposted by Neil Spark
150 billionaire families spent $1.9B on the 2024 election through October.
It's a huge amount of money — but it represents just 0.07% of their overall wealth.
It essentially costs them nothing to drown our democracy in cash.
We must get big money out of our politics.
It's a huge amount of money — but it represents just 0.07% of their overall wealth.
It essentially costs them nothing to drown our democracy in cash.
We must get big money out of our politics.
November 14, 2024 at 6:02 AM
150 billionaire families spent $1.9B on the 2024 election through October.
It's a huge amount of money — but it represents just 0.07% of their overall wealth.
It essentially costs them nothing to drown our democracy in cash.
We must get big money out of our politics.
It's a huge amount of money — but it represents just 0.07% of their overall wealth.
It essentially costs them nothing to drown our democracy in cash.
We must get big money out of our politics.