I will give you the names of four organizations. Then I’ll make snarky comments about them.
- Canada Standards Association
- Britain First
- Black Lives Matter
- Special Investigations Unit
CSA is a required approval for appliances in Canada. It was started in a garage, but because of its name, became the standard.
Britain First is a radical group. Here is a quote from Wikipedia:
Britain First campaigns primarily against multiculturalism and what it sees as the Islamisation of the United Kingdom, and advocates the preservation of traditional British culture. It attracted attention by taking direct action such as its “Christian patrols” and “invasions” of British mosques. It has been noted for its online activism.
They are, apparently, not nice people. However the name makes them sound useful, even patriotic.
Black Lives Matter gained fame by halting the Gay Pride parade in Toronto, Canada. They succeeded in getting the parade to agree NOT to allow police officers to participate in the parade in uniform. It appears that black lives matter a lot more than gay ones. That the police had been invited to participate in this parade meant nothing to BLM.
Special Investigations Unit is the branch of the municipal police tha investigates incidents in which a police officer shoots somebody. Or is suspected of planting evidence. I’m sure you get the picture. They are supposed to be the watchdogs protecting the public from overzealous police actions. Unfortunately, they are mostly ex police officers. Their investigations often are ‘special.’
What’s my point, you ask? In each of the above cases you might be subtly or seriously misled as to the group’s real purpose because of its official (often self-selected) name.
We just witnessed a major piece of legislation in the USA which is touted as Tax Reform. One senator said it really is ‘government for sale.’ It includes these provisions (among others):
- tax cuts for the rich
- territorial view of corporation taxes, allowing outside earnings to stay outside of US tax
- reduction in business taxes overall
- reduction on the home mortgage interest tax break, with a ceiling on mortgage size
- permission of oil extraction in previously protected wildlife areas
- removing of fines for not having health insurance
- increase in the estate tax loophole
and there is more. This is ‘tax reform.’ Trump can call it that, but it’s a big gift to the rich and rich corporations, and an omnibus bill with other pieces stuffed in.