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HomeMy WebLinkAbout100425 - Fw_ Book Review_ “Plunder” offers a seabird’s eye view of the harms that private equity is inflicting on AmericaALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. FYI, this article suggests that childcare is one of the area in the sights of private equity firms. I am grateful that our community is working hard on to bring into being a non-profit childcare facility. My thanks to all involved. Deborah Pedersen ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: NPI's Cascadia Advocate <donotreply@wordpress.com> To: "deborahgpedersen@yahoo.com" <deborahgpedersen@yahoo.com> Sent: Saturday, October 4, 2025 at 09:35:52 AM PDT Subject: Book Review: “Plunder” offers a seabird’s eye view of the harms that private equity is inflicting on America While Americans love to glorify the rebellious outcast, rarely do we see ourselves as the ones who are being robbed by the rover. Whether Treasure Island, Muppet Island, or Treasure Planet, we aren't the ones getting pillaged. We are the other towns loo… Read on blog <https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2025/10/book-review-plunder-offers-a-seabirds-eye-view-of-the-harms-that-private-equity-is-inflicting-on-america.html?jetpack_skip_subscription_popu p> or Reader <https://public-api.wordpress.com/bar/?stat=groovemails-events&bin=wpcom_email_click&redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wordpress.com%2Freader%2Fblogs%2F171719462%2Fposts%2F55310&sr=1&signat ure=a77d112cdf3ba0404b2d273543cda360&user=fc239fa5142c1abbf7fff29fa3f27e9a&_e=eyJlcnJvciI6bnVsbCwiYmxvZ19pZCI6MTcxNzE5NDYyLCJibG9nX2xhbmciOiJlbiIsInNpdGVfaWRfbGFiZWwiOiJqZXRwYWNrIiwiaGFzX2ZlYXR1cmVkX 2ltYWdlIjoiMSIsInN1YnNjcmliZXJfaWQiOiIzOTEzOTMwNCIsIl91aSI6ImZjMjM5ZmE1MTQyYzFhYmJmN2ZmZjI5ZmEzZjI3ZTlhIiwiX3V0IjoiYW5vbiIsImVtYWlsX2RvbWFpbiI6InlhaG9vLmNvbSIsInBvc3RfaWQiOjU1MzEwLCJ1c2VyX2VtYWlsIjoi ZGVib3JhaGdwZWRlcnNlbkB5YWhvby5jb20iLCJkYXRlX3NlbnQiOiIyMDI1LTEwLTA0IiwiZW1haWxfbmFtZSI6Im5ldy1wb3N0IiwidGVtcGxhdGUiOiJuZXctcG9zdCIsImVtYWlsX2lkIjoiMDA5YjYzNWNlMWI4NmY2NjNlZDY4YzI3ZmFkODA1ODEiLCJsaW5 rX2Rlc2MiOiJyZWFkZXItdXJsIiwiYW5jaG9yX3RleHQiOiJSZWFkZXIiLCJfZHIiOm51bGwsIl9kbCI6Ilwvd3Bjb21cL3YyXC9zaXRlc1wvMTcxNzE5NDYyXC9qZXRwYWNrLXN5bmMtYWN0aW9ucz9zeW5jPTEmY29kZWM9ZGVmbGF0ZS1qc29uLWFycmF5JnRpbW VzdGFtcD0xNzU5NTk1NzE3LjI1NSZxdWV1ZT1zeW5jJmNkPTAuMDAwNSZwZD0wLjAwMDcmcXVldWVfc2l6ZT0xJmJ1ZmZlcl9pZD02OGUxNGNjNTNkZmEyMy45MTY1MDEzMSZzeW5jX2Zsb3dfdHlwZT1kZWRpY2F0ZWQmc3RvcmFnZV90eXBlPWN1c3RvbSZ0aW1lb 3V0PTIwJmhvbWU9aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cubndwcm9ncmVzc2l2ZS5vcmclMkZ3ZWJsb2cmc2l0ZXVybD1odHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy5ud3Byb2dyZXNzaXZlLm9yZyUyRndlYmxvZyZpZGM9MSIsIl9lbiI6IndwY29tX2VtYWlsX2NsaWNrIiwiX3RzIjox NzU5NTk1NzUxNTE5LCJicm93c2VyX3R5cGUiOiJwaHAtYWdlbnQiLCJfYXVhIjoid3Bjb20tdHJhY2tzLWNsaWVudC12MC4zIiwiX3VsIjpudWxsLCJibG9nX3R6IjoiLTciLCJ1c2VyX2xhbmciOm51bGx9&_z=z> <https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/cropped-JAN24-Square-NPI-Favicon.png> NPI's Cascadia Advocate <https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog?jetpack_skip_subscription_popup> Read on blog <https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/2025/10/book-review-plunder-offers-a-seabirds-eye-view-of-the-harms-that-private-equity-is-inflicting-on-america.html?jetpack_skip_subscription_p opup> or Reader <https://public-api.wordpress.com/bar/?stat=groovemails-events&bin=wpcom_email_click&redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wordpress.com%2Freader%2Fblogs%2F171719462%2Fposts%2F55310&sr=1&sig nature=a77d112cdf3ba0404b2d273543cda360&user=fc239fa5142c1abbf7fff29fa3f27e9a&_e=eyJlcnJvciI6bnVsbCwiYmxvZ19pZCI6MTcxNzE5NDYyLCJibG9nX2xhbmciOiJlbiIsInNpdGVfaWRfbGFiZWwiOiJqZXRwYWNrIiwiaGFzX2ZlYXR1cm VkX2ltYWdlIjoiMSIsInN1YnNjcmliZXJfaWQiOiIzOTEzOTMwNCIsIl91aSI6ImZjMjM5ZmE1MTQyYzFhYmJmN2ZmZjI5ZmEzZjI3ZTlhIiwiX3V0IjoiYW5vbiIsImVtYWlsX2RvbWFpbiI6InlhaG9vLmNvbSIsInBvc3RfaWQiOjU1MzEwLCJ1c2VyX2VtYWlsI joiZGVib3JhaGdwZWRlcnNlbkB5YWhvby5jb20iLCJkYXRlX3NlbnQiOiIyMDI1LTEwLTA0IiwiZW1haWxfbmFtZSI6Im5ldy1wb3N0IiwidGVtcGxhdGUiOiJuZXctcG9zdCIsImVtYWlsX2lkIjoiMDA5YjYzNWNlMWI4NmY2NjNlZDY4YzI3ZmFkODA1ODEiLCJs aW5rX2Rlc2MiOiJyZWFkZXItdXJsIiwiYW5jaG9yX3RleHQiOiJSZWFkZXIiLCJfZHIiOm51bGwsIl9kbCI6Ilwvd3Bjb21cL3YyXC9zaXRlc1wvMTcxNzE5NDYyXC9qZXRwYWNrLXN5bmMtYWN0aW9ucz9zeW5jPTEmY29kZWM9ZGVmbGF0ZS1qc29uLWFycmF5JnR pbWVzdGFtcD0xNzU5NTk1NzE3LjI1NSZxdWV1ZT1zeW5jJmNkPTAuMDAwNSZwZD0wLjAwMDcmcXVldWVfc2l6ZT0xJmJ1ZmZlcl9pZD02OGUxNGNjNTNkZmEyMy45MTY1MDEzMSZzeW5jX2Zsb3dfdHlwZT1kZWRpY2F0ZWQmc3RvcmFnZV90eXBlPWN1c3RvbSZ0aW 1lb3V0PTIwJmhvbWU9aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cubndwcm9ncmVzc2l2ZS5vcmclMkZ3ZWJsb2cmc2l0ZXVybD1odHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy5ud3Byb2dyZXNzaXZlLm9yZyUyRndlYmxvZyZpZGM9MSIsIl9lbiI6IndwY29tX2VtYWlsX2NsaWNrIiwiX3RzI joxNzU5NTk1NzUxNTIwLCJicm93c2VyX3R5cGUiOiJwaHAtYWdlbnQiLCJfYXVhIjoid3Bjb20tdHJhY2tzLWNsaWVudC12MC4zIiwiX3VsIjpudWxsLCJibG9nX3R6IjoiLTciLCJ1c2VyX2xhbmciOm51bGx9&_z=z> Book Review: “Plunder” offers a seabird’s eye view of the harms that private equity is inflicting on America <https://0.gravatar.com/avatar/007d8fe3c48b9f435d6837c360a8df4be1112ccc901635e8050e8e4c8f0f0f10?s=96&d=identicon&r=G> By Cassie Clayton on October 4th, 2025 <https://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/OCT25-Plunder-by-Brendan-Ballou-Landscape.jpg?w=500> While Americans love to glorify the rebellious outcast, rarely do we see ourselves as the ones who are being robbed by the rover. Whether Treasure Island, Muppet Island, or Treasure Planet, we aren't the ones getting pillaged. We are the other towns looking in on the tragedy, or better yet, we are the good buccaneers free at sea. While I use pirate parody for levity, the astute author, Brendan Ballou <http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=bdb5e50b5279fb0224788b80a992109443cfb09ba6ebfebc46552bd5 5fcddfe5&blog_id=171719462&post_id=55310&user_id=0&subs_id=39139304&signature=490dd4ba5010216eae5ba23aceef1450&email_name=new-post&user_email=deborahgpedersen@yahoo.com&encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW 5ldGVjb25vbWljcy5vcmcvcmVzZWFyY2gvZXhwZXJ0cy9CcmVuZGFuQmFsbG91&email_id=009b635ce1b86f663ed68c27fad80581> , didn't title his book based on being a fan of Captain Jack Sparrow. With urgent sincerity, Ballou is hoping to get us to collectively agree to right a sinking ship. Ships in the night Ballou wastes no time showing how private equity firms have raided whole sectors of American life. From housing to healthcare, from pensions to prisons, they have struck again and again, leaving everyday people pillaged in their wake. By the second paragraph of the first chapter, I was angry. I went to find comfort on Storygraph and Goodreads. I found that many reviews were tagged: "did not finish". Some explained: "too heavy", "too sad", "too stomach-turning". To Plunder, <http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=f622f66607aedfecf8b0acf9ae51702e2a32d5de737547765e6fb437d1417a63&blog_id=171719462&post_id=55310&user_id=0&subs_id=3 9139304&signature=a03c83d33133d350513b2a6f122949d0&email_name=new-post&user_email=deborahgpedersen@yahoo.com&encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubWVycmlhbS13ZWJzdGVyLmNvbS9kaWN0aW9uYXJ5L3BsdW5kZXI&email_id=0 09b635ce1b86f663ed68c27fad80581> according to Merriam-Webster, means "something taken by force, theft, or fraud". The business of being a pirate is grotesque. The roughness of reading "Plunder" certainly does put the reader on a shaky plank. And since life is not a Disney movie, we do not resolve the plot in ninety minutes; we are on that plank amid a stormy sea with no clear skies in sight. The rapture and repellent of Plunder is that it reads like a textbook of use cases: one industry after another, the same exploitation: an extraction of resources, corner-cutting in operations, and insulation from accountability. The detail Ballou provides is both overwhelming and impressive. Sail with me: I believe Ballou’s research connects the dots with enough heft that readers who make it through the book will leave with enough fury to act on what they heard. Anchors aweigh! Page after page is wave after wave of our ship being bombarded by the impact of private equity (PE) on our everyday lives. Ballou makes clear that the takeovers aren't just tragedies. They are strategic -- and ruthless -- business endeavors. * Housing: PE firms bought tens of thousands of foreclosed houses, creating higher rents and skipping maintenance, with renters having little chance of regaining stability. * Pensions: PE ties pensions to risky funds, collecting fees, while workers face retirement insecurity when markets collapse. * Prisons: PE-backed prison operators and service vendors profit from incarceration itself, extracting dollars from both taxpayers and incarcerated families for the basic things like phone calls and commissary. * Nursing Homes: PE slashes staffing and safety budgets in elder care, trading dignity and lives for short-term profit margins. At the end of each chapter, you want to make a picket sign for your favorite restaurant chain when Ballou takes your attention to the next atrocity, the local ambulance service. For the motif, it does appear that private equity has a treasure map. After a discussion of what's happened to nursing homes, it is on to retail stores, water facilities, hospitals, public colleges, and chartering soon: your 401K. A rising tide raises all ships I do believe that Plunder, if pitched strategically, is a book to share with friends and family on both sides of the aisle. Plunder doesn't spend time on a specific culture or issues that fall along neat ideological lines. Plunder calls out the crude code of conduct, the swamp of mutilated small businesses, the treacherous avoidance of legal accountability. So many people want there to be a secret cabal, a conspiracy that is stealing from their livelihoods; they want the disparaging America they are in to make sense. Private equity is cleverly disguised behind so many shadow firms that we don't know it is PE to start with. This behavior has been allowed by our previous and current governments. PE CEOs will gather our cash, cold as it may be, as we pay our own ransom. PE firms are not better operators of local businesses than the shop founders. PE firms are not thoughtful builders creating new jobs; they are barbaric destroyers. It doesn’t take talent to gut a company; it only takes a lack of empathy and a mercenary willingness to leave workers, customers, and families to pick up the pieces. Compass included, GPS sold separately <http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=6400d1a75dead6ed226704934a937e6a38e40decdb5f5c47b3085bb4eee8ce2a&blog_id=171719462&post_id=55310&user_id=0&subs_id=39139304&sig nature=f989704ff3d43db7ec5597620caa39a3&email_name=new-post&user_email=deborahgpedersen@yahoo.com&encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaGFjaGV0dGVib29rZ3JvdXAuY29tL3RpdGxlcy9icmVuZGFuLWJhbGxvdS9wbHVuZGVyLzk3O DE1NDE3MDIxMjcv&email_id=009b635ce1b86f663ed68c27fad80581> Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America, by Brendan Ballou (May 2023; PublicAffairs) While possible solutions are sprinkled throughout the book, and the final chapter of Plunder does bring a few on deck, Ballou didn't write a “how to fix it” manual. And he didn't need to. Ballou provided a spyglass into “what’s broken, why, and where to start”. He gives readers enough to understand each issue and enough to do something about it. My gentle "heave to" to our readers so that you don't keel over: When I listen to intense books or challenging research, I like to do jigsaw puzzles. It keeps my hands busy so I don't throw things and keeps my mind focused so I can sit and swirl the concepts around without asking too many questions before I've made it through the first chapter. My $3 thrift-shop puzzle for Plunder was missing a piece and had an extra one jammed in. Somehow, that felt like the perfect metaphor for private equity. Why swab the deck now? While Plunder is a dense read composed of data-heavy emotional tolls, topped with minimal hope of changing our station, it is an essential read for our moment in history. The current administration has commissioned their private equity buddies to grift further into our community waters, our freedoms, and our pocketbooks: * Trump signed an executive order called “Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for 401(k) Investors” on August 7, 2025, <http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=73 c2051a8e015f0ba4c443a4350925564d9a4b8ae6daa25ace18c161ede3f1c7&blog_id=171719462&post_id=55310&user_id=0&subs_id=39139304&signature=23061fc8aba6dc9d8a130bd7e1e9593a&email_name=new-post&user_email=deb orahgpedersen@yahoo.com&encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2hpdGVob3VzZS5nb3YvZmFjdC1zaGVldHMvMjAyNS8wOC9mYWN0LXNoZWV0LXByZXNpZGVudC1kb25hbGQtai10cnVtcC1kZW1vY3JhdGl6ZXMtYWNjZXNzLXRvLWFsdGVybmF0aXZlLWFzc2V 0cy1mb3ItNDAxay1pbnZlc3RvcnMv&email_id=009b635ce1b86f663ed68c27fad80581> which calls for retirement plans to allow investment in Private Equity, real estate, crypto, and other alternative assets. * Bill Pulte, appointed Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) under the 2025 Trump administration <http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=222db4912df73e 09697cdd343aefc6a38820e21a1fd2e08308dbbdec4e5e20e2&blog_id=171719462&post_id=55310&user_id=0&subs_id=39139304&signature=aa8380aa4a0d561806f07f6b5867705b&email_name=new-post&user_email=deborahgpederse n@yahoo.com&encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly9lbi53aWtpcGVkaWEub3JnL3dpa2kvQmlsbF9QdWx0ZQ=&email_id=009b635ce1b86f663ed68c27fad80581> , founded Pulte Capital, a private equity firm. Instead of shutting down PE firms from buying foreclosed homes in bulk, he is going after Trump's enemies for potential mortgage fraud. * In 2025, Thomas Barrack Jr., a longtime private equity / real estate investor and Trump ally, was confirmed as U.S. Ambassador to Turkey. <http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog?action=user_content_re direct&uuid=8442199dc85f7046c1013f9fb7d972ddb6f432ee14a8266e7fbdbd1a829feccc&blog_id=171719462&post_id=55310&user_id=0&subs_id=39139304&signature=35ab0d2d3140beac7993ef3769a33979&email_name=new-post& user_email=deborahgpedersen@yahoo.com&encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucmV1dGVycy5jb20vd29ybGQvdXMvdXMtc2VuYXRlLWNvbmZpcm1zLXByaXZhdGUtZXF1aXR5LWV4ZWN1dGl2ZS1iYXJyYWNrLWFtYmFzc2Fkb3ItdHVya2V5LTIwMjUtMDQtM jkv&email_id=009b635ce1b86f663ed68c27fad80581> The seas are endless, and private equity has its sights and scope set on two additional industries not mentioned in the book. * Energy: BlackRock is attempting to buy Minnesota Power, <http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=24c6f644c689e256996e1b13349136b26a0410935849fb7eb6b24693ddab5caa&blog_ id=171719462&post_id=55310&user_id=0&subs_id=39139304&signature=1edce01e1aca4498d39e5a05cc10d864&email_name=new-post&user_email=deborahgpedersen@yahoo.com&encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly9hYmNuZXdzLmdvLmNvbS9U ZWNobm9sb2d5L3dpcmVTdG9yeS9wcml2YXRlLWVxdWl0eS1zZWVzLXByb2ZpdHMtcG93ZXItdXRpbGl0aWVzLWVsZWN0cmljLWJpbGxzLTEyNTk4OTI0MA=&email_id=009b635ce1b86f663ed68c27fad80581> which provides electricity to more than 150,000 people. The motive isn’t community stability; it is to profit from soaring energy demand driven by data centers supporting artificial intelligence (AI), with ratepayers left to absorb the risks. * Childcare: As if stealing from seniors and college students wasn't enough <http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=cf8afd31b9350a079491a51f9bb17ec36ee4183d63fa0b7b79a5 1480ead062e8&blog_id=171719462&post_id=55310&user_id=0&subs_id=39139304&signature=b5048bd779d17b9d3d2fba67a3700ae8&email_name=new-post&user_email=deborahgpedersen@yahoo.com&encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly9mb3 J0dW5lLmNvbS8yMDI0LzA4LzA4L2NoaWxkY2FyZS1jb3N0cy1jcmlzaXMtcHJpdmF0ZS1lcXVpdHkv&email_id=009b635ce1b86f663ed68c27fad80581> . From decreasing the salaries and required staff, to loosening background checks, dropping education requirements, private equality is overhauling the places where we place our most vulnerable humans. We would be fools to believe we shouldn't batten down the hatches and attempt to protect what is still intact with strong laws and regulations. Anchoring the vessel Plunder shows us that we are not safely on shore; no part of our daily life is off limits from private equity, especially under the current administration. If you can funnel the anger Plunder stirs into civic engagement, you’ll finish the book not only furious but ready to act. Here are some suggestions on where to start. National & Watchdog Organizations * Private Equity Stakeholder Project (PESP) <http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=08f780eb83562258d8f629b0e85482ae5799e6e6ed77a6b7cabca8157830b40a&blog_id=171719462&p ost_id=55310&user_id=0&subs_id=39139304&signature=327f0a45bc9b0f77bcfe96f70f474feb&email_name=new-post&user_email=deborahgpedersen@yahoo.com&encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly9wZXN0YWtlaG9sZGVyLm9yZy8&email_id=0 09b635ce1b86f663ed68c27fad80581> : Tracks and challenges PE in housing, healthcare, prisons, nursing homes, and more. Offers research and campaign updates. * Americans for Financial Reform (AFR): <http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=4a72e46855f245e64df277489402b67d0b73761016139cab09c42e1e399d1b7c&blog_id=171719462&post_ id=55310&user_id=0&subs_id=39139304&signature=e13851dbb5cb6b776c3f5b1faf72a552&email_name=new-post&user_email=deborahgpedersen@yahoo.com&encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly9vdXJmaW5hbmNpYWxzZWN1cml0eS5vcmcv&email _id=009b635ce1b86f663ed68c27fad80581> Coalition of 200+ labor, consumer, civil rights, and community groups fighting Wall Street abuses, including PE. * Take Medicine Back / Physicians’ coalitions: <http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=a77705d48a53b1d49d7b92f8aac48070ff581ed1c3c538d5572078c640564d9a&blog_id=17171946 2&post_id=55310&user_id=0&subs_id=39139304&signature=166019588dca9d082f80fb0dde025e2d&email_name=new-post&user_email=deborahgpedersen@yahoo.com&encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGFrZW1lZGljaW5lYmFjay5vcmc v&email_id=009b635ce1b86f663ed68c27fad80581> Doctors and healthcare workers organizing against PE takeovers of medical practices. * Labor unions (SEIU, AFL-CIO, AFT): National unions and their local chapters are fighting PE in healthcare, education, and retirement security. Take action with America's Unions <http://www.nwprogre ssive.org/weblog?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=6f8c8c42f417d5e86e66307b65757faf13a4d847ac351ce0a1a69827703ddfd8&blog_id=171719462&post_id=55310&user_id=0&subs_id=39139304&signature=ffd139f81571fb 986f285030198b2c1e&email_name=new-post&user_email=deborahgpedersen@yahoo.com&encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly9hZmxjaW8ub3JnL3Rha2UtYWN0aW9u&email_id=009b635ce1b86f663ed68c27fad80581> or UFCW 3000 <http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=3d528d51f604a5d0e4adbe7f0becb75108498a7bfaae4f42227a511627abfddc&blog_id=171719462&post_id=55310&user_id=0&subs_id=3913930 4&signature=8d8473f9bfb434d74e1f5085f905e098&email_name=new-post&user_email=deborahgpedersen@yahoo.com&encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly91ZmN3MzAwMC5vcmcv&email_id=009b635ce1b86f663ed68c27fad80581> . Local Civic Engagement * Funding employee-owned businesses <http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=ee45ea43724892c7759016b5a90ffb7dd23b44c1b70f091bf6f533b52e0bdd4f&blog_id=171719462&post_id=5 5310&user_id=0&subs_id=39139304&signature=349a2f8c5f38b55bb138758604b27231&email_name=new-post&user_email=deborahgpedersen@yahoo.com&encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmNlby5vcmcvcmVzZWFyY2gvZW1wbG95ZWUtb3 duZXJzaGlwLTEwMC1sYXJnZXN0LWVtcGxveWVlLW93bmVkLWNvbXBhbmllcw=&email_id=009b635ce1b86f663ed68c27fad80581> and co-ops <http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=57f6822b59b a1c2afad25f28d7c953cd32981bef330a0ae17297c4ec755e567f&blog_id=171719462&post_id=55310&user_id=0&subs_id=39139304&signature=f2515a30a3314ef31168b0a1cbcfb550&email_name=new-post&user_email=deborahgpede rsen@yahoo.com&encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ3JvY2VyeS5jb29wL2FsbC1jb29wcy8&email_id=009b635ce1b86f663ed68c27fad80581> that put people first! * City Council Meetings: Local officials often approve or reject deals that benefit PE-owned developers, landlords, or utility companies. Testifying, submitting public comments, or showing up with neighbors matters. * State Legislatures: State-level laws shape foreclosure sales, nursing home regulation, and prison contracts, which are all areas targeted by PE. * Elections (Local, State, Midterm): From school boards to governors, who you elect determines whether PE’s influence is challenged or welcomed. Voting, canvassing, and organizing around candidates who push back against Wall Street are critical. Go to Vote411.org <http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=50143f7f85afc5a3d4b8bde30d44fb0675c70b0955a7fb4d4a 03c4d6a24262c3&blog_id=171719462&post_id=55310&user_id=0&subs_id=39139304&signature=0c3825c6663ff711c117bf038a022e54&email_name=new-post&user_email=deborahgpedersen@yahoo.com&encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly93 d3cudm90ZTQxMS5vcmcv&email_id=009b635ce1b86f663ed68c27fad80581> and have your voting plan ready for November 4, 2025. Land ho! Private Equity thrives on opacity and inevitability. The sheer scale of the looting may feel paralyzing unless you have a civic engagement habit to channel the outrage. I believe Ballou provides the raw material needed to add more boots on the ground to organizing, litigation, and reform tactics. Plunder reminds us that although private equity sacked our lives in under a decade, we can shrewdly crew together to fight back, and we must, if we want to save ourselves from living between the devil and the deep blue sea. "We pillage, we plunder, we rifle, and loot, drink up me hearties yo ho!" - Yo Ho! by Xavier Atencio and George Brun, 1967 <http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog?action=user_content_redirect&uuid=11e66 84752a1ec9682d851e42d4984d2eced9f51682bc096f9e8b52362dc188b&blog_id=171719462&post_id=55310&user_id=0&subs_id=39139304&signature=998db5597d447803f2e90f3ae32f310f&email_name=new-post&user_email=debora hgpedersen@yahoo.com&encoded_url=aHR0cHM6Ly9ib3VuZGluZ21haW4uY29tL211c2ljL2x5cmljcy9waXJhdGVzLWxpZmUv&email_id=009b635ce1b86f663ed68c27fad80581> Pirates will be pirates. Savvy? Comment NPI's Cascadia Advocate © 2025. 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