I am amazed by the number of frenzied, pre-mature "revelations" that global capitalism is dying. An article from the Independent Media Center headlines "US Capitalism is Dying: Beware the Ruling Class Attempts to Save It". {http://www.indymedia.org/en/2008/09/913653.shtml}. The UK Guardian asks "Is this the death of global capitalism?" {http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2008/sep/15/wallstreet.globalrecession}
Not exactly.
It is true that capitalism is in an incredibly advanced stage, and thus its contradictions seem to become more exposed and more extreme. But the latest financial crisis on Wall Street, and the follow up rejection of Bush's $700 billion bail out plan are by no means an overthrow of capitalism. The Treasury Department will still establish supplemental funds to help corporations, while the Fed has similar resources they can use to bail out others under laws established during the Great Depression. {http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/business/30plan.html?ref=business "Treasury and Fed Looking at Options; Sept 30th NY Times}
i.e. Wall Street will be okay.
The current question isn't about how to finish the deal on capitalism this week. It's more about how we are going to guarantee the economic security of working people that have been impacted by this long before Wall Street noticed it. And young people will feel it for years to come. There is still a lack of discussion when it comes to bailing out those of us who have lost our homes, or those of us seeking credit to purchase our first home or car or a loan go to school.
This is the discussion the Left and the Center must continue to push.
If you are having a hard time wrapping your brain around all of the information circulating, check out the People's Weekly World's "Guide to the Financial Crisis" at http://www.pww.org/article/view/13771.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Palin on the Spot
Katie Couric's latest interview with Sarah Palin was almost sad to watch. I wont bore you with my comments, as this clip here on the economy says enough by itself.
Palin's line at the end, for example, is destined to become a campaign classic. Trust me. It's a real doozy. And it certainly wont help to make anyone feel confident about Republican solutions for the current economic crisis.
Palin's line at the end, for example, is destined to become a campaign classic. Trust me. It's a real doozy. And it certainly wont help to make anyone feel confident about Republican solutions for the current economic crisis.
Fractions and Distractions
This Presidential season has been all about categories from the groundbreaking candidates themselves to the segments of the population that seemed to matter the most. Which, I guess, is not really something new. Going back to 2000, we had the Soccer Moms that Gore and Bush fought over, in 2004 it was the NASCAR Dads and in the primaries it was the mythical blue-collar worker (IE. white, industrial/post-industrial male workers..as if African Americans workers aren't blue collar) that Obama and Clinton were chugging back beers with.
Now, we have the rise of the Wal-Mart Mom- white mothers who shop at Wal-Mart. Could we be looking at anymore of a narrow segment of the population? This fracturing of the electoral by political pundits and cable news channels in need of a story is a distraction. As a matter of fact, white women are already heading back to Obama after the bump McCain received from his picking of Gov. Palin as his VP. With the Wall Street meltdown in full swing, can we get back to talking about real issues and real stories?
Now, we have the rise of the Wal-Mart Mom- white mothers who shop at Wal-Mart. Could we be looking at anymore of a narrow segment of the population? This fracturing of the electoral by political pundits and cable news channels in need of a story is a distraction. As a matter of fact, white women are already heading back to Obama after the bump McCain received from his picking of Gov. Palin as his VP. With the Wall Street meltdown in full swing, can we get back to talking about real issues and real stories?
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
More from Moore
Michael Moore says that he has a "gift" for all of us. He was referring to his latest film Slacker Uprising, which was officially released today and is available online--for free a la Radiohead's In Rainbows. Slacker documents Moore's experiences on his 62-city tour of swing states during the 2004 elections.
The movie's press release states that neither Moore nor distributor Brave New Films will make any money from the film, which is said to have cost over $2 million to make. "The only return any of us are hoping for is the largest turnout of young voters ever at the polls in November," commented Moore. He believes that "Slacker Uprising will inspire million to get off the couch and give voting a chance."
Well, it sure sounds interesting enough doesn't it?
You can watch it now at slackeruprising.com, or blip.tv. I'm curious to hear everyone's opinion...
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Remember the Veto!
After reading a letter-to-the-editor in "Solidarity", the internal newsletter of the United Autoworkers (UAW), I realized that the Republicans have done a great job at...well...lying. People are actually believing it! I won't go into all of those lies in this blog, though you can get a good idea from this AlterNet article: http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/98761/. Here, the many lies are actually cross-checked with real facts. A great read.
Anyway, what got me about this particular letter was that the writer blamed the Democrats of not doing anything in the past 2 years given their leadership in Congress--an all-to-familiar criticism we here from the Left and the Right. Dale Vollmers of Michigan wrote "The Democrats have been in charge for two years and have done nothing to stop the job losses or the corruption and government waste."
Now, Dale--have they really been "in charge"?
In fact, the Democratic Congress has passed a whole bag of legislation that would benefit working people, including the Employee Free Choice Act which would strengthen our ability to form and join unions. That is, they would have benefit us had it not been for a Bush veto.
And, there you have who's really been "in charge".
In order to solidify our 2006 defeat of the Ultra-Right from Congress, we have to clean house at 1600 Pennsylvannia Avenue in 2008. Obama is an exceptional candidate to do this.
I certainly hope Dale and other union members, youth and everyone else who's found themselves influenced by these types of myths will re-consider.
Anyway, what got me about this particular letter was that the writer blamed the Democrats of not doing anything in the past 2 years given their leadership in Congress--an all-to-familiar criticism we here from the Left and the Right. Dale Vollmers of Michigan wrote "The Democrats have been in charge for two years and have done nothing to stop the job losses or the corruption and government waste."
Now, Dale--have they really been "in charge"?
In fact, the Democratic Congress has passed a whole bag of legislation that would benefit working people, including the Employee Free Choice Act which would strengthen our ability to form and join unions. That is, they would have benefit us had it not been for a Bush veto.
And, there you have who's really been "in charge".
In order to solidify our 2006 defeat of the Ultra-Right from Congress, we have to clean house at 1600 Pennsylvannia Avenue in 2008. Obama is an exceptional candidate to do this.
I certainly hope Dale and other union members, youth and everyone else who's found themselves influenced by these types of myths will re-consider.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
It Ain't Over Until We've Won!
Sitting in the airport this morning, I was unpleasantly distracted by a conversation between 2 middle-aged women about Vice Presidential Nominee Sarah Pailin. Both were raving about how charasmatic she is, her speaking abilities, and how she's revitalized the Republican Party in this Election. The only mention of her positions on various issues occurred when one acknowledged that she certainly didn't agree with Pailin on everything, but that it was very important to get a woman in there. They later commented that Pailin is exactly what they need to bring young people around because young people, in fact, vote based on charisma.
Really?
I was still thinking about this conversation when I landed in Greensboro, North Carolina, and passed all-so-many McCain signs on the drive to my family's house--including some of their neighbors. And, my friends, let me tell you... I realized how important it really is that we go all out to defeat the Ultra-Right every single day until we've won.
There are less than 60 days left, and so many people that still need convincing. Moreover, we need to ensure that those who are supporting Obama vote and have their vote counted. Republicans in Michigan have already been accused of trying to suppress the vote of those who have foreclosed on their homes. And in Virginia, students have had their financial aid and in-state status threatened.
The extreme right-wingers know they're in trouble, and they are desperate to retain to power. But we cannot afford to let them win. We all must step up and do our part to tell our neighbors and friends how important this election is.
Today's contribution?
Get my folks in North Carolina some Obama yard signs.
Monday, September 8, 2008
ELECTIONS 08: Student Vote Suppressed
It looks like the students will need to be extra aware of making sure their vote is counted this year. Authorities in some battleground states, like Virginia and Georgia, are already publishing information to confuse college students and even outright discourage them from voting where they live during the majority of the year--on campus.
The Ultra-right has historically feared the build up of student-power in communities where a campus is based, and is going out of their way to prevent the student vote from electing Barack Obama this November.
To read more details about this, check out the New York Times article linked below:
Read the rest of this article at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/education/08students.html?_r=1&oref=slogin.
The Ultra-right has historically feared the build up of student-power in communities where a campus is based, and is going out of their way to prevent the student vote from electing Barack Obama this November.
To read more details about this, check out the New York Times article linked below:
Voter Registration by Students Raises Cloud of Consequences
By TAMAR LEWINThe widespread practice of students’ registering to vote at their college address has set off a fracas in Virginia, a battleground state in the presidential election.
Late last month, as a voter-registration drive by supporters of Senator Barack Obama was signing up thousands of students at Virginia Tech, the local registrar of elections issued two releases incorrectly suggesting a range of dire possibilities for students who registered to vote at their college.
The releases warned that such students could no longer be claimed as dependents on their parents’ tax returns, a statement the Internal Revenue Service says is incorrect, and could lose scholarships or coverage under their parents’ car and health insurance.
Read the rest of this article at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/education/08students.html?_r=1&oref=slogin.
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