We've heard plenty about the recession in the U.S., but what about the rest of the world? Countries across Europe have faced budget crunches and conservative governments are using the crisis as an excuse to roll back the social safety net that most have enjoyed for decades.
Many of the problems--and the solutions--sound sadly familiar. Lowered taxes on the rich and corporations, falling wages, and deregulation led to the crisis, which is being shifted onto the backs of the working class--as Michael Hudson notes, putting the class war back in business. Hudson joins us in studio, along with Richard Wolff, to discuss the economic crisis in Europe, what we can learn about the response to it and apply back at home. Here's a hint: it involves organized labor.
Last weekend, while at Netroots Nation, Laura had the opportunity to chat with Representative Donna Edwards. Our friends at The Uptake captured this interview with Edwards on her fight to pass a Constitutional amendment that would overturn the excesses of the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United.
Keep an eye out for part 2 of Laura's chat with Rep. Edwards and other interviews from Netroots Nation!
Contrary to popular opinion, new moms and political activism are not always mutually exclusive. Zoom in on the "Upper Breast Side", a hot bed of the socio-political-environmental breast feeders, defending their choice to be traditional instead of replace it with formula.
Latching On, produced by Women Make Movies, has a quirky take on breast feeding. Film maker Katja Esson interviews several different women from around America to discuss how American culture responds to public "taboo" breast feeding and what women are doing about it.
What if Kenneth Feinberg resigned tomorrow? That's the real question, when he asserts his sole authority over the funds allocated to the Gulf Coast for oil spill recovery. Monique Harden of Advocates for Environmental Human Rights joins us via Skype to offer her alternate vision for recovery: one based on fundamental human rights.
That´s right…the social programs in northern Europe and better for its citizens than in the States. Even though a person may be unemployed he or she is still able to tap into the health, educational, benefits of the State that he/she will not go under.
By davidperi on August 3rd, 2010 at 1:01 am
Northern Europe learned their lesson. When he/she go under, and all their family, and friends, and neighborhs,
they vote for a Hitler! Any Hitler will do! Who finds a minority group or foreign country to demonize! Any one will do!
And the Corporates give these candidates campaign contributions because they need to take the country to war to get out of the depression and full employment again. Look at what happened to Palin…she got plucked out of her civil service job to be on Fox. They’re creating her.
They keep all the winnings frfrom the Bubble and the War afterward. This is a formula now well observable from history!
By Planck on August 3rd, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Donna Edwards can use this information in their campaign. The data is out from Kaufman Foundation.
US corporations own only 50% of the jobs in this country. But, they have been net destroyers of jobs since 1977!
Only small businesses create jobs in this country! They get bought out by corporations to milk only after they have weathered the storm to become successful. Any of us in business could have known this, but here’s the evidence in hard figures and charts.
So, why do corporates have the power over our politics, money, and economy? Why does the Supreme Court give them so much control over property, market bubbles, just like James Madison gave to slave owners when the Constitution was written in a dark age?
Even Europe has 60% of jobs from private businesses. They are way ahead of us in providing self-determination to citizens.
Edward’s campaign needs this information to put in front of every Congress person’s nose and in every State House to pass this Amendment with HARD EVIDENCE!
https://www.intelligentcommunity.org/index.php?src=blog&srctype=detail&refno=194&category=Innovation&blogid=194
By Planck on August 3rd, 2010 at 5:36 pm