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What’s today’s news?
A good dose of news I got from a very different places.
Is The War on Drugs “All About the Money”?
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=8985 (one person radically proposes that all drugs be legalized)
Petraeus Resignation Reveals Divisions Over Iran
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=9117
Study: Black Male Incarcerations Jumped 500% from 1986 to 2004, Resulting in a Mental Health Crisis
http://www.yourblackworld.net/2012/11/black-news/study-black-male-incarcerations-jumped-500-from-1986-to-2004-resulting-in-a-mental-health-crisis/
10 Myths About Obama and the Democrats
http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/11/13/10-myths-about-obama-and-the-democrats/
The Global Electioneering Industry
http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/11/13/the-global-electioneering-industry/
In Bed With the CIA
http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/11/13/in-bed-with-the-cia/
Why Do We Believe What Our Generals Tell Us?
http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/11/13/why-do-we-believe-what-our-generals-tell-us/
Obama’s Wars, Ver. 2
http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/11/13/obamas-wars-ver-2/
Done in by the Patriot Act?
http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/11/13/done-in-by-the-patriot-act/
BBC Scandal Exposes Cover-Up of Host Jimmy Savile’s Pedophilia, Fueling Public Broadcaster’s Foes
http://www.democracynow.org/2012/11/13/bbc_scandal_exposes_cover_up_of
“Mea Maxima Culpa”: New Doc Exposes Horror of Catholic Child Sex Abuser and Heroism of His Victims
http://www.democracynow.org/2012/11/13/mea_maxima_culpa_new_doc_exposes
As Talks Begin on “Fiscal Cliff,” Report Warns “Fix the Debt” a Front for More Corporate Bailouts
http://www.democracynow.org/2012/11/13/as_talks_begin_on_fiscal_cliff
Yvette Carnell: How Both Rev. Al Sharpton and Michael Eric Dyson Tricked the Black Community
http://www.yourblackworld.net/2012/11/black-news/yvette-carnell-how-both-rev-al-sharpton-and-michael-eric-dyson-tricked-the-black-community/
These Companies Are All Firing People Because Obama Got Reelected
http://www.yourblackworld.net/2012/11/from-kulturekritics-com/these-companies-are-all-firing-people-because-obama-got-reelected/
Cornel West Says Black Prophetic Tradition Has Reawakened for Obama’s Second Term
http://www.yourblackworld.net/2012/11/black-news/cornel-west-says-black-prophetic-tradition-has-reawakened-for-obamas-second-term/
After Sandy, It’s Occupy to the Rescue
http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/after_sandy_its_occupy_to_the_rescue_20121113/
Ridiculous Details Emerge From Petraeus Sex Scandal as Investigation Widens
http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/as_petreaus_scandal_probe_widens_ridiculous_details_emerge_from_investigati/
Global Warming Likely to Match Our Worst Fears, Study Finds
http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/global_warming_to_match_our_worst_fears_study_confirms_20121113/
The Mandate of Hell: How Not to Change the World
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_mandate_of_hell_how_not_to_change_the_world_20121113/
Hurricane Sandy and Disaster Capitalism
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/hurricane_sandy_and_disaster_capitalism_20121112/
Two things about California’s GE labeling fight
http://www.panna.org/blog/what-matters-about-californias-ge-labeling-fight
That’s all…
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A great quote by Cornel West as to the importance of history.
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This film is very eye-opening and I highly recommend it. As noted by David DeGraw, an occupy activist, this film, American Autumn was:
“Shot on the front lines and meeting spaces of the Occupy movement in NYC, Boston, and Washington, DC from the earliest days through the end of January 2012 American Autumn: an Occudoc is an inside looking out view of the occupy movement.
With interviews and insight from key organizers, thinkers and activists including Medea Benjamin, David DeGraw, Dr. Margaret Flowers, Lee Camp, Naomi Klein, Nathan Schneider, Ashley Sanders, Vlad Teichberg, Sgt. Shamar Thomas, Dr. Cornel West, Kevin Zeese and many more. Writer/ director Dennis Trainor Jr weaves commentary and a fearless style that often puts the viewer right between police and protesters.” (http://daviddegraw.tumblr.com/post/26074557177/american-autumn-an-occudoc-watch-free-full-length) -
Join DSA Honorary Chair Cornel West and the Young Democratic Socialists in taking action against student debt!
News directly from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) national office…
February 27 – March 2
National Student Debt Week of Action
Student debt exceeded $1 trillion in 2011 – for the first time, more than credit card debt. For too many students, access to college involves taking on unbearable debt. From 1981 to 2010 college tuition increased 7% every year, more than double the overall inflation rate of 3%. College tuition and fees have quadrupled in real terms from 1982 to 2007. Many young people give up on higher education entirely, and graduates who struggled through school often remain jobless in an economy creating only one job for every four job seekers. On top of being jobless, they then become stuck in accelerating debt slavery as their interest rates compound. Deregulation of the finance industry, particularly student loans, budget cuts to higher education, threats to privatize public colleges and universities, and the recession and jobs crisis have created a perfect storm for young people today.
It’s time to demand a solution! Draw attention to this issue with the National Student Debt Week of Action. The Occupy movement has been instrumental in shifting the conversation away from austerity and budget cuts, and towards fixing income inequality. This week of action can force decision makers to pay attention to the student debt crisis.
Join the National Student Debt Week of Action now – click on this link to get the materials you need to fight back!
Students across the country are leading the fight back against snowballing student debt, predatory lending and rising tuition. Join in!
Monday, February 27: Table and Leaflet on campus
Tuesday, February 28: Fax-Blast Action Day
Wednesday, February 29: Screen Default: the Student Debt Movie
Thursday, March 1: Escalate!
Let us know, and the Young Democratic Socialists will send you what you need to get ready for action!
In solidarity,
Maria Svart
National Director
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Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West on the GOP Tea Party’s racial composition vs. Occupy Wall Street’s (4:36 into the video):
“We know there’s an intimate connection between corporate greed running amok at the top and escalating poverty at the bottom — be it poor white, poor brown, poor yellow, or black, or what have you. But we also have to keep in mind there’s a cultural difference. The Tea Party looks more like the audience of Lawrence Welk and the National Hockey League. The Wall Street Occupation, we look more like the audience of Lupe Fiasco or the audience of Carol King and James Taylor. There’s a cultural sensibility that is different in that regard. And they’re wrong if they say that the Wall Street Occupation group is 99% white. That’s just a lie. I’ve been there… We’ve got brown, we got yellow, we got red brothers and sisters… we are an all-inclusive movement.”
Cornel West and Tavi Smiley is right. Greed is something people should protest. In response to what they said about the Tea Party (bolded above) is that the Tea Party is a movement that’s in the apolitical stratum. That means, according to an essay I wrote for American government class: “the small supposedly-united groups called the “Tea Party” are just another aspect of the apolitical spectrum. Those that participate in these groups mostly have inconsistent opinions and ideologies.” They can debate me on this issue, but it will be hard to win. As a for the Occupy Wall Street movement, I agree. It is multicultural and accepting of all. It should be a place where all ideas are heard, not just some and that’s what it is, especially at the General Assemblies.
