| Mike Lofgren | Art Does Not Imitate Life: TV Dramas Can't Capture the Real World of Politics Mike Lofgren, Truthout: Fictionalized representations of the American political system such as "House of Cards" are digestible to public understanding in a way that reality is not. A documentary of the skullduggery that went into introduction and passage of the Authorization for Use of Military Force in Iraq or Wall Street's efforts to buy off politicians and evade financial reform is unlikely to appeal to a similar audience. Read the Article "Frackgate": Ohio Regulators Planned To Subvert Eco-Groups, Promote Fracking in State Parks Mike Ludwig, Truthout: Republican Gov. John Kasich and Ohio regulators are in hot water over internal documents that environmental groups and state lawmakers say show the administration planned to collude with the oil and gas industry to publicly promote fracking in state parks. The plan included strategies for fending off criticism from a "Nixon-style enemies list." Read the Article Western States' Regulation of Pot Provides Template for Rest of Nation Paul Armentano, Truthout: Colorado lawmakers are applying the tried-and-true principles of legalization, regulation and public education to cannabis. Ultimately, only criminals benefit from the ongoing imposition of cannabis prohibition. Read the Article How Obama Could Kill the Democratic Party The Daily Take, The Thom Hartmann Program: In the coming weeks, the president is expected to announce his new budget plan for fiscal year 2015. And while more than a year into his second term in office, when he should have the Democratic Party behind him, many progressives are worried. Read the Article Predator Banks Enter Brave New World of Epic Scams; Public Hasn’t Got a Clue Lynn Parramore, AlterNet: Wall Street watchers have been concerned for some time about the monopolizing trend among big banks. One of the most alarming developments in recent years is a buying spree in which megabanks have been gobbling up physical assets. Read the Article FCC Considers New Net Neutrality Rules Mike Ludwig, Truthout: The FCC says it will write new net neutrality rules to prevent telecommunications companies from discriminating against web content. But the White House issued a statement that suggested President Obama would not direct the agency to reclassify the Internet as a common carrier. Read the Article Richard D. Wolff | A Lesson From Chattanooga Richard D. Wolff, Moyers & Company: Many factors led to the United Auto Workers' loss in the recent union election at the Volkswagen factory in Tennessee. Likewise, many lessons can be learned. One especially important lesson concerns how one factor – "outside influence" – works so one-sidedly in the United States. Read the Article Holder's Speech on Felon Disenfranchisement: A Step Forward or Just Lip Service? Candice Bernd, Truthout: In a speech at Georgetown University on Tuesday, Attorney General Eric Holder called for a ban on laws prohibiting more than 6 million felons from voting. But what is the Obama administration's real track record on these racist disenfranchisement policies? Read the Article Justice in a Postracial World David Palumbo-Liu, Truthout: In the United States, perceptions of possible deadly threats are too often race-inflected. And while the assertion that "hate" factored into the murder of Jordan Davis is hard to prove convincingly, we need a way socially to express our abhorrence of such acts. Read the Article On the News With Thom Hartmann: Raising Minimum Wage Could Decrease Jobs for Low-Wage Workers, and More In today's On the News segment: The Department of Homeland Security wants to keep a record of where you drive your car; while many states around our nation are moving closer to equality, Indiana is pushing toward discrimination; raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour could decrease jobs for low-wage workers; and more. Watch the Video and Read the Transcript Fed Orders Post-Crisis Crackdown at Big Banks Kevin G. Hall, McClatchy Washington Bureau: A long-anticipated rule will require domestic and international banks with assets above $50 billion to hold more capital in case things go bad. It was required as part of the sweeping revamp of financial regulation back in 2010 that followed the most devastating financial crisis since the Great Depression. Read the Article US Support for Regime Change in Venezuela Is a Mistake Mark Weisbrot, The Guardian: The US push to topple the Venezuelan government of Nicolas Maduro once again pits Washington against South America. Read the Article Banning Home Births: Next Wave of Reproductive Control? Robin Marty, Care2: There is a growing movement to regulate midwives and home births. That's the situation in Arizona, where an "emergency" proposal is being introduced in the Legislature to undo new advances when it comes to allowing assisted home births. Read the Article | 
No comments:
Post a Comment