Government

Seven Ways Occupy Changed America—And Is Still Changing It

September 18, 2013 David Callahan, www.demos.org Educate! Finance and the Economy, Government, Occupy

Occupy Wall Street was born exactly two years ago today, and even as that movement reached its zenith later in the fall of 2011, it was easy to dismiss the activists who took over financial centers around the nation. Their policy agenda was amorphous and their organizational processes seemed maddening. Compared to the Tea Party, with its disciplined focus on winning elections, Occupy appeared fleeting and ineffective. Yet Occupy changed America in major ways, and is still changing it. Here are seven big ways Occupy influenced both U.S. politics and culture.

The Rise of the New New Left

September 13, 2013 Peter Beinart, www.thedailybeast.com Educate! Government, Occupy

If history is any guide, the sentiments behind Occupy will find their way into the political process, just as the anti-Vietnam movement helped create Eugene McCarthy’s presidential bid in 1968, and the civil-rights movement bred politicians like Andrew Young, Tom Bradley, and Jesse Jackson. That’s especially likely because Occupy’s message enjoys significant support among the young. A November 2011 Public Policy Polling survey found that while Americans over 30 opposed Occupy’s goals by close to 20 points, Millennials supported them by 12. Bill de Blasio’s mayoral campaign offers a glimpse into what an Occupy-inspired challenge to Clintonism might look like.

Does Occupy Have A Friend In Likely NYC Mayor de Blasio?

September 12, 2013 Nathan Schneider, www.wagingnonviolence.org Educate! De Blasio, Government, Occupy

The Democratic primary election has just about assured that de Blasio will be the next mayor of New York. De Blasio surged ahead to the front of a crowded race in recent weeks by fashioning himself as champion of the downtrodden — to the point of getting himself arrested in protest of a hospital closure. In his youth, he was active in struggles against U.S. military policy in Latin America and nuclear power plants, and more recently, he has made overtures to sympathizers of Occupy Wall Street. In August he told The Wall Street Journal that “As mayor … I would work to build spaces where OWS and government officials could communicate and discuss ways to address their demands.” He has also been highly critical of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s brute-force method of eliminating the occupation at Zuccotti Park, calling it, in an interview with The Nation, “a very troubling precedent.”

Obama’s Case for Syria Didn’t Reflect Intel Consensus

September 9, 2013 Gareth Porter, www.ipsnews.net Educate! Government, Syria, Wars and Militarism

Contrary to the general impression in Congress and the news media, the Syria chemical warfare intelligence summary released by the Barack Obama administration Aug. 30 did not represent an intelligence community assessment, an IPS analysis and interviews with former intelligence officials reveals. The evidence indicates that Director of National Intelligence James Clapper culled intelligence analyses from various agencies and by the White House itself, but that the White House itself had the final say in the contents of the document. Former intelligence officials told IPS that that the paper does not represent a genuine intelligence community assessment but rather one reflecting a predominantly Obama administration influence. In essence, the White House selected those elements of the intelligence community assessments that supported the administration’s policy of planning a strike against the Syrian government force and omitted those that didn’t.

First Vote In Senate On Syria Will Be Wednesday

September 9, 2013 Staff, www.cnn.com Organize! Government, Syria, Wars and Militarism

As we have seen today, with the move by Russia and Syria to put Syria's chemical weapons under international control, the situation regarding Syria can change rapidly. The schedule below put forward by CNN is one that is likely to be modified as the week goes forward. Since they put out this schedule Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid confirmed that Wednesday the Senate will take a procedural vote regarding Syria. This will be the first test in either House of Congress on the authorization for the use of military force in Syria. The vote is scheduled to come the day after Obama's address to the nation and after a private briefing by the administration to senators. It should be a strong point for Obama as the administration attempts to change the momentum in Congress and among the people which is opposed to a military attack on Syria.

Survey Finds Deep Corruption In The United States

September 9, 2013 Eric Zuesse, www.huffingtonpost.com Educate! Finance and the Economy, Government

When the World Bank scored the U.S. on "Control of Corruption" in the 2009, 2010, and 2011 (or Obama-era) versions of their "Worldwide Governance Indicators," the U.S. performance wasn't even as good as it had been in the previous, 1996-2008, rankings. Whereas the U.S. had scored consistently at the bottom of the top 10% (and near the bottom of the developed countries) prior to Obama, the U.S. has scored at the bottom of the top 15% (and the very bottom of the developed countries) since Obama came into office in 2009. A more detailed picture of the corruption-performance of the United States, internationally, is provided by the most recent rankings from the World Economic Forum, "The Global Competitiveness Report 2012-2013." The U.S. is down on 19 of these WEF factors, up on 2, and unchanged on 1, during the period while Obama has been in office. This overall finding, of declining U.S. performance, is entirely in line with the similar findings from the World Bank: Corruption in the United States is increasing significantly during Obama's Presidency.

If Obama Goes To War After No Vote Impeachment Would Follow

September 8, 2013 Howard Fineman, www.huffingtonpost.com Educate! Government, Syria, Wars and Militarism

Even as he beseeches former colleagues in Congress to vote for President Barack Obama’s plan to bomb Syria, Secretary of State John Kerry made it clear in an interview with The Huffington Post that he thinks the president has the right to order air strikes in the face of congressional disapproval. If that scenario were to materialize -- a bombing campaign after a "no" vote -- the result would almost certainly be an impeachment drive in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Citing their role as commander-in-chief, U.S. presidents have assumed ever-greater latitude in ordering apparent acts of war without obtaining Congress’ permission, as the letter of the Constitution requires.

Syria Alert: Pledge Peace To Congress

September 5, 2013 Staff, www.greenshadowcabinet.us Create! Government, Peace, Syria, Wars and Militarism

"The most effective deterrent against the use of chemical weapons is not the mass bombing of Syria, an action that would be illegal under international law and counterproductive, but to use the international legal system that has been built since World War I and take legal action under the Chemical Weapons Convention," wrote Attorney General Kevin Zeese yesterday in an official Green Shadow Cabinet statement. Secretary of Defense Leah Bolger and Secretary of Peace David Swanson have warned that: "U.S. military involvement in Syria could only make things worse. Syria does not need a 'no fly' zone. It needs a 'no weaponizing' zone. The White House and its allies need to stop arming one side of a civil war, and to persuade Russia to stop arming the other. Further escalating the violence will result in nothing that could outweigh the damage of that violence."

CA Lawmakers Promise Hearings in Response to Prisoner Hunger Strike

September 5, 2013 Staff, www.prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity.com Educate! Criminal Justice and Prisons, Government, Human Rights

“The issues raised by the hunger strike are real – concerns about the use and conditions of solitary confinement in California’s prisons – are real and can no longer be ignored,” Senator Hancock and Assemblymember Ammiano said in a joint statement. Assemblymember Ammiano said further, “The Courts have made clear that the hunger strikers have legitimate issues of policy and practice that must be reviewed. The Legislature has a critical role in considering and acting on their concerns. We cannot sit by and watch our state pour money into a system that the US. Supreme Court has declared does not provide constitutionally acceptable conditions of confinement and that statistics show has failed to increase public safety.”

Thousands Protest Energy Reform In Mexico

September 1, 2013 lalag, www.allvoices.com Resist! Energy, Government, Mexico

According to police, the demonstration began with around 2000 participants, later joined by many other people. Their protest was against the opening of the energy sector. Among other things, the state oil company Pemex will in future may make joint business with private companies. "In defense of oil and electricity we do not deviate one step back," Cardenas said at the closing rally. His father Lázaro Cárdenas nationalized as president in 1938, the Mexican oil industry. In recent days there had been numerous demonstrations against the reform plans of the government again in Mexico. In the city center since about two weeks camped thousands of teachers who are protesting against the recent education reform.

VIDEO: Poverty-Stricken Spanish Raid Store For School Supplies

September 1, 2013 Staff, www.euronews.com Create! Education, Government, Poverty, Video

Unemployment is at 35.8 percent in Andalusia, some 10 percent above the national average. An estimated four million people live in poverty, and 400,000 families have no-one in work and are not in receipt of any benefits. “The school year is about to begin and many parents have no money for school supplies. This a protest against the regional and national governments,” said Diego Canamero, from the Union of Andalusian Workers. One hundred trolley loads were stolen for distribution to the poorest families, and the media was alerted to be on hand when the action was explained to the angry supermarket manager, and the police, who arrived later.

Dail Lockout: Irish Say “No” To Austerity On September 18

August 31, 2013 Staff, www.directdemocracyireland.ie Organize! Austerity, Government, Ireland, Poverty

In response to the complete lack of lack of respect for the Irish people, all the broken political promises, and the utter failure to represent the interests of the Irish people, the people have begun to take matters into their own hands to demand members of the Oiréachtas honour the wishes of those who employ them.. Hence, there will be a peaceful LOCK OUT on SEPTEMBER 18TH outside DAIL EIREANN (both gates). The goal is to remind all TDs and Senators that they are there to do as WE THE PEOPLE of Ireland demand, and not bow down to vested corporate, banking and European interests. The LOCK OUT has been proceeded by letters of warning, telling TDs that they are not required to work on that one day, because we the people are aware that they are not working for US. This is an opportunity for TDs and Senators to show who they stand with and on which side of history they wish to fall.

Is Obama Walking Into An Impeachment Trap?

August 30, 2013 Kevin Zeese, www.PopularResistance.org Educate! Government, Syria, Wars and Militarism

This all adds up to a major blunder in the making if President Obama does not find a way to back track from his war threats. While I believe that an attack on Syria would be a mistake no matter what Congress does, those who believe a military strike is necessary should at a minimum bring the matter to Congress and wait for the UN inspectors report and a decision from the Security Council. The risk of impeachment needs to be part of the balance in Obama’s thinking. The Republicans have been out to destroy him since he was elected. Attacking Syria without congressional approval will give them a weapon. And, you can be sure they will use it, and with their majority control of the House, a vote for impeachment in that Chamber is not unlikely. If Obama proceeds to war without going to Congress for approval, the irony of an impeachment conviction for an illegal war by the president who won a Nobel Peace Prize may indeed come to pass. President Obama’s legacy will be that of a president who started an illegal war.

50th Anniversary Of ‘Farce On Washington’

August 29, 2013 Kymone Freeman, www.popularresistance.org Educate! Government, Poverty, Racism, Wars and Militarism

Too many bourgeois Blacks make the near blasphemous claim that their success is an example of the proof of the fulfillment of MLK's "Dream" and passionately defend all things Obama. Nothing could be further from the truth and only serves to further discredit and dishonor King’s legacy of speaking truth to power. Take the fact that today a minimum wage worker at Taco Bell would have to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 467 years to make as much as the CEO makes in 1 year. So the day after the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington the largest fast food worker strike ever in the US has organized a work stoppage while President Obama is preparing to go to war with Syria.

Green Shadow Cabinet Of The United States: Don’t Attack Syria

August 29, 2013 Green Shadow Cabinet, www.greenshadowcabinet.us Organize! Government, Syria, Wars and Militarism

The Green Shadow Cabinet is alarmed by reports that the United States is planning an imminent military attack on Syria, and implores the Obama administration to refrain from an action that at best would be illegal, unconstitutional and immoral, and at worst, would result in catastrophic consequences. The Obama administration will be violating international law if it acts without a vote by the UN in support of military intervention. Further, under Article 1, Section 8, Clause 11 of the U.S. Constitution, it is the Congress that determines whether the United States goes to war. If President Obama launches an attack without prior explicit authorization by Congress, he will have committed an offense worthy of impeachment. If he launches an attack without authorization from the UN, he will be guilty of war crimes.

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