OBAMA’S “DREAM” IS A NIGHTMARE FOR BLACK AMERICANS.
(Courtesy Black Agenda Report)
(Black Agenda Report)
In an MLK day piece, Glen Ford makes this observation, with a graphic cartoon comparing the perspectives of King and Obama. Ford examines the annual “State of the Dream” report of United for a Fair Economy and finds a flaw in it that is all-too-prevalent among pro-black “liberals” today: the tendency to blame racial inequality on the policies of “Republicans” rather than on the bipartisan corporate-dominated consensus of both parties. This consensus has allowed Democrats, led by Obama, to assaults across the country on public employees and the putting of Social Security “on the table” for consideration, both agendas of special disadvantage to black Americans.
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HOW ARE THINGS IN DEAR OLD AFGHAN-LAND?
(Asia Times)
Economically speaking, very poor indeed, as about a third of the population is living in poverty, and the government has failed in its promises to create local jobs as areas of the country have been freed of Taliban control. Rather than promoting local industry, the importing of manufactured goods has been encouraged as yet another backward region is economically swallowed up by a global neo-liberal economic agenda.
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DOUBLING OF SUICIDE RATE OF U.S. ARMY RESERVISTS AND GUARDSMEN: MILITARY SAYS DON’T BLAME US.
(Colorado Springs Independent)
Commander of the Guard offers the opinion that the suicide rate jump reflects “relationship problems” of young males, not anything uniquely burdensome about military duty (without offering any evidence of suicide increases among non-military young males) but seems to blame their wives and girlfriends. So ladies, lighten up on the guys and all will be well.
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HOUSE VOTES TO REPEAL OBAMA-CARE IN LARGELY “SYMBOLIC” ACT.
(New York Times)
In a straight-line party vote, new GOP majority in the House votes repeal of 2010 health care reform act. This can be viewed as only “symbolic” of a Republican position because repeal action will not be forthcoming in the Senate. Beyond that, it is seen as a “first step” in a longer process of returning the health care system to the unregulated hands of the “medical market,” without anything on the horizon as to what will replace the current legislation in control of medical costs and wider accessibility of insurance coverage.
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“HEY MOM, I SEE YOU GOT A GRADE OF C- ON MY REPORT CARD.”
(Orlando Sentinel)
This unlikely scenario could develop in Florida as bill is introduced in the state legislature to require that teachers grade the parents of their students on their “performance” as parents on such education-related factors as provision for homework, nutrition, rest and teacher-parent conferences. State teachers and their unions are not very enthusiastic, seeing this provision as adding yet another layer of burden to their jobs without producing any real improvement in educational outcomes.
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Quote of the day…
It is going to be worse in 2012 unless we do something – much worse.
Former Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, quoted in an article by Katrina vanden Heuvel assessing the continuing and escalating impact of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision allowing unlimited corporate campaign funding in a decision one year ago.
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