THE HEADLINES

WHEN LOCAL NEWSPAPERS DIE, CAN THE DEATH OF COMMUNITY CITIZENSHIP BE FAR BEHIND?

This question is addressed by Jessica Bruder in a feature article in the Christian Science Monitor. Her article is keynoted by a mournful style New Orleans funeral on the occasion of the drastic reduction of newspaper publication in favor of more online news coverage by the Times-Picayune, but it is a trend in towns and cities across the country. Studies by media experts are suggesting that such local news reduction is having consequences in growing civic apathy and a diminishing capacity of newspapers to play their traditional role as “watch dogs” on the actions of local governments.

(Christian Science Monitor)

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WHO IS PAYING THE PRICE FOR THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT’S RELUCTANT ORDERS TO DEMOLISH ILLEGAL JEWISH SETTLEMENTS? THE NEARBY PALESTINIAN RESIDENTS, OF COURSE.

Recent episodes of settler violence in “outpost” locations are called “price tag” riots because they seem to be threatening to “destabilize” the region by provoking Palestinian counter-violence which will lead the government to cease its tepid enforcement of laws against the settlements. As usual. the world press ignores or misinterprets these riots.

(Electronic Intifada)

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U.S. MILITARY WOMEN: FIRST THEY ARE RAPED, THEN THEY ARE RED TAPED.

Prevalence of such rapes has produced a new acronym MST (Military Sexual Trauma) for rape victims along the lines of PTSD. The VA benefits office processes claims for MST disability, but few are ever granted, partly because they require the production of proof of the rape, evidence that is typically hard to come by. Successful claims, if they ever come, typically take years to prosecute.

(In These Times)

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GRASSROOTS PRESSURE TO ADDRESS THE ROOTS OF THE WORLD’S CLIMATE CHANGE CRISIS: BUT WILL THE LEADERS FOLLOW?

Geography professor Joseph Nevins addresses this question, noting the bi-partisan consensus during the election to ignore this issue and the altogether inadequate remedies being considered by today’s “leaders” in the Congress and White House. If ever there were a case of the grave necessity of the leaders following the people, this would seem to be such.

(Common Dreams)

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MORTGAGE RELIEF MONEY WILL FLOW INTO FLORIDA, BUT IT MAY NOT ACTUALLY GO TO THOSE NEEDING IT THE MOST.

Opinion column in Tampa Tribune notes that Florida will be allocated $334 million in a settlement with large financial firms for fraudulent mortgage loan practices. How much of this goes to “distressed” homeowners struggling to stay in their homes remains to be seen. State legislatures, including Florida’s, have a habit of diverting such special grant funding into the coffers of their own general revenue funds, where they can be used to reduce their own budget “stress.”

(Tampa Tribune)

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Quote of the day…

It is currently fashionable among some mainstream commentators to claim that (Richard) Nixon’s policies were more progressive than Barack Obama’s, as if Nixon were progressive. He was not. He was a reactionary and a wannabe fascist. However, he ruled in a time when there was a popular left-leaning movement with a large militant wing. The existence of that movement and its leftist politics is why his policies were more progressive than many of those pursued by Barack Obama these last four years. That movement forced Nixon’s hand into agreeing to policies and programs he would not have agreed to if there was not such a movement. If the left can organize a similar movement today with comparable power, then a new and leftist politics might truly flourish.

Ron Jacobs, on needed post-election agenda for progressives.

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