Striking Oakland Teachers Have it Right

Come Friday, Oakland, California, public students will likely be presented with a double treat: a full day off from school, plus a lesson in active democracy. With Oakland teachers set to strike for one day, the Oakland community will be reminded of the need for fairness to both teachers and students. The article referenced tells more.

I very much respect the Oakland teachers and wish them well in their fight for manageable class sizes, protection of basic services, and equitable pay!



http://socialistworker.org/2010/04/28/oakland-teachers-set-one-day-strike

Compelling Reading from Noam Chomsky

Noam Chomsky fathoms the anger of the average American now, informed by personal experience reaching all the way back to the '30s. This article enlightens both through its history and its accurate assessment of the body politic in the U.S. now. His viewpoint on the Tea Party movement is dead on -- and surprising. Members of the Tea Party movement should be taken seriously, says Chomsky, not dismissively derided.

From the anarchist movements of the 1930s, then, to the Tea Party movement of now, Chomsky traces lines of movements for justice, propelled by the aspirations of every-day workmen. The result is an article brilliant, moving and prescient. This is must-reading for every thoughtful American.


http://www.truthout.org/remembering-fascism-learning-from-past58724

Supremes Rapped for Decision

Here is an entertaining, if simple, video criticizing the recent Supreme Court decision which puts forth the ridiculous assertion that corporations have the same rights as persons. I have dealt with this issue in earlier posts. Here is another way to get the message across: corporations do not have the same rights as persons!

(Click on the title above or cut and paste the URL below.)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExqQPnBFnJE&NR=1

Obama Assassination Policy Despicable

After a break due to illness --


What is it about power that corrupts absolutely, as the old axiom goes? Seemingly good and charming people campaign for office, decrying the extra-Constitutional means of their predecessors, then, when in office, adopt and even expand the same means. Such a person is one Barrack Obama, current sworn President of the United States.

Fortunately, there is at least one representative in Congress unafraid to challenge or criticize this atrocious Obama assassination policy. That courageous patriot is Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio. I am proud to say I voted for Mr. Kucinich for President in 2004 and again in 2008. At no point did I vote for Mr. Obama, bucking a huge political tide at the time.

At any rate, the referenced article tells more about the Obama treachery and the Kucinich bravery.





http://www.thenation.com/doc/20100503/scahill

Musical America -- 1971

As this is the Musical Patriot, I thought persons might enjoy this music from the opening theme of the 1971 version of Password, the TV game show with Allen Ludden. There are many ways to be patriotic and music can be used thus. While this music is certainly not patriotic in the ordinary sense of the word, there is something about this music which represents the best of America of the latter Twentieth Century and beyond: sophisticated yet authentic. The music here is quite appealing -- both techno and poignant. This could be talked about in technical musical terms. But why not have a listen? (The comments below the excerpt are interesting, too.)










Audio Version of Theme to Password Plus

Pollster John Zogby in Sincere Plea to Cable News Networks

Now I realize that what follows here might be characterized as biting the hand that has fed me. If it hadn’t been to a great degree for cable news networks I wouldn’t be nearly as well known and my company would have had to fight much harder for attention. But now I am older and I’ve changed – but they have changed, too and not for the better.


So begins a thoughtful on-line column by pollster John Zogby. Zogby makes several important and useful observations regarding ratings and the content of cable news. This article is well worth reading and thinking about.

Robert Reich Tells the Truth About Jobs

Late last week on All Things Considered, I heard an unnamed White House official touting the dramatic turn-around in the jobs picture. This smooth-talking, nearly giddy, spokeswoman touted the addition of some 50,000 new jobs in one month early this year compared with the loss of as much as 700,000 jobs per month the year before. Her figures were indeed impressive. And jobs numbers released for March were said to be encouraging.

It is useful, however, to see where these numbers may come from. Many, says former Labor Secretary Robert Reich, come from government hiring -- as a result of the stimulus package and more recently from Census hiring, as well. This is evidence for my long-held position that the government needed to enact an FDR-style jobs program in order to jump-start the economy. Reich shows that Americans continue to fall behind in the area of jobs. The need for a serious jobs program remains real and great.




http://robertreich.org/post/491319675/no-jobs-recovery