Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Robert Reich: 7 Terrible Paul Ryan Ideas [CC]

"The End of Employment" - short trailer

The WORST Movies of 2015

The Best Movies of 2015!

Walter Energy Wins Court Approval to Scrap Union Obligations - Bloomberg Business

Walter Energy Wins Court Approval to Scrap Union Obligations - Bloomberg Business:



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Walter Energy Inc. can scrap its union obligations to facilitate a sale, a move that will affect multi-employer funds covering health and retirement benefits for thousands of former miners but may allow the company to keep operating.
After two days of hearings, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Tamara O. Mitchell in Birmingham, Alabama, found that the company’s assets can be sold without the liabilities associated with union benefits. She rejected objections by funds that are responsible for paying retiree and health benefits to former miners from Walter and other companies.
“This court finds that maintaining the coal operations as a going concern, keeping the mines open, offering future job opportunities and continuing to be a productive member of the business community all require this court to overrule” the objections, Mitchell said in an opinion filed Monday. She said that she assumed an offer to buy the company wouldn’t go forward without such a ruling.
Walter Energy filed for bankruptcy in July and is set to put its assets up for auction Jan. 5. As an opening bid, lenders who banded together as Coal Acquisition LLC have offered to exchange $1.25 billion of debt and pay $5.4 million in cash.

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my comments
stealing employee funds and benefits is getting to be an old story.  I guess widows and orphans have already starved to death.

Saturday Night Live - GOP Debate Cold Open

New Year's Resolutions = Big Business

Does Money Make You Mean?

The Townsend Pension Plan in the 1930s







perhaps we should reconsider this plan instead of cutting social security and medicare

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Republi-Claus!

Feds will no longer accept Missouri driver’s licenses - KMOV.com

Feds will no longer accept Missouri driver’s licenses - KMOV.com



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KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -

Starting next month, Missouri driver’s licenses will no longer be an acceptable form of identification to the federal government, and the consequences could be enormous for the state’s residents.
Missouri residents will no longer be able to use their driver’s licenses to enter federal facilities and may not be able to use them to board commercial flights.
It’s because Missouri is not in compliance with a federal law, known as the REAL ID Act, which requires states to adopt tougher security standards when issuing state identification cards.
For instance, states must require applicants to provide proof of identity, such as a birth certificate, proof of residency, and social security number before issuing an ID card.
States are also required to maintain a driver’s license database, that is accessible to officials in other states. The database must include all information printed on each driver’s license or ID card, including photographs.
The law, created in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, was passed by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2005.
While proponents believe it enhances security, opponents believe the law represents a federal overreach.
Lawmakers in some states, including Missouri, have refused to comply with it.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which is responsible for enforcing the law, issued exemptions to those states, to give them more time to implement it.
Several years later, federal authorities appear to be running out of patience.
The federal government recently denied a request to give Illinois and Minnesota more time to comply when their exemptions expire.

Radical Rabbi's War On Christmas

Monday, December 28, 2015

All Info - H.R.676 - 114th Congress (2015-2016): Expanded & Improved Medicare For All Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress

All Info - H.R.676 - 114th Congress (2015-2016): Expanded & Improved Medicare For All Act | Congress.gov | Library of Congress:



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Expanded & Improved Medicare for All Act
Establishes the Medicare for All Program to provide all individuals residing in the United States and U.S. territories with free health care that includes all medically necessary care, such as primary care and prevention, dietary and nutritional therapies, prescription drugs, emergency care, long-term care, mental health services, dental services, and vision care.
Prohibits an institution from participating unless it is a public or nonprofit institution. Allows nonprofit health maintenance organizations (HMOs) that deliver care in their own facilities to participate.
Allows patients to choose from participating physicians and institutions.
Prohibits a private health insurer from selling health insurance coverage that duplicates the benefits provided under this Act. Allows insurers to sell benefits that are not medically necessary, such as cosmetic surgery benefits.
Sets forth methods to pay institutional providers of care and health professionals for services. Prohibits financial incentives between HMOs and physicians based on utilization.----------------------------
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soar 11-3 in saint louis is on record of supporting this form or universal healthcare.  we remember those institutions and individuals that killed the debate on healthcare and hold them responsible for the current mess today.
In Missouri, the idiots actually believe this state would expand medicaid

Full Show 11/11/15: How Reaganomics Killed America’s Middle Class

Berne Sanders Goes Full FDR On Wall Street

Carville Blames Hillary Clinton Email Scandal on ‘Stupid Media People Ma...

The ‘King of Whopper': Donald Trump

The ‘King of Whopper': Donald Trump



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Summary

It’s been a banner year for political whoppers — and for one teller of tall tales in particular: Donald Trump.
In the 12 years of FactCheck.org’s existence, we’ve never seen his match.
He stands out not only for the sheer number of his factually false claims, but also for his brazen refusals to admit error when proven wrong.
He is by no means the only one telling whoppers, of course. Once again this year there are plenty of politicians, in both parties, who hope voters will swallow their deceptive claims. Hillary Clinton, for one, said she was “transparent” about her use of a private email server, when in fact she wasn’t. That was one of the bogus claims she made about her unusual email arrangement while secretary of state.
But Trump topped them all when he claimed to have seen nonexistent television coverage of “thousands and thousands” of Muslims in New Jersey cheering the collapse of the World Trade Center towers on 9/11 — and then topped himself by demanding that fact-checkers apologize for exposing his claim as fantasy. And that’s only one example.
Here we’ve assembled, as we do every year at this time, a generous sampling of the most far-fetched, distorted or downright fallacious claims made during 2015.
In past years, we’ve not singled out a single claim or a single person, and have left it to readers to judge which whoppers they consider most egregious.

Friday, December 25, 2015

Congress drops ‘country of origin labeling’ rule on meat products

Jesse Ventura on why we need to question more

10 of the Worst Cable News Moments of 2015 | Mother Jones

10 of the Worst Cable News Moments of 2015 | Mother Jones:



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Another year is about to pass, which means we've managed to survive 12 months of cable news—and endure some fantastically awful segments that the networks churned out. But that doesn't mean we emerged unscathed! Whether it was calling the president of the United States a "pussy" on live television or relentlessly covering Donald Trump's circuslike presidential campaign, cable news had plenty of lowlights in 2015. Here are some of the most memorable ones:

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Medicare Drug Spending Dashboard | The CMS Blog

Medicare Drug Spending Dashboard | The CMS Blog:



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Medicare Drug Spending Dashboard

December 21, 2015
By Andy Slavitt, Acting CMS Administrator and Niall Brennan, CMS Chief Data Officer
Medicare Drug Spending Dashboard
Just over a month ago, HHS convened a forum that brought together consumers, providers, employers, manufacturers, health insurance companies, representatives from state and federal government, and other stakeholders to discuss ideas on how our country can meet the dual imperatives of encouraging drug development and innovation, while ensuring access and affordability. The conversation touched on many ideas to increase access to information, promote value, drive innovation, strengthen incentives and promote competition.
Today, CMS is releasing a new online dashboard to provide information on Medicare spending on prescription drugs, for both Part B (drugs administered in doctors’ offices and other outpatient settings) and Part D (drugs patients administer themselves) to provide additional information and   increase transparency.  Having this information available to the public in an accessible format should inform health care decisions, policy considerations and encourage collective problem solving around these important issues.

Friday, December 18, 2015

The Big Short Official Trailer #2 (2015) - Christian Bale, Brad Pitt Mov...

Paul Krugman: Housing bubbles and retold lies | The Sacramento Bee

Paul Krugman: Housing bubbles and retold lies | The Sacramento Bee:



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DNC Defends Attack On Sanders Campaign

Thursday, December 17, 2015

Negative Tax Rates For The Biggest Companies That YOU Pay For





this is from last year.   see how they fixed problem in 2015.  also, since no cost of living and indeed no raise in wages or social security. what when they produce the figures for this year

Douche Bag of The Year Candidate gets arrested.

The Good, The Bad, And The Strange: A Budget Deal Guide | ThinkProgress

The Good, The Bad, And The Strange: A Budget Deal Guide | ThinkProgress:



click link and note, obama will most likely sign



snip



n the fall, lawmakers moved to allow Veterans Administration doctors to prescribe marijuana to veterans in states where the drug is legal for medicinal use. Cannabis’ capacity for relieving pain and anxiety make it a potentially useful treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, among many other ailments.
But soldiers won’t have access to the drug through VA doctors even if their state laws say medical pot is kosher. The measure passed the Senate but disappeared from the omnibus before it was finalized.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has long been a target for Republicans whobelieve they can force Democrats to agree to policies they oppose by attaching them to must-pass budget bills. Reports had it that the CFPB might lose its budget independence or have some of its specific attempts to protect consumers blocked by provisions of Wednesday’s deal.
Instead, all the agency’s opponents managed to conjure is a pair of odd, mostly cosmetic tweaks to the CFPB’s operations.
The first subjects the agency to a public-recordkeeping law called the Federal Advisory Committee Act. Any working groups or panels the agency sets up or participates in with other executive branch staffers will now have to operate publicly and publish records of their meetings and work. The measure does nothing to curb what those groups can do or discuss, but moves their deliberations into the public eye.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Those Republicans are scaring us

The Texas Lockout Story POLITICO Illegally Censored | Media Workers Unite

The Texas Lockout Story POLITICO Illegally Censored | Media Workers Unite:



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In the early 1990s, the United Steelworkers helped developed the modern international strategic campaign during the Ravenswood lockout when they famously chased  fugitive billionaire Marc Rich all over the world. The Steelworkers teamed up with unions in Europe, Asia Africa, and the Caribbean. These unions then put pressure on foreign government around the world to to block government deals with Rich’s companies unless the lockout in West Virginia was resolved.  
They also worked with leading Swiss trade unionists to build political pressure to have Rich extradited from the country to face criminal proceedings in the United States for tax evasion, racketeering, and violating the embargo with Iran. Ultimately, the pressure tactics succeeded and created a playbook that unions have been trying to follow for the last 20 years.
Now, Marc Rich is dead, but the Steelworkers still find themselves in yet another ugly ten month lockout with one of Rich’s corporations, Glencore. The company, now run by his protegee, Ivan Glasenberg has locked out of 450 Steelworkers  at Glencore’s Sherwin Alumina smelter facility in Gregory, Texas in October. The company demanded that the union accept a contract proposal from the company that would have eliminated retiree health care, eliminated pensions for new hires, and raised out of pocket healthcare costs by 75%. In October of 2014, when the union refused to agree to such drastic cuts, the company locked them out and hired “scab” replacement workers.

Deal Reached In Paris Climate Talks

Friday, December 11, 2015

Exxon, ALEC, And The Great Climate Cover Up





The United States of ALEC: Bill Moyers on the Corporate-Legislative Body...

Hillary Clinton Rally Missouri 12/10/15

Chris Cuomo GRILLS Carly Fiorina Over Planned Parenthood Videos and Rhet...

FAA Issues Temporary Flight Restrictions Over Porter Ranch Amid Leaking Methane Gas Well | KTLA

FAA Issues Temporary Flight Restrictions Over Porter Ranch Amid Leaking Methane Gas Well | KTLA:



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As Porter Ranch residents continued to express concerns over a leaking methane gas well, the Federal Aviation Administration banned planes from flying over the area until early next March.
A relief well is seen near the site of a methane leak in the Porter Ranch area on Dec. 9, 2015. (Credit: KTLA)
A relief well is seen near the site of a methane leak in the Porter Ranch area on Dec. 9, 2015. (Credit: KTLA)
The temporary flight restriction was posted on the FAA's website Thursday and will expire March 8.  It prohibits any aircraft from flying within a half-mile radius of the site, and extends up to 2,000 feet above the surface.
The development comes more than six weeks after natural gas was discovered seeping from an underground well at the Southern California Gas Company's Aliso Canyon storage facility in the Santa Susana Mountains.
Representatives from the private utility told the Los Angeles City Council last week that they would stop using the well after the leak was fixed, but cautioned it could take months 

#Daeshbags: Anonymous launches ISIS trolling day

This Bald Eagle Is NOT A Trump Fan...

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Texas Republicans In Vote In Favor Of Treason

Bernie Sanders Wins Readers’ Poll for TIME Person of the Year | TIME

Bernie Sanders Wins Readers’ Poll for TIME Person of the Year | TIME:



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Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has won the online readers’ poll for TIME Person of the Year, topping some of the world’s best-known politicians, activists and cultural figures as the most influential person of 2015 among those who voted.
The Vermont Senator won with a little more than 10% of the vote when the poll closed Sunday at midnight. That’s well ahead of Pakistani girls’ education activist Malala Yousafzai, who was in second place at 5.2%, and Pope Francis, TIME’s 2013 Person of the Year, who finished third with 3.7%.
Sanders also placed far ahead President Obama (3.5%) and ahead other 2016 candidates, including Republican Donald Trump (1.8%) and Democratic rival Hillary Clinton (1.4%).

Joe the dog tries to change the world

The 5 Backroom Deals To Watch As Congress Rushes To Wrap Up 2015

The 5 Backroom Deals To Watch As Congress Rushes To Wrap Up 2015:



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Measures targeting financial regulations in the last major omnibus bill – last December’s “CRomnibus” – became a public flashpoint with Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA) failed revolt against them. They’re likely to come up again, with Republicans holding even more of the bargaining power now that they control both chambers.

Consumer advocates fear a number of seemingly minor proposals with major Wall Street implications could find their way into the budget bill. One concern is a possible provisionderailing the Department of Labor’s plans to close loopholes related to fiduciary duty in the financial industry. Currently certain financial advisors can be compensated by the investment funds to which they direct their clients, and those advisors do not have to declare the conflict of interest. The administration's attempt to bring more transparency to the exchange could be thwarted by omnibus language that would block or further delay the implementation of the rule.

There is also talk of rolling back some of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law, including an attempt to reorganize the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which is currently run by a single director. If it was restructured like a commission, as has been proposed, advocates fear it will be subjected to the sort of partisan battles that have crippled agencies like the Federal Election Commission. Wall Street reformers will also be watching for language that would scale back the Financial Stability Oversight Council’s ability to monitor to risk the financial institutions that are not banks (insurance companies, asset managers, etc.) pose to the economy. Finally, there is a fight underway about the size threshold at which the Federal Reserve should impose additional layers of oversight on certain banks.
If the White House and Dems want to protect the fiduciary rule change, they will likely have to give on one or more of the measures geared at rolling back Dodd-Frank.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Government Wastes Millions And YOU Pay For it

ATI lockout drags into holiday season

Steel workers march for jobs

United Steelworker We Are Steelworkers YouTube 240p

American Can Company 1944 YouTube 360p

Canning Food Miracle of the Can circa 1956 American Can Co YouTube ...

Billionaires Try To Shut Down Bernie Sanders Headquarters YouTube 240p

Senate Republicans Vote To Allow Terrorists To Legally Buy Guns In The US

Senate Republicans Vote To Allow Terrorists To Legally Buy Guns In The US:



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mitch-mcconnell
Senate Republicans voted today to block a measure that would have prevented individuals on the terror watch list from legally buying guns in the United States.
The first gun control measure proposed by Democrats was legislation from Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) that would deny people on a federal terrorism watch list the ability to purchase guns. The measure failed, 45-54. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) voted with Republicans to reject the measure, and Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) crossed over to vote in favor of the gun restrictions.
The second vote revived legislation from April 2013, written in the aftermath of the shooting deaths of 20 elementary school children in Newtown, Conn., with bipartisan backing that would enact universal background checks. The four Republicans who backed the bill then — Kirk and Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, John McCain of Arizona and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, who co-authored the measure with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) — also voted in favor of the Democrats’ plan on Thursday. Heitkamp also opposed the second gun-control measure, which was blocked on a 48-50 tally.


Senate Republicans have now laughably put themselves on record as supporting the right of suspected terrorists to legally buy guns in the United States.

Setting the Record Straight: Unfair Trade Practices — Not High Wages — Have Hurt U.S. Manufacturing

Press Releases | Alliance for American Manufacturing:



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Setting the Record Straight: Unfair Trade Practices — Not High Wages — Have Hurt U.S. Manufacturing

Washington, D.C. – High wages are NOT to blame for the loss of 5.4 million U.S. manufacturing jobs since 1997, according to a new report by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). Currency manipulation and unfair trade practices are responsible for the decline in manufacturing jobs and closing of over 82,100 factories between 1997 and 2013.
“American factory workers are the solution, not the problem,” said Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul. “Instead of scapegoats, America needs a manufacturing strategy. That strategy should be built on balancing trade, investing in our infrastructure, enhancing our training programs, and rebuilding our innovation base.”
Ending unfair trade practices will help rebuild U.S. manufacturing without cutting wages in the sector, EPI Director of Trade and Manufacturing Research Robert E. Scott argues in Exchange rate policies, not high wages, are why U.S. lags China and Germany in export performance.
“The idea that high wages in the manufacturing industry are causing job losses is common, but incorrect,” Scott said. “Pushing manufacturing jobs into the low-wage, non-union south is a race-to-the-bottom strategy that should be rejected. Instead, we need to fight currency manipulation by countries like China and take a page from Germany and Europe to rebuild American manufacturing.”

Vt. senators seek Social Security boost  : Times Argus Online

Vt. senators seek Social Security boost  : Times Argus Online:



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MONTPELIER — Vermont Sens. Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders have joined Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and 17 other Democrats in seeking a cost-of-living increase for seniors on Social Security.
The Seniors and Veterans Emergency Benefits Act, introduced by first-term Democrat Warren, seeks to provide a boost to about 70 million seniors, veterans and people with disabilities with a bonus payment of just under $600. The Social Security Administration determined in October that there will be no annual increase Jan. 1 for beneficiaries.
It will be just the third time in 40 years that beneficiaries do not see an increase in the benefit.
Social Security benefits are tied to the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, so benefits rise when consumer prices go up. But the bill’s sponsors say the formula Congress uses to determine inflation does not reflect what seniors actually spend.
Seniors typically spend more than the average American on medicine and medical needs and less on consumer products like televisions. Official government data show the cost of core goods and services is up about 2 percent, but Social Security benefits are not slated to rise accordingly.

Mayor: I’m Not Racist, But We Should Hang Monkey Obama

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

BOMBSHELL: Cops Systematically Planted Drugs On Blacks For Decades

LabourStart Global Solidarity Conference 2016 Tickets, Toronto | Eventbrite

LabourStart Global Solidarity Conference 2016 Tickets, Toronto | Eventbrite:



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Hold the date!  For 2016 LabourStart will be returning to Canada for our Global Solidarity Conference.  The conference will be held in partnership with the Labour Council of Toronto and York Region in the city of Toronto, 6-8 May, at Ryerson University.

Hamilton Canada was where LabourStart held its first-ever open conference.  It was such a success that we went on to organize conferences in Australia, Turkey and Germany, each more successful than the last.  We're looking forward to that trend continuing.

An organizing committee representing major unions, LabourStart and the Toronto Labour Council has been struck and we expect a programme to be announced early in 2016.  No promises, but at this point a major theme looks to be the experiences of migrant workers. A registration fee of $50 will be charged, though we will waive that fee for those who cannot afford it.  The conference will be open to all; you will not need to be delegated to attend by your union.

“You people are just lying. How stupid do you think we are?” Larry Wilmore delivers the epic Trump takedown the political press hasn’t managed

“You people are just lying. How stupid do you think we are?” Larry Wilmore delivers the epic Trump takedown the political press hasn’t managed



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“How many of these black pastors—or ‘blastors,’ how many of these blastors endorsed him?” Wilmore asked. “I’m saying 85, 75 on a bad day.” In the end, the number was more like three. “OK, three black endorsements? ‘Blendorsments?’ That’s not bad. Three black endorsements out of 42 million black people…. carry the Omarosa…Wow! Man, he’s got a ways to go, guys.
“But I’m surprised these numbers are so low. I don’t understand,” Wilmore said. “I was under the impression that Trump had a great relationship with the blacks.” He then played clips of Trump explaining over and over again how Trump has “a great relationship with ‘the blacks.'” Trump can’t possibly be wrong because he has the best memory in the world.
If that’s not bad enough, Wilmore then attacked Trump for making fun of a New York Times reporter. Trump admits no wrongdoing; in fact, he’s demanding an apology from the Times, for what possible reason is still unclear. “Why should I believe you’re sensitive to disabled people? You literally just released a book that is titled ‘Crippled America,'” Wilmore said.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Trump Attack Ad Portrays Obama As Unserious Clown... Seriously.

How Organized Labor's Allegiance to Establishment Democrats is Killing Unions

How Organized Labor's Allegiance to Establishment Democrats is Killing Unions



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snip





Hillary Clinton's latest union endorsement — this time, from the 2.1 million member Service Employees International Union (SEIU) — has, once again, been an example of union leadership prioritizing political connections in high places over the best interests of its members.
As In These Times reported, the SEIU endorsement has angered local chapters so much that they're breaking off from the main union and endorsing Bernie Sanders, as they already have in New Hampshire, the first official presidential primary state. Rank-and-file dues-paying members of the SEIU said the executive board's announcement came too early, and point out that while Clinton's proposal for a $12 an hour minimum wage flies in the face of the SEIU's own Fight For $15 campaign. Both of Clinton's opponents in the Democratic primary, Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley, have gotten behind the call for a $15 an hour minimum wage.
- See more at: http://www.occupy.com/article/how-organized-labors-allegiance-establishment-democrats-killing-unions#sthash.n30KJcxp.dpuf



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note, I am not in total agreement with article.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Democracy Spring

Democracy Spring:



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snip, note some will be protesting social security and medicare cuts



It’s time to take mass nonviolent action on a historic scale to save our democracy. If at least 1,000 people pledge to risk arrest by December 15th, we will organize one of the largest civil disobedience actions in a generation in Washington, D.C. next April. We will call on Congress to take immediate action to end the corruption of big money in politics and ensure free and fair elections in which every American has an equal voice
The campaign will begin with a march from the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. where, if Congress has failed to meet our demand, thousands will gather to reclaim the US Capitol in a powerful, peaceful, and massive sit-in that no one can ignore. Join us!

Monday, November 23, 2015

Walmart Workers Will Protest Low Wages on Black Friday - Racked

Walmart Workers Will Protest Low Wages on Black Friday - Racked:



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This will be the fourth year in a row Walmart has been affected by protesters on one of the US's largest shopping days, and the retailer surely hoped to avoid another protest when it raised its minimum pay to $9 an hour earlier this year. No such luck for the retailer, though, which will now face 1,000 protesters across all 50 states. Over 100 workers also plan to organize and fast outside of Walmart's stores.
One worker tells Reuters that she will fast all 15 days and claims that others will do a liquid fast or fast on most days.
In previous years, protests outside of Walmart were organized by OUR Walmart, however, that organization broke up into two separate pieces in September. Instead, a group led by a former United Food and Commercial Workers International Union member is heading up this year's efforts.

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some of this in saint louis area

Socialist Bernie Sanders in 2016?

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Media: Hillary Won Debate Because Nine… Eleven.

Uzbekistan: World Bank must speak out as rights activists are beaten and detained for documenting forced labour in cotton

Uzbekistan: World Bank must speak out as rights activists are beaten and detained for documenting forced labour in cotton:



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Uzbekistan: World Bank must speak out as rights activists are beaten and detained for documenting forced labour in cotton

The government of Uzbekistan continues its brutal crackdown on human rights defenders documenting the massive use of forced labour in the cotton harvest. “For years”, writes Human Rights Watch, “the government has relied on the forced labor of over a million people each year – including children, teachers, medical workers, college and university students, and public employees – to pick cotton. It uses coercion, including intimidation and threats of loss of job, social welfare benefits, utilities, expulsion, and even prosecution to force people into the fields.” And for years the government has persecuted rights defenders documenting this coercion. The World Bank, which is financing the ‘modernization’ of Uzbek agriculture, is supposed to be monitoring the presence of forced labour and has pledged to withdraw over USD 450 million in funding for agriculture if forced labour is confirmed in project areas.

What is it doing in the face of this crackdown? 

On September 19, police arrested Elena Urlaeva, who heads the Human Rights Alliance of Uzbekistan, together with her husband and young son, for photographing and interviewing workers harvesting cotton in the Tashkent region. They were later released after police confiscated the photographs. Urlaeva has been detained at least four times in the last 4 months and regularly harassed over the past decade. In May this year, Urlaeva was drugged, interrogated and brutalized by the police for documenting the forced mobilization of education and health workers for cotton work. Among the materials confiscated by the police was her fact sheet on ILO Conventions. Two days later, police detained and beat another rights activist, Dmitry Tikhonov, for documenting busloads of people sent to the cotton fields by government officials . 


John Oliver - China AliBaba OutAmercaing America (HBO)

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Megyn Kelly Interviews Charles Koch: On Moral Values, Political Principl...

The WORST Line Of The FBN/WSJ GOP Debate

The decline and fall of White America: Inside the study that has shocked the public-health community

The decline and fall of White America: Inside the study that has shocked the public-health community



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An even more startling contrast can be found between the mortality rates of Hispanics, and of whites with no more than a high school education. Since approximately 80 percent of middle-aged Hispanics never went to college, the educational credentials of this group largely overlap with those of white Americans with high school degrees or less. Yet the middle-aged members of the Other White America now have a mortality rate that is an astonishing 173 percent higher than that of their Hispanic peers.
What could account for such astounding disparities? Case and Deaton found that most of the increased mortality rates among middle-aged residents of the Other White America could be accounted for by just three interrelated factors: drug and alcohol overdoses, suicide, and chronic liver diseases that are usually a product of long-term alcohol abuse. (These factors are closely related in that the line between deaths formally classified as suicide and other forms of self-destruction can be quite fuzzy).

TPP Full Text | United States Trade Representative

TPP Full Text | United States Trade Representative:



not good for working folks

Release of the Full TPP Text After Five Years of Secrecy Confirms Threats to Users’ Rights | Electronic Frontier Foundation

Release of the Full TPP Text After Five Years of Secrecy Confirms Threats to Users’ Rights | Electronic Frontier Foundation:



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Release of the Full TPP Text After Five Years of Secrecy Confirms Threats to Users’ Rights

Update [11/9/2015]: President Obama formally notified Congress of his intent to sign the TPP on Thursday November 5—90 days after which he may sign the agreement and send the agreement to Congress for ratification.
Trade offices involved in negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement have finally released all 30 chapters of the trade deal today, a month after announcing the conclusion of the deal in Atlanta. Some of the more dangerous threats to the public's rights to free expression, access to knowledge, and privacy online are contained in the copyright provisions in the Intellectual Property (IP) chapter, which we analyzed based on the final version leaked by Wikileaks two weeks ago and which are unchanged in the final release. Now that the entire agreement is published, we can see how other chapters of the agreement contain further harmful rules that undermine our rights online and over our digital devices and content.