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Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Fresh Hell When Congress Returns
Fresh Hell When Congress Returns
"Republicans are expected to double down on their effort to sabotage jobs and economic growth."
"Republicans are expected to double down on their effort to sabotage jobs and economic growth."
What’s Motivating Sport Fishermen To Become Climate Advocates?
What’s Motivating Sport Fishermen To Become Climate Advocates?: A new report from the National Wildlife Federation puts a magnifying glass on fresh water, climate change, and the most well-known denizens of lakes and waterways - fish.
Georgia’s Governor Took Money From The Insurance Lobby While Denying Health Coverage To The Poor
Georgia’s Governor Took Money From The Insurance Lobby While Denying Health Coverage To The Poor: A Super PAC linked to Gov. Nathan Deal (R) has taken over half a million dollars in political contributions from the health care industry. But he's been far less willing to accept generous federal money to extend Medicaid coverage to 650,000 of Georgia's poorest residents.
PERRspectives: Study Debunks Myth of Doctors Fleeing Medicare
PERRspectives: Study Debunks Myth of Doctors Fleeing Medicare
"The claim has become a staple of Republican efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act and transform Medicare into a system in which future elderly receive vouchers to purchase health insurance in the private market. "We are starting to see physicians turn away from taking patients who are on Medicare," the GOP.gov web site warns, with "more and more physicians are choosing to opt out of Medicare altogether." In July, the Wall Street Journal dutifully picked up that cudgel, cheering one "doctor goes off the grid" while fretting "more doctors steer clear of Medicare."
"The claim has become a staple of Republican efforts to undermine the Affordable Care Act and transform Medicare into a system in which future elderly receive vouchers to purchase health insurance in the private market. "We are starting to see physicians turn away from taking patients who are on Medicare," the GOP.gov web site warns, with "more and more physicians are choosing to opt out of Medicare altogether." In July, the Wall Street Journal dutifully picked up that cudgel, cheering one "doctor goes off the grid" while fretting "more doctors steer clear of Medicare."
Unfortunately, there's only one problem with the conservative claim that America's doctors are fleeing Medicare--and Medicare patients--in massive numbers. As a new study from the Department from Health and Human Services reveals, it's simply not true."
One In Seven American Families Face Food Insecurity
One In Seven American Families Face Food Insecurity: Yet Congress is poised to cut anti-hunger programs further.
Boston Public Schools To Serve All Students Free Meals
Boston Public Schools To Serve All Students Free Meals:
"The change comes at a time of high rates of child hunger. Three-quarters of the country’s teachers say they have students who routinely show up to school hungry. Half say hunger is a serious problem in their classrooms. More than one in five children lack steady access to food."
"The change comes at a time of high rates of child hunger. Three-quarters of the country’s teachers say they have students who routinely show up to school hungry. Half say hunger is a serious problem in their classrooms. More than one in five children lack steady access to food."
Who Cares What Rumsfeld or Anyone Named Cheney Thinks About Syria? | Alternet
Who Cares What Rumsfeld or Anyone Named Cheney Thinks About Syria? | Alternet
"So let’s recap: The team responsible for one of the worst decisions in American foreign policy history is kneecapping the president in a time of crisis. Of course, Dick Cheney has been attacking Obama from the beginning, insisting before he was inaugurated that he was making America less safe by promising to end torture and close Guantánamo. But now his daughter is taking her Obama contempt so far that she’s bucking her dad’s neocon friends and resisting the president’s Syria plans.
"So let’s recap: The team responsible for one of the worst decisions in American foreign policy history is kneecapping the president in a time of crisis. Of course, Dick Cheney has been attacking Obama from the beginning, insisting before he was inaugurated that he was making America less safe by promising to end torture and close Guantánamo. But now his daughter is taking her Obama contempt so far that she’s bucking her dad’s neocon friends and resisting the president’s Syria plans.
Cheney’s turnaround is pretty striking. She was a co-founder of the neocon group Keep America Safe, along with always-wrong war-lover William Kristol."
More Than 50 Years Ago, Eisenhower Warned Us Of Iraq, Afghanistan And Syria (VIDEO)
www.samuel-warde.com/2013/09/50-years-ago-eisenhower-warned-us-iraq-afghanistan-syria-video/
"In 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a Republican, warned us about corporatism and more specifically, about the military/industrial complex, which compels us into unnecessary wars for the sake of profit."
"In 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a Republican, warned us about corporatism and more specifically, about the military/industrial complex, which compels us into unnecessary wars for the sake of profit."
Radiation at Fukushima Soars to Highest Level Yet | Common Dreams
Radiation at Fukushima Soars to Highest Level Yet | Common Dreams
"Record high radiation levels were detected at the disaster-stricken Fukushima nuclear plant, Japan's nuclear regulator and plant operator TEPCO said on Wednesday, raising more concerns that the spiraling catastrophe has no end in sight."
"Record high radiation levels were detected at the disaster-stricken Fukushima nuclear plant, Japan's nuclear regulator and plant operator TEPCO said on Wednesday, raising more concerns that the spiraling catastrophe has no end in sight."
The Coalition of the Screwed
The Coalition of the Screwed
"We live in a society that allows one man to make $15 million a day while a low-income mother gets $4.50 a day for food, and much of Congress wants to cut the $4.50.
Are political and corporate leaders even remotely aware of the conditions of society beneath the wealthiest 10% or so?"
"We live in a society that allows one man to make $15 million a day while a low-income mother gets $4.50 a day for food, and much of Congress wants to cut the $4.50.
Are political and corporate leaders even remotely aware of the conditions of society beneath the wealthiest 10% or so?"
War Powers for Dummies
War Powers for Dummies
"The Constitution gives Congress the sole power to declare war, but it also says that the president is commander-in-chief of the armed forces. So the way presidents have usually responded is simply by not bothering to ask for a declaration of war when they want to begin a military undertaking. In fact, the last time Congress declared war was in 1942, when it did so against Romania, or as it was known then, Rumania. There were six separate war declarations in World War II, one for each country in the Axis (see here for more detail on our 11 war declarations; h/t Garance Franke-Ruta). Many of our biggest wars, including Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq, had no formal declaration of war."
"The Constitution gives Congress the sole power to declare war, but it also says that the president is commander-in-chief of the armed forces. So the way presidents have usually responded is simply by not bothering to ask for a declaration of war when they want to begin a military undertaking. In fact, the last time Congress declared war was in 1942, when it did so against Romania, or as it was known then, Rumania. There were six separate war declarations in World War II, one for each country in the Axis (see here for more detail on our 11 war declarations; h/t Garance Franke-Ruta). Many of our biggest wars, including Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq, had no formal declaration of war."
87 Percent of Ohio's Charter Schools Fail To Meet Minimum Standards
87 Percent of Ohio's Charter Schools Fail To Meet Minimum Standards
"For all of the ballyhoo over charter schools, no one is actually dealing with the fact that they're failing, not only in Philadelphia but across the country. When do our elected officials get a clue?"
"For all of the ballyhoo over charter schools, no one is actually dealing with the fact that they're failing, not only in Philadelphia but across the country. When do our elected officials get a clue?"
Just Seven Percent Of Republican Voters Actually Want To Defund Obamacare
Just Seven Percent Of Republican Voters Actually Want To Defund Obamacare: Some far-right GOP lawmakers have been pushing to block funds for the health reform law, but those efforts are extremely unpopular among their voter base.
Expert: Syria Intervention Plans Fueled By Oil Interests
Expert: Syria Intervention Plans Fueled By Oil Interests
"So what was this unfolding strategy to undermine Syria and Iran all about? According to retired NATO Secretary General Wesley Clark, a memo from the Office of the US Secretary of Defense just a few weeks after 9/11 revealed plans to "attack and destroy the governments in 7 countries in five years", starting with Iraq and moving on to "Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Iran." In a subsequent interview, Clark argues that this strategy is fundamentally about control of theregion's vast oil and gas resources."
"So what was this unfolding strategy to undermine Syria and Iran all about? According to retired NATO Secretary General Wesley Clark, a memo from the Office of the US Secretary of Defense just a few weeks after 9/11 revealed plans to "attack and destroy the governments in 7 countries in five years", starting with Iraq and moving on to "Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Iran." In a subsequent interview, Clark argues that this strategy is fundamentally about control of theregion's vast oil and gas resources."
GA Gov. Nathan Deal Taking Payola To Obstruct Obamacare
GA Gov. Nathan Deal Taking Payola To Obstruct Obamacare
"Let's also pay attention to the Big Donors here: United Health, Aetna, Humana and Blue Cross. United Health and Aetna have declined to participate in state-based exchanges in states where they're actually regulatedlike California and New York, opting instead to hand off some payola to a corrupt Georgia governor in order for him to behave like an obstructionist."
"Let's also pay attention to the Big Donors here: United Health, Aetna, Humana and Blue Cross. United Health and Aetna have declined to participate in state-based exchanges in states where they're actually regulatedlike California and New York, opting instead to hand off some payola to a corrupt Georgia governor in order for him to behave like an obstructionist."
How Israel Is driving the US to War in Syria | Alternet
How Israel Is driving the US to War in Syria | Alternet
"The threat of a unilateral Israeli strike on Iran if the US does not act on Syria is slowly seeping into American media."
"The threat of a unilateral Israeli strike on Iran if the US does not act on Syria is slowly seeping into American media."
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
An Easy Way to Squeeze a Lot of Taxes from Corporations That Try to Hide Their Profits Offshore | Alternet
An Easy Way to Squeeze a Lot of Taxes from Corporations That Try to Hide Their Profits Offshore | Alternet
"Here is one thing Congress could do that would create more jobs, boost the economy and reduce both the budget deficit and the trade deficit. This one thing would not only provide a big boost now, but would provide an ongoing boost from now on. Congress should modify the “deferral” tax loophole that lets companies dodge their taxes by moving and keeping profits “out of the country"."
"Here is one thing Congress could do that would create more jobs, boost the economy and reduce both the budget deficit and the trade deficit. This one thing would not only provide a big boost now, but would provide an ongoing boost from now on. Congress should modify the “deferral” tax loophole that lets companies dodge their taxes by moving and keeping profits “out of the country"."
Syria: What Happened To Diplomacy? | Common Dreams
Syria: What Happened To Diplomacy? | Common Dreams
"But almost no attention has been paid to a fundamental question: Have all other options been exhausted?"
"But almost no attention has been paid to a fundamental question: Have all other options been exhausted?"
CDC Predicts Obamacare May Help Reduce The Number Of Americans Dying From Heart Disease
CDC Predicts Obamacare May Help Reduce The Number Of Americans Dying From Heart Disease: The CDC estimates that about 200,000 deaths each year could be prevented with better access to health insurance.
CHARTS: How The Increase Of 401(k)s Has Created Lots Of Inequality
CHARTS: How The Increase Of 401(k)s Has Created Lots Of Inequality: The shift to saving for retirement in 401(k)s instead of pensions hurts low-income and minority workers.
Japan Promises Action at Fukushima as 300 Tons of Contaminated Water Seep into the Pacific Ocean Daily | Alternet
Japan Promises Action at Fukushima as 300 Tons of Contaminated Water Seep into the Pacific Ocean Daily | Alternet
"Prime minister Shinzo Abe made a pledge amid growing concern at the scale and complexity of operation."
"Prime minister Shinzo Abe made a pledge amid growing concern at the scale and complexity of operation."
Right Before The Holiday Weekend, Iowa Quietly Eliminated Abortion Access For Low-Income Women
Right Before The Holiday Weekend, Iowa Quietly Eliminated Abortion Access For Low-Income Women: In a move that went largely unnoticed before a three-day weekend, Iowa's medical board made a decision that could have huge implications for abortion access across the country.
The Disastrous Consequences of a U.S. Military Attack on Syria | Alternet
The Disastrous Consequences of a U.S. Military Attack on Syria | Alternet
"President Obama has not spelled out the possible consequences of a military attack on Syria, but U.S. military leaders are warning about the risks."
"President Obama has not spelled out the possible consequences of a military attack on Syria, but U.S. military leaders are warning about the risks."
Watch The Fast Food Strikes Spread Like Wildfire
Watch The Fast Food Strikes Spread Like Wildfire: Mapping the expansion of protests from New York to nearly 60 cities.
Think Again: The Mainstream Media and the Slowly Boiling Frog
www.americanprogress.org/issues/media/news/2013/08/29/73195/the-mainstream-media-and-the-slowly-boiling-frog/
"The threat that humanity faces as a result of these developments is unprecedented in human history. Gillis notes that it will likely endanger “many of the world’s great cities—among them New York; London; Shanghai; Venice; Sydney, Australia; Miami; and New Orleans.” In Florida alone, more than 2.4 million people live less than four feet above the high-tide line. And you can bet that no matter what you read in the mainstream media, the insurance industry is paying attention to what scientists have to say."
"The threat that humanity faces as a result of these developments is unprecedented in human history. Gillis notes that it will likely endanger “many of the world’s great cities—among them New York; London; Shanghai; Venice; Sydney, Australia; Miami; and New Orleans.” In Florida alone, more than 2.4 million people live less than four feet above the high-tide line. And you can bet that no matter what you read in the mainstream media, the insurance industry is paying attention to what scientists have to say."
Please Shut It! You are NOT the Party of Abe Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, or Dwight D. Eisenhower Anymore!
www.forwardprogressives.com/please-shut-it-you-are-not-the-party-of-abe-lincoln-teddy-roosevelt-or-dwight-d-eisenhower-anymore/
"Today’s Republican party is anti-equality, anti-union, anti-minimum wage, anti-unemployment, anti-welfare, anti-woman, anti-United Nations, anti-healthcare, anti-immigration, and pro-corporation. So, again, Republicans, please do us all a favor and stop calling yourselves the party of the above named men – you are nothing like them."
"Today’s Republican party is anti-equality, anti-union, anti-minimum wage, anti-unemployment, anti-welfare, anti-woman, anti-United Nations, anti-healthcare, anti-immigration, and pro-corporation. So, again, Republicans, please do us all a favor and stop calling yourselves the party of the above named men – you are nothing like them."
Another Climate Change Headache For Farmers: Tropical Crop Pests Move North As Weather Warms Up
Another Climate Change Headache For Farmers: Tropical Crop Pests Move North As Weather Warms Up: New pests are already wreaking havoc on American farmland.
Failing Up to the Fed, A Reporters' Guide to the Paper Trail Surrounding Larry Summers
Failing Up to the Fed, A Reporters' Guide to the Paper Trail Surrounding Larry Summers
"In the shadows, between 2000-2008, the OTC derivatives market grew from $95.2 trillion to $672.6 trillion, notational value. When the dark market deals started to go sour, the impact was felt around the world. The man who was featured on the cover of Time Magazine as part of the "Committee to Save the World" with Robert Rubin and Alan Greenspan in 1999, instead helped bring it to its knees."
"In the shadows, between 2000-2008, the OTC derivatives market grew from $95.2 trillion to $672.6 trillion, notational value. When the dark market deals started to go sour, the impact was felt around the world. The man who was featured on the cover of Time Magazine as part of the "Committee to Save the World" with Robert Rubin and Alan Greenspan in 1999, instead helped bring it to its knees."
Wisconsin Workers "Fight For Fifteen"
Wisconsin Workers "Fight For Fifteen"
"Wisconsin workers are joining the "Fight for Fifteen" -- better wages for those at the bottom of the U.S. payscale."
"Wisconsin workers are joining the "Fight for Fifteen" -- better wages for those at the bottom of the U.S. payscale."
Retirement Inequality Chartbook: How the 401(k) revolution created a few big winners and many losers | Economic Policy Institute
Retirement Inequality Chartbook: How the 401(k) revolution created a few big winners and many losers | Economic Policy Institute
"The switch from pensions to 401(k)s has left most Americans without enough money to retire. 46 interactive charts explore this growing problem."
"The switch from pensions to 401(k)s has left most Americans without enough money to retire. 46 interactive charts explore this growing problem."
Taxpayers Pad Military Contractor CEO Pockets | Common Dreams
Taxpayers Pad Military Contractor CEO Pockets | Common Dreams
"Five of the companies with the highest-paid CEOs made the top 100 U.S. government contractors list every year over the past 20 years. These firms include two big military contractors — Lockheed Martin and United Technologies — along with IBM, General Electric, and Honeywell. These five companies have received $671 billion in federal contracts over the past 20 years.
"Five of the companies with the highest-paid CEOs made the top 100 U.S. government contractors list every year over the past 20 years. These firms include two big military contractors — Lockheed Martin and United Technologies — along with IBM, General Electric, and Honeywell. These five companies have received $671 billion in federal contracts over the past 20 years.
More taxpayer dollars have flowed into the coffers of aerospace giant Lockheed Martin than any other U.S. corporation over the past 20 years. In 2012, U.S. government contracts accounted for 82 percent of Lockheed’s net sales."
Ron Paul to Deliver Keynote Speech at Conference That Features Holocaust Deniers and New World Order Conspiracy Theorists | Alternet
Ron Paul to Deliver Keynote Speech at Conference That Features Holocaust Deniers and New World Order Conspiracy Theorists | Alternet
"The organization's adherents share the belief of apocalyptic-minded Protestants and secular conspiracy theorists that the United States is being punished for its disobedience to God and descent into Marxism."
"The organization's adherents share the belief of apocalyptic-minded Protestants and secular conspiracy theorists that the United States is being punished for its disobedience to God and descent into Marxism."
Ron Paul to Deliver Keynote Speech at Conference That Features Holocaust Deniers and New World Order Conspiracy Theorists | Alternet
Ron Paul to Deliver Keynote Speech at Conference That Features Holocaust Deniers and New World Order Conspiracy Theorists | Alternet
"The organization's adherents share the belief of apocalyptic-minded Protestants and secular conspiracy theorists that the United States is being punished for its disobedience to God and descent into Marxism."
"The organization's adherents share the belief of apocalyptic-minded Protestants and secular conspiracy theorists that the United States is being punished for its disobedience to God and descent into Marxism."
Monday, September 2, 2013
The Conservative Crackup: How the Republican Party Lost Its Mind | Alternet
The Conservative Crackup: How the Republican Party Lost Its Mind | Alternet
"The relentless radicalization of the Republican Party since 1964 is the most important single event in the political history of the United States since the New Deal. It has significantly shaped the course of our government and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. But this means it has also shaped the individual life of every citizen— the complex amalgam of possibilities and opportunities available (or not) to each of us. The conservative visionaries of the ‘50s and ‘60s wanted a new world. We’re all living in it now."
"The relentless radicalization of the Republican Party since 1964 is the most important single event in the political history of the United States since the New Deal. It has significantly shaped the course of our government and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. But this means it has also shaped the individual life of every citizen— the complex amalgam of possibilities and opportunities available (or not) to each of us. The conservative visionaries of the ‘50s and ‘60s wanted a new world. We’re all living in it now."
Radiation Readings Soar at Leaking Fukushima Nuclear Plant | Common Dreams
Radiation Readings Soar at Leaking Fukushima Nuclear Plant | Common Dreams
"Radiated water leaking from tanks at Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant is 18 times more dangerous than had been previously reported."
"Radiated water leaking from tanks at Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant is 18 times more dangerous than had been previously reported."
Labor Day 2050: Global Warming And The Coming Collapse Of Labor Productivity
Labor Day 2050: Global Warming And The Coming Collapse Of Labor Productivity: The next time you see a projection of the economic cost from climate change -- and a resulting social cost of carbon -- you might want to double the numbers to get a more accurate picture of what we are risking by our callous inaction.
Sunday, September 1, 2013
Chaplain Tries To Justify Taking Health Care From 30M Americans, Fails
Chaplain Tries To Justify Taking Health Care From 30M Americans, Fails
"Whoa...this "man of faith" was a guest on The Ed Show Friday night, and he attempted to justify taking health care away from 30 million Americans who are now covered under The Affordable Care Act.
"Whoa...this "man of faith" was a guest on The Ed Show Friday night, and he attempted to justify taking health care away from 30 million Americans who are now covered under The Affordable Care Act.
Watch the video above to see how Ed Schultz and John Fugelsang take down this Chaplain openly lying about Obamacare."
8 Despicable Right-Wing Statements From This Last Week Alone | Alternet
8 Despicable Right-Wing Statements From This Last Week Alone | Alternet
"The extreme right produced a host of offensive, racist and wildly inaccurate statements this week."
"The extreme right produced a host of offensive, racist and wildly inaccurate statements this week."
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