Police State Public Education in America (tags)
police state
Obama: War Criminal, Tyrant, Torturer, Racist, Corporate Tool, World-Class Thug (tags)
Obama
Kerry
Democrats and Labor: A Tale of Abuse (tags)
The Democratic Party’s participation in the recent national “sequester” cuts is yet another big dent in their love affair with organized labor. But break-ups are often a protracted process. Before a relationship ends there is usually a gradual deterioration based on irreconcilable differences, until the split becomes inevitable. The decades-long marriage of labor unions and the Democratic Party is nearing such a divorce. Labor unions are becoming frustrated as the Democrats flaunt their affair with corporate America and Wall Street.
Imperial Warrior Kerry at State (tags)
anti-wa
Paul Wellstone: Tenth Anniversary of His Assassination (tags)
murder
Education and Democracy (tags)
education
Capitulation in Chicago? (tags)
sellout
Queer Democrats Endorse Teachers’ Union Leaders for School Boards (tags)
The predominantly Queer San Diego Democrats for Equality have become virtually an appendage of the local labor movements in making their 2012 election endorsements. In January they rejected progressive Congressional candidate Lori Saldaña and endorsed her moderate Democratic opponent, Scott Peters, largely on labor's say-so. In February they rated anti-marriage Catholic Juan Vargas and marriage equality defender Denise Moreno Ducheny equally "acceptable" for another Congressional seat. And in March they picked teachers' union leaders for their school board endorsements.
FIS recommends removing the last semblance of democracy from an already undemocratic proce (tags)
LAUSD's Public School Choice is already an anti-democratic measure to give public schools away to private charter corporations. Removing the advisory vote makes PSC all the more totalitarian and entirely removes community and parental voice. Either keep the advisory votes or repeal PSC altogether. This article discusses the document LAUSD is using to justify this move.
Thank you Matt Damon! Let's replace RTTT with the Zinn Education Project (tags)
In defense of Matt Damon, who recently took a cogent and principled stand against this administration's reactionary neoliberal education policies. In response, many HuffPost readers unleashed vicious invective against him. Rather than defending education policies that originated from Heritage, Fordham, and Hoover, we should be advocating progressive education policies and curriculum.
Over 1,000 Turn Out in San Diego to Support Wisconsin Workers (tags)
Over 1,000 people turned out for a rally outside the San Diego County Administrative Center February 26 at noon to support Wisconsin's unionized public workers against the threat by Governor Scott Walker and the Republican majority in the state legislature to pass a bill essentially eliminating the right of the state's public employees to unionize and bargain collectively. A wide range of speakers, including union activists, community leaders and elected officials, said that if Walker's bill and similar ones in other states pass, it will essentially mark the end of the American middle class. The rally was part of a nationwide mobilization, and many of those who braved the cold and the rain to attend mentioned that the protesters in Wisconsin itself are sleeping out in the cold and snow in weather far worse than that in San Diego.
Obama Year Two: Continued Betrayal and Failure (Part II) (tags)
government betrayal
Reviewing Project Censored's Top 2009-10 Stories (tags)
PC's top censored stories
Teachers and Democrats Head for Divorce (tags)
It’s best to quickly recognize the red flags in any failing relationship. This way, ties can be severed instead of allowing things to linger forever in dysfunction. For Democrats and teachers’ unions, the writing is on the wall. The two are simply going in opposite directions. The Democrats continue on the road to corporate-inspired charter schools, using the tried and true method of “stronger teacher evaluations” to undermine “underperforming” schools and teachers — thus opening the door wide to private charter schools with their non-union workforce.
5/13 CA State Superintendent Of Public Instruction Candidate Leonard Martin Backs LA Court (tags)
Leonard Martin, the only candidate for CA State Superinendent For Public Instruction opposing charter schools is backing a law suit against the illegal establishment by the LA Unified School District of Birmingham High School in Los Angeles and will attend the court hearing on May 13.
Dueling Strategies in the Defense of Public Education, Part 2 (tags)
In Part I of this essay we looked at strategies in defense of public education that are referred to as “ultra-left,” meaning that they veer so far left that they sever ties with the working class and consequently lose all traction when it comes to influencing the movement. Here we will examine strategies that veer to the right, often ending up in the camp of opportunism, which means sacrificing principles and working class independence for the sake of quick but illusory gains. The interests of working people are subordinated to those of the capitalist class and the politicians who represent them, be they Democrats or Republicans. Finally, we will return to the question of how to proceed forward.
Why Teachers Unions Matter (tags)
Nowadays a newspaper cannot be opened — or a TV turned on — without one being subjected to anti-teacher misinformation. The anti-teacher hysteria looks diverse on the surface, but underneath, this public controversy seeks to dislodge teachers unions: the right-wing trashes teachers’ unions outright, while the “liberal” media takes a more subtle, sophisticated approach, blaming the state of public education on “bad teachers” who must be fired and replaced. Both styles are the same in essence.
Support the Protests says Ohio Socialist Senate Candidate (tags)
Dan La Botz, the Cincinnati school teacher who joined the Ohio race for U.S. Senate last month, issued a statement today supporting the national day of protests over the crisis in education. He also called for the creation of system of free, quality public education such as some states, such as California, had in the 1960s. “The Obama administration and the U.S. Congress provided trillions in grants, loans, and federal insurance to banks and corporations for the bailouts,” said La Botz. “The total military and war budget comes to almost $750 billion dollars. The President’s proposed education budget is just under $50 billion dollars. The Obama government provided hundreds of times more money to the bankers than it will to teachers and students, and it will spend 15 times more on arms and war than on our children’s education. Obama proposes more loans for college students, loans that will saddle more families and students with more debt. We don’t need loans—we need free education.”
March 4 Socialist Program to Defend Education (tags)
On March 4, students and workers throughout California and the US will demonstrate against the attack on public education and increases in tuition that are making a college education unaffordable for the majority of working class youth.
The Great Bi-Partisan Deception (tags)
Some cancer is too aggressive even for chemotherapy. The US political system is infected with such a disease; and we may be witnessing the first death spasms. In a country ravaged by war and economic crisis, with tens of millions of people suffering, politicians are capable of doing absolutely nothing to help ordinary people. The only two “achievements” of the Democrat’s super majority in the Senate — over the course of five months — were an ineffectual stimulus package and a “surge” of troops in Afghanistan.
Fighting Company Union Ideology (tags)
The evolution of the company union in the U.S. is a history of both labor’s progress and its missteps. It is a story that, at bottom, speaks to the battle of workers to find an independent, powerful presence on the job — and to push this clout into the community to help shape the broader public realm. Unions came into existence organically wherever capitalism developed. As soon as workers were brought together by a small number of employers and compelled to make profits for them, the employees naturally sought to defend themselves. A living wage and decent working conditions failed to emerge through the good will of the employers, unfortunately, so workers took matters into their own hands.
Obama Year One: Betrayal and Failure (tags)
Obama's shocking betrayal
R.I.P. Ted Kennedy: The Senate’s Last Liberal (tags)
The mainstream media’s eulogies for the late Senator Ted Kennedy predictably focused on his success as a deal-maker, pushing a liberal agenda but in ways that compromised and often won the support of Republicans and conservatives. But Kennedy’s deals were based on the existence of a Republican party that, despite its different priorities from the Democrats, still believed in government as a force for the public good. Today’s nihilistic, Right-wing dominated Republican Party no longer believes in government as anything but a repressive instrument for benefiting the rich and enforcing the discipline of “the Market” on working people both domestically and abroad who dare to challenge the imperatives of lassiez-faire capitalism. What the times call for are tough, no-nonsense progressive resistance to the bipartisan Market agenda, not support of capitalist politicians promoted as “pragmatists” in the corporate media.
The Obstacles to Real Health Reform - Private Insurers and Big PhRMA (tags)
Predatory providers are the real problem
The Democrats vs. Public Education (tags)
Public education in the United States is under heavy attack. And because a so-called “progressive” President is leading the charge, many education activists have been lulled to sleep while on lookout duty. Obama recently announced his “race to the top” program to “reform” education. Much like Bush’s No Child Left Behind, Obama’s plan represents progress for education in name only.
Toxic Plans for Toxic Assets (tags)
Obama stimulus from hell.
Doug Dowd's "At the Cliff's Edge - Part II" (tags)
a stinging indictment of US imperialism
Choice in November - Nader v. Twiddle Dee or Twiddle Dum (tags)
The criminal class in Washington is bipartisan.
Susan Davis, Mike Copass Debate in Hillcrest (tags)
Incumbent San Diego Congressmember Susan Davis finally descended from the mountaintop and deigned to meet her Democratic primary challenger Mike Copass in a one-hour debate Sunday, May 25, sponsored by the League of Women Voters and Common Cause. The biggest difference between the candidates came at the end, when Copass criticized Davis for consistently voting to fund the war in Iraq and Davis said that, though she'd opposed the original war resolution, she felt a need to vote for the funding to "support the troops."
ASVAB is Military's Stealth Recruiting Tool (tags)
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is the military's most valuable recruiting asset. You can stop this predatory practice.
Global Warming Contrarians Exposed - Must See Free Video (tags)
An extremely informative, in-depth account of four of the major global warming "confusionists" is available free-online.
Global Warming Contrarians Exposed (tags)
An extremely informative, in-depth account of four of the major global warming "confusionists" is available free-online.
Green Party Presidential Debate Videos (tags)
Video of Green Party Presidential Debate in San Francisco, featuring Green Presidential candidates Jared Ball, Jesse Johnson, Cynthia McKinney, Kent Mesplay and Kat Swift, on January 13th, 2008. Video at http://www.gp.org
Is Congressman Dreier Going The Way of Larry Craig (tags)
One of the worst Republican congressmen who supports the most anti-gay legislation is himself a homosexual. He also is one of the most corrupt. A progressive is planning to defeat him.
Kozol Rips "No Child Left Behind" in San Diego (tags)
Educator and activist Jonathan Kozol spoke at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral in San Diego October 8 and ripped the "No Child Left Behind" law, with its agenda of standardized high-stakes testing, militaristic regimentation of the classroom and veiled racism in its assumption of children of color learn "differently' from whites and therefore must be taught less imaginatively.
At Best Americans Ruled By Slick Used-Car Salesmen (tags)
Are we just stupid?
A Call For A Nationwide General Strike! (tags)
Shut It All Down! A Call For A Nationwide General Strike!
THOM HARTMANN'S NEW BOOK - SCREWED: THE UNDECLARED WAR AGAINST THE MIDDLE CLASS (tags)
HOW DEMOCRACY AND THE MIDDLE CLASS ARE BEING DESTROYED
The Hidden Draft in Our Schools (tags)
With a vast majority of the US public disapproving of the quicksand war in Iraq, how can American educators continue to allow unchecked and unscrupulous recruiting in our high schools? A former Army officer takes a look at the problem of gutless school leaders who let their students be turned into Bush League cannon fodder -- then offers some suggestions on how to change things.
Fundamentalist Christianity Weds the Military (tags)
Fundamentalist Christianity weds the military and their offspring is ecclesiastically induced genocidal war from the command center of Fatherland Patriarchy [1]
What’s real? Death and mayhem in Iraq. What’s not real? American democracy, the Constitution, the Congress and the president for starters.
Judy Miller, the Armstrong Williams of WMD (tags)
Miller did things a journalist should never do. She shilled for a White House disinformation campaign that was promoting an invasion of Iraq, accepted control from the Pentagon, and deceptively misidentified her sources. Yet she hasn’t been fired by her official employer, the NY Times. Was Times senior management in on the game?
"President Bush Doesn’t Care About Black People..." (tags)
Damn Right! And That's Not The Half Of It
Bush's Blue Light Special (tags)
Things are not as they appear when the president speaks—not the backdrop, and not the promises he makes. In this land of Oz, where’s Toto when we need him?
Help for Americans Who are Losing Jobs to Foriegn Educated Individuials. (tags)
Home Schooling, GED, Middle School, High School everyone needs this book!
Virtual Citizens, Virtual Government, Real Troubles (tags)
With Republicans admitting that the White House isn’t governing—just campaigning—we need to face the truth: We have a virtual government, a virtual opposition, virtual citizens and, in the end, a virtual democracy. Our problems, though—war, poverty, AIDS, global warming, etc.—are all too real. ---------
A better job for the "Minutemen"? (tags)
Here's a satirical take on a better place for the Minutemen to "police the borders." Repost from Colorado Indymedia.
More money down the drain: War cost bleeds states, cities (tags)
As U.S. casualties in Iraq topped 1,600, the U.S. Congress approved another $82 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and related spending, with the bulk going to the Iraq occupation.
Bush's secret journalistic payroll keeps getting longer (tags)
Word that the Bush administration has been paying journalistic shills to pimp for its programs tells us something about the state of the media, but also about those programs: they don’t stand up to genuine scrutiny and need paid propaganda to sell them to the public.
A failing grade: Charter schools and education reform (tags)
Charter schools are a major aspect of the political right.......
Health activists urge ‘Health care for all’ (tags)
WASHINGTON — During its annual conference here Nov. 12-14, the Universal Health Care Action Network (UHCAN) issued a clarion call to defend Medicaid and Medicare.
Outrageous! That is what many are calling the war profiteering by U.S. corporations.
America's Opportunity to Educate (tags)
"Imagine a school where every teacher is amazing, charismatic, knowledgeable and can address every student's needs.. All we have to do to attain the New American Dream is convince a majority to vote in its best interest.."
Confessions of a Swing State Voter (tags)
It should go without saying that Senator Kerry has supported President Bush in every major policy area during the past few years, including the Iraqi war resolution, No Child Left Behind, Patriot Act, coddling of the Chinese government, and oppression of the Palestinians. Looking to the future, Kerry has promised to "try to" withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of his first term (if circumstances permit). That's quite a promise to those of us who oppose the war! At least four more years of American troops killing and being killed in an occupied country. Kerry's approach to Iraq is identical to that of Bush, except he thinks he can talk some Europeans into sending troops to the quagmire for international political cover.
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What we need today — a program for working people ELECTION PLATFORM 2004, COMMUNIST PARTY (tags)
This is no ordinary election year. Across our country, people are searching for security, hope and peace.
Bush’s Acceptance Speech: True Lies and Terror , Terror, Terror (tags)
Bush offered up no surprises in his acceptance speech at the RNC, continued to pretend the invasion of Iraq was part of a War on Terror, and promised us more right-wing judges, more international military adventures, and a new attack on the foundation of Social Security.
FEDERAL FUNDING NEEDED FOR SCHOOLS (tags)
2004 School Environmental Checklist Helps Parents & Schools
No jobs, endless war: ‘Bush has made a mess’ From labor to hip-hop, voters mobilize to def (tags)
CHICAGO — Eight thousand Pillowtex workers were thrown out of work a year ago when the textile giant shut its doors.
Voices of the Lost and Forgotten-Part One: (tags)
Homeless families ask an important question: "How can America let this happen to us? Why can’t we get any help?"
Bush’s hidden attack on public education (tags)
PHILADELPHIA – This year marks the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education – a historic civil rights legal case that declared Jim Crow segregated schools for African American children were a violation of the Constitution.
International Workers Day
“Asteroid Hits Earth, Millions Die—GOP Says Clinton Responsible” (tags)
Bill Clinton has been blamed by his detractors for just about everything from curdled milk to genetic mutations. But might there be a more recent president whose own record of misdeeds puts Clinton's to shame? Read the following for why it just may be time for Clinton critics to quit caterwauling.
Teachers and their union fight for public education (tags)
CHICAGO – Children’s paintings hang on the walls in the lobby of the Chicago Teachers Union office. It’s comforting for parents to see schoolkids’ artwork framed and on display.
Bush v. Bush-lite: Chomsky's Lesser-Evilism (tags)
There is no question that the Bush administration's policies are "cruel and savage", but John Kerry (along with the majority of Democrats in the Senate) supported most of them, including the war on Afghanistan, the Patriot Act, the war on Iraq, and the "No Child Left Behind" education act. As Marjorie Williams pointed out in the Washington Post recently, "Kerry voted for so many of Bush's major initiatives that in order to disown them now he can only argue that they were wrongly or dishonestly 'implemented.' This amounts to a confession that his opponent made a chump of him for the past three years. In fact, one might argue that Kerry is a poster boy for all the ways in which congressional Democrats have allowed themselves to be rolled by the Bush administration."
THE REIGN IN SPAIN FALLS MAINLY ON THE LAME (tags)
After a terrorist attack by al-Qaida that left hundreds of their fellow countrymen dead, Spanish voters immediately voted to give the terrorists what they want -- a Socialist government that opposes America's war on terrorism. Al-Qaida has changed a government.
Political elite moving toward reactivating draft (tags)
In a speech delivered on February 29 at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Kerry declared that “to replenish our overextended military, as president, I will add 40,000 active-duty army troops, a temporary increase likely to last the remainder of the decade”. While Kerry has not spelt out how he thinks the US Army could add 40,000 combat troops to its ranks, there are currently two bills before the US Congress which authorise the US president to activate a military draft of men and women between the ages of 18 and 26.
The rural movement to oust Bush (tags)
There’s more than bridges in Madison County
It's Time to Break From the Two-Party System! (tags)
Despite all the propaganda from the "Anybody But Bush" Democrats, George Bush would never have been able to carry out his attacks without the active support of the Democratic Party. It was the Democrats in Congress who voted to support Bush's "war on terrorism," the war on Afghanistan, the Patriot Act, the Iraq war, and the $87 billion for the occupation of Iraq. Most Democrats voted for Bush's tax cuts for the rich and "No Child Left Behind." Sixteen Senate Democrats, including Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle, voted for Bush's "Partial Birth Abortion" Ban.
A challenge to the politics of "lesser evilism" (tags)
This year, the man who is likely to win the nomination--John Kerry--has a reputation as a "liberal." Yet he voted for the Patriot Act, for the war on Iraq, for Bush’s "No Child Left Behind" law, for the North American Free Trade Agreement--and now he is on record opposing gay marriage and supporting the continued U.S. occupation of Iraq.
we‘re going to drill like never before (tags)
we‘re going to drill like never before
Kerry knows how to waffle on the issues (tags)
A few questions for John Kerry
Video of 6 Dennis Kucinich Speaking Engagements (tags)
Iowa Caucus Weekend w/ Dennis Kucinich 4 Q & A's and speech from 6 stumps in Iowa
Greensweek - A national Green bulletin - Tuesday, January 20, 2004 (tags)
Greensweek Contents: Green news; Upcoming events; Green Action: call Congress; write a letter; Good reads
NATIONAL "OPT OUT" DAY FOCUSES ATTENTION ON - No Child Left Behind Act (tags)
Get the word out to LAUSD famlies of junior and high school seniors. Tell them they can opt-out out from the military gaining access to their information and still recieve college information. They must opt out EACH YEAR. Deadline for doing so is October 1st, 2003.
A Texas Hoax May Be the President's Waterloo (tags)
Over the past year or so, getting headlines in Texas but only modest coverage elsewhere, the "Texas Miracle" has been disrobed. It was a scam, a hoax.
DEAN TO PRESIDENT BUSH: "IT'S TIME FOR THE TRUTH." (tags)
Former Vermont governor says American people should know the true intentions behind Bush administration's agenda (July 25, 2003)
Free Staters need to temper philosophy with compassion (tags)
Housing for the elderly and poor would virtually disappear in Portsmouth without federal funds. We will need to temper the enthusiasm of the Free Staters (if they decide on New Hampshire) with the compassion of people who honestly care about one another.
ACLU: School Vouchers Will Hurt Poor Kids (tags)
The voucher program encourage the violation of students' civil rights because private and religious schools would not have to comply with federal, state or local civil rights laws in order to recieve tax dollars.
Am I still An Unpatriotic Traitor? (tags)
Am I still an Unpatriotic Traitor? That's what you called me when I said let the inspections play out, let them continue. But no, you said "enough was enough". You told me Saddam was building this apocalyptic arsenal. He had VX and Sarin and Anthrax and Mustard Gas and Salmonella and The Cooties. You told me was capable of launching a biological attack at the drop of a hat. You told me he presented a clear and imminent threat to my security. You told me to gift-wrap my house in Saran-wrap and Duct Tape.
Stephen Moore, president of the Club for Growth, triumphantly predicts the result of the Bush tax cuts; "local towns or cities are going to say: 'Hell, no! You're not going to raise my taxes. Get rid of the welfare programs!' ''
Hawaii to Dump "No Child Left Behind" (tags)
From the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, the State of Hawaii says that Bush's No Child Left Behind is hurting education! (This article was posted at Chicago Indymedia in the interest of local views concerning the law.)
Millions condemn Iraq war (tags)
WASHINGTON – With U.S. war planes and troops poised for combat with Iraq, peace forces vowed to continue the fight against war.
The PNAC and it`s connection to the Bush Wars (tags)
Who pulls the strings in US foreign policy< what are their goals and who pays the price.
Temescal Canyon students protest military recruiters (tags)
The students of Temescal Canyon High School's erstwhile peace club stood up to military recruiters, while outside the rain and another event conspired to turn a planned demonstration into a mini-protest.
Temescal Canyon HS Admins: "Yes to Military Recruiters, No to Peace Club" (tags)
Temescal Canyon High School's administration will do anything to stop the Peace Club from meeting. But they gladly allow military recruiters on campus.