Henry Giroux: Current “Reforms” Attempt to Drive Young People Out of Democracy
Camilla Croso, Latin-American Campaign for the Right to Education: In this interview, Henry Giroux talks about corporate interests in the privatization of education, attacks on the importance of schooling and the marginalization of youth under the current political and economic systems.
Deforestation, “Development” Connected to Spread Ebola in West Africa
Jeff Conant, Truthout: Silas Siakor, director of Friends of the Earth Liberia, discusses the root causes of West Africa’s impoverishment and the complex relationship between disease, deforestation and development.
Lorenzo Del Savio and Matteo Mameli, Truthout: Craving real democracy, many people are unwilling to participate in an electoral game that does not provide any form of genuine popular control over decisions that affect people’s well-being and freedom.
Obama Extends War in Afghanistan
Kathy Kelly, War Is a Crime: News agencies reported Saturday morning that weeks ago President Obama signed an order, kept secret until now, to authorize continuation of the Afghan war for at least another year. The order authorizes US air strikes “to support Afghan military operations in the country” and US ground troops to continue normal operations.
Dean Baker | Seven Years After: Why This Recovery Is Still a Turkey
Dean Baker, Truthout: Economic policy making continues to be dominated by people who were unable to see an $8 trillion housing bubble. There is no reason to believe that these people have a better understanding of the economy todaythan they did seven years ago.
Malarkey on the Potomac: Five Bedrock Washington Assumptions That Are Hot Air
Andrew Bacevich, TomDispatch: People in Washington don’t have time for reality. They’re lost in a world of their own. Consider the following claims, each of which in Washington circles has attained quasi-canonical status. Subjected to even casual scrutiny, none of these claims will stand up.
Are Killers Still in Charge of Our Health Care?
The Daily Take Team, The Thom Hartmann Program: Obamacare was a good start for reeling in for-profit insurance companies and their “profits over people” platform, but it’s not enough. No more Americans should die because of delayed treatments and denied doctors’ visits all done in the name of increased profits.
Sarah Karp, Catalyst-Chicago: Over the past decade, the number of black educators in Chicago’s public schools dropped precipitously. With his actions disproportionately affecting black teachers, that pattern continued during Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s time in office.
Obama Refuses to Close Door on Torture
Faiza Patel, The Brennan Center for Justice: The brutal tactics employed by the United States after 9/11 have led many observers to question its commitment to postwar human rights treaties. Both allied and hostile nations have watched to see if Obama acknowledged that the United States is bound by global torture standards. His answer did not reassure them.
Tallying Up Returns on Corporations’ Political Investments
Sue Sturgis, Facing South: The amount that the 200 most politically active corporations in the United States spent on federal lobbying and campaign contributions between 2007 and 2012, according to a new report from the Sunlight Foundation, titled “Fixed Fortunes”: $5.8 billion.
Economic Update: Capitalism’s Personal Costs
Richard D. Wolff, Truthout: This week’s episode provides updates on Italy’s general strike, opera economics, Miami baseball and Argentina loans as well as responses to listeners on the economics of US children and on a new political party.
On the News With Thom Hartmann: The Future of the Postal Service May Be in Jeopardy, and More
In today‘s On the News segment: If Congress refuses to act in the next month, the future of the United States Postal Service could be in jeopardy; about one out of every 30 kids in the United States is homeless; Walmart workers are preparing for their biggest Black Friday strike yet; and more.
Watch the Video and Read the Transcript
Upon News of Plea Deal, Activists Vow to Organize Until Marissa Alexander Is Free
Staff and Contributors, Free Marissa Now Mobilization Campaign: Marissa Alexander has chosen to accept a plea deal with the State of Florida. The plea deal includes time served (1,030 days), an additional 65 days in Duval County Jail which will begin today, and two years of house arrest while wearing a surveillance monitor.
Read the Press Release at Speakout
BuzzFlash
Without Systemic Change, This Single, College-Educated Mother Can’t Find a Living-Wage Job
Mark Karlin, BuzzFlash at Truthout: The devastating irony of changes to the US economic system is that they are being undertaken to worsen conditions for US workers, not to improve them.
Seven Candidates for Corporate Rip-Off of the Year
Media Goes Wild Over Hagel Firing but Not Obama’s Secret Afghanistan Reversal
Read the Article at Mother Jones
Anonymous Targets Cleveland Police After 12-Year-Old’s Death
How Grassroots Efforts Against Fracking Are Succeeding
US Drone Strikes – The Facts on the Ground: 41 Men Targeted but 1,147 People Killed
Read the Article at The Guardian
DHS Set to Destroy Government-Wide Network Surveillance Records
Politicians Who Regulate Big Cable Invest in AT&T, Comcast and Verizon
Spirit In Action 