Henry A. Giroux | Higher Education and the Promise of Insurgent Public Memory
Henry A. Giroux, Truthout: Under the reign of neoliberalism, higher education appears to be increasingly decoupling itself from its historical legacy as a crucial public sphere, responsible for both educating students for the workplace and providing them with the modes of critical discourse, interpretation and experiences that deepen and expand democracy.
What Works, What Doesn’t to Counter Extremism: It’s Not More of the Same
Aura Kanegis and Kerri Kennedy, Truthout: We must prioritize peace-building in our spending as well as our rhetoric, and invest in early interventions addressing root causes of conflict long before violent extremism festers and conflict erupts.
For Peace, We Must Defeat Netanyahu on Iran Diplomacy
Robert Naiman, Truthout: If we want to defeat Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the Israel-Palestine issue, we have to win on the Iran diplomacy issue. This is as much a must-win for people who are focused on justice for Palestinians as it is for people who are focused on Iran diplomacy.
Activist Ai-jen Poo: “We Owe It to Ourselves to Support People’s Living”
Eleanor J. Bader, Truthout: In her book, The Age of Dignity, Ai-jen Poo advances the idea that we can create good jobs for caregivers and allow elders and the disabled to remain in their homes, rather than be placed in more costly institutions for custodial care.
A Call for Community Review of Rikers Island Jail
Hannah K. Gold, Truthout: Amid reports of human rights abuses of prisoners at Rikers Island and plans for a new solitary confinement wing, grassroots organizing groups demand a real say by the community in changes made at the jail.
Dishonest White House Response to Warren’s Attack on Secret Panels in Trade Deals
Yves Smith, Naked Capitalism: The trade deals are coming up again for a fast-track vote, perhaps as soon as this week. Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s focus on the investor panels has the potential to raise awareness of how dangerous they are and stir more voters to press their representatives to nix fast-track authority.
“Medicare Part E”: A Framework for Universal Health Care
The Daily Take Team, The Thom Hartmann Program: The US already has the framework in place to make universal health care a success. That framework is called Medicare. It’s time to create “Medicare Part E,” which would cover every single US citizen.
David Petraeus Gets Hand-Slap for Leaking, Two Point Enhancement for Obstruction of Justice
Marcy Wheeler, ExposeFacts: Former CIA director David Petraeus exposed top secret materials to his mistress. As a result of a quiet plea deal, the Department of Justice gave him a slap on the wrist for covering up his crime of leaking some of the country’s most sensitive secrets.
Chicago Police Misconduct Payouts Topped $50 Million in 2014
Jonah Newman, The Chicago Reporter: The City of Chicago paid $54.2 million in settlements and verdicts for police misconduct cases last year – more than the budget for the offices of the mayor, the city treasurer, the City Council, the Council committees and the Department of Human Resources combined.
Obama’s Veto of Keystone XL Bittersweet for Texans Forced to Allow the Pipeline on Their Land
Julie Dermansky, DeSmogBlog: While the president’s veto received praise from environmentalists, it provides little consolation to those in Texas who already have the southern route of the pipeline moving Canadian tar sands under their land.
The Obama Administration, Shell and the Fate of the Arctic Ocean
Subhankar Banerjee, TomDispatch: At a moment when the planet is experiencing an oil glut, it’s possible that the Obama administration will add yet another potential source of extreme oil to the list of future sources of greenhouse warming of this planet. Drilling in the Arctic is a future catastrophe in a single, enticing package.
Farmer Cooperatives, Not Monsanto, Supply El Salvador With Seeds
Nathan Weller, EcoViva: In the face of overwhelming competition skewed by the rules of free trade, farmers in El Salvador have managed to beat the agricultural giants like Monsanto and DuPont to supply local corn seed to thousands of family farmers.
Noam Chomsky: By Opposing Iran Nuclear Deal, Israel’s Goal Isn’t Survival – It’s Regional Dominance
Amy Goodman and Aaron Maté, Democracy Now!: Both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the hawks in Congress have a common interest in ensuring that there is no regional force that can serve as any kind of deterrent to Israeli and US violence in the region, says Noam Chomsky.
Watch the Video and Read the Transcript
On the News With Thom Hartmann: Climate Change Could Wipe an Alaskan Village Off the Map, and More
In today‘s On the News segment: Thanks to warmer temperatures and higher oceans, the people of Kivalina, Alaska, must move their entire town or be wiped out by storm surge; environmental groups say that we must keep pushing to keep Keystone XL from becoming a reality; police can now generate an image of a suspect’s face using only DNA left at the scene of a crime; and more.
Watch the Video and Read the Transcript
BuzzFlash
O’Reilly Justifies Fantasies by Making Bellicose Macho Threats
Mark Karlin, BuzzFlash at Truthout: Brian Williams’ mendacious embellishments are starting to look minor compared to the surge of revelations that Bill O’Reilly lied about his experiences in danger zones.
Every Time Winter’s Extreme Cold Claims a Life, We Have Failed the Homeless
Read the Article at The Guardian
Conservative Donors Ripped Off by Conservative Scam Groups
US Democracy Is Doomed
Gas Industry’s Solution to Toxic Wastewater: Spray It on Roads
Insidious Insider Backstabbing Behind the Scenes of Scott Walker’s Casino Betrayal
Read the Article at Reverb Press
Environmentalists Link Plunge of Monarch Butterfly to Pesticide
Read the Article at Courthouse News Service
Violence by Far-Right Extremists Has Surpassed That Caused by Domestic Jihadists
Spirit In Action 