Je suis Charlie! Je suis juif/ve!

When does the Greed Stop?!

Ed Asner Explains Income Inequality

Manning Up

It is with great sadness that I post a link to this Op-Ed at Truthout by Peter B. Collins…

“As an independent progressive and 40-year radio veteran, I’m sorry to report that heroic efforts over the past ten years to build a national radio presence for progressives and Democrats seem to have reached a critical turning point. With the recent loss of key AM outlets in Portland, Seattle and Detroit, the progressive talk format no longer enjoys national coverage, which in turn threatens the financial viability of the syndicated programs hosted by Stephanie Miller, Thom Hartmann, Ed Schultz, Randi Rhodes, Mike Malloy, Bill Press and Norman Goldman.”

I started this blog originally to document my work fighting for a progressive station here in greater Boston and was thrilled when we were able to pull it off in 2008 after 2 1/2 years of work. Sadly, between the political insanity and the economy, most of the funding and support for this format has dried up and only a small presence of our endeavors remains and is severely challenged to stay alive.

“Ratings range from flat to flat-lined: in 2012, Clear Channel-owned KPOJ in Portland and CBS-owned KPTK in Seattle showed audience numbers so low that they were not listed by Arbitron; Clear Channel’s WDTW in Detroit barely showed a pulse at .1 percent, and the once-powerhouse, now-struggling media conglomerate recently agreed to donate WDTW to a local community group. In his second attempt at WVKO in Columbus, Ohio, Gary Richards was forced to sign off just before Christmas 2012. Progressive talker Jeff Santos waged a valiant four-year struggle in Boston, and I was a consultant in his effort last year to add eight new markets in battleground states; we had no choice but to lease air time, and once again the Democrats who had the most to gain failed to support the effort.”

 

The so-called “left” has failed to create it’s own infrastructure and the country’s drift to the right is the outcome. Repeatedly, support for this infrastructure has fallen on deaf ears, even when shown it’s benefits. We MUST all support what remains of progressive talk radio and tv. Before it is too late. Maybe it is already, but I’d like to think we still have a small chance…

 

 

 

 

50 Years

The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists, who are dedicated to justice, peace, and brotherhood. The trailblazers in human, academic, scientific, and religious freedom have always been nonconformists.  In any cause that concerns the progress of mankind, put your faith in the nonconformists!  – Martin Luther King, Jr.  1963

We Will Not Forget

 

 

 

 

Matt Stoller’s beautiful tribute of Aaron Swartz

“As we think about what happened to Aaron, we need to recognize that it was not just prosecutorial overreach that killed him. That’s too easy, because that implies it’s one bad apple. We know that’s not true. What killed him was corruption. Corruption isn’t just people profiting from betraying the public interest. It’s also people being punished for upholding the public interest. In our institutions of power, when you do the right thing and challenge abusive power, you end up destroying a job prospect, an economic opportunity, a political or social connection, or an opportunity for media. Or if you are truly dangerous and brilliantly subversive, as Aaron was, you are bankrupted and destroyed. There’s a reason whistleblowers get fired. There’s a reason Bradley Manning is in jail. There’s a reason the only CIA official who has gone to jail for torture is the person – John Kiriako – who told the world it was going on. There’s a reason those who destroyed the financial system “dine at the White House”, as Lawrence Lessig put it. There’s a reason former Senator Russ Feingold is a college professor whereas former Senator Chris Dodd is now a multi-millionaire. There’s a reason DOJ officials do not go after bankers who illegally foreclose, and then get jobs as partners in white collar criminal defense. There’s a reason no one has been held accountable for decisions leading to the financial crisis, or the war in Iraq. This reason is the modern ethic in American society that defines success as climbing up the ladder, consequences be damned. Corrupt self-interest, when it goes systemwide, demands that it protect rentiers from people like Aaron, that it intimidate, co-opt, humiliate, fire, destroy, and/or bankrupt those who stand for justice.”

VOTE & GET INVOLVED

“Are you part of the solution, or are you part of the con?”

 

We are all the 99%

Today is UNITED FOR #GLOBALCHANGE

 

It’s thrilling! The demand for justice  and fairness is
spreading all over the country & all over the world! Be part of it!

Not Your Father’s NYC

Great article about how the corporate zeitgeist has destroyed the artistic & intellectual bent in NY.

And get your Occupied Wall Street Journal 1st edition here!

And one more hideous if not unexpected development. Right wing operatives have deliberately intervened in DC’s Occupy Wall Street protest to precipitate violence & discredit the non-violent movement: Conservative Magazine Brags of its Agent Provocateur’s Role in Provoking Police Action in D.C.

Allons enfants…

If you are not watching the #occupywallstreet live stream, you are missing so much! The reinvention of small “d” democracy, civics, GA’s (General Assemblies), personal involvement, the Greek style chorus, reverence for “The Commons.” It’s impressive & brings tears to my eyes.

Don’t listen to the critics. Something significant is happening. And it’s spreading all over the country.

Watch, Get involved, support the protesters.

Lee Camp

 

Chris Hedges