Social Justice Magazine
On Friday, January 13, a large group of high-tech leaders launched the San Francisco Citizens Initiative for Technology & Innovation, a new civic organization designed to help make the city the “innovation capital of the world.” Such a new pro-business group would have concerned progressives only a few years ago, and might still alarm some. But times have changed. The high-tech … [Read more...]
For progressives, the first eight months of 2011 were the worst of times. Not since the Reagan tax cuts and slashing of domestic programs in 2001 have progressives been so left out of the national debate, and the 2011 exclusion occurred with Barack Obama as President. Obama got the year off to a terrible start with his agreement to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy for two years in exchange … [Read more...]
I was rapidly changing channels on the exercise machine trying to follow news coverage of the Bloomberg News’ revelation that the federal bank bailout was not the $700 million publicly discussed (via TARP), but was instead a secret $7.7 trillion. But all of the television news shows, including allegedly “progressive” MSNBC were talking about Herman Cain’s mistress, and then went on to … [Read more...]
These are not the best of times to be a college student in the United States. Spiraling tuition costs, huge post-graduation debt, and a shrinking job market could understandably demoralize an entire generation. But recent events demonstrate that college students are responding to the tough economic times not by giving up, but rather by redoubling efforts to create a more just society.In fact, … [Read more...]
As Republicans move toward nominating the electable Mitt Romney, disaffected Democrats are trying to generate enthusiasm for President Obama. But Obama is not making it easy. Last week, the President announced plans to send 2,500 troops to Australia – purportedly to “send a message” to China. He also renewed his call for a “grand bargain” to cut Medicare, Social Security, and domestic … [Read more...]
Two months after launching, the Occupy movement faces a critical test. Since drawing worldwide attention to the unequal distribution of wealth in the United States, and becoming a powerful voice for “the 99%,” the movement has become ensnared in local battles over the right to camp in public places.For some, the control of public space goes to the heart of the Occupier's agenda, as the … [Read more...]
Wal-Mart heiress Alice Walton, the ninth richest person in the world, opens her Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, this Friday, November 11. The museum is double the size of the current Whitney Museum in New York City, and among the featured paintings is Norman Rockwell’s classic 1943 Rosie the Riveter.But as Walton promotes a painting that highlights the … [Read more...]
With organized labor increasing support for the Occupy movement – SEIU Local 1021, the Alameda County Labor Council and other unions greatly contributed to the success of the November 2 Oakland General Strike – many see the battle for the 99% as energizing traditional Democratic constituencies for the November 2012 elections. But if the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction reaches a … [Read more...]
I visited Occupy Wall Street last week. It was the day before a San Francisco federal judge upheld the United States Post Office’s claim that it can legally discriminate against the poor in delivering mail, and also the day before the Congressional Budget Office announced that “the top 1% of earners more than doubled their share of the nation’s income over the past three … [Read more...]
With Mitt Romney his almost certain opponent, Barack Obama faces an uphill fight to win re-election. But Republicans may have given Obama the rallying cry he needs to spur disillusioned voters. In vowing to abolish national health care reform if they win the White House, Romney and fellow Republicans have made health care a central issue in the 2012 campaign. If the health care measure were not at … [Read more...]
You know that Occupy Wall Street and its local, national and international progeny have reached a level of success when everyone is offering advice. Unfortunately, the most commonly offered view – that activists must get specific about their demands – is entirely wrong.This movement is not akin to a neighborhood group trying to get a politician to clean up a park or repair a school. Nor is … [Read more...]
Recent regime changes in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and other Mideast nations raise the question of whether nonviolent resistance is more effective than armed combat in winning revolutionary struggles. Historically, the iconic revolutions of the Left – the Russian Revolution, Mao’s success in China, Castro’s victory in Cuba – all required military action. And the most recent examples of … [Read more...]
A surprising shift has occurred in mainstream attitudes toward the openly anti-corporate Occupy movement: after first ignoring and then downplaying the effort, skepticism has given way to praise. While some continue to draw foolish parallels to the Tea Party – always part of the Republican Party, while Occupy activists are working outside electoral politics – even political moderates like New … [Read more...]
As the grassroots campaign against Wall Street grows, Democratic politicians are moving in the opposite direction. President Obama has secured the House Republican support necessary to pass three trade bills strongly opposed by organized labor and most Democrats.New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who like Obama was elected with huge labor funding and ground support, took a particularly hard … [Read more...]
For some, Occupy Wall Street is a great strategy for bringing attention to the financial industry’s ongoing abuses and the political system’s unwillingness to control them. For others, it is more akin to a 1960’s “Be In” than a serious challenge to Wall Street power, as it lacks the specific targets and winnable demands customary in standard organizing campaigns. Activists can disagree … [Read more...]
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