Progressive Media Advocates
Ed Rampell: Today, people don’t think of a revolution. They think of adapting society, of making the hope of more fairness, more justice, more social justice, more generosity, which are old things . But in the 1970s it would have been called “reformist,” which was an insult.
Tina Dupuy: The real middle-class—the actual human beings—are not getting help from the politicians they voted for. Instead, the politicians they voted for are helping the companies that the middle-class, in turn, is forced to subsidize. It’s not a theory, it’s a conspiracy fact.
Steve Hochstadt: It looks like Democrats will have much more hope in their political future than Republicans, because of changes in the American electorate.
Anthony Samad: When Republicans win, they expect the Democrats to cooperate and do the people’s business. When they lose, they don’t cooperate and blame the Democrats for not doing they people’s business. It’s insane.
Madeline Janis: My long experience with the public sector tells me that making decisions about “public good” can ONLY be done with a sense of public purpose and high values.
Sherwood Ross: In passing TANF, Congress and Bill Clinton made good on their promise to ‘end welfare as we know it.’ It’s time to end welfare reform as we know it instead.
Diane Lefer: Given our economic woes and high unemployment, the importance of advocacy groups and community organizations becomes very clear. Without support and backup, workers are less likely to demand their rights and risk retaliation at the very time when employers want to cut corners
Anthony Samad: The Republicans’ whole mantra is to tell the public what they want to hear, then do whatever the hell they want…for lies, sex, money and power.
Tom Degan: My guess is that, like in ’94, this is going to blow up in their clueless faces. I certainly hope so. Watching the utter implosion of the Republican party is an absolute joy that is difficult to put into words. I can barely contain myself.
Peter Dreier: For years Glenn Beck has spewed lies about Fran Piven, a distinguished political sceintist and sociologist. In recent months, Beck has escalated the rhetoric against Piven, which has led to a growing chorus of death threats against her. It is time to challenge the right-wing forces like Glenn Beck, Fox News, the Tea Party and the billionaires like the Koch brothers who fund them. We have an opportunity on January 30th.
Manisha Thakor: Women who consistently negotiate their salaries throughout their careers earn $1 million more over their work lives than women who do not. We pay a high price for not speaking up for ourselves financially in the workplace. Here are a few money mantras that may help.
Anthony Samad: Every author in Los Angeles knew there was no greater advocate for reading than Dr. Nehemiah. Whenever she met you, she asked you, “What’s the last book you read?” Or, “What you working on? I know you’re writing!”
Ivan Eland: Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright recently led a panel of experts in coming up with a report, “NATO 2020,” which will be used to draft a replacement for NATO’s current strategic concept, adopted in 1999. The report essentially advocates a continuation and expansion of NATO’s quest to be all things to all people. Unfortunately, this effort resembles the “expand or die” mantra that was applied to NATO as its primary mission—countering the Soviet Union—was tossed into the dustbin of history. Instead of expanding in territory and mission after the Cold War ended, NATO probably should have died back then and may die—or be severely crippled—by its likely loss in Afghanistan.
Tom Degan: How ever will they justify continued off-shore drilling in light of what is now happening in the Gulf of Mexico? In just a few short days we’ve gone from a tragedy to a disaster to a full blown catastrophe. It will be more than interesting to see the depths to which the right wing will now stoop in order to trivialize this hideous event. Rush Limbaugh is already floating the idea out to his half-witted “Dittoheads” that this was sabotage on the part of the “eco-nazis”; that some unnamed environmental organization plotted this disaster in order to further their evil socialist agenda.
Denis Campbell: Love them or hate them, Republicans get members to toe the line. Democrats need to placate EVERYONE within many constituencies. That bogs them down and they end up pleasing no one. Republicans say sit down, shut up and do as you are told. Democrats beg, cajole, plead and, even with this huge electoral majority, cower in the corner chanting the mantra “please don’t hurt me.”
Every Friday the LA Progressive features a comment that was particularly noteworthy. This week we are featuring a comment that submitted by Linda Sutton in response to “Prop 8: Apportioning Blame & Fighting Back,” by Natalie Davis. Here’s Linda’s comment: Personally, I think we need to be pointing toward the so-called “low-information” voters who make [...]
No, it’s not Karl Rove. I’m speaking of Murray Warmath. And who is Murray Warmath when he’s home? He happens to have been the world’s greatest expert on lowering expectations.
Randy Shaw: Obama could regain young people’s support by lowering student loan rates, enacting immigration reform and rejecting the Keystone XL Pipeline, but time—and his political capital—is running out.
Steve Hochstadt: The women’s liberation movement of the 1960s and 1970s finally made an issue of fathering. If women were going to get out of the house and into the workplace, men had to change their roles, too.
The Frying Pan: A successful mayor and council cannot be satisfied with merely coping as issues arise, but must be able to anticipate and define the city´s needs for the next four years. As our newly elected leaders prepare for their roles, we´ve asked writers to share their thoughts about what lies ahead for Los Angeles.
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Black America Calling For “A Black Agenda”
Anthony Asadullah Samad: The President shouldn’t hide behind black leadership who have access, while they sing a song, as Tavis says, “that we all don’t know,” namely that “the President doesn’t need a black agenda.” Don’t deny what we all know is the real help Black America needs. It’s not a subject that you have to run from. And when your community calls, Brother President, just pick up the phone.