People Before Profit blog

10,000 gather for Urban League meet in Orlando

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:09:00 +0000

Over 10,000 people have signed up the for the National Urban League's 98th convention which opened Wednesday night in Orlando Florida. “It is time for our nation to change its priorities,” said Marc Morial at the opeing session as reported in this morning's Orlando Sentinel. “We are at a crossroads. We want a plan from the next president of the United States.”

The conference is being held under the theme, “Get, Go, Grow” and will focus on the need for developing an urban agenda. African Americans, living largely in inner cities have been severely hit by the emerging recession. The need for public housing is near the top of the list according to Morial. In this regard, the Afro American Zenitha Prince reports that Morial said,

“We clearly need a new plan for public housing in this country. A lot of public housing has been torn down; many, many units have not been rebuilt,” Morial said. “One of the underlying reasons for the sub prime crisis is that people bought houses that were more expensive than they could afford and the reason is that there were no other alternatives. So, we have to focus on the affordability of housing and [the Department of Housing and Urban Development] needs to lead the way.”

Enforcement of civil rights is another big issue for the Urban League leader “Civil rights enforcement Jena - was a perfect example of that - we need a commitment from the Justice Department under the new president to enforce civil rights laws,” said the NUL president, writes the Afro American.

The conference will also highlight the plight of Black women who were the focus of the Urban League's 2008 State of Black America Report and who have been particularly effected by the sub-prime housing crisis.

Both John McCain and Barack Obama are expected to address the gathering, with the Republican speaking on Friday, followed by the Democratic presumptive the next day. McCain who has recently gone extremely negative on Obama, backtracked on supporting affirmative action last week under right-wing preassure and is likely to face tough questioning from the audience.

Andrew Young and others are expected to address the gathering.

Obama: economy is in a state of emergency

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:46:00 +0000

The movement against right-wing extremism rose to a new level yesterday as Barack Obama held an economic summit in Washington DC, attended by two former Republican officials including former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neal and Securities and Exchange Commissioner William Donaldson. The meeting was entitled “Economic Security for American Families” and was held against a backdrop of the IMF's accesment that the US economic crisis is ongoing with inflation at its highest level in 17 years, a record deficit along with a loss of 62,000 jobs in June according to the BBC.

O'Neal, who angrily broke with Bush over the Iraq war and other issues was present to give advise on how to handle the country's cascading economic woes. Known to be close to none other than Dick Cheney and Alan Greenspan, his presence while not an endorsement, nonetheless marked a significant departure from tradtional practice. The gathering was also attended by AFL-CIO and Change to Win officials John Sweeny and Anna Burger, along with a number of business and government figures.

Obama at the meeting pointed to the outbreak of an economic “emergency.” Managing this emergency and crafting a plan to rescue the economy was high on the meeting agenda. With home foreclosures at record levels and a series of bank failures, worries about the future seem to be growing.

In fact there appears to have arisen a triple crisis of capitalist system according to Jose Ignacio Ramone editor of Le Monde Diplomatic. In a recent article he argues that the world is experiencing the coming together of three crises, food, energy, and finances – an event that in Ignacio's opinion has never occurred before. “As much as the authorities” he writes, “ try to minimize the seriousness of the moment, the truth is that we're facing an economic cataclysm of unprecedented magnitude, whose social effects are just beginning to be felt and will explode with total brutality in the next several months.”

People are starting to worry. Bob Herbert writes in the New York Times that a majority believe something is terribly wrong:

“A recent survey found that an overwhelming majority of Americans believe that the social contract of the 20th century – in which the government, employers and the society as a whole pulled together to see that those who worked hard and played by the rules were afforded the basic necessities of daily life and a shot at the American dream – “appears to be unraveling.”

The Democrats, according to Herbert seem to be looking for answers. He quotes Anna Burger of SEIU. who remarked after the meeting that “Obama has very serious policies, not sound bites, for addressing the long-term and short-term issues that are having such a dramatic effect on people who are working and trying to make ends meet,” she said.

There were various views put forward according to press reports. The BBC suggested that former Treasury Secretary and Harvard President Larry Summers favors nationalization of some banks to deal with the problem. “Mr Summers argues that the US government should nationalize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, assuming their $6 trillion debt and begin a rapid programme of aid for households facing foreclosure.”

Labor, was against new trade deals than don't include union rights, while big capital is resisting, the BBC reports: “Trade unions argue that the US should not sign any new trade deals that do not have clauses protecting workers' rights, while Mr Rubin believes that a descent into protectionism would exacerbate the world economic slowdown.”

McCain flip flops on affirmative action

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:16:00 +0000

John McCain injected race directly into the general election, declaring on ABC's This Week With George Stephanopoulis that he supported an Arizona initiative by California businessman Ward Connerly. McCain has previously spoken out against such initiatives as “divisive.”

The presumptive Republican nominee's newest flip flop – he had also previously not supported off-shore drilling – seems designed to shore up support on his right flank. In this regard, David Jackson of USA Today writes, “Democratic Party spokesman Damien LaVera said. McCain voiced support to placate Republican conservatives and is 'putting his political ambitions ahead of principle.' LaVera cited McCain's new found support for Bush-era tax cuts and offshore oil drilling. McCain said letting the tax cuts expire would amount to a tax hike in bad economic times, while $4-a-gallon gas has altered his position on offshore drilling.”

Asked by the ABC news host if he supported the Arizona ballot initiative, McCain said “'Yes, I do. I do not believe in quotas. But I have not seen the details of some of these proposals. But I've always opposed quotas.''

Washington Post columnist Robert Barnes however, points out that the Arizona measure does not concern “quotas”. “Quotas”, Barnes writes, “ are not an issue in the proposals, because the courts for years have been striking them down.” State institutions now use other language to achieve diversity. Connerly's goal is to prevent any measure seeking to achieve such results.

McCain's caving in to the far right stands in sharp contrast to previous positions. As Thinkprogress.org's Progress Report observes:

'Not only has McCain previously resisted state-level efforts to dismantle affirmative action, as he did in 1998, but he has also defended such programs on the federal level. In 1998, McCain worked with Democrats to defeat an amendment that would have ended a program that sought 'to give 10 percent of all Federally financed highway contracts to companies owned by minorities and women.'

The Progrss report continues that as recently as the spring McCain 'reiterated this support ... telling reporters in Ohio, 'all of us are for affirmative action to try to give assistance to those who need it, whether it be African-American or other groups of Americans that need it.'

Senator Barack Obama, speaking at the Unity journalists conference in Chicago, expressed “disappointment” in McCain's reversal. Obama previously has spoken in favor of looking into income based affirmative action in addition to those based on race and gender.

Some are calling on Obama to use the occasion to come out against affirmative action entirely. Andrew Sullivan, for example wrote that If he were to call McCain's bluff and come out in support of phasing out racial and gender preferences, Obama could erase a potential wedge issue for the fall.” The implication here is that the Democrat would “reform” the program by basing it on “class” alone.

Obama seems disinclined to accept this notion, repeating what McCain himself said ten years ago. “You know, the truth of the matter is, these are not designed to solve a big problem, but they're all too often designed to drive a wedge between people.'

Voters will also decide on anti-affirmative action ballot measures in Colorado and Nebraska in the fall.

McCain is due to speak at an Urban League meet on Friday.

Oil companies threaten America

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:01:00 +0000

The specter of runaway inflation haunts our country. It is already beginning to create havoc and wreak devastation to our national economy.

It is deepening and spreading hunger to new millions. It has caused the loss of tens of thousands of jobs in an ongoing job loss spiral. It is creating a crisis for rent payers and homeowners. It is complicating the struggle to stem the rising tide of home foreclosures.

Inflation is a universal phenomenon in the U.S. It corrupts and distorts every single economic activity. Nothing is spared. People are curtailing health care because they cannot afford it. A population transfer is taking place as people try to find jobs near their homes to cut travel costs. The unusually hot summer threatens health and safety as air conditioners are turned down or off. A serious tragedy is in the making. This winter, millions will not be able to afford fuel to heat their homes. Food price inflation will cause even more hunger.

While new millions are swept into the horrific vacuum of this developing inflation, there are always those millions hardest hit who suffer most under capitalism even in the so-called best of times. This profit-driven crisis falls most heavily on those who are at the bottom of the economic ladder. African Americans are the last hired, first laid off, paid the lowest wages, work the least number of hours in a year and are least able to deal with the ravages of inflation. Latinos, women and other nationally and racially oppressed also endure inflation disproportionally. Inflation threatens their very lives.

Seven-dollar-a-gallon gasoline prices are predicted by oil experts by 2010. Already prices are leaping toward $5.00 to $6.00 a gallon by 2009.

Who is to blame? The greedy oil monopolies and Wall Street speculators. The main gimmick for raising oil prices is for the speculators to buy and sell the same barrel of oil back and forth to each other for ever higher prices. Each such transaction results in more expensive oil for which you and I have to pay, even though the barrel of oil involved in the transaction never actually changes hands.

A major consumer is the U.S. military. It is the biggest user and waster of petroleum products in the country. It buys refined gasoline in the United States at retail prices and ships it to the Middle East. In addition, the government until recently was buying oil for storage at today’s high prices instead of using up stored up oil from the reserves which it bought at much lower prices years ago. This oil administration is doing everything it can to help its oil company buddies rake in billions of excess profits. Anti-oil-monopoly fever and anger are running high. Tens of millions of people are angry and ready to take action against this corporate greed which threatens our country.

What are some winning demands?

Outlaw the oil futures market and put the speculators out of business. This would cut oil prices 25-50 percent.

Roll back gasoline prices to 2006 levels.

Establish an Office of Price Administration (OPA) as was done during World War II. It works.

Boycott Exxon-Mobil — the largest and greediest U.S. oil corporation.

Nationalize the oil industry, as many other countries have done. Use the profits for research for alternative, safe energy sources.

Contact your congressperson and Senators. Demand action now.

Pat Barile is a retired trade unionist and member of the Communist Party USA National Board.

Nas lends star power to take on Fox News

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:59:00 +0000

NEW YORK — Standing next to a large sign blaring “Fox News: Your Source for Racist Smears,” Hip Hop artist Nas along with ColorofChange.org and MoveOn.org recently delivered over 620,000 signatures demanding Fox News end biased news reporting. Protesters took particular offense at racial slurs directed at Barack and Michelle Obama. NAACP chairman Julian Bond at its recently concluded Cincinnati convention spoke against a Fox derogatory reference to Michelle Obama as “baby mama.”

Nas cites Fox’s confusing of Obama and Osama by a pundit, who joked that they should both be assassinated. In February, Bill O’Reilly talked about a “lynching party” to deal with Michelle Obama, according to Jean Stout of Seattlepi.com.

It was a Fox News anchor that, after Sen. Obama gave his wife a “pound” in front of the cameras, called it a “terrorist fist jab.” ColorofChange.org called on Fox News to “find a solution to address racial stereotyping and hate-mongering.”

Fox corporate officials refused to accept the petitions. Andre Banks, a spokesman for ColorofChange.org, said that after Fox refused to take the petitions July 23, Nas took them to Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report.”

Nas, at the rally, referred to Fox News as a “propaganda machine,” a charge that gained additional credence when former White House press secretary and Bush confidant Scott McClellan admitted on “Hardball with Chris Matthews” that the White House gave “talking points” to the conservative news outlet’s journalists on a regular basis.

“Certainly there were commentators and other pundits at Fox News that were helpful to the White House and certainly we got talking points to those people,” said McClellan. Fox broadcasters then took these “talking points” as their own reporting them as news without revealing government sources. Keith Olberman, reporting the story on “Countdown,” suggested they did so “as if they had thought of it themselves, as if they had come to those opinions independently.” Olberman claimed this ended the debate over whether government had “used private media as a propaganda outlet.”

Nas’ new album, which recently reached number one on the charts, contains a song entitled “Sly Fox.” The lyrics go, “I pledge allegiance to the fair and balanced truth/Not the biased truth/Not the liar’s truth/But the highest truth,” the song continues, “watch what you watchin’/ Fox keeps feeding us toxins.”

Nas joins protest charges racism at Fox News

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:20:00 +0000

NEW YORK, N.Y. – A protest against Fox News will descend on its Manhattan headquarters on Wednesday at 2:00 pm. The media corporation's use of racism is the focus of the activity organized by , Moveon.org and Hip Hop artist Nas. Together they plan to present 600,000 petitions demanding an end to racist smears, particularly against the Obamas. NAACP chairman Julian Bond at its recently concluded Cincinnati convention spoke against against Fox derogatory reference to Michelle Obama as “baby moma.”

According to Jean Stout of Seattlepi.com Nas, “cites FOX's portrayal of the Obamas as outsiders, as well as an on-screen graphic referring to Michelle Obama as 'Obama's baby mama' and the confusing of Obama and Osama by a pundit, who joked that they should both be assassinated. In February, Bill O'Reilly talked about a 'lynching party' to deal with Michelle Obama.”

Nas recently released a song entitled Sly Fox which includes the lyrics “I pledge allegiance to the fair and balanced truth/Not the biased truth/Not the liar’s truth/But the highest truth.” The song continues “Watch what you watchin'/ FOX keeps feeding us toxins.'

ColorofChange.org is an online organization that claims a half million members and was active in the Jena 6 movement writes Vibe magazine. The organization's website reports that it was 'Fox News that after Senator Obama gave his wife a 'pound' in front of the cameras, a Fox anchor called it a 'terrorist fist jab.' It calls on people to join its members to demand Fox stop.

Nas came under attack by Fox after the Virginia Tech shootings, when the rapper became a subject of O'Reilly tirades. Tracy Ford of boombox.com writes that ”Nas' issues with the network and O'Reilly became personal in 2007 when the anchor objected to the rapper's scheduled performance at Virginia Tech to honor students who lost their lives in the school shooting.”

O'Reilly recently referred to Al Gore's attendance at Netroots Nation conference as the same as stepping into a Klan gathering, according to Thinkprogress.org.

Senator Obama, joined by three network anchors on his international tour, did not invite Fox.

Shades of Green: July 19

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 07:08:00 +0000

Shades of Green: July 12

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:54:00 +0000

Rep. Kucinich introduced impeachment article

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:05:00 +0000

Rep. Kucinich TODAY introduced impeachment article

Congressman Dennis Kucinich will present a single Article of Impeachment to the House of Representatives, Thursday, July 10. Sessions of the House of Representatives are broadcast on C-SPAN (check your local cable listings for channel) and streamed live via the Internet (www.cspan.org). The article of Impeachment will deal directly with President Bush fraudulently obtaining support for an attack on Iraq by creating a false case for war. Full details of the Article of Impeachment will be available after they are read on the floor of the House by Congressman Kucinich. You can spread the word and continue to circulate the online petition that Congressman Kucinich will present to members of Congress at: http://impeachment.kucinich.us/petition/

Some mid-summer-night reads

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:29:00 +0000

Here are a few choice books for summer reading brought to you by writers and readers of the People’s Weekly World.

“Jackdaws,” by Ken Follett. It is based on the true story of a group of British women who were flown into France, behind enemy lines in World War II to blow up a telephone exchange vital to Nazi communications. The women’s courage is uplifting, the story is thrilling, “a real page turner.”

– Diane Mohney

“They Marched Into Sunlight,” by David Maraniss. Gripping account of two parallel events of October 1967. It follows a group of American soldiers plunged into a deadly ambush in Vietnam, and the swirl of student protest against Dow Chemical at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Intertwining personal, human stories and the sweep of cataclysmic political events, this is a terrific page-turner that brings vividly to life the feel of that period and the ways in which people get caught up in, are transformed by and make history.

– Susan Webb

“Rainbow at Midnight. Labor and Culture in the 1940s,” by George Lipsitz. Most of us know that the American labor movement was one of the most successful and most militant in the world before the late 1940s, and most of us know that it hasn’t been so militant nor successful since then. But what happened? This is the book that answers that most important of all American labor history questions.

– Jim Lane

“Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came into Being and Why No One Saw It Coming,” by Paul Hawken. Out of print but available from abebooks.com. About the size and persistence of the environmental, UN-NGO “civic” movements for sustainability, housing, health care and a host of others. And “This Organic Life,” by Joan Dye Gussow, also available from abebooks.com. About reforming our food supply, but in a warm, witty generous way.

– Betty Smith

“Paul Robeson: I Want to Make Freedom Ring,” by Carin T. Ford. This biography, intended for young readers aged 12 and up, tells the story of the greatest Renaissance man of the 20th century. It shows how Robeson developed politically and chose to unselfishly dedicate his talents to the struggle for peace, justice and equality for all. Beautifully designed, with plenty of photos.

– Bonnie Weiss

“The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals,” by Michael Pollan. Food prices are soaring and food safety is declining. This book offers fascinating insights on the global food crisis and the urgent need to change how we produce and distribute food so we can all eat healthy and not break the bank doing it.

– Tim Wheeler

“Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball’s Last Hero,” by David Maraniss. This is a wonderful read about the true story and life of Puerto Rican legend Roberto Clemente, who played right field for the Pittsburgh Pirates for 18 seasons. Clemente is one of baseballs greatest players who stood up against the discrimination of Black and Latino players during the 1960s in the major leagues. He led his team to championships in 1960 and 1971 and got a hit in all 14 World Series games he played. Clemente left the world a hero who rose above sports to become a rare symbol for all athletes and paved the way for future Latino players who followed. If you love sports and if you love baseball this book is highly recommended. A quick read and an important piece of sports history.

– Pepe Lozano

“The Secret History of the American Empire: Economic Hit Men, Jackals, and the Truth About Global Corruption,” by John Perkins. In Perkins’ follow-up to his memoir “Confessions of an Economic Hit Man,” he delves deeper into the impact of global corporate exploitation on the third world economies and ecologies. Through personal accounts and interviews with other “hit men,” and “jackals,” government officials and activists, he reveals what really happened during events that have shaped the world, including the current Latin American revolution, the Asian Economic crisis and CIA-led assassinations. If you’re looking for something to remove any doubt from your mind as to the absolute evil nature of corporations and the conservative politicians that are their handmaidens, this is the book for you!

– Melissa O’Rourke

“The Silence of the Rain,” by Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Roza. Inspector Espinosa is the focus through which readers can get a glimpse into the criminal and “family” life of Rio de Janeiro people. The plot involves life insurance policies, life in the corporate world in Brazil and Espinosa’s real and imagined love life. There are enough murders to keep your interest. This book is a real summer read whether you’d be in the mountains or at the beach or resting at home given gasoline prices.

– Eric Green

“Pursuit of Happyness,” by Chris Gardner. The movie staring Will Smith was moving seeing the single dad struggle as a homeless man on the streets of San Francisco with his son. But the book is much, much more. This is a coming of age story about a young boy who grows up on the streets of Milwaukee not knowing his real father and has to deal with an abusive step-dad. He struggles as a young man during the civil rights era of the 60s and 70s. His personal memoirs are really touching details how one man never gave up despite the many challenges that African American men undergo in life. And still he becomes a very successful self-made millionaire. This is a book for all, especially young people who want to learn how to become victoriously unstoppable.

– Marguerite Wright

“Such A Long Journey,” by Rohinton Mistry. While you stay home because gas prices are too high, take a trip with Canadian-Indian author Rohinton Mistry to Bombay (now called Mumbai) of the 1970s. With the 1971 war as a backdrop, Mistry takes you on a Graham Greene-esque journey of the everyday life of a Parsi bank employee and his family. You’ll wish it was longer.

– Teresa Albano

Shades of Green: July 5

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:28:00 +0000

Bill Me Subscription Success!

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 07:06:00 +0000

Bill Me Subscription Success!
You will receive your first PWW soon along with your bill.
For more info e-mail: subs@pww.org

Shades of Green: June 21, 2008

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 05:36:00 +0000

Whats on

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 09:20:00 +0000

Berkeley, Calif. July 4, Fri., 1–5 p.m. Annual PWW barbeque. Enjoy an afternoon of good food, good music & shopping at a unique flea market. Speaker: Shahram Agahmir, a producer of Voices of the Middle East and North Africa on KPFA, on recent escalation of anti-Iran rhetoric in the U.S. & Iran’s perilous path to self-determination & democratic rule. Donation $10 (no one turned away for lack of funds). Proceeds support the People’s Weekly World. At 2223 Derby St. Info: 510-548-8764.

Boston Aug. 10, Sun., Noon till 5 p.m. The PWW Summer Outing! Join us at the Blue Hills Reservation, Houghton’s Pond, in picnic site #4. Come & support the PWW & join in good fellowship. Highlights: great food, music, swimming, games, special guest. Make your donation check payable to PWW & mail to P.O. Box 233, Boston, MA, 02117-0233. Call for directions or a ride: 617-354-2876 (leave a message).

Oakland, Calif. Aug. 2, Sat., 10 a.m. to Noon CPUSA Oakland/Berkeley invites you to the Political Affairs readers group discussion on “Overcoming Unscientific Concepts of ‘Working Class’,” from Political Affairs, April/May issue or online: . At Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library, 6501 Telegraph. Info: 510-595-7417 or .

Portland, Ore. Aug. 8, Fri., 7 p.m. A Hard Rain Fell: struggles for civil rights in the ’60s and their meaning today. A forum featuring union activist Ann Montague on Bayard Rustin & gay liberation, union organizer Bob Novick on the legacy of the ’60s, & CPUSA national leader Jarvis Tyner on connecting the ’60s to now. Sponsored by SEIU Local 503’s Civil & Human Rights Committee. At SEIU hall, 6401 SE Foster Rd. Info: contact Bob Rossi at 503-581-1505 x 141.

What's On listings are 10 lines for $20, e-mail: ads@pww.org