Texas unemployment offices break down
Unprecedented unemployment and political posturing by Governor Rick Perry have forced the Texas Workforce Commmission into a complete breakdown. There were warnings from the Texas AFL-CIO more than a month ago, but the corporate media reported on July 15 that tens of thousands of jobless Texans will not get their check and tens of thousands of telephone calls for help are going unanswered. Reporter Robert T. Garrett of the Dallas Morning News estimated that 82,000 unlucky Texans won't get the federal 13-week extension of benefits when their state benefits expire, and 150,000 telephone calls couldn't get through in one day, July 13.
COMMENTARY Affirmative action and disregard of evidence
The five reactionary Supreme Court judges ignored evidence and ruled to let stand the results of a 2003 firefighter promotion test, even though no African Americans were promoted, and despite the fact that second-generation fire fighters, mostly white, had test material that the others did not possess.
COMMENTARY Public options for a dual economy
The egregious economic crimes perpetrated by U.S. finance capital have compelled new positive change in the balance of forces in our country.
VIDEO President Obama addresses the NAACP @100
President Obama's speech at the NAACP convention, July 16, 2009.
Full text of President Obama speech to the NAACP Centennial Convention
Full text of President Obama speech to the July 2009 NAACP Centennial Convention, as prepared for delivery for July 16.
Obama at NAACP: Civil rights leaders paved way for him
NEW YORK — President Barack Obama on July 16 traced his historic rise to power to the vigor and valor of black civil rights leaders, telling the NAACP that the sacrifice of others 'began the journey that has led me here.' The nation's first black president bluntly warned, though, that racial barriers persist.
Labor, doctors and small business owners back health reform
Health care reform gained new momentum this week. Wednesday, July 15, the Senate HELP committee passed a version of the bill that closely fits President Obama's main principles for reform. The same day, House Democrats announced the introduction of their own health reform and its referral to three major committees who finalize the bill.
AMA backs House health care bill
In a major development in the struggle for health care, the American Medical Association, this afternoon, announced it is supporting the Democratic House bill which includes a strong public option and taxes the wealthy to offset costs for the poor.
WHATS ON Chicago, Dallas, Oakland
50 years of the Cuban Revolution, 1st Wednesday topical discussion group, Discussion on Doi-Moi: renewal of society in Vietnam in a time of fundamental world change.
Health care fight reaches milestone
The Obama administration is the engineer on a legislative train racing to complete a health care reform overhaul before the August congressional recess.
