Racial gap is widening, equality advocates warn
Racial inequality is widening in the current economic crisis, leaders of social justice groups warned in a national phone forum this week.
Judith Krug, librarian, tireless advocate for First Amendment rights, dies
CHICAGO — Judith Fingeret Krug, 69, the long-time director of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) and executive director of the Freedom to Read Foundation, who fought censorship on behalf of the nation’s libraries, died April 11 after a lengthy illness.
Pete Seeger: 90 years of song and struggle
Born 90 years ago this May 3, Pete Seeger has been a tireless performer of topical song and a champion of global folklore, focusing his strongest efforts on that which was created by, for and about, the so-called common man.
Obama admin. announces funding for 'smart grid'
As part the economic stimulus package, Vice President Joe Biden unveiled a $4 billion plan today in Jefferson City, Missouri to fund the construction of a new 'smart' electrical grid.
Obama outlines pro-worker tax policy, slams right-wing scare tactics
While right-wingers tried to resuscitate their discredited movement with Fox-amplified anti-tax “tea party” protests yesterday, President Obama outlined a set of strongly pro-working-class tax reform initiatives.
Single-payer health care could save $400 billion per year, advocates say
CHICAGO – Health care activists rallied here to express their concern that the big hospital, insurance and pharmaceutical companies were “marginalizing” the single payer option in the discussion on health care reform currently before Congress. The activists were gathering in solidarity with a similar rally outside the White House Forum on Health Care Reform in Los Angeles on April 6.
Goldman Sachs seeks to silence critical Fla. blogger
Mike Morgan, a registered investment advisor in Florida's Jensen Beach community, is angry over the role the investment bank Goldman Sachs and its executives played in the current global economic crisis while collecting more than $12 billion in bailout money from U.S. taxpayers. As an outlet for his ire, Morgan launched a website last month titled 'Info, Comments, Opinions and Facts About Goldman Sachs.'
Fending off the mortgage industry: Savvy activists are winning in court and on the streets
Before she was evicted from her own home, Kendra Washington took a walk around her Detroit neighborhood. She found an empty home and decided to squat with her two children. “I refused to get my kids put out on the street,” said the single mother who moved into a vacant Housing and Urban Development house.
Insurers fight health care reform with dirty tricks, but public supports Obama plan
More proof out this week that the insurance industry’s sweet words for health care reform are dripping with hypocrisy. America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), which has been pushing a sham health care reform campaign masquerading as a grassroots initiative, now seems to be using dirty tricks and outright falsehoods in an attempt to keep some of their most profitable programs.
Reading the tea leaves
After decades of increased power and sway, the ultra-right wing of the Republican Party is not accustomed to having to serve as the 'loyal opposition.' (In fact, I don't think they fully understand the term — as the hysteria being whipped up by the radio shock-jocks and squawking heads at Fox is far from loyal, and their disorganized attempts to create an AstroTurf uproar barely qualifies as opposition.)
