DemocracyNow.org – The latest census data shows nearly one in two Americans, or 150 million people, have fallen into poverty — or could be classified as low income. We’re joined by Dr. Cornel West and Tavis Smiley, who continue their efforts to spark a national dialogue on the poverty crisis with the new book, “The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto.” Smiley, an award-winning TV and radio broadcaster, says President Obama has failed to properly tackle poverty. “There seems to be a bipartisan consensus in Washington that the poor just don’t matter. President Obama is a part of that,” Smiley says. “I take nothing away from his push on healthcare, but jobs for every American should have been priority number one.” West, a professor of religion and African American studies at Princeton University, says that after the historic U.S. struggles against monarchy, slavery and institutionalized racism, “the issue today is oligarchy. Poverty is the new slavery, oligarchs are the new kings — the new heads of this structure of domination.”
The second part of this discussion can be seen here.
“Over the past five years, grassroots leaders throughout the country (and the world) have led the charge for a clean energy economy with 350.org. We’ve organized more than 15,000 actions together, helped stop a tar sands pipeline, and generated momentum to solve the climate crisis. Join us http://350.org“
Over the last year, green jobs have become a political punching bag. But in many states throughout the country the industry is gaining traction. In Massachusetts, more than 64,000 engineers, construction workers and entrepreneurs have found jobs in the sector. The Center for American Progress came here to learn how they’re doing it, and to tell the real story about the clean energy economy.
Progressive Congress teamed up with the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Service Employees International Union to take the CPC’s Budget for All directly to the people of Paul Ryan’s district. Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. helped host the rally where we highlighted the negative impact of the Ryan Republican Budget for the 1% and the positive alternatives of the Budget for All.
“Tim Bell of the Chicago Workers Collaborative speaks to PDA IL members about the exploitation of temp workers and how the progressive community can reach out and support these workers in their fight for labor equality, justice and access to health care. Visit http://chicagoworkerscollaborative.org/“
“In this video from The Nation and On The Earth Productions, ecologist David Holmgren traces the path of permaculture from its roots in the 1970s to its potential, in the future, to reshape how humans interact with the planet. He explains how its premise—working with nature rather than against it—will help us adapt to and survive in a resource-scarce world.”
DemocracyNow.org – We speak with Tom Hayden, principal author of the Port Huron statement 50 years ago, the founding document of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). The statement advocated for participatory democracy and helped launch the student movement of the 1960s. Tens of thousands of copies of the 25,000-word document were printed in booklet form. The youth-led movement changed the very language of politics and its impact is still being felt today. Hayden is a longtime activist and former California state senator.
Almost overnight, Trayvon Martin’s tragic story became a global news headline that put the issues of racial justice, inequality, and gun laws in the public and political dialogue.
But the story didn’t break the next day. It took nearly three weeks before it caught fire. And the story wasn’t pushed into the public sphere by news media; it was driven by social media and online organizing, until traditional outlets took notice.
Moderator:
– Rashad Robinson, ColorOfChange (@rashadrobinson)
Panelists:
– Maria Roach, Activist, Creator of “Justice for Trayvon Martin” SignOn.org Petition (@riaro)
– Mark Glaze, Director, Mayors Against Illegal Guns (@markcglaze)
– Tim Newman, Senior Organizer, Change.org (@tnewmstweets)
– Curtis Johnson, Online and Social Media Specialist, NAACP (@curtjohnson)
