Privatization

Are we "going the way of Greece?" Should we cut spending to head off a "debt crisis" here? more »

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The private prison industry is on the march. In recent months the industry moved to take over 24 state prisons in southern Florida and buy five prisons in Ohio. Now it’s making moves in Michigan.

But the industry doesn’t always win. Resistance isn’t futile. more »

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The Strengthen Social Security Campaign has created a guide evaluating the “friendliness” of six Republican candidates, “Among Republican Candidates, Not a Single Friend of Social Security.” The Campaign has also produced longer individual profiles of more »

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As Mayor Bloomberg's forces swooped down on Occupy Wall Street, news reports described the "hundreds of police and private security guards" who had re-taken Zuccotti Park. more »

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A few weeks after calling Social Security a “Ponzi scheme,” Rick Perry claims he has just the plan to save the program. That is nothing but a monstrous lie.

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Retiring U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-No Shame, TX) today unveiled a plan to steal Social Security from Americans by cutting their benefits and lying to them about it. more »

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WHERE THE $ IS: MODERN MARYLAND’S ANCIENT REVENUE

March 21, 2011

Dear Citizens and Elected Officials:

We are writing this post in the wake of the monumental union rally held in Annapolis on Monday evening, March 14, which drew some 15,000 people. more »

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Sometimes it's worth looking at current events through the eyes of a historian chronicling the end of an age, or those of a district attorney in a time of corruption. Come to think of it, the two perspectives aren't all that different.

However you look at it, calling the Wisconsin struggle a "labor dispute" is like calling the Battle of Normandy "a fight over a beach." There's a war on, one that's best understand by using an Latin expression popular among prosecutors: Cui bono? Who benefits? Gov. Scott Walker's union-busting budget contains buried goodies for somebody, including possibly the Koch Brothers who paid to have it drafted. More importantly, it's another step toward replacing the American dream of prosperity for all with imperial visions of massive wealth for the few. more »

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Here's a clip of our appearance on the Russia Today network to discuss the economies of Egypt and the United States.  It felt very important, while pointing out the possibly surprising similarities, to also point out their greater hardships and dangers - especially now, while they're showing so much courage.

The Egypt discussion allowed us to point out the risks of "austerity economics" and the problems that can arise when economic policy places a premature emphasis on deficits at times when growth and jobs investment are needed; and to point out the parallels between Egyptian and US decisions to offer tax cuts for high-earning individuals and corporations while more stimulus is still needed.

The other panelist was Robert Naiman of Just Foreign Policy.  The entire discussion lasted fifteen minutes.  For those who only want to see our participation, we were the lead-off commentator and reappeared at 7 minutes and 45 seconds (where, you may notice, I didn't answer a question for which I felt unqualified).  Here it is:

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People want the President to exert leadership to turn things around.

The oil leak. Unemployment. Credit card scams. Foreclosures. Predatory corporations. Environmental destruction. Global warming. Roads and bridges crumbling. Incomes stagnant. Schools getting worse. Companies moving overseas. Problem after problem. more »

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