Category Archives: News

Obama Plan: Less Troops in Iraq, Withdrawal Slower than Promised, Unclear End

Posted on February 28, 2009 by | 3 Comments

Obama Announced a Plan that Will Withdraw Substantial Numbers of Troops from Iraq

Yesterday, President Barack Obama announced that he intends to withdraw a substantial number of combat troops from Iraq by August of 2010.

In a speech at Camp Lejune in North Carolina, Obama said:

“Let me say this as plainly as I can: by August 31, 2010, our combat mission in Iraq will end.”

He outlined a plan through which “combat troops” will be removed from Iraq, bringing troop levels down from 142,000 to somewhere in the range of 35,000 to 50,000. According to Obama, those remaining troops will remain in the country to train Iraqi security forces and to perform “targeted counter-terrorism operations on its own and in conjunction with the Iraqi forces.” Obama said that this troop range is an “estimate” and that it could change over time.

Obama further said that he intends to have all troops out of Iraq by December 31, 2011, the date mandated by the Status of Forces Agreement.

Limits to Withdrawal Plan

In the past, MediaMouse.org has been highly critical of Obama’s Iraq plan, criticizing him for both the pace and his silence on the issue of private military contractors, of which there are currently 150,000.

Author Jeremy Scahill, who wrote a best-selling book on the private military company Blackwater, has also been critical of Obama’s plan. Today, he published a piece warning that people should look at Obama’s plan with skepticism. Scahill argues that the plan is quite flexible and that the Pentagon has signaled that it is expecting to remain longer than what Obama has said publicly. Similarly, the Status of Forces Agreement that supposedly mandates US withdrawal is riddled with loopholes that could allow for a longer U.S. presence.

Reaction from Antiwar Groups

Two prominent antiwar groups reacted harshly to Obama’s statement, criticizing him for a plan that will maintain the occupation of Iraq for three more years.

The veterans group Iraq Veterans Against the War reiterated their call for a full and immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops. The organization issued a statement saying:

“Obama’s plan to slowly remove combat brigades over the next 18 months and leave a remaining 35-50,000 troops throughout 2011 is a plan for almost three more years of an unjustified military occupation that continues to claim the lives and livelihoods of our troops and innocent Iraqis.

President Obama speaks of a change in mission, from a combat role to a support role, but yet still leaves room for “conducting targeted counter-terrorism missions” with a portion of the transitional forces remaining combat-ready. He also does not include a timeline for removing the more than 150,000 private defense contractors and mercenaries still in Iraq, nor does he address the question of disallowing permanent military bases.”

The antiwar group Code Pink reacted similarly, saying that they are “disheartened” that Obama is neglecting the 16-month withdrawal time line outlined in his campaign. Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin said, “This timeline and leaving tens of thousands of residual troops sounds more like occupation-lite than an end to occupation.”

→ 3 Comments

Posted in News

Tagged , , ,

Are You Stimulated? Media and Money

Posted on February 28, 2009 by | Comments Off

It's A Myth That Just Because 'The Economy' Is Good We're All OK

So, the much promoted stimulus plan from the Obama administration has been passed. And despite all the rhetoric around the new administration’s desire for this to be a bipartisan plan, the Senate and the House pretty much voted along party lines.

One thing I noticed during the weeks that led up to the vote on the stimulus plan was the lack of information in the news coverage about what the $787 billion was going to be used for. There was plenty of commentary about the battle between Democrats and Republicans, but little information on where the stimulus money would go and how that would benefit the public.

Now, in the news coverage there was some vague discussion about how the stimulus plan would help the economy, but we shouldn’t confuse that with the general public. One of the neglected truths about the economic system we live with is that even when the “economy” is doing well, lots of people are suffering. In fact, economists will quite often tell us that have 5 or 6% unemployment is a good thing. Economic indicators are driven more by stock prices and consumer spending. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is not interested in whether or not people are making a livable income or whether or not we are polluting the planet.

Another myth about the economy that was promoted during the stimulus debate is the idea of job creation. Much of the news coverage promoted the Obama administration’s claim that the stimulus plan will create 4 million new jobs. However, most reporters never really asked what kind of jobs would be created, what they will pay and how that will benefit the public. This is in part due to the fact that we are all just suppose to be happy if a politician says that what he or she will do is create jobs…end of story. The reality is that a great deal of new job creation is in the service sector, which means people earn poverty level wages, often with no benefits. Another way that the job numbers can mislead the public is by saying that the one-day you worked during the whole month through a temp. agency counts as being employed. Is this what they mean by a “market distortion?”

So where will all of the $787 billion included in the stimulus go? There is some money that will go for public education, some for extending unemployment benefits, road and bridge repairs, and health care for the poor. While this money may provide some relief to people who are hurting, it is important to keep in mind that these funds are essentially subsidies for big business. Some uninsured people will get access to some health benefits, but the money goes to the HMOs. This is what lobbyists were doing weeks before the president signed the new stimulus plan, they were making sure that most of the money would come back to the companies they represent. This is particularly the case for the banks and other Wall Street entities that not only lobbied Congress heavily; they put plenty of money into the coffers of candidates before the November election.

So let’s look at this like we were talking to a 4th grader, which is what local TV broadcasters claim is the age level they produce their stories for. Bankers and other financial institutions took lots of money from the public in the form of investments, mortgage loans, or savings. The banks and their friends on Wall Street use the money for their own gains and along the way things bottom out. Lots of working people get screwed and in the process the government gives them billions of dollars to bail them out last fall. Now these same banks and their buddies have come back to ask for more of the taxpayers’ money and while the new administration might be wagging their finger at them, they still give them more money. Not only are they giving them more money, they have continued to provide significant tax breaks to the same people who have been ripping us off for years. Add to that the fact that these same banking executives are giving themselves raises and throwing parties like there is no tomorrow. What an amazing country we live in.

OK, back to The Grand Rapids Press. So, besides not providing the public with good information during the stimulus debate in Congress, what else has the local news done for us? Well, they still provide for us good stock tips and shopping opportunities. You still get to go to any number of shopping expos at the DeVos Place and get your picture taken with a local radio or TV personality after you get introduced to the latest products from home remodeling, to cars and boats. What I want to know is who can buy this stuff? No one I know is thinking “I gotta get me a good deal on 30 foot boat.”

On Sunday, February 15, The Press out did themselves in audacity by running as their featured front page story an article about “financial guru” Dave Ramsey. The article was titled, “Do I save, or do I spend?” The focus of the story (and this is what us little people are supposed to think about during the financial crisis) was what individuals can do to better manage their money. The article even featured a local couple that have taken Dave’s advice and made it work for them. The best part about the story was that Ramsey was speaking at the Van Andel Arena on February 19, so the story was free advertising for this snake oil salesman. Tickets to see the financial guru ranged from $38 to $202. For that kind of money I would think he would take you out to dinner before he f**ked you. I know, I know, Dave Ramsey provides biblically based financial advice and can be heard on WOOD radio, his columns are in The Grand Rapids Press and in a local Christian newspaper, so what is my problem? Not only does Ramsey promote the current economic model, stock investments and all, he makes a shit ton of money giving out this information.

To add insult to injury, The Grand Rapids Press also ran a story that accompanied the piece on Dave Ramsey with the headline, “How to help end the crisis.” The article begins by saying, “It’s your fault.” Basically, the article said that the current economic crisis is because of our spending. “Your free-spending ways helped cause the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.” The bankers and Wall Street fat cats are not to blame, you are! However, the article did have a silver lining in the form of tips for us consumers. With these tips, we will be able to avoid being in a financial crisis. Before you read these, you might want to sit down. First, “parents of young children can join Costco and make up the fee with just a few months of diaper purchases.” Second, we are told to inflate our tires for better fuel efficiency. Third, we should stop buying bottled water and just buy a water filter. However, my favorite was, “People who do lots of laser printing can purchase a printer that uses only a cent or two of ink per page.”

So, what are we to do? Well there are no easy answers, but I think we might be able to learn something from people around the world. In early February, writer Joshua Holland wrote an interesting piece on AlterNet titled, “The Whole World is Rioting as the Economic Crisis Worsens – Why Aren’t We?” That, I think is an important question. If one looks at what people have been doing in places like Greece, Mexico, France, Iceland, and Russia, you will find that people are taking matters into their own hands and they are not blaming the problem on individual consumers. Check out Naomi Klein’s website, where she has lots of information and video of the global uprising against the economic crash.

I don’t know the answer to why we are not rioting in the US, even though we have every reason to be. So, I will leave us all with that challenge. Let’s answer this question together:

“Why are we not rioting in the US because of the economy?”

If you have any answers let me know and then lets do something about it.

Jeff Smith would love to be on the streets with you and not buying diapers at Costco. jsmith AT mediamouse.org

Comments Off

Posted in News

Tagged , , , , ,

West Michigan Groups Organizing to Oppose Employee Free Choice Act

Posted on February 27, 2009 by | Comments Off

A Variety of Groups--including West Michigan's Largest Newspaper--are Opposing the Employee Free Choice Act

In the past few weeks, we’ve published a few articles on the Employee Free Choice Act, a labor law being pursued by unions and many progressives in the new Congress. The measure would make it easier to form unions by eliminating advantages that employers currently hold.

Last week, we reported that the Michigan Senate passed a resolution expressing opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act. While the resolution doesn’t hold any weight and has no real influence on the federal legislature, it is indicative of the kind of opposition that the Employee Free Choice Act faces. In Michigan (former Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis just got a job for one) and across the United States business groups are organizing to oppose the bill. Unions are often portrayed as bullies trying to push this legislation, but there are just as many businesses and business groups opposing the legislation–many of which have considerable financial resources.

This opposition is also alive and well in West Michigan. Here’s a few of the groups that we might hear from in the coming months as the legislation moves forward in Congress:

Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce

022709-gr_chamber.png

The Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce–a business group that represents the interests of employers–has made opposing the Employee Free Choice a priority in 2009-2010. It writes:

“Oppose legislation that would deny employees secret ballot elections in the union selection process, eliminate current National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) enforcement provisions, and implement mandatory interest arbitration for collective bargaining agreements.

Support the rights of workers to cast their vote in private, removed from coercion from either unions or employers.”

However, under current law, employers are able to run aggressive anti-union campaigns, of which 92% do. In addition, unlike current law, the Employee Free Choice Act would give workers forming a union the choice to use a “secret ballot.” It does not eliminate that option.

Somehow, it also seems unlikely that the Chamber of Commerce is really going to care too much about employers coercing their workers. They are after all the same group that opposes an increase in the minimum wage, living wages, and other such measures.

West Michigan Works

022709-west_mi.png

West Michigan Works is a Holland/Zeeland area coalition of employers and community leaders. It promotes the idea that West Michigan is home to a unique “Employee/Employer Relationship” that flourishes through a “special bond.” Apparently, this means opposing the expanded access to unions via the Employee Free Choice Act and unions in general. In The Grand Rapids Press, West Michigan Works was recently described as “a group of business owners allied against unions.” It formed in 2003 to oppose efforts by the United Auto Workers (UAW) to organize in the Holland area.

With regard to the Employee Free Choice Act, the group has recently been cited in The Grand Rapids Press and the West Michigan Business Review and has also run a full-page ad opposing the agreement in the Holland Sentinel.

Interestingly, the group sponsors a Labor Day parade in Holland. The day is traditionally a celebration of the power of organized labor.

The Grand Rapids Press

022709-gr_press.gif

The largest newspaper in West Michigan, The Grand Rapids Press has editorialized three times since 2007 against the Employee Free Choice Act. Most recently, it opposed the agreement on its editorial page a few days before running a story about the upcoming debate. This was the only story that The Grand Rapids Press has written on the Employee Free Choice Act. Back in 2006, it ran two stories from other news services on the Act.

Aside from its own editorializing, The Grand Rapids Press has run two pieces by syndicated conservative columnists opposing the Employee Free Choice Act. It has published one column supportive of the Act.

In its editorial congratulating Obama’s victory, The Grand Rapids Press warned against passing the Employee Free Choice Act.

Michigan Chamber of Commerce

022709-mi_chamber.png

Like the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce has made opposing the Employee Free Choice Act a priority:

“Retaining the right to a secret ballot election in the choice of union representation and current National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) enforcement provisions, while opposing the implementation of mandatory arbitration of collective bargaining agreements.”

As we noted above, the Employee Free Choice Act keeps the secret ballot.

Mackinac Center for Public Policy

022709-mackinac.gif

This influential rightwing think-tank is–as would be expected–against the Employee Free Choice Act. It argues the fairly standard talking point that the Act would eliminate the secret ballot and pave the way for union organizers to intimidate workers. It is silent on the current anti-union intimidation efforts undertaken by employers.

Lakeshore Union Free

022709-lakeshore.png

I’m not entirely sure who is involved in this organization–I first found out about it because ads for its website were purchased through Google Ad Words. The website is registered anonymously and there is no information as to who runs it on the site. They describe themselves as the “concerned of the community” and “people from all around the West Michigan lakeshore area.” The website aggressively criticizes unions, arguing that:

“Their historical purpose to protect workers from unfair labor practices no longer seems necessary as most employers, particularly in West Michigan, offer good wages, benefits and a healthy working environment.”

Not surprisingly, they are strongly against the Employee Free Choice Act. The group links to a variety of anti-union websites and organizations, including the Center for Union Facts.

Comments Off

Posted in News

Tagged , , , , ,

“Read the Bill” Campaign Encourages U.S. Congress to Publish Bills before Debate

Posted on February 27, 2009 by | Comments Off

A New Campaign is Encouraging Congress to Post Bills for 72 Hours Before Debating Them

A new effort launched this week demanding that members of Congress do the most basic function expected of them–read the bills they are voting on and listen to the concerns of constituents before they cast their vote.

The effort–launched by the Sunlight Foundation at ReadTheBill.org–calls for the Congress to post all non-emergency bills and conference reports online for 72 hours before debate begins. This would allow the legislature, the public, the media, and advocacy organizations the chance to review the contents of bills before they are voted on and to make informed decisions.

ReadTheBill.org is calling for people to sign a petition in support of the this change in policy. Additionally, it has collected endorsements from a variety of watchdog and government transparency organizations including Public Citizen and the Center for Responsive Politics.

Economic Stimulus Bill Public for Only 13 Hours Before Vote

The economic stimulus bill–one of the costliest (at $787 billion) pieces of legislation–was likely not read by most legislators casting a vote on it. The 1,100-page bill was available for only 13 hours before it was passed, meaning that there was little time for legislators–let alone the public–to consider its contents. In fact, Congress even waived a rule requiring that it be available for 48 hours before a vote was taken. This gave the media, constituents, and members of the Congress little time to view the contents of the bill.

Bills Frequently Rushed Through Congress

Unfortunately, bills are frequently rushed through Congress, with members and the public often left in the dark about their specific contents. ReadTheBill.org has assembled a number of “case studies” where this happened. Many of their examples are some of the most controversial bills passed in recent years.

For example, the Congress passed the Wall Street Bailout bill with the final text available for only 29 hours. This left little time to pour over the complex legislation, possibly paving the way for the lack of transparency and accountability that the bill has been criticized for. Similarly, the bailout of Fannie and Freddie Mac–a 694 page bill–was available for only 19 hours.

Complex legislation dealing with privacy and civil liberties has also been rushed through in the past, most notably the USA PATRIOT Act that was never really made available before the vote (only two printed copies were available). Legislation governing warrantless wiretapping was also pushed through Congress, available for just 17 hours before it was voted on.

Comments Off

Posted in News

Tagged , ,

Efforts under Way to Oppose Obama’s Afghanistan Escalation

Posted on February 27, 2009 by | 1 Comment

Organizing to Oppose Obama's Escalation of the Afghanistan War includes Film, Call for Congressional Hearings

In recent weeks, a new effort has been undertaken to oppose the escalation of the U.S. war in Afghanistan. As President Barack Obama has committed to sending 17,000 additional troops to the country, there is a growing debate among progressives about how best to proceed in the country.

The latest effort has been spearheaded by the Brave New Foundation. The organization is currently working on a film questioning the U.S. war in Afghanistan and is urging a serious debate over U.S. policy. The organization has launched RethinkAfghanistan.com and is currently collecting signatures on a petition that calls for Congressional hearings about the war. They argue that Congress should discuss troops, costs, and overall mission before more troops are committed to the war.

Documentary Questions the Afghanistan War

Robert Greenwald, the progressive filmmaker who has produced successful films such as Uncovered: The War on Iraq and Iraq for Sale, is working on a film titled Rethink Afghanistan that will intends to foster discussion and debate about the Afghanistan War.

The first segment of the film, titled “Afghanistan + More Troops = Catastrophe,” has been released. It looks at the problems associated with escalating the war in Afghanistan:

Additional segments will be released in the coming weeks and we’ll post them here as they become available.

Blogging against the Afghanistan War

In addition to the Rethink Afghanistan film and the push for Congressional oversight hearings, the “Get Afghanistan Right” blog continues to aggregate articles critical of the escalation of the U.S. war in Afghanistan. In recent weeks, the blog has linked to articles highlighting the cost of the war, looking at the Geneva Conventions, and the progressive debate over the war.

The blog has also adopted a position statement on Obama’s proposed escalation, stating in part:

“As Americans eager to help President Obama build prosperity at home and peace abroad, we are gravely concerned by plans to increase our military presence in Afghanistan. Without a clear strategy, benchmarks for success, and a plan to bring our troops home, this escalation will only prolong the American-led occupation – increasing anti-American sentiment throughout the region – while failing to make America any safer. In a time of economic crisis, these resources can be better used to solve problems here at home.

We urge elected and appointed leaders to postpone troop increases in Afghanistan to allow for a robust public debate on the goals of our presence there and the strategies best suited to achieving them.”

Thus far, the statement has been endorsed a variety of university professors including Noam Chomsky as well as the group Progressive Democrats of America.

→ 1 Comment

Posted in News

Tagged , ,

IGE Talks: How Foreigners See Us

Posted on February 27, 2009 by | Comments Off

Here is the latest IGE Talks a monthly cable access show hosted by the Institute for Global Education (IGE) and aired on Grand Rapids’ public access television. As part of our ongoing efforts to support independent and do-it-yourself media here in West Michigan, we will be posting these shows each month.

In this episode, IGE Talks focuses on how foreigners view the United States:

The topic for the next show is “Employment & Environment.” It will be taped on March 5th at 7:00pm at Brick Road Pizza Company, 1017 Wealthy St SE. The public is welcome to participate in the discussion.

Comments Off

Posted in News

Tagged , , , , , ,

Headlines: Obama Budget Revealed; U.S. to Charge “Enemy Combatant”

Posted on February 27, 2009 by | Comments Off
Democracy Now Headlines: Obama Budget Revealed; U.S. to Charge 'Enemy Combatant'

Headlines from DemocracyNow.org, a daily TV/radio news program, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, airing on over 650 stations, pioneering the largest community media collaboration in the US.

$3.55T Obama Budget Repeals Bush Tax Cuts for Wealthy

President Obama has unveiled a $3.55 trillion spending budget for the coming fiscal year. On Thursday, Obama said the plan includes tax relief for lower-income Americans while repealing Bush administration tax cuts for the wealthy.

President Obama: “No part of my budget will be free from scrutiny or untouched by reform. We will end no-bid contracts that have wasted billions in Iraq and end tax breaks for corporations that ship jobs overseas. And we’ll save billions of dollars by rolling back tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans while giving a middle-class tax cut to 95 percent of hardworking families.”

Large businesses and wealthy Americans would see tax increases worth nearly $2 trillion over the next ten years. The estate tax would also be preserved, overriding the Bush administration measure for its repeal. The extra revenues would help pay for a $634 billion reserve fund that Obama says will be used toward universal healthcare.

President Obama: “With this budget, we are making a historic commitment to comprehensive healthcare reform. It’s a step that will not only make families healthier and companies more competitive, but over the long term it will also help us bring down our deficit.”

Budget to Include War Spending

The plan estimates the US deficit will grow to a record $1.75 trillion. In another change, war funding will now be included in fiscal budgets instead of as a supplemental. Obama said the previous exclusion of war costs from budget plans has led to “dishonest accounting.” Obama is seeking $130 billion for the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan in 2010. He says the number will drop once the US withdraws combat troops from Iraq by 2011. Overall, Obama is seeking a four percent increase in military spending, from $513 billion to $534 billion. Other budget items include some $250 billion in additional funding for bailing out the nation’s banks and an end to agricultural subsidies for farmers making more than $500,000. In the budget document, President Obama blames Bush administration policies and reckless Wall Street behavior for the economic crisis. Obama says, “We arrived at this point as a result of an era of profound irresponsibility that engulfed both private and public institutions, from some of our largest companies’ executive suites to the seats of power in Washington, D.C.”

50,000 U.S. Troops to Remain in Iraq Under Withdrawal Plan

President Obama is reportedly set to announce an order to withdraw most U.S. troops from Iraq by September of 2010. The Washington Post reports Obama will announce today a plan that would leave 35,000 to 50,000 troops in Iraq until the end of 2011. The deadline is three months longer than what Obama promised on the campaign trail. The remaining U.S. troops won’t be classified as ‘combat’ but they’ll retain free reign to carry out attacks.

Iraq Loosens Restrictions on Foreign Oil Companies

The Iraqi government is granting international oil corporations an increased stake in developing Iraqi oil. Winning bidders in future projects will be granted a seventy-five percent stake rather than the current limit of 49 percent. Iraq has also lowered the minimum production target for companies to get paid for their work.

Pentagon Lifts Media Ban on Soldiers’ Remains

The Pentagon has announced it’s easing a media ban on the coffins of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the soldiers’ family members will now be able to decide whether the coffins can be photographed.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates: “If the family of one of the fallen says that they do not want media coverage of the return of the dignified transfer process, then that will be the decision. There will be no media coverage. If they say that’s OK with them, then it will be available.”

Gates made the decision after President Barack Obama ordered a review of the media ban earlier this month.

Obama to Charge Lone “Enemy Combatant” in U.S.

The Obama administration is reportedly preparing to bring charges against the only so-called “enemy combatant” jailed in the United States. Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri has been held in isolation at a naval brig in South Carolina for more than five years. He has never stood trial or been convicted of any crime. A Supreme Court hearing challenging his indefinite jailing is currently set for April, forcing the administration to decide whether to continue Bush administration policy or allow al-Marri to defend himself in a U.S. court. Al-Marri will reportedly be charged with providing material support to members of al-Qaeda. His attorney, Jonathan Hafetz said: “If true, the decision to charge al-Marri is an important step in restoring the rule of law and is what should have happened seven years ago when he was first arrested.” Hafetz continued: “It is vital the Supreme Court [still] hear the case… [to make] clear once and for all that indefinite military detention of persons arrested in the U.S. is illegal and that this never happens again.”

Senate Panel to Review CIA Treatment of Foreign Prisoners

The Senate intelligence committee is preparing to launch a review of the CIA’s treatment of foreign prisoners in the so-called war on terror. Congressional officials say lawmakers will use classified material and public testimony to document the use of torture practices including waterboarding. The probe is being billed as a “study”, and won’t make recommendations on whether to prosecute Bush administration officials.

U.K. Admits Sending 2 Prisoners to U.S.

The British government has retracted previous denials of involvement in the U.S. program of kidnapping and transferring suspects to foreign jails. On Thursday, British Defense Minister John Hutton said Britain has previously handed the U.S. two prisoners captured in Iraq. The prisoners were then sent to Afghanistan where they remain after more than four years.

Palestinian Unity Talks Continue in Egypt

In Egypt, unity talks continue between the leading Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas. The two groups are meeting along with ten other Palestinian factions on resolving a power split between the West Bank and Gaza for the past eighteen months. The factions have agreed on establishing five committees to resolve ongoing differences.

Hamas leader Abu Marzouq: “Thank you for coming everyone. This is a historic day, a day the Palestinians have been looking forward to for a year and a half, the day the Palestinians move towards union and the real beginning of Palestinian unity.”

The talks are continuing ahead of an international donors conference for Gaza on Monday. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is set to attend as part of her first Middle East tour since taking the State Department helm.

Ex-CIA Exec Director Gets 3-Year Jail Term in Bribe Case

Back in the United States, the CIA’s former executive director has been sentenced to more than three years in prison on wire fraud charges related to accepting bribes. Kyle “Dusty” Foggo was the third-highest-ranking official at the CIA until his resignation in 2006. Federal prosecutors say he took $70,000 worth of gifts in exchange for doling out lucrative CIA contracts. Foggo originally faced twenty-eight charges, but prosecutors agreed to drop twenty-seven of them in exchange for the guilty plea on wire fraud.

Progressive Coalition to Challenge Incumbent Dems

A coalition of unions, bloggers and activists has announced a campaign to challenge Democratic incumbents who shun progressive policies. The group Accountability Now says it plans on raising money to fund challenges to centrist and right-wing Democrats in the primaries.

Senate Backs D.C. Voting Rights

The District of Columbia has moved a step closer to getting a vote in the House of Representatives. On Thursday the Senate voted 61 to 37 to pass the DC House Voting Rights Act. The bill will expand the size of the House by two seats – giving Washington DC a single seat and Utah a fourth. The House is also expected to pass the measure and President Obama has said he will sign it into law. The Senate approved the bill only after Republicans added an amendment to throw out Washington’s gun control laws including its ban on semi-automatic weapons. More on this story later in the broadcast.

GM Posts $9.6B 4th Quarter Loss

The auto giant General Motors has posted another major quarterly loss amidst warnings it’s nearing insolvency. On Thursday, GM said it lost $9.6 billion in the fourth quarter, bringing its 2008 loss to $30.9 billion. The announcement came as GM chair Rick Wagoner met with White House officials to seek further government aid.

Paterson Seeks Delay of Solitary Confinement Ban for Mentally-Ill

Here in New York, a coalition of mental health, legal and prison rights advocates are opposing a move by Governor David Paterson to delay implementation of a bill that would bar holding seriously mentally ill prisoners in solitary confinement. Under the bill, mentally-ill prisoners would be transferred to secure treatment facilities rather than kept in twenty-four-hour solitude. Advocates for mentally-disabled prisoners have argued that solitary confinement is inhumane and has driven some to suicide and declining mental health. The measure is supposed to take effect in 2011. But Governor Paterson’s new budget calls for delaying its implementation until 2014.

Rocky Mountain News Ends Publication

And in media news, the Denver-based Rocky Mountain News is publishing its last paper today. On Thursday, parent company E.W. Scripps announced the newspaper’s closure after saying it’s failed to find a buyer. The closure comes just two months before the Rocky Mountain News would have marked its 150th anniversary.

Comments Off

Posted in News

Tagged , , , , , ,

Analysis: Military Continues to Rely on People of Color and Low and Middle Income to Fill Ranks

Posted on February 26, 2009 by | Comments Off

Disproportionate Number of African-American Recruits in Kent County in 2008

The National Priorities Project has released its annual analysis of Army recruiting, finding that in 2008 new recruits tend to be people of color, come from low to middle income families, and are growing increasingly younger.

In summarizing the findings, Jo Comerford of the National Priorities Project states, “Once again we are compelled to note the Army’s disproportionate reliance on young people, people of color and individuals from low- and middle-income families to fill its ranks.”

Summary of Recruiting Trends for 2008

The data–obtained by combining Census material with information obtained via the Freedom of Information Act–shows several striking things:

  • LOW- AND MIDDLE INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS CONTINUE TO BE OVERREPRESENTED. Active-duty Army recruits disproportionately come from low-to middle income neighborhoods. Neighborhood incomes in the lowest 10% of population were underrepresented, as were those in the top 20%.
  • THE AGE OF NEW RECRUITS FELL. Fifty-two percent of new recruits in 2008 were below the age of 21. This is up from 48.5% in 2007.
  • THE PERCENTAGE OF RECRUITS WHO ARE BLACK HAS RISEN SINCE 2005, INCREASING FROM 15% IN 2005 TO 16.6% IN 2008. The sharpest increase was between 2007 and 2008.
  • THE PERCENTAGE OF NEW RECRUITS WHO ARE HISPANIC HAS FALLEN A FULL PERCENTAGE POINT BETWEEN 2005 AND 2008, WITH 10.85% OF NEW RECRUITS IDENTIFYING THEMSELVES AS HISPANIC.
  • BOTH HISPANIC AND BLACK RECRUITS ARE ALSO MORE LIKELY THAN WHITES TO BE WOMEN, AND TO COME FROM LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS.
  • BOTH HISPANIC AND BLACK RECRUITS ARE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, BUT AS A GROUP HAVE LOWER SCORES ON THE AFQT (ARMED FORCES QUALIFICATION TEST) THAN WHITE RECRUITS.

The National Priorities Project also expresses concern that with lower test scores, recruits of color will have limited opportunities in the Army.

Military Recruiting in West Michigan

One of the strengths of the National Priorities Project’s research is that it allows folks to look at the numbers in their own communities (see MediaMouse.org posts from 2006 and 2007).

Looking at the numbers for Kent County, we found that there were 146 active-duty Army recruits. This breaks down into the following categories:

  • 83.56% were White

    • 14.38% were Black

    2.05% were Asian or Pacific Islander

    1.37% were Hispanic

According to Census statistics for Kent County, African-Americans were over-represented in the Army when compared to their percentage of the total population.

Comments Off

Posted in News

Tagged , , , , ,

Cash Assistance Program Failing to Help Many Poverty-Stricken Michigan Families

Posted on February 26, 2009 by | 1 Comment

Michigan's Cash Assistance Program is failing to Help Many Families in Poverty

The Michigan League of Human Services has released a new report showing that while Michigan’s economy is among the worst in the nation, the state is offering little by way of a safety net for those most effected by the economic crisis. According to the report, Michigan’s cash assistance program–the Family Independence Program (welfare) that exists to help families dealing with unemployment or unexpected life circumstances–is aiding only the poorest of the state’s poor.

Michigan Families Facing Tough Times

One doesn’t need to look too hard to realize that the economy in Michigan is awful. Hardly a day goes by without a news story about a factory closing, a change in the unemployment rate, homes being foreclosed, or a story about a job fair inundated with far more applicants than there are positions.

The Michigan League of Human Services puts this in perspective, writing:

“These are difficult times for Michigan. Our state’s unemployment rate has led the nation for much of the past several years, with massive job losses in a number of sectors. Ten percent of all families in Michigan and nearly one out of every five children are in poverty, and many other families are in an economically precarious position. Many families cannot afford rent or health insurance, and there has been a sharp increase in home foreclosures during the past several years.”

The report also says that many middle class families–not just the poorest families in the state–could benefit from an expanded safety net. The League writes that many families are just one layoff or one health crisis away from “financial disaster.”

Only a Portion of those in Need Receiving Assistance

The report shows that Michigan’s cash assistance program–the Family Independence Program–is only helping the poorest residents in the state. While family poverty is growing in the state, Michigan’s program allows only those living at more than 44% below the poverty level to receive assistance. Work requirements have also meant that many families earn “too much” to qualify for assistance, even though they live significantly below the poverty line.

In 2007, approximately 257,488 families were in poverty, but only 82,329 families–or 32% of poor families–received cash assistance. Benefits have also only increased a paltry $33 per month since 1993.

Cuts and “Welfare Reform” have Reduced Assistance

Over the years, the program was weakened both by state-level efforts aimed at reducing welfare roles, as well as the federal “welfare reform” efforts undertaken in the 1990s by Bill Clinton. Following the federal changes, Michigan has received only a fixed block grant that has remained the same each year. At the same time, the legislature has tightened qualifications and made it harder for families that need assistance to receive help.

Beyond cuts to cash assistance programs, there have been cuts and eliminations of other important programs:

  • The General Assistance grant, which covered rent for the otherwise homeless population, was eliminated in 1991;
  • The Michigan child care subsidy, to help provide child care for working poor parents, has been increased by only 8 cents an hour in 14 years;
  • State funding for emergency needs was slashed in 1992, and today covers less than a quarter of families than it did in 1990.

All of these cuts have made it so that many of Michigan’s families are facing incredibly difficult times. As cash assistance has fallen, there are fewer places for families to turn.

The report argues that the current situation is worse than the last time Michigan faced double-digit unemployment. In the early 1980s, Michigan’s cash assistance program covered three times as many workers and was worth more. At that time, the program could cover rent and other essentials, now it’s not even enough to cover rent.

Recent drops in caseloads–from 85,839 cases per month to 72,568 in 2008–are likely due to changes in policy including stricter job requirements and proof of citizenship requirements.

Opportunities for Improvements

The League is urging the state to use money from the economic stimulus package to forestall further cuts and extend help to those who need it.

It also warns against further “ill-advised tax decisions” like the ones that were put into place while the economy was thriving and argues that reducing the deficit by lessening the social safety net is the wrong way to go.

→ 1 Comment

Posted in News

Tagged , , , ,

Headlines: Obama Budget to Expand Health Care; Israel Bombs Gaza

Posted on February 26, 2009 by | Comments Off
Democracy Now Headlines: Obama Budget to Expand Health Care; Israel Bombs Gaza

Headlines from DemocracyNow.org, a daily TV/radio news program, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, airing on over 650 stations, pioneering the largest community media collaboration in the US.

Obama Budget to Include $634B for Health Care Expansion

President Obama is preparing to send a more than $3 trillion plan to Congress today. The budget will seek further tax increases on wealthy Americans to fund a ten-year, $634 billion dollar to expand health care for the uninsured. The plan would reduce the value of itemized tax deductions for Americans in the top tax bracket. The total amounts to half the estimated cost of bringing health care to every American. The other half would come through projected savings through cuts to Medicare programs. Obama’s budget will also include a plan to collect billions of dollars in revenue from firms paying for emitting greenhouse gases.

Obama Ends Funding for Yucca Nuclear Waste Dump

Other highlights of Obama’s budget include a sharp reduction in funding for the nuclear waste dump Yucca Mountain in Nevada. The new budget removes virtually all of Yucca’s funding with the exception of license fees submitted last year. The Energy Department says the Yucca program will be “scaled back while the administration devises a new strategy toward nuclear-waste disposal.”

Obama Announces Locke as Commerce Nominee

On Wednesday, Obama held a White House meeting with lawmakers to call for greater regulation over the financial industry.

President Obama: “The choice we face is not between an oppressive government-run economy or a chaotic and unforgiving capitalism. Rather, strong financial markets require clear rules of the road, not to hinder financial institutions, but to protect consumers and investors and ultimately to keep those financial institutions strong.”

Obama meanwhile also announced his new nominee for Commerce Secretary, former Washington Governor Gary Locke.

President Obama: “Gary will be a trusted voice in my cabinet, a tireless advocate for our economic competitiveness, and an influential ambassador for American industry who will help us do everything we can-especially now-to promote it around the world.”

Locke is Obama’s third Commerce pick following former nominees New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Senator Judd Gregg. He served two terms as Washington State governor starting in 1997, when he became the nation’s first Chinese-American governor.

Gary Locke: “We will harness the resources and the talent of the Department of Commerce to help you fulfill your commitment to the American people to build a stronger and more prosperous nation. I embrace this opportunity to serve you and the American people.”

U.S. Nearing Deal to Increase Citigroup Stake

The Wall Street Journal is reporting the U.S. government is nearing a deal to increase its stake in the troubled bank Citigroup to as much as forty percent. The U.S. has already poured forty-five billion dollars into Citigroup since last year. The deal is expected to be announced later today.

White House Intel Briefings Follow Economic Unrest

CIA director Leon Panetta has revealed the global financial crisis is now being tracked in the daily intelligence briefing prepared for President Obama. In his first news conference, Panetta said Obama is being briefed on how the financial crisis is unfolding and its effect on the stability of countries worldwide. Earlier this month, National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair said economic troubles have surpassed terrorism as the nation’s top security threat. Panetta also says Latin American intelligence officials have warned the U.S. of a crisis spreading through the hemisphere. The officials highlighted developments in Argentina, Ecuador and Venezuela, Panetta said.

CIA Director Backs Pakistan Attacks, Rendition

Meanwhile Panetta reiterated the Obama administration’s commitment to continue several Bush administration policies in the so-called war on terror. Panetta told reporters the U.S. will continue controversial drone attacks in Pakistan that have killed hundreds of civilians. He also said the U.S. will continue to practice “rendition”–the kidnapping and sending of foreign suspects to other countries. And he said that while interrogators will have to abide by the Army Field Manual, President Obama can still approve harsher techniques using war-time powers.

Obama Nominates Weapons Critic for Pentagon Post

President Obama has nominated an arms control scholar to serve as the new chief weapons buyer at the Pentagon. Harvard professor Ashton Carter would oversee hundreds of billions of dollars in weapons spending. Carter has no professional ties to U.S. weapons manufacturers. He is in fact known for publicly criticizing the Pentagon for unnecessary procurements.

50 Killed in Bangladeshi Mutiny

In Bangladesh, clashes have erupted in the streets of Dhaka in a mutiny by rebel armed forces. At least fifty people have died since the mutiny began on Wednesday. The dispute appears to center around demands for higher wages for Bangladeshi border guards.

Palestinian Factions Hold Unity Talks

In Egypt, members of the leading Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have begun reconciliation talks. The two sides are discussing forming a Palestinian unity government and the release of hundreds of prisoners held by both sides. The U.S.-backed Fatah controls the West Bank while Hamas controls the Gaza Strip. The sides were due to meet earlier this year but the talks were pre-empted by the Israeli attack on Gaza.

Israel Bombs Gaza, Blocks Food Aid

Meanwhile Israeli warplanes have launched new attacks on smuggling tunnels near Gaza’s Egypt border. A resident of Rafah said her family narrowly escaped injury.

Resident: “Planes bombed, rockets fell near the house. My husband with the children were in the car just five minutes before the strike. They would have been attacked if they had stayed in it.”

Meanwhile the Israeli government is facing new international criticism over its latest refusal to allow aid into the Gaza Strip. The aid group Mercy Corps says Israel is blocking a ninety-ton shipment of macaroni into Gaza. Much of Gaza’s one point four million population relies on humanitarian aid. The U.S. is expected to pledge around $900 million dollars for Gaza at a donors’ conference beginning on Monday. All of the money would go to non-governmental organizations.

Attorney: Gitmo Conditions Worsen

Another attorney for Guantanamo Bay prisoners is claiming conditions have worsened sharply since President Obama took office. Ahmed Ghappour says Guantanamo guards are acting even more aggressive before Obama’s year-long deadline to shut the prison down. Ghappour said he’s heard recent accounts of beatings, the dislocation of limbs, spraying of pepper spray into closed cells, applying pepper spray to toilet paper and over-forcefeeding hunger-striking prisoners. Other attorneys including military lawyer Yvonne Bradley have made similar claims since Obama ordered Guantanamo’s closure.

Video Collective to Sue Over Police Harassment at RNC

The video collective I-Witness video has taken initial steps to file a lawsuit for police harassment during the Republican National Convention in St. Paul last year. The video makers had traveled to the Twin Cities to document police misconduct during the RNC. Instead, they were forced to turn the cameras on themselves, after police raided a home and an office where I-Witness video members were staying. The Washington, DC based Partnership for Civil Justice Fund has filed a notice of claim on behalf of I-Witness video against the municipalities of St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Ramsey County.

Obama Awards Stevie Wonder with Gershwin Prize

And President Obama honored the musician Stevie Wonder last night at a White House ceremony. Obama presented Wonder with the nation’s highest honor for popular music, the Library of Congress Gershwin Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Wonder went on to perform several songs for President Obama and assembled guests. The ceremony was a long way from one of Wonder’s most politically charged songs. His 1974 number one hit “You Haven’t Done Nothing” is known as a pointed criticism of then-President Richard Nixon, the Vietnam War and Watergate.

Comments Off

Posted in News

Tagged , , , , ,