Patriotic Yardsticks for Unpatriotic Giant Corporations by Ralph Nader

Dandelion Salad

by Ralph Nader
The Nader Page
May 16, 2013

Image by DonkeyHotey via Flickr

Why are big, global U.S. corporations so unpatriotic? After all, they were created in the U.S.A., rose to immense profit because of the toil of American workers, are bailed out by American taxpayers whenever they’re in trouble, and are safeguarded abroad by the U.S. military.

Yet these corporate goliaths work their tax lawyers overtime to escape U.S. taxes. Many pay less than you do in federal income taxes. Imagine corporations, like General Electric, have not paid federal income taxes on U.S. profits for years.

Michael Hudson: What is Debt Deflation?

with Michael Hudson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
michael-hudson.com
May 18, 2013

Image by The Eyes Of New York via Flickr

RussiaToday May 18, 2013

In this episode of the Keiser Report, Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert examine stories about those who, using spoof trades, bogus securities and fictitious capital, steal real wealth and income. They discuss how it is that every benchmark index is rigged and introduce the concept of the ‘bonus benchmark.’ In the second half, Max talks to Dr. Michael Hudson, author of The Bubble and Beyond, about debt and wage deflation and about the intersection of interest rates and wages going back to David Ricardo when wages were measured against the price of bread to today when they are measured against the price of debt.

Large Corporations Seek U.S.–European ‘Free Trade Agreement’ to Further Global Dominance by Andrew Gavin Marshall

Image by Nney via Flickr

by Andrew Gavin Marshall
Writer, Dandelion Salad
http://andrewgavinmarshall.com
Originally posted at: AlterNet
May 12, 2013

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is the latest plan of conglomerates to strengthen their grip over the planet.

A corporate world order is emerging, and like any parasite, it is slowly killing off its host. Unfortunately, the “host” happens to be the planet, and all life upon and within it. So, while the extinction of the species will be the end result of passively accepting a corporate-driven world, on the other hand, it’s very profitable for those corporations and their shareholders.

Occupied Social Centers in Spain + Cooperatives, Another Mode of Production

Image by @Popicinio via Flickr

Dandelion Salad

PressTVGlobalNews · May 4, 2013

Spanish people are giving life to many schools which have been abandoned for years, forsaken factories, foreclosed and empty buildings and many more places.

The Haymarket Riot: “It is a Subterranean Fire” by Elizabeth Schulte (repost)

Dandelion Salad

Repost

Image by chicagogeek via Flickr

by Elizabeth Schulte
SocialistWorker.org
April 29, 2011

ON MAY 1, 1886–125 years ago this month–hundreds of thousands of workers were taking the streets of cities around the U.S. to demand an eight-hour day.

The epicenter of this great labor struggle was Chicago, where the eight-hour movement inspired defiant protests and strikes–and inspired fear and repression from bosses and their loyal servants in law enforcement.

Michael Parenti: Make-Believe Media

with Michael Parenti
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Michael Parenti Blog
www.michaelparenti.org
May 1, 2013

Image by PropagandaTimes via Flickr

SmellsLikePodcast on Apr 30, 2013

Dr. Michael Parenti is an internationally-renowned lecturer and author, most recently of ‘The Face of Imperialism’. In this interview, he discusses the use of entertainment media as propaganda, and the relationship between government agencies and the production of such content. Later on in the talk, Dr. Parenti also provides his take on the media’s coverage of the Obama Administration’s escalating use of drones, and the recent death of Margaret Thatcher.

“Blood Strawberries” in Greece by Ariel Ky

by Ariel Ky
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Peacevisionary’s Blog
April 29, 2013

Image by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

“Blood Strawberries”: A Roundup of Media Reporting on Bangladeshi Workers Being Shot by Foremen in Greece When They Demanded Back Wages

At the village of Nea Manolada, a farming area west of Athens where thousands of migrant workers are employed, there is a history of exploiting migrants, but nothing like the Greek tragedy that occurred there April 17 when 29 Bangladeshi workers were shot by three foremen with two shotguns and a handgun. A photo of one of the victims showed him with bloody bandages over his groin, which leads one to believe that these foremen were vicious.

Who’s To blame As Hundreds Die In Bangladeshi Factory Collapse by Kathy Durkin + Cheap Clothes for Mass Deaths

Dandelion Salad

My condolences to all the families of those killed and injured.

by Kathy Durkin
Workers World
April 26, 2013

Image by uncultured via Flickr

In Savar, an industrial suburb of Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital, at least 300 workers, mostly women, died at the Rana Plaza garment factory building collapse on April 24. In addition to the appalling number of deaths, more than 1,200 were injured there in the worst industrial disaster ever to befall this country.

The search continues to find survivors trapped in the rubble. Emergency crews have heard cries of workers pleading to be rescued, many crying out that their children need them.

Richard Wolff: Obama Preaches Stimulus to Europe and Practices Austerity at Home

Image by 401(K) 2013 via Flickr

Dandelion Salad

TheRealNews – Apr 20, 2013

Richard Wolff: Low wages, cheap money, and cheap equipment are driving higher profits and the politics of austerity.

Social Security Belongs To The Workers by Kathy Durkin

Dandelion Salad

Image by Fifth World Art via Flickr

by Kathy Durkin
Workers World
April 20, 2013

What will happen to our Social Security benefits? This question is being asked by the program’s 56 million recipients in response to the Obama administration’s proposal to cut the annual cost-of-living raise for all who receive these monthly checks, as part of his 2014 budget.

Postal Cutbacks Blocked by Melissa Rakestraw

Dandelion Salad

Postal worker Melissa Rakestraw reports on a retreat in the attack on the post office.
SocialistWorker.org
April 16, 2013

Image by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

A PLAN to eliminate Saturday mail delivery and slash postal jobs has been canceled for now, according to an April 10 statement from the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors.

Specifically, the board said Congress required the post office to continue 6-day delivery in a continuing budget resolution passed last month. The Government Accountability Office had also issued an opinion that Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe didn’t have the legal right to unilaterally end Saturday delivery.

Sweatshops on Wheels by Chris Hedges

by Chris Hedges
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Truthdig
April 15, 2013

Image by Metro Centric via Flickr

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The deterioration of the nation’s public transportation, like the deterioration of health care, education, social services, public utilities, bridges and roads, is part of the relentless seizing and harvesting of public resources and programs by corporations. These corporations are steadily stripping the American infrastructure. Public-sector unions are being broken. Wages and benefits are being slashed. Workers are forced to put in longer hours in unsafe workplaces, often jeopardizing public safety.

Failed Privatizations — The Thatcher Legacy by Michael Hudson

Image by The PIX-JOCKEY (photo manipulation) via Flickr

by Michael Hudson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
michael-hudson.com
April 8, 2013

This is from my book on privatization, written some 15 years ago, never published.

As in Chile, privatization in Britain was a victory for Chicago monetarism. This time it was implemented democratically. In fact, voters endorsed Margaret Thatcher’s selloff of public industries so strongly that by 1991, when she was replaced as prime minister by her own party’s John Major, only 35 percent of Britain’s voters supported the Labour Party – half the proportion registered in 1945. The Conservatives sold off public monopolies, used the proceeds to cut taxes, and put the privatized firms on a profit-making basis.

Corporate India–Violence in the Name of Development by Graham Peebles

by Graham Peebles
Writer, Dandelion Salad
London
April 4, 2013

Image by lecercle via Flickr

Consistent with the unjust, decaying economic model of our deficit times, the commodification of everything and everyone proceeds apace in India. The commercialisation of the land is shattering the lives of millions of India’s poorest, hungriest most malnourished people, who are being murdered and raped, violently displaced and falsely arrested as huge multi-nationals, financially favoured and militarily armed by the Indian government, ravage the land.

Ralph Nader: Income Inequality and The Minimum Wage (HR 1346)

Image by spike55151 via Flickr

Dandelion Salad

with Ralph Nader

MOXNEWSd0tC0M·Mar 25, 2013

March 25, 2013 C-SPAN