The Trans-Pacific Partnership (#TPP) and the Death of the Republic by Ellen Brown + Obama, Corporate “Free Traitors” and You! by Ralph Nader

Image by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

by Ellen Brown
Writer, Dandelion Salad
The Web of Debt Blog
April 24, 2015

The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government. — Article IV, Section 4, US Constitution

A republican form of government is one in which power resides in elected officials representing the citizens, and government leaders exercise power according to the rule of law. In The Federalist Papers, James Madison defined a republic as “a government which derives all its powers directly or indirectly from the great body of the people… .”

Gradual Injustice by David Swanson

Image by Stephen Melkisethian via Flickr

by David Swanson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
warisacrime.org
April 23, 2015

Chris Woods’ excellent new book is called Sudden Justice: America’s Secret Drone Wars. The title comes from a claim that then-President George W. Bush made for drone wars. The book actually tells a story of gradual injustice. The path from a U.S. government that condemned as criminal the type of murder that drones are used for to one that treats such killings as perfectly legal and routine has been a very gradual and completely extra-legal process.

US-backed Criminal Slaughter in Yemen Revealed by Finian Cunningham + Houthi Arms Bonanza Came From Saleh, Not Iran by Gareth Porter

Map of the modern state of Yemen. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Updated: April 25, 2015

by Finian Cunningham
Writer, Dandelion Salad
East Africa
Crossposted from Strategic Culture Foundation
April 23, 2015

Former UN envoy to Yemen, Jamal Benomar, has given an undiplomatic assessment of the crisis in that country, in which he rhetorically explodes Saudi myths “justifying” the US-backed aerial bombing campaign. The Moroccan diplomat told media at the weekend that the ongoing conflict was a direct result of Houthi rebels having been excluded from the political process last year.

Noam Chomsky, Paul Jay, Annie Machon and Zain Raza: Whistleblowers, Activism and the Alternative Media

Image by Steve Rhodes via Flickr

Dandelion Salad

with Noam Chomsky

acTVism Munich on Apr 19, 2015

(ENG) An informational event was hosted by acTVism Munich at the Muffatwerk in Munich in which the significance and role of whistleblowers, the alternative media, activism and a host of other related issues were discussed.

Secretive #TPP Trade Deal is a Threat to Democracy + Bernie Sanders: No Fast Track for the TPP

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Dandelion Salad

democracynow on Apr 16, 2015

democracynow – Senate Finance Committee leaders Republican Orrin Hatch and Democrat Ron Wyden are expected to introduce a “fast-track” trade promotion authority bill as early as this week that would give the president authority to negotiate the secretive Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and then present it to Congress for a yes-or-no vote, with no amendments allowed. On Wednesday, more than 1,000 labor union members rallied on Capitol Hill to call on Democrats to oppose “fast-track” authority. We speak with two people closely following the proposed legislation: Lori Wallach, director of Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch, and Rep. Alan Grayson, a Democrat from Florida.

Can the Working Class Still Change the World? by Kyle Brown

Image by Daveypants via Flickr

Dandelion Salad

by Kyle Brown
socialistworker.org
April 14, 2015

IN HIS famous speech “Where Do We Go From Here?” Martin Luther King Jr. quoted the then-president of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union, Walter Reuther, saying, “Power is the ability of a labor union like the UAW to make the most powerful corporation in the world, General Motors, say ‘Yes’ when it wants to say ‘No.'”

W-Z: Watered Stock to Zero-Sum by Michael Hudson

by Michael Hudson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
michael-hudson.com
April 12, 2015

Image by Leo Reynolds via Flickr

Parts W-Z in the Insider’s Economic Dictionary.

War: Economically, the major cause of national debt and inflation, and often of postwar deflations. Politically, war serves as an excuse to centralize control of government in the hands of the few, and in the Executive Branch of government.

The Stimulator: Solidarity Means Tabarnak! Quebec Students Strike Against Capitalism

Image by Julian Stallabrass via Flickr

Dandelion Salad

stimulator on Apr 11, 2015

This week we look at the student led mobilizations that have rocked the streets of Montreal and Quebec City. From large scale marches, to occupations of university buildings to direct actions, the spring 2015 coalition has re-energized radical organizing in so called Quebec.

Jump Out of the Pot! Capitalism Can’t Be Fixed From the Inside by William T. Hathaway

Image by DonkeyHotey via Flickr

by William T. Hathaway
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Germany
April 9, 2015

“I’m getting hot,” croaked the frog as he floated in a pot of water from which steam was beginning to rise.

“Me too,” croaked the other frog as she paddled listlessly. “This water used to be warm. Now it’s too hot.”

“Oh well…nothing we can do about it. Maybe it’ll get better.”

Chris Hedges: US Specializes in Illegal War + US-Saudis Terrorise Yemen to ‘Cry Uncle’ by Finian Cunningham

Image by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

Dandelion Salad

with Chris Hedges

RT America on Apr 7, 2015

Civilians evacuated from Yemen as airstrikes intensify, causing major humanitarian crisis

How America Became an Oligarchy by Ellen Brown

by Ellen Brown
Writer, Dandelion Salad
The Web of Debt Blog
April 6, 2015

Image by P.T. Manolakos via Flickr

The politicians are put there to give you the idea that you have freedom of choice. You don’t…. You have owners. — George Carlin, The American Dream

According to a new study from Princeton University, American democracy no longer exists. Using data from over 1,800 policy initiatives from 1981 to 2002, researchers Martin Gilens and Benjamin Page concluded that rich, well-connected individuals on the political scene now steer the direction of the country, regardless of – or even against – the will of the majority of voters. America’s political system has transformed from a democracy into an oligarchy, where power is wielded by wealthy elites.

Where Are The Stats Pages on wordpress.com Blogs? by Lo (updated)

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by Lo
Editor, Dandelion Salad
April 6, 2015

Update: December 21, 2016: WP removed the blue “old” Stats page today. See: https://en.forums.wordpress.com/topic/stats-feedback/

Playing Political Games With Immigrant Lives by Milina Jovanović

Image by SocialJusticeSeeker812 via Flickr

by Milina Jovanović
Guest Writer, Dandelion Salad
April 6, 2015

Dear President Obama: Easter Has Nothing To Do With War (repost)

Dandelion Salad

Warning

This video may contain images depicting the reality and horror of war/violence and should only be viewed by a mature audience.

Image by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

DerrickCCrowe

April 04, 2010 — In his weekly address, President Obama strangely introduces a war theme into a message ostensibly about a holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ…y’know, the Prince of Peace.

Mr. President, Easter has nothing to do with war. Please stop trying to make Jesus fit with your outlook on war and international relations. You just cheapen both.

Iran Won Upfront Sanctions Relief, But With Potential Snags by Gareth Porter

by Gareth Porter
Writer, Dandelion Salad
crossposted at Middle East Eye
Washington, D.C.
April 4, 2015

Image by Scott Campbell via Flickr

Iranian research and development on advanced centrifuges research & development (R&D) remains unresolved

The framework agreement reached on Thursday night clearly gives the P5+1 a combination of constraints on Iran’s nuclear programme that should reassure all but the most bellicose opponents of diplomacy. It also provides the basis for at least a minimum of sanctions relief in the early phase of its implementation that Iran required, but some of the conditions on that relief are likely create new issue between Iran and the Western powers over the process. The agreement’s dependence on decisions by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the penchant of Israeli intelligence for discovering new evidence of illicit Iranian activities will encourage moves to delay or obstruct relief of sanctions.