Will Griffin: A Soldier’s Journey to Revolution, Part 2

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[DS reposted the introduction to these interviews.]

by Will Griffin
Writer, Dandelion Salad
The Peace Report, Oct. 21, 2019
October 31, 2019

I recently interviewed an Afghanistan veteran about his transition from US Army soldier to Revolutionary Communist. Mason Bliss deployed twice to Afghanistan, in 2011 and in 2013. Since separating from the US Army in 2015, he has been organizing as a communist, raising the consciousness of the masses and fighting back against the system he once defended, US imperialism.

Ken Loach and Paul Laverty: The Idea Capitalism Can Be Regulated is RIDICULOUS!

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Dandelion Salad

goingundergroundRT on Oct 30, 2019

On this episode of Going Underground, ahead of a UK General Election in December, we speak to BAFTA-award winning director Ken Loach and BAFTA-award winning writer Paul Laverty on their new film “Sorry We Missed You”, highlighting the struggles of a family living facing an uphill struggle since the 2008 financial crash in the neoliberal gig economy. They discuss the film, the illusion of choice in the free market and how it damages workers’ rights, the hardship of workers in gig economy jobs, the rise of Amazon and how companies like Amazon show capitalism can’t be regulated, the culture of shaming the poor and lauding entrepreneurs, the ignoring of corporate fraud and the continuous focus on welfare fraud, why the ideology of socialism still faces difficulty after the collapse of the Soviet Union and more!

Trump and NY Times Admit US Imperialist War in Syria by Finian Cunningham

Image by Michael Fleshman via Flickr

by Finian Cunningham
Writer, Dandelion Salad
East Africa
Crossposted from Strategic Culture Foundation, Oct. 25, 2019
October 29, 2019

From extraordinary candid admissions made separately by US President Donald Trump and the New York Times, there can be no illusion about what American forces are really deployed in Syria for. It’s an illegal occupation against the Syrian government and in particular to deprive the Arab country of its oil resources.

The Age of Constitutional Coups by Paul Street

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by Paul Street
Writer, Dandelion Salad
The Official Website of Paul Street, Oct. 18, 2019
October 28, 2019

The contemporary global neofascistic right has become adept at seizing power through legal and parliamentary coups that do not involve military units dramatically taking over government headquarters and radio and television and rounding up opponents.

Dirty Hands by Gaither Stewart

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by Gaither Stewart
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Rome, Italy
October 27, 2019

“You should therefore know that there are two ways to fight: one while abiding by the rules, the other by using force. The first approach is unique to Man; the second is that of beasts. But because in many cases the first method will not suffice, one must be prepared to resort to force. This is why a ruler needs to know how to conduct himself: in the manner of a beast as well as that of man.” — Niccolo Machiavelli

Chris Hedges: The Kings Bay Plowshares 7 — Putting the Nuclear Arsenal on Trial

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Dandelion Salad

with Chris Hedges

RT America on Oct 26, 2019

Chris Hedges talks to New York Catholic Workers Martha Hennessy and Carmen Trotta about breaking into the Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base to charge the US government with crimes against peace on April 4, 2018. The peace activists, known as the Kings Bay Plowshares 7, were arrested and went on trial this week in Georgia, following allegations of trespass and damage to government property, among others.

John Pilger: Julian Assange’s Extradition Case is a SHOW TRIAL! + Roger Waters: The US and UK are trying to KILL Julian Assange! + Assange in Court by Craig Murray

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Dandelion Salad

with John Pilger

goingundergroundRT on Oct 23, 2019

On this episode of Going Underground, we speak to legendary journalist and filmmaker John Pilger on Julian Assange’s latest extradition hearing this Monday, which he attended. He discusses how Julian appeared at the trial, the bias of the judge against Julian Assange, the lack of mainstream media coverage of Julian’s persecution, his health and conditions in Belmarsh prison, CIA spying on Julian Assange and more!

A Crisis of Capitalism is Being Faced by Millennials in South Korea by Ellen Brown

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by Ellen Brown
Writer, Dandelion Salad
The Web of Debt Blog
October 25, 2019

This 10-page paper was written for the Economics of Happiness Conference co-sponsored by Local Futures, held in Jeonju, Korea, on October 16-17, where I was the keynote speaker — a wonderful city and great experience!

Satisfaction in the workplace is a major component of the “happiness” index; but it is a satisfaction that young people joining the workforce today are not feeling. In a 2017 book titled Kids These Days: Human Capital and the Making of Millennials, Malcolm Harris asks why the millennial generation – those born between 1981 and 1996 – are so burned out. His answer is, “the economy.” Millennials are bearing the brunt of the economic damage wrought by late 20^thcentury capitalism, with economic insecurities throwing them into a state of perpetual panic. Harris argues that if they want to meaningfully improve their lives and the lives of future generations, they will have to overthrow the system and rewrite the social contract.

Corporate Power Prevails When There is Media and Political Exclusion of the Informed and Experienced Civic Community by Ralph Nader

Image by Molly Adams via Flickr

Dandelion Salad

by Ralph Nader
The Nader Page
October 24, 2019

The lawmakers are doing it. The candidates are doing it. The mass media are doing it. All are excluding from their arenas the leading citizen groups as never before, since the early nineteen sixties. The nonprofit national advocacy/research organizations that led the way for social reforms are being shut out of the political process. These groups were pioneers in consumer rights, environmental protections, labor rights, and whistle-blower protections. These groups fought for freedom of information laws and practices and access to justice in ways that have made our country better in so many ways.

Will Griffin: A Soldier’s Journey to Revolution

Screenshot by Dandelion Salad via Flickr
Watch the video below

by Will Griffin
Writer, Dandelion Salad
The Peace Report, Oct. 21, 2019
October 23, 2019

I recently interviewed an Afghanistan veteran about his transition from US Army soldier to Revolutionary Communist. Mason Bliss deployed twice to Afghanistan, in 2011 and in 2013. Since separating from the US Army in 2015, he has been organizing as a communist, raising the consciousness of the masses and fighting back against the system he once defended, US imperialism.

The Empire Steps Back: Trump Withdraws From Syria – Impeachment Now Possible by Jim Kavanagh

Screenshot by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

by Jim Kavanagh
Writer, Dandelion Salad
The Polemicist, Oct.18, 2019
October 22, 2019

What everyone is most upset about with regard to Syria isn’t the bloodshed or anything having him do with human rights. It’s the decline in American control of the Middle East. This is 100% about US imperialism taking a hit.

— Rania Khalek (@RaniaKhalek) October 14, 2019

Is America Ready for Socialism? by Finian Cunningham

Image by Cary Bass-Deschenes via Flickr

by Finian Cunningham
Writer, Dandelion Salad
East Africa
Crossposted from Strategic Culture Foundation, Oct. 13, 2019
October 21, 2019

Strategic Culture Foundation conducted the following interview with American professor of politics Colin S. Cavell on the seeming emergence of a more leftwing agenda among some Democratic politicians and a more radical consciousness among ordinary American citizens for social and economic equality.

Notes on Inauthenticity in a Creeping Fascist Nuthouse by Paul Street

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by Paul Street
Writer, Dandelion Salad
The Official Website of Paul Street, Oct. 18, 2019
October 20, 2019

Among the suggestions I would have made to the Yale philosophy professor Jason Stanley had I been an editor of his important book How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them (Random House, 2018), two seem particularly relevant in the present political juncture.

Chris Hedges: Food Companies Distort the Science and Research Into What We Eat

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Dandelion Salad

with Chris Hedges

RT America on Oct 19, 2019

Host Chris Hedges talks to Marion Nestle, New York University professor of nutrition, on how food companies distort the science and research into what we eat.

David Swanson and Jeffrey Sterling: What Was the Purpose of Operation Merlin? + Join the CIA: Travel the World Passing Out Nuclear Blueprints

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by David Swanson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Let’s Try Democracy
October 18, 2019

Jeffrey Sterling is a former CIA case officer who was convicted of violating the Espionage Act and was in federal prison in Colorado. Prior to this program, as far as we know, Sterling had not been asked whether he believes the stated purpose of the program he worked on. Does he really think the purpose of giving obviously flawed nuclear bomb-part plans to Iran was to slow down a nuclear weapons program that may not even have existed? Or does he believe the purpose was to plant evidence on the government of Iran? Listen to his answer.