Standing Up to Disaster Capitalism in Detroit:
Now, as the Detroit Water and Sewage Department is drawing international criticism for shutting off water service for low-income families, activists are asking why the people are being forced to pay while the Wall Street banks live large. On Friday, members of the National Nurses United union and local, state and national groups will march and rally in downtown Detroit to say the priorities are out of whack.
Their message is direct: “Let’s Tax Wall Street, Get Our Money Back, and Turn on the Water!” [...]
While politicians and pundits have tried to blame pensions, public servants and public services for the city’s financial challenges, the Demos report noted that, “Detroit’s financial expenses have increased significantly, and that is a direct result of the complex financial deals Wall Street banks urged on the city over the last several years, even though its precarious cash flow position meant these deals posed a great threat to the city.” [...]
NNU and its allies are arguing that a “Robin Hood Tax” – a small fee on financial transactions – should be enacted as a vehicle to “tax hedge funds and the rest of the financial sector should pay their fair share to clear up the mess they helped create.”
The list of backers for the march is long. In addition to NNU, it now includes the International Union United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW AFL-CIO), the Michigan Sierra Club, Food and Water Watch, Netroots Nation, the Metropolitan Detroit AFL-CIO, the Michigan Nurses Association, the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, We the People of Detroit, Moratorium Now!, the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization, the People’s Water Board, the Detroit Water Brigade and dozens of additional labor, religious and community groups.
Blast from the Past. At Daily Kos on this date in 2009—Virginia GOP candidate raises specter of civil war:
Whether or not you've seen video of Catherine Crabill, a Republican nominee for Virginia House of Delegates, saying conservatives will be forced to "the bullet box" if they can't win at "the ballot box," hold onto your seat -- because there's more: Virginia GOP candidate raises specter of civil war: "We may very well be called to pledge our lives" to defeat Obama.
Crabill (who believes the U.S. government orchestrated the Oklahoma City bombing) claimed the Obama administration is pursuing legislation that will turn it into "the thought police" and wants to put Americans in "the chains of slavery."
Crabill's plan to stop Obama? Follow Texas Governor Rick Perry's lead and declare Virginia's sovereignty from the United States of America:
What would I do as a state delegate? ... I would like to follow in the footsteps of the great state of Texas and Governor Rick Perry ... They were reasserting their tenth amendment right to sovereignty. |
|
Tweet of the Day
FACT: In 2012 84% of US #abortion clinics experienced ≥1 form of harassment but most frequently in Midwest (95%)
http://t.co/...
— @Guttmacher
On
today's Kagro in the Morning show, we tip the hat to NN14, with a classic episode including an interview with
bunnygirl60, aka Arliss Bunny, author of
The Smart Bunny's Guide to Debt, Deficit and Austerity.
Greg Dworkin airs his Festivus media grievances. And on more traditional holiday note, "Nordic Quack: Sweden's bizarre tradition of watching Donald Duck cartoons on Christmas Eve." Great opportunity for easy grassroots activism (and local stardom!) in
foresterbob's diary, "I signed up for health insurance, told my GOP Congressman about it, and made the local news."
High Impact Posts. Top Comments