Thursday, May 01, 2008

122 - With The Heparin Drug Deaths, As With All Other Things: Kill My Pet, Kill My Kid, Even Kill Me, But Just Don't Mess With My Right-Wing Ideology

Two podcasts ago you heard about how:

--in the financial markets, ill intentions by some, and incompetence by others, has led to big problems
--to solve these problems, a strong government regulatory effort is needed.

Right-wing ideology does nothing in the way of prevention, and offers nothing in the way of a cure.

Now today, please shift your focus to medicines: same picture.

Right wing ideology has led to big problems, and offers no solutions.

So far, 81 deaths in the United States have been linked to fatal allergic reactions to contaminated batches of the blood thinner heparin. Several hundred more patients have had severe adverse reactions to the drug.

Right-wing ideology, which wholesale opposes government regulation of business, stands in the way of a solution.

Indeed, the Bush administration has been systematically taking apart the Food and Drug Administration, not strengthening it.

Also:

--You'll hear about some unbelievable ideology-driven behavior from another head of a Bush agency. The Senate wanted to give the Consumer Product Safety Commission more money and authority. But guess what? The head of the agency objected!

--I blow apart the right-wing myth about the establishment of federal regulatory agencies. Look behind the story of the creation of virtually any government regulatory body, and you'll find the same thing: a crucial, urgent need that only government action could meet. Ever heard of Upton Sinclair's book The Jungle?

--I undertake maybe a mission impossible: trying to get inside the right-winger head about all this.

Remember Jim Jones, who told his followers to drink the poisonous Kool-Aid, and they did? They had a religious belief in Jones, and would blindly obey his every dictate.

I guess that's what it is with these right-wingers.

Their right wing ideology must be followed no matter what, like a fundamentalist religion.

No matter the consequences to self and others.

Go ahead, kill my pet, kill my kid, even kill me - but don't let the evil government be involved, because that would be --

against my religious belief in small, ineffective, do-nothing government!

I think right-wingers can aptly be called, Jim Jones conservatives.

In the podcast, you'll also hear clips of Rush Limbaugh and Ronald Reagan spouting their usual inanity

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 2:52 PM [+]   1 comments
Post #8547943354411968464

121 - Global Fight Against The Right: US House OK's Jubilee Act, Mexican Lawmakers Conduct Sit-In To Protest Oil Law, Starving People Riot Worldwide

I don't know if you caught the following stories recently:

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Jubilee Act providing debt relief for Third World nations.

Progressive Mexican legislators occupied both their houses of Congress in protest of a proposed oil law.

Starving people rioted all over the world in protest of rapidly rising food prices

Did you see the mainstream media tie all those stories together?

Of course not.

Do you know what all those stories have in common?

I'm going to tell you, tie them all together for you here today.

Hint: It just may have something to do with right-wing ideology and policies.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Programming note: Until May, there will most likely not be live shows on alternate weeks.

Link promised in podcast: Jubilee USA website

Jack Clark 2:58 PM [+]   0 comments
Post #1337214714521531417

120 - Right-Wing Ideology And Policies Are The Main Culprits Behind The Subprime And Credit Meltdowns

Here's the road map for your journey today:

--Background you need to know

--What caused the current crisis

--What needs to be done to fix things up

--Exposing the phony right-wing solution

--And, the death of the "free market"

Along the way, you'll learn about the "shadow banking system," and hear clips of Rush Limbaugh, Ronald Reagan, Treasury Secretary Paulson, and...a famous comedy team or two. Huh? Stay tuned!

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Programming note: Until May, there will most likely not be live shows on alternate weeks.

Jack Clark 3:10 PM [+]   1 comments
Post #948505072051251930

Political Cartoon For Podcast #120

This cartoon by my friend, syndicated cartoonist Matt Bors, is a perfect fit for podcast #120.

His website is highly recommended.

Jack Clark 3:09 PM [+]   0 comments
Post #5151634094345119661

119 - Right-Wing EPA Policies Will Kill Thousands / Hannity Lies About Michelle Obama / Father Of Conservative Economics Puts 2008 Right To Shame

Today, to start off, you'll hear about yet more right-wing policies that increase human misery, suffering, pain and death, this time concerning the air you breathe. The Bush Environmental Protection Administration weakened two recommendations of its own advisory board on the allowable amount of ozone in the air.

Next up, you'll listen to Sean Hannity use a nasty propaganda technique that I'll analyze for you. In short, Hannity lied about Michelle Obama.

In the last segment, you'll get some useful tips on responding to right-wingers when they claim the earth is flat, or make similarly far-fetched claims in the economic arena. It seems today's right-wingers don't even have the common sense and basic human decency of their own icon, Adam Smith, the founder of conservative economics.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Programming note: Until April, there will most likely not be live shows on alternate weeks.

Jack Clark 2:02 PM [+]   0 comments
Post #9048477662802685844

118 - Blasting, Ever So Gently, Wayward Progressives: Why Nader Supporters Should Rethink Their Position

Ralph Nader recently announced he's running yet again this year for President. I originally thought a segment on that would be a QuickBlast, maybe 2 or 3 minutes.

But the more I thought about it, the more things I realized I had to say.

And the more important I realized the subject was.

What you're about to hear has a wider applicability than just Ralph Nader, and a more durable shelf-life than just this year's election.

It applies to everyone thinking of third party voting in '08, and beyond; to everyone who denigrates electoral politics, this year and thereafter; to everyone who is contemptuous of strategic voting when worldwide life and death issues are at stake, now and in the future.

Discussing the Nader candidacy also provides you and me the opportunity to review what 8 years of right-wing rule has actually meant, not just in theory, but to flesh and blood humans. And hence to establish the stratosphere-high stakes in the '08 elections.

If a runaway train is heading towards you, all you want first thing, is it to be stopped. You don't care if the person stopping it is a great person, you don't care whether they'll reverse the train, if they understand how to prevent runaway trains, or if they'll improve our national rail system.

First and foremost, right now, you just want the damn train stopped in its tracks.

You and I are facing a runaway train, the right-wing project to transform this country into a system of economic feudalism and soft fascism. Another 8 years of right-wing control of the reins of government, and we may well be past the point of no return.

So the mantra today is, stop the runaway train! Cast a vote that will serve to eject the right-wing from control of our government.

Stopping the runaway train is job #1 now, without which we may well be unable to do any other job.

Voting for Nader doesn't accomplish that, and could produce the exact opposite result.

Persuading Nader voters to vote Democratic may well be one of the most direct, effective ways to Blast The Right in the next 8 months...

In the podcast, I'll give you cold hard polling numbers from 2000 that prove Nader cost Gore the election.

You'll hear why supporting Nader is completely illogical.

I'll sketch for you some of the real policy differences between right-wingers and Democrats, not least of which is what will happen to the Supreme Court.

And, I'll let you know in no uncertain terms what gets me the most furious at Nader supporters who say they don’t care if their actions wind up electing a right-winger:

It's their cavalier attitude towards the suffering of others.

I'll detail for you some of the additional human misery, suffering, pain and death that will be inflicted on the innocent in a continuation of right-wing rule, compared to even an admittedly-flawed Democratic administration.

A bonus: I've included in this feed, the "Ralf Na'dir" strip by my friend, syndicated cartoonist Matt Bors.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Programming note: Until April, there will most likely not be live shows on alternate weeks.

Jack Clark 2:27 PM [+]   23 comments
Post #7392399578177058015

"Ralf Na'dir" Cartoon For Podcast #118

I thought you would really get a kick out of this cartoon by my friend, syndicated cartoonist Matt Bors. Sort of podcast #118 in-a-nutshell.

Here's the link to his website:
http://www.mattbors.com/newstrip.html

Highly recommended!!

Jack Clark 2:26 PM [+]   0 comments
Post #1331353699245336786

117 - Desperate Haitians Eat Dirt: A Legacy Of Right-Wing Greed / Listen To Neil Boortz Make O'Reilly Seem Statesmanlike / '08 Strategy Suggestions

Today you'll hear three segments, touching on:

--Haitian women and children so hungry and desperate they eat cookies made of dirt. What's that got to do with you and me? If we're largely to blame, what can we do to remedy the situation? (Here are the two links promised in the podcast:
Bipartisan Letter on Haiti     House/Senate Jubilee Act)

--Right-wingers so callous and vicious they blame victims of natural disasters for their own fate. Listen to Neil Boortz make Bill O'Reilly seem statesmanlike by comparison!

--And, in a change of pace, some campaign '08 strategy suggestions from yours truly, including the necessity to re-define John McCain. You'll also hear how George Bush has been like a man throwing a lit cigarette into a tinder dry woods, and how that analogy can help defeat Republicans in November.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Programming note: Until March, there will most likely not be live shows on alternate weeks.

Jack Clark 1:16 PM [+]   1 comments
Post #1154231871694921878

116 - Federal Home Loan Racism / Bush, Hannity Tax Lies / American Revolutionary War...Commie? / Good News On Electronic Voting / Listener Email

Today I've definitely got a full smorgasbord for you, with five tasty dishes, the kind you like best:

How federal government discriminatory home loan practices worsened the Black-White wealth gap

Audio clips of Bush and Hannity lying about taxes, plus Hannity lying about Ronald Reagan's record

A physician listener corrects a mistake I made on health care, and a Canadian listener can't understand what's wrong with us in the U.S.

American Revolutionary War...Commies? Bet you didn't know this about Thomas Paine

And,

Good news on the electronic voting fraud front -- touch screen machines are on the way out nationwide. And how you can help achieve that goal.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Programming note: Until March, there will most likely not be live shows on alternate weeks.

Jack Clark 2:50 PM [+]   0 comments
Post #8750062184711403502

115 - Blasting The Right Basics: Countering Five Pervasive Right-Wing Falsehoods

Today, a really big change of pace. You'll be treated not to one subject in depth, or even two topics with extended segments.

No, today I have 5 QuickBlasts for you, in the areas of foreign policy, taxation, regulation of business and health care.

Let's get right into it.

Sometimes you don't need long permutations and combinations of an issue, you just need a solid fact or two to whack a right-winger upside the head -- intellectually, not physically of course -- so as to get their attention, and maybe knock some sense into them, penetrate that thick wall of denial and unreality that so many right-wingers have surrounding their brains.

Sometimes less is more.

This will be like a short, intense 5 round fight.

In one corner, progressive truth. In the other corner, right-wing distortions, half-truths and outright lies you currently hear bandied about on the corporate media.

Are you ready to rumble?

The fight card:

Round 1: Right-wing lies about why we went to war in Iraq

Round 2: The Republican claim that Democrats don't support the troops, and that the military community is behind President Bush

Round 3: Another campaign lie: Democrats want to raise your taxes

Round 4: Nonsensical right-wing policy position: there's too much government regulation of business

Round 5: Another nonsensical right-wing policy claim: we already have the best health care system in the world

If you want to see the right-wing get knocked silly, if not knocked out completely, just listen to the podcast.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Programming note: Until February, there will most likely not be live shows on alternate weeks.

Jack Clark 3:14 PM [+]   2 comments
Post #3511877303907938015

114 - Economic Mobility: A Reality-Based Part Of The American Dream, Or A Myth Now Used By The Right-Wing To Justify Economic Injustice?

Today you'll hear exposed as a falsehood the pervasive myth -- pushed hardest by the right-wing -- that there is great economic mobility in the United States. You'll see that the real picture is not so pretty.

The conventional political wisdom has always been, the public doesn't care much about income and wealth inequality, because of the widely shared belief that everyone has a shot at becoming rich, that there is great economic mobility in the United States.

The right-wing, by its own admission, needs the mobility myth to justify and allow the perpetuation of rampant inequality.

Here's the reality: a report released as a joint effort by four major think tanks, including two ultra-conservative ones, the American Enterprise Institute and The Heritage Foundation, concludes

[N]ew data...raises provocative questions about the continuing ability of all Americans to move up the economic ladder and calls into question whether the American economic meritocracy is still alive and well.

Recent studies suggest that there is less economic mobility in the United States than has long been presumed. The last thirty years has seen a considerable drop-off in median household income growth compared to earlier generations. And, by some measurements, we are actually a less mobile society than many other nations, including Canada, France, Germany and most Scandinavian countries. This challenges the notion of America as the land of opportunity.

You'll find much more in the podcast you can use when conversing with your friendly local right-winger.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Programming note: Until February, there will most likely not be live shows on alternate weeks.

Jack Clark 3:36 PM [+]   4 comments
Post #880243800860301859

113 - Year End Review: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly Of 2007

Today we'll review what the right-wing was up to in 2007, as you heard it on Blast The Right. Plus, I'll have some updates for you.

Usually this podcast covers one or two topics in depth. Today you'll hear a summation of over 40 podcasts, so the pace will be brisk.

In order to get a handle on this year's subjects, I grouped the podcasts by subject matter, and that's how I'll go through them. You can see that document organizing the podcasts by subject matter here.

When going through this year's podcasts, the standout theme just leaped out at me, best exemplified by the Biblical passage where it says that by their fruits shall you know them, and that "the bad tree bears evil fruit." The bad Bushian right wing tree had indeed borne evil fruit -- increased human misery, suffering, pain and death. This was obvious for all to see this year

The Bushian fruit was probably no more evident than in the ever-increasing cascade of stories in 2007 about unhealthy, dangerous products and practices afflicting Americans, which were the results of the Bush mania for hollowing out and crippling the regulatory agencies. This they did through budget cuts, draconian staff reductions and woefully misguided policies.

The next major subject we covered was economic justice. I devoted more podcasts to this than just about any other issue.

You know my mantra: Everything the right-wing does is designed to accomplish one of two things: either (a) transfer wealth from everyone else to the rich, or (b) distract everyone else from the fact that (a) is occurring.

There was a growing stream of information all year showing just how amazingly earnest and successful the right-wing has been with this wealth transfer.

The other major area discussed this year was foreign policy and Western economic exploitation of the Third World. The Blast The Right theme here is, as at home, so abroad.

Did you know the US tried to steal Iraq's oil in 2007?

For the details of the above three areas, and much more, please listen to the podcast!

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Programming note: Until January, there will most likely not be live shows on alternate weeks.

Jack Clark 3:06 PM [+]   0 comments
Post #6991379614858385718

112 - As At Home, So Abroad: Right-Wing Policies Increase Human Misery, Suffering, Pain And Death In The Third World

Today you'll hear how extreme right-wing policies of the United States literally cause starvation and death in the Third World.

And, I'll show you the link between this unfortunate situation, and two hot button front page issues in the US, health care, and the occupation of Iraq.

The microcosm will be Malawi, where right-wingers in the US and international financial institutions insisted that the government cut back if not eliminate its fertilizer subsidies to small farmers. The result: famine and death.

The marcrocosm will be the entire Third World: how Western economic policies are designed to, and all too well do, transfer wealth from poor nations to the rich.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Programming note: Until January, there will most likely not be live shows on alternate weeks.

Jack Clark 3:30 PM [+]   1 comments
Post #8254878711609956352

111 - Once And For All: Calling Out Right-Wing Christians On Their Kill-Jesus Ideology And Behavior

Today you'll hear a whirlwind tour of my thoughts on right-wing Christians, especially on how to effectively debate them.
The centerpiece of this week's show is my Equivalent Alternative Solutions challenge.

Right-wing Christians, from the roots of their right-wing ideology to the fruits of their policies, violate the most fundamental of the teachings of Jesus regarding how we're to interact with our brother and sister humans. These teachings are most powerfully expressed in the 25th book of Matthew, verses 31-46, the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats.

This is extraordinarily important, so even if you're not Christian or not of any religious bent at all, still, listen up! It's critical to your being an effective progressive advocate that you know this stuff. It's the basis of my Equivalent Alternative Solutions challenge.

Please be aware that the word stranger in the Bible is a synonym for refugee and immigrant.

On Judgment Day, before Jesus

...will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them…the sheep at his right hand…the goats at the left. 34. Then the King will say to those at his right hand, 'Come…inherit the kingdom prepared for you… 35. for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36. I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' 37. Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? 38. And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? 39. And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?' 40. And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' 41. Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42. for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43. I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' 44. Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?' 45. Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' 46. And they will go away into eternal punishment…

I wasn't raised a Christian, but when I read this for the first time it literally blew me away. It still does

I'll now show you how to use this Matthew 25 passage to irrefutably challenge right-wing Christians, especially in each and every situation where they oppose a plan to reduce human suffering.

You tell them, it's fine to oppose government programs to help the Matthew 25 "least of these," as conservative Christians usually do. But to avoid violating the Matthew 25 injunction, conservative Christians must then propose their own Equivalent Alternative Solutions.

Equivalent Alternative Solutions are ones which:

• help at least the same number of people who legitimately need help
• provide at least the same amount of assistance
• get the help to them at least as quickly, and
• are at least as certain to accomplish these goals

Equivalent Alternative Solutions can certainly be completely non-governmental, as long as they meet these four criteria.

But conservative Christians consistently both oppose the plans of others to help the "least of these," and fail to offer Equivalent Alternative Solutions of their own.

Conservative Christians -- whether voters, politicians or talk show hosts -- must be challenged: "What about Matthew 25? If you oppose my plan to help some of the "least of these," what do you propose instead? How does what you're espousing here fulfill what Jesus commanded in Matthew 25? In fact, isn't what you're doing exactly what Jesus condemned in Matthew 25, not helping the least of these?"

That's the EAS challenge.

Right-wingers won't have an answer, but they'll raise any of a host of objections to the challenge.

Let's go through them comprehensively, so you're prepared for whatever is thrown at you.

To hear the objections, and how to respond, just listen to the podcast!

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Programming note: Until January, there will most likely not be live shows on alternate weeks.

Jack Clark 3:24 PM [+]   2 comments
Post #7757247940564630310

110 - The Right-Wing Goal Of Transferring Wealth From Everyone Else To The Already-Rich, And What FDR Had To Say About It

Today you'll hear all about the true bottom line when it comes to the right-wing.

As part of this, you'll hear some breathtaking clips of Franklin Delano Roosevelt condemning the right-wingers of his time.

A preview:

One of my favorite quotes of all-time is from John Kenneth Galbraith:

The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.

I have what I call the Jack Clark corollary to that wonderful Galbraith passage.

Everything the right-wing does is designed to accomplish one of two things, either:
(a) transfer wealth from everyone else to the rich, or,
(b) distract everyone else from the fact that (a) is occurring.

For example, since 1980, the richest 1% of Americans have doubled their share of the nation's income.

It's the most unequal situation since the Great Depression.

Transfer wealth from everyone else, to the wealthy.

Here's a bit of what Roosevelt said, that you can hear directly from his own mouth, in the podcast:

The royalists of the economic order have conceded that political freedom was the business of the Government, but they have maintained that economic slavery was nobody's business. They granted that the Government could protect the citizen in his right to vote, but they denied that the Government could do anything to protect the citizen in his right to work and his right to live.

Today we stand committed to the proposition that freedom is no half-and-half affair. If the average citizen is guaranteed equal opportunity in the polling place, he must have equal opportunity in the market place.

These economic royalists complain that we seek to overthrow the institutions of America. What they really complain of is that we seek to take away their power. Our allegiance to American institutions requires the overthrow of this kind of power.

Check out the podcast for the rest!

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 3:37 PM [+]   1 comments
Post #6036142771357649390

Live Debate 01 - Jack Vs. Jenn From www.screwliberals.com

Greetings!

I'm Jack Clark, host of the Blast the Right podcast, two years old and going strong.

If this is the first time you're listening to Blast The Right, you can check out last week's podcast if you want to know what the regular, prerecorded show is like. That's the show which is the most listened to grass roots progressive podcast in the country.

What you're about to hear right now, is a half-hour debate I recently had on Blog Talk Radio with Jenn from www.screwliberals.com. She hosts the show Jenn's Jungle Republic Radio.

The agreed upon topics were Iraq and health care.

Please note that the audio quality is not as good as my prerecorded show, and that there are a couple of mild expletives which I bleeped out.

Jack Clark 1:40 PM [+]   14 comments
Post #3176917845934302104

109 - Bush's "Enhanced Interrogations" Have A Nazi Pedigree / Jack Clark's Real Name

Today we'll revisit the troubling issue of the right-wing's continuing obsession with torturing people. The pro-torture "enhanced interrogation" crowd is in some pretty ugly historical company: the Inquisition, Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, Pol Pot.

The second segment, in a departure from the usual, will be about...me! You'll learn my real name, and more.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 2:30 PM [+]   1 comments
Post #1801972818838109955

Live Show Rebroadcast 04: Guest, Mark Potok, Southern Poverty Law Center, Premier Anti-Hate Group Organization

Greetings!

I'm Jack Clark, host of the Blast the Right podcast, two years old and going strong.

If this is the first time you're listening to Blast The Right, you can check out last week's podcast if you want to know what the regular, prerecorded show is like. That's the show which is the most listened to grass roots progressive podcast in the country.

What you're about to hear right now, is a sample of the recently started, live call-in version of the show. (Audio quality is not as good as the prerecorded show.)

The guest is Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center, which is probably the world's leading organization fighting right-wing hate groups. The SPLC is most famous for shutting down Klan and other hate groups through civil lawsuits.

Jack Clark 3:29 PM [+]   1 comments
Post #1655926421409041012

108 - Reason To Cheer, Part III: Increasingly Left-Leaning Youth Will Turn The Country Increasingly Progressive

A headline early this past summer said it all:

Young Americans Are Leaning Left, New Poll Finds

A few tidbits:

Pew Research found that since Reagan the percentage of young adults calling themselves Republicans has declined from 55 to 35%. That loses out to young Democrats, who now account for 48% of young adults.

On specific issues:

While 47% of the public would support a "universal, government-sponsored national health care insurance program" -- not bad -- fully 62% of young voters would. A super-majority.

On wedge issues like race and gay rights:

While only 36% of whites in the general public say they "completely agree" that "It's all right for blacks and whites to date each other," fully 64% of white youth feel that way.

And Pew found that while those age 26 and older reject allowing gays and lesbians to adopt children by 50-44%, 18-25 year-olds support gays and lesbians having that right, by 61% to 25%, a major league turnaround.

Overall, as summarized by The New York Times, America's youth "have continued a long-term drift away from the Republican Party."

If you're a progressive, feel free to smile now as broadly as you wish, let out a great sigh of relief (or a big cheer), and picture a bright future with a totally marginalized right-wing. How sweet it is!


(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 3:16 PM [+]   3 comments
Post #4351518487658520014

Live Show Rebroadcast 03: Guest, Jock Chamberlain, "International Investment Banker To Progressive Journalist"

Greetings!

I'm Jack Clark, host of the Blast the Right podcast, two years old and going strong.

If this is the first time you're listening to Blast The Right, you can check out last week's podcast if you want to know what the regular, prerecorded show is like. That's the show which is the most listened to grass roots progressive podcast in the country.

What you're about to hear right now, is a sample of the recently started, live call-in version of the show.

The guest is Jock Chamberlain, former Green Beret and international investment banker (and a prep school ice hockey teammate of John Kerry!). You'll hear about Jock's journey from investment banker, to speaker of the truth about the need for the Third World to escape economic and political domination by the US and other First World nations.

Jock and I don't agree on everything though, so you'll hear some good debate as well!

Jack Clark 2:46 PM [+]   0 comments
Post #6588444992091165286

107 - Headlines Scream: Right-Wing Policies Kill / GOP California '08 Dirty Trick Falters / Fox News Iran Warmongering / Third World Debt Action Alert

What do antifreeze in toothpaste, lead paint on toys, and Bush's veto of health insurance for children have in common?

They're three more examples in the headlines recently of how right-wing policies increase human misery, suffering, pain and death.

Also, you'll hear Fox news amping up the propaganda for war with Iran.

Plus some good news: the right falters in its attempt at a California elections '08 dirty trick.

And finally, how you can advocate for the Third World poor getting a fair shake.


(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 1:45 PM [+]   1 comments
Post #8940794884834856317

Live Show Rebroadcast 02: Guest, Chuck Kaufman

Greetings!

I'm Jack Clark, host of the Blast the Right podcast, two years old and going strong.

If this is the first time you're listening to Blast The Right, please go back to last week's podcast if you want to know what the regular, prerecorded show is like.

The regular prerecorded show now comes out every other week. Listeners suggested I include the recently started live show in this feed on the off weeks.

So what you're about to hear is the live call-in version of the show. The sound quality is not great, but you'll get used to it real quickly.

On this podcast home page at the bottom of the right-hand column, is a poll where you can vote on whether I should continue including the live show in this feed.

Now here's the full one hour version of the live show. This week features an interview with Chuck Kaufman, head of the Nicaragua Network and also temporary head of Venezuela Solidarity. I've known Chuck for 20 years. He has vast knowledge about US anti-democratic interventions in the Third World. You can expect a lively discussion.

Jack Clark 3:14 PM [+]   1 comments
Post #6997210127346341970

106 - Reason To Cheer, Part II: If Americans Hold Progressive Views, Why Don't They Describe Themselves As Progressives? Here's Why…

Mainstream poll after mainstream poll has consistently shown solid majorities of your fellow citizens -- often 2/3 or more -- endorse all of these progressive positions:

--the government should provide more, not less services
--the government should take care of those who can't take care of themselves
--the government should guarantee health care for every American
--the distribution of wealth in this country is unfairly concentrated
--the wealthy pay too little in taxes
--the minimum wage should be raised
--there is a moral imperative to pay workers a living wage
--undocumented immigrants should have a path to citizenship
--Democrats reflect the nation's moral values more than do Republicans

Together, these constitute bedrock progressive principles and policies.

The mystery in question here arises, when Americans are asked to describe themselves as liberal, moderate or conservative.

If more than half, often 2/3 or more of Americans espouse these progressive positions, shouldn't 2/3 or more of Americans describe themselves -- given the choices liberal-moderate-conservative -- as liberal?

They should, but they don't.

Two organizations have been asking this question for decades.

In short, National Election Studies found 23% liberals, Harris only 18%.

If you told your friendly local right-winger, that Americans hold overwhelmingly progressive positions on most every issue, your friendly local right-winger could throw the Harris and NES polls back at you.

So how you should you respond?

Here's how.

First...

For details, listen to the podcast! You'll learn about self-described conservatives who actually hold progressive positions. And in fact, you'll hear in his own words, a self-described ultra-conservative realizing that he supports many positions that are progressive. How does this happen? Under gentle but probing questioning by yours truly.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 4:02 PM [+]   2 comments
Post #3496786486300494018

Live Show Rebroadcast: Guest, Cory Burnell, Founder of Christian Exodus

Greetings!

I'm Jack Clark, host of the Blast the Right podcast, two years old and going strong.

If this is the first time you're listening to Blast The Right, please go back to last week's podcast if you want to know what the regular, prerecorded show is like.

The regular prerecorded show now comes out every other week. Listeners suggested I include the recently started live show in this feed on the off weeks.

So what you're about to hear is the live call-in version of the show. The sound quality is not great, but you'll get used to it real quickly.

On this podcast home page at the bottom of the right-hand column, is a poll where you can vote on whether I should continue including the live show in this feed.

Now here's the full one hour version of the live show. This week features an interview with Cory Burnell, founder of Christian Exodus. His group is

moving thousands of Christians to South Carolina to reestablish constitutionally limited government founded upon Christian principles.

Jack Clark 4:04 PM [+]   2 comments
Post #3397418944982729241

105 - Reason To Cheer, Part I: Americans Support Progressive Policies On Most Every Issue, And Our Progressive Majority Is Growing Larger And Larger

In today's podcast you'll see beyond a shadow of a doubt that we progressives are not the fringe, the right-wing is. You'll hear how our progressive views are indisputably shared by the majority of Americans.

This will be, in sum, a cheer yourself up podcast. Smile, Mr. or Ms. Progressive, you're not on candid camera, but you still have reason to smile.

Perhaps the most daunting right-wing myth of all is that we progressives are a fringe group, out of touch with "mainstream America."

How many times have you been engaged in an exchange of views with your friendly local right-winger, and been told, "Oh, your ideas are very nice in theory, but common sense Americans know they'd never work in the real world, and don't support them. America is a conservative nation."

Well cheer up! What you have to do is invoke the golden rule-of-thumb of Blast The Right: whatever a right-winger says, the exact opposite is true.

And never more so, than here.

America is not a conservative country, Americans hold progressive views on virtually every issue you can imagine.

This has been confirmed in poll after poll after poll, in some cases for decades, in others the trend line heading progressive and now having reached that promised land in most instances.

So let's go through a bunch of issues, and as we do so you can sit back and bask in the glory of being in synch with the majority, often a supermajority, of American public opinion. And then you can later use this knowledge to kick some right-wing butt!

Please be assured that all the polls I cite are solid, mainstream polls, such as Gallup, Pew Research Center, the Associated Press/Ipsos, the New York Times/CBS, the American National Election Studies (ANES) from the University of Michigan and Stanford, the Washington Post, and Zogby.

Let's start off with possibly the most broad-scale issue of all in the right's arsenal of propaganda: what should be the overall role of government. The right's two-word talking point is "small government."

Is the right supported by public opinion here? Do Americans want to downsize their government?

No...

For details, listen to the podcast!!

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 3:38 PM [+]   0 comments
Post #6177864670435591606

104 - Busting The Right's Lies: Universal Health Coverage Doesn't Mean Long Waits For Care / Robert Bork, Nominee For The Hypocrites Hall Of Shame

A slight change of pace today. Instead of one long segment, we'll discuss two topics.

First up, debunking some of the latest right-wing talking points against universal health care, including the lies that we already have the best health care system in the world, and that universal health care leads to long waiting times for treatment.

One of the Blast The Right rules of thumb is, whatever a right-winger says, the opposite is true.

Sometimes proof of the "oppositeness" even comes from right-wing sources not following the current right-wing playbook.

It was Business Week magazine that recently admitted:

In reality, both data and anecdotes show that the American people are already waiting as long or longer than patients living with universal health-care systems.

In the second segment, we'll expose the shameless hypocrisy of a leading elder in the right-wing constellation of stars, Judge Robert Bork.

Bork was known for his railing against abusive tort lawsuits by individual citizens. Now he's the one suing the Yale Club for negligence and demanding $1,000,000 plus punitive damages.

Extreme hypocrisy? You be the judge.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 9:45 PM [+]   3 comments
Post #406027572397749874

103 - Conservative Group Calls For Presidential Candidates To Sign Pledge To Reverse Bush Constitutional Abuses

Today we're going to hear from some conservatives who have banded together to stop Bush's power grab. You heard me correctly, conservatives.

You'll get an overabundance of ammo to use when next you have the pleasure of engaging in conversation, a right-winger who hasn't yet been enlightened by these conservative brethren of his.

There's been increasing talk lately of impeaching Bush and Cheney. Much of the discussion is focused on their lying us into war, firing the federal attorneys for political reasons, and the like.

Constitutional scholar Bruce Fein -- drafter of the first article of impeachment against Bill Clinton! -- and three other stalwart conservatives have founded a group, American Freedom Agenda. They explain their purpose as follows:

Especially since 9/11, the executive branch has chronically usurped legislative or judicial power, and repeatedly claims that the President is the law. The constitutional grievances against the White House are chilling, reminiscent of the kingly abuses that provoked the Declaration of Independence.

The American Freedom Agenda’s (AFA) mission is twofold: the enactment of a cluster of statutes that would restore the Constitution’s checks and balances as enshrined by the Founding Fathers; and, making the subject a staple of political campaigns and of foremost concern to Members of Congress and to voters and educators.

…Now is no time for summer soldiers or sunshine patriots in defense of American freedom.

A progressive could just about have written that, no?

We're going to focus here on the group's Freedom Pledge, which they want all Presidential candidates to sign.

The beginning of the Pledge reads:

I, (candidate), hereby pledge that if elected President of the United States I will undertake the following to restore the Constitution’s checks and balances, to honor fundamental protections against injustice, and to eschew usurpations of legislative or judicial power. These are keystones of national security and individual freedom:

Next follows 10 items. It's a literal catalog of Bush/Cheney offenses against the Constitution.

Several of them would form the basis of articles of impeachment.

I'm going to go through them now.

Some of the 10 I'll briefly mention, others we'll discuss in more depth with audio commentary from Bruce Fein.

For the details, please listen to the podcast…

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 7:05 PM [+]   0 comments
Post #3352205084276452507

102 - The Science Be Damned: Gag Orders And Censorship Are The Right-Wing Prescription For Your Health

Today the focus is on health.

I'll tell you how gag orders and censorship seem to be the preferred right-wing prescription for improving the health of the American public.

It all relates to recent revelations by Bush's former Surgeon General.

Dr. Richard H. Carmona recently testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that he felt his duty as surgeon general was to address even the nation's most controversial health topics and to issue balanced reports on them. Just like his job description requires.

And there's the root of the problem. Carmona wanted to actually perform his statutory duties. But he

told a Congressional panel...that top Bush administration officials repeatedly tried to weaken or suppress important public health reports because of political considerations

The areas included global warming, stem cells, sex education, prison health care, and second hand smoke.

Let's examine the right-wing wrong-doing in each area...

Beyond the direct harm to public health caused by the Bush administration's gagging and otherwise impeding the efforts of the nation's surgeon general, was the insistence that Dr. Carmona play the role of political cheerleader.

He was ordered to make speeches supporting Republicans running for office, as well as to attend political briefings.

Most bizarrely -- this is really a doozy --

Dr. Carmona said he was ordered to mention President Bush three times on every page of his speeches.

Three times, huh? Why three times? Why not just twice? Or why not a bit more often, four times? I wonder, did Frank Luntz conduct focus group studies to determine how many times is the optimal amount to mention the president in each page of a speech?

Listen to the podcast for more details.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 4:24 PM [+]   0 comments
Post #470357993693520566

101 - Hugo Chavez And The Television Station: Fact Vs. Fiction

Today I'm going to discuss with you the recent controversy over Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's not renewing the broadcast license of a television station in that country.

All nations license the right to use their public airwaves, since the demand for use of the airwaves far outstrips the supply. In the US the Federal Communications Commission performs this function, granting terms of 8 years. In Venezuela, the term is 20 years.

Broadcasters must serve the public interest, and if not, their licenses can be revoked, or not be renewed.

And there's the rub, as Willy S. said.

We need to go over the events of the April 11, 2002 coup in Venezuela that attempted to remove Chavez from office, and the role RCTV played in that coup.

As you'll hear, Chavez was totally justified in not renewing RCTV's license based on its support of the coup. It's certainly not serving the public interest to support the overthrow of the democratically elected government of a nation.

We'll also go over what happened in Venezuela after Chavez's license non-renewal, and how the right-wing tried to exploit, if not outright create, a crisis in Venezuela.

Programming note: for the rest of the summer, Blast The Right will appear every other week.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 5:10 PM [+]   5 comments
Post #1594231865799888865

100 - Immigration Reform's Path To Citizenship: It's Not Amnesty, It's Keeping Our Part Of The Bargain

Today we're going to come back to an issue we last discussed in depth over a year ago, immigration. We'll examine several aspects of this most contentious subject, and I'll present a way of looking at the situation you may not have heard before.

In short, I'll tell you why, it's not about amnesty--it's about keeping our part of the bargain.

Included will be some clips of right-wingers that will make your hair stand on end.

According to the polls, Americans clearly don't support mass deportation, and any right-winger who tells you otherwise, you can confidently call either ignorant of the facts, or a liar.

However, and this is what I want to address at some length in this podcast, even among the nearly 6 in 10 Americans in the Gallup poll who would provide a path to citizenship, there are too many who do so begrudgingly -- as if they were being so magnanimous -- with the attitude "oh, they're here, it’s too much trouble to deport them, let them stay."

This attitude shares with the right-wing, the underlying assumption that these undocumented workers have no right to stay here.

But they do. Here's why...(listen to the podcast for the details)

Scheduling note: no podcast next week.

Next Blast The Right Live Call-in Show
July 9, 7pm PST (10 pm EST).
Please go here for details on how to listen.

Guest: Cory Burnell, co-founder, Christian Exodus. According to their website, Christian Exodus is "moving thousands of Christians to South Carolina to reestablish constitutionally limited government founded upon Christian principles."

You'll be able to call in and talk Cory Burnell, as well as to other listeners.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 3:16 PM [+]   1 comments
Post #6237715326830859751

99 - More GOP Racism: "Vote Caging" To Prevent African-Americans From Exercising Their Right To Vote

Today we're going to discuss yet another example of GOP racism: their recent attempts to disenfranchise African-American voters.

The modern day Republican Party is not the party of Lincoln. Quite the opposite.

Modern day Republicans don't walk around in Ku Klux Klan robes. But the GOP has engaged in a decades-old and still ongoing massive and intense effort to prevent African Americans from voting. So Republicans might as well walk around in Ku Klux Klan robes.

The present-day GOP doesn't burn crosses. It throws African-Americans off the voter rolls.

Before we get into what the GOP did in the 2004 presidential election, you really have to understand where the GOP is coming from.

Starting in 1968 with Richard Nixon, the Republican Party employed what was dubbed the “Southern strategy.” It was designed to attract the votes of whites who were upset that the Democrats had lent their support to civil and voting rights for African Americans.

This is not something right-wingers can deny.

The late Lee Atwater was the grandpappy of all Republican dirty campaign strategists. In fact, Karl Rove was a disciple of Lee Atwater.

In a 1981 interview, Lee Atwater described the Southern Strategy.

Now when I read what Atwater said, instead of the racial epithet that rhymes with “trigger” that Atwater uses, I’m going to use the term “N word.”

Atwater told his interviewer that

You start out in 1954 by saying ‘N word, N word, N word.’ By 1968, you can’t say ‘N word.’” That hurts you. Backfires. So you say stuff like “forced busing,” “States’ rights,” and all that stuff. You’re getting so abstract now that you’re talking about cutting taxes, and all these things you’re talking about are totally economic things, and a byproduct of them is that blacks get hurt worse than whites.

There you have it, right out -- literally -- in the open. The premier Republican strategy guru, admitting to a blatantly racist agenda.

...What we'll now get into, preventing African-Americans from voting, even has come up in the recent Congressional hearings into the firing of the federal prosecutors by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

For further details, please listen to the podcast.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 2:23 PM [+]   0 comments
Post #7984237095460381656

98 - "Enhanced Interrogations": Right-Wingers Eagerly Embrace Soviet Torture Methods

Today we're going to show how the right-wing is playing directly out of the Soviet Union playbook.

That should be something to throw in their face, huh?

Nothing, probably not even the Iraq War itself, has soured world opinion on the United States, as much as the Bush administration's embrace of torture.

Actually, something probably has: the Bush administration's denial of that embrace, and its attempt to redefine what constitutes torture, and call what they're doing enhanced or alternative interrogation techniques.

I've always been under the impression -- and maybe I've been hoodwinked about this, I'm curious if you've been under this impression as well -- I've always been under the impression that our intelligence agencies developed these alternative interrogation techniques specifically to be able to make the dubious claim, that they don't torture.

In other words, we wanted to be able to assert that these are good old-fashioned American, high tech, humane, proper methods of interrogating prisoners that fully comply with the Geneva Conventions, the anti-torture treaty, and all other applicable domestic and international human rights obligations.

How could anyone dare to challenge these methods, when we thought them up just to avoid torturing people?

Well, here's a bombshell for you to drop on your friendly local right-winger.

We didn't develop these techniques at all. They come straight from the KGB, the Cold War Soviet Union's secret police.

It turns out, that the right-wing has been defending, endorsing, even singing the praises of, Evil Empire torture techniques.

As confirmed by a recently declassified report by the Defense Department's own inspector general, the Bushians "reverse engineered" the Soviet techniques for use by American interrogators.

For all the details, listen to the podcast.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 3:01 PM [+]   3 comments
Post #7392534658769402194

97 - Listeners Sound Off About How Right-Wing Road Safety Policies Endanger Us All

Today we'll follow up on an earlier podcast about how the Bush administration is putting you at risk on the roads, in the area of safety regulations applicable to truck drivers

The listener comments we'll go over will provide yet more evidence that putting profit before the public good, is the right-wing way.

Safety group and insurance industry research shows that

After 8 hours of consecutive driving, crashes increase dramatically, and even more steeply in the 10th and 11th hours of consecutive driving.

But the right-wingers at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration went in the opposite direction.

That agency increased the maximum continuous driving time from 10 to 11 hours.

Here's Pete from the UK:

Wow! (peter)

Those driving regulations you have in the States are outrageous. I drive a coach in the UK for a big corporate transport company.

The most hours I can drive under European rules, without a break is 4 hours 30 minutes. I must then have a 45 minute break.

If you've been the driver on a long trip, you know the difference between 4-1/2 hours at a stretch, and 11! That 45 minute break makes all the difference in the world.

Europe: 4-1/2 hours at a stretch. US: 11 hours.

Here's what I think is the worst of all:

The most I can do in 2 weeks is 90

The right-wingers in control of the federal agency upped the US limit to 88 hours. Less than the Europeans? Not on your life.

That's 88 hours in 8 days. What European truck drivers must take 2 weeks to drive, American truck drivers can marathon-drive in 8 days.

8 days vs. 14 days.

Are European truck drivers weaklings, or US drivers supermen and superwomen…

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 2:20 PM [+]   0 comments
Post #8591253261659239788

96 - Right-Wing Charity: Sufficient Atonement For Their Sins?

A change of pace today. Not a lot of numerical stats and percentages, but some political and moral theory.

We'll delve into three interrelated subjects:

--the value of charity

--right-wing charity vs. the consequences of their public policies, and

--liberal vs. progressive prescriptions for a better world.

My friend Jeff from gopexposed.com left a comment a while back containing a couple of points. We'll use Jeff's comments as a springboard for today's discussion. In two instances, Jeff had a misimpression of what I said. Maybe I wasn't clear or emphatic enough. Others may have had similar misimpressions. So it'll be good for me to clear those items up now as well.

The bottom line is: whatever good conservatives do with charitable giving, is far more than offset by the public policies they support, which cause a level of increased human misery, suffering, pain and death far in excess of any charitable benefaction conservatives are capable of.


(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 3:10 PM [+]   3 comments
Post #5824538840547511657

95 - Latin American Right-Wing Reaps What It Sows: No-Nonsense Land Reform In Venezuela

Today we're going to discuss another major step towards achieving economic and social justice in Venezuela: no-nonsense land reform that allows malnourished, hungry people to grow food to feed themselves and their families. And, we'll learn what it really takes to be in solidarity with the Third World poor.

Taking back the fertile farmland in Venezuela from the multinationals and the local elites, is just like taking back Bolivia's natural gas industry, and just like taking back Venezuela's oil industry, from the multinationals and the local elites.

Lisbeth Colmenares, 22, was radiant as she showed a visitor her new home here, where she and her family live rent-free.

“Before Chávez, the government would have been happy to let us starve,” said Ms. Colmenares, holding her 6-month-old daughter, Luzelis.

“We’ll never let what we have now be taken from us.”

The state and federal government holds Bella Vista as an example of the ideological fervor Mr. Chávez is trying to instill in the countryside.

It is just such a change in consciousness among the average citizenry, that is the right's greatest fear. This is unthinkable to them.

As you would expect, the land owners are furiously fighting back.

Listen to the podcast for the details of the battle, including audio clips from impoverished Venezuelans now emboldened to take control of their own destiny.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 3:03 PM [+]   0 comments
Post #7286645423052268515

94 - Progressive Victory! Maryland Enacts First Living Wage Requirement For State Government Contracts

Maryland has passed the first statewide living wage statute.

Under the law, employers with state contracts will generally have to pay workers a minimum amount — $11.30 an hour in the Baltimore-Washington corridor and $8.50 an hour in the rural counties, where wages and prices are usually lower.

Among those workers mostly likely to be lifted above the poverty line by this measure are those who work for employers providing janitorial, landscaping, security, parking attendant and food services.

Getting this living wage bill passed was a titanic effort extending over a 10 year period.

I wonder if you'll find some of the things said by the bill's supporters, as inspiring as I did. For example, Governor Martin O'Malley:

What this bill simply says is, 'If you're working on a contract funded by the people of Maryland, we are going to treat you in a fair and just way so you can put food on the table for your family after a day's work.'

...Let's now go on to debunk right-wing talking points on this issue...

Please listen to the podcast for all the details.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 3:55 PM [+]   6 comments
Post #7238493846996977094

93 - Food Workers' Lungs Destroyed: Another Case Study In How Right-Wing Policies Increase Human Misery, Suffering, Pain And Death

Today, we're going to discuss another example of the right-wing letting their ideology trump science, and in the process, increase human misery, suffering, pain and death.

It concerns...microwave popcorn, of all things. You wouldn't think manufacturing popcorn would be a dangerous job, that could severely injure, or even kill you. Well, think again.

And what about you, eating that popcorn? Has the right allowed some hidden danger to remain in the finished product?

Here's an overview of what we'll talk about today:

Seven years ago, a Missouri doctor discovered a troubling pattern at a microwave popcorn plant in the town of Jasper. After an additive was modified to produce a more buttery taste, nine workers came down with a rare, life-threatening disease that was ravaging their lungs.

Puzzled Missouri health authorities turned to two federal agencies in Washington. Scientists at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which investigates the causes of workplace health problems, moved quickly to examine patients, inspect factories and run tests. Within months, they concluded that the workers became ill after exposure to diacetyl, a food-flavoring agent.

But the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, charged with overseeing workplace safety, reacted with far less urgency. It did not step up plant inspections or mandate safety standards for businesses, even as more workers became ill.

To find out more, including how the Bush administration is eviscerating OSHA across the board and putting millions of workers in various industries across the nation at risk, listen to the podcast.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 2:35 PM [+]   0 comments
Post #8616871822914257517

92 - Right-Wing Nightmare: Americans Favor Heavily Taxing The Rich To Redistribute Wealth

Today, I have great news for you. New polling data gives you and me some really heavy-duty ammo to fight back against a particular type of name-calling by the right, that some of us have endured for decades.

It all relates to wealth distribution in America.

Here are the three main pieces of ordnance, which come in the form of the conclusions of a recent Gallup poll:

A large majority of Americans support the principle that wealth should be more evenly distributed in America

A similarly large majority of Americans feel that the rich pay too little in taxes.

About half of Americans advocate heavy taxation of the rich in order to redistribute wealth

Wow! This means, next time you're called a commie or a Marxist or a socialist, you can reply: well, so is half of America then, by your definition, Mr. or Ms. Right-Winger. Guess the country's turned red.

Please listen to the podcast for all the juicy details.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 3:05 PM [+]   7 comments
Post #6999855376397412359

91 - Denying Reality: Bill O'Reilly Blames Anti-US World Public Opinion On....Rosie O'Donnell!

Today, we'll listen to Bill O'Reilly explain to us why world public opinion opposes the Bush administration's foreign policy. The reason is…. Rosie O'Donnell.

O'Reilly's propaganda is part of a concerted effort by the right-wing fog machine to divert attention from the disaster in Iraq, and pin the blame elsewhere.

You're going to laugh and shake your head in disbelief. Maybe it will also make you want to cry.

Here's part of what you'll hear from Mr. No-Spin:

Miss O'Donnell and her radical pals are basically telling the world the USA is a criminal nation, and that no matter what provocations are lodged by Iran and others, it will always be America's fault. This is grossly irresponsible and flat-out dangerous. But believe me when I tell you that millions of people all over the world are buying this garbage.

A new poll in Germany, for example, asks, "Who's the biggest threat to world peace, the USA or Iran?" 48 percent of Germans said the USA, 31 percent Iran. Incredible...

Today's Investors Business Daily newspaper labeled Miss O'Donnell "Tokyo Rosie," editorializing that her anti-American propaganda has reached hysterical levels.

What do Smedley Butler and George Kennan have to do with this? Listen and learn!

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 3:03 PM [+]   1 comments
Post #6459388723678854197

90 - Shameless Right-Wing Greed: How Vulture Funds Prey On Impoverished Third World Nations

Today we're going to discuss an incredibly immoral way to make huge sums of money: vulture funds which prey on destitute Third World nations. As you might imagine, there's a strong right-wing connection.

First I'll give you an overview of the vulture fund process. Next we'll go over some specific examples of vulture funds in action. Finally we'll discuss the right-wing connection to all this, aside from the obvious element of unbridled, unconcerned-with-moral-implications greed.

The overview.

In the Third World debt arena, vulture funds

are companies which buy up the debt of poor nations cheaply when it is about to be written off, then sue for the full value of the debt plus interest.

According to investigative reporter Greg Palast, "political muscle" and "bribery" are also employed by the vulture funds to secure the money they seek.

As you can imagine, any money collected by the vulture fund is that much less funding for education, health care, nutrition programs, or other efforts by a Third World government to improve the lives of their poor majority.

Gordon Brown is the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, akin to our Secretary of the Treasury. Speaking to the UN in 2002, he declared:

We particularly condemn the perversity where vulture funds purchase debt at a reduced price and make a profit from suing the debtor country to recover the full amount owed - a morally outrageous outcome.

Let's go on to some specific examples. A vulture fund preying on Zambia has been in the news lately...

For all the rest of the details, including how George W. Bush could stop these vulture funds with a stroke of his pen, please listen to the podcast.

(PS: Right-wingers, if you want to write in to me, fine, but at least do me the courtesy of listening to the podcast first. Please don't respond just on the basis of the brief preview above. Thanks!!)

Jack Clark 3:25 PM [+]   1 comments
Post #617060454077795251

89 - Right-Wingers Can Be Proud: 2005 Saw The Greatest Income Inequality Since The Great Depression / Listen To McCain's Descent Into Delusion

As a general rule of thumb, everything right-wingers do is designed to accomplish one of two goals: either (a) transfer wealth to the already-rich from everyone else, or (b) distract everyone else from the fact that (a) is occurring.

As far as (a), transfer wealth to the rich from everyone else, the right-wingers are