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Climate Change, Economy, Environment, Fracking, Green Party, International, Labor, National Politics, New York January 20, 2014

Secretive trade agreement would undermine democracy

Post-Standard by Ursula Rozum January 20, 2014 Any speck of democracy and sovereignty we the people have left in this country is under attack. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a new international trade pact crafted by multinational corporations and currently being negotiated in secret by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) along with 11 other foreign governments. Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) describes the agreement as “an attack on democratic governance” and “a punch in the face to the middle class of America.” The TPP began as trade talks among a few Pacific Rim countries, but has been expanded…

Democracy, National Politics, Race January 20, 2014

The Martin Luther King, Jr. You May Not Know

More than a Civil Rights Leader Dissident Voice by Brian J. Trautman January 20th, 2014 Most Americans know Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as one of the twentieth century’s most revered voices for racial equality, the charismatic leader of the American Civil Rights movement, who gave the famous “I Have A Dream“ speech. Perhaps they even know a thing or two about his role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the Birmingham Campaign. This knowledge by and large derives from compulsory education and mainstream media. It is significantly less likely, however, that very many Americans know much at all,…

Labor, National Politics, occupy January 18, 2014

Mayday 2014: 5/1 Fight for 15

by John Halle January 18, 2014 A short piece provoked by the fun time I had hanging out with/moderating the Trots at the Brecht Forum on Thursday. The suggestion for making the $15 an hour minimum wage a central demand of a new movement was from Socialist Alternative’s Alan Akrivos. Comments on the piece and/or how to move forward on the idea appreciated. Most on the left are at least dimly aware that Labor Day was originally celebrated on May 1 to commemorate the framing and execution of the Haymarket strikers and that Mayday, at its peak, attracted tens of…

Democracy, Green Party, National Politics, New York, occupy, Third Party November 16, 2013

What It Will Take

A Response To John Halle’s Left Parties in 2013 by Peter A. Lavenia Counterpunch Weekend Edition November 15-17, 2013 Last week’s article by John Halle highlighted the growing strength of left-wing candidates for municipal office in the United States. As of writing, Socialist Alternative candidate Kshama Sawant has pulled ahead by a slim margin in Seattle, while Howie Hawkins, Green and Socialist, received 40% of the vote in his race for City Council in Syracuse, NY. My own campaign for city council in Albany, NY – I am a Green and ideological socialist – saw me come in second to…

Green Party, National Politics, New York, occupy, Third Party November 16, 2013

The Wave Begins?

Left Third Parties in 2013 by John Halle Counterpunch November 7, 2013 The 2013 municipal election contained mixed results for left third party advocates. The two most high profile and exciting candidacies, those of Socialist Alternative’s Kshama Sawant in Seattle and Ty Moore in Minneapolis, appear to have gone down to defeat. But the margins were small – a few percentage points – and both are young and have already committed to rematches in two years with a strong likelihood of success.Furthermore, even if these two candidates had won, they would have amounted to no more than two small points…