Month: February 2013

Ed Asner explains wealth inequality

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

One of the least discussed political issues in this country is wealth inequality, partly because the wealthy own the media. (Media consolidation, the illusion of choice Infographic). Wealth inequality is at its greatest disparity since the end of the Gilded Age, just before the Crash of 1929.

This is how Pete Peterson and his corporate CEO buddies and the politicians of both political parties whom they have bought are able to exert such undue influence over political discourse in this country, and to argue that average working Americans must give up their pensions and accept reduced benefits in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid — intoning "there is no other choice" — so that the wealthy can enjoy another tax break and greater wealth accumulation because, well, "just because, that's why!"

Ed Asner, a great actor and union activist, narrates this video created by the California Federation of Teachers entitled "Tax the Rich: An animated fairy tale," explaining wealth inequality in the U.S. (Video below the fold).

EJ Montini on “The secret lives of charter schools”

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by David Safier Leave it to EJ Montini, the caustic, curmudgeonly, it's-funny-but-it-ain't-funny columnist for the Republic to lay out one of the problems with Arizona charter schools: Nobody knows what they do with their the taxpayers' money. [Arizona politicians] happily allow these particular public schools to keep secret the salaries of administrators and teachers; to … Read more

U of A Presents Rachel Maddow ‘Drift’ Book Tour

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Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The U of A Presents series at the University of Arizona has scheduled MSNBC host Rachel Maddow to discuss her book "Drift" at the U of A Centennial Hall on April 6.

Rachel Maddow
April 6, 2013
UA Centennial Hall

Rachel Maddow talks about "Drift"

RachelRachel Maddow is the funny, “whip-smart” (TimeMagazine) host of MSNBC’s "The Rachel Maddow Show." The hit Emmy-winning TV program features her takes on the biggest stories of the day – political and otherwise – including lively, respectful debate with guests from all sides of the issues, in-depth analysis and stories found nowhere else on cable news. Maddow is the first openly gay person to host a primetime news program and author of The New York Times best-seller "Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power," a “smart and deeply documented” look (Los Angeles Times) at America’s drift into perpetual war. The evening includes a 30-minute talk followed by 30 minutes of Q&A. Don’t miss this rare public appearance by one of America’s most influential commentators on the political scene.

“Premium”seats include a signed copy of “Drift”

“A” seats include a copy of “Drift”

Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, February 8 at 10am