Bob Lord

Posted by Bob Lord

I'm more optimistic right now about our future than I've been since Occupy.

Inequality is the defining issue of our time. And I have this feeling we're living through a dramatic quickening in the movement against inequality. 

Consider what we've seen in just the past few months:

First, the development of real movements in support of fast food workers and Walmart workers, with no signs of dissipation.

Then, a dramatic progressive victory in the 2013 elections. Yes, Chris Christie won re-election against a virtually unknown and woefully underfunded challenger, but, as The Nation magazine noted, that was not the real story. The real story was Bill deBlasio's landslide victory and the SeaTac ballot initiative creating a $15 minimum wage.

Then, noises about a potential Elizabeth Warren candidacy in 2016.

Then, a message from the Pope about the immorality of inequality and, in that message, a blistering attack on trickle down economics. The Pope was not alone. The Dalai Lama issued a similar statement just a few days ago. And of course President Obama has chimed in as well, stating, unequivocally, that inequality is the defining issue of our time. 

Last, there's a significant development that most Americans didn't notice. But BlueMeanie did in his post, The Democratic wing of the Democratic Party fights back against the corporatist Third Way, and Paul Krugman did in his post, Badge of Seriousness Watch. The Third Way, a "centrist" Democratic Party establishment think tank, launched an unprovoked attack against Elizabeth Warren and Bill deBlasio, which backfired badly.

Posted by Bob Lord Will the effort to trim the military budget devolve into another screwing of the many to benefit the few? Sunday's NY Times lead editorial, Putting Military Pay on the Table, opened with this:  Big-ticket weapons like aircraft carriers and the F-35 fighter jet have to be part of any conversation about cutting … Read more

Posted by Bob Lord Well, okay, it might be the slowest news day of the year, but still… I had titled this piece "The Trillion Dollar Club." The AZ Republic picked it up, but changed the title to Absurd Inequity Is Threatening U.S. I kind of liked my title better, but they left the rest … Read more

Posted by Bob Lord

Okay, let's get the obligatory Happy Thanksgiving out of the way. Happy Thanksgiving.

So, what better day to write about our screwed-up food industry than Thanksgiving, and who better to do so than Ellen Brown? Her post at Truthdig today, Monsanto, the TPP and Global Food Dominance, is packed with information we all should know, but probably would be happier in the short-term if we didn't. 

Don't make my mistake — wait until after your Thanksgiving meal to read it. Ditto for the rest of this post. 

The essence of Brown's post is that Monsanto is stealing years of life and quality of life from all of us in America. It's all about the herbicide glyphosate, a chemical commonly known as Roundup. Roundup is Monsanto's cash cow. It kills all vegetation in its path, and a good bit of animal life as well, except the genetically modified crops grown from the seeds Monsanto sells. Those crops are glysphosate resistant. But there's a catch. Although the glyphosate does not kill those genetically modified crops, it accumulates in their tissue at a much higher level than it does in non-modified crops.

And how much of our food is genetically modified? Only between 60 and 70 percent, according to Brown. 

If you've already finished your Thanksgiving meal, follow me after the jump for the impact of glyphosate (Roundup) on our health.

Posted by Bob Lord I wanted the title to read "Anti-SemitAtheism," but couldn't get the strikethrough function to work for the title. This is anecdotal, so take it for what it's worth, but there's quite a parallel here, which I think actually is consistent with a change in our culture. A sideways change, if you … Read more