Episodes
Wednesday Aug 28, 2013
Wednesday Aug 28, 2013
Wednesday Aug 21, 2013
Alternative Visions - Democracy in the Cross-Hairs: From Cairo to Wisconsin - 08/21/13
Wednesday Aug 21, 2013
Wednesday Aug 21, 2013
Dr. Jack Rasmus interviews return guest, Carl Finamore, to give his analysis on the most recent attacks on Democracy in Egypt. Carl analyzes the recent military coup, the removal of elected President, Morsi, in Egypt, the military crackdown on the Islamic Brotherhood, the restoration of military rule, and prospects for democratic change. Finamore provides a deep social analysis of the movements and organizations to debunk the notion the conflict there is about religious groups vs. secular groups, and show how the military is deftly manipulating popular discontent to stay in power. In the second half of the show, Jack interviews Ben Manski, who reports on the recent Democracy Convention held in Madison, Wisconsin last week, and the direct action items coming out of the conference to confront a growing, more insidious attack on democratic rights in the USA. Manski reports initiatives discussed and decided at the conference on defending the constitution, voting rights attacks by ALEC and other right wing-corporate sources, new initiatives in environmental protests, local democracy movements, education for democracy, labor rights, etc.
In coming weeks, watch for Alternative Visions to interview guests from the Moral Monday’s fight in North Carolina, the expanding workers centers movements throughout the US, and the AFLCIO upcoming convention in early September where Labor may decide to include community groups in its membership.
Wednesday Aug 14, 2013
Wednesday Aug 14, 2013
In recent weeks, the Alternative Vision show has addressed the Obama administration’s postponing of important provisions of the Health Care Act and growing problems with implementation of the Act, as well as the largest US labor union federation, the AFL-CIO, discussion of allowing community organizations as members ‘with voting power’. Today’s show revisits both these topics, providing updates in recent weeks. Dr. Rasmus looks at the most recent delay of Obamacare provisions announced last week re. suspension of limits on ‘out of pocket’ expenses by individuals who buy health insurance. The only solution to what could prove the unraveling of the Act by 2015-16, he argues, is to substitute the current Act with a combined ‘Medicare for All’ and ‘Public Option’ add-on. A second follow-up to last week show’s topic of the AFL-CIO bringing in community organizations as members, to be decided at its upcoming Convention, is also discussed. Some recent commentaries by community and union strategists on this topic are reviewed.
Tune in next week to Alternative Visions as Dr. Rasmus reviews his own 2005 recommendations for ‘reinventing American unions’ and the necessary major structural reorganization required for the AFL-CIO to survive in the 21st century—as written in his 2006 book, ‘The War At Home: The Corporate Offensive From Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush’. Next week’s show will also include guests reporting back from the recent ‘Democracy Convention’ in Wisconsin. (Watch for Jack’s articles on ‘The Stop-Go US Economic Recovery’ and ‘Reinventing the AFL-CIO’ posted on the Progressive Radio Network website.”
Wednesday Aug 07, 2013
Wednesday Aug 07, 2013
At the end of July, the president of the AFL-CIO, America’s largest union federation, Richard Trumka, announced that at its coming September convention the AFL-CIO Union Federation would decide on bringing community organizations into the Federation and allowing the organizations to become formal members of the federation, ‘with decision making power’ (quoted from Wall St. Journal, July 27-28, 2013)). Groups like the NAACP, La Raza, Sierra Club and others are reportedly now in negotiations with the AFL-CIO, a change of potentially significant impact (or maybe not!). Is something big about to happen in Union labor at the top? Or is it just a cover for closer cooperation to help Democrats get elected in 2014? In today’s show, Dr. Rasmus interviews three long time union activists—in California, North Carolina, and Philadelphia—on the potential significance of the AFL-CIO’s coming convention and closer organizational ties with national community organizations. Jack’s guests—Steve Early, Zachary Robinson, and Jim Moran—also report at length on what’s happening locally in their back yards in terms of growing labor-community actions on a number of fronts.”
Steve Early is a long time union activist, former representative for the CWA in New England area, a lawyer, journalist with publications in the Boston Globe, New York Times, Washington Post, and numerous other periodicals, and book author. His recent books include “Embedded with Organized Labor”, “The Civil Wars of US Labor”, and most recent, “Save Our Unions”, published by Monthly Review Press. He is also a member of the Green Shadow Cabinet. Steve resides in Richmond, California, a hotbed of recent local community action.
Zachary Robinson is an officer in the AAUP in Greenville, North Carolina. A member of Pitt County Coalition Against Racism, and of the local Executive Board of the NAACP Pitt County chapter. Zach has been active in the noteworthy “Moral Mondays” grass roots movement and protests in North Carolina, opposing the draconian measures being introduced by its newly elected Republican Teaparty governor and Legislature.
Jim Moran is a long time union member of the Newspaper Guild, officer and activist in the Philadephia area. Jim has led the fight for job safety and health in the area for decades, and is a member of the board of the Pennsylvania Labor History Society. Jim is also a member of the Green Shadow Cabinet responsible for labor issues.
Wednesday Jul 31, 2013
Alternative Visions - The Upcoming ‘Democracy Conference' - 07/31/13
Wednesday Jul 31, 2013
Wednesday Jul 31, 2013
Jack welcomes guests Cheri Honkala and David Cobb to discuss the coming August 8 Democracy Conference in Wisconsin. Will it be a step toward ‘convergence’, with progressive groups not only joining forces in day to day actions and protests but in the forging of a united program and initial organization? Jack and guests talk about the need for a broader unification of those increasingly oppressed beyond just occasional protest actions and the need for a national convention of grass roots organizations to begin programmatic and organizational ‘convergence’ in the face of growing attacks on democracy and civil liberties in the US as well as continuing economic deprivation for the vast majority amidst the privileged minority’s continued growing income and wealth inequality. How can progressives get beyond the swamp of single issue politics and break out into independent political action.
David Cobb is an attorney from Texas and an active leader in the ‘National Leadership Team to Move to Amend’ Citizens United, and defend against the growing attacks on democratic, voting, and other rights in America today. He is the chair of the ‘Commission on Corporations & Democracy’ in the Green Shadow Cabinet. Cheri Honkala is a long time advocate for human and welfare rights, co-founder of the ‘Poor Peoples’ Economic Human Rights Campaign, and a Vice presidential candidate for the Green Party, as well as a member of the Green Shadow Cabinet.
(Note: Tune in next week, Wednesday, August 7, to the Alternative Visions Show, when Dr. Rasmus’ guests will be AFLCIO union activists who will discuss the upcoming AFLCIO convention in September and the union federation’s proposals for having community groups formally join the union federation. Will this prove a major political shift in US grass roots politics, or just another weak form for getting out the vote in 2014 for the Democratic Party?)