Episodes
Wednesday Feb 27, 2013
Alternative Visions - 02/27/13
Wednesday Feb 27, 2013
Wednesday Feb 27, 2013
The March 1 Sequestered Spending Cuts—Why A Deal Won’t Happen This Time Around Dr. Jack Rasmus provides his analysis of why a deal won’t happen by Friday, March 1, and the sequestered spending $1.2 trillion ($85 billion in 2013) will take place. Dr. Rasmus explains why this time is different from the deal cut January 1 on the so-called Fiscal Cliff. What’s the likely impact of the March 1 cuts on the weakening US economy and on jobs, services, etc.?What are the last minute maneuvers by Teapublicans in the House and Obama and Democrats? What’s behind the Republican strategy and why will it prevail over the Democrats? Why do Democrats get outmaneuvered repeatedly by the Republicans? What’s ahead for more deficit cutting by March 27, May 18, and later in 2013?
Wednesday Feb 20, 2013
Alternative Visions - Update on Egypt - 02/20/13
Wednesday Feb 20, 2013
Wednesday Feb 20, 2013
Dr. Jack Rasmus welcomes guest, Carl Finamore, journalist just returned from Cairo during its recent anniversary demonstrations and protests associated with the Egyptian Revolution of 2011. Jack will interview Carl on what’s new in the fight for democracy in Egypt. Are the workers, independent unions, students, women and unemployed youth raising social and economic demands, or is the revolution mired in ‘business as usual’ now with the Islamic Brotherhood, and its leader, Mohammed Morsi, replacing deposed Hosni Mubarak as point men for the IMF and western economic interests? Has the revolution stalled? Are popular forces defeated or just reforming to push future demands for real economic change?
Jack’s guest, Carl Finamore, has visited Egypt three times in the last several years and in fact arrived on his first visit only two hours after dictator Hosni Mubarak was thrown out of office on February 11, 2011. Finamore is former president, retired, of Air Transport Employees, Local Lodge 1781, IAMAW which represents airline workers at SFO and other northern California airports. He is currently the Local's delegate to the San Francisco Labor Council, AFL-CIO. His writings appear on CounterPunch, Zmagazine, InTheseTimes, TalkingUnion, Truthout and numerous other alternative news outlets. He is available for speaking engagements, he can be contacted at local1781@yahoo.com.
Wednesday Feb 13, 2013
Alternative Visions - Letting Defense Cuts Off the Sequestered Hook - 02/13/13
Wednesday Feb 13, 2013
Wednesday Feb 13, 2013
I and my guests (Mike Eisenscher of US Labor Against War & Mike Prokasch of the New Priorities Movement) will be discussing the current maneuvers in Washington by Teapublicans and Timidcrats to delay and decrease the scheduled Defense Spending cuts due March 1 as part of the 2011 $1.2 trillion sequestered deficit cutting deal. Hear what others are doing to oppose the emerging deals by politicians in DC to reduce or even eliminate the Defense cuts, and what you can do to help as well. Fewer defense spending cuts now mean more non-defense (medicare, education, etc.) spending cuts later. Guests: Mike Prokosch coordinates the New Priorities Network, which brings together community organizations, labor unions and peace groups to cut Pentagon spending and move the money for jobs and services in our communities. He has worked as a graphic artist, newspaper reporter, economics educator, and organizer. He lives in Boston. Michael Eisenscher is a veteran labor organizer who for the last ten years has served as National Coordinator of U.S. Labor Against the War. He organized the Bay Area New Priorities Campaign in the Spring of 2010 and with Mike Prokosch cofounded the New Priorities Network in October of 2010. More recently, he initiated the Jobs-Not-Wars Campaign in collaboration with United for Peace and Justice, which has been endorsed by 154 organizations and gathered more than 52,000 signatures on a petition to Congress. He resides in Oakland, CA
Wednesday Feb 06, 2013
Wednesday Feb 06, 2013
Dr. Jack Rasmus offers an analysis of the current state of the US economy contrary to the hype of recent official and pro-business commentary. A closer look at the US economy at year end 2012 and projections for the next several months is the topic of discussion. Why did US GDP collapse last quarter? What will it look like going forward? Why the jobs numbers for January were in fact disappointing? Is there really a housing sector recovery underway? Dr. Rasmus will explain why the dual dangers of excess debt amidst declining household income for more than 100 million families is the real driver of the US economy and why the US economy will continue to ‘bump along the bottom’ and continue to stagnate.