Category Archives: American Capitalism
Gil-Scott Heron Gone But Never Forgotten.
Gil-Scott Heron died last week. The news said, “He had a history of drug use.” One could not argue with that. However, Gil-Scott Heron’s life was more than just his bout with substance abuse…. I remember hearing him say, “Like the forest they buried beneath the highway…..never had a chance to grow.” This shook my mind, back in ’78! How many of us ever stop to think that there is a forest buried underneath I-43. Why do you think they have to keep patching up the cracks? That forest is still fighting to break through and be what it was meant to be, just like a lot of our young people and shit some of us old heads as well. This was early in my young, Black life. Young people, I implore you to check this brother out, seriously. If you dig thought-provoking, conscience-raising art, Hip-Hop, Rap or just like hearing true words spoken; consider also that some of his stuff is 40 years old.
In reality as Gil-Scott passes away with a 20 second sound byte, some of us would be wise to reflect on the fact that our day is getting closer. What will they say about you when you are gone? Did I do anything of value? God knows the kids have given us some cause for concerns. Did I create any beauty? Will they even give you and your life a second thought when you are gone ?Gil-Scott Heron, you did your part. Job well done Blackman, Black Poet. The revolution will not be televised or online. Enjoy your well-deserved rest brother. The struggle continues.
Feingold: Jeff Immelt Must Go
Friend,
It’s everything that’s wrong with corporate power today:
News broke last week that General Electric, America’s largest corporation, made $14,200,000,000 in profits last year and paid $0 in taxes — that’s right, zero dollars in taxes. At the same time, C.E.O. Jeffrey Immelt saw his compensation double. Now I hear that GE is expected to ask 15,000 of their unionized workers to make major concessions in wages and benefits.
But what really adds insult to injury is the prestigious and influential position Jeffrey Immelt holds as chair of President Obama’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness.
That’s wrong. Someone like Immelt, who has helped his company evade taxes on its huge profits — and is now looking to workers to take major pay cuts after his compensation was doubled — should not lead the administration’s effort to create jobs.
We cannot stand by and watch while we are led down this road. Mr. Immelt must step down from the president’s jobs panel — and if he won’t, President Obama needs to ask for his resignation.
Help us build public pressure on GE’s Jeffrey Immelt to step down or President Obama to get his resignation from the jobs council: Sign our petition at http://www.ImmeltMustGo.com today!
How can someone like Immelt be given the responsibility of heading a jobs creation task force when his company has been creating more jobs overseas while reducing its American workforce? And under Immelt’s direction, GE spends hundreds of millions of dollars hiring lawyers and lobbyists to evade taxes.
All of this at a time when Fox News and the right wing are demonizing public workers, like teachers, as the cause of our economic problems.
It’s time for policymakers to stop coddling corporate interests, and get to work creating jobs and wealth for Main Street. We shouldn’t reward wealthy CEOs and Wall Street for behavior that undermines the nation’s economy.
Be a part of this meaningful fight. Help us tell President Obama that if GE isn’t paying taxes or treating workers well, Immelt Must Go!
President Obama has been talking about how we must “win the future,” and I agree with him in that goal. Jeffrey Immelt is not the person for that job.
Thanks for uniting as a progressive,
Russ Feingold Founder Progressives United
