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The Actor and the Anarchist

Pauline Murphy Morning Star
When Irish left-wing labor leader James Larkin arrived in the United States he joined the Industrial Workers of the World (Wobblies) and the Socialist Party. A supporter of the Bolshevik Revolution, Larkin was arrested during the 1919 Red Scare and sentenced to hard labor at Sing Sing. There he was visited by Charlie Chaplin who described the prison as "grimly medieval," and wondered "what fiendish brain could conceive of building such horrors."

Trump's Race-Baiting Bromance with Andrew Jackson

Adele M. Stan The American Prospect
Jackson is regarded as the first populist president; his purported connection to the ordinary people from which he sprang is the stuff of legend. Hailed as an economic populist for having opposed the creation of a centralized bank, instead he favored local banks. And it was local banks that backed Jackson and his friends, who all reaped rewards from the Indian removal policy.

Tidbits - March 16, 2017 - Reader Comments: Blocking Deportation; Angela Davis on Trump; Trump and Russia - More Readers Responses; Strategic Thinking; Democratic Party; Resources; Announcements; and more...

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Reader Comments: Blocking Deportation; Sanctuary Cities Historical Roots; Long History of Deportation; Angela Davis on Trump - Trying to Make America White Again; Trump and Russia - More Readers Responses; Strategic Thinking and Organizing Resistance; Democratic Party; Resources; Announcements; and more...

A Constitution Corrupted

Gavin O'Toole NACLA
Mexico's 1917 Constitution asserted national control over all resources and launched a program of land redistribution. It established the most progressive labor legislation in the world at that time, guaranteeing a minimum wage, the right to strike and collective bargaining, an eight-hour day, an end to child labor, equal pay regardless of sex, and maternity leave. The betrayal of the constitution began early and turned into a rout in the 1980s.by neoliberals.

Americans Must Liberate Themselves From the Oppression of Health Coverage, Say Republicans

Paul Waldman The American Prospect
Is Paul Ryan's desire to snatch coverage from millions so he can give an enormous tax break to wealthy people utterly monstrous? Absolutely. But if nothing else, Ryan isn't trying to convince us he believes something he doesn't. Strip away the complex politics involved and it becomes evident that Republican proposals are based upon the belief that, as Ayn Rand preached, the government has no obligation to help anyone.

When Labor Fought for Civil Rights

Rich Yeselson Dissent Magazine
The new labor liberalism, built with the support of proportionally more non-white workers (and women), is more progressive than the old pre–civil rights era labor liberalism. If it achieves its powerful new vision, it will be a more humane, cosmopolitan, and egalitarian movement than its predecessor. But as of now, it is a significantly smaller movement and lacks economic and political leverage in key sectors of the political economy.

Dutch Election’s Big Winner Proves to be GreenLeft

Jon Henley The Guardian
Sometimes compared to Canada’s youthful prime minister, Justin Trudeau, Klaver – who has a Moroccan father and a mother of Indonesian descent – said on polling day that the left’s answer to the far right’s rise in Europe was to stand up for its ideals.

Florida Poised to Strengthen ‘Stand Your Ground’ Defense

By Lizette Alvarez The New York Times
Florida, nicknamed the Gunshine State, became a symbol of strong self-defense laws after George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager, in 2012 and was later acquitted when a jury found he was justified in pulling the trigger.