Portside

Growing income inequality will pose a major threat to social stability in countries around the globe, according to a new report by the World Economic Forum.

The National Labor Relations Board issued findings today that Walmart broke the law by firing or penalizing workers who went on strike or tried to unionize. Meanwhile, the company draws criticism for sponsoring a food drive for needy employees. Rather than raise wages, Walmart blames a weak economy for its slow sales rather than a flawed business model. Finally, a senior editor from Fortune magazine makes the case that Walmart can afford to raise wages by 50%.

FARM subsidies were much more sensible when they began eight decades ago, in 1933, at a time when more than 40 percent of Americans lived in rural areas. Farm incomes had fallen by about a half in the first three years of the Great Depression. In that context, the subsidies were an anti-poverty program. Now, though, the farm subsidies serve a quite different purpose.

Socialist candidate, Kshama Sawant has a 1,000 vote lead for a City Council seat in Seattle Washington. The Working Families Party could have been a viable progressive force, but only if it stayed consistent in its own agenda.