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The Next Big Fight Among Democrats?

Greg Sargent The Washington Post
Progressive Senators who have already criticized the administration on other economic issues — Sherrod Brown, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Tom Harkin — wrote a letter last spring to Obama, applauding his decision to revisit overtime pay. But in their letter, the liberal Senators also set forth their desired threshold: Around $54,000 per year, rather than $42,000, the amount the Obama administration is supposedly eying.

Greece: What a SYRIZA Government Will Do

Links International Journal of Socialist Renewal
Below is the governmental program of the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) announced by Alexis Tsipras at the Thessaloniki International Fair, September 15, 2014. According to the latest opinion poll, SYRIZA is at 36.5%, with a seven percentage point lead over the conservative New Democracy. The current contest for the presidency of Greece looks likely to lead to a new parliamentary election.

Marx and Nature A Red and Green Perspective

Reviewed by Martin Empson Climate & Capitalism
Essential reading for ecosocialists. Paul Burkett shows that humanity's relationship to nature is central to Marx's critique of capitalism and vision of socialism.

The Secret World of the Dunkin Donuts Franchise Kings

Neil Swidey The Boston Globe
How men like Mark Cafua, Gary Joyal, and Dan Fireman are building empires, regular by regular. As New England’s beloved brand aggressively expands and the price of admission for franchising continues to climb, ever-growing franchisee networks are crowding out the moms and pops. More and more, the elevator is traveling only to the penthouse.

January 2, 1920: Anti-Radical Raids Across the Country, the First Red Scare

Richard Kreitner and The Almanac The Nation
Pre-1920 were tumultuous times: World War I, the Bolshevik revolution, Espionage and Sedition Acts; Race Riots in Chicago, returning African American veterans defending their communities against white mobs, mass deportations of foreign born, the Great Influenza Pandemic; UMW Coal Strike and the Great Steel Strike, mass economic inequality. The Palmer raids of 1920 capped an era. The Chicago Police and State's Attorney couldn't wait and began the raids a day early ...

Ten Things You Should Know About Selma Before You See the Film

Emilye Crosby Zinn Education Project
There is a sanitized, "pop" version of history which emphasizes a top-down narrative and isolated events, reinforces the master narrative that civil rights activists describe as “Rosa sat down, Martin stood up, and the white folks came south to save the day.” But there is a “people’s history” of Selma that we all can learn from—one that is needed especially now.