Today's show was great. Highlights:
Guest 1 Karen McGee
Grandparents slaves – parents had union jobs in steel mills. Now govt jobs being demonized – anxiety abt who the public is.
Manufacturing jobs replaced by I. At same time education grants replaced by loans.
Sallie Mae 18% interest – while banks get nearly 0% interest loans from govt.
Bruce Bartlett – worked for Reagan Administration (economics), top tax rate then was 50%, now 35%. Does not make sense.
Glorify individual against state. Signaling mechanism – tells people you are one of us – and attitude against government.
Cant cut taxes unless you cut medicare.
GW cut taxes. GW argued budget surplus is bad. Hence to starve the beats, he cut taxes to force spending down. Spending as % of GDP is how conservatives think. Take away government resources (except Pentagon).
Ban on tax increases, but tax cuts OK – Grover Norquist.
Bush Sr tax increase enormous act of courage. Tea Party folks willing to defeat anyone who raises taxes.
Citizens United decision made it easier for them to raise money.
2009 Tea Party demonstration against taxation – they thought taxes were higher than they are – ignorance/misinformation. Vast majority pay < 10% of federal tax.
All taxes together is only 30% of GDP.
Ideology, like religion, is a worldwide that cannot be shaken even when presented evidence to the contrary. (that is why most Republicans are very religious).
Lack of willingness to discuss issues in a reality-based way. Talk in sound bites. Media contributes to this. People are getting more ingnorant (read less newspapers).
People believe 20% of govt spending goes to foreign aid – reality is only 1% goes to foreigh aid. People may not even want to know the facts if they undermine the belief system.
Growing inequality is both a moral and an economic problem. Wealth and power inter-related. Many politicians goal is to become lobbyist eventually. Spending cuts will hit the poor more. Wealthy should contribute more.
Between 1979-2007 – 40% accrued to top 1%. 2002-2007, 66% went to top 1%. Vast bulk went to top 0.1%.
The conservative side since Fox News has an outsized influence. Propaganda conditions people into believing gvt is problem, and need to cut taxes of rich since they create jobs.
Once Tea Part people realize govt will cut Medicare, they will realize occupy wall street folks make sense ad that the right wing does not have their back.
After a 2-month break, Bill Moyer is back. The guest was leader of 99 Spring, who speaks up for 99% of the people. Talking about banks that dont pay fair share of taxes, banks engaging in payday lending, banks hiding behind too big to fail. Need a movement of truth tellers. Wont make you popular. His movement buys shares of companies so they can attend shareholder meetings and ask tough questions.
The 2nd half of the show focused on domestic worker abuse and abuse by companies to bring cheap "guest" workers to displace full time workers. In New York State, there is a Bill of Rights that protects workers. Also, Hershey brought some guest workers and replaced full time workers. So the guest of the show called this race to the bottom - pitting worker against worker - and lowering standard of living for all. These guests were from National Allaince of Domestic worker rights (or something similar). One lady was oriental another of Indian origin. Great to watch both being so nice and soft in their speech and working as a team. Only Mr. Moyer brings such guests.
Todays show was wonderful Forst gues was Paul Volcker. Talked abt why banks are opposing reform - where if you are listed as a bank, you cannot trade and speculate with deposited money. Showed a clip of JP Morgan CEO Dimon misrepresenting in Fox abt this rule - he sais banks should be allowed to be market makers. Volcker said the proposal allows for this!
Next guest was an ex-Brit, who was in part responsible for Iraq sanctions, which he now acknoledges was to his shame. He talked about why current banking system is broken - he is joing with Occupy wall street to get new form of banking - where depositers are equal ownera.
Very good program - a refreshing change from the blase media nowadays.
Today's show was really very informative. The guest (I forget name) was very knowledgeable. Talked about how big money and superpacs are running the system. TV stations get free airwaves - misuse that to confuse the public with hyping mock ersonality clashes - rake in superpac ads, conduct terrible debates - main purpose of which is to further their brand - ABC< CBS, CNN, FOX etc.
Must see. Hope Mr. Moyer is around for a long long time. An example of a religious man who is kind hearted and just seeks truth.
Today's show is a must see for those who Care about money in politics. Tom frank was the first guest. He gave an example of a billionaire lady who contributend 500000$ to Wisconsin gov I think. And she did not pay tax in 2011- deductions I guess.
Then two edotirs from mother jones mag - Perry a homebuilderc ontributed to Texas judgesxwho ruled in his cavorted that home owners cant sue for poor quality. Becloud wasxsame guy who made swift boat ad against Kerry in 2004/
Last 5 min of moyer commentary was priceless. Go check it out. Will be worth it.
Chris Hedegescwas intervieinted. Talked about mines in Virginia how community is poor. Coal companies big bosses don't even live there. Polluter water air etc. Talked about his being removed from Ny times bcuz of his Iraq war criticism. Must view.
Chris Hedegescwas intervieinted. Talked about mines in Virginia how community is poor. Coal companies big bosses don't even live there. Polluter water air etc. Talked about his being removed from Ny times bcuz of his Iraq war criticism. Must view.
His book days if destruction days of revolt
Those West Virginia mines are horrible. They have leveled entire Hill tracts.
Paul Krugman talked about need for more spending to stimulate economy. Another guest talked abt the progressives staying out of mid term elections if democrats don't show more spine. Another guest used poetry to describe Frederick Douglass who liberated himself and other slaves
Goldman Sachs received millionsnof dollars subsidy to enhance their vast footprint in Manhattan. GS CEO in an interview stated entitlement programs need to be removed to take care of debt.
AMGEN was given 500M$ subsidy. - slipped into fiscal cliff bill. At the expense of tax payers. Mitch Mcconnell Orin Hatch and Max Baucus signed off on this. Their former staff are lobbyists for AMGEN.
Getting caught up some more. Shows from past 2 months
Bernie Sanders the good senator from Vermont. Talked about how FCC is proposing that conglomerates be allowed to monopolize news. In 1980 90 corporations owned the media. Now? 6!
He suggested we write to FCC chairman this is not acceptable.
Another program discussed role of big money in elections. New York's gov Cuomo is trying to reform system. Have the state match contributions by 6 to 1 ratio. And keep contrbns < 200$.
This will minimize role of corporate donations and superpacs.
Today's show was abt privacy. How its legal fir govt to access our private data from google et al. How each time we use our credit card do a search use an app we r giving away our privacy.
Used to watch his old show whenever I could. He epitomizes decency, you can tell just by looking at him. They don't make journalists/men like this anymore. You might enjoy his book, 'Moyers on America: A Journalist and His Times,' - I've read parts of it.
Caught the 2nd half of today's show w/Jonathan Haidt - moral psychology is right down my alley.