The militarization of American democracy, by Neta Crawford
"The question, here, is why democratic institutions aren’t able to stop power-hungry elites who would concentrate power and economic resources.
"The question, here, is why democratic institutions aren’t able to stop power-hungry elites who would concentrate power and economic resources.
This war is about U.S. corporate domination and U.S. global hegemony to destroy Russian trade with its many resources (not just oil, but food and other resources) with the EU and China. Why is Russia targeted? Not a military or economic threat, but favorable trade with EU and China threatens U.S. corporate hegmony. The effect of this trade war is worldwide, in some cases severely limiting essential food sources for many countries, with Ukraine and Russia both being major bread baskets. for growing food that is then traded to other countries..
"If asked, Biden, Putin, Xi, and high-ranking officials everywhere would undoubtedly insist that addressing climate change remains an important concern. But let’s face it, their number-one priority is now to mobilize their societies for a long-term struggle against their geopolitical rivals."
Rising CEO pay stands in stark contrast to the grim economic realities that ordinary workers are facing nationwide as inflation—driven in large part by corporate profits—erodes modest wage gains and expiring pandemic aid leaves vulnerable families without a safety net.
"The insistence is upon the United States exercising global primacy of continuing to be number one, a position we've become accustomed to having ever since the end of World War II. I think that conviction remains and is taken seriously, so it's less about a mission to spread democracy [and] it's more about a conviction of history having chosen the United States uniquely to preside over the future of humankind."
"The killing of Abu Akleh would have been treated very differently if she was killed by Russian soldiers in Ukraine. ...The 55-year-long fight for Palestinian freedom is no less just, no less worthy of our support. But Palestinians are occupied by our Israeli ally. They are not white. Most are not Christian, although Abu Akleh was Christian. They are not deemed worthy. They suffer and die alone."
"Some leftist commentators can barely conceal their enthusiasm for American involvement in the Ukraine war."
Put forth by international progressive leaders "calling the world to sanity," the document envisions a global security framework committed to de-escalating tensions in the world.
This special webinar is offered in support of Campaign Nonviolence Action Days' Sept 26th "Divest From Violence Day". On this day, we ask you to join us in taking action to stop money from going into industries that manufacture violence, including guns, weapons, nukes, prisons, and fossil fuels. The webinar on May 18th will cover what divestment is all about, how to research your banks and other groups, and how to take action.
"The Democratic Party’s hypocrisy and duplicity is the fertilizer for Christian fascism. Its exclusive focus on the culture wars and identity politics at the expense of economic, political, and social justice fueled a right-wing backlash and stoked the bigotry, racism, and sexism it sought to curtail."