Mom Talks About Taking on the Food Industry (VIDEO)

This is excellent and extremely informative...

"Robyn O’Brien, mother of four and author of The Unhealthy Truth, spoke at TEDxAustin recently about what led her from blue yogurt and “Leggo my Eggo” waffles to a crusade for better food for America’s kids. A former food industry analyst, she discussed what she discovered about food allergies and novel proteins in our food, the different rules food corporations follow abroad, and the costs for our health–all in a way that anyone can understand."
http://civileats.com/2011/03/28/mom-talks-about-why-she-takes-on-the-food-industry-video/

Is Nestlé’s Pure Life Brand a Threat to Public Water?

A dramatic shift from spring water to municipal water sources for bottlers like the Nestle behemoth have put an enormous strain on water infrastructure around the country. Food & Water Watch calls for investments to repair and maintain the US water infrastructure and asserts, rightly so, that access to water should be treated as a basic human right throughout the world.
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/blogs/is-nestles-pure-life-brand-a-threat-to-public-water/

Rep. Baldwin asks feds to investigate Waukesha votes

The Wisconsin Democrat wants the Justice Department Public Integrity Section, which oversees federal prosecution of election crimes, to investigate the massive find of over 14,000 votes in Waukesha County.
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/elections/article_ce512ed4-62ca-11e0-9641-001cc4c002e0.html

The Budget Hoax: It's About Showering Wall Street with Tax Dollars

The ongoing debt crisis debate is largely a smokescreen for Wall Street and powerful corporations to achieve goals that are solely based on the reckless pursuit of profit. Privatization of Social Security, which is solidly funded for the next 30 years, has nothing to do with the public interest but rather with the profits Wall Street could reap on a market-based system. As we've seen in the past with recent stock market collapses, such privatization would be very dangerous for the American people. Meanwhile, with over 700 anti-labor bills introduced throughout the nation, the 'fiscal' crisis is being used by the GOP and their corporate benefactors to eviscerate labor rights and further reduce compensation for workers.
http://www.alternet.org/news/150535/the_budget_hoax:_it's_about_showering_wall_street_with_tax_dollars/?utm_

Ratings, Revenues And A Painful Lesson: How Glenn Beck Cost Fox News More Than $40 Million

I turns out that Glenn Beck's show still commanded a large viewership but advertisers would not sign on. Too bad they seem to have no qualms with advertising on the other Fox News programs, shows that frequently distort and misreport the news.
http://mediamatters.org/blog/201104070011

Organic farming just as productive as conventional, and better at building soil, Rodale finds

This article from Grist reports on long-term testing results seeking to evaluate the most productive farming systems and explicitly comparing organic and conventional (GMO/pesticide-iintensive) crops. The results are dramatic and confirm that organic is just as productive and much less environmentally destructive than conventional methods, but our politicians and regulators have yet to embrace such data.
http://www.grist.org/article/2011-03-25-rodale-data-show-organic-just-as-productive-better-at-building

From Food & Water Watch: No Quick Subsidies Fix for Food System
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/blogs/no-quick-subsidies-fix-for-food-system/

President Obama's Top 5 Broken Campaign Promises

I know it's not a cakewalk in Washington but Obama hasn't really appeared to even try to follow through on many of his inspirational campaign promises.
http://www.alternet.org/news/150523/president_obama's_top_5_broken_campaign_promises/?page=1

Pennsylvania Calls for More Water Tests

At the urging of the EPA the state is conducting additional testing to determine the level of radiation entering wastewater treatment plants, but they are resistant to additional strengthening of regulations to protect public drinking water.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/08/science/earth/08water.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Secretary Vilsack Holds “Mint Julep” Summit to Discuss Biotech and Organic Coexistence

Our true hope for restoring conventional farming and protecting organic crops from contamination lies in court battles to invalidate patents on GM seeds based on the destructive aspects of their proliferating use on the environment and health.
http://civileats.com/2011/04/01/secretary-vilsack-holds-mint-julep-summit-to-discuss-biotech-and-organic-coexistence/

Deal To Avert Government Shutdown Saves $38 Billion — Bush Tax Cut Deal Spent $150 Billion

It's very disappointing that Obama has gone along with the cuts in social services and protections pushed by the GOP, in the name of deficit reduction, when the cuts are ideological driven and provide savings that pale in contrast to the costs and increased debt created by extending the Bush tax cuts for wealthy Americans.
http://thinkprogress.org/2011/04/09/shutdown-deal-bush-tax-cuts/

Joining 350.Org: The Next Phase - Naomi Klein

Naomi Klein has joined the newly formed Board of 350.org and argues that it is imperative that we radically begin to cut emissions of greenhouse gases in order to avert global catastrophe.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/naomi-klein/joining-350org-the-next-p_b_846210.html

Is America Addicted to War?

Though we like to view ourselves as a peace-loving nation America is, in fact, the most warring nation on the planet. This article from Foreign Policy provides an illuminating historical review and insight for Obama's continuation and expansion of US military actions.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/04/04/is_america_addicted_to_war

Wisconsin Supreme Court race won't be certified until after probe of 14,000 'found' votes

Wisconsin's Government Accountability Board will conduct a thorough investigation of the surprise votes before certifying the Supreme Court election.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/08/964970/-Wisconsin-Supreme-Court-race-wont-be-certified-until-after-probe-of-14,000foundvotes?utm_

Kloppenburg to File Open Records Request in Waukesha County
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/08/964773/-Wisconsin-Supreme-court:-Kloppenburg-to-file-open-records-request-in-WaukeshaCounty

Poll shows broad opposition to de-funding Planned Parenthood

Democrats and Independents overwhelming oppose defunding Planned Parenthood, and so do Republicans who do not associate themselves with the Tea Party.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/08/964984/-Poll-shows-broad-opposition-to-de-funding-Planned-Parenthood?utm_

Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) backs away from false assertion that abortion is over 90% of what Planned Parenthood does, when the truth is that only 3% of the organizations activities is related to abortion.
http://thinkprogress.org/2011/04/08/kyl-walks-back-claim-about-planned-parenthoo/

House votes to repeal "net neutrality" rules

Network Neutrality is a huge issue that all of us will need to fight to preserve. This measure by the House, that Obama has pledged to veto, would give telecoms absolute power over the Internet and cut out the FCC as a regulator with the ability to protect free speech online.
http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/04/08/us_internet_rules

The protections the existing FCC rules put into federal law restrain telecoms from discriminating against Internet content as follows:
"The rules prohibit phone and cable companies from favoring or discriminating against Internet content and services, including online calling services such as Skype and Web video services such as Netflix that could compete with their core operations. They require broadband providers to let subscribers access all legal online content."

Fracking Insiders Score Big in New Gas Bill, But Americans Not Told the True Costs of Massive Drilling Plan

It's the same old story in Washington as tax credits and incentives are packaged for industries that desecrate the environment while the public suffers not only the cost of future cleanups but the dangers to health that the subsidized activities pose for citizens. In this case the House willfully ignores the contamination of water supplies by the hydrofracking practice of drilling for natural gas and the public loses again.
http://www.prwatch.org/news/2011/04/10546/fracking-insiders-score-big-new-gas-bill-americans-not-told-true-costs-massive-dr

Bipartisan Bill Would Ban GMO Salmon Completely

"Anticipating that the FDA will live up to its reputation of ignoring the public's desire for food safety and transparent labeling of GMOs, lawmakers from Alaska, Oregon and Washington have introduced a backup plan to protect American consumers and wild fish populations."
http://www.care2.com/causes/real-food/blog/bipartisan-bill-would-ban-gmo-salmon-entirely/

The Ugly Politics of Fitzwalkerstan: Wisconsin GOP Official "Finds" Votes to Reverse Defeat of Conservative Justice

The situation in Wisconsin looks to be more suspicious with each emerging revelation and detail of Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus' background.
http://www.thenation.com/blog/159789/ugly-politics-fitzwalkerstan-wisconsin-gop-official-finds-votes-reverse-defeat-conservat

Countdown to the Tea Party's comeuppance

The Tea Party is increasingly being seen as proponents of the extremist GOP agenda, and funded by conservative stakeholders in climate denial and pro-business anti-worker, anti-American, industries.
http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/04/07/shutdown_tea_party

Waukesha County clerk, board clash over audit

The cavalier attitude and response of the Waukesha County Clerk, who discovered over 14,000 uncounted votes turning the election for conservative David Prosser, to recommendations of an auditing board in January to improve election security are disturbing, arbitrary and undemocratic.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/114014589.html

Prosser Hires Bush v. Gore Recount Lawyer Who Claims GOP Opposes Equal Protection

This Republican recount specialist is a high-powered lawyer for conservatives. More bad news in Wisconsin...
http://thinkprogress.org/2011/04/07/prosser-hires-bush-v-gore-recount-lawyer-who-claims-gop-opposes-equal-protection/

Previously Uncounted Votes Give Lead to Prosser in Wisconsin Supreme Court Race

If these votes stand up, and it appears that they will, this is truly bad news for the worker's rights movement in Wisconsin. I admit to deep skepticism regarding such election surprises but from what I can tell there was an open canvassing of these votes and a lead Democrat in the state has vouched for their legitimacy.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/waukesha-clerk-announces-votes-for-prosser-im-thankful-that-this-error-was-caught-early.php

NPR offers many more details on the story including a history of secrecy and partisanship surrounding the Waukesha County Clerk. 
"Wisconsin corrects vote count, gives incumbant big lead"
http://www.npr.org/2011/04/07/135221696/wis-corrects-vote-count-gives-incumbent-big-lead?ft=1&f=1001

Daily Kos reports on this story too, reporting that County Clerk Nickolaus has been involved in disputes and irregularities in previous elections.
"Local Clerk 'finds' over 7,000 Votes for Prosser"
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/07/964538/-Wisconsin-Supreme-Court:-Local-clerk-finds-over-7,000-votes-for-Prosser?utm_

Extreme Warming Forces Climate Scientists To Add Hot Pink To Temperature Map

More bad news regarding the global climate crisis as researchers determine that this decade will be the warmest in history and that temperatures in eastern Canada during the dead of winter were a staggering 37.8 F above historical norms.
http://thinkprogress.org/2011/04/07/global-warming-hot-pink/

Climate hawks fight GOP efforts to shut down the clean energy economy

This report includes video excerpts from a debate yesterday in the House where Democrats forcefully countered myths and lies about climate change and policies around the world that climate deniers in the GOP continually assert in their efforts to weaken the EPA and the Clean Air Act on behalf of their benefactors in industry.
http://www.grist.org/climate-policy/2011-04-07-climate-hawks-fight-gop-efforts-to-shut-down-the-clean-energy

Franken introduces 'Pay for War' resolution

Al Franken (D-MN) introduced the Pay for War Resolution in the US Senate to induce Congress to actually finance the cost of war, rather than waging wars on borrowed money as has been the case in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Considering the $1.25 trillion that these wars added to the national debt, this bill is a prudent and responsible act that would put a more realistic price tag on our military adventures, and hopefully give pause, and political liability, to those who send our troops overseas.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/07/964474/-Franken-introduces-Pay-for-War-resolution?utm_

Like Glenn Beck, Maine Gov LePage Rails Against "Communist" Artwork

I've been late in posting the story of Maine's Governor Paul LePage removing a mural celebrating the history of the worker's rights movement from the Department of Labor. This article provides valuable context to LePage's inflammatory act and links a number of other pieces that have been written throughout the country over the past couple of weeks.
http://www.alternet.org/news/150468/like_glenn_beck,_maine_gov_lepage_rails_against_"communist"_artwork/?utm_

"Many Americans are angry about the attack on our living standards and basic rights by the right-wing forces around the country -- of which the Maine mural controversy is but a small part. It is time for President Obama to give a major speech attacking those forces and providing those struggling on the ground the "audacity of hope" that was, and still could be, his promise."

REPORT: Everything You Need To Know About The Koch Brothers

The Center for American Progress Action Fund produced an extensive report detailed the vast political and organizing activities of the Koch brothers over the past couple of decades. The report identifies 85 right-wing think tanks that have received $85 million from the Kochs, detailing their grassroots organizing for big business, Tea Party support, state organizing and plans for the 2012 elections. 
http://thinkprogress.org/2011/04/04/charles-koch-and-david-koch-report/

Downplaying or remaining silent about climate change was and is a blunder for progressives

This piece concerns the flawed premise that to pass legislation to reduce global warming one needs to talk about issues other than climate change because, the thinking goes, people only care about jobs or a reduction on our dependence for foreign oil. Apparently, a prominent Republican strategist, Frank Luntz, as well as a number of progressive groups, have been influential in developing what has so far been a failed 'silence' strategy to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The fact of the matter is that we need to talk about climate change and its implications for the planet on a regular basis to convince the public of the urgency for resolute action.
http://www.grist.org/climate-change/2011-04-04-downplaying-or-remaining-silent-about-climate-change-was-and-is

Buying Silence: Big Soda Takes a Page from Big Tobacco

The soda industry is actively working to rescind taxes on soda that are designed to improve health and combat obesity and diabetes in the US. To do so they are adapting strategies long employed by the tobacco industry.
http://civileats.com/2011/04/05/buying-silence-big-soda-takes-a-page-from-big-tobacco/

Republicans Have an Infinite Supply of Crazy Ideas to Distract the Public from Dealing with the Country's Pressing Issues

A summary of the bizarre and counter-intuitive agenda of the Tea Party and it's extremist allies in the GOP.
http://www.alternet.org/news/150502/republicans_have_an_infinite_supply_of_crazy_ideas_to_distract_the_public_from_dealing_with_the_country's_pressing_issues/?utm_

Net Neutrality news: Obama threatens veto, court dismisses telecom lawsuit

Network Neutrality, the principle of a free and open Internet, is an immensely important issue for those of us who value open communications, civic involvement and free speech. We do not want to hand control of this powerful medium to telecoms who would build tiered systems that give priority of service to premium corporate and special interest customers.  
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/04/06/963704/-Net-Neutrality-news:-Obama-threatens-veto,-court-dismisses-telecom-lawsuit?utm_

Tea Party, Corporate Front Groups, Urge Democrats to Cave on Net Neutrality.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/timothy-karr/tea-party-corporate-front_b_844890.html

The truth about Philadelphia 1787

This is a fascinating and compelling examination of the explicit motives of delegates to the United States Constitutional Convention of 1787. 
http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/04/04/campaign_finance_founding_fathers_bill_hogeland

Lawsuit Reveals How a Middleman Is Blocking Mortgage Modifications for Homeowners

The bizarre and dizzying bad faith methods employed by banks that refuse to modify mortgages is detailed in a Propublica report. Banks have been seen to falsely claim that 'investor restrictions' prohibit them from making modifications, when the contracts explicitly permit them.
http://www.propublica.org/article/lawsuit-reveals-how-a-middleman-is-blocking-mortgage-modifications-for-home

Budget fight threatens to turn Farm Bill into Industrial Ag Bill

Proposed cuts to the Farm Bill will target conservation and biodiversity initiatives initiated by Obama rather than subsidies, and further strengthen Industrial Agriculture's competitive advantage over organic and conventional farmers.
http://www.grist.org/farm-bill/2011-04-04-budget-fight-threatens-turn-farm-bill-into-industrial-ag

60 Minutes Discovers Fraudclosure

This report from Bankster reviews the details of the horrendous scams perpetrated on the public by the mortgage banking industry, and includes a video clip from the broadcast that didn't work for me.
http://www.banksterusa.org/content/60-minutes-discovers-fraudclosure

What's Really at Stake With the GOP's Awful Budget Plan and the Coming Government Shutdown

The radical GOP seeks to strip government regulations and enforcement capability in the ultimate privatization and profiteering quest.
http://www.alternet.org/news/150525/what's_really_at_stake_with_the_gop's_awful_budget_plan_and_the_coming_government_shutdown/?utm_

Progressives Win in Wisconsin, Thwarting Koch Conservatives -- But Recount Assured

In a stunning victory JoAnne Kloppenburg beat Scott Walker's conservative Supreme Court ally, David Prosser, by only 200 votes. The election is a dramatic referendum on Walker's anti-labor agenda and a powerful demonstration of the impact the people can make when they come together in common cause.
http://www.alternet.org/news/150529/progressives_win_in_wisconsin,_thwarting_koch_conservatives_--_but_recount_assured/?utm_

Paul Ryan's Absurdly Optimistic Budget Projections Draw Widespread Ridicule

Ryan's (R-WI) 'fact-based budget' is drawing widespread criticism for relying on Heritage Foundation projections that massive cuts in federal spending for social programs and more tax cuts for the wealthy will create $150 billion in annual growth and reduce unemployment to 2.8%.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/paul-ryans-absurdly-optimistic-budget-projections-draw-widespread-ridicule.php?ref=fpb

Too Close to Call In Wisconsin, As Challenger Wrestles Walker Justice to a Virtual Tie

This report from The Nation gives Prosser a slim 585 vote lead and suggests that a recount of the results is virtually guaranteed under Wisconsin law. Considering that Prosser defeated Kloppenburg in the primary by over 30 points a few months ago, this election clearly shows that the tide of opinion has taken a major shift in response to Gov. Walker's anti-labor agenda.
http://www.thenation.com/blog/159714/too-close-call-wisconsin-challenger-wrestles-walker-justice-virtual-tie

"Scott Walker’s Attorney Says Justice David Prosser Is Vital To Anti-Worker Agenda"
ThinkProgress reports that Kloppenburg has a 309-vote lead in the Supreme Court election.

http://thinkprogress.org/2011/04/06/david-prosser-walker-anti-worker/

Wisconsin judicial election testing GOP's power is a nail-biter

Many independent sites are following the Supreme Court election in Wisconsin but the reports are largely in the form of blog updates without the overall context that one looks for in such a crucial election. It's probably fair to say that many of these outlets are trying to parse the status and implications of the results thus far. In the mainstream the NY Times, for example, has not one current update on the election as of 2:07am on April 6. This is not only disappointing to me but shockingly tone deaf or worse, a deliberate effort to downplay the magnitude of the labor rights issue. The LA Times has done some solid reporting on the status of the intense battle for the Supreme Court in Wisconsin, a contest that will impact the national debate on labor rights, as well as the legality of the recent laws passed there that strip public sector workers of collective bargaining rights.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-wisconsin-election-20110406,1,2882467.story

A disconcerting detail has emerged that even if Kloppenburg wins this election, the conservative jurist David Prosser would not step down until August. Therefore, it is entirely possible that the Supreme Court in Wisconsin could hear the case against Gov. Walker's union-busting law passed in violation of open-meeting law while the Court still holds a 4-3 conservative-leaning majority. Nonetheless, a victory for the moderate JoAnne Kloppenburg would send a powerful message to those in the GOP who have targeted labor throughout the country.

Of the 1%, by the 1%, for the 1%

Pulitzer Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz weighs in on the prevalent concentration of wealth and power in the America, in a Vanity Fair article. Convincingly, he points out that the other 99% of Americans have suffered reduced income and living standards while the super-rich continue to consolidate wealth and power. In terms of income inequality the US now lags well behind Europe and more closely resembles countries like Russia and Iran. Stiglitz also debunks the "marginal-productivity theory" often used by economists to explain vast disparities in income in western societies.
http://www.vanityfair.com/society/features/2011/05/top-one-percent-201105?currentPage=all&wpisrc=nl_wonk

The right just doesn't get journalism

Karl Rove's new conservative-driven Wikicountability is a craven attempt to respond to the popularity of WikiLeaks. It is targeting President Obama through a host of FOIA requests that have failed to reveal anything meaningful at all. Unfortunately, the GOP today favors propaganda over true jounalism.
http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/04/05/rove_wikileaks_journalism/index.html

Think That Hole In the Southwest Plane Is Scary? The GOP's Plan to Gut Airline Regulation Is What's Truly Frightening

The GOP in the House is recklessly undermining airline travel safety through draconian budget cuts they propose and a provision to count non-voting members in union elections as 'no' votes against the membership.
http://www.alternet.org/news/150493/think_that_hole_in_the_southwest_plane_is_scary_the_gop's_plan_to_gut_airline_regulation_is_what's_truly_frightening_/?utm_

More states poised to pursue anti-union legislation

More than 700 bills have been introduced around the country, in virtually every state, seeking to restrict worker's rights. Tennessee and Florida have recently gotten into the act, and a broad movement opposing these draconian attacks on the middle class is gaining momentum. 
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-unions-20110402,0,3452790.story

Workers Fight Back Against More Than 700 Anti-Union Bills
http://www.thenation.com/blog/159690/workers-fight-back-against-more-700-anti-union-bills

TODAY: Call the White House and Demand PATRIOT Act Reform!

The Patriot Act has been used to eviscerate civil liberty protections for the American citizenry in the name of protecting national security. It's high time that significant reforms are written into the law to counter warrantless wiretaps of citizens and other abuses of personal privacy. If these reforms are not instituted then President Obama should veto the reauthorization of the Patriot Act.
http://www.prwatch.org/news/2011/04/10539/today-call-white-house-and-demand-patriot-act-reform

Wisconsin's Supreme Test

Tomorrow's Supreme Court election in Wisconsin is critical in the battle to roll back union-busting law, and would be remembered as a major victory for the Left if JoAnne Kloppenburg defeats David Prosser to counter the conservative tilt of the Court.
http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/04/wisconsin-walker-election-prosser-union

Lawsuit seeks to invalidate Monsanto’s GMO patents

This is precisely the type of aggressive legal action that the people need to initiate if there is to be a chance of turning the tables on overwhelming corporate power. We must attack through law as that is the method through which the will of communities is continually subjugated to the often reckless goals of free enterprise.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=24103

Why is the Federal Reserve Propping Up the Bank of Libya with More Than $26 Billion in Low-Interest Loans?

This is truly an outrageous act by the Fed, particularly since the Libyan loans are at a lower rate of interest than what the Fed charged the US Treasury during the bailout. Senator Bernie Sanders is virtually the only politician trying to bring this and other banking malpractice to light. I know I'm a little late on this but we should all know that this is going on.
http://www.thenation.com/blog/159621/why-federal-reserve-propping-bank-libya

Regulation Lax as Gas Wells’ Tainted Water Hits Rivers

This is a very important story that the NYT broke about a month ago, before I started the blog, and I wanted to get it out there to those who have yet to hear about the dangers of this natural gas drilling practice.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/us/27gas.html?_r=1&scp=7&sq=hydrofracking&st=cse