What Will A Government Shutdown Mean

Danny Schechter, who wrote “Plunder,” tells us what to expect if the projected trainwreck comes to pass.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/Showdown-On-A-Shutdown-Go-by-Danny-Schechter-110331-46.html

It’s Good To Be Rich

http://www.truth-out.org/the-new-american-dream68847

Why Aren’t We Surprised By Fox Any More?

The Vice President and Washington Managing Editor of Fox News told an audience that he made up the story of Obama’s socialist beliefs during the 2008 election and caused it to be a steady drumbeat on Fox “news” coverage.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20048382-503544.html

Help Stamp Out Creeping Ignorance!

This article is about creeping ignorance – the widespread refusal to accept facts and the growing tendency to create one’s own.  For example, a 2010 Gallup poll asked people if they believed in naturalistic evolution.  Only 16% of the whole sample did.  25% of those with post-graduate degrees.  9% of those with high school or less.  2% of those who attend church weekly.  31% of those who seldom or never attend church.  Twice as many Democrats as Republicans believe in evolution.  You can find similarly scary statistics about the percentage of people who believe that global warming is caused by man and about the people who think government should stay out of relations between workers and bosses (this after the hundreth anniversary of the Triangle Fire last week!).  Paste the link to your browser to read the article.

http://www.alternet.org/story/150382/the_biggest_threat_facing_the_country_today_is_fast_creeping_ignorance?page=entire

How The Pentagon Spends Money

Since the beginnings of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, some of the most deadly killers and maimers of our troops are roadside bombs – IED’s.  All the hugely expensive weapons in our arsenal – The F-25,  nuclear submarines,  aircraft carriers, etc. – are useless against them.  Five years ago the Pentagon set up a special office under a four-star general to figure out how to combat the threat.  They have spent $19 billion dollars.  How is it going?  The program is a complete failure, and there’s evidence money was spent not just on anti-IED research but on civilian advisors and such.  We’re not suggesting that it’s not important to end the IED threat, but is this the best we can do?   Click the link for details.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/03/27/111029/pentagon-spends-billions-to-fight.html

Television You’ve Been Waiting For!

It was announced this week that Glenn Beck may be setting up his own cable channel when he leaves Fox.  Click here to see the exciting daily schedule!

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/03/26/opinion/26opchart.html?ref=opinion

Are All Our Dollars Buying Us Smart Security?

A group of citizens in Delaware and Montgomery Counties, Pennsylvania (members of Main Line Peace Action and the DelMont Chapter of Progressive Democrats of America,  agreed that it would not be possible to make progress in education, renewable energy, healthcare, infrastructure or anything else until we reined in military spending. The Frank-Paul Report on that subject had just been released, the National Priorities Project was generating important statistics on military spending and its effect on localities, and New Priorities, a group of Barney Frank’s constituents interested in the “25% solution,”  were starting to spread the word.  Our local group committed itself to bringing the  message to Pennsylvania on this vital subject and developed a Power Point presentation that became this video on YouTube.  We hope you will watch it and share it with your friends.  Much depends on it.

Nader Says “End Athletic Scholarships”

Ralph Nader takes on another sacred cow.  But if the Ivy League and many liberal arts colleges can do it, why can’t everyone eliminate athletic scholarships?  Is that how we should be spending our education dollars?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/24/ralph-nader-calls-for-end_n_840243.html

Important Meeting April 16

Chart a Course for New Priorities That Begins with Bringing the War Dollar$ Home

FEDERAL BUDGET CRISIS: WHY IT MATTERS, SAT., APRIL 16, 10A.M.(9:30A.M. – 1:00P.M.)Tabernacle Church 3700 CHESTNUT STREET, Phila., PA (corner of 37th & Chestnut St., enter on 37th)   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               The Federal Budget Crisis & Its Impact on Local CommunitiesPlan to Participate in a Workshop & Program with: Jo Comerford, executive director National Priorities Project (http://nationalpriorities.org) Be Part of A Provocative ‘RoundTable’: The Federal Budget Crisis… & The Assault on Public Service Unions…How Militarism Distorts Government Here and Around the World.

Challenge War and Rising Military Spending at the Expense of Human Needs and Justice at Home

Sponsors: Brandywine Peace Community, BuxMont Coalition for Peace Action, Catholic Peace Fellowship, DelRiver Area CodePINK, DelMont and PA PDA (Progressive Democrats of America), Phila. Jobs With Justice, PA Smart Security , Main Line Peace Action, Granny Peace Brigade Phila., Healthcare NOW, Veterans for Peace, Chapter #31 (list in formation).

RSVP Your Attendance by e-mailing cfparsvp@aol.com For more information call: Brandywine Peace Community, 610-544-1818.

Why Congress Votes The Way It Does

Read all about the kinds of investments congressmen have in defense contractors.  No wonder they have trouble voting again $1000 toilet seats and the   F-35.

http://www.alternet.org/world/81915/