http://www.politicususa.com/2014/11/26/bernie-sanders-calls-congresss-plan-massive-tax-cut-corporations-crazy.html

Sen. Bernie Sanders called Congress’s $440 billion plan to cut taxes for the wealthy and corporations crazy, and urged President Obama to veto the bill.

The White House announced yesterday that President Obama would veto a tax plan being negotiated by House Republicans and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) that would make permanent hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations.

In a statement Sen. Bernie Sanders called the tax cut plan crazy, “This tax cut agreement does exactly the wrong things. At a time of massive wealth and income inequality, it extends huge tax cuts to the rich and large corporations while threatening programs that help low-income children. At a time when we need to reverse climate change and aggressively move to sustainable energy, this agreement fails to eliminate tax benefits for the fossil fuel industry but phases out tax credits for wind and solar. This is pretty crazy stuff. I strongly support the president’s decision to veto it.”

The tax cut plan that Reid and the Republicans have cooked up is heavily tilted towards the wealthy and corporations. Liberals in the Senate are opposed to the proposal, and there is considerable doubt that the plan could garner the votes that would be necessary to override a presidential veto.

Sen. Sanders told it like it is. The last thing this economy needs is more tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. It isn’t a coincidence that the economy has gone on a nearly unprecedented growth after taxes were raised on the wealthy.

For immediate release
November 24, 2014

Canada, Ukraine and the U.S. vote against combating the glorification of Nazism

On November 21, the Harper government displayed undying love for Hitler fascism in the United Nations, in full collaboration with Ukraine and international imperialism’s bulwark of reaction, the United States.

According to a UN news release (Nov. 21/ 14), “A draft text on combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices was… approved by a record vote of 115 in favour, 3 against (Canada, Ukraine, United States), with 55 abstentions.” (1)

The vote continues international imperialism’s policy of appeasing fascism in Ukraine, which bans holidays celebrating the defeat of fascism, allows the lawless destruction of memorials to Soviet soldiers who died fighting the Nazis, and celebrates the founding of Ukrainian fascist groups who murdered Jews, communists and anti-fascists.

European countries comprised 41 of the 55 abstaining countries. (2) Lithuania explained the EU’s decision to abstain, saying fascism has nothing to do with racism, an outright deception. (3) In fact, Lithuania has an active neo-Nazi movement, much like Ukraine. Too afraid of pubic opinion to show their fascist stripes, these countries are allied with the U.S. and Canada in their ideological support for fascism.

The vote is a major step of North American imperialism publicly to embrace fascism as an acceptable ideology in its foreign policy ambitions. The vote tramples on the very reason for drafting the UN Charter itself, the defeat of fascism.

It continues the policy of propping-up of Ukraine as an Eastern outpost of NATO imperialism, for use as a springboard of aggression against Russia and China. War would be the natural continuation of this policy by violent means.

Russia is imperialism’s new target and perhaps the most dangerous front of aggression, motivated by rivalries among capitalist countries. Imperialism’s most reactionary circles also view war as tool of class struggle against resistance to global capitalism.

Such a war against Russia would be the final argument of a capitalist system lurching into deeper crisis. Fascism and imperialism’s policy of appeasement, which caused the last world war, must not be allowed to take root again.

Such a war today would have a profoundly harmful impact on democratic rights and the conditions of the class struggle in Canada, similar to the other inter-imperialist wars of the last century. For example, the First World War ended in the banning of democratic, progressive and socialist groups and parties, all of whom were opposed to Canada’s participation.

Democratic and progressive groups in Manitoba who oppose a new war against Russia need to raise the demand for the return of Canada’s warplanes, soldiers and ships from Eastern Europe and the Black Sea, and for Canada’s departure from the NATO military alliance.

– Darrell Rankin, Leader, Communist Party of Canada – Manitoba
Information: (204) 792-3371

1. http://www.un.org/press/en/2014/gashc4124.doc.htm . The full text is at: http://www.mediafire.com/view/94n40m3x00dr355/N1460426.pdf
2. http://www.un.org/en/ga/third/69/docs/voting_sheets/L56.Rev1.pdf
3. http://en.delfi.lt/central-eastern-europe/lithuania-and-all-other-eu-member-states-did-not-support-russias-resolution-at-un-which-attempts-to-manipulate-history.d?id=66470908

http://www.thersa.org/events/rsaanimate/animate/rsa-animate-crisis-of-capitalism

By James Thompson

It’s the opportunism, stupid!

No one will argue that the election results of 2008 are the same as the election results of 2014. Many people in the US, including this writer, were thrilled when an African-American was elected to the Oval Office. It was especially thrilling when Pete Seeger sang “This Land Is Your Land” during inauguration events. Many people were excited because of the candidate’s campaign promising “Change” and “Progress.”

The candidate’s campaign promises to address many progressive issues after the horrors of the Bush administration were like an oasis in a very harsh desert. Promises to close the Guantánamo Bay naval base, provide healthcare for all and provide support for labor unions made us all feel good about the election.

However, progressives quickly noted that the thumping hangover after the inauguration festivities was unusually severe.

Rally against Ted Cruz 12/7/2013

Here we are in 2014 and Guantánamo Bay is still alive and well. Legislative proposals for “Medicare for All” initiated by John Conyers and Dennis Kucinich were thrown under the bus in favor of a Republican health care plan ironically dubbed “Obamacare.” Many people are noticing that “Obamacare” falls far short of “Healthcare for All.” The “Employee Free Choice Act” was the talk of the town leading up to the 2008 elections. This legislative proposal, if it had been passed, would have strengthened labor unions and would have made it easier to form and join a union. Soon after the 2008 collections, this proposal was unceremoniously thrown under the bus as well.

Many progressives choked back their tears but vowed to support the first African-American President in the history of the United States no matter what.

The opening shots against progressives after the 2008 election was followed by capitulation to and collaboration with the most extreme elements of the right wing political sector. President Obama has distinguished himself by deporting more immigrants than George Bush ever dreamed of. He has ramped up more wars around the globe than George Bush ever dreamed of. He has done this in a disgusting repudiation of his Nobel Peace Prize. He has prosecuted more whistleblowers than all previous presidents combined. He has truly been a friend of the corporations and the enemy of working people.

Why is he the enemy of the working people? It’s the opportunism, stupid! Obama’s administration has been focused on attempting to strike deals with the ultra-right wing as he sells working people down the river. The really sad part is that the ultra-right has ridiculed him, and attempted to thwart his efforts to support their causes.

Working people are not stupid. They can recognize opportunism easily since they have had to deal with it for centuries. A wolf in sheep’s clothing is not a new opponent for working people.

So, what did working people do in the 2014 elections? They sat on their hands and did not vote. Voter turnout in Texas was 28%. Only the ugliest Republicans and a few diehard Democrats showed up to vote. This was in stark contrast to the 2008 election.

Why should working people vote for candidates masquerading as progressives who, when in office, outdo the nastiest right wingers in pushing the agenda of the 1%?

The people of the US always want the best of everything. They want the best cars, best houses, best jobs and best sports teams on the planet. In the 2014 elections, they had a choice between two opportunistic parties. They chose the better opportunists of the two, the Republicans. Republicans are, hands down, the best opportunists in the country.

Just think what the people of the US would do if they had a real choice and could vote for a candidate or party of candidates that really fought for their interests.