[154770] in Zephyr_Bugs
Making the US Economy "Scream"
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (t r u t h o u t)
Fri Jun 10 17:28:24 2011
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Date: Fri, 10 Jun 2011 17:28:18 -0400 (EDT)
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t r u t h o u t | 06.10
Making the US Economy "Scream"
http://www.truth-out.org/making-us-economy-scream/1307728011
Robert Parry, Consortium News: "Obviously, given the wealth of the American=
elites, the relative proportion of the propaganda funding is derived more =
domestically in the United States than it would be in a place like Chile (o=
r some other unfortunate Third World country that has gotten on Washington'=
s bad side). But the concept remains the same: Control as much as possible =
what the population gets to see and hear; create chaos for your opponent's =
government, economically and politically; blame if for the mess; and establ=
ish in the minds of the voters that they're only way out is to submit, that=
the pain will stop once your side is back in power. Today's Republicans ha=
ve fully embraced this concept of political warfare, whereas the Democrats =
generally have tried to play by the old rules, acquiescing when Republicans=
are in office with the goal of 'making government work,' even if the Repub=
licans are setting the agenda. Unlike the Democrats and the Left, the Repub=
licans and the Right have prepared themselves for this battle, almost as if=
they are following a CIA training manual."
Alabama Enacts Possibly Strictest Immigration Enforcement Bill in Nation
http://www.truth-out.org/alabama-enacts-possibly-strictest-immigration-enfo=
rcement-bill-nation/1307712941
Richard Fausset, The Los Angeles Times: "Alabama set a new national standar=
d for get-tough immigration policy Thursday with Gov. Robert J. Bentley's s=
igning of a law that surpasses Arizona's SB 1070, with provisions affecting=
law enforcement, transportation, apartment rentals, employment and educati=
on. The new law, combined with legislation passed in May by neighboring Geo=
rgia, has arguably made this swath of the Deep South the nation's hottest i=
mmigration battleground, with the region's troubled racial history fueling =
the fire. Opponents here, perhaps predictably, often refer to that history =
in denouncing new laws they deem to be not only unconstitutional but motiva=
ted by bigotry."
FCC Report Finds Local Journalism in Severe Decline
http://www.truth-out.org/fcc-report-finds-local-journalism-severe-decline/1=
307720114
Nadia Prupis, Truthout: "Local journalism has not been able to keep up with=
a changing media landscape, leading to a significant drop in quality in-de=
pth reporting, a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) study found. The l=
ong-awaited 'Future of the Media' report, in the works since 2009 and now t=
itled 'Information Needs of Communities,' was released Thursday after its a=
uthors investigated for 18 months the sweeping changes affecting the tradit=
ional media industry, particularly the widespread decline in newspaper prod=
uction. As advertisers move to cheaper outlets on the Internet and the coun=
try's weakened economy forces daily newsrooms to downsize, staffing levels =
continue to drop, having fallen by more than 25 percent since 2001."
News in Brief: National Security Agency Whistleblower Thomas Drake Reaches =
Plea Deal, and More ...
http://www.truth-out.org/news-brief-national-security-agency-whistleblower-=
thomas-drake-reaches-plea-deal-and-more/1307725257
Thomas Drake has reached a plea deal that will put an end to his highly cri=
ticized and public prosecution for leaking information about waste and mism=
anagement at the National Security Agency; the cost of the war in Libya has=
soared to now 50 percent more than originally projected; a new report by t=
he Center for American Progress calculates that raising the minimum wage by=
50 cents on the hour could create 50,000 jobs by encouraging spending, inv=
estment and economic growth; Syrian refugees in Turkey have fled fighting o=
n the border near Turkey and Syria as the battles between protesters and go=
vernment forces continue to escalate; the peace caravan led by poet Javier =
Sicilia and other victims of the Mexican drug war is nearing its final stop=
in the violent border town of Ciudad Juarez.
United, Not Divided - Marchers Take On History and Mountaintop Removal
http://www.truth-out.org/united-not-divided-marchers-take-history-and-mount=
aintop-removal/1307642473
James Russell, Truthout: "Deep in coal country, a revolution is brewing. In=
rural West Virginia, nearly 500 people have been marching since Monday, Ju=
ne 6, to fight against mountaintop removal, for a new clean economy and to =
remember the battle at Blair Mountain, the largest armed labor battle in Un=
ited States history that was fought at its base more than 90 years ago. Dub=
bed Appalachia Rising: The March on Blair Mountain, the marchers are retrac=
ing the steps of the original march that preceded the 1921 battle that pitt=
ed union organizers against mercenaries hired by coal companies to fight un=
ionization in southern West Virginia counties. Setting the stage for the Am=
erican labor movement, the battle left what one expert estimates to be hund=
reds dead from nearly one millions rounds of ammunition. But, now, the unpr=
otected battle site is under threat by coal companies using the dangerous e=
xcavation tactic known as mountaintop removal."
On War and Peace, the Senate Starts to Move
http://www.truth-out.org/war-and-peace-senate-starts-move/1307724890
Robert Naiman, Truthout: "Senators are often much harder to move than House=
members on peace issues, and sometimes people get demoralized. 'No, No!' c=
ries the Greek chorus. 'Please don't ask us to call our senators!' In gener=
al, your average senator is much more attached to the Empire than your aver=
age member of the House, because senators are much more insulated from publ=
ic opinion. They only have to run every six years, and senators rarely seem=
to show their faces in Yourtown, USA, to answer your questions about why t=
hey are supporting endless war. But when the Senate starts to move - now yo=
u got something. This week, the Senate started to move. Fifteen senators - =
so far - have signed a bipartisan letter to the president initiated by Sens=
. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Tom Udall (D-New Mexico), =
urging 'strong support for a shift in strategy and the beginning of a sizab=
le and sustained reduction of US military forces in Afghanistan, beginning =
in July 2011.'"
Robert Gates Warns NATO of "Dim" Future
http://www.truth-out.org/robert-gates-warns-nato-dim-future/1307729116
Thom Shanker, The New York Times News Service: "Defense Secretary Robert M.=
Gates bluntly criticized NATO nations on Friday for what he said were shor=
tages in military spending and political will, warning of 'a dim if not dis=
mal future' unless more member nations scaled up their participation in the=
alliance's activities. NATO has struggled for a generation to define its p=
lace in a post-cold war world, and its member nations have frequently quarr=
eled about the scope of the alliance's commitments and their individual res=
ponsibilities. With little indication of any change in policy among the mor=
e reluctant member nations - notably Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Spai=
n and Turkey - Mr. Gates's harsh words seemed likely to increase pressure o=
n an alliance already deeply strained by differences over sharing the burde=
n in Libya and Afghanistan."
George Soros | A French Cure for the Resource Curse
http://www.truth-out.org/french-cure-resource-curse/1307715377
George Soros, Project Syndicate: "The campaign to ensure that companies eng=
aged in extractive activities disclose all of their payments in their host =
countries is gaining momentum - and France is leading the effort. President=
Nicolas Sarkozy should be applauded for supporting a new initiative promot=
ing strict transparency standards for petroleum, gas, and mining companies =
listed on European stock exchanges. France, at the heart of the European Un=
ion and President of both the G-8 and G-20 this year, is in an exceptional =
position to encourage such a regulatory move. With French leadership, 2011 =
offers a golden opportunity for the most important capital markets to adopt=
clear, precise rules requiring full financial disclosure by extractive-ind=
ustry companies to governmental authorities."
Peru Turns Left
http://www.truth-out.org/peru-turns-left/1307714181
Carrie Burggraf and Mark Loyka, Council on Hemispheric Affairs: "On June 5,=
2011, Peruvians home and abroad turned out for the much-anticipated run-of=
f election between Ollanta Humala and Keiko Fujimori. Almost 84 percent of =
registered voters came out to cast their ballots for the next president of =
Peru. According to two electoral polling firms, Ipsos-Apoyo and Datum Inter=
national, Humala received just over 51 percent of the vote, compared to Kei=
ko's nearly 49 percent (as of Sunday evening). This is a historic election =
in Peruvian history, as Humala is the first democratically-elected leftist =
candidate to win the presidency. This election also marks a pivotal moment =
in US-Latin American foreign policy; whether the US plans to re-focus its p=
olicy in regards to the elections results remains to be seen. Famous author=
and politician, Mario Vargas Llosa, now claims that Humala's victory 'save=
d democracy' in Peru. Humala will assume office on July 28, 2011. The Peruv=
ian presidential election run-off featured two polarizing candidates: right=
-wing populist Keiko Fujimori and left-wing nationalist Ollanta Humala."
Angry Pakistani Army Says It Does Not Want US Aid
http://www.truth-out.org/angry-pakistani-army-says-it-does-not-want-us-aid/=
1307714479
Saeed Shah, McClatchy Newspapers: "Pakistan's army lashed out Thursday at i=
ts critics at home as well as in the United States in an angry statement th=
at underscored just how deep a crisis the country's armed forces are suffer=
ing. The statement rejected all American financial aid for the military, sa=
ying the money should go instead to the government to be spent on 'the comm=
on man.' It warned that it intended to 'put an end' to domestic criticism o=
f its actions. It also tried to distance the military from the United State=
s, saying that it had stopped U.S. training of the country's border guards =
and ordered the U.S. to 'drastically' reduce the number of its troops in Pa=
kistan. Analysts here said the unusually detailed statement - at 1,032 word=
s, it even provided an accounting of how U.S. aid had been spent - appeared=
to be an effort to garner flagging public support. Much of the statement w=
as highlighted with bold lettering to emphasize its points."
Youth in Revolt
http://www.truth-out.org/youth-revolt/1307726695
Costas Panayotakis, The Indypendent: "One great irony of the youth-led revo=
lt in the Arab world is that the two shining successes, Tunisia and Egypt, =
were previously stellar examples of neoliberal policy. But the inability of=
an economic model based on privatization, deregulation and liberalization =
of capital to provide for youth and the population in general has only been=
magnified by the global economic crisis. Neoliberalism thus created the ve=
ry agents of social revolution that toppled Western-backed dictators in Tun=
isia and Egypt. So while the Arab Spring of peaceful mass protests has give=
n way to a bloody summer, youth protest is not likely to subside any time s=
oon or remain confined to the Arab world. That's because global capitalism =
today cannot provide young people with the kind of bright future they want =
and deserve. Adding to the pain is the lack of even a semblance of democrat=
ic institutions in most countries."
Vocalo Feature: Inside the Arizona Ethnic Studies Battle (Audio)
http://www.truth-out.org/vocalo-feature-inside-arizona-ethnic-studies-battl=
e-audio/1307626270
Once a month, Truthout collaborates with the Chicago-based radio station, V=
ocalo. In this segment of "Inside the Arizona Ethnic Studies Battle," Vocal=
o's Sarah Lu conducts an interview with Truthout fellow, Mike Ludwig. Keep =
an eye, and an ear, out for more of these exciting collaborations.... Here'=
s Elisa Meza (with U.N.I.D.O.S) and Mike Ludwig (who's been covering the et=
hnic studies debate in Arizona for Truth-out.org) on the battle to preserve=
Mexican American Studies in Tucson public schools, how the ethnic studies =
debate tends to get misrepresented and why that's wrong.
TRUTHOUT'S BUZZFLASH DAILY HEADLINES =20
In another indication that cutting corporate taxes and providing corporate =
financial incentives are not helping to resolve the unemployment problem, T=
he New York Times reports (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/10/business/10cap=
ital.html?_r=3D2&nl=3Dtodaysheadlines&emc=3Dtha2) that businesses are spend=
ing their extra dollars on software and equipment (more automation) - and h=
ardly any on increased hiring.
Add that to a large number of corporations sitting on record profits and th=
e continued outsourcing of jobs overseas, and it becomes clearer that the e=
conomy needs increased consumer buying power through a high-octane jobs sti=
mulus program.
The opening paragraphs of The New York Times article speak for themselves:
"Companies that are looking for a good deal aren't seeing one in new worker=
s.
"Workers are getting more expensive while equipment is getting cheaper, and=
the combination is encouraging companies to spend on machines rather than =
people.
"'I want to have as few people touching our products as possible,' said Dan=
Mishek, managing director of Vista Technologies in Vadnais Heights, Minn. =
'Everything should be as automated as it can be. We just can't afford to co=
mpete with countries like China on labor costs, especially when workers are=
getting even more expensive.'
"Vista, which makes plastic products for equipment manufacturers, spent $45=
0,000 on new technology last year. During the same period, it hired just tw=
o new workers, whose combined annual salary and benefits are $160,000.
"Two years into the recovery, hiring is still painfully slow. The economy i=
s producing as much as it was before the downturn, but with seven million f=
ewer jobs. Since the recovery began, businesses' spending on employees has =
grown 2 percent as equipment and software spending has swelled 26 percent, =
according to the Commerce Department. A capital rebound that sharp and a la=
bor rebound that slow have been recorded only once before - after the 1982 =
recession."
As BuzzFlash noted the other day (http://blog.buzzflash.com/node/12753), US=
corporations are poised to make America a secondary consumer market, becau=
se there will not be sufficient numbers of citizens with significant mass b=
uying power for their products.
"Deficit reduction" plans that increase corporate tax breaks and financial =
incentives are just a way of rewarding big business for automating, expandi=
ng overseas and reducing hiring here in the United States.
Mark Karlin
Editor, BuzzFlash at Truthout
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
Sen. Bernie Sanders Introduces Bill to Lower Cost of Solar Power
Read the Article at BuzzFlash
http://blog.buzzflash.com/node/12760
AT&T Gave Cash to T-Mobile Merger Backers
Read the Article at Politico
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/56660.html
Why I'm Not Going on a CPAC Cruise to Alaska With Donald Rumsfeld
Read the Article at BuzzFlash
http://blog.buzzflash.com/node/12755
"Rick Perry Resigns Control of Texas: God in Charge as of August 6"
Read the Article at Wonkette
http://wonkette.com/447178/rick-perry-resigns-control-of-texas-problems-god=
-in-charge-effective-august-6th
Will Texas Be the First State to Eliminate Public Education?
Read the Article at BuzzFlash
http://blog.buzzflash.com/node/12759
Alaska Governor's Office Releases Palin Emails From Her Brief Term
Read the Article at CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/06/10/alaska.palin.emails/index.html?hpt=
=3Dhp_t1
Ten Ways in Which American Exceptionalism Hurts the Nation
Read the Article at BuzzFlash
http://blog.buzzflash.com/node/12758
Click here for more BuzzFlash headlines: http://www.buzzflash.com/
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<center>
<table width=3D"85%" cellspacing=3D"3">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<p></p>
<center><a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/di=
a/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DT3Aq1B%2Fohr%2BosXJAvQSefd3%2F6UG0FIen"><font color=
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<!-- TemplateBeginEditable name=3D"content" --><p>Frida=
y 10 June 2011</p>
<font><strong>Making the US Economy "Scream"</strong></font><br />
Robert Parry, Consortium News: "Obviously, given the wealth of the American=
elites, the relative proportion of the propaganda funding is derived more =
domestically in the United States than it would be in a place like Chile (o=
r some other unfortunate Third World country that has gotten on Washington'=
s bad side). But the concept remains the same: Control as much as possible =
what the population gets to see and hear; create chaos for your opponent's =
government, economically and politically; blame if for the mess; and establ=
ish in the minds of the voters that they're only way out is to submit, that=
the pain will stop once your side is back in power. Today's Republicans ha=
ve fully embraced this concept of political warfare, whereas the Democrats =
generally have tried to play by the old rules, acquiescing when Republicans=
are in office with the goal of 'making government work,' even if the Repub=
licans are setting the agenda. Unlike the Democrats and the Left, the Repub=
licans and the Right have prepared themselves for this battle, almost as if=
they are following a CIA training manual."
<br /><a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D=
LT2fKUaUNx8hUTOR4Wr2Ld3%2F6UG0FIen"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Articl=
e</font></a>
<br /><br />
<font><strong>Alabama Enacts Possibly Strictest Immigration Enforcement Bil=
l in Nation</strong></font><br />
Richard Fausset, The Los Angeles Times: "Alabama set a new national standar=
d for get-tough immigration policy Thursday with Gov. Robert J. Bentley's s=
igning of a law that surpasses Arizona's SB 1070, with provisions affecting=
law enforcement, transportation, apartment rentals, employment and educati=
on. The new law, combined with legislation passed in May by neighboring Geo=
rgia, has arguably made this swath of the Deep South the nation's hottest i=
mmigration battleground, with the region's troubled racial history fueling =
the fire. Opponents here, perhaps predictably, often refer to that history =
in denouncing new laws they deem to be not only unconstitutional but motiva=
ted by bigotry."
<br /><a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D=
R58FcTwpnF%2FRD459tW1xKN3%2F6UG0FIen"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Arti=
cle</font></a>
<br /><br />
<font><strong>FCC Report Finds Local Journalism in Severe Decline</strong><=
/font><br />
Nadia Prupis, Truthout: "Local journalism has not been able to keep up with=
a changing media landscape, leading to a significant drop in quality in-de=
pth reporting, a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) study found. The l=
ong-awaited 'Future of the Media' report, in the works since 2009 and now t=
itled 'Information Needs of Communities,' was released Thursday after its a=
uthors investigated for 18 months the sweeping changes affecting the tradit=
ional media industry, particularly the widespread decline in newspaper prod=
uction. As advertisers move to cheaper outlets on the Internet and the coun=
try's weakened economy forces daily newsrooms to downsize, staffing levels =
continue to drop, having fallen by more than 25 percent since 2001."
<br /><a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D=
JEHmHHpbDhJWcDhruRR4U93%2F6UG0FIen"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Articl=
e</font></a>
<br /><br />
<font><strong>News in Brief: National Security Agency Whistleblower Thomas =
Drake Reaches Plea Deal, and More ...</strong></font><br />
Thomas Drake has reached a plea deal that will put an end to his highly cri=
ticized and public prosecution for leaking information about waste and mism=
anagement at the National Security Agency; the cost of the war in Libya has=
soared to now 50 percent more than originally projected; a new report by t=
he Center for American Progress calculates that raising the minimum wage by=
50 cents on the hour could create 50,000 jobs by encouraging spending, inv=
estment and economic growth; Syrian refugees in Turkey have fled fighting o=
n the border near Turkey and Syria as the battles between protesters and go=
vernment forces continue to escalate; the peace caravan led by poet Javier =
Sicilia and other victims of the Mexican drug war is nearing its final stop=
in the violent border town of Ciudad Juarez.
<br /><a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D=
X7NgMGfIQw7VRoWcAD3l5N3%2F6UG0FIen"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Articl=
e</font></a>
<br /><br />
<font><strong>United, Not Divided - Marchers Take On History and Mountainto=
p Removal</strong></font><br />
James Russell, Truthout: "Deep in coal country, a revolution is brewing. In=
rural West Virginia, nearly 500 people have been marching since Monday, Ju=
ne 6, to fight against mountaintop removal, for a new clean economy and to =
remember the battle at Blair Mountain, the largest armed labor battle in Un=
ited States history that was fought at its base more than 90 years ago. Dub=
bed Appalachia Rising: The March on Blair Mountain, the marchers are retrac=
ing the steps of the original march that preceded the 1921 battle that pitt=
ed union organizers against mercenaries hired by coal companies to fight un=
ionization in southern West Virginia counties. Setting the stage for the Am=
erican labor movement, the battle left what one expert estimates to be hund=
reds dead from nearly one millions rounds of ammunition. But, now, the unpr=
otected battle site is under threat by coal companies using the dangerous e=
xcavation tactic known as mountaintop removal."
<br /><a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D=
GAcWxhjIRiA0k93dndLU%2BN3%2F6UG0FIen"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Arti=
cle</font></a>
<br /><br />
<font><strong>On War and Peace, the Senate Starts to Move</strong></font><b=
r />
Robert Naiman, Truthout: "Senators are often much harder to move than House=
members on peace issues, and sometimes people get demoralized. 'No, No!' c=
ries the Greek chorus. 'Please don't ask us to call our senators!' In gener=
al, your average senator is much more attached to the Empire than your aver=
age member of the House, because senators are much more insulated from publ=
ic opinion. They only have to run every six years, and senators rarely seem=
to show their faces in Yourtown, USA, to answer your questions about why t=
hey are supporting endless war. But when the Senate starts to move - now yo=
u got something. This week, the Senate started to move. Fifteen senators - =
so far - have signed a bipartisan letter to the president initiated by Sens=
. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Tom Udall (D-New Mexico), =
urging 'strong support for a shift in strategy and the beginning of a sizab=
le and sustained reduction of US military forces in Afghanistan, beginning =
in July 2011.'"
<br /><a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D=
RVHZqIT2FVlsAsgAgM3kn93%2F6UG0FIen"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Articl=
e</font></a>
<br /><br />
<font><strong>Robert Gates Warns NATO of "Dim" Future</strong></font><br />
Thom Shanker, The New York Times News Service: "Defense Secretary Robert M.=
Gates bluntly criticized NATO nations on Friday for what he said were shor=
tages in military spending and political will, warning of 'a dim if not dis=
mal future' unless more member nations scaled up their participation in the=
alliance's activities. NATO has struggled for a generation to define its p=
lace in a post-cold war world, and its member nations have frequently quarr=
eled about the scope of the alliance's commitments and their individual res=
ponsibilities. With little indication of any change in policy among the mor=
e reluctant member nations - notably Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Spai=
n and Turkey - Mr. Gates's harsh words seemed likely to increase pressure o=
n an alliance already deeply strained by differences over sharing the burde=
n in Libya and Afghanistan."
<br /><a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D=
KJzJZlmqwKH%2BBaPcItgWBt3%2F6UG0FIen"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Arti=
cle</font></a>
<br /><br />
<font><strong>George Soros | A French Cure for the Resource Curse</strong><=
/font><br />
George Soros, Project Syndicate: "The campaign to ensure that companies eng=
aged in extractive activities disclose all of their payments in their host =
countries is gaining momentum - and France is leading the effort. President=
Nicolas Sarkozy should be applauded for supporting a new initiative promot=
ing strict transparency standards for petroleum, gas, and mining companies =
listed on European stock exchanges. France, at the heart of the European Un=
ion and President of both the G-8 and G-20 this year, is in an exceptional =
position to encourage such a regulatory move. With French leadership, 2011 =
offers a golden opportunity for the most important capital markets to adopt=
clear, precise rules requiring full financial disclosure by extractive-ind=
ustry companies to governmental authorities."
<br /><a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D=
mCdo2n4PRTlON8jVchLquSSDzLm4wEE2"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Article<=
/font></a>
<br /><br />
<font><strong>Peru Turns Left</strong></font><br />
Carrie Burggraf and Mark Loyka, Council on Hemispheric Affairs: "On June 5,=
2011, Peruvians home and abroad turned out for the much-anticipated run-of=
f election between Ollanta Humala and Keiko Fujimori. Almost 84 percent of =
registered voters came out to cast their ballots for the next president of =
Peru. According to two electoral polling firms, Ipsos-Apoyo and Datum Inter=
national, Humala received just over 51 percent of the vote, compared to Kei=
ko's nearly 49 percent (as of Sunday evening). This is a historic election =
in Peruvian history, as Humala is the first democratically-elected leftist =
candidate to win the presidency. This election also marks a pivotal moment =
in US-Latin American foreign policy; whether the US plans to re-focus its p=
olicy in regards to the elections results remains to be seen. Famous author=
and politician, Mario Vargas Llosa, now claims that Humala's victory 'save=
d democracy' in Peru. Humala will assume office on July 28, 2011. The Peruv=
ian presidential election run-off featured two polarizing candidates: right=
-wing populist Keiko Fujimori and left-wing nationalist Ollanta Humala."
<br /><a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D=
BXHsiBrKl6Q5BhYHheytFd3%2F6UG0FIen"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Articl=
e</font></a>
<br /><br />
<font><strong>Angry Pakistani Army Says It Does Not Want US Aid</strong></f=
ont><br />
Saeed Shah, McClatchy Newspapers: "Pakistan's army lashed out Thursday at i=
ts critics at home as well as in the United States in an angry statement th=
at underscored just how deep a crisis the country's armed forces are suffer=
ing. The statement rejected all American financial aid for the military, sa=
ying the money should go instead to the government to be spent on 'the comm=
on man.' It warned that it intended to 'put an end' to domestic criticism o=
f its actions. It also tried to distance the military from the United State=
s, saying that it had stopped U.S. training of the country's border guards =
and ordered the U.S. to 'drastically' reduce the number of its troops in Pa=
kistan. Analysts here said the unusually detailed statement - at 1,032 word=
s, it even provided an accounting of how U.S. aid had been spent - appeared=
to be an effort to garner flagging public support. Much of the statement w=
as highlighted with bold lettering to emphasize its points."
<br /><a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D=
%2BkR8nRpQbhQUbjndlkzLPiSDzLm4wEE2"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Articl=
e</font></a>
<br /><br />
<font><strong>Youth in Revolt</strong></font><br />
Costas Panayotakis, The Indypendent: "One great irony of the youth-led revo=
lt in the Arab world is that the two shining successes, Tunisia and Egypt, =
were previously stellar examples of neoliberal policy. But the inability of=
an economic model based on privatization, deregulation and liberalization =
of capital to provide for youth and the population in general has only been=
magnified by the global economic crisis. Neoliberalism thus created the ve=
ry agents of social revolution that toppled Western-backed dictators in Tun=
isia and Egypt. So while the Arab Spring of peaceful mass protests has give=
n way to a bloody summer, youth protest is not likely to subside any time s=
oon or remain confined to the Arab world. That's because global capitalism =
today cannot provide young people with the kind of bright future they want =
and deserve. Adding to the pain is the lack of even a semblance of democrat=
ic institutions in most countries."
<br /><a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D=
R58FcTwpnF%2FTmjumGYp4e93%2F6UG0FIen"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Read the Arti=
cle</font></a>
<br /><br />
<font><strong>Vocalo Feature: Inside the Arizona Ethnic Studies Battle (Aud=
io)</strong></font><br />
Once a month, Truthout collaborates with the Chicago-based radio station, V=
ocalo. In this segment of "Inside the Arizona Ethnic Studies Battle," Vocal=
o's Sarah Lu conducts an interview with Truthout fellow, Mike Ludwig. Keep =
an eye, and an ear, out for more of these exciting collaborations.... Here'=
s Elisa Meza (with U.N.I.D.O.S) and Mike Ludwig (who's been covering the et=
hnic studies debate in Arizona for Truth-out.org) on the battle to preserve=
Mexican American Studies in Tucson public schools, how the ethnic studies =
debate tends to get misrepresented and why that's wrong.
<br /><a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D=
tpBdlJKIwVHfp362dprLr93%2F6UG0FIen"><font color=3D"#cc0000">Listen to the I=
nterview</font></a>
<br /><br />
</p>
<p><a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track=
.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DX01owhPWUO8BsAL6bDG8st3%2F6UG0FIen"><font color=3D"#cc0000">=
<em>Click here for more Truthout articles</em></font></a></p>
<p></p>
<div align=3D"center">
<table border=3D"0" cellpadding=3D"0" cellspacing=3D"0" width=3D"100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td align=3D"left" valign=3D"bottom">
<div align=3D"left"><strong><em>BUZZFLASH DAILY HEADLINES</em><=
/strong></div>
</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr bgcolor=3D"#336699">
<td colspan=3D"2" height=3D"3"></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<i><p>In another indication that cutting corporate taxes and providing corp=
orate financial incentives are not helping to resolve the unemployment prob=
lem, The New York Times <a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.democracyi=
naction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DSOYaXP8CRhpUTZhlOeyau93%2F6UG0FIen"><fo=
nt color=3D"#cc0000">reports</font></a> that businesses are spending their =
extra dollars on software and equipment (more automation) - and hardly any =
on increased hiring.</p>
<p>Add that to a large number of corporations sitting on record profits and=
the continued outsourcing of jobs overseas, and it becomes clearer that th=
e economy needs increased consumer buying power through a high-octane jobs =
stimulus program.</p>
<p>The opening paragraphs of The New York Times article speak for themselve=
s:</p>
<blockquote><p>Companies that are looking for a good deal aren't seeing one=
in new workers.</p>
<p>Workers are getting more expensive while equipment is getting cheaper, a=
nd the combination is encouraging companies to spend on machines rather tha=
n people.</p>
<p>"I want to have as few people touching our products as possible," said D=
an Mishek, managing director of Vista Technologies in Vadnais Heights, Minn=
. "Everything should be as automated as it can be. We just can't afford to =
compete with countries like China on labor costs, especially when workers a=
re getting even more expensive."</p>
<p>Vista, which makes plastic products for equipment manufacturers, spent $=
450,000 on new technology last year. During the same period, it hired just =
two new workers, whose combined annual salary and benefits are $160,000.</p=
>
<p>Two years into the recovery, hiring is still painfully slow. The economy=
is producing as much as it was before the downturn, but with seven million=
fewer jobs. Since the recovery began, businesses' spending on employees ha=
s grown 2 percent as equipment and software spending has swelled 26 percent=
, according to the Commerce Department. A capital rebound that sharp and a =
labor rebound that slow have been recorded only once before - after the 198=
2 recession.</p></blockquote>
<p>As BuzzFlash <a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.=
org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DYh56leSTNWBqOEI%2BrN85ht3%2F6UG0FIen"><font col=
or=3D"#cc0000">noted the other day</font></a>, US corporations are poised t=
o make America a secondary consumer market, because there will not be suffi=
cient numbers of citizens with significant mass buying power for their prod=
ucts.</p>
<p>"Deficit reduction" plans that increase corporate tax breaks and financi=
al incentives are just a way of rewarding big business for automating, expa=
nding overseas and reducing hiring here in the United States.</p>
<p>Mark Karlin<br />
Editor, BuzzFlash at Truthout</em></p></i>
<p><strong>Sen. Bernie Sanders Introduces Bill to Lower Cost of Solar Power=
<br />
</strong><a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia=
/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DgaFqDU4G%2FyBhgg2RfXjFkN3%2F6UG0FIen"><font color=3D"#=
cc0000">Read the Article at BuzzFlash</font></a><br />
</p>
<p><strong>AT&T Gave Cash to T-Mobile Merger Backers<br />
</strong><a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia=
/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D%2Fm3tvSh3Y3PWz6cJoZFFr93%2F6UG0FIen"><font color=3D"#=
cc0000">Read the Article at Politico</font></a><br />
</p>
<p><strong>Why I'm Not Going on a CPAC Cruise to Alaska With Donald Rumsfel=
d<br />
</strong><a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia=
/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DaZTaW2J%2Fdlu3BjeYK4%2B5x93%2F6UG0FIen"><font color=3D=
"#cc0000">Read the Article at BuzzFlash</font></a><br />
</p>
<p><strong>"Rick Perry Resigns Control of Texas: God in Charge as of August=
6"<br />
</strong><a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia=
/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3Dnh0FXNFcrDD3Uru48fESet3%2F6UG0FIen"><font color=3D"#cc=
0000">Read the Article at Wonkette</font></a><br />
</p>
<p><strong>Will Texas Be the First State to Eliminate Public Education?<br =
/>
</strong><a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia=
/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DayEeTFDM3koAceiT%2FG117d3%2F6UG0FIen"><font color=3D"#=
cc0000">Read the Article at BuzzFlash</font></a><br />
</p>
<p><strong>Alaska Governor's Office Releases Palin Emails From Her Brief Te=
rm<br />
</strong><a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia=
/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DxpAClzOeUk2004RbuHHkrN3%2F6UG0FIen"><font color=3D"#cc=
0000">Read the Article at CNN</font></a><br />
</p>
<p><strong>Ten Ways in Which American Exceptionalism Hurts the Nation<br />
</strong><a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia=
/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3DRAQedGsLQ8tVgxjLiEsOed3%2F6UG0FIen"><font color=3D"#cc=
0000">Read the Article at BuzzFlash</font></a><br />
</p>
<p><a href=3D"http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=3D2&c=3D9JX=
t2JIU9SZYjdPO7LgbvN3%2F6UG0FIen"><b><font color=3D"#cc0000"><em>Click here =
for more BuzzFlash headlines</em></font></b></a></p>
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