Category: American Empire

The Supreme Court on Monday blocked the massive sex-discrimination case female employees brought against Wal-Mart in a decision that might make it harder to bring future discrimination lawsuits against large corporations.

Here’s America’s 10 wealthiest billionaires:

No. 1. : Bill Gates – Microsoft tycoon Bill Gates is worth a huge net $54 billion.

No. 2.: Warren Buffett – Financial magnate Warren Buffet smiles as he is introduced at the Berkshire Hathaway. Chairman Warren Buffett has $45 billion to smile about.

No. 3: Larry Ellison – Larry Ellison, chief executive officer of Oracle Corp., a computer technology company, is worth $27 billion ….

The gap between America’s rich and poor is so extreme levels of inequality are worse in the land of the free than they are in many developing countries.

The U.S. ranks way behind the European Union and the United Kingdom in terms of inequality of pay, figures show.

In fact, the situation is so extreme the land of the free falls behind countries such as Cameroon, the Ivory Coast and revolutionary Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen – and only just in front of Uganda and Jamaica.

Editor: This short history of Mexico was written for gringos because gringos are not taught anything about the real history of our close neighbor to the south in our classrooms. And this account stops at the Revoluccion.

Most North Americans don’t know too much of the history of our southern neighbor, even though our nation has been deeply involved in its internal affairs. This involvement over the last 150 years has led to the domination of Mexico’s economy by North American capitalists. To understand this relationship, and to understand why undocumented workers migrate north, we must trace Mexico’s history …

Obama seems to be counting on the fact that the economy will recover on its own after the initial stimulus package. It’s starting to look like this was a bad bet. The Republicans of course have their job creation plan in place: lower taxes especially on the rich, less government spending and more deregulation or, in other words, the continuation of the transfer of wealth from the poor and middle class to the rich. However, this is precisely what has ruined the economy.

Ban on US Ground Troops Continues Under Boehner’s Resolution; Kucnich’s Resolution Fails

The Obama Administration’s war in Libya has been illegal under US law since May 20, but the House of Representatives decided to give him a 14 day extension anyhow, as a vote largely along party lines saw Rep. John Boehner’s (R – OH) tepid resolution on the conflict pass by a vote of 268-145.

Today’s graduates face miserable job prospects, and experts say the student loan crisis could be worse than the credit card or housing bubbles.

It’s the beginning of summer: warmer weather, longer days, the end of the school year. And that means graduation for thousands of young people across the U.S.; graduation with more student debt than ever before, and into a job market that is anything but promising.

Young people between the ages of 16 and 24 face an unemployment rate nearly twice that of the rest of the population,…

It is certainly time for the President to address Congress on the subject of what the U.S. is doing in Libya. Under the 1973 War Powers Act, the president is required to formally notify Congress of US military operations and receive approval of any operation that goes longer than 60 days.

Our government – along with France, Canada, Britain, and other countries – first launched attacks against Gaddafi’s forces on March 19th in order to halt a military onslaught against a large Libyan city, and in support of the rebels. March 19th, – okay, it’s definitely been 60 days. Barack Obama needs to check in with Congress – and with us, the American people.

In 2008, a liberal Democrat was elected president. Landslide votes gave Democrats huge congressional majorities. Eight years of war and scandal and George W. Bush had stigmatized the Republican Party almost beyond redemption. A global financial crisis had discredited the disciples of free-market fundamentalism, and Americans were ready for serious change.

The U.S. economy continues to stagnate. It’s growing at the rate of 1.8 percent, which is barely growing at all. Consumer spending is down. Home prices are down. Jobs and wages are going nowhere.

It’s vital that we understand the truth about the American economy.

How did we go from the Great Depression to 30 years of Great Prosperity? And from there, to 30 years of stagnant incomes and widening inequality, culminating in the Great Recession? And from the Great Recession into such an anemic recovery?

Those who founded this country knew quite well that every citizen must remain vigilant or freedom would be lost. This is the true nature of a patriot — one who sounds the clarion call when the Constitution is under attack. If, on the other hand, the people become sheep-like, it will lead to a government of wolves. This is what we are faced with today as Congress marches in lockstep with the White House to renew the USA Patriot Act.

Entire San Diego Congressional Delegation – except Filner – supported extension – as did Boxer and Feinstein

US President Barack Obama has signed a four-year extension of the Patriot Act from Paris, extending post-September 11 powers allowing the government to secretly search records and conduct roving wiretaps in pursuit of alleged terrorists or their supporters.

Hours after the US Senate and House of Representatives passed the law, through votes taken in rapid succession, and just minutes before the law was to expire at midnight in Washington DC, Obama sent in a digital signature, finalizing the renewal on Thursday.