Don’t petition the White House, Use Change.org

Nov 18, 2012 Aaron Krager No Comments

Secessionists. I first want to say thank you for finally learning something from history. The last time so many desired to rid themselves of a tyrannical president they declared war on the Union. Thus, your use of a peaceful means through petitions on the White House’s site is commendable. Furthermore, each state now finds themselves represented by a petition and signatures from people possibly wanting to secede from the United States. Texas leads the way with more than 100,000 people asking the White House to address the issue. This is the same state governed by Rick Perry who drummed up his base of supporters with calls for seceding prior to his Republican bid for President. The irony seemed lost on him. Governor Perry is obviously not a viable option to lead the cause. He hardly put up a fight against a weak group seeking his party’s nomination. I also question...

The Country Moved to the Left Last Night

Nov 7, 2012 Aaron Krager No Comments

The whole campaign season did not just depend upon the presidential race that finally came to an end last night. Yes, the country voted clearly to give Barack Obama another four years in the White House. He received more than 50 percent of the vote and won handily in the electoral college. Yet, it is what happened down the ballot that shows the nation’s move toward progressive values. It appears that Democrats will pick up a couple seats in the lower chamber but the real change happened on the senatorial level. Voters said no way to Republicans Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock after they attempted to scapegoat women and downplay the trauma of rape and sexual abuse. Furthermore, women won in Massachusetts, North Dakota, Hawaii, and Wisconsin for their first terms. All four of them will be more progressive legislators than their predecessors. In Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin will be the...

Republicans, Rape, Life, and Control of Women

Oct 24, 2012 Aaron Krager No Comments

During last night’s Indiana Senate debate the Republican candidate, Richard Mourdock, did more than stick his foot in his mouth. I believe life begins at conception. The only exception I have for to have an abortion is in the case of the life of the mother. I struggled with myself for a long time but I came to realize life is that gift from God, even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape. It is something that God intended to happen. Mourdock joined a club made exclusively of Republicans but a club that seems to be growing as the November election nears. Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh made a reprehensible comment about exceptions for the life of the mother following his debate. “There is no such exception. With modern technology and science, you can’t find one instance.” Complete crap as this woman explains. Of course who can forget Missouri...

May Day… May Day… General Strike Called

Chicago / politics

Apr 23, 2012 Aaron Krager No Comments

Lee Camp give a nice precursor to the May 1st Day of Action/General Strike called by Occupy movements around the world. While it is illegal for unions to call for a general strike it is not for individual citizens such as those involved in Occupy. Here in Chicago they plan to have a joint labor and immigrant march and rally to celebrate the working class.

This May Day will mark a historic coming together of Chicago’s working class in the face of the austerity measures imposed by Mayor Emmanuel. Our communities are struggling against anti-immigrant attacks, detention and deportation; union busting and cuts to workers’ wages and benefits; cuts to public services including education, health care, and transportation; and racist violence, police brutality, and mass incarceration. Propelled by the Occupy Movement, increased labor militancy, and strong community organizations, leaders have stepped up all across Chicago to demand the city we deserve. On May 1, we will march in solidarity, documented and undocumented, students and workers, from all the neighborhoods of Chicago around the following demands:

* Stop the Attacks on Workers and Unions!

* No Cuts, No Austerity, and Tax the 1%!

* Jobs for All and No to E-verify

* End Deportations, End Racism, and End the New Jim Crow.

The only question is how many will show up. How many will join in cities around the United States and decide not to work in a protest against the global one percent?

Working Americans have a lot to be angry with. Some blame the economic problems on the former President. Others blame the current guy in office. While Occupy blames the global one percent. These are the people tossing around money in order to make more of it. They back politicians who write the rules and expect to get their money back a thousand-fold. Of course they don’t get a briefcase back from the very politician they supported. No, it happens through tax loopholes for their businesses, a decrease the in tax rate for investments, the weakening of regulations that allow them to cut corners, and more.

This is the real problem in our society. Camp and others believe we need to show our strength by refusing to shop or go to work. Call in sick, take a personal day if you have one and do not go to the store. Imagine hundreds of thousands of people on the streets of Chicago, New York, San Francisco, D.C., Seattle… It would mean millions across the nation. Millions more around the world. How much of a dent would that make on the pocketbooks of Wall Street Fat Cats? Enough for them to pay attention and to know that the movement is not stopping.

It leads to more questions but those will have to wait. Will you be there?