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As the Capitalist Robber Barons Steal from the 99% — Only the 1% Voted For Austerity — The 99% Should Decide On Austerity — Not Just The 1% Who Profit From Austerity!
Images of the Day:
Quotes of the Day:
… The book produced upon me – I speak without exaggeration – a deep impression. Not because of its artistic qualities: the form of the novel here represents only an armor for social analysis and prognosis. The author is intentionally sparing in his use of artistic means. He is himself interested not so much in the individual fate of his heroes as in the fate of mankind. By this, however, I don’t want at all to belittle the artistic value of the work, especially in its last chapters beginning with the Chicago commune. The pictures of civil war develop in powerful frescoes. Nevertheless, this is not the main feature. The book surprised me with the audacity and independence of its historical foresight. The world workers’ movement at the end of the last and the beginning of the present century stood under the sign of reformism. The perspective of peaceful and uninterrupted world progress, of the prosperity of democracy and social reforms, seemed to be assured once and for all. The first Russian revolution, it is true, revived the radical flank of the German social-democracy and gave for a certain time dynamic force to anarcho-syndicalism in France. The Iron Heel bears the undoubted imprint of the year 1905. But at the time when this remarkable book appeared, the domination of counterrevolution was already consolidating itself in Russia. In the world arena the defeat of the Russian proletariat gave to reformism the possibility not only of regaining its temporarily lost positions but also of subjecting to itself completely the organized workers’ movement. It is sufficient to recall that precisely in the following seven years (1907–14) the international social-democracy ripened definitely for its base and shameful role during the World War. Jack London not only absorbed creatively the impetus given by the first Russian revolution but also courageously thought over again in its light the fate of capitalist society as a whole. Precisely those problems which the official socialism of this time considered to be definitely buried: the growth of wealth and power at one pole, of misery and destitution at the other pole; the accumulation of social bitterness and hatred; the unalterable preparation of bloody cataclysms – all those questions Jack London felt with an intrepidity which forces one to ask himself again and again with astonishment: when was this written? Really before the war? One must accentuate especially the role which Jack London attributes to the labor bureaucracy and to the labor aristocracy in the further fate of mankind. Thanks to their support, the American plutocracy not only succeeds in defeating the workers’ insurrection but also in keeping its iron dictatorship during the following three centuries. We will not dispute with the poet the delay which can but seem to us too long. However, it is not a question of Jack London’s pessimism, but of his passionate effort to shake those who are lulled by routine, to force them to open their eyes and to see what is and what approaches. The artist is audaciously utilizing the methods of hyperbole. He is bringing the tendencies rooted in capitalism: of oppression, cruelty, bestiality, betrayal, to their extreme expression. He is operating with centuries in order to measure the tyrannical will of the exploiters and the treacherous rôle of the labor bureaucracy. But his most “romantic” hyperboles are finally much more realistic than the bookkeeper-like calculations of the so-called “sober politicians.” . . . — Trotsky and the Iron Heel His Observations on the Famous Novel
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation today released its Fiscal Year 2016 Annual Report showing the deficit in its multiemployer insurance program rose to $58.8 billion. The increase was driven by additional multiemployer plans that are expected to run out of money within the next 10 years, and by decreases in interest factors used to value PBGC’s liabilities. — PBGC Fiscal Year 2016 Annual Report Shows Increasing Deficit in Multiemployer Program
Videos of the Day
Rattling the Bars: The gradual abolition of prisons across the United States…except for California As prisons close across the United States due to deficits in state economies, California refuses to follow this rational trend by continuing to invest millions of its state budget into prisons and jails.
US:
In Photos: Women’s Marches on All Seven Continents Demand ‘A Better Future’Yes, there was even a march in Antarctica by Nika Knight
We Mourn, But We March! For democracy and our natural planet. We have clear direction on both issues. This weekend’s massive, powerful women’s and other marches rocking the nation have dwarfed the turnout for Friday’s illegitimate inauguration. With them we must demand—-and WIN—-a voting system that actually reflects the will of the people, and an energy supply that comes in harmony with our Mother Earth. by Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman
Revolt Is the Only Barrier to a Fascist America — An unwavering noncooperation with the systems of corporate control is essential. We must not be seduced into trusting the power elites, including the Democratic Party. By Chris Hedges
Under LBJ, presidential lies were called a ‘Credibly Gap’, under Obama, presidential lies were called ‘Spin’ Now they are called ‘Alternative Facts’: Trump Advisor Calls Press Secretary’s Falsehoods “Alternative Facts” “Sean Spicer gave alternative facts,” Kellyanne Conway said, in response to outrage over White House press secretary’s false claims about inauguration crowd size by Nika Knight
Observable Reality 1, Trump White House 0 Social networks filled with laughter and derision on Sunday, in response to the bizarre claim by Donald Trump’s aide, Kellyanne Conway, that the new White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, had not lied to the nation about the size of the crowd at Friday’s inauguration, but merely presented “alternative facts.” By Robert Mackey In Trump’s America, ‘Felony Riot’ Charges Against Inauguration Protesters Signal Dangerous Wave of Repression More than 200 people mass arrested in Washington, D.C. facing up to 10 years in prison. By Sarah Lazare
Trump’s Inauguration: Hail Caesar! At the close of his inauguration speech, Trump stood in front of the US Capitol Building and raised his right fist in the air. In keeping with a speech that combined bombast and fury, he appeared at that moment more conquering king than elected president. Indeed all that was needed to complete the image was a giant sword in his left hand.by John Wight
Trump’s White House Website Now Only Mentions “Climate” in His Plans to Ax Obama’s Policies Today, the peaceful transition of power took place, with President Barack Obama passing the White House baton over to President Donald Trump. Behind the glitz and glamor and pomp and circumstance came another key White House transition: the Trump White House has gotten rid of the climate change section of the White House website. The URL www.whitehouse.gov/energy/climate-change now takes those surfing the internet to a page which “could not be found.” By Steve Horn
Ongoing Big Energy Crisis:
Black Liberation/ Civil Rights:
As Everyone Watches the Inauguration, Violence Returns to Standing Rock While the nation is distracted by the selection of the latest puppet-in-chief, violence has returned to North Dakota in the ongoing fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline. After a relatively quiet December and early January, tensions are running high at the site of the Dakota Access Pipeline near Cannonball, North Dakota. Over the weekend, water protectors with the Standing Rock Sioux and their allies once again clashed with the Morton County Sheriff’s Department and the National Guard. 
Labor:
Economy:
Is Your Corporate Pension Benefit Safe Under the Trump Administration? Most Americans are unaware that the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the Federal body that stands behind corporate pension plans known as defined benefit plans, has only three members and three votes on its Board of Directors: the U.S. Labor Secretary, the U.S. Commerce Secretary and the U.S. Treasury Secretary. Under the Donald Trump administration, all three votes could be problematic for workers’pension interests if Trump’s current nominees are confirmed by the U.S. Senate. By Pam Martens and Russ Martens
World:
Health, Science, Education, and Welfare:
Trump Strikes Blow to Obamacare With First Executive Order President Donald Trump’s first executive order directs government agencies to “ease the burden of Obamacare” (“Donald Trump’s first actions as president makes clear that he’s on the side of bankers and billionaires.”) by Nika Knight
Patrick Cockburn: The rise of Trump and Isis have more in common than you might think Across continents there are many who see themselves as the losers from globalisation, but the ideological vehicles for protest differ markedly from region to region 
Environment: