THE FLASHLIGHT, April 19-25, 2008
THE FLASHLIGHT
April 19-25, 2008
No Peace without Justice, no Justice, without the Facts
Mary K. Matossian, Editor
World Hunger
ABC, CBS 4-20. According to the UN, 850 million people in the second and third worlds are hungry as result of the “unparalleled” jump in food prices. This is especially true of Africa, where many people spend 80% of their income on food.
PBS 4-23 Food prices rose 83% in the last three years. 33 nations are endangered by food riots, including Egypt and Haiti.
US Economy
CNN 4-22. Oil price hit $120 a barrel. Bay Area gasoline price hit $4.00 a gallon.
US Presidential Primary
CNN 4-23. Hilary Clinton won in Pennsylvania by 9 points. Obama was able to cut her former double digit lead, but, according commentators, demographics and the support of local politicians for Clinton enabled her victory. 4-24. Obama still leads nationally: Clinton gained only 10 delegates. Her lead among committed super delegates is down to 23.
NYTimes 4-25. Paul Krugman criticized the Obama campaign for failing to appeal to white working class voters with lagging wages, insecure jobs, and fear of loss of their health insurance. These voters find unattractive appeals for national unity by transcending differences.
US Polygamy Case
AP 4-19. The children of a fundamentalist cult in West Texas have been tested for DNA to determine their parents. They have been transferred to foster care. According to psychiatrist Bruce Perry, the girls were taught that disobedience would lead to their damnation. He called the cult’s belief system “abusive.” Sect members have acknowledged that girls were married at below legal age.
US Pentagon Propaganda Machine
PBS 4-24. The NY Times has published an expose of an illegal Pentagon propaganda machine established by Sec. Rumsfeld just before the Iraq War began. Rumsfeld recruited 75 retired colonels and generals, in the guise of objective military analysis, to deliver the talking points of the Bush Administration over the TV networks. Their purpose was to sell the war and manage public opinion. The connections of the retired officers to the Pentagon were kept secret. In addition many of these officers had secret business ties to defense contractors. The Times called for a Congressional investigation.
US Educational Failures
NYTimes 4-25. In an op-ed by Edward B. Fiske, US public education (K-12) is in turmoil because
l) A disproportionate share of its students (one-third) perform at such a low level that they are unfit to serve as citizens and workers in a global competitive economy. As baby boomers retire, the US will be more dependent on this group.
2) The US is fifth among 27 industrialized countries in producing students able to profit from college level work, and sixteenth out of 27 such countries in the number of students who complete a college education.
April 19-25, 2008
No Peace without Justice, no Justice, without the Facts
Mary K. Matossian, Editor
World Hunger
ABC, CBS 4-20. According to the UN, 850 million people in the second and third worlds are hungry as result of the “unparalleled” jump in food prices. This is especially true of Africa, where many people spend 80% of their income on food.
PBS 4-23 Food prices rose 83% in the last three years. 33 nations are endangered by food riots, including Egypt and Haiti.
US Economy
CNN 4-22. Oil price hit $120 a barrel. Bay Area gasoline price hit $4.00 a gallon.
US Presidential Primary
CNN 4-23. Hilary Clinton won in Pennsylvania by 9 points. Obama was able to cut her former double digit lead, but, according commentators, demographics and the support of local politicians for Clinton enabled her victory. 4-24. Obama still leads nationally: Clinton gained only 10 delegates. Her lead among committed super delegates is down to 23.
NYTimes 4-25. Paul Krugman criticized the Obama campaign for failing to appeal to white working class voters with lagging wages, insecure jobs, and fear of loss of their health insurance. These voters find unattractive appeals for national unity by transcending differences.
US Polygamy Case
AP 4-19. The children of a fundamentalist cult in West Texas have been tested for DNA to determine their parents. They have been transferred to foster care. According to psychiatrist Bruce Perry, the girls were taught that disobedience would lead to their damnation. He called the cult’s belief system “abusive.” Sect members have acknowledged that girls were married at below legal age.
US Pentagon Propaganda Machine
PBS 4-24. The NY Times has published an expose of an illegal Pentagon propaganda machine established by Sec. Rumsfeld just before the Iraq War began. Rumsfeld recruited 75 retired colonels and generals, in the guise of objective military analysis, to deliver the talking points of the Bush Administration over the TV networks. Their purpose was to sell the war and manage public opinion. The connections of the retired officers to the Pentagon were kept secret. In addition many of these officers had secret business ties to defense contractors. The Times called for a Congressional investigation.
US Educational Failures
NYTimes 4-25. In an op-ed by Edward B. Fiske, US public education (K-12) is in turmoil because
l) A disproportionate share of its students (one-third) perform at such a low level that they are unfit to serve as citizens and workers in a global competitive economy. As baby boomers retire, the US will be more dependent on this group.
2) The US is fifth among 27 industrialized countries in producing students able to profit from college level work, and sixteenth out of 27 such countries in the number of students who complete a college education.
posted by THE FLASHLIGHT at 7:28 AM
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