Bold and Daring: The Way Progressive News Should Be
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If you think you are done after voting today, forget it.
Our challenge is to wake up liberals and democrats who think they are able to make changes happen by voting in elections where the candidates are chosen by corporatists in the Democratic party. Our challenge is to wake up people who think that substantial change will happen in congress, to wake them up to the reality that congress is part of the problem-- both parties, both sides, because in reality, they are part of the same corporate duopoly, except for a very few exceptions. Read the rest here:
Please help us here at Opednews to increase our awakener power. Over the years I've written at least three articles on Awakening. I've used Opednews's new Series function to tie them together in an Awakeners series. They go back five years. We need to be awakening people more than ever.
Help us with a donation, please. Click here to make one now.
sincerely,
rob kall
Support Opednews. Make a tax deductible donation to make OEN Strong.  Daily Headlines
The reality is it does not take fifty percent plus one to make change happen. Far fewer people are necessary. The need for 50% +1 is an illusion used to control the masses. If the people who are oppressed are awakened, it takes a tiny fraction of 50% +1.
By Alfredo Lopez
NSA Intercepted Data from Google and Yahoo Servers; Monitors Nearly Everyone's Internet Use 
The recent revelations demonstrate that the NSA surveillance isn't just spying, it's dangerous and potentially repressive government gangsterism.
By John Whitehead
Welcome to the United Police States of America, Where Police Shoot First & Ask Questions Later 
No longer is it unusual to hear about incidents in which police shoot unarmed individuals first and ask questions later. What is unusual is our lack of outrage, the relative disinterest of our elected representatives, the media's abysmal failure to ask questions and demand answers, and our growing acceptance of the status quo in the United Police States of America.
It's official! The world as we know it is over, finished. We're in for a long slide down a slope of suffering and destruction. There a bit of hope but those in charge will blow it. The International Panel on Climate Change made if official.
The American Dream, its seeming solidity was built on sand--or ashes. Built on the death and suffering of countless, faceless "others" around the world, and in our own streets. Built on the poisonous myth of "exceptionalism," the cargo cult of "the market," and the tragic denial of our commonality. The never-ending, all-devouring, pointless, heartless psycho circus rolls on.
People who cut food stamps -- and gut child labor laws -- most all had empathy when they came into the world. So what squeezed the empathy out? Analysts are pointing to inequality.
The four scientists who have advocated more nuclear power as a solution to global warming should go to Fukushima. Atomic energy is a failed technology & the radiation now constantly gushing from that stricken site is already harming us all.
Israel has been poisoned by the psychosis of permanent war. It has been morally bankrupted by the sanctification of victimhood, which it uses to justify an occupation that rivals the brutality and racism of apartheid South Africa. Its democracy -- which was always exclusively for Jews -- has been hijacked by extremists who are pushing the country toward fascism.
Bernard Marcus, co-founder of Home Depot and member of the Forbes 400, had this to say about any American who might object to all the greed: "Who gives a crap about some imbecile?"
By michael payne
Craven, Callous Politicians Refuse to Create Jobs, Then Slash Food Stamps: A National Disgrace 
Selfish politicians in the U.S. Congress have launched a shameful, brutal attack against this nation's poorest, neediest people. We might even call this a war except one side, the politicians, have all the power and the people have none. We are witnessing the height of callous behavior as these politicians are hell bent on slashing food stamp benefits of those who have no where else to turn for help.
By James M. Branum
Pregnant war resister seeks early release from military prison on humanitarian grounds 
A report on the campaign to seek an early release from military prison for Kimberly Rivera, the first female US soldier in the current era to flee to Canada for reasons of conscience.
The article is an interview conducted by Madelyn Hoffman, Executive Director of New Jersey Peace Action, with Dr. Wassim Jday, an assistant professor at the University of Monastir and a political activist, about the current situation in Tunisia.
The same forces that keep housing prices and consumer confidence low actually drive profit in the stock market. Don't be fooled. There is a class war is in full swing. Ask yourself: how are we going to win?
In Washington state a Christian homeschooling couple received maximum prison sentences allowable under the law after being found guilty of beating and starving their adopted daughter to death in accord with Biblical-based parenting techniques. Superior Court Judge Susan Cook showed no mercy to Larry and Carri Williams, found guilty of causing the tragic death of their adopted daughter, Hana, by using Biblical-based parenting techniques found in the controversial child-rearing book, To Train up a Child, by Michael and Debi Pearl. Makes you wonder - WWJD?
How does understanding disability relate to the development of feminism? A personal, as well as academic, response.
Great civilizations have fallen because they failed to prevent the degradation of the soils on which they were founded. The modern world could suffer the same fate.
This article provides American Framing ideas on climate change action for three kinds of audiences: those who are already convinced but in despair and ignoring the issue, those who are not yet convinced, and
Sports may or may not be a religion in America but one would be hard put to deny its significance for many people. It's a mania from rec. sports to top level college & the pros. W/ that mania come the parents & coaches & their affect on the players. Some parents & coaches are overly critical & demeaning. They've forgotten playing sports are supposed to be fun, not drudgery.
Speaking to the North Texas Tea Party last year on behalf of his son, the elder Cruz called President Barack Obama an "outright Marxist" who "seeks to destroy all concept of God." At that event, Rafael Cruz also urged the crowd to send Obama "back to Kenya." Or ship him "back to Indonesia."
Republicans, in particular, claim the poor have it too easy. "We don't want to turn the safety net into a hammock that lulls able-bodied people into lives of dependency and complacency," claimed former Republican vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan. "That drains them of their will and their incentive to make the most of their lives." The notion that food "drains the will" while hunger motivates the ambitious would have more currency -- not much, but more -- if the right wasn't simultaneously doing its utmost to drive down wages to a level where work provides no guarantee against hunger.
Boehner spokesman Michael Steel put out a statement that killed any hopes that ENDA will be brought to the House floor for a vote, "The Speaker believes this legislation will increase frivolous litigation and cost American jobs, especially small business jobs." Speaker Boehner is actually arguing that workplace discrimination grows the economy, but Boehner's opposition isn't about the economy at all. The Speaker is killing this bill because he doesn't want enrage the anti-gay activists and bigots in his own party.
From thousands of classified documents, the National Security Agency emerges as an electronic omnivore of staggering capabilities, eavesdropping and hacking its way around the world to strip governments and other targets of their secrets, all the while enforcing the utmost secrecy about its own operations. It spies routinely on friends as well as foes, as has become obvious in recent weeks; the agency's official mission list includes using its surveillance powers to achieve "diplomatic advantage" over such allies as France and Germany and "economic advantage" over Japan and Brazil, among other countries.
Israel has worked hard to build its "security-focused" future. It has been constructing its segregation wall (a "security" wall in Israel's narrative) since 2002. The segregation wall runs deep into great sections of the West Bank. The wall moves in directions that have nothing to do with security and everything to do with Israel's long-range economic planning.
Why any American would prefer crappy health care coverage is a mystery. Well, maybe not if your a Fox "news" viewer. They're used to being spoon-fed BS that rational, thinking adults wouldn't accept. Like the need to invade Iraq following an attack on America by 19 Saudi hijackers.
At each of the over 200 cities I've traveled to this past year with my book Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control , I ask the audience an easy question: Have they ever seen or heard from drone strike victims in the mainstream US press? Not one hand has ever gone up. This is an obvious indication that the media has failed to do its job of humanizing the civilian casualties that accompany Obama's deadly drone program
It is striking that, as the election comes closer, and as Christie dramatically increases his spending and campaigning, his numbers are declining. Maybe it has something to do with treatment of teachers. Since becoming governor in 2010, Christie done a lot of yelling at teachers. Christie can't control his urge to bash teachers.
The German Ministry of Internal Affairs is contemplating questioning Edward Snowden in Moscow over the ongoing US spying scandal. Germany believes its transatlantic alliance with the US could be harmed if it were to offer asylum to the whistleblower.
By Ari Berman
Texas Voter ID Law Ensnares Former Speaker of the House, Candidates for Governor, State Judge 
The devil is in the details when it comes to voter ID. And the rollout of the new law in Texas is off to a very bad start. In this year's elections for statewide constitutional amendments in Texas, a district court judge, a state senator and both candidates for governor--Wendy Davis and Greg Abbott--had to sign affidavits to vote because their IDs didn't match their poll book names.
By David Swanson
Amnesty International Explains Why It Won't Oppose All Drone Murders On this show, Shah explained that Amnesty International cannot oppose all drone strikes in an illegal war, because Amnesty International has never opposed a war, because doing so would make it look biased, and A.I. wants to appear to be an unbiased enforcer of the law. Latest Articles
Certainly, there MUST be a reason why the so-called "Breitbots" hate me so much. Mustn't there?
The U.S. police state expands its powers and scope to crush dissent. Orwell's totalitarian nightmare is taking final shape under Obama/Bush.
In this second installment, we extend the panoramic view of young Nancy Middlebrook's lineage to her mother's side in the family, but Nancy's own life course takes an unexpected turn.
An impassioned plea for the righteous murder of those who murder elephants.
Tomgram: Peter Van Buren, America's Top Diplomat is Lost in Space
If it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium -- the title of a 1969 romantic comedy -- could now fit two intertwined phenomena: the madcap global travels of Secretary of State John Kerry and the nonstop journey of the latest revelations from National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden.  Best News Links from the Web
It's the Golden Age of News -By BILL KELLER
The profusion of unfiltered information can overwhelm without informing. So while it is true that the outside world learned almost instantaneously of the horrific August chemical attack in Syria, the flood of social media was contaminated by misinformation.The problem with the cutbacks in professional foreign coverage is not just the loss of experience and wisdom. It's the rise of -- and exploitation of -- the Replacements, a legion of freelancers, often untrained and too often unsupported. They gravitate to the bang-bang, because that's what editors and broadcast producers will pay for. And chances are that nobody has their backs.These days the disturbing trend is to pay freelancers on spec. Without even offering a contract or a formal assignment, which at least implies some responsibility.
After Fraud, the Fog Around Libor Hasn't Lifted - By FLOYD NORRIS
Regulators who wanted to change Libor have been outmaneuvered by those who did not want to risk damaging one of the biggest and most lucrative markets around."Don't worry mate -- there's bigger crooks in the market than us guys!" wrote an official of Rabobank. So what will change? Presumably there will be no more incriminating instant messages, emails and taped phone calls. Traders are not that stupid. But those who submit rates will retain considerable latitude and their banks will continue to have trading desks whose profits or losses will be determined by how Libor rates change. The frauds being prosecuted now involved interest rate manipulations of only a few hundredths of a percentage point. In the future, proving that submissions were made in bad faith could be virtually impossible. They win, we lose. it will happen again.
We're About to Lose Net Neutrality -- And the Internet as We Know It
The implications of such a decision would be profound. Web and mobile companies will live or die not on the merits of their technology and design, but on the deals they can strike with AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, and others who could otherwise 'shakedown' startups and established companies in every sector, requiring payment for reliable service.
On Monday Morsi resurfaced for the preliminary hearing of his trial for incitement to murder. And his reappearance sparked bedlam. Seven of Morsi's co-defendants chanted against the army who ousted him, local journalists shouted for his execution, and scuffles broke out between rival lawyers. Amid the melee, Morsi and his colleagues rejected the authority of the court before the chaos forced the presiding judge to adjourn proceedings until 8 January.
Yves Smith and Dean Baker on Secrets in Trade | Moyers & Company | BillMoyers.com
DO NOT MISS THIS. IT IS THE END RUN AROUND AMERICA! A US-led trade deal is currently being negotiated that could increase the price of prescription drugs, weaken financial regulations and even allow partner countries to challenge American laws. But few know its substance. The pact, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), is deliberately shrouded in secrecy, a trade deal powerful people, including President Obama, don't want you to know about. More than 130 members of Congress have asked the White House for greater transparency about the negotiations and were essentially told to go fly a kite. While most of us are in the dark about the contents of the deal, which Obama aims to seal by year end, corporate lobbyists are in the know about what it contains."This really is a deal that's being negotiated by corporations for corporations...
While popular media often depicts highly-involved parents negatively as "helicopter parents" or "tiger moms, how does placing one's children at the center of family life really affect parental well-being? New research finds that parents who prioritize their children's well-being over their own are not only happier, but also derive more meaning in life from their child-rearing responsibilities.
With the help of the Kepler spacecraft, astronomers calculate the number of habitable Earth-like planets in the Goldilocks zone -- not too hot, not too cold. Bottom line? There are 40 billion Earth like planets in our galaxy alone, and maybe 100 billion other galaxies. ET is out there...
SAC Capital Advisors has agreed to plead guilty to insider trading violations and pay a record $1.2 billion penalty, becoming the first large Wall Street firm in a generation to confess to criminal conduct. The move caps a decade-long investigation that turned a once mighty hedge fund into a symbol of financial wrongdoing. The guilty plea and fine paid by SAC, which is owned by the billionaire investor Steven A. Cohen, are part of a broader plea deal that federal prosecutors in Manhattan announced on Monday. It will also require SAC to terminate its business of managing money for outside investors, though the firm will probably continue to manage Mr. Cohen's fortune.
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