The 14th Amendment: Conservatives new biggest enemy (VIDEO)

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Huffington Post: 14th Amendment -- Democratic senators see debt ceiling as unconstitutional

As Republicans continue to press the issue of not raising the debt ceiling, Democrats are looking at other options to prevent default.  Defaulting on our obligations could cause a global calamity and would severely hurt America’s AAA credit rating…a rating imperative to the world’s economy, as the U.S. Dollar is the international standard.

Their new solution?  Informing Republican’s that the debt ceiling itself is unconstitutional.

PfP News: Port Authority fares, services, and employment remain the same through austere times, next year not looking good

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TPN: Port Authority will not cut services, increase fares until 2012

Riders and employees of the Port Authority’s mass transit system can rejoice as the Authority released their budgets for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012, maintaining staffing, service, and fares at current levels.

The operating budget is set at $370.2 million beginning July 1.  The budget preserves fares and staffing levels through June 30, 2012.

But after scratching through the surface of the superficial rejoicing, lays ugly deficits awaiting FY 2013.

Conservative priorities: Republicans walk-out, state level governments, and more (VIDEO)

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The Maddow Blog

Rachel Maddow had a great segment on last night detailing the priorities of the Republican Party.  I would just like to highlight a few of these points for everyone; the entire segment can be viewed after the break.

New Jersey bill that would cost some middle class families over $6,000 a year expected to be signed into law Monday by Gov. Christie

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Huffpo: New Jersey union bill approved by state assemble, expected to be signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie

The middle class is under attack again from newly elected officials…No, not Wisconsin.  Florida?  Nope.  New Hampshire?  Still no.  Well it’s gotta be Michigan then.  Not this time. 

Ok, ok; I can go on and on with this game, but I digress.

This time it is in NJ where a new bill that just passed the state assembly will be signed into law, probably Monday, by newly elected governor Chris Christie.

The bill, named the New Jersey Pension and Benefits Bill (sounds kind of nice, no?), would require public workers to pay even more into their pensions and health benefits and would eliminate collective bargaining for those benefits.

He must need more tax money to pay for his helicopter and 100 yard limo rides to his son’s baseball games.

(VIDEO) Robert Reich explains the economy and why the recovery is slow in two minutes

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Examiner.com: Robert Reich explains income inequality and the economy in two minutes

Below is an important video I encourage everyone to watch…conservatives and liberals alike.  This short, two-minute video contains an analysis of the economy and why the recovery has been so weak.   It was made by world-renowned economist Robert Reich, who has served three presidents, including serving as President Bill Clinton’s Secretary of Labor.  He is currently the Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley.

Analysis after the break...

Countdown 2.0: Recap of episode 1

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Current TV: Countdown with Keith Olbermann

I have to say, it was a great show by Keith Olbermann to kick of Countdown 2.0.  I would like to see Current TV offer an HD version of the program, but it could just be my provider, DirecTV.   He had a lot of the old favorites like “Worst Persons in the World” and some new ones as well.

USA Today: Keith Olbermann restarts the clock on 'Countdown'

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USA Today: Keith Olbermann restarts the clock on 'Countdown'

Countdown 2.0 begins tonight on Current TV at 8 pm; do not miss this one!  I am sure a lot of you have been jonesin' for some Keith, as have I.

There is a great interview over at USA Today; I encourage everyone to take a look at it.

USA Today

 One of Olbermann's central missions on his new platform will be to spotlight what he sees as the corrupting influence of anonymous corporate political donations, permitted by the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision. "This is a change in the universal solvent: Money can be applied in a thousand different ways that, while not illegal, are clearly immoral to a political campaign."

I'll be sure to have a recap of tonight's episode, so check back later on in the PM.

People for Polity will return Sunday or Monday

I apologize for the lack of posts this week.  I am in Wilkes-Barre, PA and will return tomorrow or Monday.

Have a good weekend!

PfP News: PA State senate passes bill that would outlaw texting while driving

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TPN: State senate passes bill to ban texting while driving

The state Senate just passed a bill that would prohibit the use of interactive communications devices while operating a motor vehicle Wednesday.

Presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty would triple Bush tax cuts, cost $7.8 trillion over ten years

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HuffPo: Pawlenty's Reckless Tax Plan -- 10 years after the Bush tax cuts

Ten years after yet another failed attempt to expand our economy by cutting taxes for the rich, presidential hopeful Tim Pawlenty wants to triple the Bush tax cuts.  Even after the failings of Reagan, Bush 1, and Bush 2, Pawlenty wants to take their failed ideology to new extremes.

VIDEO: Wisconsin Republicans backing fake Democratic candidates to stall recall elections

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Daily Kos: Letters confirm GOP backing fake Democratic candidates in Wisconsin recall elections

Wisconsin Republicans admit that they are going to run fake Democrats to force a Democratic primary in order to stall the July 12 recall elections for six Wisconsin senators.

In letters sent to conservative voters, corporate head John Buckstaff and Wisconsin senators are encouraging their voters to field fake Democratic candidates so that the recalled senators could "mount a campaign" and give the recalled senators more time to run attack ads.

Delta Airlines charges troops to bring home bags from Afghanistan

ThinkProgress: Anti-union Delta charges $2800 in baggage fees to returning Afghanistan troops

Unreal.  Corporate greed never ceases to amaze me.  

"We had four bags, and Delta Air Lines only allows three bags. Anything over three bags you have to pay for, even though there’s a contract between the United States government and Delta Air Lines when returning from Afghanistan on military orders, you’re authorized up to four bags. [...] We actually had to end up paying, out of pocket, our own money, to allow that fourth bag to be taken on the plane. [...] For me [the fourth bag] was a weapons case…the tools that I use to protect myself and Afghan citizens while I was deployed in the country."

Delta charged the soldiers $200 each for their fourth bag.  The unit ended up paying an additional $2800.

Welcome back.

People for Polity now mobile

People for Polity will now feature a mobile version of the site convenient for viewing from your smartphone!  If you hate mobile versions of sites, don't worry; you can just tap on the regular version at the bottom of the page.  The mobile site should offer faster viewing and reading of PFP content.  

PfP News: Pittsburgh Pride Week offers celebration, activism for Pitt’s LGBT students

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TPN: Pride Week celebrates Pittsburgh’s LGBT community

Pittsburgh Pride kicked off its annual Pride Week celebration on Friday with its second advocacy rally on city council’s steps.  The rally, which drew a crowd of over a hundred people, featured speakers such as U.S. Representative Mike Doyle, legendary activist Harvey Milk’s nephew Stuart Milk, and Zack Wahls of YouTube fame.  The rally was used to ignite the celebration of this year’s Pittsburgh Pride Week.

Ed Schultz makes his "triumphant return" to MSNBC tonight

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The Ed Show

Ed Schultz makes his "triumphant return to television" tonight according to MSNBC.  Schultz was  suspended by the network on May 25 for calling conservative radio host Laura Ingraham a "right-wing slut...talk slut."

Schultz went on air and offered Ingraham an apology most would call epic.  MSNBC heralded the apology, exclaiming it's "what some called the most heartfelt and emotional apology that a cable news host has ever given."

Many of Schultz' fans believed the punishment did not fit the crime.  One fan said, "Conservatives get away with this kind of stuff all the time.  Anyone that watches Ed knows that this suspension is unwarranted.  This is just conservative posturing from the right-wing media."

Warranted or not, The Ed Show will air at 10 PM on MSNBC.

Let's get to work.

  

Wage gains higher in Great Depression than last ten years

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ThinkProgress: Last ten years of wage gains lower than during The Great Depression

Wage gains in the last ten years are actually slower than the Great Depression.

Does this come as a surprise to you?  No?  Me either.  

It truly is a mystery how part of the public continues to advocate trickle-down economics.  How many more years of utter failure do we have to endure?  How could anyone, let alone the poor, want to give more money to the wealthiest 1%?  It doesn't make any sense.  Sure, the theory sounds great, but it's not working, it hasn't worked, and it won't work.  

When is it time for something new?

Former senior economic advisor to Reagan says Clinton Era tax rates won’t hurt economy

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Bloomberg: Raising taxes no 'Kiss of Death' for job growth, history shows

According to Bloomberg, former Reagan senior economic advisor and economist at the University of Michigan’s business school Joel Slemrod stated that going back to the Clinton Era tax rates wouldn’t hurt the economy.

Well…that’s a surprise.  It’s not like we have history to look at or anything.  Now we even have conservative champion Ronald Reagan’s former senior economic advisor telling us what liberals already know.  Slemrod made known that high tax countries usually perform well economically.

“High GDP countries are high tax countries,” stated Slemrod.  “That doesn’t mean high taxes cause high GDP.”  Slemrod continued by explaining that raising taxes today might be risky, as the economy is still fragile,  but letting the Bush tax cuts run out as Obama proposes wouldn’t be “…the kiss of death for economic growth.”

So why is it that we can’t address spending AND revenue?