May 28, 2005

The congressman who led the push among Latino legislators for passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement 12 years ago is now calling that legislation “a tragic failure” in an appeal for rejection of the Central American Free Trade Agreement now before Congress.

Amid reports that the new “Star Wars” film contains not-so-subtle anti-Bush messages, President George W. Bush today took to the national airwaves to vow revenge against the Sith.

The Bush administration does not care about low- and middle-income Americans, and they certainly don’t care about the nation’s indigenous peoples.

The 15 worker deaths at the British Petroleum Company refinery in Texas City, Texas on March 23 could have been prevented according to a preliminary report by the United Steelworkers, the union that represents many of the workers at the facility.

Reps. George Miller (D-Calif.) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) launched an online hearing May 24 into United Airlines’ decision to dump $6.6 billion of its pension obligations.

ACAJUTLA, El Salvador — Long before the current debate over the Central America Free Trade Agreement, workers throughout the region were under attack from economic reforms that have broken unions, privatized workplaces and lowered wages.

The recent deal between 14 Democrats and Republicans on the filibuster and judicial nominees leaves much to be desired. Democrats agreed not to block judges appointed by the administration except in “extraordinary circumstances,” while, in exchange, the Republican ultra-right won’t invoke the so-called “nuclear option” — changing Senate rules to end the filibuster.

While the attention of moviegoers is riveted on the latest “Star Wars” release, a potentially catastrophic real-life space drama is playing largely behind the scenes. It could come to a head very soon with the proclamation of a new presidential directive calling for U.S. military superiority in space.

Mark Twain and Jonathan Swift move over…; Media half-truths on Social Security; ‘Downfall’ disappointment; Remember FDR, protect Social Security; Parallels between ‘war on terror,’ Iraq and Vietnam

Military recruiting has to be one of the most demanding and stressful jobs in America today. Try as they may, the 7,500 military recruiters are hard-pressed to sign up even two-thirds of the 80,000 quota they have been given this year by the Defense Department to meet the demands of the current and planned operations.