May 20, 2006

“Money to get power, and power to guard the money,” was the motto of the powerful Medici family in 16th century Florence, Italy. It is getting to be a successful modern political strategy for some of America’s wealthiest families today.

SAGINAW, Mich. — In strike votes at 21 Delphi Corp. plants across the country, members of the United Auto Workers union have overwhelmingly rejected the company’s plan to scrap its union contracts, fire three-quarters of its workers, cut the wages of the rest to “fast food” levels and kill retiree health care benefits.

HOUSTON — The BP Texas City refinery, notorious for the deaths of 15 workers in March 2005, has been cited as the worst polluter in the United States. The pollution released from the plant tripled in 2004 as compared to 2003, according to reports from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Everything looked different as we landed in Santiago Chile last month. The Andes Mountains were still awesome, even if the snow cap is shrinking. Just a few miles away, the Pacific Ocean still sparkled blue. The craggy hills that Charles Darwin adored still rose abruptly in the center of this city of 6 million. But the skyline had changed beyond recognition

While the Republican Party has styled itself as the great defender of “national security,” Mother Nature has once again proven the opposite. It seems that everywhere Republicans are in office, they have either created or exacerbated dangers to public well-being.

Every day, new names are added to the Republican Party’s roster of sleaze. The latest is Kyle “Dusty” Foggo. He stepped down as executive director of the CIA as federal agents searched his home and office in a probe of his ties to San Diego businessman Brent Wilkes.

The dramatic events in Congress and on the streets have intensified the national debate about immigration. Some polls show the public agreeing that immigration is “out of control” and that “something must be done.” But there are clear indications that the public is not averse to giving the undocumented a break.

A single mother in Missouri making minimum wage earns $824 a month, before taxes. She has to pay rent, bills and buy food. Other unexpected expenses like car repair, medicine and money for child care aren’t factored in. And she is expected to pay for all of this while only earning $5.15 an hour.