Tag Archives: Social Issues

April 7, 2013

With the deadline for filing your returns just days away, a historian of the income tax says you can’t talk about taxes these days without talking about class.

Our regular contributor and Catholic activist Fred Rotondaro talks about his expectations for Pope Francis.

And Bill Press talks with immigration advocate Angela Kelley about prospects for congressional action.

  • Apr. 7, 2013 Apr. 7, 2013 Rendering unto Caesar – conversations this week about income taxes and about the new pope’s commitment to the poor.
  • Molly Michelmore Molly Michelmore Professor Molly Michelmore has written about the history of the income tax, now 100 years old. Originally, it was very popular because it was seen as a way of sticking it to the robber barons. Now, she says, we still can’t talk about taxes without talking about class.
  • Fred Rotondaro Fred Rotondaro Fred Rotondaro, a regular contributor, is a progressive Catholic activist. He sees the election of Pope Francis as a move toward a new emphasis on the issues of inequality, poverty and the role of women in the church.
  • Angela Kelley Angela Kelley Bill Press and his guest, Angela Kelley of the Center for American Progress, on prospects for immigration reform legislation.
  • Jim Hightower Jim Hightower The wisdom of the wealthy.

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February 24, 2013

Economist James K. Galbraith talks about the “mania” on the right to cut Social Security and Medicare, which he says will only further weaken the purchasing power of the elderly.
Gas prices are going through the roof … and Steven Coll, president of the New America Foundation, has written a book exposing how Exxon Mobil determines both the price of gasoline and U.S. foreign policy.
And Bill Press talks with an expert on the Chinese hacking of America.

  • Feb. 24, 2013 Feb. 24, 2013 Will a $12 an hour minimum wage work? $5 a gallon of gas certainly does not. Nor does Chinese computer theft of America’s secrets.
  • James K. Galbraith James K. Galbraith James K. Galbraith, a world famous economist, sheds some light for us about the effects of any cuts in Medicare or Social Security … and he makes the case for a minimum wage of $12 an hour.
  • Steven Coll Steven Coll Now, with gas prices on everyone’s mind, we’ll hear from Steven Coll, author of a book exposing how Exxon Mobil influences U.S. energy and foreign policy. He says that over the decades, the U.S. government has not achieved its energy objectives, but Exxon has.
  • Dan McWhorter Dan McWhorter Bill Press guest Dan McWhorter, a computer expert, reveals how China is stealing America’s intellectual property.
  • Jim Hightower Jim Hightower The GOP's disdain for low-wage workers.

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February 3, 2013

Elections have consequences, and the proof is the sudden impetus for a bipartisan immigration bill. Just before a few Senate Republicans decided to join progressives in starting immigration reform, we spoke with Maria Teresa Kumar, head of the advocacy group Voto Latino.

And we continue our conversation with Erica Seifert, the election analyst who has identified a new group of voters that she calls the “Rising American Electorate.”

And Bill Press talks with Tom Buffenbarger, head of the International Association of Machinists, about threats to the labor movement.

  • Feb. 3, 2013 Feb. 3, 2013 Movement on immigration reform. Why? Look at the election results!
  • Maria Teresa-Kumar Maria Teresa-Kumar One argument that might help speed immigration reform along could be the economic aspect. Reform advocate Maria Teresa Kumar, the head of Voto Latino, says new Americans will contribute taxes and application fees to the economy.
  • Erica Seifert Erica Seifert Polling expert Erica Seifert has identified and named the Obama voting coalition. They constitute, in her words, the “Rising American Electorate.” She analyzes the 2012 election and points out that not only does gerrymandering raise questions about how Congress functions … so does our tendency to live where our political friends live.
  • Tom Buffenbarger Tom Buffenbarger Bill Press and machinists’ union president Tom Buffenbarger discuss the threats to the labor movement.
  • Jim Hightower Jim Hightower Good retail jobs would be good for America.

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December 30, 2012

Progressive icon Fred Harris talks about challenges facing the second Obama administration, including barriers to organized labor. Law professor Larry Gibson tells us about his new biography of a young Thurgood Marshall. And historian Steve Conn rips Republicans for hating government, except for when they need it.

  • Dec. 30, 2012 Dec. 30, 2012 Challenges in the second term … the early years of Thurgood Marshall … and the Republican states’ rights fetish.
  • Fred Harris Fred Harris Fred Harris was a U.S. Senator from Oklahoma, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and a candidate for president. Still active, Fred tells us what he sees as challenges for the second Obama Adminstration -- labor rights, the minimum wage, civil rights and immigration reform.
  • Larry Gibson Larry Gibson Larry Gibson is a prominent attorney and law professor in Baltimore. He has a new book out called “Young Thurgood,” which delves into the early years of Thurgood Marshall, the nation’s first African-American Supreme Court justice.
  • Steven Conn Steven Conn Historian Steven Conn's new book examines the benefits of government. He talks with us today about the fetish Republicans have about “states rights” – the rallying cry for attacking reproductive freedom and suppressing voting rights. Conn says the GOP is laissez-faire when it suits them but in favor of government help when they need it.
  • Jim Hightower Jim Hightower Warning: A new intrusive swarm coming our way -- domestic drones!

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