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Democracy Now! stories, posts and pages that relate to U.S. Economy

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    "We Need to Make a Ruckus": Robert Reich Hails Occupy for Exposing Concentration of Wealth and Power

    In his new book, "Beyond Outrage," former Labor Secretary Robert Reich opens with a dedication to the Occupy Wall Street movement. He writes: "To the Occupiers, and all others committed to taking back our economy and our democracy." We speak to Reich about the success of Occupy in reshaping the national dialogue on the economy and why strong grassroots movements are needed to push elected leaders in Washington to enact a progressive...
    May 08, 2012 | Story
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    Part 2: David Harvey on Rebel Cities, Occupy Wall Street, and the Benefits of Class Struggle

    In part two of our interview with social theorist David Harvey, he notes the "urban center" of Occupy Wall Street has been key to its success. He also discusses Karl Marx, the lack of evidence that austerity stimulates economic growth, and how many of the social benefits that exist today were brought about through class struggle. [includes rush transcript]
    May 01, 2012 | Web Exclusive
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    "No Work, No Shopping, Occupy Everywhere": May Day Special on OWS, Immigration, Labor Protests

    As Occupy Wall Street plans nationwide protests marking International Workers’ Day, or May Day, we discuss the movement with Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, Chris Hedges; Amin Husain, editor of Tidal magazine and a key facilitator of the Occupy movement; Marina Sitrin, author of "Horizontalism: Voices of Popular Power in Argentina" and a member of Occupy’s legal working group; and Teresa Gutierrez of the May 1st Coalition...
    May 01, 2012 | Story
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    "War is the Enemy of the Poor": Cornel West and Tavis Smiley on Poverty, MLK, Election 2012

    In part two of our interview with Tavis Smiley and Prof. Cornel West, they discuss growing up in working-class households. "I saw so much poverty growing up," says Smiley, who lived with 13 family members in a three-bedroom trailer and learned that even when he was not optimistic, he could be hopeful. "Hope needs help," Smiley notes. West recalls how he worked with the Black Panthers to organize a general strike while growing...
    Apr 24, 2012 | Story
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    Part 2: Tavis Smiley & Cornel West on Growing Up Poor, Occupy Wall Street and Trayvon Martin Case

    In part two of our interview, Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West discuss growing up in working-class households and compare the amount of money spent on war and the 2012 presidential campaign to funding for programs that assist the one in two Americans who are now poor. They also discuss the Trayvon Martin case and Ted Nugent’s potentially threatening comments about President Obama at the recent National Rifle Association meeting. [includes...
    Apr 19, 2012 | Web Exclusive
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    Months After Zuccotti Park Eviction, Occupy Wall Street Springs Up Outside New York Stock Exchange

    Occupy Wall Street protesters are camping out again, this time across the street from the Stock Exchange in downtown Manhattan. For the past four nights, dozens of activists have camped outside as they prepare for a major day of action on May Day. It’s the first time Occupy Wall Street activists have set up an encampment in the Financial District since New York police raided Zuccotti Park five months ago. "This is Wall Street. This...
    Apr 13, 2012 | Story
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    "Two Sources of Power": Van Jones on Need for Obama Re-election, Building Occupy-Like Mass Movements

    We speak with former White House adviser Van Jones about what role the Occupy movement can and should play in re-electing President Obama. He says one reason he launched his Rebuild the Dream campaign last summer was to recognize economic issues not being effectively addressed by progressives. "We’re very good on issues around the environment, race, gender, immigration, sexuality. ... But there is a hole in the donut on the economy....
    Apr 03, 2012 | Story
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    Matt Taibbi on the Explosive Resignation of Goldman Sachs Executive Greg Smith

    Financial reporter Matt Taibbi talks about Goldman Sach’s history of denigrating its own clients, as recently highlighted by former Goldman executive Greg Smith’s explosive resignation letter in the New York Times. Decrying what he called Goldman’s "toxic" culture, Smith said bosses at the firm called their clients "muppets" and strove to maximize profits at the expense of client interests, adding: "It...
    Mar 22, 2012 | Story
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    As Obama Picks Up Union Endorsements, a Debate on Labor's Role in 2012 Campaign

    We host a debate on Big Labor’s endorsement of President Obama’s re-election between labor reporter Mike Elk and Arthur Cheliotes, president of Communications Workers of America Local 1180, a union that has pledged support of President Obama. This week the AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest labor organization, endorsed Obama following earlier statements of support from several unions, including the Service Employees International...
    Mar 15, 2012 | Story
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    Rep. Donald Payne (1934–2012): Remembering New Jersey's First African-American Member of Congress

    Representative Donald Payne, the first-ever African-American congressman from New Jersey, died Tuesday at the age of 77 from complications of colon cancer. The former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus was in his 12th term in the House. In 1988, Payne explained his desire to break the color line in Congress, saying, "I want to be a congressman to serve as a role model for the young people I talk to on the Newark street corners…...
    Mar 07, 2012 | Story