President Obama Speaks on Income Inequality and Economic Mobility

President Obama Speaks on Income Inequality and Economic Mobility

19 Comments
This got lost in the other news this week, and once again we ask ourselves, "If the President of the United States gives a policy speech, will anyone listen?" This is a plenty solid statement of progressive principles and if no one labeled them progressive , I'd bet there is alot here most Americans would absolutely agree upon. Because middle and low income people ARE being thrown under the economic bus and have been since the Reagan presidency. The disconnect is, of course, Congress and not one of our Congressional delegation (that I can find, anyway) has chimed in to note that the President has a point and that they are working on (detailed) stuff to help ameliorate this. Getting rid of the thumb on the scale for most of their voters is a clear way to better prosperity all around, but I gather that Third Way cred is going to be more important than you OR your vote. Anyway, here is the President's speech, about 48 minutes long.

RIP, Madiba

7 Comments
You've all heard by now that Nelson Mandela died peacefully at his home this evening. His is among the most heroic political and personal stories I have ever heard, and am still informed by.

Comment Rescue Question — How *Do* We Get Better Democrats Representing Us in Delaware?

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This is from a comment made by Steve Newton last night in the John Carney thread, and it is a damn fine question. He lays out the state of the board pretty well and takes more time to ask something I've been asking here for awhile -- if we're a Blue State, how come we don't have representation that represents that? Mostly the answer I get back is some testy version of needing more blogging or some such, but blogging is not voting or organizing really -- the reach is much too limited.
Call to Support the WDEL Feed A Friend Drive Now!

Call to Support the WDEL Feed A Friend Drive Now!

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Today's the day! The WDEL Feed a Friend Campaign is officially on starting at 9AM. Remember that this event raises funds for the Newark Area Welfare Committee, the Sunday Breakfast Mission, the Emmanuel Dining Room, YWCA Delaware and the St. Paul’s Church Outreach Center -- all great organizations working to feed our neighbors who might need a little help. For each $11.50 you can pledge, these groups can buy a case of food -- a great deal for the money. We're encouraging all of DL's readers and commenters to call WDEL during Al Mascitti’s show from 9 til 12 to pledge what you can to this worthy cause. If you can, please help spread the word to your Facebook friends and ask them to call in too.
WDEL Feed A Friend Campaign

WDEL Feed A Friend Campaign

Every year, WDEL devotes a day of programming (at least from 9 til 4 or so) to raising funds for a number of great institutions who are trying to help feed Delawareans in need -- the Newark Area Welfare Committee, the Sunday Breakfast Mission, the Emmanuel Dining Room, YWCA Delaware and the St. Paul’s Church Outreach Center. And it is a great deal too -- every $11.50 pledge buys a case of food to help feed some of our neighbors in need. Tomorrow -- Thursday 5 December -- is this year's Feed A Friend Day and we encourage all DL readers and commenters to call WDEL during Al Mascitti's show from 9 til 12 to pledge what you can to this worthy cause. Why Al Mascitti's show? Because Al has a goal of raising $10,000 tomorrow AM (he's going to do a 10% match up to $1000.00); because his show is the only local one working at deconstructing right-wing memes; and because he takes El Som off of our hands for a few hours during the week. :lol: We'll post the phone number to call in the morning, and remind you to call and pledge in multiples of $11.50. (They'll take credit cards.) After you pledge, it would be really fantastic if you'd go to your Facebook page and ask your friends to call in to pledge too.
Wilmington Breaks Its Shootings Record

Wilmington Breaks Its Shootings Record

62 Comments
Over the past several days, Wilmington lived through another rash of shootings resulting in a new shootings record: 147, surpassing the 2010 record of 142. On Monday, I returned home from seeing The Godfather on the big screen at Penn Cinema to multiple flashing red lights at 6th and Madison Sts -- 2 women had been shot sitting on their porch earlier that evening. Earlier on Monday, the WPD reported arresting a man carrying an illegal gun not far from this spot -- on the 500 block of W 5th -- and credited the community with reporting this guy. On Friday, a man was shot in the 600 blk of W 6th St. Other shootings up on Lea Blvd AND at the Riverfront made this a heartbreaker of a Thanksgiving weekend for Wilmington.
Wednesday Open Thread [11.27.13]

Wednesday Open Thread [11.27.13]

2 Comments
So how's the last minute Thanksgiving prep going? In keeping with the spirit of the seaon (i'm just guessing), Richard Land (a leader in the Southern Baptist church) says that single mothers should always give up their babies for adoption. I'm guessing the Land's aren't rushing right out to signup for some more mouths to feed -- they are just in the business of making more women feel guilty and undermine the family values they only give lip service too.
Sociopaths of the Day — Walmart

Sociopaths of the Day — Walmart

2 Comments
A Walmart store in Canton, OH is running a food drive for its own workers. No doubt it is good they recognize that their workers are hurting, but they are working for Walmart and not making enough money to eat! How is it possible that you are working and not able to live without charity or government support? And considering how much the Walton family is worth, they could give all of their associates the makings of a decent holiday meal and never notice the money spent.