Fifty years ago US President Lyndon Baines Johnson gave a speech to announce his plan that he called a War on Poverty. The press all reported it here dutifully and commentary sprouted up like flowers. The current president has a new plan, 'promise zones' that he hopes to spread certain benefits to help urban areas, and... yesterday, the other party had a spokesperson, FL Sen Marco Rubio to tell us how the War on Poverty of fifty years ago had failed. He suggested people get married to escape poverty.
A story in the New York Times gave voice to a robbery 41 years ago of a Media, PA FBI office where the burglars took all that offices documents which showed, among other things, the secret COINTELPRO set of policies institued by the bureau. They have finally felt they could come forward and evn proclaim Edward Snowden a whistleblower, not something else. Stunning, a case left unexplained for oever forty years, suddenly blown way open.
Yesterday was David Bowie's birthday, today is Richard Nixon and Jimmy Page's.
Another case that broke wide yesterday took place in New Jersey. Jon Stewart nails that one, with part two giving the ramifications and a classic rant on New Jersey corruption.. The Governor of that state had a two hour press conference today, when he fired two of his closest aides.
Yesterday was also the third year anniversary that Rep Gabby Gifford was shot in the head by a disturbed young man who opened fire on a gathering in front of a shopping center in Tucson, AZ. There was a ceremony and then later that day, she went sky diving.
But it was reported that Amiri Baraka died today. NPR had a nice piece on him.
If you want some laughs and proof that the masses are smarter than some may think, check out #economyths.
The last couple weeks of last year, I listened to various interviews with the former members of the British Punk legend The Clash. On Boxing Day the three went into a bbc studio with another, using a sped up voice that claimed was Bernie Rhodes, one-time manager. That show expired after a week, but there are several more at the clashblog (scroll down for trhe links). I listen to this site with some frequency online. There are reminescences but much about music and the business, and what it took to be The Clash. A newer band did a cover of one of their older songs in London, a couple months ago. Makes me think the kids are alright.
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