Green Jobs

Dominic Frongillo of Cooperative Extension tells Valarie FitzRandolph how reducing fossil fuel use will have great economic benefits. There are many ways to make the initial investment in energy-saving measures, and well-selected ones pay for themselves in saved fuel costs within a few years. We could put a lot of people to work making our homes energy-efficient, but first they will have to be trained for the jobs. Recorded October 29, 2010.

Demand Jobs Now

Joseph Schwartz points to how many are unemployed and how long they have been unemployed as indicators of how bad the economic situation is. The federal government could make things much better with a serious job creation program, but the feds are not likely to act until they feel pressure from people in the streets. People are going to Washington to demand jobs on October 2.

Contact the Tompkins County Workers' Center at 607-269-0409 or TCWRC@yahoo.com to learn about bus tickets to the Washington rally.

A Real Jobs Program

Bill Barclay of the Chicago Political Economy Group and DSA talks about the need for a massive, multi-year federal jobs program. By the end it could cost as much as the bank bailout. But it could be funded by a small tax on financial transactions. Recorded at Left Forum March 20, 2010.

Economic Rights

Joseph Schwartz, Political Science Professor at Temple U. and DSA Vice-Chair presents an Economic Bill of Rights: jobs, food, housing, health care, education, child care, income security, leisure, a healthy environment, and the right to organize. How can we create a movement to achieve this? Will unions be key? Recorded at Left Forum March 20, 2010.

Class Fight over State Budget

DSA member and labor journalist Mike Hirsch puts the crisis of the New York State budget and the threat it poses to schools in a class perspective. People need to understand this and begin to demand fairer taxation. Taped at Left Forum March 20, 2010.

New York Must Tax Wall Street

James Parrott of the Fiscal Policy Institute shows how New York State got into trouble by relying on a series of financial booms to fund the state. Rather than cut needed programs, the state should tax windfall profits and financial transfers. Recorded at Left Forum March 20, 2010.

New York State Budget 2010

Assemblywoman Barbara Lifton tells what the Governor is proposing in his state budget. Many services face cuts. Wouldn't it be better to raise taxes on those who can best afford it?

Fracking in Context: Following the Money

A Roundtable Public Forum Initiated by Ithaca DSA

Sunday, March 28th , 2010 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Borg Warner Room of the Tompkins County Public Library
Corner Green St. and South Cayuga St., Ithaca

• Eric Banford Deep Democracy Activist, Danby Drilling Task Force
  
• Cecile Lawrence PhD, JD Social Justice Activist, Tioga Peace & Justice
  
• Joseph M. Schwartz Prof. Political Science Temple University, National Vice-Chair of Democratic Socialists of America.
  
• Moderator: Valarie FitzRandolph

The current explosion of natural gas exploration in the Marcellus Shale has brought to light the serious lack of democratic choices communities face as they attempt to protect vital areas of common interest, most prominently water resources, from exploitation by large, well-financed corporate interests. We will trace the concept of corporate personhood up to and including the recent Supreme Court decision. Natural gas exploration forces us to examine the ways in which our democracy has been eroded by the corrupting influence of corporate money. We will discuss possible options to push back against the recent Supreme Court ruling on corporate personhood which allows unlimited financial influence of corporations in the political sphere. We invite everyone to bring their ideas.

Local Democracy and Gas Drilling

Hydrofracking for natural gas threatens our environment and local economy. Why do corporations get to do such things to us all? Court cases have given corporations the status of persons - but persons with superhuman power. Eric Banford and Katherine Halton tell Valarie FitzRandolph how citizens are seeking ways to regain control.

Resisting War in Afghanistan

Asma Barlas and Petra Hepburn discuss the current war in Afghanistan. Why does the US get into these wars? Who wins? Who loses? How can we change things? Recorded December 5, 2009.