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?