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marmar
marmar's Journal
marmar's Journal
November 10, 2014
from In These Times:
Mainstream Media’s Unsurprising Advice for Dems: Move Further to the Right
Even at a time of voters’ clear desire for strong progressive policies, the advice is the same as always.
BY PETER HART AND JIM NAURECKAS
With the Democrats suffering substantial losses in the 2014 midterm elections, it is likely that the advice from pundits and political journalists will be the same as it always is: Move to the right.
This has been the counsel almost any time that Democrats lose at the polls, rooted in the assumption that when the party veers too far leftward, the public reacts.
The advice is already coming in; USA Today, for instance, used an interview with a former adviser to Ronald Reagan to recommend that Barack Obama deliver a “mea culpa” speech along the lines of Reagan's 1987 Iran/Contra address. There's still time, the paper notes, for Obama to “score progress on big issues” if he “launches a concerted effort to build bridges with congressional Republicans.”
More outreach to the GOP is in order, say the pundits—but it's more than that. Business Insider quoted a “Democratic insider” as saying that “the president has 60 days to clean house, regrow his spine, and lay out an aggressive, centrist agenda. If he fails at any of those, he might as well just start writing his memoir.” ..................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://inthesetimes.com/article/17331/on_midterms_democrats_turn_right
Mainstream Media’s Unsurprising Advice for Dems: Move Further to the Right
from In These Times:
Mainstream Media’s Unsurprising Advice for Dems: Move Further to the Right
Even at a time of voters’ clear desire for strong progressive policies, the advice is the same as always.
BY PETER HART AND JIM NAURECKAS
With the Democrats suffering substantial losses in the 2014 midterm elections, it is likely that the advice from pundits and political journalists will be the same as it always is: Move to the right.
This has been the counsel almost any time that Democrats lose at the polls, rooted in the assumption that when the party veers too far leftward, the public reacts.
The advice is already coming in; USA Today, for instance, used an interview with a former adviser to Ronald Reagan to recommend that Barack Obama deliver a “mea culpa” speech along the lines of Reagan's 1987 Iran/Contra address. There's still time, the paper notes, for Obama to “score progress on big issues” if he “launches a concerted effort to build bridges with congressional Republicans.”
More outreach to the GOP is in order, say the pundits—but it's more than that. Business Insider quoted a “Democratic insider” as saying that “the president has 60 days to clean house, regrow his spine, and lay out an aggressive, centrist agenda. If he fails at any of those, he might as well just start writing his memoir.” ..................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://inthesetimes.com/article/17331/on_midterms_democrats_turn_right
November 10, 2014
Jay Cutler uses teammate's head to assist in throwing interception
http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2014/11/9/7184947/jay-cutler-interception-teammates-helmet-bears-packers
November 10, 2014
Chris Hedges: Saving the Planet, One Meal at a Time
from truthdig:
by Chris Hedges
My attitude toward becoming a vegan was similar to Augustine’s attitude toward becoming celibate—“God grant me abstinence, but not yet.” But with animal agriculture as the leading cause of species extinction, water pollution, ocean dead zones and habitat destruction2, and with the death spiral of the ecosystem ever more pronounced, becoming vegan is the most important and direct change we can immediately make to save the planet and its species. It is one that my wife—who was the engine behind our family’s shift—and I have made.
Animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than all worldwide transportation combined—cars, trucks, trains, ships and planes.3 Livestock and their waste and flatulence account for at least 32,000 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year, or 51 percent of all worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.4 Livestock causes 65 percent of all emissions of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas 296 times more destructive than carbon dioxide.5 Crops grown for livestock feed consume 56 percent of the water used in the United States.6 Eighty percent of the world’s soy crop is fed to animals, and most of this soy is grown on cleared lands that were once rain forests. All this is taking place as an estimated 6 million children across the planet die each year from starvation and as hunger and malnutrition affect an additional 1 billion people.7 In the United States 70 percent of the grain we grow goes to feed livestock raised for consumption.
The natural resources used to produce even minimal amounts of animal products are staggering—1,000 gallons of water to produce 1 gallon of milk.9 Add to this the massive clear cutting and other destruction of forests, especially in the Amazon—where forest destruction has risen to 91 percent10—and we find ourselves lethally despoiling the lungs of the earth largely for the benefit of the animal agriculture industry. Our forests, especially our rain forests, absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and exchange it for oxygen: Killing the forests is a death sentence for the planet. Land devoted exclusively to raising livestock now represents 45 percent of the earth’s land mass.
And this does not include the assault on the oceans, where three-quarters of the world’s primary fisheries have been overexploited and vast parts of the seas are in danger of becoming dead zones. ....................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/saving_the_planet_one_meal_at_a_time_20141109
November 9, 2014
from Transport Politic blog:
There are many cities where rail lines serve an important purpose: They help connect important destinations; they reduce congestion on particularly intensely used corridors; they concentrate development and produce agglomeration benefits. These benefits are useful in making those cities more livable, economically vibrant places.
But only in certain cities — the largest, most densely developed places, particularly those with geographical constraints on growth — are those rail lines essential to making the metropolitan economy work. In New York City, there is no question that this is true; the region’s subway and commuter rail lines carry the bulk of peak flow into the Manhattan business districts thanks to the ability of trains to handle upwards of 40,000 people per hour on each line. Without those lines, people simply wouldn’t be able to get to work.*
Given the city’s reliance on those rail lines, how much are we willing to pay to keep the trains moving? And, if we’re willing to pay tens of billions to do so, how can the political system be convinced of the need to do so?
New York’s dependence on its rail system is why Amtrak’s announcement last week that damage from 2012’s Hurricane Sandy would require the eventual renovation of the North River (Hudson River) tunnels, which connect New Jersey and New York, is such devastating news. The $700 million expected cost of the renovation, which includes improvements to tunnels under the East River, isn’t the problem, for once, as the price is expected to be covered by insurance. Rather, the problem is that Amtrak noted that the renovation of the North River tunnels would require shutting down one track at a time (there are two), reducing peak capacity from 24 trains an hour to just 6 (there are four tracks under the East River so there is far less of a concern there).**
It’s unclear how this problem will be handled. Passengers could switch to the already-crowded PATH subway into New York from Newark or Hoboken. Or one of the automobile tunnels could be converted to bus service, which isn’t likely to make many drivers happy. Amtrak through-service from Washington to Boston will be dealt a severe blow. Either way, there are no happy outcomes to a tunnel renovation program other than a safer infrastructure. ................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2014/10/06/with-no-new-rail-tunnel-on-the-horizon-under-the-hudson-new-york-faces-a-looming-transport-crisis/
With no new rail tunnel on the horizon under the Hudson, New York faces a looming transport crisis
from Transport Politic blog:
There are many cities where rail lines serve an important purpose: They help connect important destinations; they reduce congestion on particularly intensely used corridors; they concentrate development and produce agglomeration benefits. These benefits are useful in making those cities more livable, economically vibrant places.
But only in certain cities — the largest, most densely developed places, particularly those with geographical constraints on growth — are those rail lines essential to making the metropolitan economy work. In New York City, there is no question that this is true; the region’s subway and commuter rail lines carry the bulk of peak flow into the Manhattan business districts thanks to the ability of trains to handle upwards of 40,000 people per hour on each line. Without those lines, people simply wouldn’t be able to get to work.*
Given the city’s reliance on those rail lines, how much are we willing to pay to keep the trains moving? And, if we’re willing to pay tens of billions to do so, how can the political system be convinced of the need to do so?
New York’s dependence on its rail system is why Amtrak’s announcement last week that damage from 2012’s Hurricane Sandy would require the eventual renovation of the North River (Hudson River) tunnels, which connect New Jersey and New York, is such devastating news. The $700 million expected cost of the renovation, which includes improvements to tunnels under the East River, isn’t the problem, for once, as the price is expected to be covered by insurance. Rather, the problem is that Amtrak noted that the renovation of the North River tunnels would require shutting down one track at a time (there are two), reducing peak capacity from 24 trains an hour to just 6 (there are four tracks under the East River so there is far less of a concern there).**
It’s unclear how this problem will be handled. Passengers could switch to the already-crowded PATH subway into New York from Newark or Hoboken. Or one of the automobile tunnels could be converted to bus service, which isn’t likely to make many drivers happy. Amtrak through-service from Washington to Boston will be dealt a severe blow. Either way, there are no happy outcomes to a tunnel renovation program other than a safer infrastructure. ................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.thetransportpolitic.com/2014/10/06/with-no-new-rail-tunnel-on-the-horizon-under-the-hudson-new-york-faces-a-looming-transport-crisis/
November 9, 2014
Playing the Long Game
Sunday, 09 November 2014 00:00
By Gar Alperovitz, Truthout | Op-Ed
There have been endless post-mortems on the 2014 midterm elections, complete with explanations proffered as to why Democrats and their allies failed so spectacularly, and projections of doom and gloom lasting until the next election cycle. However, in a profound sense this election changes very little. The dominant reality we face is one of substantial ongoing political stalemate and decay, and this sets the terms of reference for those serious about long term, more fundamental change.
First things first: There is little indication that, even when elected, Democrats employing traditional liberal strategies will have the capacity to change most of the deteriorating or stagnating economic, social, and environmental trends - including, among others: rising inequality, high levels of poverty and child poverty, continued discrimination against women and minorities, declining corporate taxation, staggering levels of incarceration, increasing corruption of the political system and a rapidly changing climate.
Nonetheless, holding the line nationally and in state legislatures whenever possible is an obvious necessity. Progressive "victories" will likely most often be limited to resisting Republican efforts to roll back the limited successes of the Obama era - including Obamacare and financial reform - and protecting important Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and food assistance from further attack.
......(snip)......
In a sense, however, even this is still mainly about modest efforts around the long decaying trends. In a much larger sense, it is clear that we no longer face a political problem that can be solved by electing the right people in the next local, state or national election. The deeper trends indicate that we face systemic problems - problems that can be solved only by building a movement that embraces a long-term vision of alternative systemic arrangements in addition to achievable short-term goals. ...........(more)
The complete piece is at: http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/27305-playing-the-long-game
Gar Alperovitz: Playing the Long Game
Playing the Long Game
Sunday, 09 November 2014 00:00
By Gar Alperovitz, Truthout | Op-Ed
The 2014 midterms did not change the dominant reality we face - one of substantial ongoing political stalemate and decay - and this sets the terms of reference for those serious about long-term fundamental change.
There have been endless post-mortems on the 2014 midterm elections, complete with explanations proffered as to why Democrats and their allies failed so spectacularly, and projections of doom and gloom lasting until the next election cycle. However, in a profound sense this election changes very little. The dominant reality we face is one of substantial ongoing political stalemate and decay, and this sets the terms of reference for those serious about long term, more fundamental change.
First things first: There is little indication that, even when elected, Democrats employing traditional liberal strategies will have the capacity to change most of the deteriorating or stagnating economic, social, and environmental trends - including, among others: rising inequality, high levels of poverty and child poverty, continued discrimination against women and minorities, declining corporate taxation, staggering levels of incarceration, increasing corruption of the political system and a rapidly changing climate.
Nonetheless, holding the line nationally and in state legislatures whenever possible is an obvious necessity. Progressive "victories" will likely most often be limited to resisting Republican efforts to roll back the limited successes of the Obama era - including Obamacare and financial reform - and protecting important Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and food assistance from further attack.
......(snip)......
In a sense, however, even this is still mainly about modest efforts around the long decaying trends. In a much larger sense, it is clear that we no longer face a political problem that can be solved by electing the right people in the next local, state or national election. The deeper trends indicate that we face systemic problems - problems that can be solved only by building a movement that embraces a long-term vision of alternative systemic arrangements in addition to achievable short-term goals. ...........(more)
The complete piece is at: http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/27305-playing-the-long-game
November 9, 2014
By Tim Radford, Climate News Network
LONDON—Scientists have identified a new hazard that will arrive as a result of climate change: a huge increase in hay fever and pollen allergies.
A team of researchers from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, US, report in the Public Library of Science journal PLOS One that as man-made carbon dioxide and low-level ozone levels rise, so will grass pollen production and allergen exposure—by up to 200%.
Many predictions of the problems of global warming are, in effect, simulations: researchers take a climate model, add a few parameters, identify a trend or isolate a possibility, and run it forward to see what happens. Using such techniques, researchers have predicted that heat extremes themselves will present health hazards, and have confirmed that cutting CO2 emissions will certainly save lives. ..............(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/climate_change_will_send_pollen_count_soaring_20141109
Climate Change Will Send Pollen Count Soaring
By Tim Radford, Climate News Network
LONDON—Scientists have identified a new hazard that will arrive as a result of climate change: a huge increase in hay fever and pollen allergies.
A team of researchers from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, US, report in the Public Library of Science journal PLOS One that as man-made carbon dioxide and low-level ozone levels rise, so will grass pollen production and allergen exposure—by up to 200%.
Many predictions of the problems of global warming are, in effect, simulations: researchers take a climate model, add a few parameters, identify a trend or isolate a possibility, and run it forward to see what happens. Using such techniques, researchers have predicted that heat extremes themselves will present health hazards, and have confirmed that cutting CO2 emissions will certainly save lives. ..............(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/climate_change_will_send_pollen_count_soaring_20141109
November 9, 2014
from truthdig:
This Democratic Party Is Going Nowhere. Can Progressives Take it Over and Change the World?
Posted on Nov 8, 2014
By Alan Minsky
Tuesday’s crushing defeat of the centrist Clinton/Obama Democratic Party provides an opening for the American left. The next few years are not going to be pretty, but they could be the beginning of something beautiful.
In 2009, shortly after its most crushing national electoral defeat in 44 years, the GOP was sparked back to life by the tea party insurgency. America’s right wing revived its moribund conservative party with a stark challenge to the Republican establishment. The GOP gained 63 House seats in 2010.
Could the left do something similar to bring the Democrats back to life? Many barriers have to be confronted, but leftist progressives who are serious about making positive changes in our society need to get going now—for two reasons.
First: The moderate, pro-corporate, Democratic Leadership Council wing that has dominated the Democratic Party since 1992 is reeling, unable to compete with a well-funded and reactionary GOP. Without a charismatic frontman or -woman, this Democratic Party cannot mobilize its middle- and working-class base for the simple reason that it doesn’t represent their interests. Only leftist progressives stand for the welfare of average Americans, and they have to stand up, make this distinction and stake their claim before all focus turns to Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
Second: The country and the world are a mess. The economy, the justice system, the environment, education, immigration and foreign policy are all out of whack. Obama, Hillary and the centrist Democrats aren’t going to set these right; as for the GOP, God forbid. If leftist progressives really believe that their program for America is the best possible program, which they do, the state of the world demands that they get to it right away. ................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/this_democratic_party_is_going_nowhere_20141108
This Democratic Party Is Going Nowhere. Can Progressives Take it Over and Change the World?
from truthdig:
This Democratic Party Is Going Nowhere. Can Progressives Take it Over and Change the World?
Posted on Nov 8, 2014
By Alan Minsky
Tuesday’s crushing defeat of the centrist Clinton/Obama Democratic Party provides an opening for the American left. The next few years are not going to be pretty, but they could be the beginning of something beautiful.
In 2009, shortly after its most crushing national electoral defeat in 44 years, the GOP was sparked back to life by the tea party insurgency. America’s right wing revived its moribund conservative party with a stark challenge to the Republican establishment. The GOP gained 63 House seats in 2010.
Could the left do something similar to bring the Democrats back to life? Many barriers have to be confronted, but leftist progressives who are serious about making positive changes in our society need to get going now—for two reasons.
First: The moderate, pro-corporate, Democratic Leadership Council wing that has dominated the Democratic Party since 1992 is reeling, unable to compete with a well-funded and reactionary GOP. Without a charismatic frontman or -woman, this Democratic Party cannot mobilize its middle- and working-class base for the simple reason that it doesn’t represent their interests. Only leftist progressives stand for the welfare of average Americans, and they have to stand up, make this distinction and stake their claim before all focus turns to Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
Second: The country and the world are a mess. The economy, the justice system, the environment, education, immigration and foreign policy are all out of whack. Obama, Hillary and the centrist Democrats aren’t going to set these right; as for the GOP, God forbid. If leftist progressives really believe that their program for America is the best possible program, which they do, the state of the world demands that they get to it right away. ................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/this_democratic_party_is_going_nowhere_20141108
November 8, 2014
DETROIT, MI - M-1 Rail announced Monday that Czech Republic-based tram and streetcar designer Inekon Group will design and build six custom streetcars for the M-1 Rail project.
The contract for the streetcars is valued at $30 million.
Paul Childs, chief operating officer of M-1 Rail said in a statement that the final terms and conditions of the contract are currently being negotiated, but Inekon Group is a promising choice.
"Inekon has a strong track record with other streetcar projects in Portland, Seattle, and Washington, D.C., and owns a 40-percent share of U.S.-installed projects," Childs said. "While Inekon is headquartered in the Czech Republic, our requirements specify that it will be compliant with the U.S. Government's "Buy America" initiative." ..................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2014/11/m-1_rail_picks_vendor_to_build.html
Detroit: M-1 Rail picks Czech Republic-based vendor to build custom streetcars
DETROIT, MI - M-1 Rail announced Monday that Czech Republic-based tram and streetcar designer Inekon Group will design and build six custom streetcars for the M-1 Rail project.
The contract for the streetcars is valued at $30 million.
Paul Childs, chief operating officer of M-1 Rail said in a statement that the final terms and conditions of the contract are currently being negotiated, but Inekon Group is a promising choice.
"Inekon has a strong track record with other streetcar projects in Portland, Seattle, and Washington, D.C., and owns a 40-percent share of U.S.-installed projects," Childs said. "While Inekon is headquartered in the Czech Republic, our requirements specify that it will be compliant with the U.S. Government's "Buy America" initiative." ..................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2014/11/m-1_rail_picks_vendor_to_build.html
November 8, 2014
According to the MTA, 6,106,694 customers rode the subway on Tuesday, Sept. 23, the highest ridership ever since daily figures were first recorded in 1985.
That date came two days after the climate change march, a major event that drew hundreds of thousands of people to the city. Sept. 23rd was also the date for the United Nations climate change summit.
Four other September days also saw more than 6 million customers, and the 149 million customers over the month were more than in any other September in nearly 60 years.
The MTA's previous one-day ridership record was set Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013, when 5,987,595 passengers rode the subway. .....................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.wnyc.org/story/nyc-sets-one-day-subway-ridership-record/
NYC Sets One-Day Subway Ridership Record
According to the MTA, 6,106,694 customers rode the subway on Tuesday, Sept. 23, the highest ridership ever since daily figures were first recorded in 1985.
That date came two days after the climate change march, a major event that drew hundreds of thousands of people to the city. Sept. 23rd was also the date for the United Nations climate change summit.
Four other September days also saw more than 6 million customers, and the 149 million customers over the month were more than in any other September in nearly 60 years.
The MTA's previous one-day ridership record was set Thursday, Oct. 24, 2013, when 5,987,595 passengers rode the subway. .....................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.wnyc.org/story/nyc-sets-one-day-subway-ridership-record/
November 8, 2014
D.C. officials today announced the next step in the construction of additional streetcar lines across the city, but also admitted that a conflict with the D.C. Council over funding would likely cut a planned 22-mile system by more than half.
In announcing a short list of teams that have bid for a contract to design, build, operate, and maintain an Integrated Premium Transit system — which will include new streetcar lines and the existing Circulator buses — officials said that a lack of funds is forcing them to cut two planned streetcar lines: an 10.9-mile line running from Buzzard Point to Takoma Park and a 2.2-mile line running from Anacostia to Southwest D.C.
As a result, they expect that D.C. will only have 8.2 miles of streetcar lines — not the 22 they originally hoped for — by 2024: a line running from Georgetown to Union Station along K Street NW, the extension of the existing H Street line to Minnesota Avenue NE, and an extension of an existing line in Anacostia. ...................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.wnyc.org/story/amid-funding-fight-dc-cuts-streetcar-system-22-8-miles/
Amid Funding Fight, D.C. Cuts Streetcar System From 22 To 8 Miles
D.C. officials today announced the next step in the construction of additional streetcar lines across the city, but also admitted that a conflict with the D.C. Council over funding would likely cut a planned 22-mile system by more than half.
In announcing a short list of teams that have bid for a contract to design, build, operate, and maintain an Integrated Premium Transit system — which will include new streetcar lines and the existing Circulator buses — officials said that a lack of funds is forcing them to cut two planned streetcar lines: an 10.9-mile line running from Buzzard Point to Takoma Park and a 2.2-mile line running from Anacostia to Southwest D.C.
As a result, they expect that D.C. will only have 8.2 miles of streetcar lines — not the 22 they originally hoped for — by 2024: a line running from Georgetown to Union Station along K Street NW, the extension of the existing H Street line to Minnesota Avenue NE, and an extension of an existing line in Anacostia. ...................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.wnyc.org/story/amid-funding-fight-dc-cuts-streetcar-system-22-8-miles/
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