George Takei Blasts High Court's Birth Control Ruling, Calls For Hobby Lobby Boycott

"Hobby Lobby is not a church. It's a business -- and a big one at that. Businesses must and should be required to comply with neutrally crafted laws of general applicability," Takei wrote. "Your boss should not have a say over your healthcare. Once the law starts permitting exceptions based on 'sincerely held religious beliefs' there's no end to the mischief and discrimination that will ensue..."

"In this case, the owners happen to be deeply Christian; one wonders whether the case would have come out differently if a Muslim-run chain business attempted to impose Sharia law on its employees," Takei said.

The "Star Trek" actor also criticized the craft store chain for spending millions of dollars on employee retirement plans that are invested in a variety of manufacturers that produce the same contraceptive products the company protested in its lawsuit.

"It also buys most of its inventory from China, where forced abortions are common," Takei added. "The hypocrisy is galling."

Takei urged readers to boycott Hobby Lobby and other for-profit businesses that deprive their employees of health coverage based on invasive religious beliefs.

"We are a nation that respects religious beliefs, but also the right not to have those beliefs imposed upon you by others. Our personal beliefs stop at the end of our noses," Takei concluded. "The only way such companies ever learn to treat people with decency and tolerance is to hit them where it counts -- in their pocketbooks."

to babylonsister:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025180511

Imagine the discussion that could ensue...

Thom Hartmann performs an Exorcism on the GOP - Really!

Uploaded on Jun 29, 2011

Proof that Bush & Republicans have gone to the Dark Side with the Devil stars.

A DUer once had a sigline I loved:

Republicans serve The Beast.

From the dawn of mankind they are the regressive element that's been holding back and destroying our civilization. They nourish other-dimensional entities that feed on misery, pain, and chaos.

Republicans are their minions, and hope to share in these entities' power, or be spared the pain.

But The Beast never shares; The Beast never spares.

Think about that for a second, GOP!

The GOP is paid to be dramatic, but they are bad actors. And afraid to let their Kochdaddy down. He might cut off their goodies, so they try very hard. Their act is getting more and more stale.

I've known about this fossil water for many years. People don't listen until it's way too late, I guess.

Me go to sleep now...

By The Graduate Center, CUNY - Published on Apr 23, 2014

The French economist Thomas Piketty (Paris School of Economics) discussed his new book, Capital in the Twenty-First Century at the Graduate Center. In this landmark work, Piketty argues that the main driver of inequality—the tendency of returns on capital to exceed the rate of economic growth—threatens to generate extreme inequalities that stir discontent and undermine democratic values.

He calls for political action and policy intervention. Joseph Stiglitz (Columbia University), Paul Krugman (Princeton University), and Steven Durlauf (University of Wisconsin--Madison) participated in a panel moderated by LIS Senior Scholar Branko Milanovic. The event was introduced by LIS Director Janet Gornick, professor of political science and sociology at the Graduate Center.

Cosponsored by the Luxembourg Income Study Center and the Advanced Research Collaborative.


The introductions end and Picketty begins at 9:31.

May 27, 2014

Senator Bernie Sanders addresses The New Populism Conference in Washington, D.C.

For the little guy who loved his sister.

Dismissing the rights and concerns of people of color and women is reactionary. It is way more reactionary than Third Way. There is nothing progressive or liberal about it, and I don't consider people who do so to be leftists. Period.

Those words should be considered by naysayers. Facts are used to bolster argument, but no amount of facts or charts disproves your argument there. It should be factored in.