We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

American style justice: a tale of two justice systems

Two reports surfaced today to reveal in stark contrast the way a primarily class-based justice (and secondarily racist) system  works in the US. The first one reports on a capitalist functionary, Maurice (Hank) Greenberg, accused of committing and lying about accounting fraud, activities that directly contributed to the recent global economic collapse. The second reports on African-Americans who were members of the Black Panthers who have spent most of their lives in a hellish Southern prison. One was recently acquitted of all charges shortly before his death.

Click here to access article entitled "Ryan Chittum Has Had It With Hank Greenberg and Maria Bartiromo" by Pam Martens from Wall Street on Parade.

Click here to access article entitled "Choose Activism: It’s Our Last, Best Chance" by Mickey Z. from World News Trust.