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GRITtv: The F Word: The State of the Corporate Union
"The State of the Union will be a little different this year. Thanks to a last-minute switch, the annual address will be presented by Lloyd Blankfein, CEO and chairman of Goldman Sachs, known henceforth as CEO of America. While a final text is not yet released, insiders suggest that CEO Blankfein will declare the state of the union excellent, and announce significant bonuses for five of nine Supreme Court Justices. In a departure from tradition, senators and representatives will be charged for seating in the hall this year, but several prominent seats will be put aside for lobbyists for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the industry trade group America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) and drug companies Eli Lilly, Pfizer and Amgen …" Hear Laura Flanders' entire commentary by clicking on the video.
Email this pageGRITtv: Public Option Annie: Guerrilla Musical Theater
Trying to get through to insurance company executives might seem to be an impossible task, with groups like AHIP (America's Health Insurance Plans) pushing to kill any public insurance option that might make its way into legislation coming out of Congress. They seem to be deaf to the calls for action from Americans suffering without healthcare, and poll numbers showing support for a public plan have no impact. In this video from Billionaires for Wealthcare, supporters of a public option tried a new tactic: song. Watch activists serenading insurance executives with the need for health care reform.
GRITtv: Monday, Oct. 26, 2009
Corporations have edged into nearly every area of our lives, impacting decisions we make on a daily basis, from health care to the food we eat to the way we get our news and information. Today on GRITtv we take a look at a couple of places that corporate control is being challenged. The Internet has fundamentally changed the media landscape, allowing everyday people to have their voices heard and connect with one another in new and exciting ways. So it really shouldn't be surprising that corporations want to tighten their grip on the Web and our ability to disseminate information on it. And corporations doing medical research are calling into question the whole idea of where property begins and ends.
GRITtv Oct. 22, 2009
Once again, the mainstream media missed the boat on a general strike in Puerto Rico, attempts to fearmonger around the census, and the continued standoff in Honduras. Joining us to discuss these issues and more are Roberto Lovato, Erica Gonzalez and Cathy Areu. Rana Husseini, who has been covering "honor killings" in her native Jordan, speaks about her experience and offers suggestions for what activists can do to help. In Puerto Rico last week, over 100,000 citizens marched in protest of Republican governor Luis Fortuño's job cuts. SEIU sent us video urging action in Congress, keeping the pressure on Fortuño to do right by Puerto Ricans.
GRITtv: The F Word: Where are the Fighting Dems?
Let's hear it for false fact studies from lobbyists! This one seems to have served as a declaration of war. Last week, America's Health Insurance Plans released a study claiming that healthcare reform would cause Americans' premiums to soar, and hey presto... Suddenly, the Democrats are acting like they're actually in a fight. Nancy Pelosi has vowed to bring a plan with a robust public option to the House floor, and even Senate leader Harry Reid Twittered his intention to strip insurance companies of their protections from anti-trust laws. The President even mentioned the exemption in his weekly address. So are Democrats finally growing spine? Well, not so fast. Obama still won't commit to ending the exemption that allows insurance companies to do with our health what we don't let Microsoft do with computer software . And he hasn't declared a war for Medicare for all. It's Obama's job to lead on this issue, to fight for the promises he made on the campaign trail: a public plan to keep insurance companies honest, no individual mandate and no taxes on employer-provided care. It's time for the Democrats to fight for measures that will actually improve care, not just sound nice on CNN. Go for it.
