general electric
GRITtv: March 30, 2011
"It's a targeting of workers' abilities to come together against big companies," says Columbia University professor Dorian Warren of the Walmart v. Duke case. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments from both sides on whether a class-action lawsuit that pits female employees since 1998 against the corporate giant Wal-Mart will be permitted. Plaintiffs say that the level of gender discrimination is so entrenched that is has become part of the corporate culture. A class-action lawsuit would ensure that workers have the resources and voice to take on an opponent as formidable as the world's largest retail chain. If the decision to block a class-action suit is made, workers will be left with individual lawsuits and few other options. And, more GOP maneuvering in Wisconsin: the state GOP, with Koch backing, have issued a FOIA request for the email address of several UW Madison professors. They would like to prove that state email addresses were used for illegal lobbying after professor William Cronon published a blog outlining the role of the conservative think-tank American Legislative Exchange Council in drafting legislation around the country. "We know that two-thirds of corporations in the U.S. pay no taxes at all. General Electric was not only paying no taxes but taking a three billion dollar tax benefit," notes Josh Holland, editor & senior writer at AlterNet and author of The Fifteen Biggest Lies about the Economy. And while corporations are finagling their way out of paying taxes, working people still have no money to spend to keep the economy moving--and thus the recession goes on. Josh joins Laura in studio to talk about taxes and other lies politicians tell about the economy. Sleeping in the statehouse, takin' it to the streets--this generation of students is getting a great education, at least outside of the classroom. Last week a group of San Francisco students and educators turned out to protest Governor Jerry Brown's cuts. These may be some of the youngest movement leaders we've seen to date. This video courtesy of Openline Media and voiced by our friend, Davey D. Finally, Sheriff Joe Arpaio's latest anti-immigrant plan? Arming his volunteer posse and sending them up in planes to hunt for immigrants and drug smugglers. Laura asks if it's time for a no-fly zone over Arizona. Distributed by Tubemogul.
Email this pageGRITtv: Josh Holland: Who's Lying About The Economy?
"We know that two-thirds of corporations in the U.S. pay no taxes at all. General Electric was not only paying no taxes but taking a three billion dollar tax benefit," notes Josh Holland, editor & senior writer at AlterNet and author of The Fifteen Biggest Lies about the Economy. And while corporations are finagling their way out of paying taxes, working people still have no money to spend to keep the economy moving--and thus the recession goes on. Josh joins Laura in studio to talk about taxes and other lies politicians tell about the economy.
GRITtv: Jan. 24, 2011
"We have deified businessmen while denigrating government workers," says Erica Payne of the Agenda Project, and there's no better example of that than President Obama appointing GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt to head a commission on jobs and competitiveness. Heading into the State of the Union speech, Heidi Shierholz stresses that businesses aren't hiring and creating jobs because there is not enough demand--because people are not buying goods or services.Erica and Heidi join us to discuss the state of the economy, Obama's choice for a leader on jobs, and where the US jobs have really gone.The Raging Grannies also have some thoughts on the economy, and Citizens United's role in it.Budget cuts in care for those with mental illness often go unnoticed, notes mental health nurse Rexanne Darnell, because there is no one to speak for the mentally ill who are affected. It is too often left to legislators and governors, like Jan Brewer in Arizona, are making cuts to programs that keep patients safe and protected--as well as protecting the medical professionals who care for them.Rexanne joins us from Tucson, Arizona, where Jared Loughner shot Gabrielle Giffords and 18 others at a Congress On Your Corner event, and discusses the ongoing assault on mental health care funding.Finally, the revelation of thousands of pages of confidential Palestinian diplomatic records has shocked the world -- all of it except the US, that is. Laura takes a look at the different responses to the Palestine Papers.
GRITtv: Erica Payne & Heidi Shierholz: "Competitiveness" and the Economy
"We have deified businessmen while denigrating government workers," says Erica Payne of the Agenda Project, and there's no better example of that than President Obama appointing GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt to head a commission on jobs and competitiveness. Heading into the State of the Union speech, Heidi Shierholz stresses that businesses aren't hiring and creating jobs because there is not enough demand--because people are not buying goods or services. Erica and Heidi join us to discuss the state of the economy, Obama's choice for a leader on jobs, and where the US jobs have really gone. Distributed by Tubemogul.
GRITtv: The F Word: Media Monsters Threaten Net Freedom
Comcast, the nation's biggest cable and broadband Internet company, has plans to take over NBC Universal. The result would be a new kind of media monster that would not only produce some of America's most popular entertainment but also control viewers' access to it. Comcast would control the joint venture's day-to-day operations but Pentagon contractor GE would retain a 49 percent stake. The likely impact on consumer choices? Well you tell me: the Washington Post reports that all in all, the joint venture would control more than one out of every five television-viewing hours. With almost one in four cable subscribers in the U.S. a Comcast customer and NBC Universal owning not only NBC but also dozens of cable channels, including Telemundo, MSNBC, CNBC and Bravo as well as theme parks, TV stations such as Washington's WRC (Channel 4), and Universal movie studios, the NBC Comcast deal is a biggie. In the meantime, it's time to cherish ever more all that remains in the way of independent media. And yes, that's our self interest speaking. -- Laura Flanders
GRITtv: The F Word: Olbermann Says There's No Deal
Keith Olbermann wrote to me apropos my F Word on Monday. Following news of a corporation-brokered truce between MSNBC and FOX, I'd written that while the two networks pose as divided - and play up social divides for ratings - they actually stand united when it comes to corporate profits. According to a New York Times report, General Electric, which owns MSNBC, reined in their host Keith Olbermann as part of a deal to call off Bill O'Reilly's questioning of GE's business. A notable example of corporate interests trumping ratings - several commentators thought - myself included. But Olbermann, while he doesn't deny there was a peacemaking summit of CEOs -- wrote to me Tuesday that there never was/is/nor shall be any deal. And on his first appearance after the Times story ran, he went after the Times and Bill O And Rupert Murdoch - CEO of Fox's corporate parent, News Corp.
GRITtv: F Word: Corporate Unity at MSNBC and Fox?
There are days when one's reminded why one works in independent media. August 1st was one of those days, when the New York Times ran a front page media story that might as well have been headlined: GE and Fox Hush Hosts For Profits. The on-air feud was good for ratings. It wasn't even bad journalism, for these kind of programs. The feud wasn't bad for ratings, but it was perceived as a potential threat to other corporate interests. It's hard to fund and it's tempting to think there must be a better way. Wouldn't it be easier if some corporation paid the bills? Not exactly.
