#OccupyWallStreet

Largely organized through Twitter and other social media, the #OccupyWallStreet movement has attracted thousands of supporters to literally ‘occupy’ Wall Street for the past 13 days straight in protest of economic conditions in the US. This movement was modeled off the protests in Egypt at at Tahrir Square. Despite their numbers, the movement has received very little media coverage. Do you think movements like these are effective? Why is it receiving so little media coverage?



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Why is the death penalty still popular in America?

Following the execution of Troy Davis in Georgia, many are once again questioning our nation's tolerance of the death penalty. Why is the death penalty still popular in America? Should reforming or even ending the death penalty be a priority for Progressive activists?

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Electoral Racism and Double-Standards

In this controversial piece, Melissa Harris-Perry argues that despite the seemingly contradictory evidence of the 2004 Illinois Senate race and the 2008 Presidential election, there still remains significant electoral racism in this country. Further she argues that this racism has grown over the past few years. What do you think of this and the other arguments presented in this article? Do "white liberals hold African-American leaders to a higher standard than their white counterparts"?

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Bill Clinton interview with CNN

The never ending gridlock in Washington continues to have a devastating impact on our weak economy. Thus most Americans are fed up with Washington. However, former President Clinton points out :

"It's interesting for me to see the voters sit around and condemn the politicians that they elected, who are doing what they promised to do during the election..[voters] need to take a little ownership here. Every one of these people got into power because they were voted for."

Do you agree that voters need to "take ownership"of what is going on in Washington?


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Elizabeth Warren's comments on 'class warfare' debate

What are your thoughts on Elizabeth Warren's response to 'class warfare'? Are these effective counter-arguments to the current conservative sound bites?

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Krugman on class warfare

“The budget office's numbers show that the federal tax burden has fallen for all income classes …But that burden has fallen much more, as a percentage of income, for the wealthy. Partly this reflects big cuts in top income tax rates, but, beyond that, there has been a major shift of taxation away from wealth and toward work: Tax rates on corporate profits, capital gains and dividends have all fallen, while the payroll tax - the main tax paid by most workers - has gone up.”

What are your thoughts? Who is waging war against whom?

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FEMA renewal delays

The far right in Congress is holding up disaster relief in several states, insisting that budget cuts should offset any and all FEMA aid. What do you think of this position? How should Progressives respond?

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Class Warfare debate

Our last discussion focused on the the manipulation of language in American politics. One the phrases that the GOP/Tea Party and media outlets such as Fox news like to throw around is "Class Warfare." The President is now being accused of class warfare because he expects wealthy Americans to help pay off our debt. How would you respond to these accusations of "class warfare"? What are some effective ways of countering this rhetoric?

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The language wars

The right is waging a war against healthcare & social security based in the manipulation of language-- and they are winning. Social Security is labeled a "Ponzi scheme"; Planned Parenthood is labeled "the LensCrafters of big abortion" dismissing all other women's health services. We need new language to fight back and protect the rights we hold dear. Bumper sticker phrases to shout at protests & hand to our elected representatives. What new language, new tools should Progressives try next?


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The effects of misinformation fed by politicians

When politicians use this kind of misinformation [as Bachman's comments on papillomavirus] what are the consequences? Why does this type of rhetoric seem to be more and more common? How can we elevate the political discourse in this country?


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Women's access to healthcare and family planning

VA Board of Health yesterday passed regs requiring abortion clinics be treated as hospitals by complying with costly infrastructural requirements, thus forcing many of the 22 Planned Parenthood clinics to close. This is not just a social issue about women’s reproductive rights—this is about women's healthcare and a woman’s right to family planning access. Many women will be left without access to birth control, PAP smears, cervical cancer screenings, etc. What should Progressives do to respond?

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'What should the White House do? Panic! '

After losing two special elections in heavily Democratic districts, strategist James Carville argues the White House should panic: "As I watch the Republican debates, I realize that we are on the brink of a crazy person running our nation... and shudder at the thought of one of these global-warming-denying... Social-Security-cutting...Wall-Street-protecting Republicans running my country." Do you agree? What, if anything, can Progressives do to prevent a right-wing take over of Washington?


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What can Progressives do to support gay rights?

NC Senate voted to allow voters to decide whether the state Constitution should ban same-sex marriage. NC is currently the only state in the Southeast without a ban in the constitution. While the majority of political attention remains focused on the economy and social security, measures like these continue to be passed relatively unnoticed. What can Progressives do to support gay rights? Is there anything we can learn from the success of the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" that could help us?

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Would Hillary Clinton make a successful Vice-President?

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced recently that she was not interested in challenging President Obama for Presidency in 2012. But she hasn't yet said anything about Vice-Presidency. Would she make a successful Vice-President? Would an Obama-Clinton ticket be stronger now than an Obama-Biden ticket?


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How to remodel the US school system?

“…Many good jobs still exist… but they require 'more education or technical skills.'…our school systems are failing to prepare our children either for immediate employment in growth fields where they can build long-lasting careers, or for post-secondary educational success.”

How large of a contributor to unemployment in this country is lack of access to quality education? How should we as the author suggests, remodel our schools to better prepare our children for the jobs that currently exist?
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Supporting healthcare for 9/11 first responders

Ten years after the 9/11 attacks, studies are showing that the heroic first responders are suffering from increasing health problems as a result of their rescue efforts. Yet elected leaders in Washington (overwhelmingly Republicans) have resisted efforts to provide adequate federally funded health care coverage to the 9/11 first responders. What is the basis of this opposition? How should Progressives respond?

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On President Obama's Job Creation speech

What did you think of the President's speech on jobs creation last night? Do you think the American Jobs Act will help improve the economy? What would you say in response to the reporters President Obama alleged to, who are asking "What will this speech mean for the President?"

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On US's Global Competitiveness rating

Given the impact our economic crisis has had on our competitiveness in the world's most competitive economies, what should be done to rectify this? What should Progressives say in response to Conservatives who argue that capitalism and other conservative economic strategies were responsible for the US's rise to economic power in the first place? What would an economy based in Progressive values look like?

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Labor Day or "Capital Day"?

"Let’s get it over with and rename the holiday “Capital Day.” We may still celebrate Labor Day, but our culture has given up on honoring workers as the real creators of wealth..."

The author of this article contends that the American media and American citizens no longer value the interests and contributions of our nation's workers. Do you agree? Why is this the case? Is there anyway to reverse this trend?

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How should President Obama respond to recent poll numbers?

"New job figures... have stoked fears the U.S. economy could slide back into recession. Obama's ability to reignite the economy could determine whether he keeps his own job in the White House after 2012."

For the first time in the NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, Obama lost out to a generic Republican candidate by 44 percent to 40 percent. Should re-election remain a focus? And if so how should the President proceed?


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What strategies for job creation should President Obama try next?

This Labor Day falls after a report stating a net zero gain of jobs in the past month. Do you think that the President's recent policies are making it difficult for business to create new jobs? How else can we encourage businesses to create more jobs? What strategies should President Obama try next?

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Elizabeth Warren as mouthpiece for the labor movement?

After the the sharp blows labor rights has received over the past year around the country (Wisconsin, Indiana, etc) it's clear additional political support is necessary. What are your thoughts on Elizabeth Warren as a potential mouthpiece for the labor movement? How else might Elizabeth Warren benefit the Progressive movement?

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