REWIND - A Week of Quotes & Cartoons

SUNDAY

Quote of the Day
July 31, 2011

'There has never been such a void in moral truth as it
now exists. And what the expectation has been for many
of us was that Barack Obama would bring to the table a
great sense of moral fortitude. I think were he to
apply that in the decisions that he would have to make,
he would find that his presidency might touch on a
level of greatness that he has not yet considered.

'He has only listened to the voices that shout
the loudest, and it's all those reckless right-wing
forces. It's almost criminal.'

Singer, actor, activist
Harry Belafonte
CNN
July 30, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/3ge2dwl

Toon of the Day
http://tinyurl.com/3qmkclt
Down and Out
Tom Toles - Washington Post

MONDAY

Quote of the Day
August 1, 2011

'Unemployment will be higher than it would have been
otherwise. Growth will be lower than it would be
otherwise. And inequality will be worse than it would
be otherwise.

'We have a very weak economy, so withdrawing more
spending at this stage will make it even weaker.'

Mohamed El-Erian, chief executive
of the bond investment firm Pimco,
on the prospect of further
government spending cuts in the
wake of the defict reduction
plan enacted by Congress

New York Times
August 1, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/4y7crzx

Toon of the Day
http://tinyurl.com/42f2gwu
Sail Away
Tony Auth - Philadelphia Inquirer

TIESDAY

Quote of the Day
August 2, 2011

'We understand that, given the timing, this deal was
necessary to avoid default and stabilize the financial
markets; nevertheless, we are disappointed that it
appears our most vulnerable citizens will bear the
brunt of this solution. The deal does not create jobs
or further invest in our infrastructure or our
children. In fact, it will likely lead to huge cuts in
programs for children, seniors and those who can least
afford it, yet it doesn't ask 1 cent of shared
sacrifice from the wealthiest or from corporations.
Finally, we are concerned this deal will have long-term
negative consequences to state and city budgets,
including school budgets-budgets that already have been
affected by the deep recession.

'The debt deal is a temporary fix to a problem caused
by the worst recession since the Great Depression,
years of tax cuts and giveaways, two wars and the
unfunded 2003 prescription drug program. Going forward,
we need a thoughtful, constructive discussion focused
on meeting the priorities necessary for a better
future, including sensible spending and investments in
programs that will create jobs, provide for those who
need help the most, increase revenues from those who
can afford it, and stimulate the growth of our economy
for years to come.'

Randi Weingarten, president,
American Federation of
Teachers
August 2, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/43avv42

Toon of the Day
http://tinyurl.com/3pexbhf
Debt Ceiling
Mike Luckovich

WEDNESDAY

Quote of the Day
August 3, 2011

'The issue extends far beyond that of basic fiscal
priorities, however huge that issue is.  Requiring a
dollar-for-dollar match is not only unnecessary (and
excessive) from an economic or fiscal policy
standpoint, but also ultimately would require
dismantling much of the Great Society and even the New
Deal, thereby paving the way for vast increases in
poverty and deprivation.

'Even more fundamental is the risk that such tactics
would pose to American democracy.  The lesson being
drawn is that a minority (even one that commands as few
as 41 Senate votes and lacks control of the House and
the White House) may use the threat of default,
enforced through the weapon of the Senate filibuster,
to bring the government to its knees in order to pursue
its radical vision for America's future.  Minority rule
would effectively replace majority rule, undermining
democracy.

'If we head down this path in the years ahead, we will
become a very different nation and society - coarser,
harsher toward the vulnerable and people experiencing
what FDR termed the "vicissitudes of life," unable to
invest in our future, and willing to tolerate degrees
of poverty and inequality that are present nowhere else
in the Western world.'

Robert Greenstein. founder and President
of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
CBPP
August 3, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/3f3rfpt

Toon of the Day
http://tinyurl.com/455u9yv
Ground Under
Tom Toles - Washington Post

THURSDAY

Quote of the Day
August 4, 2011

'The American labor movement, together with our
community partners and allies, is committed to changing
the national debate from the right wing's destructive
focus on deficits, budget cuts and austerity
measures-which undermine workers' rights, living
standards and communities-to a clear focus on the
creation of good jobs that ensure workers' rights,
support families and build strong communities.

'Based on the experience of our nationwide We Are One
labor-community mobilization effort on April 4 and
Summer Accountability campaign, we will start by
partnering with our allies at the local and national
levels to create a sense of urgency and focus on
challenging the corporate agenda to demand  jobs and
investment in our communities and for our future.

'We call upon all of our unions to commit to a campaign
to focus on jobs that gives voice to the jobless,
including unemployed veterans, students who cannot find
meaningful work as they enter the labor force and
communities of color that have been especially hard hit
by the recession and the refusal of corporate America
to invest in job creation.

'1) We call for a Fall Mobilization for Jobs, starting
with this focus on Labor Day: We Are One: America Wants
to Work.

'2) National unions need to be at the center of this
effort, and begin a sustained internal member education
and communication campaign to focus on good jobs and
exposing the corporate and political interests that are
blocking the road to the creation of good jobs while
attacking fundamental workers' rights and voting
rights.

'3) In partnership with our community allies at the
local and national levels, as well as our state
federations and labor councils, we will build to a
National Week of Action in early October that focuses
on the demand for good jobs and demonstrates in
communities all across the country that America Wants
to Work.

'4) This must be a campaign for the longterm that
builds real labor-community partnerships and
strengthens our capacity through sustained year-round
member education and mobilization through 2012 and
beyond.'

AFL-CIO Executive Council statement
'America Wants To Work: A Call To Action
August 3, 2011 Washington, D.C.
http://tinyurl.com/3k6bf3r

Toon of the Day
http://tinyurl.com/3hvs56r
Fair Shake?
Bennett -- Chattanooga Times Free Press

FRIDAY

Quote of the Day
August 5, 2011

'In today's Jobs Picture, economist Heidi Shierholz
explains that the decline in the unemployment rate from
9.2% to 9.1% was entirely due to a drop in the labor
force, not an increase in the share of workers with
jobs.  The labor force participation rate declined to
63.9% in July, its new low of the downturn. The labor
force is thus smaller than it was before the recession
started, by more than 700,000 workers, though the
working-age population grew by over 7 million in that
time.  There are currently 2.8 million "marginally
attached" workers - workers who want a job, are
available to work, but have given up actively seeking
work.  If these workers were in the labor force and
counted as unemployed, the unemployment rate would be
10.7% right now instead of 9.1%.'

Economic Policy Institute
August 5, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/43n5b52

Toon of the Day
http://tinyurl.com/3o6ebah
Disaster Averted
Stuart Carlson

SATURDAY

Quote of the Day
August 6, 2011

"The European Union has repeatedly urged the government
of Israel to immediately end all settlement activities
in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem. All
settlement activities are illegal under international
law.

"Continued settlement undermines trust between the
parties and efforts to resume negotiations. This is
especially true with regard to Jerusalem. I believe there
can be no sustainable peace in the Middle East without
a two-state solution with the state of Israel and a viable
and contiguous Palestinian state living side by side in
peace and security."

"Settlement activity damages this prospect.'

Catherine Ashton, high representative
for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
of the European Union (EU) and
first-vice-president of the European
Commission, Israel's approval of 900
new housing units in East Jerusalem
AFP
August 6, 2011
http://tinyurl.com/42wo4a9

Toon of the Day
http://tinyurl.com/3tt7wa7
The Nerve
Ed Stein

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