'Capitalism: A Love Story' opens Fri, Oct 2

To find theater near you, go to 'Capitalism: A Love Story' and enter your zip-code. Lancaster residents nearest theater (as of opening-day/Oct 2) is at this link {Regal's Manor Cinema 16, 1246 Millersville Pike, Lancaster, PA 17603 (800)326-3264. Directions.}.

Michael Moore asked viewers to take photos of the crowd for him to post at MichaelMoore.com.

Panopticon Failure & The Hope Of Caring

For those of you who still may not be aware, I would like to inform you that the Lancaster Community Safety Coalition is nearing its goal of having 165 omnidirectional, interconnected surveillance cameras installed throughout Lancaster City. Much has been already said and will continue concerning all aspects of this issue. From the lack of public input in their implementation to their long term ineffectiveness in dealing with crime.
But the purpose of this article is to examine the more basic effect this totalizing surveillance has on human interaction and solidarity. Most of what I write about has to do with Labor struggles, but the matter of surveillance has far reaching consequences in and out of the workplace, in public or private spaces. Individuals, thanks in part to the media, struggle to find fulfillment in objects and as a consequence, sees as objects other people. Insecurity at home crashes against imperialism abroad. The air of mistrust already haunts our streets.
Atop this, the constant presence of surveillance cameras turns the presumption of innocence on its head. The unblinking eye states you are always guilty, and by default, always in need of watching. All of whom you associate are criminals. All transactions are suspect. The aerial positioning of these machines has a subliminal message: we are your overlords, don't do anything stupid; you are inept and unable to work together to solve any of the problems in your community.
This brings us to a key point that is often missing in the movement to oppose video surveillance: Mutual aid. The ability of human beings to express solidarity with each other directly; to look after each others needs (including safety) without mediation from unauthorized third parties. Mutual aid digmifies communities, by casting aside the condescending paternalism of organizations such as the L.C.S.C. It exults the ability of neighborhoods to find common sense solutions to anti-social violence. Lastly, it fosters a society free from the tyranny of both exploitative economics and overly repressive legal codes. Now more than ever do we need to stop this ever invasive authoritarianismwhile breaking down the alienation corporate culture broadcasts into every space of our lives.
Love...Communicate...Resist-Invidious Rose

Book: For All the People: Uncovering the Hidden History of Cooperation, Cooperative Movements, and Communalism in America

Good book on "cooperatives:"

https://secure.pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=143

"It is indeed inspiring, in the face of all the misguided praise of 'the market', to be reminded by John Curl's new book of the noble history of cooperative work in the United States."
--Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States

“This new edition is greatly welcome, because we need a cooperative movement and spirit more than ever before. Curl surveys all, and explains much. New generations of readers will find this a fascinating account, and aging co-opers like myself will understand better what we did, what we tried to do, where we succeeded and where we failed. Get this book and read it, Curl will do you good.”
--Paul Buhle, coeditor of the Encyclopedia of the American Left, founding editor of Radical America (SDS).

Buy also here:

http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=978-1-60486-072-6

Pics: History of U.S. health care reform in images

Good pictures of "Astroturf" campaigns of the past.

Free Speech Radio News:
http://www.fsrn.org/content/history-us-health-care-reform-images/5262

Michael Moore's new movie: Capitalism: A Love Story

Michael Moore's movie "Capitalism: A Love Story" hits theaters October 2, 2009. Trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhydyxRjujU or the movies website itself: http://www.capitalismalovestory.com/

As the release date approaches--locate a theater where it is playing at either: http://movies.yahoo.com/ or http://www.fandango.com/ .

Homeland Security cop arrests man for filming FBI building (repeat BUILDING*) in NYC

This is in response to the 'PROTEST 8-29' post--an addition, if you will. It is funny that when the government video's us--it is alleged to be for our 'safety.' Yet, when the people exercise their right's of 'free press' and film government-institutions--somehow its a 'security-threat.' See: http://carlosmiller.com/2009/08/20/homeland-security-arrests-man-for-filming-fbi-building-in-nyc/

* Begs the question: Who has Constitutional rights? Buildings or People?

PROTEST 8-29

There will be a protest against the cameras on Sat. 8-29, at 1:00 at Farnum Park. We need all wobs to show and create a strong presence there. We have a diverse crowd of politically minded people, and we don't want this to be a political battle. This is a civil liberties battle, and everyone who is concerned with protecting their rights needs to come. We should carry our flags, and wear our garb, and make our impression in the crowd. Please tell all of your friends, and relatives who care about their freedom to come out. Video on Youtube- Eye in the Sky in Lancaster

Direct Action book looks interesting.

The book is entitled "Direct Action: An Ethnography*" (http://www.akpress.org/2009/items/directactionakpress).


* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnography "a methodological strategy used to provide descriptions of human societies."

Town Hall Meeting To Oppose Blanket Video Surveillance Of Lancaster, PA

There will be a town hall meeting in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to educate the public about the threat to our freedoms posed by the round-the-clock, blanket video surveillance of our city. The surveillance is being run by an unaccountable, non-governmental agency called the Lancaster Community Safety Coalition (LCSC). Opposition is being led by the Lancaster Coalition for Sensible Security (LCSS), a working group of the Lancaster Coalition for Peace & Justice.

This extreme and unaccountable surveillance of law-abiding US citizens has received news coverage nationwide including by the Los Angeles Times and the Philadelphia Inquirer, as well as by Keith Olbermann.

The town hall meeting is open to the public and will be held Sunday, July 12, 2009, beginning at 2:15 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 538 West Chestnut Street, Lancaster. Representatives of the LCSC have been invited to participate and they and their opponents each will be given time to present their cases to the public and then will field questions from the audience.

7 minute video of UAW worker

The Real News Network host asks why there isn't more labor-union militancy? Part of the answer is anti-labor Republicans as evidenced by this internal-Senate-memo that was leaked (here or second-source of same). ---> "This is the democrats first opportunity to payoff organized labor after the election. This is a precursor to card check and other items. Republicans should stand firm and take their first shot against organized labor, instead of taking their first blow from it." Again, source of quote is either of the following: http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/new-gop-memo-entitled-action-alert-abou or http://thenewshole.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/12/12/1713569.aspx

Sign Petition: Oklahoma cop proves to be a liar after dash cam is released

Judge the video for yourself: http://carlosmiller.com/2009/06/13/oklahoma-police-officer-is-proven-to-be-a-liar-after-dash-cam-is-released/

GM Britain on UnionTV.org.uk

http://www.uniontv.org.uk/default.aspx?page=538

Oklahoma cops refuse to release dashcam video of chokehold incident

This is the continuation of "Thug Cops."

If the purpose of the dashcam video's is to document what happened--then what's the problem with releasing the video? What are they hiding?

http://carlosmiller.com/2009/06/13/oklahoma-cops-refuse-to-release-dashcam-video-of-chokehold-incident/

Video: Mayor of Lansing Vociferously Defends Autoworkers (on Fox, no less)

http://www.dollarsandsense.org/blog/2009/06/mayor-of-lansing-defends-autoworkers.html

Solidarity Alert

Hi Invidious Rose here. Just wanted to link everyone to Labor Notes Solidarity Network for June. http://labornotes.org/node/2248 I'm new to this blogging stuff,so bear with me. Thanks

DESAPARECIDOS - THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH LYRICS

DESAPARECIDOS - THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH LYRICS: "I want to pledge allegiance to the country where I live
I don't want to be ashamed to be American
but opportunity
no it don't exist
it's the opiate
of the populace
we need some harder shit now
the truth's getting around
and each public school is a halfway house
where the huddled masses sober up and up
enough? There's not enough
to fatten the cows and feed all of us.
It's just a rationing of luck
what can't be bought gets raffled off.
oh god good god shed greed on thee,
your shining sea turned a dirty green
from the industry
off the shores of New Jersey
I got a letter from the army so I think that I'll enlist
I'm not brave or proud of nothing I just want to kill something
too bad that nowadays you just point and click
swing low satellite, hot white chariot
in the computer's blue glare
the bombs burst in the air
there was a city once now nothing's there
our freedom comes at their expense
it makes sense does it?
Dollars and cents
they're stretching barbed wire across the picket fence
that's surrounding your housing development
in case you lack the confidence
oh god my god give strength to thee
these amber waves purple majesty is nothing but
backdrops for Disney
look up close it's superimposed
on a blank blue screen yea its fantasy
fucking magical
the dream floats like a chemical
through each snapped synapse
our television past that is beautiful
no more
no more"

Insane Thug Cops Attack Emergency Paramedic

Insane Thug Cops Attack Emergency Paramedic One more reason that the security cameras don't seem secure. If they have control of the cameras, who's ever going to see the evidence.The whole camera system is rigged for the cops and not the citizens. It's obviously not for our protection but for our control. This article presents us with "Why are the police acting like this nowadays?", or "Have they always acted like this but were shielded from the eyes of the general public?". Either way, it's not security cameras footage popping up on the internet, but people's private video footage.The only way to expose them is to always carry a camera when dealing with them.

Play the YOU BET YOUR HEALTH game-show!

http://youbetyourhealth.com/

Stop Digital Strip Search of Passengers

This might interest some (petition deadline May 31): http://privacycoalition.org/stopwholebodyimaging/

GALLERY 1

GALLERY 1 Hey, a friend of mine is from a town 20 min. from Matewan and he drew this great picture of Sid Hatfield. "There is a rich history of Labor struggle, and a deep sense of unity down there", says he. Enjoy!

Responsible Shopper: Guide to Promoting a Responsible Economy with Company Profiles, Green Living Tips, and Campaigns

Greetings Wobs! This is a great web-site to do your share of corporate watching. They rate companies on treatment of laborers, environmental awareness, and other categories including human rights.Responsible Shopper: Guide to Promoting a Responsible Economy with Company Profiles, Green Living Tips, and Campaigns Also an excellent resource to find buycotts and boycotts for the Rebel Worker.They also have a list of different campaigns geared to take on specific corporations one-at-a-time. Check it out!

IWW Film Series - Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.

The Lancaster GMB continues its Film Series this Sunday with Matewan.

The Lancaster IWW shows a movie on the third Sunday of every month. These are films that usually, but not always, deal with issues of Labor and/or Class politics. They are open to the public and are FREE of charge, as are the snacks and drinks provided by the local chapter of Food Not Bombs.

The films are shown inside Building Character, 342 North Queen Street (Warehouse B) -- enter off the parking lot between Queen and Market Streets. [Thanks to Tony of Building Character for helping to create a vibrant downtown community!]

UPCOMING FILMS:
• June 21 ~ The Molly Maguires
• July 19 ~ Robots
• August 16 ~ 1984
• September 20 ~ The Corporation

Workers Approve Sit-In at Hartmarx Suit Factory

http://cbs2chicago.com/linksnumbers/hartmarx.workers.sitin.2.1006811.html

Nike Obama: Just Do Hope!

As it became clear to me last year that Obama would inevitably win the Presidential 'election', I bored more than a few people with my spiel that an Obama victory, far from being "change we could believe in," would in reality end up being what I was then calling the "ultimate triumph of the Spectacle."

Just today I found Chris Hedges' May 3rd Truthdig piece and he does a better job than I did, or could, in laying out the details of this idea:

Barack Obama is a brand. And the Obama brand is designed to make us feel good about our government while corporate overlords loot the Treasury, our elected officials continue to have their palms greased by armies of corporate lobbyists, our corporate media diverts us with gossip and trivia and our imperial wars expand in the Middle East. Brand Obama is about being happy consumers. We are entertained. We feel hopeful. We like our president. We believe he is like us. But like all branded products spun out from the manipulative world of corporate advertising, we are being duped into doing and supporting a lot of things that are not in our interest.

What, for all our faith and hope, has the Obama brand given us? His administration has spent, lent or guaranteed $12.8 trillion in taxpayer dollars to Wall Street and insolvent banks in a doomed effort to reinflate the bubble economy, a tactic that at best forestalls catastrophe and will leave us broke in a time of profound crisis. Brand Obama has allocated nearly $1 trillion in defense-related spending and the continuation of our doomed imperial projects in Iraq, where military planners now estimate that 70,000 troops will remain for the next 15 to 20 years. Brand Obama has expanded the war in Afghanistan, including the use of drones sent on cross-border bombing runs into Pakistan that have doubled the number of civilians killed over the past three months. Brand Obama has refused to ease restrictions so workers can organize and will not consider single-payer, not-for-profit health care for all Americans. And Brand Obama will not prosecute the Bush administration for war crimes, including the use of torture, and has refused to dismantle Bush’s secrecy laws or restore habeas corpus.

Read the whole piece.

PS - Hedges has a new book coming out this July; it's title definitely sounds intriguing ;-)

Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle

NPR's Diane Rehm Show: 'most people don't want single payer'

Diane Rehm's NPR show "spun" the news this morning (May 11) by asserting 'most people don't want single payer health care.' Take action at http://www.1payer.net/action-alerts.html .

Greetings & Test

InvidRose Here. Hi Fellow Wobs. Great Blog and hope to be a part of it as it develops.Solidariy...

Google to start charging for Youtube use?

http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/05/03/1318242&from=rss

Baptist Pastor Was Beaten & Tased by Border Patrol - INSIDE the US

A 'border patrol' between two US states?? This is a bizarre story, to say the least, and a deeply troubling one, at its worst; especially in light of how we are under more and more 'security state' surveillance and we could be subject to more of these 'patrols' and searches.

Even right here in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, a coalition of government agencies and private donors are putting up what will be the largest video surveillance system in the country for a city of Lancaster's size. More on that soon.

Meanwhile, "Papers please!!"

The first video was made by Pastor Steven Anderson just after he was released by the police on the night of April 14, 2009:



Here are excerpts of a sermon that Anderson gave soon after the incident:

Let Justice Roll - Raise the State and Federal Minimum Wage

Let Justice Roll - Raise the State and Federal Minimum Wage
Fellow Wobs! This organization is pushing very hard to raise the minimum wage to $10.00/hr. in 2010. I know it's not quite abolishing the wage system altogether but it is a start on leveling at least the lower end of the playing field. I feel strongly about supporting them in their quest, and if anyone wants to join me you can show your support by putting your name on their petition as well. You just go to "Signup" and submit name/address/phone #/ e-mail and you're now signed on. And I Thank You For Your Support-Brian

COALITION OF IMMOKALEE WORKERS

COALITION OF IMMOKALEE WORKERS

Well, If there were some who missed our 4-26 meeting, we spoke about raising awareness for these Migrant Workers, and there fight against slavery in Florida. Yes, In Florida!! Let's not forget to mail, e-mail or call the Fla. Governer, Senators and Reps. about these horriffis crimes happening in our "Free Country". Not only is it our jobs as Union People, but also our job as Civilized, Humane Americans to abolish slavery and keep abolishing it every time it rears its' ugly head. There is a tab "Take Action" and they offer Postcards to send to them, DVD's to screen to the Public and other Awareness tools for their cause. Let's show these folks what solidarity means.

Greetings of Solidarity from Lancaster, PA

We are a general membership branch of the Industrial Workers of the World. The IWW is a union for all workers, a union dedicated to organizing on the job, in our industries and in our communities both to win better conditions today and to build a world without bosses, a world in which production and distribution are organized by workers ourselves to meet the needs of the entire population, not merely a handful of exploiters.

We invite you to become a member whether or not the IWW has representation rights in your workplace. We organize the worker, not just the job, recognizing that genuine unionism is not about government certification or employer recognition but about workers coming together to address common concerns. Because the IWW is a democratic, member-run union, decisions about what issues to address and what tactics are pursued are made by the workers directly involved. IWW members can count on the solidarity of their union.