This is the Insurgent Radio Kiosk for Thursday, November 21st
Hightower Commentary
Action Calendar
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Why would we trust plutocrats to save us from plutocracy?
Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote of being leery of a fast-talking huckster who visited his home: “The louder he talked of his honor, the faster we counted our spoons,” Emerson exclaimed.
Likewise, today’s workaday families should do a mass inventory of their silverware, for the fast-talking CEOs of 181 union-busting, tax-cheating, environment-contaminating, consumer-gouging corporations are asking us to believe that they stand with us in the fight against… well, against them. From Wall Street banksters to Big Oil polluters, these profiteers are suddenly trumpeting their future intentions to serve not just their own greed, but every “stakeholder” (which is what they call employees, customers, supplies, et al).
But vague proclamations are cheap, and it’s worth noting that these new champions of the common good propose no specifics – no actual sacrifices by them or benefits for us. A few media observers have mildly objected, saying it’s “an open question” whether any of the corporate proclaimers will change how they do business. But it’s not an open question at all. They won’t. They won’t support full collective bargaining power for workers, won’t join the public’s push to get Medicare for All, won’t stop using monopoly power to squeeze out small competitors and gouge consumers, won’t support measures to stop climate change, won’t back reforms to get their corrupt corporate money out of our politics… won’t embrace any of the big structural changes necessary to reverse the raw economic and political inequality that has enthroned their plutocratic rule.
In fact, their empty proclamation is what West Texas cowboys might call “bovine excrement,” meant to fend off the actual changes that real reformers are advancing. Corporate elites won’t fix inequality for us – they’re the ones doing it to us.
“C.E.O.s Should Fear A Recession,” The New York Times, August 22, 2019.
“How Shareholder Democracy Failed the People,” https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/20/business/dealbook/business-roundtable-corporate-responsibility.html, August 20, 2019.
Hightower’s commentaries are brought to you by The Hightower Lowdown, the monthly newsletter with Hightower’s take on what Wall Street and Washington are up to. For information, visit hightowerlowdown.org.
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It’s today’s Action Calendar!
A South Madison Community Impact Session to gather input for development of the South Madison Neighborhood Plan will be held this evening from 6 to 7:45 p.m. in the Villager Mall Atrium, 2300 South Park Street. Community members can address topics ranging from transportation, businesses and redevelopment to housing and land use. Childcare and Spanish and Hmong translators will be available. For information, visit cityofmadison.com.
All are invited to an 89.9 Social Club Pop-Up Party this evening from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Next Door Brewing Company, 2439 Atwood Avenue. The 89.9 Social Club provides an opportunity for curious listeners to meet WORT volunteers and get a better sense of what WORT is all about. All are welcome to attend. For information, email socialclub@wortfm.org.
Change a life! Become a tutor! Literacy Network needs volunteers to tutor local, low-income adults to improve their writing, English language and basic computer skills. This will enable them to achieve financial security, improve their health and well-being, support their children’s education and enjoy a deeper engagement with our community. Training and support will be provided. For more information, visit litnetwork.org.
The Insurgent Radio Kiosk is a four minute pre-recorded segment featuring a commentary and a calendar of daily events. Events must be low cost or non-profit and of interest to people in and around the WORT listening area. Please submit announcements at least ten days before the event at wortfm.org/announcements.
The Kiosk is available online at wortfm.org/kiosk.
This has been the Insurgent Radio Kiosk heard weekdays at 5:00, 6:30 and 9:00 AM and at 2:00 PM. I’m Greg Geboski. Submit announcements at least ten days in advance of the event at wortfm.org/announcements.
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