Playlist: Bill Moyers Journal: United Steelworkers' Leo Gera
America’s unions have bet on Barack Obama to initiate a recovery that will revive not only the economy, but the organized labor movement as well. In this program, Bill Moyers and United Steelworkers International’s Leo Gerard address topics ranging from economic justice for workers, to the future of American manufacturing, to Gerard’s hopes for how unions will fare under the Obama administration. Then, the Journal and Exposé: America’s Investigative Reports offer their latest on how congressional earmarks really work: a report featuring a crack investigative team from The Seattle Times shows how Congress continues to hide critical information from taxpayers—and does it under the guise of ethics reform. An essay on the Palestinian/Israeli violence in Gaza—self-defense? retribution? terrorism?—concludes the program. Broadcast date: January 9, 2009. (57 minutes)
Leo Gerard and Bill Moyers discuss Obama's nominee for Labor Secretary, Hilda Solis.
America accumulates $700-800 billion trade deficit annually. Labor Secretary Solis should protect collective bargaining, be an advocate for workers' right to organize, and be a voice toward a balanced trade agenda, according to Leo Gerard.
America's economy is spiraling downward. An entire generation cannot afford to send its children to college. Obama's mission should be to put America back to work. Bill Moyers discusses the Employers' Free Choice Act with Leo Gerard.
Collective bargaining may be the best vehicle for workers to create a fair economy, fair unions, equity, and to have a stake in the wealth of the country.
Sen. Jim DeMint argues that unions have forced the American auto industry to the brink of bankruptcy, thus forcing them overseas. Leo Gerard argues vehemently against such sentiment.
The best way to create wealth in America is for America to make things that people want to buy. Leo Gerard argues that America can manufacture cars in a society that has universal healthcare because employer costs would be lower.
Members of Congress added nearly 13,000 earmarks to legislation in 2008, totaling $18.3 billion in additional spending. In 2006, Democrats promised to clean house and to have honest, open, and ethical behavior.
in 2006, Democrats promise to post each Congressional earmark, its sponsor, value, and beneficiary. A "Seattle Times" reporter begins investigating the new system. He finds that despite reforms, Congress still hides earmarks.
An investigator discovers complicity among U.S. Senators to file earmark letters of intention with incomplete information. Reform measures still allow Senators to hide nearly every earmark.
Democrats in the Senate resist ethics reform on earmark transparency. Recipients of earmarks remain a secret. Investigative reporters find links between political contributors and Senate earmark recipients.
Congress can determine whether or not earmark disclosure is met. Therefore, even if members of Congress break the earmark rules, they face no punishment.
On the first day of Congress 2009, around 70 people wearing masks and carrying signs with the names of people who died in wars march in commemoration of the dead.
When Israel waged war on the entire population of Palestine, it killed indiscriminately. The same occurred in Vietnam and Iraq. Brute force can turn self-defense into state terrorism. Hamas vows revenge. Is God-soaked violence genetically coded?