Freedom Socialist Party

GUEST: Stephen Durham, New York City based activist and the Freedom Socialist Party nominee for President of the United States in 2012, talks about the need for alternative voices in America.

Stephen and I had a long talk about what might be prompting people to take another look at alternative parties. Our two major parties are dead in the water as far as American workers go. Both parties are completely dependent on money from the very rich and the multinational corporations. The interests of ordinary people don't exist.

Is this an extreme form of capitalism, or is it an inevitable result of the gross income disparity between the rich and poor? How have more enlightened capitalist countries avoided America's plutocracy? 

I would like to interview the Green Party candidate for President next and will be trying to set this up in the coming weeks. Are third party candidates the answer? Just listening to alternative ideas helps us understand the gross hypocrisy of our present corporate controlled, two party system. 

End Jim Crow Action Network

GUEST: Odell Winfield, co-founder and Director of the Sadie Peterson Delaney African Roots Library, talked about Occupy Poughkeepsie and its offshoot, The End New Jim Crow Action Network.

Wel started with the Civil Rights movement. Today was the anniversary of the first lunch counter sit-in, which occurred in Wichita, Kansas on  July 19, 1958.

While African Americans no longer face that type of obvious racism in 2012, our courts and prison system still work together in denying basic rights to people of color.

We are on the brink of a new awakening about racial justice in this country. Our combined awareness will help us achieve social and economic justice for all citizens who are not in the 1%. No longer will we let the richest of Americans divide us by stirring up prejudice and fear.

The Privilege To Do the Right Thing

GUEST: David Swanson, press secretary for Kucinich's 2004 presidential run, co-founder of After Downing Street, and author of War is a Lie, talked about media and social activism.

We started with a heavy discussion: why keep working when the system is set up to resist any real change? David expressed something that I had heard Daniel Berrigan say in Dutchess County 15 years ago. When asked by a minister about why he worked so hard when the chances of success were so small, he answered, "I have been given the privilege to do the right thing in my life."

Perhaps outcomes are a tyranny imposed by our neoliberal world on all political strivings, as if the ends always justified the efforts. But in creating a better world, our everyday efforts are all we have to give our lives meaning. And as the world faces the catastrophe of global warming, is there really another choice for someone who isn't a psychopath? Get filthy rich and kiss your grandchildren goodby?