The Real News: Paul Jay Interviewing Scott Wallace- 'Is There Any Henry Wallace Left in The Democratic Party?'

Source:The Real News- President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Vice President Harry Truman & Secretary Henry Wallace.

"WHEN VP WAS PROGRESSIVE Pt.2 Scott Wallace: It is a fight to create space for the progressive voice." 

From The Real News

What would the Democratic Party be today had Henry Wallace succeeded with his Progressive Party and they became the official third-party in America? And not just a third-party, but in actual competition with the Democratic and Republican parties. Unlike the Libertarian Party today, which is probably the largest third-party, but not much of a threat to either major party. And maybe had Teddy Roosevelt and Henry Wallace succeeded, the Democratic Socialists (which is what the Henry Wallace Progressives were) in America would have their own home. And not basically represent the Far-Left of the Democratic Party, but the actual mainstream of a major party.

Similar to the New Democratic Party in Canada, or as I call them the Social Democratic Party of Canada. Or even the so-called Progressive Democratic Party of Canada, with the Liberal Party there representing the Liberal Democratic Party in Canada. I’m a Liberal Democrat myself and I don’t use these terms to be insulting, but descriptive. 

The New Democratic Party in Canada which is a Democratic Socialist Party by their standards as well as ours, is considered mainstream in Canada. Even though for the most part they’ve been the third-party. But they’ve always had considerable representation in the Federal Parliament, or at least recently they’ve had for the last twenty years or so.

RT America: 'Socialism in America'

Source:RT America- Niki Korokawa talking to President Vladimir Putin's RT America, about socialism in America.

"RT (formerly Russia Today) is a state-controlled international television network funded by the federal tax budget of the Russian government.[5][6] It operates pay television channels directed to audiences outside of Russia, as well as providing Internet content in English, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, and Russian.

RT operates as a multilingual service with conventional channels in five languages: the original English-language channel was launched in 2005, the Arabic-language channel in 2007, Spanish in 2009, German in 2014 and French in 2017. RT America (since 2010),[7] RT UK (since 2014) and other regional channels also offer some locally based content." 

From Wikipedia 

"Socialism is an economic and political theory advocating public or common ownership and cooperative management of the means of production and allocation of resources. Could that be the answer to bring America out of its economic trouble? Is America headed towards socialism? Is it really that big bad wolf people make it out to be? RT's Cedric Moon hosts a panel of Nicki Kurokawa and Michael Prysner where they debate the pros and cons of socialism in America." 

From RT America 

Similar to conservatism and libertarianism, socialism is a very diverse political philosophy with all sorts of different political factions. There isn't one definition of socialism, just like there isn't an official definition of conservatism or libertarianism. 

I put socialism into three different political factions: Social Democrats.Democratic Socialists, the most popular faction of socialism not just in America, but everywhere else, at least in the developed world. And then Communists who represent the authoritarian wing of socialism and tell people if you give the government your freedom and individualism, the government will take care of you. Which is essentially what Communist government's tell their people. 

And then you have people that I call at least Neo-Communists, people who aren't completely authoritarian and even anti-democracy, but try to limit opposition, individual choice, and individualism, to protect their regime. Venezuela is an example of a Neo-Communist government.

There isn't one sent of Socialists, just like there isn't one set of Conservatives. You have Socialist Senator Bernie Sanders and then you have Communist leader Fidel Castro, from Cuba. They share certain principles as they relate to economics and wealth, but Senator Sanders believes not just in democracy, but social democracy and President Castro doesn't believe in any democracy at all. 

Russia Today: The Alyona Show- 'Show & Tell: Death Penalty, Barbaric?'

Source:Russia Today- the Sexy Blonde?

"RT (formerly Russia Today) is a state-controlled international television network funded by the federal tax budget of the Russian government.[5][6] It operates pay television channels directed to audiences outside of Russia, as well as providing Internet content in English, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, and Russian.

RT operates as a multilingual service with conventional channels in five languages: the original English-language channel was launched in 2005, the Arabic-language channel in 2007, Spanish in 2009, German in 2014 and French in 2017. RT America (since 2010),[7] RT UK (since 2014) and other regional channels also offer some locally based content." 

From Wikipedia 

"Now that Troy Davis has been executed, despite the amount of doubt surrounding his guilt, we asked if you if you think the US should still use the death penalty. Take a look at our responses. As always thanks for your responses and here's our next question for you. We discussed accusations by the GOP that President Obama is waging class warfare by proposing raising taxes on millionaires. So what do you think? Is Obama a class warrior?" 

From Russia Today

Before I get into my position on the death penalty I just want to lay out as one of maybe five people who haven't followed the Troy Davis case. All right, maybe ten people in the country. The Far-Left has been all over this story, like water on fish. I absolutely have no idea whether Mr Davis is guilty of the murder he was convicted of. And he's not the reason why I'm writing this post. But I will admit, that without this story I wouldn't be writing this post at this time. 

The death penalty is not an issue I think that much about except when I'm watching true crime shows and thats the only time. And I've basically has the same position on the death penalty since my late teen early 20s. If you believe in human life and that all innocent life is worth cherishing, which is what I do, then there needs to a the toughest standards for people who don't and will intentionally take innocent lives, for whatever the reasons. Which is who and what the death penalty is for: for people who don't respect innocent lives to the point that they'll intentionally take them regardless of the reasons for doing so. 

Bernie Sanders: 'My Medicaid Matters Rally'

Source:U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (Democratic Socialist, Socialist Republic of Vermont) holding a political rally in defense of the low-income Federal insurance program known as Medicaid. 

"Recorded on September 21, 2011" 

From Bernie Sanders

Before one celebrates how great the Medicaid health insurance program is, they should understand that it's a bare-bones operation. Meaning that it only covers certain things and not other things, including health care that people may need to survive. It's very expensive for the states to run and for the most part do run this program with not much help from the Federal Government who make them run it. States don't have a choice. If the Feds don't come up with the money, they are let's say stuck (for lack of a better word) and have to find that missing revenue for themselves. 

Russia Today: The Alyona Show- Dean Baker- 'President Obama's Deficit Plan: Class Warfare?'

Source:Russia Today- anchor Alyona Minkovski, talking to left-wing economist Dean Baker.

"RT (formerly Russia Today) is a state-controlled international television network funded by the federal tax budget of the Russian government.[5][6] It operates pay television channels directed to audiences outside of Russia, as well as providing Internet content in English, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, and Russian.

RT operates as a multilingual service with conventional channels in five languages: the original English-language channel was launched in 2005, the Arabic-language channel in 2007, Spanish in 2009, German in 2014 and French in 2017. RT America (since 2010),[7] RT UK (since 2014) and other regional channels also offer some locally based content." 

From Wikipedia 

"The White House has proposed a plan to save 3 trillion dollars over the next decade, but they've tacked on 1.1 trillion in planned war savings to try and push that up to 4 trillion. Then, there's the Buffet Rule where the president will call for a new minimum tax rate for individuals making more than 1 million dollars to ensure that they pay at least the same rate as middle-income taxpayers. Republicans have already responded by calling it class warfare. Obama also said if the super committee comes up with only cuts to entitlement programs and no tax increases, he'll veto the plan. Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research discusses." 

From Russia Today

The real question should be here is President Obama's deficit reduction plan a policy plan or a political plan, or is it a combination of both, I would argue its a little of both. 

It is a policy plan because Barack Obama I believe clearly believes in taxing millionaires more as a way to pay down the debt and deficit. He's been arguing for that at least since he started running for President back in 2007. I'll give the President that: he's proposing something he actually believes in. Which unfortunately as common in American politics as mice chasing cats. 

The Obama plan is clearly a political plan as well. This deficit reduction plan is clearly about throwing a bone to the Left (and I'm sorry if this offends the Far-Left) to bring them back in his corner for the 2012 presidential campaign and that they work for his reelection, which at this point is clearly in doubt. And he needs both of these factions to not only vote for him in 2012, but work for him as well in 2012. 

Is this plan class warfare? Of course not, it's an attempt to demand that the people in the country pay their fair share of taxes in what's left of our progressive taxation system. It's an attempt to demand that the only group of people thats benefited in our economy the last ten years, that they pay more in taxes to help pay down our massive debt and deficit, because they can afford to and won't get hurt by it. 

Class warfare would be about punishing a class of people just because they are part of that class and do it to the point that it hurts them. An example of class warfare would be to lay a group of middle class workers off, so executives can make more money. Which is done on a regular basis or running a big company into bankruptcy where thousands of people lose their jobs and life savings. Perhaps even reputations and then walking away with a big bonus package. 

Thom Hartmann: Tim Carpenter- 'A Cut to Medicare we Can All Live With'

Source:Thom Hartmann Show- Medicare, anyone?

"Thom Hartmann meets Tim Carpenter, National Director-Progressive Democrats of America, at Fighting Bob Fest. They talk about Medicare and the current status of the Progressive Movement in America.

If you liked this clip of The Thom Hartmann Program, please do us a big favor and share it with your friends... and hit that "like" button!" 

From the Thom Hartmann Show

The main problem with the Democratic Socialist movement, is that they don't have enough of their members elected in public office, especially statewide. And Tim Carpenter understands this and is trying to change it.

Tim Carpenter with his so-called Progressive Democrats of America (Democratic Socialists, in actuality) is taking a different approach in trying to accomplish what the Far-Left (or New-Left, if you prefer) is trying to accomplish in owning their own major political party. 

The Far-Left is trying to take over the Democratic Party (which is already a major political party) and essentially kick out the Center-Left in the party. (The real Progressives) And try to turn the Democratic Party into a Democratic Socialist Party. (Or Social Democratic Party, if you prefer) 

Which is the opposite of what I want them to do which is to just take their members in the Democratic Party and get the hell out of merge with the Green Party and Democratic Socialists of America (the self-described Socialists) and create their own left-wing party, where none of their members (except for perhaps the Communists) would look fringe or radical, at least within their own party. 

Giovanni Minnelli: Ralph Nader- 'We Live In a Two Party Elected Dictatorship'

Source:Giovanni Minnelli- New-Left political Ralph Nader, about the American two-party system.

"Saturday 22 December 2007: "In a December interview, Ralph Nader, who is running again as an independent candidate for president, gave his verdict on his major party opponents" 

From Giovanni Minnelli

Ralph Nader has the tendency of saying things that are very provocative, articulate, correct, even, as well as saying crazy things in the same speech or forum, making the same point.  He has a tendency to sound like a mental patient who is on his medication, but then it suddenly runs out and now he sounds like himself again, with people trying to figure out what the hell he's talking about, but in the same speech. 

America is clearly a two-party System, from my perspective a a Liberal Democrat who will probably die as a Democrat and proud to be it. We have a Republican Party made up of Center-Right Conservative-Libertarians, as well as a Far-Right, populist, Tea Party Nationalist base. 

And a Democratic Party made up of Center-Left Progressives, and Center-Right Liberals (or Classical Liberals, if you prefer) and a growing Far-Left Socialist (or social democratic, if you prefer) faction that I guess Ralph Nader would be part of, if he was still a Democrat. Of course the two major political parties are very different in America. 

If the Far-Left (or New-Left, if you prefer) in America doesn't like our two-party system, they can take their members and create their own left-wing political party. Which means raising a helluva lot of money trying to form states parties and getting ballot access for their state affiliates. Or they can try to survive a a fairly small faction as part of a much larger and diverse political party known as the Democratic Party.