People Resist Corporate Destruction of Democracy, Environment, and Social Safety Net

Workers continue to fight for economic and environmental justice. However they have taken lots of hits lately. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a nonprofit corporation, continues to provide model legislation to politicians to undermine progressive efforts.

Meanwhile, at least 25 large United States corporations paid more to their CEO than they did to the US government in taxes.1 According to the AFL-CIO "In addition to handing their CEOs big dollars, 20 of the 25 corporations in the study spent more on lobbying lawmakers than they paid in corporate taxes.

Vital organizations like the US Red Cross and the US Postal Service have been downsizing--with threats of more layoffs. Verizon communication workers protested after the corporation refused to bargain in good faith--and called for drastic cuts in pay and benefits.

As for government programs, homeless prevention programs and affordable housing budgets face drastic cuts.2

In environmental news, the Obama administration has decided to table progressive ozone legislation. They also appear to have given a green light for corporations to construct the Keystone Pipeline, transporting processed tar sands from Canada, across one of the largest US aquifers. More than 1200 people have been arrested outside the White House to protest the environmental injustice.3


Sources:

1. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/31/business/where-pay-for-chief-executives-tops-the-company-tax-burden.html

http://blog.aflcio.org/2011/08/31/ceos-rake-in-more-than-their-corporations-pay-in-taxes/

2. http://sfbayview.com/2011/housing-authorities-prepare-for-section-8-housing-cuts/

3. http://www.tarsandsaction.org/press/