The European Union is considering taking legal action against France for violating EU’s discriminatory laws. President Nicolas Sarkozy’s right-winged government has been engaged in a massive deportation of Roma — also commonly referred to as ‘Gypsies’.

by Zach Carter, Media Consortium blogger

The crazy conservative assault on government spending has become one of the most irrational economic policy debates in recent years.

With the Wall Street reform bill finally cleared through Congress, activists and intellectuals are pushing hard to make sure that this bill isn’t the last word Congress utters about Big Finance. We need deeper and more robust reforms, but it’s also critical to ensure that the new bill is implemented as effectively as possible. Part of that means appointing officials with a proven record as robust reformers—people like Elizabeth Warren.

What is the difference between the corporate media and the independent media?

by Zach Carter, Media Consortium blogger

Last week, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed fraud charges against Goldman Sachs and underscored what most Americans have believed for some time: Wall Street has rigged the economy in its own favor, and will stop at nothing—not even outright theft—to boost its profits. What’s worse, Goldman’s scam could have been completely prevented by better regulations and law enforcement.

Since Oil Corporations reap record Profits when everything “goes Right” –

Shouldn’t they also be responsible when everything “goes Wrong” too?

When Murphy’s Law strikes again — as it always does – will the Oil Drillers be READY to stop the environmental damage, caused by THEIR mining operations?

It’s NOT like they can’t afford it …

By Zach Carter, Media Consortium blogger

While the poor judgment of top-level officials at Treasury and the Office of Management and Budget frequently makes the news, there is another, unrecognized economic crew doing terrific work: Officials at the Department of Labor are restoring workers’ rights after nearly a decade of neglect.

To top it all off, President Barack Obama appears ready to make another set of strong, though less high-profile, economic appointments that will help rein in Wall Street excess.

This morning Amy Goodman and Allan Nairn broke the news that Obama plans to resume US funding for Indonesia’s military death squads. Nairn describes how the death squads that once terorrized occupied Timor are up and running – and killing – peaceful opponents to Indonesia rule in Papua and elsewhere. Change? Last year Obama chose Admiral Dennis Blair – who had defied the chain of command and civilian authority to keep funding Indonesia’s death squads in Timor. At least Obama’s consistent: his Attorney General left the DOJ for a white shoe law firm where he successfully protected Chiquita’s CEO’s from responsiblity for paying for and running guns to Central American death squads. Change we can bloody well believe in, no?

There’s a fascinating interview with Dennis Kucinich (and Ralph Nader) up over at Democracynow.org Reading the entire transcript of it, shows the key reason why Kucinich flipped his vote to support the White House’s “insurance reform” bill.

Why did Kucinich decide to vote for this bill? Why is he whipping for it? I’m trying to figure this out myself.

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/3/18/dennis_kucinich_and_ralph_nader_a

(Watch the whole interview there, or read it, or listen to it.)