Alternative Radio on 07/23/13

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Produced by: 
KBOO
Air date: 
Tue, 07/23/2013 - 9:00am to 10:00am
Chris Hedges on Corporate Coup d'Etat (lecture)

Corporations constitute the most powerful force in society. Their influence has seeped into our classrooms, our newsrooms, our entertainment systems, our consciousness and crucially into our politics. Big money buys access to lawmakers. For sheer arrogance perhaps Goldman Sachs, the Wall Street investment giant, takes the cake. Its CEO Lloyd Blankfein, blithely advises citizens they will have to "lower" their "expectations" when it comes to Social Security which he calls an "entitlement." Goldman Sachs, made $5.6 billion in profits last year yet it secured tax breaks for its fancy new HQs in New York as well as tax-free bonuses for its top executives. Corporations reign supreme while most people are simply caught in the rain and are getting soaked. Because of the fiscal cliff deal the average worker this year will take home about a thousand dollars less.

Chris Hedges is an award-winning journalist who has covered wars in the Balkans, the Middle East and Central America. He writes a weekly column for Truthdig.org and is a senior fellow at The Nation Institute. He is the author of War is a Force that Gives Us MeaningAmerican FascistsEmpire of IllusionDeath of the Liberal ClassThe World As It Is, and with Joe Sacco, Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt.

 

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