Things to Know - 16 June

1.  Leaks of government information perpetrated by partisan politics.  Now it is the Republican's turn to carp about news that makes Obama look like a macho hit man with Rambo bona fides.   Does anyone remember the dank 

swirl of swill from the opposite direction that got spun out of the Valerie Plame episode?:

http://www.nationalmemo.com/republicans-swoon-over-holders-partisan-leak-probers/

2.  We've heard about "privatization" of our prison systems.  Relieving us from human resources burden of "public workers" in providing necessary services to the community.  The private sectors are eager to set up shops and convince us that this is a better deal for all.  Is it really?  Not it is not.  These systems suffer from the same capitalist short-comings of other private sector businesses.  To increase profits, corners are cut.  Procedures are abbreviated or eliminated.  The levels of promised services are shot to hell.  Here is an example of how it turns out:

http://eclectablog.com/2012/06/michigan-republican-township-supervisor-not-happy-with-privatized-prison-in-his-area.html#.T9sM3eqxV6o.reddit 

3.  The Daily Show uses its characteristic classic sarcasm to point out Simplot mining of phosphate, and its dumping of selenium in the rivers of Idaho to point on an Erin Brokovich event:

http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/965323/the_daily_show_uncovers_corporate_conspiracy_--_and_a_big_revolving_door_--_behind_simplot%27s_water_contamination/#paragraph3

4.  This piece pretty well documents what we have known since Obama was elected.  The Republican Party made went against any effort to work to make this country a better place.  They made it their business to oppose anything Obama put forth for the American people.  Is this a great country, or what?:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/06/15/from-day-one.html

5.  John McCain (remember him?) has the moxie to leave his pack of jackals behind long enough to denounce Sheldon Adelson and the invasion of foreign money into our political system:

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/06/15/500435/mccain-corporations-not-people/

6.  Gail Collins picks up on the theme that it really boils down to Urban-Metropolitan vs. rural on which side of the street you stand on most issues:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/16/opinion/collins-running-on-empty.html?_r=1&ref=opinion&pagewanted=print

7.  This is the NY editorial on Obama's step to not deport young immigrants who are here on no fault of their own.  In addition to a path to the Dream Act, the political climate now will start to marginalize the Republicans on their public support or non-support of the Hispanic vote.  If, in the course of the campaign, Obama tweaks it just a bit more and includes other provisions that favor a more sensible and just approach, the Republicans will be forced into a position that they would really rather not be in:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/16/opinion/a-step-toward-a-dream.html?ref=opinion&pagewanted=print

8.  Politics and other collateral discussions aside, the immigration news was big and heady stuff for undocumented students graduating from UCLA.  I am sure that every level in every city and every state, there was a big and happy reception across this land today:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/06/illegal-immigration-graduation-ucla-obama.html

--
Juan

"It is much easier to become a father than to be one." 
       -- Kent Nurbern

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