As an OpEdNews Multi-Media Editor, I post five videos each week that I think you should see. I had put the regular feature on hiatus to focus on commentary on the elections, etc. And, I was busy transitioning to a new setup where I work in combination on Gather.com as a paid Socialwriter and also volunteer as a writer and editor for OpEdNews.
Recent events surrounding the Bush tax cuts and a Deficit Commission this week have had me wondering how to respond. Several editorials posted pretty much sum up what I would write. David Sirota's post, "Thank You, Dick Cheney, For Giving Me the Proper Words," nails it. Director of the documentary Inside Job, Charles Ferguson, appropriately addresses the situation Americans face with, "The Financial Crisis and America's Duopoly." And, a post up today on Common Dreams by Vincent Di Stefano titled, "While the Hegemon Caves From Within," describes what is happening in America well.
Thus, the videos focus on two key issues that should be confronted: 1) what did the midterm elections really mean for Democrats and how will they respond and 2) what will be the impact of the power the top 2% in this country have accumulated in the past decade. How will corporate and special interests work in tandem with the Obama Administration? What will the Obama Administration allow?
#1
Jesse Ventura lends his bombastic personality to an "American Conspiracy" that is becoming more and more apparent. Look for an appearance from Matt Taibbi, who has recently published a must-read piece of investigate journalism on Florida's "Rocket Docket."
#2
Sen. Sanders (I-VT) reportedly is organizing a progressive meeting to respond to the preemptive attack on the process of the Deficit Commission, which co-chairs Erskine Bowles and Alan K. Simpson are waging. He intends to put together some alternative proposals to the Bowles-Simpson proposal ideas, which would transfer more wealth from the bottom 98% to the top 2%.
#3
American exceptionalism gets a grilling here. Watch Scott Horton and Cristina Finch of Amnesty International along with the host in this clip eviscerate everything this guy from the Heritage Foundation attempts to argue. That this clip covers the whole gambit of human rights issues makes it a must-see.
#4
Mock The Dummy has been producing these videos satirizing the Tea Party. In the aftermath of the election, this is a particularly nice jab at the Tea Party.
#5
Glenn Greenwald does some truth-telling on what really happened to the Democrats in the 2010 Election. He argues that, while the liberal label may not be popular, policies that are often considered liberal or progressive were not repudiated by voters on Election Day.
BONUS VIDEO
Elton John and Leon Russell's new collaboration, "The Union," is an amazing piece of musical work. This is the song that I most enjoy from the new album.
Kevin Gosztola is managing editor of Shadowproof Press. He also produces and co-hosts the weekly podcast, "Unauthorized Disclosure." He was an editor for OpEdNews.com