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First Columbia took on their drug lords, now they're taking on their billionaires...why can't we?
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America's billionaires are driving this nation's poverty epidemic. But it doesn't have to be that way.
 
As we speak, working-class Americans are getting screwed over by policies that favor the wealthy elite, and leave everyone else in the dust. As a result, more and more Americans are living in poverty.
 
In 2013, over 45 million Americans were living in poverty, including 1 in 5 children, and today, around 4% of our population lives on $2 per day or less. Unfortunately, our lawmakers in Washington would rather continue pandering to the needs of the rich and famous, than confront the very real poverty epidemic that is crippling our country.
 
Like America, Colombia is struggling with its own poverty epidemic brought on by extremely high levels of wealth inequality and by wealthy Colombians who aren't doing their fair share to help the economy. Colombia is the seventh most unequal country in the world, with a staggering 32% of Colombians living in poverty. In rural areas of that country, the poverty rate jumps to just under 47%.
 
Meanwhile, just like here in America, there is a small number of very wealthy people who are doing very little to help the Colombian economy and working-class Colombians. But that's changing. More and more Colombians are being lifted out of poverty each year because the Colombian government isn't afraid to ask the wealthy elite to do their fair share to help the economy.
 
Last week, the Colombian government, under the direction of President Juan Manuel Santos, extended a wealth tax that was first introduced in 2002. Speaking about the wealth tax, Colombia's finance minister Mauricio Cardenas told the Financial Times that, "It is very important to collect revenues from the wealthiest Colombians to be able to invest in security and defence on the one hand, and in social sectors on the other hand."
 
What a novel idea: taxing the rich to help improve an economy.
 
Read more here.
 
-Thom
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The Big Picture (small)
Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 7pm and 10pm... What America could learn from Scotland's Independence vote (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT or Free Speech TV, and catch past shows on Youtube)
 
Green World Rising Be sure to check out our new video: CARBON - narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio
 
One night only!! Don't miss Thom & Dan Sisson, Co-authors - The American Revolution of 1800 - Busboys & Poets, 5th and K St., Washington, DC this Sunday September 21st at 5pm ET.
 
Get your tickets now - now for a special evening with Sami Yusuf (9/26 at 8pm) featuring music from Sami's new CD, The Centre - to benefit the Foundation for Traditional Studies - at The Strathmore in N. Bethesda, MD
 
Need to Know: Libertarian paradise? NOT!
- Richard Eskow, Campaign for America's Future / The Zero Hour  Twitter  Twitter  Twitter
 
Screwed: GOP'er admits...Obamacare is working!
- Scottie Nell Hughes, Tea Party News Network / ROAR: The New Conservative Woman Speaks Out Twitter Twitter
 
What America could learn from Scotland's Independence vote
- John Nichols, The Nation Magazine Twitter Twitter
 
Your Take / My Take Live: Call Thom LIVE at (202) 904-2134 TONIGHT 7-8pm ET (check local listings)
 
Geeky Science: EXPOSED: earthquakes directly linked to fracking...
 
Daily Take: First Columbia took on their drug lords, now they're taking on their billionaires...why can't we?

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The Daily Stack Daily Stack
Hour One: Black Ice...danger in the arctic
- John Deans, Greenpeace USA Twitter Twitter Twitter
Article: "Report: US Unprepared for Arctic Oil Spill" by Andrea Germanos.
Event: September 21 NYC (and around the world)"Climate March".
 
Event: September 21st 5pm ET, DC: Thom & Dan Sisson, co-authors - The American Revolution of 1800 - Busboys & Poets, 5th and K St., Washington, DC.
Event: Sept 26th 8pm, DC: "An evening w/Sami Yusef" at The Strathmore- the concert benefits the Foundation for Traditional Studies and features music from his album The Centre.
Article: "Colombia seeks dividend from wealthiest 1%" by Andres Schipani.
Book: Capital in the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Piketty.
Case: "Chisholm v. Georgia" 1793 (superseded by 11th Amendment).
Article: "11th Amendment".
Article: "5th Amendment" (double jeopardy, witness against self, due process, taking clause, due compensation).
Article: "World People's Conference on Climate Change", Bolivia, 2010 by Wikipedia.

Hour Two: Actor/Activist Mimi Kennedy on the Iraq War
- Mimi Kennedy, Progressive Democrats of America / Mom on CBS Twitter Twitter
Article: "Hyde Amendment" by Wikipedia.
Movie: "Obama Mama".
 

Hour Three: How Jefferson rescued democracy
- Dan Sisson, The American Revolution of 1800.
Book: "The Federalist Papers" by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay.
Article: "Bank Bill of 1791" by Wikipedia.
Letter: "Thomas Jefferson to Spencer Roane", 6 Sept. 1819 "the revolution of 1800, for that was as real a revolution in the principles of our government as that of 1776 was in its form."
Speech: "Farewell Address" by George Washington (1796) (avoid foreign entanglements).
Article: "Whiskey Rebellion" (1791-1794) by Wikipedia.
Article: "Why Is Election Day on a Tuesday in November?" by Robert McNamara.
Article: "Vice President of the United States" by Wikipedia.
Article: "Fugitive Slave Act of 1793" by Wikipedia.
Article: "Report on the Subject of Manufactures" by Alexander Hamilton.
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Friday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 12-3pm ET 
It's Friday and that means it's Brunch with Bernie...America's Senator Bernie Sanders will be here talking about all the important issues of the week and he'll be taking YOUR calls too!
 
Plus, Thom debates the meaning of the Census Bureau's new poverty data with Robert Rector of the Heritage Foundation.
 
And John Nichols of the Nation willk be reporting live from Scotland on the results of the referendum... an independent Scotland?
 
And, the best of the rest of the news along with your calls right here on...
 
The Thom Hartmann Program, Occupying The Media 3 hours a day 5 days a week" for "we the people"
 
And don't forget...Democracy is NOT a spectator sport...it begins with you...
It's Pledge Time at FSTV...
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$120: Green World Rising Video Conference Call and Green World Rising DVD: Green World Rising is a series of short films on the state of climate and solutions to the climate crisis. This collection includes: Carbon, Green World Rising, Restoration and Last Hours.
 
$240: The American Revolution of 1800: How Jefferson Rescued Democracy from Tyranny and Faction - and What This Means Today by Dan Sisson with Thom Hartmann (book) & Video Conference Call with Dan Sisson and Thom Hartmann
 
$360: Green World Rising Video Conference Call: Thom Hartmann, Earl Katz and director Leila Connors.; Green World Rising DVD; The American Revolution of 1800: How Jefferson Rescued Democracy from Tyranny and Faction - and What This Means Today by Dan Sisson with Thom Hartmann (book) & Video Conference Call with Dan Sisson and Thom Hartmann.
 
$1000: Group lunch with ME & Louise; includes tour of the studio, lunch with donors and Thom's 10 favorite rants on CD
 
So where do you stand?
 
Now, more than ever, it is crucial that we act swiftly to protect and expand this invaluable social resource - the unique and singular voice of the people, projected to every corner of this nation via your independent network. Act now. Please donate whatever you can. Every dollar has a tremendous impact - your donation to Free Speech TV transforms into programming. Protect your network today by donating now or by upgrading your membership.
 
Call (877) 378-8669 now please. Join the FSTV Movement w/me.
 
-Thom
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The American Revolution of 1800
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Will increased earthquakes finally get lawmakers to ban fracking?

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Death in the Pines
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Watch & Listen to Thom

The Real Carbon Monster Revealed
The Real Carbon Monster Revealed

Sweden Said Good Riddance to Austerity - When Will America?
Sweden Said Good Riddance to Austerity - When Will America?

Do the Oathkeepers Pose a Threat to America? We'll ask One!
Do the Oathkeepers Pose a Threat to America? We'll ask One!

Lone Liberal - Does She or Doesn't She? ....Have Obamacare?
Lone Liberal - Does She or Doesn't She? ....Have Obamacare?

Lone Liberal - Benghazi Circus: Calculated or Just stoned-out Incompetent?
Lone Liberal - Benghazi Circus: Calculated or Just stoned-out Incompetent?

Or watch the Full "Big Picture" Show...

Full Show 9/17/14: The Rise of Right-Wing Militias
Full Show 9/17/14: The Rise of Right-Wing Militias

Thom takes a look at the Republican obsession with Benghazi and debates the successes of Obamacare in the Lone Liberal Rumble. Thom tries to shed light on the rise of right-wing militias during the Obama administration with former Arizona Sheriff Richard Mack, one of the leaders of the Oath Keepers movement. Economist Richard Wolff joins Thom to discuss Sweden's rejection of austerity politics and the prospect of an independent Scotland.

Arctic Campaign, Shell Pushing to Expand Drilling Rights
Arctic Campaign, Shell Pushing to Expand Drilling Rights

Good on you, Jim McDermott!
Good on you, Jim McDermott!

War in the Middle East and other Progressive Issues...
War in the Middle East and other Progressive Issues...

Caller: Creationists Have it Wrong on Darwin...
Caller: Creationists Have it Wrong on Darwin...

Thom agrees with Thomas Friedman on ISIS...
Thom agrees with Thomas Friedman on ISIS...
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Salem Children's Village child meditating by lakeWould you like to help give a child with a very troubled background this feeling of peace?

Thom and Louise Hartmann founded the New England Salem Children's Village (NESCV) in New Hampshire in 1979. With states delaying payment for the children they entrust to the village, they need help with cash flow. Can you help? Now on Facebook.