Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 7pm and 10pm... Conversations With Great Minds with Professor Richard Wolff (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT or Free Speech TV, and catch past shows on Youtube)

  Seattle is proving to be the birthplace of new, progressive policies. Last year, that city was the first in our nation to pass a $15 minimum wage.

Last week, they were the first to pass a new public campaign finance initiative to put democracy back into the hands of voters.

The so-called "Honest Elections" initiative not only strengthens campaign finance restrictions in Seattle, it will give every registered voter there $100 dollars of "democracy vouchers" to support their favorite candidates as well.

This proposal is aimed at getting more people to participate in local elections and an effort to weaken the power of big money in our democracy. However, the plan is not without its possible faults.

Critics worry that candidates can opt to use the public financing system, which will make them eligible to receive vouchers, but still get the benefits of big donors with the help of Super PACs.

Thankfully, Seattle voters have proven time and time again that they're savvy enough to identify candidates who cheat the system. It will be up to them to test the "Democracy Voucher" system and determine if it can become an effective way to take our election back from the billionaires.

-Thom

(What do you think? Tell us here.)

  

Community Square  

 "Bernie Sanders should be our next President!"  

    

Wednesday's Daily Stack 

Quote: "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." -- President John F. Kennedy.

 

Hours One, Two, Three: Show LIVE from Chicago, IL today for "Lunch With Labor"... presented by Chicago's Progressive Talk...with our very special guests, Labor Leaders:
- Bob Reiter, Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL) 
- Tom Villanova, Chicago/Cook County Building Trades
- Jeff Eppenstein, United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers Local 11
- Sam Cicinelli, Mechanics Local 701 
- Tom Ryan, Chicago Firefighters Union Local 2
- Vito Marchese, Machinists Local 126, District 8
- Representative Lawrence M. Walsh, Jr. (D), 86th District/member of the International Machinist and Aerospace Workers Union 

It's Veteran's Day 2015

Event: Chicago, Il. Nov 11: "Book signing".

Event: December 6: Chicago O'Hare: "Women of Illinois for Bernie rally!".

Site: Citizens' Climate Lobby.

Book: "The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism" by Naomi Klein.

Article: "Social Security's 2016 COLA Is Zero. Senator Warren Has a Plan to Fix That" by Nancy Altman.

Site: Patriotic Millionaires.

Documentary: "Toxic Hot Seat" by HBO.

Article: "Illinois House votes down right to work measure" by Charles Thomas.

Article: "Rauner puts veterans' home in budget crossfire" by Kurt Erickson.

Law: "Taft-Hartley Labor Act", 1947.

Law: "The National Labor Relations Act (The Wagner Act)", 1935.

Article: "Unions tweak Rauner by paying for holiday lights at Illinois Capitol" by Monique Garcia.

Video: Ronald Reagan Speaks Out Against Socialized Medicine.

Site: Fight For $15.

Article: "Haymarket affair" by Wikipedia.

Article: "Pullman Porters: from Servitude to Civil Rights".

Article: "Industrial Workers of the World" ("Wobblies").

Article: "Low Wages at a Single Wal-Mart Store Cost Taxpayers about $1 Million Every Year, Says New Committee Staff Report" by Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Article: "Quinn complains wealthy are trying to help Rauner buy election" by Rick Pearson.

Site: "Proud Union Home".

Thursday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 12-3pm ET 

 

We'll have the latest news and information...everything you need to know to win the water cooler wars...

 

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...

Free excerpt, read book for free at Truthout, buy the book!

The Thom Hartmann Program is a Charity Wine Partner with the Organic Wine Company. Purchase any wines and they will donate a portion of the proceeds to The Hunter School for children with autism, ADHD, and other learning challenges.

 

One of my favorite wines is CHATEAU VERONIQUE 2011 - The wine that started the Organic Wine Company. Subtle and sophisticated, this wine will complement any table.

 

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Thom

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Sincerely,

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