Author Archives: David Johnson

A SMALL STEP FOR HEALTHCARE, A GIANT LEAP FOR A MOVEMENT

On Wednesday, September 13, 2017, Vermont Independent Senator Bernie Sanders introduced a single-payer/expanded and improved Medicare for All health care bill (Senate Bill 1804) in the U.S. Senate. At a press conference that day, Senator Sanders stated, “The American people want … Continue reading

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OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND, THE HIDDEN COSTS OF WAR

“War is a racket!” This was a famous quote from retired U.S. Marine Corp General Smedley Butler in 1934. Butler stated that “I spent 33 years in the Marine Corp, most of my time being a high-class muscle man for … Continue reading

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“Labor Hour” Now on WRFU, the Radio Station of the UCIMC

After 21 years at radio station WEFT, the World Labor Hour radio program has moved its weekly 2-hour program to radio station WRFU (104.5 FM/wrfu.net) in the IMC/downtown Urbana Post Office building. The World Labor Hour radio program (originally called … Continue reading

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Labor Campaign For Single Payer Healthcare National Conference In Chicago

From Friday, October 30th until Sunday, November 1st in Chicago, Illinois, the largest-ever national conference of single-payer/Medicare for All health care advocates will convene. The conference is jointly sponsored by the Labor Campaign for Single Payer, Healthcare Now, One Payer States … Continue reading

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Stop the Trans Pacific Partnership

Nearly all the Republicans and the Obama administration are united on pushing through the most massive free trade agreement to date, called the TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership). The vast majority of members of Congress, in the House and Senate alike, … Continue reading

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Why the Republicans Were So Successful in the Mid-Term Elections

It is obvious from the recent mid-term elections that the Democratic Party nation-wide is in crisis. The corporate media states that the Democratic Party must become more “centrist,” meaning that the Democratic Party needs to be more like the Republicans. … Continue reading

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The New Civil Rights Campaign-Health Care is a Human Right!

DEMOCRACY AND JUSTICE DENIED In May of 2009 the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, chaired by Democratic Montana Senator Max Baucus, pressured by President Barack Obama, held hearings about healthcare reform in the U.S. Over the course of several weeks, only … Continue reading

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The “Fiscal Cliff” is Classic Shock Doctrine

The “debt ceiling” and “fiscal cliff” scenarios are well choreographed dog-and-pony circus acts brought to you by the same people who crashed the economy in 2008, with the help of their bought-and-paid-for politicians from both the Democrat and Republican parties. … Continue reading

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MY EXPERIENCE IN CUBA: Installment II

  For anyone who lives outside the United States, a trip to Cuba is no different than a trip to any Caribbean country like Jamaica, Aruba, etc. For those living in the U.S., this has not been the case. Three years … Continue reading

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MY EXPERIENCE IN CUBA: INSTALLMENT I

  By DAVID JOHNSON This is part one of a two-part series reflecting on my travels in Cuba IMPRESSIONS ON THE STREET   In many ways it seemed like things have been frozen in time since the 1950s or the 1970s—with the … Continue reading

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FLEX N GATE WORKERS FIGHT FOR HEALTH, LIVING WAGES AND JUSTICE IN URBANA ILLINOIS

CENTRAL ILLINOIS JOBS WITH JUSTICE FLEX N GATE WORKERS FIGHT FOR HEALTH, LIVING WAGES AND JUSTICE IN URBANA ILLINOIS WHY A BILLIONAIRE CANT AFFORD SAFETY EQUIPMENT OR LIVING WAGES ? Billionaire Shahid Kahn, owner of Flex N Gate Incorporated, manafactures bumpers for the … Continue reading

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Judi Bari, the IWW and Environmentalism

As we celebrate Earth Day and enjoy the flush of spring, it is important to reflect on those who have made invaluable contributions to the continuing efforts at protecting our environment and our rights. Judi Bari is one such individual … Continue reading

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The Legacy Of The 1999 WTO “Battle Of Seattle” On Champaign-Urbana

During the late summer and early fall of 1999, I saw a multitude of e-mails and postings on the relatively new internet, from numerous citizens’ organizations and individuals, indicating their plans to go to Seattle in November to protest the … Continue reading

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The Working Class Strikes Back

On Friday Dec. 5th 2008, an event occured on the near-north side of Chicago that sent a chill up the spine of corporate America and inspired working people around the world. A small factory of 200 workers refused to go … Continue reading

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MAY DAY 1886 AND THE EIGHT-HOURDAY MARTYRS

During the summer of 1884, the Federation of Organized Trades called for May 1st 1886 to be the beginning of a nationwide movement for the eight-hour work day. Both state of Illinois and federal employees were already covered by an … Continue reading

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James Connolly

Born Seamas O’Conghaile on June 5th 1868, Connolly is one of the single most important persons in the history of Ireland in the last 100 years. Born and raised in Edinburgh Scotland to Irish immigrant parents, he joined the British … Continue reading

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