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<div><ol><li><font size="3"><b><a href="http://act.alternet.org/go/18722?akid=8723.16102.lNeIPj&t=34" target="_blank" style="line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">68 Dems, 1 Republican Urge Obama Not to Ban "Buy-American" Incentive for Domestic Manufacturing</a> </b></font></li><li><h2 class="ReadMsgSubject" style="line-height: 24px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font size="3">PATRIOT ACTþ </font></h2></li><li><h2 class="ReadMsgSubject" style="line-height: 24px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font size="3">(12) HOW THE SUPER-RICH HAVESECEDED FROM THE UNITED STATESþ </font></h2></li><li><font size="3"><b><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; ">"</span><a href="http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=60tZJrawkSK%2ByOS%2B4EEl1BxWP5N0KXI2" target="_blank" style="line-height: 15px; color: rgb(166, 66, 28); cursor: pointer; ">Truthdiggers of the Week: The May Day Occupiers</a><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 15px; ">"</span> </b></font></li><li><font size="3"><b><span style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); line-height: 17px; ">Occupied Oakland's May Daze</span> </b></font></li><li><font size="3"><b><span style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); line-height: 17px; ">Disappointingly Little Changes After ICE Review of Secure Communities, Say Advocates</span> </b></font></li><li><font size="3"><b><span style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); line-height: 17px; ">The Crushing Burden of Student Debt</span> </b></font></li><li><h2 class="ReadMsgSubject" style="line-height: 24px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font size="3">"WE CAN CHANGE WAL-MART IF WE ALL COME TOGETHER"þ(LCLAA) </font></h2></li><li><font size="3"><b><a href="http://act.alternet.org/go/18298?akid=8718.16102.tixGkG&t=24" target="_blank" style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">‘We Don’t Go to Work to Be Touched’: Sexual Harassment in the Warehouse</a> </b></font></li><li><font size="3"><b><a href="http://act.alternet.org/go/18714?akid=8718.16102.tixGkG&t=27" target="_blank" style="line-height: 20px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">New Equal Employment Rulings Help Transgender, Ex-Offender Workers Get & Keep Jobs</a> </b></font></li></ol><div><br></div></div><div>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/912609/68_dems,_1_republican_urge_obama_not_to_ban_%22buy-american%22_incentive_for_domestic_manufacturing/">http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/912609/68_dems,_1_republican_urge_obama_not_to_ban_%22buy-american%22_incentive_for_domestic_manufacturing/</a>
</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://act.alternet.org/go/18722?akid=8723.16102.lNeIPj&t=34" target="_blank" style="line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">68 Dems, 1 Republican Urge Obama Not to Ban "Buy-American" Incentive for Domestic Manufacturing</a><br style="line-height: 18px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="line-height: 14px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; color: rgb(77, 77, 77); ">By Staff | AlterNet</span>
</div><div><span style="line-height: 14px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; color: rgb(77, 77, 77); "><br></span></div><div>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</div><div><br></div><div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font face="Arial" style="line-height: normal; "><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><img src="http://www.shatteringdenial.com/images/bush_patriot_act.jpg" style="line-height: 17px; "></font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font face="Arial" style="line-height: normal; "></font> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font face="Arial" style="line-height: normal; "></font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>TENTH BIRTHDAY OF THE USA PATRIOT ACT</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://nsarchive.wordpress.com/2011" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://nsarchive.wordpress.com/2011</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">/10/26/happy-10th-birthday-usa-patriot-act/</font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img src="http://www.halolz.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/dukenukem-homelandsecurity.jpg"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>PATRIOT ACT CIVIL LIBERTIES VIOLATIONS</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://www.netscientia.com/patriot_truth2.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://www.netscientia.com/patriot_truth2.html</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img class="ecxaligncenter ecxsize-full ecxwp-image-1597" title="draft_lens1278734module8082117photo_patriotact" src="http://iquestionauthority.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/draft_lens1278734module8082117photo_patriotact.jpg?w=490"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>PATRIOT ACT EXTENDED</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong></strong> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://iquestionauthority.wordpress.com/2010/02" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://iquestionauthority.wordpress.com/2010/02</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">/26/the-patriot-act-extended-and-not-going-anywhere-soon/</font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img src="http://www.conspiracyplanet.com/images/patriot_act.jpg"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>PATRIOT ACT VS CONSTITUTION</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://ocoathkeepers.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://ocoathkeepers.wordpress.com</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">/2011/04/04/patriot-act-vs-constitution/</font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img src="http://informedvoters.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/bush_patriot_act.jpg"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">REFORM THE PATRIOT ACT</font></strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="https://www.aclu.org/reform-patriot-act" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">https://www.aclu.org/reform-patriot-act</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img src="http://grlbhvingbadly.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/patriotact.jpg"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>PATRIOT ACT SIGNED INTO LAW BY MACHINE</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://www.menwithfoilhats.com/2011/05/patriot-act-signed-" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://www.menwithfoilhats.com/2011/05/patriot-act-signed-</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">into-law-by-machine-4-more-years-of-government-terror/</font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img src="http://www.populicio.us/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/patriot_act.gif"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>DOES THE PATRIOT ACT VIOLATE CITIZEN'S RIGHTS?</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2010/0222/Sup" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2010/0222/Sup</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">reme-Court-Does-part-of-Patriot-Act-violate-citizens-right</font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img src="http://www.dakey2eternity.com/images/patriot_act_9-11_twin_towers.jpg"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>SURVEILLANCE UNDER THE PATRIOT ACT</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="https://www.aclu.org/national-security/surveillance-under-patriot-act" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">https://www.aclu.org/national-security/surveillance-under-patriot-act</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img src="http://www.connorboyack.com/blog/images/patriotact.jpg"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>THERE'S A SECRET PATRIOT ACT, SAYS SENATOR</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/05/secret-patriot-act/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/05/secret-patriot-act/</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img src="http://batr.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/Anti-patriot-act_cartoon.gif"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><strong>OUR CORPORATE CONTROLLED CONGRESS & THE PATRIOT ACT</strong></div><div align="center"><a href="http://authenticallywired.com/2010/12/16/our-corp" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://authenticallywired.com/2010/12/16/our-corp</font></a></div><div align="center"><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">orate-controlled-congre-can-only-reform-the-illusion/</font></div><div align="center"><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font> </div></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img src="http://www.flyingsnail.com/Dahbud/images/patriotpics/PatriotActIIBomb.gif"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>WASN'T THE PATRIOT ACT ABOUT TERRORISM?</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110908/02534215846" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110908/02534215846</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">/wasnt-patriot-act-supposed-to-be-about-stopping-terrorism.shtml</font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img src="http://batr.org/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/11-29-Patriot-Act-1.jpg" width="650" height="506" style="height: 455px; "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>PUBLIC REMAIN DIVIDED OVER PATRIOT ACT</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1893/poll-patriot-act-renewal" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1893/poll-patriot-act-renewal</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img src="http://www.bendib.com/newones/2007/june/small/6-3-Cointelpro-Patriot-Act.jpg"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>MOM SAYS PATRIOT ACT STRIPPED SON OF DUE PROCESS</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5049867/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/5049867/</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img src="http://tvnewslies.org/assets/images/4-15-Liberating-the-USA.jpg"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>WHAT THE PATRIOT ACT DOES FOR YOU</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font><a href="http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/201" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/201</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">1/03/30/what-the-patriot-act-does-for-you/</font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img src="http://www.robrogers.com/cartoons/2005/images/072305 Patriot Act.gif"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>THE PATRIOT ACT AND THE DEATH OF CIVIL LIBERTIES</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/06/20-10" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">https://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/06/20-10</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img src="http://pubrecord.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/patriot-act-surveillance.jpg"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>PATRIOT ACT PLANNED BEFORE 9/11</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://www.globalissues.org/article/342/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://www.globalissues.org/article/342/</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">the-usa-patriot-act-was-planned-before-911</font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img src="http://action.aclu.org/images/content/pagebuilder/12617.gif"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>PATRIOT ACT WARRANTS MOSTLY USED FOR DRUGS</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://boingboing.net/2011/09/07/patriot-act-" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://boingboing.net/2011/09/07/patriot-act-</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">search-warrants-overwhelmingly-used-for-drugs.html</font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img src="http://www.votervoice.net/Files/JBS/Images/patriotact_sm_001.jpg"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>IMPACT OF THE USA PATRIOT ACT</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font><a href="http://www.fepproject.org/commentaries/patriotactupdate.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://www.fepproject.org/commentaries/patriotactupdate.html</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img class="ecxalignnone ecxwp-image-2884" title="PatriotAct" src="http://www.classwarfareexists.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/PatriotAct.jpg" width="553" height="358"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>SECRET PROVISIONS OF THE PATRIOT ACT</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://www.classwarfareexists.com/secret-pro" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://www.classwarfareexists.com/secret-pro</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">visions-in-patriot-act-not-revealed-to-americans/</font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img id="ecxil_fi" src="http://www.conspiracyplanet.com/images/ACF400.jpg" width="282" height="415"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>THE UNPATRIOTIC PATRIOT ACT</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul114.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul114.html</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img id="ecxil_fi" src="http://www.dezynemusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/patriot_act.jpg" width="426" height="282"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>DOES THE PATRIOT ACT VIOLATE PRIVACY RIGHTS</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://www.dezynemusic.com/2011/09/28/is-the" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://www.dezynemusic.com/2011/09/28/is-the</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">-patriot-act-violating-privacy-rights-essay-by-dezyne/</font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img id="ecxil_fi" src="http://www.bendib.com/newones/2005/november/large/Patriot Act again.jpg" width="587" height="415"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>UNSETTLING PROVISIONS OF THE PATRIOT ACT</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/sunsetting-provi" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/sunsetting-provi</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">sions-patriot-act-revives-privacy-debate/story?id=9173895</font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img id="ecxil_fi" src="http://newsjunkiepost.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/2100613261_f5fd014a68_b2-344x336.jpg" width="344" height="336"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>PATRIOT ACT PROTECTS FROM FREEDOM & DEMOCRACY</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://newsjunkiepost.com/2011/02/08/patriot-" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://newsjunkiepost.com/2011/02/08/patriot-</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">act-protecting-you-from-freedom-and-democracy/</font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><img id="ecxil_fi" src="http://angrylittlecomic.com/comics/2011-05-10-ffffffffuuuuuuu-patriot-act.jpg" width="473" height="415"></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong>PATRIOT ACT EXTENSION SIGNED BY OBAMA</strong></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/27/patriot-" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/27/patriot-</font></a></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">act-extension-signed-obama-autopen_n_867851.html</font></div></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "><br></font></div><div>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div align="center"><strong><font size="4" style="line-height: normal; ">HOW THE SUPER-RICH HAVE SE- <br style="line-height: 23px; ">EDED FROM THE UNITED STATES</font></strong> <br>January 10, 2012</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="ecxil_fi" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Bill_Clinton_signing_Nafta.gif" width="564" height="386"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><div align="center"><strong>NOTES ON NAFTA - THE MASTERS OF MANKIND</strong></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.chomsky.info/articles/199303--.htm" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://www.chomsky.info/articles/199303--.htm</font></a></div></div><div align="justify"><br>It was in 1993 during Congressional deliberation over the North American Free Trade Agreement. I was having lunch with a staffer for one of the rare Republican members of Congress who opposed the policy of so-called free trade. I distinctly remember something my colleague said: "The rich elites of this country have far more in common with their counterparts in London, Paris and Tokyo than with their own fellow American citizens." That was just the beginning of the period when the realities of outsourced manufacturing, financialization of the economy and growing income dispar-ity started to seep into the public consciousness, so at the time it seemed like a striking and novel statement. At the end of the cold war, many writers predicted the decline of the traditional nation state. Some looked at the demise of the Soviet Union and foresaw the territorial state breaking up into statelets of different ethnic,</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">religious or economic compositions. This happened in the Balkans, former Czechoslovakia and Sudan. Others, like Chuck Spinney, predicted a weakening of the state due to the rise of fourth-generation warfare and the inability of national armies to adapt to it. The quagmires of Iraq and Afghanistan lend credence to that theory. There have been hundreds of books about globalization and how it would break down borders. But I am unaware of a well-developed theory from that time about how the super-rich and the corpo-rations they run would secede from the nation state. I do not mean secession in terms of physical withdrawal from the territory of the state, although that happens occasionally.(i)</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">It means a with-drawal into enclaves, a sort of internal immigration, whereby the rich disconnect themselves from the civic life of the nation and from any concern about its well-being except as a place to extract loot. Our plutocracy now lives like the British in colonial India: in the place and ruling it, but not of it. If one can afford private security, public safety is of no concern; if one owns a Gulfstream jet, crumbling bridges cause less apprehension - and viable public transportation doesn't even show up on the radar screen. With private doctors on call, who cares about Medicare? To some degree, the rich have always secluded themselves from the gaze of the common herd; for example, their habit for centuries has been to send their offspring to private schools. But now this habit is exacerbated by the plutocracy's palpable animosity toward public education and public educators,</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">as Michael Bloomberg has demonstrated. To the extent public education "reform" is popular among billionaires and their tax-exempt foundations, one suspects it is as a lever to divert the more than one-half trillion dollars in federal, state and local education dollars into private hands, meaning themselves and their friends.(ii) A century ago, at least we got some attractive public libraries out of Andrew Carnegie. Noblesse oblige like Carnegie's is presently lacking among our seceding plutocracy. In both world wars, even a Harvard man or a New York socialite might know the weight of an Army pack. Now, the military is for suckers from the laboring classes, whose subprime mortgages you just sliced into CDOs and sold to gullible investors in order to buy your second Bentley or rustle up the cash to employ Rod Stewart to perform at your birthday party. Courtesy of Matt Taibbi,</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="center"><img id="ecxil_fi" src="http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/11/1124_biggest_givers/image/30_bernard_marcus.jpg" width="600" height="350"></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">we learn that the sentiment among the super-rich toward the rest of America is often one of contempt rather than noblesse; <strong>Bernard Marcus,</strong> co-founder of Home Depot, says about the views of the 99 percent: "Who gives a crap about some imbecile?" Steven Schwarzman, the hedge fund billionaire CEO of the Blackstone Group who hired Rod Stewart for his $5 million birthday party, believes it is the rabble who are socially irresponsible. Speaking about low-income citizens who pay no income tax, he says: "You have to have skin in the game. I'm not saying how much people should do. But we should all be part of the system." But millions of Americans who do not pay federal income taxes pay federal payroll taxes. These taxes are regressive and the dirty little secret is that over the last several decades they have made up a greater and greater share of federal revenues.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">In 1950, payroll and other federal retirement contributions constituted 10.9 percent of all federal revenues; by 2007, the last "normal" economic year before federal revenues began falling, they made up 33.9 percent. By contrast, corporate income taxes were 26.4 percent of federal revenues in 1950; by 2007, they had fallen to 14.4 percent. Who has skin in the game now? As is well known by now, Schwarzman benefits from the "Buffett Rule": financial sharks typically take their compensation in the form of capital gains rather than salaries, thus knocking down their income tax rate from 35 percent to 15 percent. But that's not the only way Mr. Skin-in-the-Game benefits: the 6.2-percent Social Security tax and the 1.45-percent Medicare tax apply only to wages and salaries, not capital gains distributions.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="center"><img id="ecxil_fi" src="http://0.tqn.com/d/beginnersinvest/1/0/j/L/small-business-stock-gains-section-1202-tax.jpg" width="420" height="406"></div><div align="center"><div align="center"><strong>CAPITAL GAINS TAXES, FAIRNESS, AND NEUTRALITY</strong></div><div align="center"><a href="http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway</font></a></div><div align="center"><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">-confidential/capital-gains-taxes-fairness-and-neutrality/333986</font></div><div align="center"><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font> </div></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Accordingly, Schwarzman is stiffing the system in two ways: not only is his income tax rate less than half the top marginal rate, he is shorting the Social Security system that others of his billionaire colleagues like Pete Peterson say is unsustainable and needs to be cut. This lack of skin in the game may explain why Willard Mitt Romney is so coy about releasing his income tax returns. It would also make sense for someone with $264 million in net worth to joke that he is "unemployed," as if he were some jobless sheet metal worker in Youngstown, when he is really saying in code that his income stream is not a salary subject to payroll deduction. The chances are good that his effective rate for both federal income and payroll taxes is lower than that of many a wage slave.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="center"><img src="http://www.itmighthavebeen.com/graphics/landoverbaptist/bribery.jpg"></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The real joke is on the rest of us. After the biggest financial meltdown in 80 years - a meltdown caused by the type of rogue financial manipulation that Romney embodies - and a consequent long, steep drop in the American standard of living, who is the putative front-runner for one of the only two parties allowed to be competitive in American politics? None other than Romney, the man who says corporations are people. Opposing him, or someone like him, will be the incumbent President Barack Obama, who will raise up to a billion dollars to compete in the campaign. Much of that loot will come from the same corporations, hedge fund managers, merger and acquisition specialists and leveraged buyout artists the president will denounce in pro forma fashion during the campaign. The super-rich have seceded from America even as their grip on its control mechanisms has tightened.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Mike Lofgren<br><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; ">http://www.truth-out.org/have-super</font></a><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "> <br style="line-height: 17px; ">-rich-seceded-united-states/1326127151</font></div><div align="justify"><a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FREEDOMSFORUM/message/162410" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(30, 102, 174); cursor: pointer; ">http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FREEDOMSFORUM/message/162410</a></div><div align="justify"> </div><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font></div><div style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "></font></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "><img src="http://www.kathleens-graphics.com/KIAbiz/images/US for sale copy.jpg" style="line-height: 17px; "></font></div></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: Georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#0000ff" style="line-height: normal; "><br></font></div><div>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/truthdiggers_of_the_week_the_may_day_occupiers_20120504/">http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/truthdiggers_of_the_week_the_may_day_occupiers_20120504/</a>
</div><div><br></div><div><span class="ecximgborder" style="line-height: 15px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; float: left; "><a href="http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=63rhnJIlqkYco3qirTJ/NRxWP5N0KXI2" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(166, 66, 28); cursor: pointer; "><img src="http://www.truthdig.com/images/eartothegrounduploads/ocmay160.jpg" border="0" alt="" width="160" height="110" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-width: initial; border-top-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-right-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-bottom-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); border-left-color: rgb(153, 153, 153); "></a></span><p style="line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><br>"<a href="http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=60tZJrawkSK%2ByOS%2B4EEl1BxWP5N0KXI2" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(166, 66, 28); cursor: pointer; ">Truthdiggers of the Week: The May Day Occupiers</a>" -- There were doubts about whether Occupy Wall Street could pull off the massive day of protest its organizers spent many months planning. But demonstrators in New York City and elsewhere joined forces with labor unions and immigrant-rights activists to remind the public that there is a working class and May 1 is its holiday. <br></p><p style="line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><br></p></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://truth-out.org/news/item/8920-occupied-oaklands-may-daze">http://truth-out.org/news/item/8920-occupied-oaklands-may-daze</a>
</div><div><br></div><div><font style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong style="line-height: 17px; ">Occupied Oakland's May Daze</strong></font><br style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Susie Cagle, Truthout: "May Day 2012 in Oakland was not, in fact, a general strike. That was never made more clear than when occupiers on an anti-gentrification march went in to a downtown restaurant and some of the workers pushed them out - because they wanted to work…. May Day was supposed to mark a rebirth of the movement, the return of thousands to the streets, the recapturing of the nation's imagination. Hopes were high. For a six-month-old movement, perhaps they were too high." </span><br style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=AY%2BVWqUaAAKSdam4MRvMcbSEYW43HmYt" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#cc0000" style="line-height: normal; ">Read the Article</font></a><span style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span>
</div><div><span style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br></span></div><div><span style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br></span></div><div>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://truth-out.org/news/item/8923-disappointingly-little-changes-after-ice-review-of-secure-communities-say-advocates">http://truth-out.org/news/item/8923-disappointingly-little-changes-after-ice-review-of-secure-communities-say-advocates</a>
</div><div><br></div><div><font style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong style="line-height: 17px; ">Disappointingly Little Changes After ICE Review of Secure Communities, Say Advocates</strong></font><br style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Yana Kunichoff, Truthout: "A tweak to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Secure Communities program, would allow the agency to withhold placing undocumented immigrants stopped by local law enforcement for traffic violations into deportation proceedings until 'conviction for the minor criminal traffic offense.' But the change ... still means that undocumented immigrants are at risk for being deported for missing a traffic light or speeding. So what has really changed in the policy? Disappointingly little, say advocates." </span><br style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=db0E4oy3lGVZcKfUFsZiu7SEYW43HmYt" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#cc0000" style="line-height: normal; ">Read the Article</font></a><span style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span>
</div><div><span style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><br></span></div><div>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/8901-the-crushing-burden-of-student-debt">http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/8901-the-crushing-burden-of-student-debt</a>
</div><div><br></div><div><font style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><strong style="line-height: 17px; ">The Crushing Burden of Student Debt</strong></font><br style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">David Graeber, Mike Konczal, Brian Kalkbrenner and Sarah Jaffe, n+1: "One of my favorite moments of Occupy Wall Street was the second or third night. There's this guy, he's playing a carnival barker, and he says, 'Step right up! Write down what you owe to the bank; write down what you're worth to the 1 percent!'... and people were writing down what they owed and what type of debt. And I thought, this is a radical moment, because we are articulating this number out loud, and we are putting it in a political context, and this is the moment I've been waiting for." </span><br style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=dlqrXZUhzOk5pEeZUpbzBbSEYW43HmYt" target="_blank" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><font color="#cc0000" style="line-height: normal; ">Read the Article</font></a><span style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "> </span>
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margin-right: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 12px; overflow-x: hidden; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div class="SandboxScopeClass ExternalClass" id="mpf0_MsgContainer" style="line-height: normal; font-size: 10pt; display: inline-block; "><div style="line-height: 17px; direction: ltr; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 10pt; "><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 17px; "><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; ">Dear LCLAA member,</font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 17px; "><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "></font></span> </p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 17px; "><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "> <strong style="line-height: 20px; ">As the largest employer of Latinos in the United States, Wal-Mart has a tremendous impact on our community.</strong><span style="line-height: 20px; "> </span>I have had the privilege of meeting with several Wal-Mart retail and sub-contracted warehouse workers. They’ve shared heart-wrenching stories of struggling to raise a family on low wages, while sometimes facing life altering injuries at work. I have been moved by their courage to stand up to their employer, and I ask you to join me and stand with them.</font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 17px; "><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "></font></span> </p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 17px; "></span><span style="line-height: 17px; "><font face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "><font size="3"><strong style="line-height: 20px; "> In the aftermath of the <i>New York Times </i>report on Wal-Mart’s corruption scandal and reported cover-up, this is the moment for us to come together and call on Wal-Mart to make real change.</strong><span style="line-height: 20px; "> </span>It shines a much needed light on Wal-Mart’s misguided “growth-at-any-cost” business strategy and the negative impact the company has on Latino communities in the U.S. and abroad.<span style="line-height: 20px; "> </span></font></font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 17px; "><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "> </font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 17px; "><font face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 20px; "> </span>Celebrating its 50<sup style="line-height: 17px; ">th</sup> anniversary this year, Wal-Mart has unparalleled size and impact on the American economy as the country’s largest employer and retailer. <strong style="line-height: 20px; ">Wal-Mart’s business practices and political donations from the Walton family have had a negative impact on the Latino community <font color="#ff0000" style="line-height: normal; ">(SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENTS</font><font color="#ff0000" style="line-height: normal; ">)</font>.</strong><span style="line-height: 20px; "> </span>On April 19, workers and community leaders released a set of proposals calling on Wal-Mart and the Walton heirs, the richest family in America with a combined wealth of nearly $100 billion—more than 30 percent of American families combined, to commit to improve workers’ lives, rebuild communities, guarantee workers’ rights, and elevate global and sustainable living standards.</font></font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 17px; "><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "> </font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 20px; "> In the Inland Empire in Southern California, more than 80,000 workers—the majority are Latino/a immigrants—a</span><span style="line-height: 20px; ">re moving billions of dollars of goods through a vast network of warehouses hidden away on the outskirts of Los Angeles. <strong>Many are paid poverty wages and often face illegal and dangerous working conditions. </strong>Wal-Mart uses a subcontracting scheme to exploit tens of thousands of these workers while trying to deny accountability, by hiring firms or temp agencies that pay the workers at or near the $8 per hour minimum wage. Workers have reported wage theft, where the employing firms don’t pay for the hours worked. They are often labeled “temporary” even if they have been working at a warehouse for years. Instead of providing health coverage or sick pay, the largest retailer pushes its employees’ medical costs onto taxpayers.</span></font></font></p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; "><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "></font></span> <BR><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; "><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "><font size="3"> <strong style="line-height: 20px; "> Significant political donations from the company and family have gone to support politicians who oppose fair and humane immigration reform, and support e-verify policies and militarization of the US-Mexican border. </strong>The largest recipient of contributions from the Walton family is Rep. John Boozman (R-Ark.), who had a score of 0% on a scorecard publicized by the William C. Velasquez Institute on Immigrant Justice. </font></font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "> </font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 20px; "> </span>Wal-Mart associate Venanzi Luna from South Gate, California shared with me, “For years my co-workers and I have been saying that this company has lost its way. But with this whole corruption cover-up scandal, we didn’t know it had gotten this bad.” Outraged that top Wal-Mart executives were involved in illegal activity and then tried to cover it up, Venanzi has started an online petition calling for the resignation of the retailer’s Chairman Rob Walton and Chief Executive Officer Mike Duke. In just a few days, the petition has garnered more than 5,000 signatures.</font></font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "> </font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 20px; "> </span>I am calling on you today to join me to stand with these brave workers and demand change at Wal-Mart.<span style="line-height: 20px; "> </span>I urge you to take action now:</font></font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "> </font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in; "><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 20px; font-family: Symbol; ">·<span style="line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; "> </span></span><b style="line-height: 20px; ">Write a letter to Wal-Mart’s home office, and demand that Wal-Mart Chairman Rob Walton and CEO Mike Duke resign immediately</b><span style="line-height: 20px; "> and appoint an independent investigation of the corruption scandal and reported cover-up. The failure by the company’s leadership to adequately respond to the alleged illegal activities in a timely and effective manner has undermined their ability to lead the company. </span></font></font></p><p class="ecxMsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "> </font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 20px; "> </span>Wal-Mart Home Office</font></font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 20px; "> </span>c/o Board of Directors</font></font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 20px; "> </span>702 SW 8<sup style="line-height: 17px; ">th</sup> Street</font></font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 20px; "> </span>Bentonville, Arkansas</font></font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 20px; "> </span>72716-8611</font></font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "> </font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in; "><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 20px; font-family: Symbol; ">·<span style="line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; "> </span></span><b style="line-height: 20px; ">Direct your members, affiliates, and allies to sign on to Wal-Mart associate Venanzi Luna’s online petition </b><span style="line-height: 20px; ">calling for the resignations and independent investigation:</span></font></font><a href="http://www.change.org/petitions/walmart-end-the-corruption-and-the-cover-up" target="_blank" style="line-height: 19px; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; "><span style="color: blue; "><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; ">http://www.change.org/petitions/walmart-end-the-corruption-and-the-cover-up</font></span></a><b style="line-height: 19px; "></b></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><b style="line-height: 19px; "><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "> </font></b></p><p class="ecxMsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: -0.25in; "><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 20px; font-family: Symbol; ">·<span style="line-height: normal; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; "> </span></span><b style="line-height: 20px; ">Go to </b></font></font><a href="http://www.walmartat50.org/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 19px; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; "><span style="color: blue; "><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; ">www.WalmartAt50.org</font></span></a><b style="line-height: 19px; "><font face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "><font size="3"> and share your story.</font></font></b></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><b style="line-height: 19px; "><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "> </font></b></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><font face="Times New Roman"><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 20px; "> </span><span style="line-height: 20px; "> </span></font></font></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 20px; "> </span>Together, we can build a stronger America than the one that Wal-Mart and the Walton family have created – an economy with good, decent paying jobs, safe workplaces that are free from discrimination, responsible corporate citizens that build strong communities, a cleaner environment and a better economic future for all families. This is a unique opportunity for us to come together and ensure that Wal-Mart and the Walton family, which controls half of the company, use their considerable power to make changes that will improve – not tear down, the lives of workers and our communities.</font></font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "> </font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "><font size="3"> Please join me. The only way we can change Wal-Mart to rebuild America is if we all come together.</font></font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "> </font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "><font size="3">In solidarity,</font></font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "></span> </p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "></span><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "><font size="3">Esther Lopez</font></font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 17px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; "></span>International Vice President</font></font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "><font size="3">Director, Civil Rights and Community </font></font></span><span style="line-height: 17px; font-size: 11pt; "><font face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "><font size="3">Action Department</font></font></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 17px; font-size: 11pt; "><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; ">United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW)</font></span></p><span style="font-size: 11pt; "><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 19px; "><font face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "><font size="3"><span style="line-height: 17px; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; "><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; ">National LCLAA Executive Board Member</font></span></font></font></span></p></span><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="line-height: 17px; font-size: 11pt; "><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="line-height: normal; "></font></span> </p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><br></p></span></div></div></div></div><div>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.alternet.org/story/155098/%E2%80%98we_don%E2%80%99t_go_to_work_to_be_touched%E2%80%99%3A_sexual_harassment_in_the_warehouse?akid=8718.16102.tixGkG&rd=1&t=24">http://www.alternet.org/story/155098/%E2%80%98we_don%E2%80%99t_go_to_work_to_be_touched%E2%80%99%3A_sexual_harassment_in_the_warehouse?akid=8718.16102.tixGkG&rd=1&t=24</a>
</div><div><br></div><div><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 415px; "><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><a href="http://act.alternet.org/go/18298?akid=8718.16102.tixGkG&t=23" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; "><img src="http://images.alternet.org/images/managed/storyimages_1335117663_screenshot20120422at1.59.47pm.png_640x504_95x68" alt="" width="112" height="81" align="left" border="0" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; "></a></td><td><span style="color: white; ">-</span></td><td valign="top"><p class="ecxheadline3" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; "><a href="http://act.alternet.org/go/18298?akid=8718.16102.tixGkG&t=24" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">‘We Don’t Go to Work to Be Touched’: Sexual Harassment in the Warehouse</a></p><p style="line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); ">The same industry structure that allegedly allows for widespread violations of labor law also contributes to a climate of unchecked sexual harassment and retaliation. <a class="ecxreadmore" href="http://act.alternet.org/go/18298?akid=8718.16102.tixGkG&t=25" target="_blank" style="line-height: 11px; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; font-size: 9px; letter-spacing: 0.1em; "><strong>READ MORE</strong></a></p><p style="line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; color: rgb(77, 77, 77); ">By Kari Lydersen / In These Times</p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</div><div><br></div><div><a href="http://www.alternet.org/story/155266/new_equal_employment_rulings_help_transgender%2C_ex-offender_workers_get_%26_keep_jobs?akid=8718.16102.tixGkG&rd=1&t=27">http://www.alternet.org/story/155266/new_equal_employment_rulings_help_transgender%2C_ex-offender_workers_get_%26_keep_jobs?akid=8718.16102.tixGkG&rd=1&t=27</a>
</div><div><br></div><div><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="line-height: 17px; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); width: 415px; "><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><a href="http://act.alternet.org/go/18714?akid=8718.16102.tixGkG&t=26" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; "><img src="http://images.alternet.org/images/managed/storyteaser_classifiedsmainfull.jpg_95x68" alt="" width="112" height="81" align="left" border="0" style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-top-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-bottom-style: none; border-left-style: none; border-width: initial; "></a></td><td><span style="color: white; ">-</span></td><td valign="top"><p class="ecxheadline3" style="line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; "><a href="http://act.alternet.org/go/18714?akid=8718.16102.tixGkG&t=27" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; ">New Equal Employment Rulings Help Transgender, Ex-Offender Workers Get & Keep Jobs</a></p><p style="line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); ">This week, the EEOC ruled that transgender workers are protected under the Civil Rights Act and laid out guidelines restricting criminal background checks.<a class="ecxreadmore" href="http://act.alternet.org/go/18714?akid=8718.16102.tixGkG&t=28" target="_blank" style="line-height: 11px; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 104, 207); cursor: pointer; font-size: 9px; letter-spacing: 0.1em; "><strong>READ MORE</strong></a></p><p style="line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; color: rgb(77, 77, 77); ">By Josh Eidelson / In These Times</p><p style="line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; color: rgb(77, 77, 77); "><br></p><p style="line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 1.35em; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; color: rgb(77, 77, 77); "><br></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</div><br><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="line-height:normal"><font size="2">Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monitory gain to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the material for research and educational purposes. This is in accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. section 107..<br style="line-height:17px"></font><a href="http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html" style="line-height:20px;color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><font color="#0066cc" size="2" style="line-height:normal">http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html</font></a></font></div><font face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"></font><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;line-height:17px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"> </span><br style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3" style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Listen to Native Voice One <a href="http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/nv1/ppr/index.shtml" style="line-height:20px;color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/nv1/ppr/index.shtml</a></font> </div></body>
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