Best of the Left Podcast

Tue, 31 March 2015

(2015/03/31) A cascade of embarrassments (Health Care)

Edition #910

Today we take a look at how our current health care system is pathetic compared to the Single Payer alternative and how conservatives are trying to dismantle the small amount of recent progress that’s been made

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Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: The perverse inequity of our current health care system - Economic Update w/ @profwolff - Air Date: 10-5-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Remains - The Dark Leaves

Ch. 4: Act 2: Our F*cked Up Medical System May Leave This Family Bankrupt - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 11-23-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: My Favourite Game - Gran Turismo

Ch. 6: Act 3: Europeans Are Confused by Medical Bankruptcy Story - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 11-15-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Was wollen wir trinken - Ungeschieden, Ungekämmt, Ungehört (Live)

Ch. 8: Act 4: Why we pay far more for our medical care - Economic Update w/ @profwolff - Air Date: 10-19-14

Ch. 9: Song 4: Work - Uprising (Remastered)

Ch. 10: Act 5: The six words behind the case against Obamacare - @DecodeDC - Air Date: 3-12-15

Ch. 11: Song 5: Teddybear's Picnic - De Rock 'n Roll Methode 4

Ch. 12: Act 6: Anti-Obamacare Plaintiffs Show Stunning Ignorance - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 02-12-15

Ch. 13: Song 6: American Way - Essential Masters

Ch. 14: Act 7: The reasons Vermont is abandoning Single Payer health care - Economic Update w/ @profwolff - Air Date: 12-22-14

Ch. 15: Song 7: South Side - Go - The Very Best of Moby

Ch. 16: Act 8: The REAL Conservative Agenda: Privatize Health Care - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 02-05-15

Voicemails

Ch. 17: Thoughts on how to form consensus solutions - Matt from California

Ch. 18: Questioning labels is an important discussion - Adrian from Albuquerque, NM

Ch. 19: Thoughts on political labels - Chuck in Salt Lake City

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

Ch. 20: Final comments on the labels we give ourselves

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Check out the BotL iOS/Android App in the App Stores!

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

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Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

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Direct download: 910_A_cascade_of_embarrassments_Health_Care.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

Fri, 27 March 2015

(2015/03/27) Debunking the doubters (Climate)

Edition #909

It seems that almost all of the progressive climate change news these days is focused on how crazy the climate change deniers are. I guess this is better than the present-both-sides attitude but it still makes me long for a future where we will just get to ignore them.

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Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Climate Science: What You Need To Know - It's @okaytobesmart - Air Date: 12-8-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: Curious - Curious

Ch. 4: Act 2: Climate Change Denial Is Real & Man-made, Here's Undeniable Proof - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 02-26-15

Ch. 5: Song 2: The Scientist - Heroes

Ch. 6: Act 3: Inhofe's snowball and what the media is missing - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date: 3-6-15

Ch. 7: Song 3: 1901 - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

Ch. 8: Act 4: @TassoAzevedo: Hopeful lessons from the battle to save rainforests - @TEDTalks - Air Date: 1-9-15

Ch. 9: Song 4: Magalenha - Brasileiro

Ch. 10: Act 5: Climate Ch... - @OntheMedia - Air Date: 3-20-15

Ch. 11: Song 5: A Few Honest Words - Learning to Bend

Ch. 12: Act 6: GOP perspective on climate change is literally laughable - @greennewsreport - Air Date: 3-26-15

Ch. 13: Song 6: Change of Time - So Runs the World Away

Ch. 14: Act 7: Florida and the media don't use the term 'Climate Change' - CounterSpin (@FAIRmediawatch) - Air Date: 3-13-15

Ch. 15: Song 5: Open Your Eyes - Eyes Open

Ch. 16: Act 8: Cap and Dividend For a Healthy Climate via @CCAN — Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 6: "This fickle world" - Theo Bard

Ch. 18: Act 9: We Will Destroy The Planet And Here's How - @RedactedTonight with @LeeCamp - Air Date: 01-17-15

Voicemails

Ch. 19: Down with the debtors prison - Wade from Ft. Worth, TX

Ch. 20: Solving inter-movement conflicts - Daniel from Albany, NY

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

Ch. 21: Final comments on the ground rules for a conversation about definitions

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

Activism: Cap and Dividend For a Healthy Climate via @CCAN

Take Action:

SIGN: "Tell Congress: Act on Climate by Passing Cap-And-Dividend” via Chesapeake Climate Action Network

Visit the TAKE ACTION tab at Climate and Prosperity to volunteer or join the coalition.

Sources/further reading:

"FACT SHEET: The Healthy Climate and Family Security Act of 2014” via Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)

"Cap and Dividend Bill Introduced In Congress (VIDEO)” via Green Action News

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Check out the BotL iOS/Android App in the App Stores!

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 909_Debunking_the_doubters_Climate.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

Tue, 24 March 2015

(2015/03/24) Unfair housing, unfair society (Racism)

Edition #908

Today we take a look at the history of housing discrimination in the US and the connection of those polices to the systemic racism and social unrest in places like Ferguson, MO

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Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: LBJ signs Fair Housing Act 1968

Ch. 3: Song 1: Going Home - The Talks

Ch. 4: Act 2: Fight for fair housing goes to Supreme Court - Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHPshow) - Air Date 1-25-15

Ch. 5: Song 2: Discrimination - Meet Me In the Park

Ch. 6: Act 3: Nikole-Hannah Jones (@nhannahjones) & Jennifer Taub (@jentaub) on the Housing Crisis- What's Changed? - @grittv - Air Date: 9-3-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Zebra - Teen Dream

Ch. 8: Act 4: A short history of racist housing policy - Economic Update with @profwolff - Air Date: 3-15-15

Ch. 9: Song 4: Modern Day Slavery - Exploring All Avenues

Ch. 10: Act 5: The economics of systemic racism - Disorderly Conduct (@Dis_Con) - Air Date: 1-18-15

Ch. 11: Song 5: Something Good Can Work - Tourist History

Ch. 12: Act 6: Ferguson USA - @MumiaAbuJamal - Air Date: 3-9-15

Ch. 13: Song 6: "Middle America" - Chris Priest

Ch. 14: Act 7: The return of debtors prisons in Ferguson - @TWiBnation - Air Date: 2-10-15

Ch. 15: Song 7: Powerless - The Big Picture

Ch. 16: Act 8: #KeepHousingFair via @natfairhouse - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 17: Song 8: Activism - The Poet

Ch. 18: Act 9: Racist Ferguson Police Department Financially Motivated Against Blacks - @The Young Turks - Air Date: 03-07-15

Voicemails

Ch. 20: Racism and employment - Ruben from San Jose

Ch. 21: The corrective mechanism in libertarianism - Patrick from Dallas

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

Ch. 22: Final comments on libertarians as snowflakes and my recent bonus episode about being a character in a dystopian future

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

Activism: #KeepHousingFair via @natfairhouse

Take Action:

Follow #KeepHousingFair through The National Fair Housing Alliance on Facebook and Twitter

Additional Activism/Resources:

CHICAGO VOTERS: the mayoral runoff election is APRIL 7. Rahm has continued harmful Daley policies, so Find Your Polling Place

READ: "Living Apart: How the Government Betrayed a Landmark Civil Rights Law” — a $1.99 Kindle Single by Nikole Hannah-Jones

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Check out the BotL iOS/Android App in the App Stores!

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 908_Unfair_housing_unfair_society_Racism.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

Fri, 20 March 2015

(2015/03/20) Propaganda and warmongering (Netanyahu and the GOP letter to Iran)

Edition #907

Today we take a look at how the GOP in the US is working hand-in-glove with the neoconservative Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, to derail peace negotiations and stroke war with Iran

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Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Why Netanyahu is Here - @Thom_Hartmann - Air Date: 03-02-15

Ch. 3: Song 1: Embarrassed - Sick of Waging War

Ch. 4: Act 2: Israeli Prime Minister Criticized For Questionable Policies - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 03-04-15

Ch. 5: Song 2: Obnoxious - What's the Question

Ch. 6: Act 3: Netanyahu's speech and the propaganda against Iran - @RalphNader Radio Hour - Air Date: 3-14-15

Ch. 7: Song 3: Made to Suffer - 9 O'clock in the Afternoon

Ch. 8: Act 4: Ex-U.S. Official: With Iran Letter, "Reckless" GOP Places Middle East Hegemony over Security - @democracynow - Air Date: 3-12-15

Ch. 9: Song 4: Hey Ya (Solo Version) - The Tip Jar, Vol. 1 - EP

Ch. 10: Act 5: Treason, Stunt, or Idiocy? - @onthemedia - Air Date: 3-13-15

Ch. 11: Song 5: Follow The Money - The Redemption Of Zounds

Ch. 12: Act 6: John Kerry Smacks Down the #47Traitors - @majorityfm - Air Date: 03-16-15

Ch. 13: Song 6: Awnaw (All Hooks Up Version) - Watermelon, Chicken & Gritz

Ch. 14: Act 7: No War With Iran -- Best of the Left Activism via @ChrisMurphyCT & @MoveOn

Ch. 15: Song 7: "This fickle world" - Theo Bard

Ch. 16: Act 8: Senators Face Backlash Over Letter To Iran - @theyoungturks - Air Date: 03-11-15

Voicemails

Ch. 18: Racism and over-policing - Ruben from San Jose

Ch. 19: Thoughts on the speech about changing the farming paradigm - Ryan from Phoenix

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

Ch. 20: Final comments on the posting of teh Storify of the Nicole Sandler Disaster of 2015

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

Activism: No War With Iran via @ChrisMurphyCT & @MoveOn

TAKE ACTION:

SIGN & Share the MoveOn.org petition The U.S. Senate should continue to give diplomacy with Iran a chance" from Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT)

SIGN & Share the RootsAction and DailyKos petition: "No War With Iran"

Sources/further reading:

"The Worst Case for War With Iran You’ll Read in a Major Newspaper" by Ali Gharib at The Nation

"The Neocons Strike Back" by Paul Waldman at The American Prospect

"Barney Frank Says Netanyahu And The GOP Want War With Iran" on HuffPost LIve

"The Appalling Case for an Unnecessary War with Iran" by Daniel Larison at The American Conservative

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Check out the BotL iOS/Android App in the App Stores!

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 907_Propaganda_and_warmongering_Netanyahu_and_the_GOP_letter_to_Iran.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

Tue, 17 March 2015

(2015/03/17) Crushing our potential with student debt (Education)

Edition #906

Today we take a look at the effects of student debt, the benefits of making college free and what beyond money is needed

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Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Appalling: America's Senior Citizens Are Drowning in Student Debt - @majorityfm - Air Date: 09-13-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: When I Grow Up - Ghost Town - Single

Ch. 4: Act 2: EPIC: Germany Abolishes College Tuition Fees - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 10-04-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Look To The Future - If It 'Ay Bost, Dow Fix It!

Ch. 6: Act 3: Refusing To Pay Back Student Debt: The Movement Grows - @RedactedTonight w/@LeeCamp - Air Date: 03-10-15

Ch. 7: Song 3: I Dream Of Feudalism - I Dream Of Feudalism

Ch. 8: Act 4: Obama's Free College Plan Could Cost $60 Billion, Provide Even Bigger Economic Boost - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 01-23-15

Ch. 9: Song 4: So Terrible It's Terrifying - Another Early Evening

Ch. 10: Act 5: Fox Reacts To Obama's Free Community College Plan - @jimmy_dore Show - Air Date: 1-23-15

Ch. 11: Song 5: Closer to Free - Go Slow Down

Ch. 12: Act 6: Is it enough to make community college free? - @DecodeDC - Air Date: 2-5-15

Ch. 13: Song 6: Hide Your Tears - Dexter (Soundtrack from the TV Series)

Ch. 14: Act 7: Student Aid Bill of Rights via @WhiteHouse — Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 15: Song 7: "This fickle world" - Theo Bard

Ch. 16: Act 8: Student Debt - @LastWeekTonight with @iamjohnoliver - Air Date: 09-07-14

Ch. 17: Final comments on David Pakman's supposed "Laugh Off" and the problematic comments of Joel Salatin

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

Activism: Student Aid Bill of Rights via @WhiteHouse

Take Action:

Add your name: Student Aid Bill of Rights

Let your reps know you support the plan through ContactingTheCongress.org where you can call, email, and tweet at your representatives using the hashtag #CollegeOpportunity.

Additional Activism/Resources:

Reminder that the states have to agree to implement the president’s community college plan. Even though it would be at no cost to the states, we’ve seen republican (and even some democratic) and split state houses reject free federal money during this administration. Let your state and congressional representatives know you back a plan to make community college available to everyone who wants to attend.

Sources/further reading:

Press Release: “A Student Aid Bill of Rights”

“Your Weekly Address: A Student Aid Bill of Rights”

"5 Reasons Not to Get a Law Degree” via CBS News

"How The $1.2 Trillion College Debt Crisis Is Crippling Students, Parents And The Economy” by Chris Denhart at Forbes.com

"The President Proposes to Make Community College Free for Responsible Students for 2 Years”

Written by BOTL social media/activism director Katie Klabusich

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Check out the BotL iOS/Android App in the App Stores!

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 906_Crushing_our_potential_with_student_debt_Education.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

Fri, 13 March 2015

(2015/03/13) Personal, societal and environmental health (Food System)

Edition #905

Today we take a look at what we put in our bodies, how it gets there and how we could do things differently for the betterment of all

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Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Gabriel Cortez (@gabesoprock): Perfect Soldiers - The Bigger Picture Project (@BigPicCampaign) - Air Date: 2-5-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: N/A

Ch. 4: Act 2: Drinking a 'Medium' Soda Per Day Can Age You As Much As Smoking - @davidpakmanshow - Air Date: 10-22-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: "Diet Coke" - Airbäg

Ch. 6: Act 3: CFC Keynote - @JoelSalatin - Polyface Farm Part 1 - @marioninstitute - Air Date: 11-5-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Garden Song - Around the Campfire

Ch. 8: Act 4: Industrial Vs Sustainable Agriculture - @FoodMythBusters - Air Date: 08-26-13

Ch. 9: Song 4: Mothers of the Night - Last Night

Ch. 10: Act 5: CFC Keynote - @JoelSalatin - Polyface Farm Part 2 - @marioninstitute - Air Date: 11-5-14

Ch. 11: Song 5: Moment of Truth - Diversity

Ch. 12: Act 6: NYTimes: U.S. Research Lab Lets Livestock Suffer in Quest for Profit - @Radio_Dispatch - Air Date: 1-26-15

Ch. 13: Song 6: Down On The Farm - Dancing In The Streets

Ch. 14: Act 7: Curbing #FactoryFarming via @ASPCA & @UN — Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 15: Song 7: Right to Complain - Backatown (Bonus Track Version)

Ch. 16: Act 8: You Won't Believe What Goes On At These "Farms" - @RedactedTonight w/ @LeeCamp - Air Date: 02-22-15

Voicemails

Ch. 17: The problem with the gender binary - Ash from Washington, DC

Ch. 18: #YesAllPolice started by family member of man killed by police - Dede from Philly

Ch. 19: Libertarian on how tax money is spent - Mick from Australia

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

Ch. 20: Final comments on libertarianism's lack of a better alternative to government

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

Activism: Curbing #FactoryFarming via @ASPCA & @UN

Take Action:

10 Ways You Can Fight Factory Farms via The ASPCA

Fight Factory Farming via The Humane Society

Additional Activism/Resources:

Sign: Protect Farm Animals petition from The Humane Society

Use the WorldAnimalNet directory HERE to find anti-factory farm as well as animal rescue/adoption organizations in your country, state, and city.

Sources/further reading:

"Rearing cattle produces more greenhouse gases than driving cars, UN report warns” via the United Nations News Centre

Farm Animal Cruelty — ASPCA facts on factory farms

"How to Stop the Next Pandemic: End Factory Farming” by Thom Hartmann via Truthout

Watch: “Us & The Planet” video from Animals Australia at #MakeItPossible

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Check out the BotL iOS/Android App in the App Stores!

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Review the show on iTunes and Stitcher!

Direct download: 905_Personal_societal_and_environmental_health_Food_System.m4a
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00pm EDT

Tue, 10 March 2015

(2015/03/10) Opt for compassion and inclusion (Transgender Rights)

Edition #904

Today we take a look at the path many transgender individuals must walk as well as some of the tragic outcomes that are the result of being blocked from that path

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Show Notes

Ch. 1: Opening Theme: A Fond Farewell - From a Basement On the Hill

Ch. 2: Act 1: Kristin Beck: transgender veteran spent 20-years as Navy Seal - @SexOutLoudRadio - Air Date: 12-12-14

Ch. 3: Song 1: "Me and God and Jesus - Crooked Roads Band

Ch. 4: Act 2: The complicated morality of transitioning - On Being (@Beingtweets) - Air Date: 12-11-14

Ch. 5: Song 2: Le mystère de contre jour - Contre jour (Original Soundtrack)

Ch. 6: Act 3: Lingerie saved my life - A Minnesota Trans Athiest (@TransAtheistPod) - Air Date: 11-12-14

Ch. 7: Song 3: Nothing Else Matters - Inquisition Symphony

Ch. 8: Act 4: The tragic, preventable death of transgender teen Leelah Alcorn - @fakedansavage - Air Date: 1-6-15

Ch. 9: Song 4: Reach Out I'll Be There - Essential Collection: Four Tops

Ch. 10: Act 5: Pray the Gay Away - Exposed - Laci Green (@gogreen18) - Air Date: 01-14-15

Ch. 11: Song 5: The Bathtub (feat. The Lost Bayou Ramblers) - Beasts of the Southern Wild (Music from the Motion Picture)

Ch. 12: Act 6: Gender Neutral Bathrooms - Best of the Left Activism

Ch. 13: Song 6: "This fickle world" - Theo Bard

Ch. 14: Act 7: Disecting trans-exclusionary radical feminism (TERFs) - @Radio_Dispatch - Air Date 7-30-14

Voicemails

Ch. 15: Yelling about libertarians - Wade from Ft. Worth, TX

Ch. 16: Explaining misguided libertarian thinking with the BLUB paradox - Landon

Voicemail Music: Loud Pipes - Classics

Ch. 17: Final comments on one of my favorite Douglas Adams' quotes about how people perceive the world

Closing Music: Here We Are - Everyone's in Everyone

Activism: Gender Neutral Bathrooms

Take Action:

Call and write your local alderman/city councilperson to push for local gender neutral bathroom ordinances.

Additional Activism/Resources:

TransLifeLine is a crisis hotline staffed by trans people for trans people. Contact them via Twitter and phone: US (877) 565-8860, Canada (877) 330-6366

Sources/further reading:

"INTERVIEW: The Advocate's Parker Marie Molloy on Grantland, Piers Morgan, and More” at The Chicagoist

"A trans advocate’s perspective on Trans 101 questions” at Transadvocate

"TLDEF Condemns Kentucky Bill Targeting Transgender Students for Discrimination” via TransGender Legal

"No label required on West Hollywood's gender-neutral bathrooms” at LA Times

"Austin Makes Gender-Neutral Bathrooms Out Of All Single-Use Stalls, And Other Cities Should Take Note” at Bustle

"My Transgender Coming Out Story” ebook by Parker Mollow

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Thanks for listening!

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Check out the BotL iOS/Android App in the App Stores!

Follow at Twitter.com/BestOfTheLeft