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Welcome to ClassWars, the home of Activist Radio, a weekly program for all Americans who are not in the wealthiest one percent of the US population. Class wars have been going on since the beginning of recorded history. As societies become more powerful and wealthy, they often become more corrupt. Towards the end of each cycle, a few rich families own practically everything and rule with an iron fist. Imperial wars for empire and military over-expansion are other trademarks of a debased and undemocratic society. Empire often brings about great poverty and suffering not only in the occupied and exploited lands, but at home as well. Class wars is a dirty term in our media, which always implies that America is above such crudeness. But the very rich are not above that at all. They have been waging an especially intense attack on working people since the 1970's, and have accumulated immense wealth and power at the expense of the rest of us. Of course, America's class wars are not fought with tanks and bombs, but with crooked politicians, right wing think tanks and corporate owned media. For the very rich to maintain and increase their share of the national wealth, they have to fool you. How else could one percent of our population call the shots for the other ninety-nine percent? Well, there is another way. The very rich can bankroll a fascist demagogue who then uses racial fears and hatreds to overcome any form of worker resistance. Mussolini and Hitler are examples of how this was done in the 1930s. Trump is, of course, the most dangerous demagogue of the 21st century. To understand how he has gotten this far, check out: "The Unspoken Spread of Fascism." Activist Radio will attempt to show you how the few richest of our citizens lie to the rest of us to expand their power and wealth. They are sick with greed, of course. But so far, the rest of us are what might be worse, and that is stupid. None of the information presented is particularly new or really very hard to find, although you won't read it in the mainstream press or see it on TV. If that is what you are relying on for news, you are being suckered, my friend. I don't know how to put it any nicer. So sit back, relax, and listen to Activist Radio streamed live: Thursdays from 5 - 6 pm ET STREAM ACTIVIST RADIO FROM WVKR Sundays from 5 - 6 pm ET STREAM ACTIVIST RADIO FROM PRN.LIVE Activist Radio can be heard: Thursdays 8-9 AM on KBOO 90.7 FM in Portland, OR; Thursdays 11-12 noon on WRFA 107.9 FM in Jamestown, NY; Thursdays 5-6 pm on WVKR 91.3 FM at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY; Thursdays 7-8 pm on WBDY 99.5 FM at The Bundy in Binghamton, NY; Fridays 4-5 pm on WEFR 1700 AM in Fairmont, WV; Sundays 1:30-2:30 pm on WESU 88.1 FM at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT; Sundays 4-5 pm from WIOF 104.1 FM in Woodstock, NY; Sundays 5-6 PM from the Progressive Radio Network at PRN.live; and finally Mondays 11-12 noon on WCAA 107.3 FM in Albany, NY. Past programs are available as a podcast, or anytime on the web at ClassWars.org. Recent stories on Activist Radio may have you thinking about some important issues. Put another way, you could be wondering if most of what we say is totally made up, since you probably haven't seen it on TV. But here are some links to stories we have done recently. Fantasyland Media News fashioned by the people in charge, the corporations and your government. Each week, we cover the stories that are just left out of the US propaganda machine. The muzzling of an entire class of people Hasan Nasralla, murdered by the US College admins try to end free speech A failed CIA coup against Venezuela US universities and fossil fuel interests Germany ending weapons for Israel West told Zelensky to abandon peace One million starving in Gaza Murderer Cheney welcomed by Dems Hands Off Uhuru Gaza Exterminated If Israel Not Stopped Columbia U. folds to the right wing Donahue was fired for questioning Google blocking Gaza donations Israeli soldiers gang-raping a Palestinian Amnesty demands US stop arming Israel US companies complicit in genocide Israeli soldiers gang-raping Free healthcare for the athletes Microsoft Encourages illegal Settlements Maduro wins for Bolivarian Socialism Israel Lobby involved in financial sector The genocide of the Palestinians goes on NYT prints propaganda Tax the billionaires New anti-AIPAC movement Fired after giving acceptance speech Japanese hotel cancels reservation of Israeli Boycotts from Kyoto to Edinburgh Fred Nagel is a Vietnam Era veteran and political activist whose articles have appeared in CounterPunch, Global Exchange, LA Progressive, Mondoweiss, Peace & Planet News, Popular Resistance, and Z Magazine. He also hosts a show on Vassar College Radio, WVKR (classwars.org). #Candles4Assange Eli wishing Assange a Happy Birthday Eli and Fred "take a knee" for racial justice while Jimi Hendrix goes out over the airwaves. Reporting from the veteran's encampment at Standing Rock Fred at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, standing with a vigil for Julian Assange Dave, Heather, Fred and DJ James Poe at WABG - AM 960 in Columbus, MS Dahr Jamail and Gary Fred and Gary with Pete Seeger Kathy Kelly and Gary Thanks to Martha for this time on the set of Democracy Now. Fred and Gary on the air In memory of Jordan Taylor, Black Lives Matter organizer and former Activist Radio co-host The late 19 Century had its very own Gilded Age. Milton Friedman, guru of deregulation and self interest, made millionaires into billionaires by robbing everyone else. Feeding the Empire's war machine.

Listen to recent shows You can also right click on the date to read your browser's other options. Listening in iTunes works nicely if that is available. October 3 GUEST: Pete Dolack, writer of the Systemic Disorder blog, activist with the National People's Campaign and author of "It’s Not Over: Learning From the Socialist Experiment," talks about US propaganda and Venezuela. Claims about Venezuela election are false Systemic Disorder Blog Pete Dolack on CounterPunch SONG: Woody Guthrie (with Sony Terry and Brownie McGee), This Land is Your Land ... Going Down The Road Feeling Bad SONG: Woody Guthrie, This Land is Your Land ... Hard Traveling September 26 GUEST: Arvind Dilawar, independent journalist whose articles, and interviews have appeared in The New York Times, Time Magazine and The Daily Beast, talks about the all powerful Israel Lobby and how it has used its nonprofit status to distort the news. I found a major error, but The New York Times didn't care Arvind Dilawar, Independent Journalist Articles in the Progressive SONG: Tom Paxton, Ain't That News ... Lyndon Johnson Told the Nation SONG: Tom Paxton, The Best of Tom Paxton ... My Son, John September 19 GUESTS: Tarak Kauff and Ellen Davidson, long time activists for Veterans For Peace and editors of the Peace and Planet News, a publication dedicated to "Abolishing War, Establishing Justice and Fighting Climate Disaster," talk about truth telling in the US Media. Peace and Planet News Genocide, how to prevent the next stage Does the Truth Matter? SONG: Malvina Reynolds, Ear to the Ground ... The Little Mouse SONG: God Bess This Mess ... Sheryl Crow September 12 GUEST: Natasha Lennard, author, columnist for The Intercept, and associate director of the Creative Publishing & Critical Journalism graduate program at the New School for Social Research, talks about free speech and student resistance. Being Numerous:Essays on Non-Fascist Life MA in Creative Publishing and Critical Journalism Dreaming Up Ways to Squash Gaza Protests SONG: Peter Gabriel, Playing For Change ... Biko September 5 GUEST: Robert Roth, co-founder of the Haiti Action Committee, and part of the Central America solidarity movement in the 1980s and 1990s, talks about Haiti, its history and its long term oppression by the United States. Haiti Solidarity Net Robert Roth (activist) Haiti: “The truth speaks for itself” SONG: Kingsmen ... Louie Louie SONG: Haiti Cherie ... Harry Belafonte August 29 GUEST: Joel Kovel, deceased American scholar, author and founder of eco-socialism, discusses the book that got him fired from Bard College, Overcoming Zionism: Creating a Single Democratic State in Israel/Palestine. The Emergence of Ecosocialism Overcoming Zionism The Lost Traveller's Dream: A Memoir SONG: Arrested Development ... Revolution SONG: The Relief Effort ... Palestine August 22 GUEST: Jeff Cohen, founding Director of the Park Center for Independent Media as well as Fairness and Accuracy in Media, talks about genocide and media reform. (repeat) Jeff Cohen on Common Dreams LA Progressive August 15 GUEST: Gerald Sussman, professor emeritus of international studies at Portland State University and author of several books, including The Propaganda Society: Promotional Culture and Politics in Global Context, talks about Gaza and his latest research. Israel's war psychosis SONG: Fred Nagel ... Land of Plenty We Left Behind SONG: Fred Nagel ...  Chosen People August 8 GUEST: Penny Hess, chair of the African People's Solidarity Committee and author of Overturning the Culture of Violence, talks about white reparations to African people as well as the racist genocide in Gaza. UHURU Solidarity The Road to Socialism is Painted Black Drop the Charges on the UHURU 3 SONG: Anne Feeney ... Have You Been to Jail for Justice? SONG: Anne Feeney, Have You Been to Jail for Justice?  ...  The Corporate Welfare Song August 1 GUEST: Marcy London, community human rights activist and member of Jewish Voice for Peace and Mideast Crisis, talks about the dangers of confusing criticism of apartheid Israel with antisemitism. Mideast Crisis Response How to Define ‘Antisemitism’ Antisemitism Has Been Weaponized SONG: Paul Robeson ... Song of the Warsaw Ghetto SONG: Rhiannon Giddens ...  Birmingham Sunday Take a minute to rate Activist Radio Click Icon: Once in Apple Podcasts Preview, click on "Listen on Apple Podcasts." Then click "Ratings and Reviews" and leave your opinion by clicking "Write a Review" right under "Customer Ratings." Sorry Apple made several steps to leaving a review, but we would appreciate it if you did! We often use Peacebutton's calendar to do our History of Social Struggle each week. Check them out at www.peacebuttons.info Some Favorite Lies of the Very Rich Class wars don't exist in America, the land of the free. (The very rich have taken the rest of us to the cleaners, especially since the mid 1970's. Democracy in America has become little more than a useful fiction.) The two party system promotes the will of the people. (Both parties are paid for by the major corporations, leaving the people with very little power to change domestic or foreign policy.) Multinational corporations encourage free enterprise. (They spend most of their time getting handouts from governments while trying to eliminate workers' rights and environmental regulations through "free" trade.) The billions spent on defense contracts make Americans safer. (Most defense contracts are no-bid, billion dollar scams. Of the first world countries, only America spends so much on weaponry that there is nothing left over for the poor and middle class: no education, no health care, and no housing.) High drug costs are necessary to pay for research. (Most drug profits go towards advertising and CEO stock options. Other first world countries, like Canada, control drug prices.) Charter schools increase the quality of the nation's education. (Charter schools allow corporations to control what students learn, while draining dollars from public schools.) US foreign policy is used to spread democracy and to make the world a safer place. (Most US policy is military action aimed at countries that threaten corporate profits. In America, the poor fight the wars, the middle class pays for them, and the very rich make out like the bandits they are.) Free health care, daycare, and college tuition for all are simply unaffordable. (The most successful capitalist countries provide their citizens with all these benefits and much more.) Social Security needs reform to save it. (Social Security is good for another 40 years, and with a little more paid by top earners, good forever. That is if we can keep Wall Street thieves from getting their hands on it.) It's all Trump's fault! Vote for the Democrats to change the system. (If you believe that whopper, you are part of the problem.) The Hidden Verses to This Land Is Your Land Was a high wall there that tried to stop me A sign was painted said: Private Property, But on the back side it didn't say nothing -- This land was made for you and me. One bright sunny morning in the shadow of the steeple By the Relief Office I saw my people -- As they stood hungry, I stood there wondering if This land was made for you and me. WOODY G. (Feb. 23, 1940) Workers of the world, awaken! Beak our chains, demand your rights. All the wealth you make is taken By exploiting parasites. Shall you kneel in deep submission From your cradles to your graves? Is the height of your ambition To be good and willing slaves? JOE HILL (1910) One blue sky above us One ocean lapping all our shore One earth so green and round Who could ask for more And because I love you I'll give it one more try To show my rainbow race It's too soon to die. -Pete Seeger We have been added to Progressive Radio Voices and can be heard every Sunday from 5 - 6 pm ET on prn.live Selected as one of PlayerFM's Best Activism Podcasts We Could Find Listen as a podcast on Spotify Crony capitalists have always been with us. Here is Boss Tweed of New York's Tammany Hall sometime in the 1860's. The policy of the American Empire since World War II.

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I see in the future a crisis approaching that fills me with anxiety. As a result of the war, corporations have become enthroned, and an era of corruption in high places will follow. The money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its rule by preying upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is concentrated in a few hands and the Republic destroyed. Abraham Lincoln

And above all Fascism denies that class-war can be the preponderant force in the transformation of society. Benito Mussolini

The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is Fascism - ownership of Government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. Franklin D. Roosevelt

A revolution is a class struggle. It was one class - the oppressed, and that other class - the oppressor. Fred Hampton

Surely, in the history of lies told to the population, this is the biggest lie. In the history of secrets, withheld from the American people, this is the biggest secret: that there are classes with different interests in this country. To ignore that--not to know that the history of our country is a history of slaveowner against slave, landlord against tenant, corporation against worker, rich against poor--is to render us helpless before all the lesser lies told to us by people in power. Howard Zinn

The clinical definition of "fascism' is when private concentrated economic power takes government away from the people, turns government into a guarantor, a subsidizer, a covering of corporate power. Ralph Nader

There's class warfare, all right, but it's my class, the rich class, that's making war, and we're winning. Warren Buffet

This [$700 billion bailout] was the largest single act of class warfare in the modern history of this country. Dennis Kucinich

I think this has been a class war waged by the rich against the poor, and I think that they won. And I think the poor are fighting back. Naomi Klein

The solution is revolution, first in the spirit of the gospel; Jesus could not accept people going hungry. It is a conflict between classes, rich and poor. My role is to preach and organize. Jean-Bertrand Aristide

The effect of the [European Central Bank] policies is to weaken the welfare state measures and to reduce the power of labor. That's class war. It's fine for the banks, for financial institutions, but terrible for the population. Noam Chomsky

The US has a highly class-conscious business class. If you read the business literature, it's like reading Mao's "Red Book." The values may be inverted, but the terminology is the same. They're fighting a bitter class war constantly. They never relax for a minute. Noam Chomsky

The breakdown [of American society] is not caused by economic laws. They are policies, a kind of class war initiated by the rich and powerful against the working population and the poor. This is what defines the neoliberalism period, not only in the United States but in Europe and elsewhere. Noam Chomsky

For 45 years there has been a war in this country waged by the corporate elite against the working class of America. Bernie Sanders

If there is going to be class warfare in this country, it's about time the working class won that war. Bernie Sanders

The theft of public resources for the military and militarism domestically and abroad represent a one-sided class war waged on the working class in the U.S. The 6 trillion dollars spent on U.S. wars since 2003 are resources that could have been directed to address the increasing desperate plight of workers and poor people in the U.S. Ajamu Baraka

You look at the reality, neoliberalism translates as bitter class war. That?s the meaning of it, everywhere you look, every component of it. Noam Chomsky

Now I'm finding out there's just one kind of war. It's the one going on 'tween the rich and the poor. I guess that I don't know a lot about class, But the upper and middle can all kiss my ass. Utah Phillips