The Public Sector And Paul Ryan

Feb 17th, 2011

This morning, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) made a couple of incredibly snide remarks in an attempt to back up Gov. Scott Walker and his proposal to break the current state employee contract by rolling back wages. They need to do this to fill a deficit caused primarily by brand new corporate tax breaks. First, he compared the peaceful assembly of those workers to the upheaval in Egypt. (Hat tip to Beck?). Then, he pushed forward one the biggest single lies the right wing has in their arsenal. He advanced the meme that there is a wild disparity between private and public sector compensation in favor of the public worker.
It is not true. He is smart. Which means he is either uninformed... or he is lying.

From the Economic Policy Institute:

"A Massacre"

Feb 2nd, 2011

Selma Al-Tarzi reports from Cairo for Democracy Now.

Clashes In Cairo

Feb 2nd, 2011 7:25am CST

Clashes have begun between pro-Mubarak and anti-government forces in Cairo's Tahrir Square. A short time ago, pro-government partisans charged into the square on horseback. So far, the army and police have continued to exercise restraint. It is possible that Mubarak is attempting to engineer violence to reassert authority. There is strong on the scene coverage here at The Times of India as well as Al-Jazeera.

Egypt Unravels And We Are Reminded...

Jan 25th, 2011

القمع يخلق مقاومة

History seems to be repeating itself. In a stunning scene many are comparing to the moment when "Tank Man" stood alone in the path of soldiers moving into Tienanmen Square more than two decades ago,

an Egyptian protester this afternoon obstructed an advancing water cannon unit in the streets of Cairo. The video below shows the event. As of this writing, Egypt has blocked Twitter and 3 are dead amidst calls for President Hosni Mubarak's resignation. There are reports the president's family has fled the country.

Early reactions on the part of authorities were muted. We see again what is always the case with repressive regimes. When you loose the yoke of real tyranny, even very briefly, it does not take long for a people to bare their anger and their bravery.