Undercurrents

(This represents the last of a three-part series. Part I is here and Part II here.)

In 2005, with Connecticut still smarting from the Rowland corruption case, the State Legislature passed an unprecedented campaign reform bill which restricted donations from special interest groups (completely barring money from current and prospective government contractors) and offered full public financing to candidates. The legislation was nationally regarded as a major stepping stone in the fight to rid campaigns and lawmaking of corruption.But while the law is surprisingly broad and enforceable, it still allows for the corporate-sponsored major parties to dump an unlimited amount of money onto candidates and makes it very difficult for minor parties to access available public funding. All in all, elections in Connecticut are still up for the highest bidder, so long as that bidder filters his money through the proper, “clean” channels.

It’s time for campaign financing to go public. For real, this time. (more…)

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By correspondent CT Hankster, special to the Undercurrent

Declaring the Iraq War an “immoral, illegal war,” Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson greeted the tens (or hundreds, depending on who you believe) of thousands of protesters gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

“There is no morality without a willingness to act,” Anderson said.
“That’s why we are here today.” (more…)

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For those of you who have not heard, or need reminding, the Hartford Independent Media Center will be celebrating its 4th year birthday party on Saturday, Feburary 3 at ArtSpace in downtown Hartford. Party starts at 7pm, there will be free food and drinks (alcoholic and non), an award ceremony and a short talk by Helen Ubinas of the Hartford Courant. If you are not familiar with Helen Ubinas’ work, she writes a rather frequent column for the Courant. She’s one of the few actually giving Hartford’s impoverished a voice. As one of HIMC’s major fundraisers, we’re asking for a $15 donation, but we welcome all regardless of your ability to pay. Come by and show your support. Last year roughly 200 people joined us in the art gallery at ArtSpace, and most had a blast.

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I traveled by bus to Washington yesterday with about 200 people from various parts of Connecticut, converging in DC into a crowd that was the biggest one I’ve ever been part of. (more…)

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Heard my friend Nancy Mulroy on the radio trying to defend the aggressive actions of the Hartford Police against my friend Ken Krayeske. She failed. (more…)

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The January 25 edition of Hartford’s weekly so-called “alternative,” the Hartford Advocate, presents yet another example of how the paper continues to fail its readership. “Star Power,” a lauditory waste of paper and webspace, makes disgraced radio host Troi Torain (aka Star, of the Star and Buc Wild show) look like a misunderstood philosopher and enterprising businessman instead of the bigot that he is. Writer Lani Buess gives Torain a free pass and goes a step further: she helps him hawk his new autobiography. How is selling a bigot and his book an alternative perspective? Mainstream press does it all the time. (more…)

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Watching the State of the Union address earlier this week something finally clicked for me. You know that saying “throwing money at the problem?” It has never made sense to me. I think this is so because it is usually heard in discussions of public education spending or social services like Welfare, which to my liberal mind are worthwhile investments. Now I know that government bureaucracy has a fantastic way of mishandling money and that some public programs are cleary ill-devised and a waste of the tax base. Doesn’t that then mean that it’s poor managment and lack of oversight that plagues such programs? I’m also reminded of some of Bush’s crony appointments gone bad: Harriet Miers and Mike Brown to name a few. Heck, I would even aver that often “the problem” is insuficient funding. (more…)

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“Bullets and Bubbly” was the theme of a party celebrated by 70 UConn law students last weekend that came in for widespread censure as an apparent episode of white racism. I attended a meeting of students and staff convened by the dean on Thursday to discuss the event. (more…)

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Following a new trend across campuses nationwide, UCONN Law students held their own racist party this weekend called “Bullets & Bubbly.”

Checkout the photos here.

With an already white controlled criminal (in)justice system, it makes perfect sense that these “thugs” would be the future lawyers of America.

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