The Pursuit of (happiness) Profits

Thinking for Oursleves: Water Choices. Week 65 of the Occupation. By Shea Howell.

The pursuit of profits is endangering the health and well being of everyone in Detroit. What Kevin Orr, Jones Day, and the corporate powers they serve termed a business necessity is being revealed to the world as a violation of the most basic human right to water.  This crisis was orchestrated to make the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) more attractive to buyers. Claiming they are not “callous about the plight of lower income residents,” their actions show they are oblivious.

Mega Gathering of Democrats in Augusta

AUGUSTA, GA (RD) - The Democratic Party of Georgia (State Party) is holding a regional multi county meeting on Tuesday July 8 at 6:30 PM at the IBEW HALL, 1250 Reynolds Street, Augusta. The Richmond County Democratic Party (RCDP) has been chosen to host the meeting. Ten county parties have been invited.

Historic Transit Expansion Opportunity

ATLANTA, GA (Sierra Club) - An unprecedented coalition of public transportation advocates, with the Georgia Sierra Club’s Regional Action to Improve Livability (RAIL) Campaign playing a leading role, scored a historic victory on Saturday, as Clayton County officials finally agreed to let residents vote on whether to join Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) as a full member this year. The vote sets up our first serious chance to expand the state’s largest transit provider since it was initially established as a two-county system serving Fulton and DeKalb in 1971.

Savannah River: A Polluted, Still Safe Water?

AUGUSTA, GA - A recent report done by the Environment Georgia research and policy center is calling the Savannah river the 3rd most polluted river in the nation. The Savannah River falls just behind the Ohio-Pigeon River on the list. The study says, middle Savannah River, has the worst pollution. This includes Augusta and below.

Goal: Ending Power of Super PACs by 2016

Since the early 1920s, aviators and mariners have used the word MAYDAY to signal distress. On the sea, when another captain hears that call, there is an obligation to lend aid. At MayDay PAC, we are calling a MAYDAY on this democracy. Americans from across the political spectrum believe our government is broken. More than 90% of us link that failure to the role of money in politics.

Have a Fun and Safe Independence Day

If only we had laser printers and copiers back in the 1700s! Of course, we've all come to know and love July 4th as the day we officially declared our independence from Britain. However, the Second Continental Congress actually voted on the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia on July 2nd, 1776! It just took a couple of days to get everything written down and signed. For me, it's all good. "Second of July Fireworks" just wouldn't feel the same.

Business Students Win Top Honors

AUGUSTA, GA (PR) – Six students in Georgia Regents University’s James M. Hull College of Business received national recognition during the 2014 Phi Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference Awards ceremony June 27 in Nashville, Tenn.

GAGOP Welcome Thousands of New Americans

ATLANTA, GA (PR) - Georgia Republican Party First Vice-Chairman Michael McNeely and 2nd Vice-Chairman Ron Johnson welcomed thousands of new U.S. citizens at a Citizenship Ceremony yesterday in Atlanta.

Standing Up for Transit

MARTA Board members on Wednesday rejected a contract to provide bus service to Clayton County in exchange for a half-penny sales tax on the dollar, putting the county back where it started without any local public transportation unless Commissioners act to approve a full-penny sales tax before Sunday July 6th.

Who Wants Tax Increase in Augusta?

Due to the passage of House Bill 386, the state and local sales and use taxes on energy used in manufacturing was phased out over a 4-year period beginning January 1, 2013. The legislation established a process aimed towards making the impact of this removal of the local sales tax revenue neutral for city and county governments, provided that these governments adopt  a local excise tax on energy used in manufacturing at the same rates.

First Amendment for Human Beings

The Supreme Court further expanded the "rights" of corporations in their decision for Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. The Court majority ruled that corporations have the right to freedom of religion under the First Amendment. This sets the precedent that they can opt out of following laws if they violate the corporation's "religious beliefs".

Sheriff Roundtree Equipped to Deal with "Gun Everywhere"

AUGUSTA, GA  - Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree announced the acquisition of equipments this year. It should be noted that the amount on the list is the value of the equipment however the RCSO paid nothing for these items as they were awarded to the agency as surplus items from the military.