On this weekly radio address to the nation, President Obama urged both Republicans and Democrats to take action to avoid defaulting for the first time in our nation’s history.  While the two parties are not far apart in their goals, they must resolve their differences quickly so that the United States can continue paying its Social Security checks, veterans’ benefits, and contracts with thousands of American businesses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_jj2ru91sU

“Today, I’d like to speak with you about the ongoing and urgent efforts to avoid a first-ever default and get our fiscal house in order.

Republicans in the House of Representatives just spent precious days trying to pass a plan that a majority of Republicans and Democrats in the Senate had already said they wouldn’t vote for.  It’s a plan that wouldn’t solve our fiscal problems, but would force us to re-live this crisis in just a few short months.  It would hold our economy captive to Washington politics once again.  If anything, the past few weeks have demonstrated that’s unacceptable.

Any solution to avoid default must be bipartisan.  It must have the support of both parties that were sent here to represent the American people – not just one faction of one party.  There are multiple ways to resolve this problem.  Congress must find common ground on a plan that can get support from both parties in the House.  And it’s got to be a plan that I can sign by Tuesday.

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White House Week in Review

This week, President Obama was inspired by students at a town hall, met with the Prime Minister of New Zealand, honored the World Series champs, spoke to Hispanic community advocates and addressed the nation on the importance of compromising on a balanced approach to reduce the deficit (infographic). Plus, senior White House advisors answered questions on the ongoing deficit negotiations via  live ”office hours” on Twitter.

Left, Right and Center is a weekly half-hour radio broadcast and podcast produced by KCRW in Santa Monica.

On this show the panelists devote the whole show to the debt ceiling debate in Congress.  They call it debt ceiling madness as both sides try to involve the other to achieve some sort of a compromise.  They talk about the Commerce Department news that GDP did not grow significantly.

The panel has an interesting discussion of many aspects of the issue.  Will the US default?  Will Rep. Boehner resign.  Should the US spend more?  Should we spend less?  What will make the economy grow?  Is austerity correct?

The participants on the show are Robert Scheer who represents the left, Tony Blankley who represents the right, Matt Miller, the moderator, who represents the center, and Arianna Huffington, who represents the progressive blogosphere.  Christia Freeland sits in for Huffington.

At the end of this entertaining show the participants each have a 30 second rant to summarize the issue that each sees as most significant.
Click here to be taken to the Left, Right and Center home page where you can download or listen to the podcast.

This week on American Radio Journal: Lowman Henry talks with U.S. Senator Jim DeMint about his new book The Great American Awakening: Two Years that Changed America, Washington and Me; Andy Roth of the Club for Growth has an overview of the 2012 Presidential and Congressional races; Adam Tragone of Human Events has an Off The Cuff interview with Matt Lewis author of The Quotable Rogue: The Ideals of Sarah Palin; And, Col Frank Ryan, USMC (Ret.) has an American Radio Journal commentary on why “taxing the rich” won’t get America out of its debt crisis.

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American Radio Journal is produced and distributed by the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc. The Lincoln Institute is a 501c3 non-profit educational foundation based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Founded in 1993, the mission of the Lincoln Institute is: “To promote the ideals of free market economics, individual liberty, and limited government through the conduct of public opinion research and related educational programs.”

The Lincoln Institute accepts no government money and is completely funded by philanthropic grant making foundations, corporations, and individuals.

To listen to the broadcast click here.

The following podcast is brought to you courtesy of A World of Possibilities and The Mainstream Media Project.

It’s often said that to be employable in a 21st century economy we’ll all need to be wired to our computers and one another. Maybe so, but we’d still be missing the qualities of mind and heart that enable us to understand the world and get along with one another. In an information glutted culture, how do we cultivate empathy, ingenuity, and resilience?

Guests:
Howard Gardner, Professor of Cognition and Education, Harvard; author, Five Minds for the Future, Multiple Intelligences, and other works
Lewis Hyde, Poet and essayist; author of The Gift, exploring creativity and the commons; professor of creative writing, Kenyon College

(Click on a guest’s name to listen to their full unedited interview.)

Credits:
Host: Mark Sommer
Senior Producer: Gregg McVicar
Associate Producers: Naihma Deady, Matt Fidler
Production Engineer: Michael Schwartz
Music in this program: “Todos Santos” – Daniel Lanois – Anti/Epitaph; “Homeland” – Keith Secola – AKINA Records; “A United Earth I” – Alan Stivell and Youssou N’Dour – Putumayo World Music; “Whitehorse Rides” – Moby – Silver Wave; “Pottsville Conglomerate” – Woodbrain – Yellow Dog Records ; “Gift 4 You” – Wade Fernandez – Song of the Black Wolf.

Funding: listeners like you.

Duration: 55:00 minutes

Click here to listen to the podcast.

On this weekly radio address to the nation, President Obama discussed the urgency of Democrats and Republicans coming together to take a balanced approach to cutting the deficit to strengthen our economy and leave for our children a more secure future.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IBTGcehElI

“For years, the government has spent more money than it takes in.  The result is a lot of debt on our nation’s credit card – debt that unless we act will weaken our economy, cause higher interest rates for families, and force us to scale back things like education and Medicare.

Now, folks in Washington like to blame one another for this problem.  But the truth is, neither party is blameless.  And both parties have a responsibility to do something about it.  Every day, families are figuring out how stretch their paychecks – struggling to cut what they can’t afford so they can pay for what’s really important.  It’s time for Washington to do the same thing.  But for that to happen, it means that Democrats and Republicans have to work together.  It means we need to put aside our differences to do what’s right for the country.  Everyone is going to have to be willing to compromise.  Otherwise, we’ll never get anything done.

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The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by Representative Jeb Hensarling of Texas.Representative Hensarling discussed Republicans’ continued efforts to create a better environment for private sector job creation and address America’s debt crisis.

“Hello, I’m Congressman Jeb Hensarling of Texas and I serve as the chairman of the House Republican Conference.

“You know, unfortunately, every day we hear about some friend or some neighbor who just got laid off or still can’t find a job. The Obama Administration promised its ‘stimulus’ plan would help keep unemployment below eight percent. And instead, unemployment has been above eight percent for 29 straight months, the longest such stretch since the Great Depression. 14 million of our fellow citizens remain out of work. So is it any surprise that the number one question in America remains, ‘where are the jobs?’

“You know, by and large, it’s a lack of confidence in our nation’s future that’s holding our economy back, whether it’s uncertainty about our national debt, uncertainty about taxes, uncertainty about all the regulations and mandates that just keep pouring out of Washington. Small business owners are pleading for the government to stop the reckless spending, balance the budget, and then just get out of the way.

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White House Week in Review

This week, President Obama welcomed a civil rights icon, placed a call to the international space station, made an important personnel announcement and hosted a roundtable focused on education with business leaders. But throughout he remained focused on finding a balanced solution to deficit reduction.

This week on American Radio Journal: Lowman Henry talks with Christian Adams of Pajamas Media about our overseas military being denied their voting rights; Andy Roth of the Club for Growth has the Real Story behind the maneuvering on the federal debt ceiling; Adam Tragone of Human Events has an Off The Cuff interview with Teri Christoph about the role of conservative women in politics; And, Colin Hanna of Let Freedom Ring, USA has an American Radio Journal commentary on finding the next Ronald Reagan.

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American Radio Journal is produced and distributed by the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc. The Lincoln Institute is a 501c3 non-profit educational foundation based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Founded in 1993, the mission of the Lincoln Institute is: “To promote the ideals of free market economics, individual liberty, and limited government through the conduct of public opinion research and related educational programs.”

The Lincoln Institute accepts no government money and is completely funded by philanthropic grant making foundations, corporations, and individuals.

To listen to the broadcast click here.

The following podcast is brought to you courtesy of A World of Possibilities and The Mainstream Media Project.

What sense does it make when fresh strawberries grown in Pennsylvania are trucked westward to grace San Francisco fruit salads while California strawberries are shipped eastward to garnish New York desserts? Join us as we hop aboard the movement to buy and eat locally produced food, boosting the fortunes of local farmers and reducing our carbon footprints in the process.

This special remix includes an interview with the editors of a new book, “Locally Delicious” about eating local in Northern California.

This program was funded by The W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

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On this weekly radio address to the nation, President Obama called on both parties to work together to find a balanced approach to solving our nation’s deficit problem.  The President emphasized the importance of compromise and shared sacrifice so that we can overcome our fiscal challenges and move our country forward.  To get our fiscal house in order, we must cut spending, but we must also close tax loopholes for special interests and ask the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GkKDhkM-hw

“Today, there’s a debate going on in Washington over the best way to get America’s fiscal house in order and get our economy on a stronger footing going forward.

For a decade, America has been spending more money than we’ve taken in.  For several decades, our debt has been rising.  And let’s be honest – neither party in this town is blameless. Both have talked this problem to death without doing enough about it.  That’s what drives people nuts about Washington.  Too often, it’s a place more concerned with playing politics and serving special interests than resolving real problems or focusing on what you’re facing in your own lives.

But right now, we have a responsibility – and an opportunity – to reduce our deficit as much as possible and solve this problem in a real and comprehensive way.

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The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah. Senator Hatch talked about the issues that Congress and the President are currently discussing regarding the debt ceiling and the budget deficits.  Senator Hatch called for spending cuts and a balanced budget amendment, an amendment which he proposed and which nearly passed the Senate in 1997.

“Good morning. I’m Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah.

Our nation is in the midst of one of the most critical debates in generations. It is a debate about the size, scope, and shape of our national government. It’s a debate over whether we act responsibly so our children and grandchildren aren’t left carrying the burden of unsustainable debt.

While the details of this debate change by the day, the fundamentals are clear. President Obama and his Democratic allies in Congress refuse to come up with a legitimate plan to confront our run-away spending that has left our country over $14 trillion in debt. He refuses to reform our near bankrupt entitlement programs — all while pushing job-killing tax hikes.

We’ve been down this road before, and Republicans will not go down it again. In 1990, Congress and the President struck a deficit reduction deal that combined spending cuts with tax increases. Unfortunately, while the tax hikes remained, the spending restraint did not, and our debt has only marched higher.

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White House Week in Review

This week, President Obama held meetings with bipartisan congressional leaders, awarded the Medal of Honor to Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry, and discussed ongoing efforts to get our fiscal house in order and reduce our nation’s deficit at the White House.

This week on American Radio Journal: Lowman Henry talks with David Williams of the Taxpayer Protection Alliance about holding the line against tax increases in the debt ceiling talks; Andy Roth of the Club for Growth has the Real Story on the impact of failing to raise the debt ceiling by August 2nd; Adam Tragone has an Off The Cuff interview with Ann Coulter, author of the new book Demonic; And, Dr. Paul Kengor from the Center for Vision & Values at Grove City College has an American Radio Journal commentary on whether we could survive another Great Depression.

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American Radio Journal is produced and distributed by the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc. The Lincoln Institute is a 501c3 non-profit educational foundation based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Founded in 1993, the mission of the Lincoln Institute is: “To promote the ideals of free market economics, individual liberty, and limited government through the conduct of public opinion research and related educational programs.”

The Lincoln Institute accepts no government money and is completely funded by philanthropic grant making foundations, corporations, and individuals.

To listen to the broadcast click here.

The following podcast is brought to you courtesy of A World of Possibilities and The Mainstream Media Project.

Hard economic times aren’t good for much, but they do get us thinking. As we sort through the wreckage of our private dreams, we ask ourselves how we could have done it differently – and how, given the chance, we might create an economy more equitable and reliable than the last one.

Guests:
David Korten, Author, Lecturer and Engaged Citizen
Hazel Henderson, President, Ethical Markets

(Click on a guest’s name to listen to their full unedited interview.)

Credits:
Host: Mark Sommer
Senior Producer: Gregg McVicar
Associate Producers: Naihma Deady, Matt Fidler
Production Engineer: Michael Schwartz

Music in this Program: Open – “Sweet Apocalypse” by Moby – Mute Records; “A United Earth I” by Alan Stivell and Youssou N’Dour – Putumayo World Music; “Money Talks” by J.J. Cale – Fontana Island; “I’m Busted” by Ray Charles – Rhino / Wea; “Strapped For Cash” by Fountains Of Wayne – Virgin Records.

Funding: listeners like you.

Duration: 55:00 minutes

Click here to listen to the podcast.

On this weekly radio address to the nation, President Obama called on both parties to come together during this unique moment to find a significant, balanced approach to deficit reduction that lets us live within our means without hurting investments our economy needs to grow and create jobs.  The President believes the American people deserve to have their leaders work in a bipartisan way to find common ground to tackle our fiscal challenges so we can be in a stronger position to focus on new job-creation measures to get the American people back to work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgV3L75fBF8

“Earlier this week, we did something that’s never been done here at the White House – we had a Twitter Town Hall. I even sent my first live tweet as President. The questions at the town hall were sent in from across the country and covered all kinds of topics – from jobs and the economy to education and energy.

Lots of people also submitted different versions of another question. They’d start by saying that our politics has grown so contentious. Then they’d ask, When will both parties in Congress come together on behalf of the people who elected them?

That’s a really important question, and it goes to the heart of a debate we’re having right now in this country – and that’s the debate about how to tackle the problem of our deficits and our debt.

Now, there are obviously real differences in approach. I believe we need a balanced approach. That means taking on spending in our domestic programs and our defense programs. It means addressing the challenges in programs like Medicare so we can strengthen those programs and protect them for future generations. And it means taking on spending in the tax code – spending on tax breaks and deductions for the wealthiest Americans.

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The Republican Weekly Address was delivered by Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington. Representative Rodgers talked about President Obama’s broken ‘stimulus’ promises and highlighted jobs bills passed by the House that have stalled in the Democratic-led Senate. These jobs bills are part of Republicans’ Plan for America’s Job Creators, which is designed to remove government barriers to private-sector job growth – the kind of growth the ‘stimulus’ promised but failed to deliver. Rep. McMorris Rodgers is vice chair of the House Republican Conference

“Hello, I’m Cathy McMorris Rodgers, I have the privilege of representing Washington’s Fifth Congressional District, and I serve as vice chair of the House Republican Conference.

“‘Where are the jobs?’

“It’s the only question worth asking after yesterday’s unemployment report. Our economy is actually creating fewer jobs month-to-month right now. More than 14 million people are out of work. They’ve been unemployed, on average, for 40 weeks, a new record.

(more…)

White House Week in Review

This week, President Obama celebrated Independence day with military families on the South Lawn, hosted a Twitter Town Hall on the economy and jobs and continued to work with leaders from both houses of Congress to find a balanced approach to reducing our long-term deficit.

This week on American Radio Journal: Lowman Henry talks with James Poulos host of The Bottom Line on PJTV.com about Barack Obama and the youth vote in 2012; Andy Roth of the Club for Growth talks about the club’s white paper on presidential candidate Michelle Bachmann; Adam Tragone of Human Events debuts his new feature Off The Cuff talking with Political Editor and White House Correspondent John Gizzi about new leadership at the International Monetary Fund; And, Colin Hanna of Let Freedom Ring USA has an American Radio Journal commentary on a new tactic in the “cut, cap & balance” campaign.

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American Radio Journal is produced and distributed by the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc. The Lincoln Institute is a 501c3 non-profit educational foundation based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Founded in 1993, the mission of the Lincoln Institute is: “To promote the ideals of free market economics, individual liberty, and limited government through the conduct of public opinion research and related educational programs.”

The Lincoln Institute accepts no government money and is completely funded by philanthropic grant making foundations, corporations, and individuals.

To listen to the broadcast click here.

The following podcast is brought to you courtesy of A World of Possibilities and The Mainstream Media Project.

Plenty for some. Poverty for others. On today’s industrial farms, field workers harvest crops that they themselves can’t afford to buy. Join us as we ask how much we’re willing to pay for our food to assure that those who fill our plates are paid enough to eat what they harvest.

Guests:
David Bacon, Photographer and Migrant Worker Activist
Andrea Hinojosa, Southeast Georgia Communities Project
Francisca Cortes, Coalition of Immokaless Workers
Steven Grover, Vice President of Food Safety, quality insurance and regulatory compliance for Burger King
Maria Ines Catalan, Organic Farmer
(Click on a guest’s name to listen to their full unedited interview.)

Credits: Music in this program: open- “Migrant Worker Blues” by Don Ewell, Chiaroscuro Records; welcome- “A United Earth I” by Alan Stivell and Youssou N’Dour, Putumayo World Music; break 1- “Immigrant” by Ancestor Radio, courtesy of Ancestor Radio; break 2- “Ain’t You Got A Right” by Ray and Candie Carawan, Flying Fish Records; bottom of the hour billboard- “A United Earth I” by Alan Stivell and Youssou N’Dour, Putumayo World Music; insert 1- “Immigrant Man” by Orange, Kattguld/XTC Records; break 3- “Hurt Like Mine” by The Black Keys, Fat Possum Records; close and credits- “Gaucho” by Gustavo Santaolalla, Nonesuch Records. Other Credits: Sound from “Harvest of Shame” courtesy of CBS. Sound from “A Day Without a Mexican” courtesy of Altavista Films. Distribution: WFMT Radio Network, Chicago. Marketing: Creative PR, Los Angeles.

Funding: The W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Duration: 55:00 minutes

To Listen to this podcast click here.