SCADs and Conspiracy Theories

Part 1: New World Notes #512, 28:49 (December 26, 2017)
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Part 2: New World Notes #513, 28:38 (January 2, 2018)
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Lance deHaven-Smith

Public policy scholar Lance deHaven-Smith discusses the concepts of "conspiracy theories" and SCADs--State Crimes Against Democracy. "Conspiracy theory" is a pejorative term introduced by the CIA in the 1960s to smear critics of the Warren Commission Report. SCADs, though, are real crimes that high government officials (often conspiring together) committed.

Part 1 of this interesting talk discusses both concepts and provides some little-known facts about famous SCADs including Watergate and candidate Richard Nixon's scuttling of the Vietnam peace talks in 1968.

Part 2 says more about both concepts and provides many little-known facts about proven SCADs, probable SCADs, and possible SCADs. One focus is this country's many assassinations and attempted assassinations.

Previously broadcast, as NWN #404-405, in December 2015. MP3 files downloaded from the links, above, are identified as #404 and 405.

Lance deHaven-Smith spoke in Denver on September 6, 2013. Robin Upton, of Unwelcome Guests (unwelcomeguests.net) provided an edited sound recording--which I have edited a bit more. Thanks to Robin.

deHaven-Smith is Professor of Public Administration and Policy at Florida State University. His books include Conspiracy Theory in America (University of Texas Press, 2013).

Comic Satire for Christmas

New World Notes #511, 27:15 (December 19)
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Stan Freberg

Some brief commentary by me, five satiric songs, and an imitation Broadway "big production number." All take a comic but critical view of American hypocrisies, religiosity, commercialism, militarism, class warfare, and other Christmastime traditions.

Playlist:

• Hugh Blumenfeld, Long-Haired Radical Socialist Jew
• Simon and Garfunkel, Silent Night / Six O'Clock News
• Anne Feeney, Brave New Christmas
• Roy Zimmerman, Buy War Toys for Christmas
• Stan Freberg, Green Chri$tma$
• Tom Lehrer, A Christmas Carol

Note: MP3 files downloaded from the liinks, above, are identified as NWN  #355.

Potpourri 6

New World Notes #510, 29:00 (December 12)
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A bit of this, a bit of that. Features more of Noam Chomsky's discussion (with Ralph Nader) on the ill effects of the growing concentration of wealth and power. Plus KD's "Press Review" of oddball newspaper stories and a song by Ethan Miller & Kate Boverman.

Chomsky audio courtesy of the Ralph Nader Radio Hour for May 20, 2017

This installment of New World Notes presents the second part of the Chomsky/Nader discussion. For the first part, see NWN #499--Potpourri 5--broadcast in September 2017.

Bruce Gagnon on Endless War & the Economy

Part 1: New World Notes #508, 29:20 (November 28)
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Part 2: New World Notes #509, 28:19 (December 5)
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Aegis-class destroyer USS Oscar
Austin leaves the Bath (Maine) Iron Works. Balloons for the kiddies
of Gagnon's home town. Maine's principal exports appear to be
Aegis destroyers and potatoes.

Antiwar/antinuke activist Bruce Gagnon shows how militarism is detroying both the American economy and our lives.

In Part 1, he discusses the connections among crumbling infrastructure, unemployment, decreasing educational opportunities for working-class kids, the increasing militarization of our society, the export of war machines, aggressive U.S. foreign policy, corporate globalization, our rulers' desire to control the world's oil, ...  and the wisdom of forming alliances with the "Tea-partiers."

Bruce Gagnon (2004)

 In Part 2, he shows the bad effects of NATO expansion and of our encircling Russia and China with "missile defense" installations.

He also discusses universities' increasing dependence on Pentagon funding (for war research); ... the allegiance of both parties to capitalism, oligarchy, & military empire; ... & how spending on infrastructure creates many more jobs than "defense" spending.

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Bruce Gagnon is Coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space (www.space4peace.org).

Recorded live by me in West Hartford, Connecticut, on April 16, 2010.  Gagnon's talk was sponsored by the West Hartford Citizens for Peace and Justice (www.westhartfordpeace.org). This program was originally broadcast in 2010.