Huntsman drops out of race, Santorum receives conservative backing. Buy ethical – what does it mean to you? The legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights movement. What’s the business climate in Leimert Park?
Huntsman drops out, Santorum lands Evangelical leaders’ endorsement
Today in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Jon Huntsman announced he’s ending his campaign for president of the United States in 2012. Rumors of such a move were circulating on Sunday, and several political critics have felt Huntsman’s candidacy was a long-shot from the beginning.
During today’s speech, Huntsman called for more civility in the election process by denouncing attack ads, even though within the last eight days his media has focused negatively on fellow GOP moderate Mitt Romney. While the two men still have wide policy gaps, it came as no surprise to analysts that Huntsman endorsed Romney over his other rivals, citing his electability. Polls show Romney stands the best chance to beat Barack Obama in the general election and Huntsman’s endorsement could open the door to a decent job offer in the White House.
Meanwhile, the group of Evangelical leaders and social conservatives who met over the week in Texas announced they’re backing Rick Santorum, whose conservative values reflect their own.
WEIGH IN:
Is the GOP field now a two-man race between Romney and Santorum? How does Huntsman’s departure affect Gingrich and Perry? Ron Paul could benefit from the Independents who were drawn to Huntsman, where does he stand in all this? Who’s your candidate and why?
Guests:
Tim Lefever, Chairman of the Board, Capitol Resource Institute (CRI) in Sacramento
Arnold Steinberg, a veteran political strategist and analyst
Ethical consumption, or something like that
“Corporate responsibility” has become a goal for many companies that make the products we use on a daily basis, from shampoo to dog food to smart phones.
It’s not just altruism that prompts them to “do the right thing”– smart companies know it can also mean increased consumer goodwill, which can translate into profits and shareholder value. But what does it mean? How do we measure the “green” factor on store shelves – by sustainability, health factors, environmental or labor practices? And how can we get the information we need about products that may have dozens of steps along the supply chain?
Buying American isn’t enough - last year, Apple came under scrutiny when an astounding 16 people committed suicide at a factory in China that makes components for its iPhones and iPads, as well as for Sony, Dell and HP. The move forced notoriously secretive Apple to improve transparency and allow monitoring of its sources. Last Friday, Apple released the names of its 156 “leading suppliers” for the first time.
The company also discussed the results of recent supplier audits, which discovered several violations including instances of underage labor at five facilities, instances of involuntary labor, excessive hours, unfair hiring practices and safety concerns. Add to this the 300-some people at Foxconn’s Wuhan factory, which makes Xbox’s, who threatened to commit suicide en masse earlier this month.
WEIGH IN:
All this begs the question: how do you feel about your beloved iPhone now? Do stories like this give you pause in your texting? Would you be willing to spend more for a product that you know treats the environment and its workers better?
Guests:
Joel Johnson, Editor-at-Large for Gizmodo.com, where he blogs about gadgets and technology; author of a WIRED Magazine cover story about working conditions at Foxconn, the spate of suicides last year, and what it means for the consumer of the goods these workers make
Dara O’Rourke, professor of environmental and labor policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and founder of GoodGuide.com
MLK's legacy in 2012
Today, Americans will remember the I-have-a-dream Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr; the March on Washington in 1963 that turned the tide in favor of civil rights – so that children "will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." For that was King's greatest accomplishment and his legacy's lifeblood.
But there was more to King's activism than race. The full title of that historic 1963 rally was The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. King was fighting economic injustice. He was calling for a moral reckoning. He was agitating against the Vietnam War. By the spring of 1968, King honed in on poverty and war. On April 4, 1968 in Memphis, he had been writing a Sunday sermon entitled, "Why America May Go to Hell." Clearly, he did not feel his work was done. His assassination that day stole his chance to realize the rest of his dreams.
Forty-four years later, America has President Barack Obama, but it also has greater disparity in wealth and a shrinking middle class. The country is still stained by war – witness last week’s video of Marines’ degradation of corpses in Afghanistan.
WEIGH IN:
In 2012, what battles would Dr. King still want to fight?
Guest:
Joe Hicks, Vice President, Community Advocates, Inc., described as a non-traditional civil rights and human rights organization
Melina Abdullah, Professor and Chair of Pan-African Studies at California State University, Los Angeles; Chapter President, California Faculty Association, California State University
Martin Luther King Jr. Day: How's business in Leimert Park?
It’s said to be the largest Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration in the country. More than 70,000 people are expected to line the route Monday for the annual MLK Day parade in South Los Angeles, which starts at Normandie and King Boulevard, and spills into a festival at L.A.’s historic Leimert Park Village.
Leimert Park became popular with prosperous black Angelenos during World War II and emerged as a thriving center for black culture during the 1960s, when a number of black-owned galleries, nightclubs and other local businesses sprang up there.
These days, the Leimert Park Village Merchants’ Association boasts a variety of locally owned establishments, from beauty salons and printers to boutiques, cafes and restaurants. African-themed jewelry, clothing and artwork can be found on Degnan Boulevard, alongside a performance gallery that features jazz, blues, spoken word and drum circles.
But in the past several years, business has been lagging in Leimert Park Village. Owners are struggling to keep their establishments vital as customer traffic has declined. What would help? An MTA stop that would funnel customers and their dollars into the neighborhood, for one thing. Despite widespread community support, a proposed stop along the Crenshaw-LAX light rail line has been stymied due to lack of funds.
What does it mean for L.A.’s African-American business community?
Guests:
Bernard Parks, Councilman, 8th District (includes the Baldwin-Hills, Crenshaw, Leimert Park, Chesterfield Square, Vermont-Knolls, Hyde Park, Angeles Mesa, Green Meadows, Jefferson Park, North University Park and West Adams communities)
Brenda Shockley, President of Community Build, Inc. and Manager, Leimert Park Village Crenshaw Corridor Business Improvement District.