Occupy LA gets incentives to move out. Consumers not so cheery about spending plans. The mighty influence of think tanks. Undocumented VS. Illegal: The debate heats up. Plus, the latest news.
Los Angeles officials offer Occupiers a deal to vacate City Hall grounds
The city of Los Angeles is taking a very different approach from other cities to removing Occupiers from city parks and grounds.
In New York, police in riot gear swept through Zucotti Park in the early hours of the morning, rousting protesters and dumping their belongings unceremoniously in bins and plastic bags. In October, a police raid on the Occupy camp in Oakland ended with tear gas and rubber bullets. In Philadelphia; Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and Dallas, Texas, police have raided and razed Occupy encampments with violent flare-ups ensuing between protesters and police.
But not here. According to the Los Angeles Times, city officials and members of Occupy Los Angeles have been meeting to work out a deal to end the encampment around City Hall peacefully. The city is offering them 10,000 square feet of downtown office space for a dollar a year, some farmland and additional housing for the homeless Occupy contingent if they all pack up and clear off.
Whether or not the deal with go through is anyone's guess. Many in the Occupy movement weren't pleased with the idea that some members were taking it upon themselves to negotiate with city officials.
WEIGH IN:
If the Occupiers take the city's deal, who are the winners and losers? Are city officials right in making this offer, or are they sanctioning a loosely organized protest movement’s actions? And, the L.A encampment is the last big Occupy to still stand. What does the movement lose if they lose L.A?
Guests:
Frank Stoltze, KPCC reporter
Ms. PJ Davenport, activist with OccupyLA; freelance television and multi-media producer
Consumers more blue than green about spending plans
It's projected to be a not-so-cheery holiday season for consumers.
The 12th annual holiday spending survey of consumers conducted by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) says a higher percentage of people feel worse about their financial situation compared to the same time last year.
According to the Nov. 10-13 survey, of over a thousand adult Americans from varying economic backgrounds, nearly 40 percent of people polled reported their finances were worse, versus 30 percent a year ago. 41 percent of those polled – the same percentage as last year – said they planned to spend less this holiday season.
The survey's results are still an improvement over 2008, when a whopping 55 percentage of respondents said they intended to spend less. Yet, a CUNA spokesman says there was a 3 to 4 percent increase in actual spending last year, despite projected hesitancy.
WEIGH IN:
Do you feel worse about your finances this year compared to last year, and plan to spend less? How do you plan on keeping holiday debt under control?
Guest:
Bill Hampel, chief economist with the Credit Union National Association, which represents 90 percent of the country's credit unions
The mighty influence of think tanks
Tonight, CNN will broadcast the Republican candidates' national security debate. The event is co-sponsored by The Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute – two conservative think tanks.
It provides a good chance for "AirTalk" to examine the role and influence of think tanks in the national dialogue and in creating public policy.
Historically, a handful of them were established early in the 20th century to produce analysis and research to assist government policymakers. Then in the 1970s and 1980s there was a little explosion on the think tank scene. Critics say they became more "tank" than "think" – pushing ideology rather than well-researched ideas.
These days, you’re just as likely to hear two competing think-tank experts on the airwaves battling over taxes, health-care and warfare as you are two lawmakers from either side of the aisle.
WEIGH IN:
What is the ultimate goal of heavy-weight think tanks? Do they just add to a cacophony of poisoned politics? Or can their researchers contribute ideas isolated from politicking on the Hill? What are the risks and benefits of relying on them? Should their influence be kept in check? And is there a think tank for every political stripe?
Guests:
James McGann, Director, Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program, University of Pennsylvania
Mike Gonzalez, Vice President, Communications, The Heritage Foundation
Faiz Shakir, Vice President, Center for American Progress and serves as Editor in Chief of Think Progress.org -- a blog created by the Center for American Progress Action Fund
Undocumented VS. Illegal: The debate heats up
For years, the mainstream media has struggled with how to refer to foreign nationals who live and work in this country without authorization.
Some news organizations use the word “illegals” or “illegal aliens” while others have settled on the less incendiary “undocumented.”
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) decided in September to eschew “illegals” in favor of “undocumented,” saying the former term is politically charged and offensive.
According to the resolution adopted by SPJ, “Only the court system, not reporters and editors, can decide when a person has committed an illegal act.” The most recent update to the Associated Press Style Book further clarifies the longtime new organization’s position on the issue. AP goes with the term “illegal immigrant,” instead of using “illegals,” “illegal alien” AND “undocumented.”
WEIGH IN:
So what is an acceptable way to refer to an immigrant who is in this country without proper authorization? Is the term “illegals” inherently negative and politically charged? There are a lot of options on the table, including “undocumented immigrant,” “unauthorized immigrant” and the somewhat circuitous “immigrant entering without inspection.” What’s the best one?
Guest:
Leslie Berestein-Rojas, KPCC immigration reporter and blogger, writes the Multi-American blog on KPCC dot org.