Olbermann Special Comment Unedited PT. 1 (w/ Triangle Shirtwaist Disaster Intro)

[Hissyspit]

Run time: 09:19 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMQDRkzRtA0   Posted on YouTube: August 04, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: August 04, 2009 By DU Member: Hissyspit Views on DU: 2495

 
KEITH: Finally tonight, as promised, a special comment on health care reform in this country, and in particular the public insurance option. In March of 1911, after a wave of minor factory fires in New York City, the city's fire commissioner issued emergency rules about fire prevention, protection, escape, sprinklers. The city's manufacturers association in turn called an emergency meeting to attack the fire commissioner and his interference with commerce. The new rules were delayed.

Just days later, a fire broke out at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory. The door to the fire escape had been bolted shut to keep the employees from leaving prematurely. 150 of those employees died, many by jumping from the seventh floor windows to avoid the flames. Firefighters setting up their ladders literally had to dodge the falling, often burning, bodies of women.

This was the spirit of the American corporation then. This is the spirit of the American corporation now. It is what the corporation when it is left alone for weak. You know the drill - we all know the drill. You get something done at a doctor's, at a dentist, at an emergency room and the bill is in your hands before the pain medication wears off. And if you are one of the lucky ones and you have insurance, you submit the endless paperwork, and no matter whether it is insurance through your company or your union or your non-profit or on your own dime, you then get your turn at the roulette wheel.

How much of it is the insurance company going to pay this time? How much of it is the insurance company... how much is this giant corporation going to give you back...?

You know the answer.

PART TWO is HERE: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=347644&mesg_id=347644

[orleans]

1. k&r n/t

[wroberts189]

2. Woohoo .. thank you Hissyspit knr nt

[Systematic Chaos]

3. Thank you for posting these up so soon.

It's fucking mind numbing.

[MrsBrady]

4. hell yea n/t

[WorseBeforeBetter]

5. I wonder how many Americans are even familiar with the Triangle fire?

I'd wager not many. A list of the victims to remind us:

http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/victims.html

Americans also need a reminder of the role of unions and protest in this country. I applaud Keith for speaking out, but in many ways, he's just preaching to the choir.

[Shallah Kali]

17. I hav shut my little sister in from life and light

Margaret Widdemer.

125. Factories

I HAVE shut my little sister in from life and light
(For a rose, for a ribbon, for a wreath across my hair),
I have made her restless feet still until the night,
Locked from sweets of summer and from wild spring air;
I who ranged the meadowlands, free from sun to sun, 5
Free to sing and pull the buds and watch the far wings fly,
I have bound my sister till her playing time was done—
Oh, my little sister, was it I? Was it I?

I have robbed my sister of her day of maidenhood
(For a robe, for a feather, for a trinket's restless spark), 10
Shut from love till dusk shall fall, how shall she know good,
How shall she go scatheless through the sin-lit dark?
I who could be innocent, I who could be gay,
I who could have love and mirth before the light went by,
I have put my sister in her mating-time away— 15
Sister, my young sister, was it I? Was it I?

I have robbed my sister of the lips against her breast,
(For a coin, for the weaving of my children's lace and lawn),
Feet that pace beside the loom, hands that cannot rest—
How can she know motherhood, whose strength is gone? 20
I who took no heed of her, starved and labor-worn,
I, against whose placid heart my sleepy gold-heads lie,
Round my path they cry to me, little souls unborn—
God of Life! Creator! It was I! It was I!

[AllyCat]

20. Wow. Powerful and devastating. When was it written?

[Shallah Kali]

21. 1917 The Factories and Other Poems

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Widdemer

http://books.google.com/books?id=IXsRAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA9&lpg=PA9&dq=The+Factories+++margaret+widdemer+I+have+shut+my+little+sister&source=bl&ots=zzqZiUwY0Z&sig=p9vfP1OTtV1achXkPZnrNibB-hg&hl=en&ei=8Hh7StXmIKD8tget-MnzAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5

[wroberts189]

6. Thank you Keith. I think you have surpassed Murrow now...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_R._Murrow

[wroberts189]

7. kick... nt

[tomm2thumbs]

8. k&R thanks for posting

[Lifelong Protester]

9. What a phenomenal piece, and is this getting OUT THERE??

We know that repubs do not watch Olbermann, so is this information about the bought and owned Congress getting out there??

[DontTreadOnMe]

10. One of the best KO shows ever!

I think he drew the line in the sand this time. Time for Progressives to act.

[florida08]

11. So glad he's back

Am keeping this one..thanks for posting. The spirit of the American corporation..is self preservation at any price.

[Hissyspit]

12. Kick. I feel bad this part was not included in the video featured on the front page.

Very powerful intro.

[cynthia]

13. the intro piece about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire is

critical to the whole August recess, protests at town hall meeting, time line. The moneyed power brokers have plenty of money to spend on propaganda and activists to delay this while they stash their profits.

[BrklynLiberal]

14. KICK AND REC!!!

[nightrain]

15. K&R Keith's on fire and accurate! nt

[Grown2Hate]

16. Re: Thune... "We know what you are, sir... we arguing about the price."

BeAUTIFUL!

[Rhiannon12866]

18. K&R and bookmarking. Thanks! KO always manages to top himself!

:applause: :kick:

[AllyCat]

19. Fabulous! Thank you for that addition.

What a great video to put on my fb page today!

[JHB]

22. I think that line in the intro actually says...

"It is what the corporation will do when it is left alone for a week."

(bold is just to highlight the missing or mistaken text)