Trump Driven Hate-Fest Obscures The Real Issue

Ken O'Brien

The public, driven by Republican candidates and media pundits, is preoccupied with the threat of radical Islamic terror.

The reason? The media savvy campaign of one Donald J. Trump.

As one source noted:

81:1.

Does that ratio seem out of whack? That's the ratio of TV airtime that ABC World News Tonight has devoted to Donald Trump's campaign (81 minutes) versus the amount of TV time World News Tonight has devoted to Bernie Sanders' campaign this year. And even that one minute for Sanders is misleading because the actual number is closer to 20 seconds.

For the entire year. 

Sanders Promotes “Worker Cooperatives”

Ken O’Brien

As he promised, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt) has launched his Presidential campaign with a focus on issues.

Among the 12 platform planks that he published there are several traditional ideas such as rebuilding American infrastructure and guaranteeing health care to all. But the very last platform offers a genuinely fresh idea: boosting America's worker co-ops.

The Sanders campaign writes:

We need to develop new economic models to increase job creation and productivity. Instead of giving huge tax breaks to corporations which ship our jobs to China and other low-wage countries, we need to provide assistance to workers who want to purchase their own businesses by establishing worker-owned cooperatives. Study after study shows that when workers have an ownership stake in the businesses they work for, productivity goes up, absenteeism goes down and employees are much more satisfied with their jobs. 

Can Southbridge Hit The “Reset Button” In 2014?

Ken O’Brien

As we enter 2014 and anticipate our town’s Bicentennial in 2016 there is little doubt that Southbridge is a community with serious problems. Is there any way to hit the “reset button?”

Once the hub of economic, industrial and political energy in Southern Worcester County, “The Eye of the Commonwealth” has become an eyesore.

Unfortunately, even saying such a thing seems to automatically brand one as negative and worthy of dismissal.

What Do You Think?

Kenneth M. O’Brien

The election is over.

The incoming Southbridge Town Council will consist of Denise Clemence, David Langevin, David Livengood, Darlene Marcucci, Laurent McDonald, Catherine Nikolla, Pamela Regis, Lawrence Spinelli and Conrad Vandel.

Who do you think should be Chairman, and why?

Who do you think should be Vice-Chairman, and why?

What should be the council’s first priority and what should they do about it?

How should the council deal with the report of the Charter Review Committee and their recommendations and why?

Speak now or forever hold your piece!

The O’Zone is giving you a voice before the back room deals are made.

 Use it!