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Books, Articles, Talks, Videos, Songs, and Stageplays on
Politics and Economics in America
Kyklos News and Events
The Book, “THE WAR AT HOME: The Corporate Offensive From Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush “, released 2006, is a 536 pp. account of corporate and government policies since 1980 attacking American middle and working class incomes, wages, jobs, pensions, taxes, health benefits, and social security , with analyses of the dual crises of the AFL-CIO and Democratic Party. Only $11.50 by credit card. At the photo immediately below click on How to Order by credit card via Paypal…To order direct from publisher call 925-209-3933, fax 925-828-0792 or mail check for $11.50 plus $3.00 shipping (total $14.50) to ‘Kyklos Productions’, 211 Duxbury Ct., San Ramon, CA 94583. Click on ‘books’ tab above for the free 23 page Introductory Chapter overview and book Table of Contents. Click on ‘reviews’ tab above for book reviews.
Watch for the publication of Jack Rasmus’s new book in 2009, EPIC RECESSION AND FINANCIAL CRISIS: Prelude to Global Depression?, to be published and distributed by Plutobooks and Palgrave in 2009.
Public Talks and Presentations by Jack Rasmus now available for download or purchase. Click on ‘Audio CD’ tab on toolbar above to listen to Jack’s public talks and radio interviews. Or watch select presentations on video. Click on ‘Video’ tab on toolbar to view.
Read Jack’s three most recent articles: “The Many Faces of Bank Nationalization"… “Obama’s Busted Bank Bailout” and “Obama’s Economic Recovery Plan vs. An Alternative", published this March and April 2009. Also, the more theoretical analysis of the crisis, “Speculative Capital, Financial Crisis, and Epic Recession". For an explanation why joblessness keeps rising every month, read Jack’s December 2008 prediction of “20 million Unemployed by the End of 2009″, and “Epic Recession Revisited".
Watch for the play, “1934″, coming to San Francisco in 2009. “1934″ is a 2 hour play in the Brecht-Epic Theater tradition about the San Francisco General Strike of 1934, featuring a cast of 12, with ten original songs and choreography in a multimedia presentation. “1934″ is about the San Francisco waterfront during the maritime and general strike which occurred during the summer of that year, now celebrated on its 75th anniversary.
Click on the ‘Songs’ tab above to hear select songs. And on ‘Video’ tab to view select scenes.
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The War At Home: The Corporate Offensive
From Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush, is a 534 page,
extensively researched, nonfiction book that describes the evolution
of corporate-government policies from 1980 to 2005 that have shifted
more than a $1 trillion dollars a year, every year, from 90 million
American middle and working class households to the wealthiest 10%
and corporations. With more than 500 references and 45 tables and
graphs, the book examines in detail topics such as the Great American
Tax Shift, the 30 Year Pay Freeze, Free Trade and the loss of 10
million jobs, the creation of more than 40 million part time and
temporary jobs, the destruction of unions, dismanting of the postwar
pension and healthcare systems, and the theft by Congress and Presidents
of more than $2 trillion from the Social Security Trust Fund. Solutions
and proposals are offered to reverse the current corporate offensive
at the end of each chapter, as well as a new proposal for reorganizing
the trade union movement in the concluding chapter. According to
labor historian, Harvey Schwartz, if you liked Howard Zinn's book,
A People's History of the United States, then "you are going to
love the new book by Jack Rasmus...an excellent complement and companion
to Zinn's popular work."
Click to read the book's Contents
and the Preface.
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Recent articles by Jack Rasmus from 'Z' magazine,
'In These Times', and other publications on the current economic
and political crisis in the U.S. Topics include the current global
financial and economic crisis, the collapse of health care financing
and retirement systems in the U.S., shifting tax burden, shelters
and corporate fraud, deregulation and social security privatization,
the 30-year pay freeze, radical restructuring of job markets, the
corporate free trade offensive, explosion in CEO pay and capital
incomes, growing global income inequality, decline of American unions,
and increasing class-biased policies of political parties. Articles
may be downloaded for free by individuals. Reproduction in multiple
quantities requires written permission of the author.
Cartoons by Jim Swanson. |
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Audio CDs of Jack's public talks and radio show
interviews--on topics from the current financial crisis, recession,
economic policies of the Bush administration, growing income inequality
in America, etc.--are available at for download and listening. Click
on the image to the left or on the heading of this section to open
the Audio CDs page.
Interviews and talks range from 20 minutes to 2
hours and include presentations and extended audience Q & A
with Jack. Audio CDs may be ordered for a nominal cost of $10, including
shipping. (Talks and interviews may not be duplicated for distribution
without the written permission of the author). |
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Selections of original songs and soundtracks of
stageplays by Jack Rasmus may be accessed for listening and download.
Songs address themes of political protest in the Brechtian-Epic
Theater tradition and contemporary cabraet in various musical styles.
Click on the songsheet image, 'Song of Solidarity', to the right
to listen to a sample song selection. Also available for listening
are selected scenes from the 2003 stageplay, 'Fire on Pier 32',
about the history of the west coast longshore workers from the 1934
San Francisco General Strike to the present. A full soundtrack of
the 2.5 hour stageplay is also available for purchase. Click
the heading of this section to open the Songs and Music page
where you can play select songs and scenes, and order a soundtrack.
(Songs and soundtrack may not be duplicated for distribution without
the written permission of the authors).
Music composed by Joyce McBride |
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CLICK HERE TO PLAY THE SONG OF SOLIDARITY.
Click on this songsheet to find more songs and music.
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Videos of Jack's public talks, in terviews and
presentations on the economic crisis, environment and politics are
available on DVD for a nominal cost. Kyklos Productions is also
proud to present on DVD the full length, 2.5 hour stage play, "Fire
on Pier 32", which was performed to sold out audiences in San Francisco
in 2003. "Fire" is story in 3 acts, performed by an ensemble cast
of 12, with original songs, staged in the 'Epic' Theater tradition,
about the west coat longshore workers and their union from the events
of the 1934 San Francisco General Strike through the historic lockout
in late 2002. Click on the photo for more details about videos of
Jack's speeches, presentations and the play and how to order. |
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THE COLLECTED PLAYS features five full-length stage
plays on American History, Labor, and political themes.
Included in the volume are "1934: THE MUSICAL," a two
hour production in the Epic Theater tradition about
the San Francisco waterfront in 1934 with 10 original songs, chorus,
choreography, and visuals. The two-part four hour play, "OUR
TIME", a multimedia production about the transformation
of America in the 20th century based on scenes of American
Presidents from Herbert Hoover to George W. Bush.
"LOCKOUT", a play about contemporary labor conflicts
in the grocery, hotel and west coast ports since 2002. The acclaimed
2.5 hour multimedia production, "FIRE ON PIER 32", about
the history of the west coast longshore workers and their union,
the ILWU, from the 1930s to 2002. And "HOLD THE LIGHT",
about a six month labor strike of young workers.
Click the photo for more information about each play. |
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About
Kyklos Productions
Kyklos Productions was founded in 2003. Its mission
is to provide a critical analysis of 21st century American economy,
society, and culture delivered in a variety of communicative forms
including books, articles, audio presentations of speeches, public
talks, and interviews, musical scores and songs, videos, and multimedia
stage plays.
More about Kyklos |
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About
Jack Rasmus
Dr. Jack Rasmus has a Ph.D in Political Economy
and currently teaches economics and politics at St. Mary's College
and Santa Clara University in California. He is the author and producer
of the various nonfiction and fictional workers featured on this
website. Prior to a writing career, Jack was an economist and analyst
for several global companies and before that, for more than a decade,
a local union president, business representative, contract negotiator,
and organizer for several labor unions.
More about
Jack |
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