The War on Democracy: Art Pope and the Rich Bullies
Out here on the Left Coast, we’re not opposed to capitalism. But we believe it needs constraints. You’ll hear two arguments for curbing capitalism. One focuses on poor kids and the other on rich...
View ArticleThe War on Democracy: The Deep State
Over the course of the past decade, the doyens of the left, Peter Dale Scott and Noam Chomsky, began to use the term “deep state” to refer to the relatively small number of Washington and Wall Street...
View ArticleFukushima: What Have We Learned?
It’s been three years since the Fukushima nuclear disaster and the bad news continues. In December, it was widely reported that 51 US sailors assigned to the nuclear carrier, Ronald Reagan, have...
View ArticleAmerica's Gas Problem
Most US politicians regard natural gas as the key element in our energy policy. In his January State-of-the-Union address President Obama said, “[Natural gas is] the bridge fuel that can power our...
View ArticleAccelerating Use of Renewable Energy
US energy policy is stuck on reliance on natural gas. Most Americans understand that by the middle of the century most of our energy will have to be supplied by renewables – wind, water, and solar –...
View ArticleBuilding the New Populism
It’s a treasured American maxim that every problem is an opportunity in disguise. Seven months before the mid-term election Democrats face a serious problem: most Americans feel the country is headed...
View ArticleThe War on Democracy: SCOTUS Weighs In
Americans are worried about the economy and economic inequality. Most of us feel the government should do something to reduce inequality. Now the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has...
View ArticleInside Paul Ryan, Inside the GOP
After six months attacking Democrats for the alleged faults of Obamacare, Republicans finally went on the offensive with the budget plan developed by Representative Paul Ryan. The Ryan/Republican...
View ArticleSaving the 2014 Election
Six months out from the midterm election, Democratic prospects appear grim. A ABC News / Washington Post poll found President Obama’s approval rating at a new low (41 percent). 53 percent of...
View ArticleElizabeth Warren: Saving the Democrats
Reading Senator Elizabeth Warren’s new book, A Fighting Chance, I thought about the parallels between her career and that of Barack Obama. Both are brilliant lawyers with inspiring personal stories....
View ArticleRacism: What's the Problem?
The past few weeks have seen the anniversaries of the US Civil Rights Act and the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in “Brown v. Board of Education.” We’ve also had a media frenzy over the dreadful...
View ArticleClass Warfare: The 2014 Election
As we head into the midterm national election, it’s clear that voters are unhappy. But it’s uncertain how their displeasure will affect the November 4th outcome. We’re seeing class warfare, where the...
View ArticleClinton vs. Warren: Problem or Opportunity?
Many who saw the remarkable conversation between Senator Elizabeth Warren and economist Thomas Piketty on economic inequality, got the impression that Warren was preparing to run for President....
View ArticleThe Return of Sixties Values
The level of US political rancor has reached an intensity not seen since the sixties with its battles over civil rights and the Vietnam War. On the one hand we have Republicans advocating a new Iraq...
View ArticleCampaign 2014: Hate Politics
Four months before the midterm election, it’s become apparent the Republican strategy is based upon firing up their base with a barrage of anti-Obama messages. This has driven down the President’s...
View ArticleGetting Democrats to Vote
After an absence of several years, the new Pew Research Center political typology poll was just released. It breaks the American political electorate into eight groups. And, it makes clear what the...
View ArticleWhat's Wrong With US Foreign Policy?
Obama bashing has been one of the characteristics of the 2014 midterm election. For the last few months the President was accused of lacking foreign policy leadership. Republicans blamed Obama for...
View ArticleWhat Do Republicans Want?
Although negative political ads take a toll, in most elections voters respond to positive messages. 2014 may prove to be an exception to this rule, as Republicans have waged a relentlessly negative...
View ArticleAmerica the Hammer
In his September 10th speech about middle-eastern terrorists, ISIL, President Obama gave the classic rationale for US involvement: “America is better positioned today to seize the future than any other...
View ArticleWhat Do Democrats Want?
During the 2014 midterm elections Republicans have waged a negative “slash and burn” campaign, attacking President Obama and Democrats in general. The GOP strategy is to fire up their base, bamboozle...
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