Frog Economy?—A Reaction to Professor Reich’s Tortoise Economy

September 20, 2010 By Robert Letcher

Bob Letcher: The workforce has become as dilapidated as the proverbial rust-belt factory. It took a long time for us all to get us all into this mess, and it’s going to take at least as long for us all to work ourselves back out of it

GOP Hopes for a Heap of Stay-at-Home Union Folks

September 20, 2010 By Berry Craig

“The Party of No doesn’t want the union vote, the working family vote,” AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka said at the AFL-CIO-sponsored Battleground States Conference. “They want us all to stay at home out of frustration.”

Military Experts Call for DREAM Act Passage

September 20, 2010 By Andrea Christina Nill

Andrea Nill: Many military experts have come out in support of the DREAM Act, which comprises the majority of undocumented immigrants.

Congress Should Pass the “Medicare You Can Buy Into” Act

September 20, 2010 By Tracy Emblem

Tracy Emblem: Grayson’s simple public option plan is more cost-effective for many individual’s who are held hostage now by the BIG Four. Buying into Medicare’s larger insurance risk pool brings down individual premiums.

American Taliban

September 19, 2010 By Sharon Kyle

In a recent commentary on Sarah Palin’s endorsement of Tea Party candidates, former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich said, “After the victories of many of the insurgent primary candidates she’s sponsored, Sarah Palin is off to Iowa for a high-profile series of political events. Is it possible she’s looking to make a run in 2012? [...]

How Corporations Own Congress

September 18, 2010 By Shamus Cooke

Shamus Cooke: A “lesser of two evils” approach to politics equals evil politicians for labor, no matter who wins. In fact, the lesser-evil Democrats have become increasingly evil over the years, to the point where the party as a whole is more Conservative than the Nixon-era Republicans.

The Koran Burning-Islamic Center Brouhaha

September 18, 2010 By Ivan Eland

Ivan Eland:The intense coverage of the Islamic center at Ground Zero, and a bigoted Christian minister’s threat to burn the Koran, are jolting and saddening.

The California Budget Mess Backstory

September 18, 2010 By Adam Eran

Adam Eran: So the origin of California’s tax reductions, and even its current budget deficit, is arguably oil price inflation. If we want a stable economy, and government without deficits, we need to stop kidding ourselves that spending is a the root our budget problems, and attend to our energy addiction.

The Crackpot Gap: Why It May Be A Boon To Democrats But A Danger To America

September 18, 2010 By Robert Reich

Robert Reich: We’re in the midst of an ongoing economic emergency that requires clear thinking, intense work, and practical ideas. It also requires that we join together rather than be pushed apart. The loonies who are taking over the GOP pose a real and present danger.

Obama Throws White House Support Behind DREAM Act

September 18, 2010 By Seth Hoy

Seth Hoy: Although the President has pledged his support for the DREAM Act, mounting GOP opposition will make it increasingly difficult for Sen. Harry Reid to find the 60 votes necessary for cloture on the amendment next week, assuming the Defense Authorization bill makes it through round one, the motion to proceed, next Tuesday.

Rule of Empires: Who Built & Endured Them, and Why They Fail — Review

September 18, 2010 By Jim Cullen

Jim Cullen: Parsons’s most important contribution to a discourse of empire: his attention to the issue of assimilation-which runs between conquering and subjecting.

End Illegal War: Support Bradley Manning

September 17, 2010 By Ann Wright

Ann Wright: Just as Daniel Ellsberg blew the whistle on the lies of the US leaders of the Vietnam War, Manning is accused of blowing the whistle on the illegality of today’s wars. What will our response to the information Manning is charged with releasing be? Can we make today’s Pentagon Papers lead to an end to illegal and wasteful wars abroad and the return of our troops home?

Attack of the Dingbats

September 17, 2010 By Tom Degan

Tom Degan: Glenn Beck – The louse that roared. Does the FCC have any rules about incitement to violence? If they don’t, they really should. The other day on his nationally syndicated radio program Beck made the claim that America can expect violence in the very-near future — and that the president of the United States will be the instigator!

Playing With God: Terry Jones, Christian Radicalism and 15 Minutes of Fame

September 17, 2010 By Anthony Asadullah Samad

Anthony Samad: Religion without sincerity, reason, or spirituality is not a good look no matter who wears this evil jacket. Evil things happen when people play with God and use political motives to desecrate his word.

My Mind Has a Mind of Its Own

September 17, 2010 By Michael Sigman

Michael Sigman: God knows I’m no radical — never claimed to be — but something radical needs to happen to shake things up and give Americans hope. FDR and Lincoln did it under far more difficult circumstances than these, and triumphed over vicious opposition.