Archive
Give “Tax and Spend” a Chance
This time of year, a whole lot of Americans are feeling taxed enough already. But the astonishing momentum of Bernie Sanders’s presidential candidacy reveals something else: Millions of taxpayers are willing to entertain the idea that some of us aren’t taxed enough,...
The United States of Flint
The horrible, preventable crisis in Flint, Michigan shows that when the government shortchanges our infrastructure, people pay the price. Flint has become a living hell for its residents. The water is brown, poisoned with lead, and too corrosive to use on skin or...
Ohio Proves It: Rehabilitation Works
You might not guess it from the Republican governor or GOP-dominated legislature, but Ohio is proving itself the most progressive state in the union when it comes to youth prison reform. The Buckeye State has shifted away from punishing kids who get ensnared in the...
A Sweet Tax
As Americans prepare to meet this year’s April 18 deadline to file our taxes, there's talk of taxes across the Pond, too. Great Britain just passed a tax on sugary drinks. Unlike similar measures in Mexico and Berkeley, California, the British version may lead to soda...
Operation Paul Ryan
Exciting news, people: The Republican Party establishment has a secret plan to stop blue-collar voters from supporting Donald Trump. The plan is code-named "Operation Paul Ryan." Good grief. The GOP's old-line clique of congressional bulls, corporate funders,...
Supreme Obstruction
In OtherWords: March 30, 2016
This week in OtherWords, Peter Montgomery highlights Donald Trump’s popularity among white nationalists and Ryan Alexander weighs in on the federal budget debate’s unrealistic tone. If you haven’t already subscribed, please ensure that you don’t miss the latest from...
Trump Is Opening the Floodgates of Hate
The staying power of Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy has surprised and unsettled people across the political spectrum. Many voters who are angry about the loss of middle-class jobs and frustrated with our broken politics have rallied to Trump’s outsider...
Missing in Action: Political Reality and Leadership
Every federal budget is a dream sheet. They're all unrealistic. It goes something like this: The president lays out a slate of new programs, revenue raisers, and strategic cuts. Then Republican leaders pull out their X-Acto knives, highlighting cuts to programs they...
When Red Tape Is a Good Thing
One of the dirtiest words in politics is "regulation." It conjures up images of confusing paperwork, red tape, and obstacles to progress and innovation. However, when it comes to guaranteeing that the water we drink is lead-free, the air we breathe is clean, and that...
