Archive
Winning and Losing the ‘Great Game’ at the Same Time
Back in 1898 when George Curzon coined the term, "the Great Game" while he served as viceroy of India, the United States was just putting on its imperial uniform. Countries are "pieces on a chessboard upon which is being played out a great game for the domination of...
How to Become a Billionaire
Holy Words of Mass Destruction
Here's a twist on Christmas that would make Jesus weep. First, a right-wing faction in the United States is wringing its hands over a hokey cultural "crisis" cooked up by the faction itself, namely that liberals, atheists, humanists, and — God forbid — Marxists are...
She Knew I Would Make It
After Peter O'Toole died in December, The New York Times gave him a worthy sendoff. The marvelous English actor's obituary, which began on the front page, ran several thousand words. At the conclusion of its online version the Times ran this addendum: "An earlier...
This Week in OtherWords: December 18, 2013
This week in OtherWords, Sam Pizzigati introduces the two greediest women of 2013 and William A. Collins and I weigh in on the government's penchant for spying on everyone. We're also reprising a classic column on the generosity the federal government has shown to...
Let the Sun Shine In
Now the Koch brothers are coming after my solar panels. I had solar panels installed on the roof of our Washington, D.C. home this year. My household took advantage of a generous tax incentive from the District government and a creative leasing deal offered by the...
The Pentagon’s Latest Boondoggle
It would be great if we could take military leaders at their word when they vow to stem the growing tide of sexual assaults in the armed services. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced new measures over the summer to address what he described as "a stain on the...
Built on Verification
After years of stalemate, the United States and our allies have secured a verifiable nuclear deal with Iran. This first-stage deal freezes Iran’s nuclear program and provides both sides time to negotiate a more comprehensive agreement ensuring Iran never develops the...
Meet the Greediest Women of 2013
I always agonize while compiling a list of the 10 greediest Americans of the year. Every holiday season, I find so many candidates deserving this distinction that bankers alone could fill this list. Or fast-food CEOs. Male masters of the universe again dominate this...
A Toxic Cocktail
Shrimp cocktail makes a great finger food for holiday parties. Right? Only if you have no idea how those crustaceans were produced. Because if you did, you wouldn't want to eat shrimp again. Before I go on, I'll say this: There is good shrimp out there. Monterey Bay...
