Archive
Reproductive Rights Get Gutted Again
Despite the reproductive rights uprising inspired by Wendy Davis' heroic filibuster, lame-duck Texas Governor Rick Perry has continued his anti-choice rampage. By signing a contentious measure into law, Perry has made it much more difficult for Texan women —...
This Week in OtherWords: July 24, 2013
This week in OtherWords, Donald Kaul weighs in on Detroit's bankruptcy, Jim Hightower explains how McDonald's wound up drawing attention to its own McWages, and William A. Collins and I question the selective use of the term "terrorist." There's much more, even though...
Talkin’ ‘Bout My Generation
After graduating from high school, I had two choices: I could earn a college degree while shouldering debt, or struggle in a highly competitive job market without one. I chose the former. And I'm not the only one. My generation is setting records in higher education....
Actually, It Is About You
Unless you're a politician or a star athlete, the news of the day is rarely about your life. But sometimes, the media is buzzing quite specifically about you. Are you part of that conversation? Nope. That kind of treatment is reserved for people who lack political...
Building an Underclass of Workers
You've probably heard that America has millions of undocumented immigrants. Maybe one of them lives next door to you. Or there's one lurking on your roof. Or another lying nearby on the beach. My kids go to school with undocumented immigrants. They play on the same...
Swerving to the Right
The Supreme Court rulings that made marriage equality a reality for many same-sex couples and struck down an Arizona law that made it harder to register to vote were important civil rights victories. But, they obscure our highest court's rightward shift. Consider...
When Personalized Becomes Predatory
What do you think of when you hear the words “internet surveillance”? If you’ve been following the news, you might be thinking about the National Security Agency’s PRISM spying program. Or maybe you’re recalling debates about the age-old battle between security and...
Depending on the Kindness of Strangers
The other shoe finally dropped in Detroit. The once-proud city — variously known as "Motown," "the Arsenal of Democracy," and "the City of Champions" — filed for bankruptcy. There's a local effort to head off the filing, but most people don't think it will get...
Size Matters
They're found in M&Ms, Dunkin' Donuts, Jell-O pudding, and even Pop-Tarts. Scientists don't know if they're safe to eat. The government doesn't regulate these things. Even food manufacturers often don't know this technology is in the food they sell. You probably...
McFinancial Planning
At last, a fast food giant that gives a damn about the economic hardships low-wage workers face. Not only does McDonald's care, but, by golly, the good executives who sit atop the Golden Arches are goosing-up the meager $8.25 an hour that their workers have been...
