Archive
Predistribute the Wealth
Sometimes we need new words to grasp new ideas. Frances O’Grady, Britain’s highest-ranking labor leader, has coined one of these handy new words: predistribution. Why does O’Grady, the general secretary of the UK’s Trades Union Congress, want us talking...
A Deadly Power Surge
Jacki Schilke was suffering from symptoms ranging from rashes, pain, and lightheadedness to dental problems and urinating blood. The formerly healthy, 53-year-old cattle rancher's body was under assault from a list of toxic chemicals as long as your arm. But Schilke's...
North Carolina Rips More Holes in Its Safety Net
Something profoundly awful has seeped into the top strata of American society: Our nation's corporate and political elites have developed immunity to shame. It has become morally acceptable for those in lofty circles to enrich themselves while turning their backs on...
Syrian Dead End
We're at it again. After months of commendable restraint, President Barack Obama has decided to send weapons to the besieged Syrian rebels. This is either a bid to overthrow a friend of Iran or a ploy to capture Syria's oil. Or both. Sound familiar? It should. Back in...
Washington Goes AWOL
The People ‘Hijack’ Democracy in Austin
Who should make medical decisions about pregnancies? Women? Their doctors? Their ministers? The macho Republican autocrats and theocrats who control the Texas state government say they are the ones to decide such deeply personal matters. How embarrassing for these...
This Week in OtherWords: July 3, 2013
This week in OtherWords, Sam Pizzigati celebrates Independence Day by explaining how reducing economic inequality in America would honor the Founders' legacy. Jill Richardson talks about how you can enjoy the best produce summer has to offer all year round if you...
The Orange Uprising
Overnight, Texas State Senator Wendy Davis became the face of the pro-choice movement in her state and the entire nation. When the Democrat from Fort Worth in pink running shoes filibustered for nearly 13 hours in the Texas Senate on the last day of its regular...
Minding the Nuclear Fault Line
Southern California Edison's recent decision to permanently close the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) transforms that power plant into a storage site for radioactive waste. It houses one of the largest concentrations of radioactivity in the United...
The Tradeoff Between Apple and Apples
In May, Americans watched as Apple CEO Tim Cook defended his company's tax avoidance strategies before a Senate investigative panel. Prior to the hearing, Senate investigators released a report documenting Apple's use of accounting gimmicks to shift $74 billion of...