Archive
A Nuclear Strike on States’ Rights
The 9/11 attacks made terrorist incidents at nuclear reactors appear much less hypothetical. After the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan, concerned citizens grew more alarmed about the possibility of a catastrophic nuclear accident in our own country. And a struggle underway in Vermont over the future of its Yankee reactor is highlighting the threat that power companies can pose to our democratic process.
The Dead-End Servant Economy
Fire fighter, basketball player, lion tamer, teacher, nurse: Ask little kids what they want to be when they grow up, and you’ll get all sorts of answers. But you’ll never hear this one. You’ll never hear youngsters say they want to devote their careers to serving rich people.
Politics Creep to a New Low
America has always had political campaigns that dig into the muck of their opponents’ personal lives, then fling any nasty nuggets of negativity they find right into the face of voters. But this year is different. Not, of course, because there’s any less singling of slime, but because the campaigns are also digging into the private affairs of another political target: you.
Dining with Mahmoud
Sometimes a person you’ve been trained to hate comes across as reasonable. That happened to me when I met Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The Horses and Bayonets Strategy
Paul Wellstone, We Miss You
Ten years ago today, the two of us were an hour into the first big coalition meeting to oppose the impending U.S. war against Iraq, surrounded by dozens of leaders of a wide array of movements: peace, civil rights, women’s rights, environmentalists, labor, social justice, and many others. Then, we noticed some people walking to the back of the room and returning with tears streaking down their faces.
George McGovern’s Shining Moment
It is eerily fitting that George McGovern‘s passing occurred in the final heat of a furious election campaign, precariously balanced between Republocrats and Democlicans, two corporately owned political parties.
This Week in OtherWords: Halloween Fare
This week in OtherWords, we’re running several commentaries about the scary stuff we eat.
Remembering George McGovern and Old-School Campaign Tools
George McGovern changed my life. I was a campus antiwar radical in Las Cruces, New Mexico. I wore blue jeans, a headband, and a thread belt. I had hair halfway down my back. And I’m sure the State Director wished that he had another option.
The Spooky Side of Chocolate
This Halloween, many of the chocolate goodies handed out to American children dressed as goblins and witches will have a ghoulish history of their own.
