Archive
Fighting Like Hell in Haiti
The nation called the “pearl of the Antilles,” back when it was the wealthiest Caribbean colony, has always known how to fight like hell. The African slaves, who were brought to Haiti to generate wealth for France, launched a rebellion in the 1790s that merged subterfuge on the plantations with guerrilla warfare. They won in 1804, thus creating the only successful slave revolution ever and the world’s first black republic.
Nukes Aren’t the Answer
When President Obama rolled out his proposed budget to Congress for the coming year, he said it would build “on the largest investment in clean energy in history.” But Obama’s definition of “clean energy” includes a commitment to help companies garner billions of dollars in loans for nuclear reactor construction. And, unfortunately, nuclear energy isn’t safe or clean and it’s too costly for the nation.
Lady Liberty
Remembering Howard Zinn
Our nation lost a pioneering historian and social activist last month. Howard Zinn, who died while swimming laps at 87, revolutionized the way millions of Americans—especially young Americans— understand our shared history.
A GOP Leader’s Economic Plan
Those who say that Republican Congress critters are just a gaggle of naysaying boneheads with no economic plan of their own haven’t been listening to Rep. John Linder (R-GA).
Spying on our Own Folks
Made it again. Onto and off of a plane, that is. Not everyone does. Immigration authorities held two members of my recent delegation to Haiti for hours. There was no clear reason for that and it caused them considerable airline and hotel expense from missed connections. Tough luck.
Some Sanity Creeps into the Drug War
There’s one thing that Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama have all agreed on: expanding military aid to Latin America to fight the so-called “Drug War.”
Fighting Back Against a Corporate Court
The decision on Citizens United vs. Federal Elections Commission could have been relatively limited. When it first arrived at the Supreme Court, it only required the Court to decide whether feature-length films on Pay-Per-View were subject to the provisions of campaign finance regulations. But the Court, over the course of many months, expanded the scope of the case to radically transform not just politics, but the democratic system itself.
Palin’s Tea Party
The Divine Sarah has spoken. “How’s that hopey-changey thing working out for you?” That’s what she said, Sarah Palin. She said it to the Tea Party at their recent convention (or was it the Tea Party Party?) in Nashville.
Is Our Democracy Becoming a Joke?
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce held a dramatic press conference in October. The group promised to stop lobbying against pending climate legislation, and pledged to help make it even stronger. A few minutes later, the jig was up when an authentic Chamber representative barged in, sputtering, aghast.
