While partisan deadlock over infrastructure spending grips Congress, big ideas are moving ahead elsewhere.
As Sarah Anderson reports this week, there’s a potentially historic new resolution in Congress now that lays out a real plan to end poverty — and its intersecting injustices — in the United States. It’s about raising wages and creating jobs, yes, but also about rolling back the legacies of racism, militarism, and environmental damage.
President Biden’s new budget request takes a few steps forward in some of these areas — and a few steps back in others. Lindsay Koshgarian writes this week about how the president’s enormous military budget request would squander our “peace dividend” from the Afghanistan drawdown on military contractors and bloat.
Also this week, Amy Yee writes about the often invisible struggles of Asian Americans during the pandemic. Jill Richardson, who teaches college classes on race, explains the absurd panic over “critical race theory.” Jim Hightower writes a plug for postal banking. And Khalil Bendib thinks big oil is feeling the heat.
New This Week…
A Plan to End Poverty in the United States | Sarah Anderson
A new congressional resolution asserts it’s not only possible to end poverty, but morally necessary.
Biden’s Unconscionable Military Budget | Lindsay Koshgarian
With the Afghanistan War finally ending, we shouldn’t squander our “peace dividend” on costly weapons or military bloat.
Many Asian Americans Are Struggling Invisibly | Amy Yee
The pandemic struggles of many Asian Americans have been grossly overlooked.
If You Love Our Country, Don’t Ban Its History | Jill Richardson
Opponents of critical race theory don’t want us to ask what we can learn from the past. But that’s the whole point of studying history.
Banking That Serves People, Not Bankers | Jim Hightower
The Post Office could offer simple, honest banking, including checking and savings accounts, consumer loans, and low-fee debit cards.
Political Climate Change | Khalil Bendib
It’s getting hot out there for big oil.
In Case You Missed It…
Making Vaccines More Accessible | Jill Richardson
Many essential workers still aren’t vaccinated. It’s not because they don’t want to be — it’s because they can’t get time off work.
On Marijuana, Republicans Are Canceling Their Own Voters | Paul Armentano
Voters in several red states have decided overwhelmingly to legalize marijuana, but their leaders keep undermining them.
Treating Workers Like They’re Disposable Is Bad Business | Sam Pizzigati
Fast food depends on low wages and high turnover. That’s not just wrong, new research says — it’s lousy for business.
Factory Farms Are a Deadly Nuisance | Tarah Heinzen
Regulators, take notice: Air pollution from factory farms now kills more people than even coal pollution.
