Rights and Democracy
Washington, Are You Listening?
Patrick Pylvainen grew up in a small town outside Minneapolis. The Minnesotan college student has seven siblings, so he borrows money for his tuition — Stafford loans from the federal government, plus loans from private banks that require interest payments while he’s still in school. Now, those more affordable federal loans are in jeopardy.
David Barton’s Make-Believe Version of American History
David Barton, a self-styled Christian historian who claims to debunk left-wing myths about America, is sure of it: If you studied the Founding Fathers like he has, you would know that “as far as they were concerned, they had already had the entire debate on creationism and evolution.”
Romney Runs away from his Running Mate
Poor Paul Ryan — he successfully rammed a budget bill through the U.S. House of Representatives that gutted Medicare, thus earning him the undying adulation of the far-right Republican fringe, whose unrestrained enthusiasm for him compelled Mitt Romney to name the Wisconsin Republican as his vice presidential nominee.
Occupy Wall Street Paved the Way
The Occupy movement seems somewhat subdued these days. That’s largely because the 1 percent is ready for them. Consider how Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel prepared for the May NATO conference in the Windy City, which drew countless Occupy protesters: He outfitted his troops with new laws, new military equipment, and new surveillance gear, and authorized them to make old-fashioned trumped-up arrests.
Letters to the Editor: Readers Respond to Kaul’s Departure, Part III
This is the third installment of a series of posts showcasing the poignant letters Donald Kaul received following his farewell column and my tribute to him.
The Separate-but-Equal Sale
“Back-to-school” sales seem to start earlier every year. These days, more than binders and backpacks are on offer. Now, public schools themselves are for sale.
Privatizing Public Schools
Your Labor Rights or Your Life
When President Barack Obama announced in April that the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement was finally going into effect, he assured the public that “[t]his agreement is a win for both our countries. It’s a win for our workers…because of the protections it has.”
Cleaning Up Campaign Finance
If there were ever any hope that the Supreme Court’s right wing would temper its assault on clean elections laws, that hope recently slipped away. In a five-four decision issued at the end of June, the Court’s conservative majority — the same five men who issued 2010’s Citizens United ruling — reversed Montana’s century-old ban on corporate spending on elections without even hearing its defense.
Letters to the Editor: Readers Respond to Kaul’s Departure, Part II
Don’t quit now. We need your insights and opinions.
