Rights and Democracy
Michigan’s Right-to-Shirk Law
About half of the nation's states are now enforcing corporate servitude measures like the "right-to-work" bill that Michigan's lame-duck legislature and conservative governor just rushed into law. These misleadingly named laws make it harder, if not impossible, to run...
The Fiscal Hoax
The biggest story in Washington is about something that doesn’t really exist: the so-called “fiscal cliff.” This manufactured panic is all about politicians and corporate interests getting things they want — things that don’t have much to do with the “crisis” anyway. But instead of challenging this spin, big media outlets are playing along.
The Secessionist Tempest in Texas
Once again, there’s a tempest brewing in the national tea pot. We’re talking secession.
The New Normal for African-American Voter Turnout
African Americans turned out to vote in record numbers on Election Day, many of us waiting in long lines and going through plenty of red tape to do so. One of these determined voters was a 100-year-old “Church Mother” in Elmhurst, New York who didn’t want any favors and stood in line and in solidarity with her fellow citizens.
Shortchanging Our Future
More than 5 million young people are looking for work. College is increasingly unaffordable, while youth jobs are few and far between. For years lawmakers have been cutting programs that help young Americans find a productive path. And as if that weren’t enough, budget cuts scheduled for 2013 may hollow out what’s left of federal education and training programs.
Democracy Outbreak in Ohio
Some scrappy citizens in the burg of Brecksville, Ohio produced one of the proudest progressive victories on Election Day.
The Sleazy League
Once upon a time, most college kids plugged away in high school, saved their babysitting money, took practice exams, settled for a rebuilt clutch in the family car, and worked summer jobs waiting tables.They studied like crazy, read far into the night, and had a good shot at a decent job. Rich kids attended private universities, poorer kids went to state schools. Part-time, vocational, and waitlisted students opted for community colleges.
Will the Supreme Court Dismantle the Voting Rights Act?
Well, that didn’t take long. Just three days after a diverse coalition of voters re-elected President Barack Obama, the Supreme Court announced that it’s going to review the Voting Rights Act. The justices will look at Section 5 of the landmark legislation, which requires states with a history of racial discrimination to get pre-approval from the federal government before they change their voting laws. Most of the affected states are in the South.
The Classy Election of 2012
An Occupy Wall Street sign said it best: “They only call it class warfare when we fight back.”
Voting Rights Appeal
