Rights and Democracy
Ann Romney’s Unedited Convention Speech Leaked
To be fair, Ann Romney’s original draft was written at a much higher level than the speech she wound up delivering. I found a copy of her draft edited by Romney’s campaign managers. Here’s an excerpt.
AT&T’s Upside-Down World
From electricity to earmuffs, once you buy a product or service from a company, it shouldn’t be any of its business how you choose to use it. Your power company doesn’t say you can’t use the energy-saving features on your new refrigerator unless you buy more electricity. And your grocer doesn’t make you buy an extra loaf of bread if you stop purchasing potato chips.
Losing Latino Votes
Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney’s running mate, received a rapturous welcome at the Republican National Convention in Tampa. The audience cheered as he assailed President Barack Obama’s record. Ryan seemed boisterous and full of energy. He could almost pass for one of Romney’s sons.
Ryan at the Trough
IPS Salutes a Golf Win
A longstanding gender barrier recently cracked in the heart of the Old South. Augusta National Golf Club accepted two women — former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and businesswoman Darla Moore — as its first female members. This change comes years after Augusta’s policy of refusing to admit women as members became part of the national debate, thanks to the work of IPS associate fellow Martha Burk and the National Council of Women’s Organizations. Burk is also a frequent contributor to our OtherWords editorial service.
Cronyism Poisons our Government
Crony capitalists gather at the public trough, seeking tax dollars and guaranteed profits for privatizing government. Now they’re going after prison dollars.
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.
