Category: Politics
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Why are Tea Party people so angry and fearful? Yes, right-wing demagogues aided by right-wing funders like the Koch brothers have stoked their fears and anger to a fever pitch, but why were they angry to begin with? Why are they and many in the broader population so receptive to the lies and fear-mongering? President…
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Man is by nature concerned solely with his and his family’s wellbeing. That is his biological imperative. Socially, however, man has evolved into being a member, a citizen, of a larger society. And so, from the most primitive communities to contemporary societies, that driving instinct has had to be reigned in for the greater good…
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As reported in USA Today, states across the country are increasing existing tolls on roads/bridges/tunnels as well as charging tolls for the first time on roads that have always been free. A toll is a tax and one that falls disproportionately on the middle class and poor. It is a very regressive tax. I understand…
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Over the past three decades this country has experienced rapid growth in income inequality. While the incomes of those in the top 5% have increased exponentially, especially during the past decade, the inflation-adjusted income of production and non-supervisory workers has actually decreased. The 2010 census found the number of Americans living in poverty to be…
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The New York Times has reported that there is a movement afoot by evangelical and other pastors to flout the IRS rule that prohibits churches, as tax-exempt organizations, from campaigning in elections. They are going so far as to send the IRS tapes of their sermons. Clearly they wish the IRS to take action so that…
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With the Republicans having a majority in the House of Representatives, they have a critical constitutional role to play in the governance of this country. What transpired this past Friday, however, shows without any question that the Republicans have abdicated their responsibility. Friday was showdown time. House Speaker Boehner had not been able to secure…
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I have not written a post for many months. The reason being that I found I was talking about the same small set of issues over and over again because that’s where we were stuck as a nation. Having nothing new to say, I said nothing. But now the time has come for the current…
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The United States’ initial reaction to the announcement of a deal between Fatah and Hamas to form a temporary transitional unity government prior to elections next year shows once again, as I have oft noted, that our foreign policy is clearly in the hands of the establishment with little of the progressive influence promised by…
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Forget about the social inequities of the Republican budget plan … how in typical Republican fashion it takes from the poor and the worker, and this time even the elderly, and gives to the rich … what I find mind-boggling is the House passage of their budget blueprint with no committee hearings and virtually no…
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Today’s New York Times carried an article indicating that many states were trying to partially solve their budget crises by cutting back on direct aid to major cities and local government. This of course will result in one of several things … decreased local services to people who need services, increased layoffs/unemployment, or, less likely,…
