Southwest Harbor, Maine (Special to Informed Comment) – The United States is engaged in forever hot wars. The war in Afghanistan now nears the end of its second decade. Why US history is so saturated -— some would say polluted -— by war has recently become an object of both academic and activist interest. University […]
America’s not-so-Model Elections: So much for Exceptionalism
Southwest Harbor, Maine (Special to Informed Comment) – Following weeks of speculation and worry about the possibility of violence and/or crasing technical systems the United States executed a largely flawless presidential election. At least that was how the major media portrayed the events of early November. Once again American exceptionalism provided the opportunity to sing […]
Say no to Austerity for Workers: McConnell and the GOP are about to pull the “We have no money” scam
Southwest Harbor, Maine (Special to Informed Comment) – Not surprisingly the national debt is a subject of concern. Liberal and Left economists, most of whom supported the CARES relief package, knew and predicted that once the Trump tax reduction for the rich had become law—despite the massive increases in government debt it entailed– debt would […]
Pollsters are Missing Winners, but so Much else
Southwest Harbor, Maine (Special to Informed Comment) – Once again Donald J Trump delivered another electoral surprise. It was not the re-election win he had been hoping for but it was a nail biting down to the wire event that far exceeded the pollsters and most pundits’ predictions. Nor was the president’s relative success confined […]
Whoever wins the Election will face Severe Eviction Crisis, as 30 million brace for Homelessness
Southwest Harbor, Maine (Special to Informed Comment) – Whoever wins Tuesday’s election is virtually certain to be confronted by a severe foreclosure and eviction crisis as state and local governments face acute budget shortfalls. These crises interact with each other and in ways that intensify the economic damage they inflict. The harm is also psychological […]
When it Comes to the Pandemic, those he called “Shithole” Countries have run Rings around Trump
Southwest Harbor, Maine (Special to Informed Comment) – Asked recently what he might do differently in managing the Covid19 pandemic the president responded, “Not much.” Little does he recognize or acknowledge the successes of and lessons to be learned from countries he has contemptuously labeled “shitholes.” What is lost to public health from this scorn […]
In the Midst of an Epochal American Eviction Crisis, Can we Wait for Congressional Talks?
How should progressives stand on the issue of the second Covid relief bill being negotiated between Speaker Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Mnuchin? What can be said is that a generous relief package is badly needed and the case on its behalf is strengthened by an analysis of the first relief package. In terms of pure […]
Ask Amy Coney Barrett If Bosses Should Be Free to Fire Workers at Will
Southwest Harbor, Maine (Special to Informed Comment) – What is at stake in the battle over the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett? For most commentators the immediate answer is women’s control over their reproductive health and maintenance of the affordable care act. That is surely true, but excessive focus on those issues can obscure consideration […]
If there ever is another Presidential Debate, the Corporations shouldn’t Manage it
Southwest Harbor, Maine (Special to Informed Comment) – The organization most responsible for the debacle of the first Presidential debate offered an implicit apology and a promise. “Last night’s debate made clear that additional structure should be added to the format of the remaining debates to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues. The […]