Economy

By Deirdre Fulton, staff writer | (Commondreams.org) | – – ‘Each new lease puts us farther down the path toward climate catastrophe,’ says Friends of the Earth If the U.S. government wants any chance of meeting its stated global climate pledges, it should start by curbing emissions from publicly owned property and end new fossil […]

Algeria

As Oil Prices Crater, Algeria needs an Actual Economy or big Trouble Looms

contributors

By Allan Christelow | (Informed Comment) | – – Like other oil producers, Algeria faces difficulties with the sharp decline in prices since 2014. But unlike oil producers in the Gulf region, Algeria has a strong tradition of public discussion, a tradition that has managed to survive the concentration of wealth in the hands of […]

Bernie Sanders

Hillary v. Bernie on Student Debt: Whose Plan is more Progressive?

contributors

AJ+ | (Video report) | – – “Hillary Clinton announced on August 9 her New College Compact plan to tackle America’s $1 trillion student debt problem. Clinton worked with education experts on the plan, which is considered progressive and more politically to the center than Bernie Sanders’ tuition-free plan.” AJ+: “Will Hillary’s New Student Debt […]

Banking

Game of Groans: How focus on Trump Taunts hides GOP war on Middle Class, Workers

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The condition of late capitalism produces a press discourse strangely devoid of any mention of class. Last Thursday we had 10 rich males, all but one white, on a debate stage seeking to represent the billionaire class (some 536 individuals in US, who have more wealth […]

Campaign Finance

Could Scott Walker’s Legal Victory Expand PAC Superpowers?

contributors

By Robert Faturechi | (ProPublica) – – A Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling on Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign practices clears the way for state candidates to work more closely with legally independent political groups and their enormous war chests. The big unanswered question is how ripples from the case might spread beyond the state’s borders. The […]

Campaign Finance

Jimmy Carter: US “Now is just an Oligarchy . . . Subversion of our System”

contributors

Thom Hartmann | (Video Interview) | – – “Thom Hartmann talks with President Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States (1977 to 1981) / Humanitarian / Awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.” Thom Hartmann: “President Jimmy Carter: The United States is an Oligarchy…”

African-Americans

Bernie Sanders launches “Political Revolution” w/ 100K Virtual House Partiers

contributors

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) Bernie Sanders spoke from a house party in Washington, D.C., to supporters gathering in 3500 homes and other locations around the country in groups ranging from 7-8 to 80 or 90. He said it was a “historical night” and unprecedented to have these coordinated gatherings with an on-line streamed […]

Democratic Party

New Poll: Bernie Sanders Leads All Republican Front Runners including Trump

contributors

Thom Hartmann | (Video Report) | – – Bernie Sanders, who doesn’t play to the cheap seats, is racking up incredible poll numbers. Zaid Jilani at Alternet reports on a just-out CNN poll: SANDERS: 48% BUSH: 47% SANDERS: 48% WALKER: 42% SANDERS: 59% TRUMP: 38% . Thom Hartmann comments: [-JC] Thom Harmann: ” New Poll: […]

China

As GOP fumes re: Iran, Russia & China are outflanking West with New Eurasia Silk Road

contributors

By Pepe Escobar | ( Tomdispatch.com) | – – Let’s start with the geopolitical Big Bang you know nothing about, the one that occurred just two weeks ago. Here are its results: from now on, any possible future attack on Iran threatened by the Pentagon (in conjunction with NATO) would essentially be an assault on the planning […]