Plutocracy

(By Alison Kysia) On November 13, 1953, during the height of the McCarthy era, Robin Hood and his band of “merry outlaws” made headlines. Mrs. Thomas J. White of the Indiana Textbook Commission called for a ban of Robin Hood in all school books for promoting communism because he stole from the rich to give […]

Democracy

After Occupy: Is Economic Democracy Possible?

contributors

(A conversation on economic democracy with Tom Malleson via OUP) How do we address the problem of inequality in capitalist societies? Tom Malleson, the author of After Occupy: Economic Democracy for the 21st Century, argues that by making sure that democracy exists in both our economy and in our government, we may be able to […]

Dissent

Fracking Victims demand Environmental Protection Agency Intervention

Juan Cole

(By Lauren McCauley) The 150 million Americans routinely exposed to toxic air as a result of oil and gas drilling need better protection from their government, demanded a coalition of 64 environmental and community groups, who on Tuesday filed a petition (pdf) asking the Environmental Protection Agency to set limits on the air pollutants emitted […]

Economy

5 Reasons India’s new BJP (“Tea Party”) Government may not be so Great for Business

Juan Cole

(By Juan Cole) The victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India’s elections is being hailed in some Western media as a hopeful sign for US-Indian trade and for Indian business. But like the US Tea Party movement, it is rent by internal contradictions that could derail such aspirations. The BJP has many resemblances […]

Dissent

FCC Votes To “Fast Track” Death Of Net Neutrality

Juan Cole

There’s good news: the nationwide outcry against the Federal Communications Commission’s troublesome proposal for new Open Internet rules is clearly having an impact. At a public meeting this morning, commissioners were factoring in questions that…

Barack Obama

Reich on Obama Walmart Photo-Op: “What numbskull arranged this?”

Juan Cole

(By John Queally) A low-wage Walmart employee in California has a simple message for President Obama on behalf of the millions of workers who find themselves in situations just like hers: "Help us." President Obama's … speaking engagement at a Walmart superstore in California on Friday has attracted widespread criticism for those who think the […]

Climate Change

Kochs slammed by GOPer for plan to cripple wind power in Kansas

Juan Cole

Kansas Republican slams Kochs for trying to cripple state’s growing wind power industry (via Raw Story ) Friday night’s edition of The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC took aim at billionaires Charles and David Koch and their efforts to block clean energy projects in Kansas and other states. Maddow began the segment by running down […]

Economy

Dark Triad: Right wing Conservatives far more likely to be Sociopaths

Juan Cole

PROOF! Conservatives and CEOs Really ARE Evil Psychopaths (via Americans Against The Tea Party) Have you ever wondered why today’s conservatives never seem make any sense? Turns out that what we’ve always suspected is true. Recent scientific studies reveal that extreme conservatives — and the rich CEOs they serve — really are evil psychopaths… ——– Ring […]

Economy

Why the Super-Rich Should Pay Super Taxes

Juan Cole

(By Paul Buchheit) Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said, "It's really American to avoid paying taxes, legally…It's a game we play…I see nothing wrong with playing the game because we set it up to be a game. It's not a game for Americans who need jobs and education and public transportation and infrastructure repair. But public […]