From the Editors Archives - Page 43 of 172

Feature

Two Cheers for Ageism

Ten notes on the political, cultural and personal blessings and burdens of mortality, inspired by the greatest lecture I have ever heard

March 1, 2019 • by Jeffrey C. Goldfarb

The lecture is Hans Jonas, “The Blessings and Burdens of Mortality”. 1. I don’t want Bernie Sanders to be President of the United States, and I also don’t want Joe Biden. I abhor Donald Trump, and I am not excited about a possible President Elizabeth Warren either. They’re all too old. 2. I ...

Feature

Banned for Life – from Mississippi

Review of Brenda Travis, written with John Obee

February 28, 2019 • by Jo Freeman

At age 17 Brenda Travis was banned from the state of Mississippi, or so she was told. Forced to leave family and friends behind because she got involved in the civil rights movement she spent most of her life someplace else, but always felt like an exile. Brenda was just 16 ...

Blue Monday

Why AOC is Such a Terrific Member of Congress

Defeating Trump Politically, Part 5

February 28, 2019 • by Jeffrey C. Isaac

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has taken Washington, D.C by storm. She successfully ran an insurgent, grass-roots Congressional campaign. She is exceptionally bright. She is incredibly media savvy. She is hugely charismatic, because she is telegenic and photogenic, but also because she consistently seems to be a sincere, authentic, and truly nice and caring ...

Why AOC is Such a Terrific Member of Congress

Feature

Policing the Womb 2.0

Why Hungary and Poland’s pro-natalist policies won’t work

February 28, 2019 • by Maria Bucur

Fifty years ago, neo-Malthusian demographers and politicians warned that overpopulation would wipe out all efforts to modernize the world, especially the postcolonial Global South. Rapid population growth in India, Nigeria, Brazil, and Iran were depicted as impediments to development. Republicans (Richard Nixon) and Democrats (Lyndon B. Johnson) worked with Planned ...

Feature

What ‘Off The Rails’ Capitalism Really Means

Have we entered the final phase of our economy’s long unwind?

February 27, 2019 • by Robert Latham

In recent years, observers from the worlds of politics, the media, academia, finance, and think-tanks have described the current political and economic moment as unprecedented, marked by “broken guardrails” and a sense that things are “unhinged.” Recourse to these analogies has only intensified since November 2016, as the actions and statements associated with the Trump administration ...

What ‘Off The Rails’ Capitalism Really Means

Blue Monday

Kamala Harris Is Not a Red-Baiter, She’s Just Not a Socialist (Like Most Americans)

Defeating Trump Politically, Part 4

February 26, 2019 • by Jeffrey C. Isaac

In recent columns I have celebrated the energy and ideas brought into the Democratic party by newly-elected young leftists, defended them from criticism, condemned the red-baiting of the left, and explained how and why “socialism” has played an important role in the history of American democracy, and ought not to ...

Kamala Harris Is Not a Red-Baiter, She’s Just Not a Socialist (Like Most Americans)

Feature

Karl Lagerfeld, the Pledge of Allegiance, and Lee Radziwill

Past Present Episode 168

February 26, 2019 • by Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, Nicole Hemmer and Neil J. Young

In this episode, Neil, Natalia, and Niki discuss the life and legacy of Karl Lagerfeld, controversies over the Pledge of Allegiance, and the death of Lee Radziwill. Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: Karl Lagerfeld, one of the most prolific designers of our era, has died. Natalia referred to ...

Karl Lagerfeld, the Pledge of Allegiance, and Lee Radziwill

Feature

Why Does Patriarchy Persist?

A review of Carol Gilligan and Naomi Snider’s book on the price of patriarchy

February 26, 2019 • by Ali Shames-Dawson

There are books that do what they set out to do: they make their points clearly, they argue something new, they uncover something for us. Carol Gilligan and Naomi Snider’s new book, Why Does Patriarchy Persist?, does more than that. It is a spark. It is something like a book-length speech ...

Blue Monday

American Socialism Is Nothing to Be Afraid About

Defeating Trump Politically, Part 3

February 25, 2019 • by Jeffrey C. Isaac

Note: A shorter version of this piece was published yesterday at The Daily Beast here. Thanks to Michael Tomasky for his help. Socialism has captured the attention of American elites in a big way. On the right, it is clear that Donald Trump and his Republican followers are intent on using Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ...

American Socialism Is Nothing to Be Afraid About

Feature

‘It Can’t Come Soon Enough’: Creating Retirement Security For New York Workers

A Q&A with New School economist and retirement expert Teresa Ghilarducci.

February 24, 2019 • by Bruce Cory and Teresa Ghilarducci

Urban Matters: You’re one of the leading authorities on retirement in America, so let’s get your opinion of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s recently proposed “retirement security plan” for New Yorkers. But first give us a snapshot of how many New Yorkers are approaching retirement, and how financially prepared they are. Ghilarducci:In ...

‘It Can’t Come Soon Enough’: Creating Retirement Security For New York Workers

Education

Teacher Insurgency

What Are The Strategic Challenges?

February 23, 2019 • by Leo Casey

The following post was the basis for a talk by Leo Casey, the Executive Director of the Albert Shanker Institute, which was delivered at “The Future of American Labor” conference held February 8th and 9th in Washington, D.C. There is every reason to celebrate the “Teacher Spring” strikes of 2018 and the more ...

Feature

Transversal Democracy in Spain

An interview with Clara Ramas San Miguel

February 22, 2019 • by Gerardo Muñoz

This year marks the five-year anniversary of the emergence of the Spanish progressive political party Podemos, which was successful in translating the social demands of the 15-M movement against austerity into a coherent progressive political platform. Since then, Podemos has gained seats in the European Parliament and has erected alliances with progressive mayors in major ...