United States Archives - Page 20 of 73

Feature

More Denunciation of Omar, More Bullshit: Enough!

March 9, 2019 • by Jeffrey C. Isaac

It’s all over the news. Ilhan Omar has done it again. This time it’s not “the Jews” she’s attacking. It is “Obama.” This headline, viral on Facebook, says it all: “Ilhan Omar Goes After Obama, Suggests He Was a Pretty Face’ Who Got Away with Murder.’” The source: a long piece at ...

Feature

DNC Winter Meeting

Democratic National Committee held their winter meeting in Washington DC February 14-16

March 6, 2019 • by Jo Freeman

Members of the Democratic National Committee held their winter meeting in Washington DC February 14-16. The DNC has 447 members, including the Chairs and Vice Chairs of the 50 states plus 7 other entities. Most DNC members are elected from their states based on population. Members must be evenly divided ...

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

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)

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

Democracy

Could Populism Actually Be Good for Democracy?

A wave of populist revolts has led many to lose faith in the wisdom of people power. But such eruptions are essential to the vitality of modern politics.

February 25, 2019 • by James Miller

This article was originally published in The Guardian on October 11 2018. Observers have understandable qualms about political programs that are alarmingly illiberal, yet obviously democratic, in that most citizens support them. In Poland and Hungary, democratically elected ruling parties attack Muslim migrants for undermining Christian identity. In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte ...

Could Populism Actually Be Good for Democracy?

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

Blue Monday

Defeating Trumpism Politically, Part 1

Trump’s ‘national emergency’ over a border wall

February 18, 2019 • by Jeffrey C. Isaac

I started writing my Blue Monday column a little over a year ago. I’ve been so gratified by the many regular readers the column has attracted, and the comments, and criticisms, the column has elicited. The column began as an effort to weave together my passions for politics and music. Over ...

Feature

Immigrants Demand Permanent Residency

Hundreds march in Washington DC on February 12th

February 15, 2019 • by Jo Freeman

About 500 people came to Washington DC from different states to march from the White House to the Capital demanding that they be allowed to stay in the United States. February 12 was a cold and rainy day. Most of them came here under Temporary Protected Status from 13 different countries. President ...

Feature

Local Trust and the Syrian Withdrawal

One Marine’s Experience with an Afghan Elder

February 14, 2019 • by Jake Davis

The recent discussions about President Trump’s decision to pull American troops from the complex political and military quagmire of the Middle East leaves me with mixed responses. While I understand how we got here, overall I do not think that we should be in Syria right now; no national policy ...

Feature

The KonMari Method as Consumer Theory

How Marie Kondo helps us re-learn to love the things we buy

February 11, 2019 • by Andrew C. McKevitt

This essay was originally published on February 11 2019. I first sat down to watch Tidying Up with Marie Kondo only after “Bookgate” had already erupted and passed. In early January, a series of viral tweets criticized Kondo and her “KonMari” tidying method for the suggestion that one ought to keep no more ...

Feature

After the ‘American Dream’?

How Mexico Responds to U.S. Deportations

February 6, 2019 • by Guadalupe Chavez

“Fixing” the “illegal” immigration “problem” has been at the forefront of Donald Trump’s rhetoric from the first weeks he took office until today. Despite Trump’s anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric, undocumented persons across the U.S. are taking to the streets in protest, demanding that politicians uphold their rights, and seeking sanctuary ...