Most Popular Choices
Become a Premium Member Would you like to know how many people have visited this page? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too.



SHARE More Sharing

Margaret Bassett

Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

                 

Volunteer a little time and make a big difference

I have 30 fans:
Become a Fan
Become a Fan.
You'll get emails whenever I post articles on OpEd News

Margaret Bassett passed away August 21, 2011. She was a treasured member of the Opednews.com editorial team for four years.

Margaret Bassett--OEN editor--is an 89-year old, currently living in senior housing, with a lifelong interest in political philosophy. Bachelors from State University of Iowa (1944) and Masters from Roosevelt University (1975) help to unravel important requirements for modern communication. Early introduction to computer science (1966) trumps them. It's payback time. She's been "entitled" so long she hopes to find some good coming off the keyboard into the lives of those who come after her.

OpEd News Member for 894 week(s) and 4 day(s)

67 Articles, 5113 Quick Links, 3801 Comments, 86 Diaries, 0 Polls

Articles Listed By Popularity
List By Date

Page 1 of 9    First  Last   Back  Next  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     View All

SHARE More Sharing        Monday, June 30, 2008
Thank you, Ann Wright and Susan Dixon The book is called: DISSENT - Voices of Conscience - Government Insiders Speak Out Against the War in Iraq - Forward by Daniel Ellsberg. Published by Koa Books in 2008, 278pp.
(15 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, January 2, 2010
Speaking of the Unspeakable James W. Douglass' book "JFK and the Unspeakable - Why he Died and Why it Matters" is getting the attention of readers and writers, including those on OpEdNews. On first reading I am not able to lay out a review. Herewith is an overview.
(13 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, October 4, 2009
Whatever Became of Dick Cheney? Cheney has a higher profile now than he did during much of his two terms as vice president, where his work was often behind the scenes and out of the spotlight. He's granted many interviews in which he's been critical of President Barack Obama and provided a sharp televised rebuttal to his speech on national security issues.
(5 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, July 3, 2010
British Petroleum and Macondo Well Starting with the familiar, I turned to the online Casper newspaper and found: BP in Wyoming By DUSTIN BLEIZEFFER - Star-Tribune energy reporter | Posted: Friday, June 11, 2010 2:00 am Spill Won't Hurt Operations Here, Company Says I realize BP does not have a large presence in the Energy State. However, the Gulf Gusher might deep six BP. Here's a startling paragraph:
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, February 29, 2008
How are you making out? I heard that phrase as a kid during the depression. The shocker came when my friend, a Boomer, asked me that. I wonder how much harder she'll have it in the next 25 years.
(15 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, December 21, 2008
Democrats and Republicans & Questions on War and Peace There is currently a discussion going on about details such as more troops to Afghanistan, better help for the veterans returning from Iraq, and Obama's choices for Secretaries of State and Defense. Herein a little global overview added.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, February 3, 2008
Barack Obama's First Book This is not as much a book review as it is a memory trip. The writing is so good. And very honest. Born into the Luo tribe of Kenya with its tradition of polygamy makes for an interesting tale. The Senator became an organizer in Chicago, territory I left five years before he came.
(5 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, July 16, 2011
Social Security - Thanks Frances Perkins Social Security is an equal opportunity program. Hint: Grannies who tenaciously advocate saving it from obsolescence want to see that others agree. History involving Frances Perkins is a good starting point.
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, October 23, 2008
Brave New Films and ACORN Release Video Attacking Vote Suppression YouTube VIDEO: ACORN and Brave New Films team up to debunk the GOP myth of voter fraud and expose the GOP practice of voter suppression.
(23 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Chris Hedges on the State of Higher Education Personal opinion relating to Education, as seen in politics and as needed in the Real World. I heart Chris Hedges.
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, February 14, 2010
My Old Age Benefit - My Childhood Heroine As a schoolgirl, I got shivers thinking about what old people would do if they had no place to go when they couldn't work--the Poor Farm, they called it. By the time I was in college we had what is known as Social Security. Others told me OAB funds were deducted from their paychecks at the rate of 1%.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, January 16, 2010
Economists for the People, Father and Son, the Galbraiths From the 1950s through the 1970s, John Kenneth Galbraith was one of the most widely read economists in the United States. In these times, Bill Moyers interviews economist James K. Galbraith, a son, about the tragic impact of the recession on ordinary people and steps we must take to avoid future meltdowns.
(13 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, November 30, 2008
World Revolutions, US History and Mumbai Mayhem How will Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State perform in the "War on Terror" when George W Bush is gone? As Monday's announcement of her appointment approaches, best that her statements be gauged.
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, May 1, 2009
ABC News' Blotter Updates its 2007 Torture Story On April 30, 2009, ABC News had more to say about it's September 14, 2007 story concerning waterboarding. Now, they have learned that two former military officers, Bruce Jessen and Jim Mitchell--working as Mitchell Jensen and Associates--were contracted by the CIA to instruct it in how to set up "legal" waterboarding techniques.
(8 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, December 7, 2008
It's Morning - Time to Get to Work, America A few thoughts concerning how Barack Obama is proceeding with woeful news. Time to wake up and smell the coffee.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Jim Cooper, is Number One Blue Dog The man has influence, knowledge, and vast experience. Looking at his background allows one to come away with the fact that here is no down home redneck to work with.
(6 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, December 26, 2009
End of the Line on Life's "Womb to Tomb" Journey With the absurdity of Sarah Palin's crowd discussing "end of life healthcare issues" comes someone who has reason to speak up.
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, April 4, 2009
Tripping Down Memory Lane Through Presidential Campaigns As 20 nations sent representatives to London this week, I itched to be there to observe how men and women were going to look at "the least of these." Through it all, I recognize that on this 41st anniversary of MLK's death we have the same question as he and LBJ tussled over on that fateful day. Guns or butter? Which will prevail?
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Do Senators Make Good Presidents? We're about to find out. We are stuck with one Republican and two Democratic Senators, each convinced that he/she could bring the United States into a well-recognized position in the world, while making the homefolks safe and happy.
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, June 7, 2010
A Not-so-Great Generation Meets what They Wrought Why the confusion now? A look back to the 60s' cultural revolution in most living rooms, one would find relationships just as tangled then. Age alone was not the determinant. At times it was almost like siblings in opposite paths. So with a new administration and a president born at the end of an 18-year span, what can the future promise?
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, November 10, 2008
Globalization is Not a Dirty Word "Wall Street needs it, Obama brings it" is how David Weidner wrote hours after President-elect Obama's acceptance speech.
(8 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, July 18, 2010
Don't Worry. Be Wary. Stay Informed. Who says we're not better off? Better off than in 1992. More organized than in 2008. Less naive than in 2006. And, in the author's view, more informed than in 2004 when the intellectual equivalent of Teeny Boppers' mantra on blogs was "Just wait!
(8 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Tell Me Some Stories, Mr. President Would it be too much to ask that he sit at that desk he orbits away from, look us in the eye, and lay out some guiding principles? What are the issues the US faces in a global crisis of bad economies and suspicious militaries? It's just that simple. How is it possible to avoid still more war when we are stretched thin from wars started, still not finished?
(11 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Count My Vote I'm not up on all the rules for effective voting in these 50 United States of America. So I bought a book!
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, April 30, 2010
Dancing with One Foot in a Sack A real street drama sponsored by the AFL-CIO (more than 5000 participants) demonstrated in New York City's financial district. It was largely inspired by the Pete Peterson Commission--often cited as being unfriendly to "little people."
(8 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, February 20, 2010
What Part of Life Belongs to Politics? Funny that I should ask! Here I am, deeply interested in OpEdNews and all the little tentacles that take me to more information. Worse yet, I have been involved since childhood--now with a degree in political science, a subject I vehemently declare to be non-scientific.
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, September 23, 2008
1988 to Bailout I'm giving advice from the trenches to those younger than myself, which is a good percentage of the population. There will be ups and downs in money matters. Bean-counter types call it business cycles.
(6 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, March 7, 2009
Hey, Boomer! Can We Talk Now? During the days of the Great Cultural Divide, I worked with those young enough to be my children. By way of explanation, much of this piece of history occurred during the infamous Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968. Since I worked a few blocks from Mayor Daley's home, part of my memories involves navigating to our near western suburb. And a large part includes hearing the events of the previous night.
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, February 10, 2008
I'm OK! You're OK! Arentcha? I read a new book on the Race Card. And found it worthwhile.
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The car crazy crowd and the cross they may bear Personally, what is happening in Washington politics is local with me. Two families where I have long friendship ties are impacted. A parts manufacturer is closing down.
(5 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, April 24, 2010
Been Down so Long Things Look up I look at the last ten years of young person's lives and wonder how the next ten will go. In 1933, I was 11. Ten years later a humdinger of a war was winding down.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, April 10, 2010
All the News That's Fit to Cut and Paste What we call QuickLinks on OpEdNews is so prevalent in most online political sites that it's hard to believe we don't think of it as a source of news "you can't get anywhere else." Where do those QLs come from? As an editor, one of my chief sources comes from other sites' newsletters.
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, February 27, 2010
Who Works? Who Labors? Who Manages? Who's the Boss? It would be simplistic to allege than brain is replacing brawn. True the likes of Ford's River Rouge plant is history. But a car is a car. Modular parts require less hard labor and more attention to detail. Toyota admits as much.
(6 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving from Maryville, Tennessee Woke up feeling good, started the coffee and looked at the local headlines. There in big black letters were three pre-holiday stories.
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, September 21, 2008
Bailout! Let's look to Congress. Here's a good member Perhaps it would be useful to discuss whether those who are worried about the Bailout have anyone in Congress who knows what we need.
(7 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, February 25, 2009
What are You Giving up? What is this little essay about? And what isn't it? It isn't an appeal for "aid to Cedar Rapids." What this essay is about is "spinning wheels." Actions Speak Louder than Words.
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, June 12, 2009
Googling Through the Senate Healthcare reform is going to be a fight to the finish, penciled in for the end of September. In the meantime, we citizens are laying our bodies on the line. For this citizen, it's keeping a very wary eye. On the House for Christmas tree ornaments. On the Senate for what Senators do--act senatorial
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, May 21, 2010
Voter ID Defines Status, Clout Demands More Synonyms per the dictionary: influence, authority, prestige, weight, credit mean power exerted over the minds or behavior of others.
(8 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Public Information is the Yeast to Leaven Citizenship Schumer, Specter Unveil Revised Reporter Shield Bill That Addresses National Security Concerns, Clearing Way For Passage by Key Senate Panel
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, December 19, 2008
I Heart Chicago Well, not every last bit of rubble and rabble. Just the energy it gives to one who works and cares.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, February 7, 2009
Surviving Turbulent Economic & Political Times--Though 50 War winding down, impeachment chatter, economic changes, generational shifts--what happened to me in the early 70s is something which I see happening to my younger friends these days as they hope to be on the last full time job they'll ever need.
(14 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Don't you bash that woman to me! I have a problem. How can an article be fashioned out of an old woman's memories? Well, this old woman is going to try. It's about my sister Hillary.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, March 21, 2010
Rowdies in Washington DC, March 20, 2010 Talking Points Memo published vicious slurs against John Lewis and Barney Frank during tea party demonstrations. In the meantime, all of us citizens are suspect, especially if our names are associated with forward looking policies.
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, August 22, 2008
What Will the Kids Do? I thought of Youth when I started writing. But it wouldn't hurt all of us to do some homework. What I'm driving at is the Progressive Party and how Henry Wallace is still relevant.
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, August 24, 2008
Where Will the Hits Come From? Dirty work in past campaigns will surface from groups who want to discredit Obama this time around. Here are three.
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Doing It for the Gipper The Dow heads south. Time to think of Reaganomics. Hold on to your pocketbook!
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, January 27, 2008
John Edwards' on Education To me, US involvement in education is an important topic. Why aren't we talking about it?
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Schools to Keep for the Future (2100)
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, April 28, 2008
Open Letter to Barack Obama I thought of the goings-on about Barack Obama's church, his pastor, his national publicity (if it can be termed that), and I decided I just needed to talk him. So I wrote him a letter for everyone to see, including him, I hope.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, January 5, 2009
To Mark the Beginning of the Last Year of a Decade in the 2000s On January 2, I met some Democrats who I hardly know except through local news. Blount County Democrats, who have been blogging since 2004, invited me to join. I want to see whether "they" can turn into "we."
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, November 3, 2008
Me and My Money Whatever the social scientists want to call it.
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, May 8, 2010
Meeting Half Way Could Make Roadkill Recently the President gave a speech to a graduating class about civility. Betcha they heard it before. However, no harm in advocacy for good manners, even in politics.
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, September 13, 2008
How Much Culture Should a Politician Have? Culture is what folks do. Politics is what they do when it's time to vote.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Freddie and Fannie & Uncle Sam Report after of one day's trading of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. I hope this will help in discussing what Obama may say about Secretary Paulson's rescue.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Town and Country - Adams and Jefferson Blue Dog Democrats, as a group of 51, are certainly rankling columnists and pundits. In the old question of Blue States versus Red States, there develops chatter of how Blue Dogs are turning Blue States into something resembling bilious chartreuse. Their Republican counterparts, who call themselves a Study Group, get off easier because they are just Republicans. In principle, they have similar guidelines.
(13 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Let Me Tell You about the Iowa River It runs through my alma mater, and I feel like I'm down for the count and gurgling googles.
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Thank you, America! Just some musings after Iowa and New Hampshire.
(12 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Who's a Journalist? I'm not a professional journalist. I wondered what one is. To get a notion I went to their webpage to find out what is required of a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, where I read their ethics code.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, March 6, 2010
If It's Broke, Who'll Fix It? Everything may not be up to snuff in the Beltway, but the cards were dealt. Whither now? Take to the streets? Choose a party, any party? Fight City Hall? Or maybe just go with the flow.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, January 1, 2008
With a Name Like Daschle Discussion of Tom Daschle's experience during George W. Bush's first term. A book takes us back to the beginning of the 21st Century.
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, January 14, 2008
4/4/68 and Counting 40 Years Just a way to think of Martin Luther King on the eve of his birthday.
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, January 19, 2008
How to Love a :"Right" Person Trying to separate the little "d" and the little "r" is not easy. Forget the capital letters!
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, April 21, 2008
Remembering the Unthinkable - Years Later In an effort to neaten my documents, I ran into this lament, stuck in a folder all by itself. I can only guess that it was written shortly after 9/11. All documents before August 16, 2005 have that date, since the browser crashed and we had to copy the hard drive. My best guess is that it was written before the middle of November, 2001, because it was then I had an injury to my hands and couldn't type for a long time.
SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, January 13, 2008
Bill Richardson 3-in-1 After Governor bowed out of primaries, will he bow out of national politics.
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, January 27, 2008
Open letter to the 3 Democrats for president To be a Democrat these days requires introspection. I want to help one make it to the Oval Office. In the meantime, they must hammer out the issues which will prevail all the way. Here's some advice. And a promise to do what I can from this keyboard to help.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, January 11, 2008
John Edwards. "Nice" or Real Musings on Edwards as a populist.
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, December 16, 2007
Americans, Democrats & Republicans, Want Change It seems Democratic leaders are hesitant to act as boldly as those who voted for them desire. Same might be said for Republicans. Maybe "the people" should work both sides of the aisle.

Page 1 of 9    First  Last   Back  Next  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     View All

Tell A Friend