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I am a former Army and VA psychiatrist who ran for the US Senate in 2010 on a campaign based on a pledge to introduce a constitutional amendment to abolish corporate personhood and regulate campaign finance. A constitutional amendment banning corporate campaign expenditures and limiting or abolishing individual donations spent to influence elections is an essential step to getting back on the path to democracy. I am convinced that the only way to do this is to make support for such an amendment a campaign issue. That way, we can easily see who wants to get in Congress to represent We the People and who want to serve our interests over those of corporations who currently control the US government. I believe that it is possible to end war, address climate change and provide health care to all if we can prove that democracy is possible. Unless we can awaken enough Americans to the fact that their government is pursuing an agenda of corporate imperialism that will enslave them along with the rest of the world if not reclaimed by We the People, we will leave our children with a legacy of pain for which we cannot be forgiven. Ultimately, endless war is a symptom of a disease that will destroy human civilization if not eradicated. There is no "us" vs "them." Our fates are intertwined. None of us gets out alive. The question is, how will we have lived? www.soldiersforpeaceinternational.org OpEd News Member for 645 week(s) and 2 day(s) 82 Articles, 0 Quick Links, 642 Comments, 0 Diaries, 0 Polls
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Sunday, March 12, 2023Will Biden's Ukraine policies cost him the White House? As signs indicate that support for Ukraine is on the verge of collapsing, Biden has to think about whether he can pay the political cost of spending tens of billions to finance the Quixotic goal of a Ukrainian victory over Russia is going to go over with swing voters. 
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Saturday, January 14, 2023The Ukrainian lifeboat dilemma It's been pointed out ad nauseum that Ukraine is splitting the "peace movement." To resolve the rift, we have to examine our goals. This isn't as simple as it sounds. Humans have conflicting ways of dealing with intolerable choices. This is the way I sort out the options for people who sincerely want to end the suffering while establishing a lasting peace. 
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Saturday, August 13, 2022The stealth plan for Medicare for all The "death spiral of medical insurance costs" might sound wonky, but it's the reason we should worry that all of us are going to be stuck in an insanely expensive, taxpayer-funded system of medical care delivery that puts profits over patients, just like any other private insurance. 
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Wednesday, June 1, 2022Creating consensus on Ukraine If antiwar activists can't unite on a message to the public that we want them to share with the government, we are wasting our time. This article explores some of the reasons we are divided and how we might find consensus if we make a couple of simple agreements. 
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Friday, March 18, 2022How to best stand with Ukraine Americans are rightfully aghast at the reports of what is going on in Ukraine. Efforts of experienced analysts in the alternative media to provide context are falling on deaf ears, which is not surprising. That's why we need to focus on what we should and should not be doing if we want to help end the violence. 
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Friday, March 11, 2022New documents reveal: Russian invasion immediately preceded planned attack on Donbass The feelings engendered by the scenes of suffering in Ukraine have understandably evoked strong emotional reactions in the West, which tend to interfere with rational analysis. Contrary to the Western portrayal of the Russian invasion as the act of a "madman," this new evidence supports his claim that the decision to invade was made in response to a credible threat of genocide in the ethnic Russian region of Donbass. 
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Tuesday, March 1, 2022Open Letter to Putin Lovers The Ukraine conflict is just the latest battle in a much larger war that is being fought for the benefit of a global elite to the detriment of the rest of humanity. Perhaps those commentators who are used to making this case need to be reminded that when the population is caught up in a moral panic, it may be time to think about how you deliver the message 
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Thursday, February 24, 2022Breaking report from Ukraine Breaking news from Ukraine. It will be useful for interpreting the significance of what the Western media report in the next 24 hours. ordinary Ukrainians in the military are surrendering their arms and retreating peacefully for the most part, while the fascists/ nationalists are left to fight alone while the Ukrainian heavy weaponry and air support is being systematically destroyed by the Russian military. 
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Sunday, February 20, 2022Understanding Ukraine There is a lot that we are not told about Ukraine that you need to know to begin to understand what's happening. This article reframes recent reports about Ukraine based on facts that are being ignored by the media. There is a pattern of deception in the way that Western media portrays foreign affairs. With study and practice, it is possible to make reasonable inferences about what is really going on and why. 
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Friday, March 26, 2021Will Trump's America First policies topple the Empire? Contrary to the impression you might get from most news media, there is serious discussion going on about the sustainability of the American Empire that has been forged in the blood of innocents who stood in its way. 
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Tuesday, September 8, 2020Breaking through denial of the moral urgency of universal health care Studies show that personal stories are much more likely to get the interest of people who would normally consider universal health care "socialist". Once they are hooked by that, a story that touches them, they are far more likely to listen to the economic argument. 
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Wednesday, September 2, 2020If all wars are based on lies, truth is our greatest weapon Few Americans have any idea how they are systematically lied to about nearly every aspect of US foreign policy as it pertains to our self-chosen "enemies." Until they do, they will continue to treat facts as "conspiracy theory." It's up to us to have the courage to challenge the lies. Facts are facts even if no one believes, them and lies are lies even if everyone believes them. 
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Wednesday, August 19, 2020Fighting truth decay in the name of peace If we ever want to build a successful antiwar movement, we have to educate the public about the fact that nearly everything they read about foreign policy in the mainstream media is a lie. Here is very short introduction to a critical subject that is more often the subject of books. 
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Wednesday, February 5, 2020Will Democrats fall for the public option scam again? Democrats chose to support a public option in 2009 instead of Medicare for All and ended up with nothing. Are they really going to do it again? 
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Thursday, September 6, 2018VA privatization continues with MISSION Act The public is largely unaware of efforts to privatize VA care. These efforts go far beyond assuring care is available. It threaten the continued existence of the VA as we know it. It's critical to understand how the VA MISSION Act furthers the goals of the privateers so we can let our members of Congress know we do not accept the diversion of public funds to enrich private interests by sacrificing quality of care. 
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Saturday, March 10, 2018Don't let a few bad facilities lead to privatization of the VA system Recent articles detailing the history of mismanagement at the Roseburg VA paint a sorry picture of our local facility. It's a story that must be told, but it's important to put the facts into context. Generalizing from the problems of individual facilities without providing context gives the impression that the system is broken. However, we can't make sweeping conclusions about the VA without comparing outcomes 
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Saturday, September 3, 2016The real reason single payer is inevitable Democrats who have no understanding of health care economics but who accept how legislation is made in a corrupt Congress have done a grave disservice in supporting Obamacare and dismissing single payer as unrealistic. The reality is that Obamacare never had a chance, because insurance-based health care is not only an inherently unfair system, but an economically unsustainable model for health care delivery. 
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Sunday, August 28, 2016The road to WWIII is paved with good intentions Of all those who advocate for war, the "humanitarian" is the most dangerous. None are more effective than Nicholas Kristof. 
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Saturday, July 16, 2016The war comes home in Dallas Dallas is just another example of the rising number of mass murders, not a symptom of growing racism. It is largely a consequence of the callousness of Americans toward those to whom they do not feel connected. When a nation stands by as its leaders commit mass murder in their names, they cannot escape the consequences. 
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Saturday, May 21, 2016The revolution must transcend partisanship Many have commented on the similarities between the positions of Trump and Sanders, and the fact that backers of both reject the Duopoly. It may be easier to unite these two groups to fight corruption than to make Clinton's backers understand the fact that they are responsible for doing something about it. 
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Saturday, May 14, 2016Beyond Bernie: The evolution of a revolution The time has come to decide where the movement Sanders started will be going after the convention. While Sanders can play a key role regardless of the outcome, the fate of the movement will not depend on who is nominated as much as it will on what his supporters are willing to do to continue what he began. 
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Friday, May 6, 2016Supporting Clinton is a sign of the battered spouse syndrome I've taken a hard look at my anger toward people who don't get why a political revolution is imperative and realized that they cannot help themselves. 
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Thursday, April 28, 2016The impeccable logic of Bernie or Bust Some argued that Bernie or Bust was a way to scare potential Clinton supporters into voting for a candidate who actually represents their views. If that was true, it didn't work. However, there is good reason to hold to the promise of Bernie or Bust and just say no to Clinton. 
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Thursday, April 21, 2016Bernie's last shot Bernie's last hope is that Dems who might be inclined to vote for Clinton despite preferring his positions might be persuaded to wake up and vote for the candidate who actually represents their views. 
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Sunday, April 17, 2016Syria: Obama's Bay of Pigs It's no surprise that cynics abound when it comes to US plans in Syria. They may be wrong however when they write off current peace talks as just another cynical ploy of a government unified behind the goal of taking down Assad. The evidence is clear that Obama has the motivation and a perfect chance to set the stage for an end to the violence and challenge neocon dominance of foreign policy, if he has the courage. 
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Thursday, April 7, 2016Rolling Stone gathers moss-Wenner endorses Clinton Sorry, Bernie. There is no nice way to put it: The Clinton endorsement by Rolling Stone founding editor Jann Wenner epitomizes the lowered expectations of her supporters and highlights the banality of their arguments. 
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Tuesday, March 15, 2016Putin's Syrian surprise-we should have seen it coming The Russian drawback in Syria shows what should have been obvious all along: Russia was not being duped by the call to resume negotiations. In fact, there is reason to believe that Obama is looking for a way to gracefully exit the arena. Russia's withdrawal would ease that by deescalating the situation and reducing the level of hysteria over the ISIS "threat" to the US. 
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Friday, March 11, 2016If you like Trump, you'll love Sanders Trump and Sanders have little in common but their appeal to those sick of Duopoly lies. While the press is losing credibility, it is highlighting the real dangers of electing a loose cannon with no clear political convictions. Crazy as it sounds, it might be possible to get those Trump supporters who are having second thoughts to look past the propaganda and support Sanders now and in the general election. 
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Sunday, March 6, 2016Clinton's record on free trade: national and global implications Congress may vote on the disastrous TPP agreement this year. Clinton, Sanders and Trump oppose it. A look at the facts shows that only Sanders has shown consistent opposition in the past, while Clinton has a clear record of supporting the neoliberal agenda. Making these facts known may make a difference in the Democratic primary. Whoever wins, highlighting the issue can help stop TPP and counter neoliberalism. 
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Sunday, February 28, 2016Which way to the revolution? Depending on your point of view, the term "Sanders revolution" may be one of hope or derision. For others, it just provokes blank stares. 
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Monday, February 22, 2016Sanders vs Clinton: Revolution or Civil War? Despite Sanders' early victory and continued surge in the polls, many Democrats don't appreciate what is generating all the excitement. While there are valid reasons to like Clinton, Sanders represents a historic opportunity to prove that we can elect a president who is not among those offered by the corporate party leadership. Sanders can also lead the fight to make sure that other independent candidates wil join him. 
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Thursday, February 18, 2016The vast left wing conspiracy to stop the single payer movement Clinton calls single payer "too expensive" despite many examples of its efficiency in the real world, highlighting the difference between "pragmatism" and working for real change. With us behind him, Sanders can advance causes that establishment Democrats have written off, because he also has a plan for campaign finance reform. Dealing with corruption in the system is the key to achieving the entire progressive agenda. 
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Friday, April 24, 2015To address climate change, stop focusing on global warming Klein argues that climate change denial stems primarily from a fear of challenging one's assumptions about capitalism. To overcome the arguments of those who cherry pick their sources to justify their blind prejudicess, it is useful to look at the basis of their beliefs and choose your arguments accordingly. 
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Monday, April 6, 2015We are all Iranians now Cynicism abounds in the alternative media about whether the interim agreement with Iran will lead to a permanent agreement indicating a new policy toward Iran. While such skepticism is warranted, there is another way to view the situation that argues that Obama is quite serious about resetting US relations with Iran and in the process, beginning to check Israeli influence over US foreign policy. 
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Tuesday, February 24, 2015How to break the corporate media blockade To effectively organize in a nation where most people get their information from a media heavily influenced by the intelligence apparatus of the state, we have to get the facts out in traditional as well as alternative media. This article is an example of how to cram the most important facts about the dangers of American empire into 700 words. Don't forget that members of Congress read these too. It also educates them. 
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Friday, December 5, 2014Turkey's turn to Russia could spell doom for NATO Turkey's decision to partner with Russia in its plans to abandon South Stream due to EU demands could have earth-shaking consequences. The best possible outcome could be to undermine the foundations of NATO, which has become nothing but a tool of empire. 
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Tuesday, November 18, 2014Democratic midterm losses rooted in corruption Analysts who view the election results as a referendum against Obama are missing the point. When voters are consistently offered a choice between Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber to represent them in Congress, they will eventually replace one party in power with the other as long as they refuse to consider alternatives. The solution is to make their jobs depend on cleaning up the corruption of the electoral system. 
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Sunday, October 19, 2014Zionism and Racism It is impossible to address the cycle of violence between Israel and Palestine without putting aside any racist assumptions, conscious or unconscious. This article discusses this explosive topic in an attempt to promote a rational dialogue that respects the humanity of both sides. 
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Saturday, October 4, 2014Why a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United is inevitable The recent vote in the senate on a constitutional amendment intended to regulate campaign finance and abolish corporate personhood was a historic advance in the abolition movement. So why are so many commentators so invested in convincing us that the movement is dead? The most charitable explanation is that they haven't bothered to consider how it can be done. 
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Saturday, September 6, 2014Controlling the masses by manipulating conspiracy theories The US government routinely labels explanations of its actions that do not comport to the official story "conspiracy theories," even while concocting some whoppers of their own. People who should know better had best wake up to the fact that if they are not open to hearing how American power really works, they are wasting their time claiming to work for peace and justice. 
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Thursday, July 31, 2014Ending the tyranny of the banksters Lessons of the Populist movement can be applied to current problems that are destroying the US and world economy, plunging millions into poverty. The key to achieving the reforms sought by the Populists is to deal with the corruption of government that stymied them. It starts by making a campaign issue of support for constitutional amendment to regulate campaign finance and abolish corporate constitutional "rights." 
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Thursday, July 24, 2014Getting Americans to understand the facts about Ukraine and empire Americans don't understand that their government controlled by international corporations that use its military and economic power to establish global corporate domination. Until we break through the corporate media blockade, we allow ourselves to be enslaved in a fascist New World Order along with the citizens of targeted nations. Stand up for Ukrainians, Syrians and Libyans or there will be no one left to stand for us. 
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Sunday, July 20, 2014Stop bitching and start the Revolution We cannot overcome the power of the corporate media until those who speak through the "alternative" media start to focus on solutions to the root causes of the myriad problems they so love to complain about. This does not require thousands of little plans to tackle these problems. What we need is a focus on how to attack the root problem of corruption of government by the global elite. 
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Monday, June 30, 2014We are all Russians now There was a moment in history when Americans believed world peace possible. For too many, that dream died with Kennedy. We must remember in this time of unchecked US aggression JFK's words at American University when he argued for an end to the Cold War. We are one human family. Americans can change the course of history by demanding an end to US imperialism. That will happen when they abandon American exceptionalism. 
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Tuesday, June 17, 2014We are all Palestinians now- A review of Max Blumenthal's Goliath The most easily refuted lie about Israel is that it represents all Jews. Blumenthal makes a major addition to the growing body of literature by American and Israeli Jews refuting it. Weaving historical narrative with contemporary events, quotes from Knesset members and interviews with a broad sample of Israelis and Palestinians, he creates a stunning indictment of modern Israel that he traces to the roots of Zionism itself. 
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Friday, June 6, 2014The real meaning of D-Day D-Day is thought of as the day the final victory over fascism began. US history since the end of WWII has proven this to be anything but the case. It is not too late for us to make sure that the victims of that war, both civilian and soldier, did not die in vain. 
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Tuesday, May 27, 2014How to honor the war dead One day a year, Americans set aside a day to remember the war dead. How about those who struggle on with the knowledge of what they have done in war and the civilians whose lives are forever changed by the death and destruction it causes? 
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Thursday, May 8, 2014Is democracy possible? All the hopeful talk about bringing democracy to America ignores the fact that a great number of Americans fear real democracy. It is important to keep this in mind when trying to build a united front against corporate rule. To counter arguments against democracy and in favor of a constitutional republic, it is necessary to understand the basis of the objection and a way to explain why republicanism leads to oligarchy. 
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Wednesday, April 23, 2014The horrors of global climate change no one talks about Everyone knows global climate change will cause destructive weather, displace coastal populations, cause widespread property damage and general disruption, but how many ever stop to really perceive the costs on a human scale? If we cannot even look at how many people are dying every day due to the current policies of the global elite, we will have trouble imagining the future that awaits us if we do not act forcefully now.
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Thursday, April 10, 2014We cannot salvage a growth-based economy Anyone concerned by how we are going to recover from the devastation wrought by unrestrained greed on Wall Street needs to start by realizing that there can be no return to prosperity under the old economic rules. They are designed to accumulate wealth at the top at the expense of the worker. In a world of finite resources, we have to create an economy that works for everyone while repsecting the finite limits of growth. 
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Thursday, April 3, 2014In the wake of McCutcheon, take back America with a Pledge to Amend The Supreme Court declared today that Congress has no power to prevent individuals from buying elections. While Citizens United awoke many to the fact that America is a plutocracy, this slap in the face should serve as a wake up call to those who didn't get the message before. Here's what you can do about it. 
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Friday, March 28, 2014Educating the masses-Why Ukraine matters Americans have a hard time recognizing their government is engaged in systematic violations of international laws specifically designed to prevent the kind of preemptive warfare the US engages in with increasing regularity. It is imperative, if we are going to halt the advance of the global corporate empire, that we educate Americans about the lessons of Ukraine. 
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Tuesday, February 11, 2014Changing the world-the psychology of belief Activists can despair when they see the psychopathy in the behavior of average people. They conclude that this is "human nature." Psychotherapists know this is not quite true. While humans are easily influenced to adopt beliefs that lead them to commit or accept unjust acts, with a little work they can be persuaded to change those beliefs and work for the common good. If this were not so, democracy would be impossible. 
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Thursday, October 24, 2013Setting Goals for a Real Global Revolution Despite hope for a global revolution, little of substance has been accomplished that will lead to one. Real change requires strategy, which presupposes common goals that have yet to be agreed upon. When there is general agreement on aims, ways must be found to articulate them in such a way that a large majority agrees with them. Then we have to find a way to state our aims that will unite left and right in common cause. 
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Wednesday, September 25, 2013Toward a Strategy for Global Revolution There is a growing recognition that all the problems highlighted by the global Occupy movement are related to the control of governments by a small group of the economic elite. The question is, How are we going to address the problem? In this article, I argue that we need to develop a strategy for combining our individual efforts to systematically undermine the power of the global elite to control governments. 
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Monday, September 9, 2013Is Obama's pitch to Americans on Syria kosher? In the third of a three part series examining the Obama administration's handling of the rush to war in Syria,the role of Israel is examined and a case made that Obama may have emphasized the benefits to the Israeli right wing's objectives to help Americans wake up to the fact that the interests of the two are not identical. 
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Wednesday, September 4, 2013In defense of Obama Obama is justly criticized by the Left and Right, but critics go too far in attacking the man, not his policies. As with Clinton, this only makes defenders blind to his real faults. It also ignores the fact that a President who challenges the military industrial complex does so at the risk of his life. Critics and supporters have to consider that to properly understand his motivations. They may not be what you think. 
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Friday, August 30, 2013Opposition to Syria may reignite the American Revolution Unnoticed by most commentators, there has been growing convergence of thinking by conservative and liberal activists. Common sense is overcoming dogma to the extent that even the mainstream media and Congress are not immune. The NSA-spying scandals aroused some to the dangers of an endless "war" on terror. The prospect of unilateral military action in Syria may be all it takes to connect the dots for average Americans. 
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Tuesday, August 27, 2013The real cost of student debt The amount of student debt is not the problem. It shouldn't exist at all. A society dedicated to the ideal of equality would treat education as a commodity. Access to higher education should be a right, not a privilege. Democrats claiming victory for stopping an immediate doubling of student-loan interest rates only to raise them even more in a few years shows the dire need for better education if we want to have democracy. 
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Friday, August 2, 2013Snowden: Vanguard of an American insurgency? The one theory to explain Snowden's motivation that hasn't been offered to my knowledge is the possibility that he might be part of a growing resistance within the intelligence community and military to being used to create a global corporate New World Order. True or not, that is exactly what it will take to end the threat of global dominance by the power brokers who dictate US foreign policy and direct the security state. 
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Friday, July 5, 2013A peaceful global uprising The world is beginning to awaken to the need to stand up against the Empire if they ever want to be free. We need to understand that the only way to achieve liberty and justice for all is to unite across international borders in a global uprising that will put the global corporate elite on notice that the days of empire are over. 
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Saturday, June 29, 2013The Obama Doctrine Obama was elected promising to work for a post-partisan society. Partisan Democrats are so busy defending his record on issues where he has differed from Republicans that they won't look at areas where they agree but should not, like arming terrorists from Libya to Syria. The truth is, Obama is no more responsible for crafting US foreign policy than Bush was capable. Both are acting according to the dictates of others. 
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Monday, June 24, 2013We are all Turks now Turks protesting their government's power grab realize that their democratic experiment is in danger. Erdogan is going along with the agenda for a New World Order because it coincides with his Islamist agenda, but his actions have unleashed the power of the People. Americans need to understand this lesson, because they must end their own "civil war" in order to finish their Revolution.
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Saturday, February 23, 2013Building a Movement for Real Change Each moment in history is unique, but never before has all of human civilization been threatened by human greed and lust for power. It is imperative that we move beyond competition among groups working for change and learn how to unite humanity in common cause. This article suggests how we can build a movement with the strength to create real democracy in the US so that the government will address the necessities.
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Thursday, February 21, 2013Why Syria Matters This article outlines why Syria is a target nation of NATO and the corporate forces behind the attempt to establish a permanent New World Order dominated by a small group of the international elite. It is critical for citizens of NATO governments to understand what is being done in their name if they want to free their children from bondage in a permanent global police state.
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Monday, January 14, 2013Guns And The Coming Revolution The latest round in the ongoing gun control debate has led to open discussion of the idea that Americans need to prepare to fight a violent revolution. An armed revolt need not be fought and could not be won. It would simply provide an excuse to impose what could be permanent martial law. The solution to government corruption is a constitutional amendment to end the ability of corporations and the rich to buy election.
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Tuesday, January 8, 2013It's Time For A Real Debate On Health Care Reform The health care "reform" debate of 2009-10 grahically showed the corruption of both major parties by corporate cash. If Democratic supporters could have seen past the lies of the Democratic politicians who promised to work for a public option and had paid attention to the fact that had one passed it would not lead to single payer, they might have joined the thousands of people working for single payer. It's not too late.
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Wednesday, December 26, 2012The Mussolini test Debates about the tryanny of the right or left hide the fact that democracy depends on consensus. Arguments put in these terms pit Americans against another. The the only way to move the country in any direction is to recognize that the fate of all of us depends on considering the good of each of us. If Americans can work together in the interests of all, they will have passed the Mussolini test, proving democracy possible. 
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Friday, December 21, 2012It's the corruption, stupid! The US left has failed to make discernible progress in unifying a movement with real political power. By studying the success of movements in Europe and the Mideast in unifying people from across the social and political spectrum to fight corruption in government, we have a historic opportunity to create real democracy in America. A united fight for both a constitutional amendment and anti-corruption legislation is the way.
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Thursday, December 6, 2012Beyond austerity Congress must begin to put the interests of average Americans over those of the corporate donors who finance their campaigns. If they don't do so in the debates on how to reduce the national debt, We the People can hold them accountable by voting only for candidates in 2014 who will support a constitutional amendment to end corporate campaign expenditures and limit those by the rich. It is time politicians shared out pain.
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Sunday, December 2, 2012We are all Africans now The western world is undergoing an austerity "crisis" that is the only possible outcome of an economy based on a zero-sum game. If America is really a democracy, we can decide to change our economic model to one that is just and that is able to adapt to a changing demographic that requires us to provide for both those entering the work force and those leaving it. This will require fundamental changes in our assumptions.
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Friday, November 23, 2012Austerity or debt: a false choice The debate over austerity measures is causing riots and international strikes in Europe, but many Americans regard them as necessary to address the debt "crisis" that has resulted from 30 years of irresponsible government by both major parties. The real problem is the American system of corporate welfare. The solution is to make support of a constitutional amendment to get special interests out of financing elections.
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Wednesday, September 12, 2012Occupy at Two: Moving Forward For Occupy to move forward, those who want to the dream of revolutionary change alive will have to take a careful look at the choices those in the movement have made. In particular, the decision to not unify around the central issue of the need for a constitutional amendment to achieve real campaign finance reform needs to be revisited. This article argues this the key to a peaceful democratic revolution.
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Wednesday, September 5, 2012America's Post-traumatic Stress Disorder We all know that endless war takes a toll on service members. How often do we think about how it affects society as a whole? This article explores the parallels between PTSD in the individual and similar problems in society caused by failure to recognize how war affects both and the work that must be done to correct the problems. Veterans have a special role in the healing of America that will in the end help them heal. 
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Wednesday, August 29, 2012Dying for an Education Every war is different and every one affects veterans in a different way. The current global war is unique in the number of redeployments made by service members,widespread use of National Guard members and the fact that Americans do not pay the direct costs of war. This has led to young men and women paying the price of endless war on behalf of a society that increasingly offers few other opportunities for success.
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Friday, July 27, 2012Americanism Redefined Too many Americans believe the myth that anyone who works hard can make it in a society dominated by a government that serves the corporate interest. Until we can abandon this notion of American exceptionalism, We the People will remain weak and divided. This essay explores an alternative definition of Americanism that is one of mutual respect and the value of ensuring the rights of those most vulnerable.
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Wednesday, July 25, 2012Learned Helplessness Americans agree that government puts special interests above their own. The "alternative" media is dominated by gatekeepers who focus on the politics of Left v Right or worse, Democrat v Republican, as if either of these parties was not bought off by corporate campaign contributions. This article examines how the echo chamber of the left is avoiding the obvious solution to the problem of corporate corruption of elections.
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Friday, July 20, 2012The Cost of Free Trade Those who protested NAFTA and other free trade agreements must get busy fighting the Trans-Pacific Partnership currently in negotiations. The US ceding its sovereignty over American trade policies led thousands around the country to take part in the Battle in Seattle. This is a much more important battle, as TPP would give transnational corporations to sue governments without needing a government to back them.
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Thursday, July 19, 2012Occupy the Tea Party Taking America Back for the People requires more than the Left can manage to organize, given its long history of being unable to unify and work together. This article describes how Citizens United and the corruption of the US electoral system could be the issues that unify Left and Right in the cause of establishing democracy in America. Democracy is a really great idea. It requires consensus to make the ideal a reality.
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Tuesday, July 17, 2012Escape From Freedom Somehow the word "fascism" has been determined inappropriate to use in polite company. It is ironic that one of its hallmarks is thought control through propaganda. This article looks at the individual and social psychology of fascism to make the case that not only can it happen in the United States but if fascism is defined as an unholy alliance between corporation and state, it has already arrived.
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Sunday, July 15, 2012We are all Spaniards Now Most analysis of the European economic crisis focuses on austerity measures being sold to Americans as well. Some bloggers write about the use of stimulus instead of austerity. Conservative economists dismiss Keynesian economics as an obsolete theory in an age of unsustainable government debt. What is not being discussed is the possibility that resistance to austerity may lead to real economic revolt like Iceland's.
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Friday, July 6, 2012Declaring Our Interdependence The American Revolution could not have happened without colonists recognizing their interdependence on one another. In the same way, the Revolution cannot be completed until Americans remember that democracy is not possible for some until we recognize the rights of all human beings. |
