Blogcritics Section: Politics

Calling All Muslims

Chris Jones — Thu, 4 Dec 2008 03:29:00 EST

Muslims around the world remain largely silent on the Mumbai attacks.
NY Times Op-Ed writer Thomas Friedman took some time off from his global warming alarmism and decided to write about something important -- the lack of outrage in the Muslim community over the Mumbai attacks. Friedman quite accurately points out that when it comes to dutch cartoons offending Islam, Muslims the world over take to the streets. They...

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Thu, 4 Dec 2008 03:29:00 EST

It's Not Their Fault

Mark Eden — Wed, 3 Dec 2008 15:52:40 EST

Don't blame the Unions.
When a laborer goes to work for an eight hour day in our manufacturing sector, it takes the sale of only a portion of what he produces to cover his total compensation for the day. The rest of what he produces belongs to the owner of the business and is called surplus value. From this share the owner must pay his business expenses (less labor costs)...

Chambliss Victory Saves the Filibuster

Dave Nalle — Wed, 3 Dec 2008 13:17:50 EST

With the Chambliss win in the Georgia runoff Republicans retain the ability to challenge votes in the Senate.
Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss is an unlikely hero for the Republican party. His record has just enough questionable votes on key issues to make religious conservatives nervous, but not enough strong positions on civil liberties issues to make libertarian Republicans entirely happy. He's often dismissed unfairly as a moderate, despite a...

The Truth About the Global Poverty Act

Dave Nalle — Wed, 3 Dec 2008 11:07:55 EST

There are plenty of reasons to oppose Obama's Global Poverty Act, but the extremist fearmongering is counterproductive.
I recently received a hysterical email from someone on a mailing list I subscribe to, ranting and raving about the dangers of the Global Poverty Act, which was authored by Barack Obama and which is currently up for consideration by the Senate. Apparently, it's also being spammed all over the internet, even on craigslist. While I agree that...

Disorganizing Labor

Realist — Tue, 2 Dec 2008 23:01:57 EST

Since 1968, union workers readily turned to their oppressors' politics against their own economic interests.
Conservatives are cheering as they watch the economic collapse destroy one of their most hated opponents: organized labor. But instead of sneering at the vanquished, the business class should be thanking them in gratitude, for the unions did themselves in (I say this as a current unionized worker and a partner in two small businesses). I'm not...

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Tue, 2 Dec 2008 23:01:57 EST

Alternative Energy: Are New Energy Currents Finally Joining The Mainstream?

Bekah Terry — Tue, 2 Dec 2008 22:38:05 EST

Alternatives to our present energy sources will provide the power for all sorts of possibilities.
Alternative energy is no longer quite so alternative. With recent developments, finding new energy sources or producers is not as unconventional as it once was. Aside from ex-VPs traveling around in jets and spewing information about global warming and the need for new energy sources, Congress has implemented real legislation to address these...

Food Riots, Civil Unrest, and the Disunited States of America

Dave Nalle — Tue, 2 Dec 2008 00:19:35 EST

Are we looking forward to a future of food riots, civil war, and the breakup of the union by 2012? Some trends experts think so.
It may be mostly schadenfreude, but Russian economist Igor Panarin is convinced that the current economic crisis has a political component which will eventually break the United States apart into as many as six separate nations. He's not alone in this belief. It has long been a staple belief of racist extremist groups and is now being predicted...

Blue State Musings From A Red State Woman

Lisa Albers — Mon, 1 Dec 2008 16:56:35 EST

A not-so-dyed-in-the-wool liberal defends her right to reside in a true-blue state, and explains why small-l libertarianism holds some appeal.
This November, for the first time since Bill Clinton's 1992 victory, I experienced affinity with my fellow members of the electorate, as all but one of my favored candidates won, and every one of the ballot items I voted for passed. From Barack Obama for president down to a yes for a proposition funding public transit improvements, my affinity...

Your Children Will Kill You

Realist — Mon, 1 Dec 2008 16:34:57 EST

Who will serve and protect the economic elites from the rest of the world?
One of the chants the more radical of my generation used to shout was "Your children will kill you". This was intended to be an expression of how we were going to change the world by abandoning the mindless mores and customs of the past. The only problem is, we forgot the wisdom contained in the aphorism "Be careful what you wish for...

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Mon, 1 Dec 2008 16:34:57 EST

Canadian Politics: A New Federal Government Without An Election?

Richard Marcus — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:08:02 EST

Come Tuesday December 9th, 2008, there might just be a new government in place without an election.
There is something very odd going in on Canada this week, Canadian politics are exciting. Normally politics in Canada are about as predictable as watching paint dry, you know what the result is going to be well in advance, no matter how much anyone says otherwise. So what's been going on over the past week, and what will come to a head in...