Category: Newspaper Commentary
Redefining Capitalism- No Need!
April 22nd, 2011, No Comments
Paul Krugman’s column today is precisely the answer to our dogmatic allegiance to the word, “Capitalism”. When George W. Bush referred to us all as consumers, rather than citizens, it communicated the concept that our status had changed as residents. In addition, every single product and service in existence was somehow a commodity for purchase [...]
Libya
April 3rd, 2011, No Comments
Nicholas Kristof always manages to raise our hopes for a future without oppression even as he details life at its worst for people (often women) around the world. In his latest column, he reminds us that the horrors of war are solely justifiable in the effort to preserve life. How can we condemn or ignore [...]
Toxics: Common Threads from Fracking to Pesticides
February 27th, 2011, 2 Comments
The New York Times published an impressive article on ‘fracking’ or the extraction of gas fuel from deep underground wells by “…injecting huge amounts of water, mixed with sand and chemicals, at high pressures to break up rock formations and release the gas.”. Entitled, “Regulation Lax as Gas Wells’ Tainted Water Hits Rivers” by Ian [...]
Yes, Virginia. There Are Economic Realities (Krugman and the SCOTUS)
January 31st, 2011, No Comments
Nobel prize-winning economist Professor Paul Krugman wrote his opinion of where the President might take the theme of his State of the Union address. The theme of concern was “competitiveness”. The column was of particular interest to me because my entire life was disrupted by a myth that we practiced capitalism in this country even [...]
The Repeal of Life
January 20th, 2011, 1 Comment
The New York Times published their tepid account of the actions of the House of Representatives actions to pass a ‘repeal’ of health care even though all involved knew that it would not become law. Where is the outrage? Why is the bid to remove, rather than improve health care for the masses considered to [...]
Voting Booths are Not Houses of Worship
January 9th, 2011, 1 Comment
Charles Blow of the NY Times wrote a column about religious affiliation being a requirement for those aspiring to hold political office. His research spoke to the fact that huge numbers of Americans are ‘unaffiliated’ with any religious organization, regardless of their theology. Mr. Blow admirably points out the unfairness of the unaffiliated being forced [...]
The Media and HealthCare
January 7th, 2011, No Comments
Several articles stood out in recent weeks as typical of the manner in which public opinion can be swayed by a press corp which is overly impressed with the dramatic license taken by news figures. In an astonishing lack of respect for the intelligence of its audience, journalists today feel compelled to allow ‘news-worthy’ individuals [...]
All I want is Czechoslovakia – Appeasement Politics in the U.S.
November 19th, 2010, 6 Comments
Ezra Klein’s article in today’s Washington Post is a prime example of how easily we can mistake the dirty pool of politics for government policy. While earmarks are being banned (in a non-binding sort of way), we are ignoring the fact that every single item on the US legislative agenda is automatically turned into an [...]
Derailing Discussion about Jobs:
September 6th, 2010, No Comments
All you have to do is bring up the phrase, “Free Market Economy”. Bob Herbert’s column, “Of Janitors and Kings” was, as usual, a fascinating commentary about our society from the vantage point of newly unemployed, low-wage workers. Most interesting is the information which wasn’t printed. We don’t know why this Goliath corporation needed to [...]
WHEN IS ENOUGH ACTUALLY ENOUGH? ASBESTOS IN AMERICA
August 31st, 2010, No Comments
The Times-Dispatch in Virginia published an article by Jim Morris, an excellent journalist on environmental issues. It is terrifyingly titled, “US Asbestos Toll May Reach A Half Million Deaths”. Most of you likely think this substance has been banned by now. Many of us recall the scandal of so many military personnel exposed to it [...]
