Here in my state of Oregon most municipal and local elections are already non partisan. Oregon's ballot measure 90 will carry that to a new level if passed in November. As an unaffiliated voter (Independent) I have not been able to participate in the primary elections. I am part of at least a third of Oregon voters. I have no illusions that this will make third party … [Read more...] about Undoing the Tyranny of Political Parties
Generational Inequality
A small number of individuals currently control a disproportionate amount of the wealth in most democracies. In America, the ultra-rich .01% of the populace has 11.1% of the nation’s wealth, with the top 1% owning 39.8% of the wealth, an astounding $32.6 trillion. These numbers do not consider assets held in offshore accounts which would skew the percentages even further. The … [Read more...] about Generational Inequality
Realism About ISIS
Kevin Drum suggests that poll data may show surprising realism among respondents about the threat posed by ISIS on Mother Jones.[icopyright one button toolbar] Hawkish Republicans have been running around for the past month insisting that ISIS terrorists are a direct threat to the United States, and therefore we have to fight them in Iraq so they don't come over here and … [Read more...] about Realism About ISIS
Heavily-backed Koch candidate is losing more and more
Heavily-backed Koch candidate is losing more and more:[icopyright one button toolbar] We're talking about Sam Brownback, Kansas governor who appears to be losing to his Democratic challenger, Paul Davis. Conservative dominance in a state long known for moderation (and, before that, populism, socialism and violent abolitionism) has in many ways been the work of Davis’ … [Read more...] about Heavily-backed Koch candidate is losing more and more
Kent State scolds Urban Outfitters’ red-splattered sweatshirt
Kent State University and many on the Internet criticized Urban Outfitters Inc. on Monday for selling a sweatshirt with its college logo and what appears to be splattered blood, saying it evoked memories of the 1970 shooting where four students died. "This item is beyond poor taste and trivializes a loss of life that still hurts… Kent State scolds Urban Outfitters' … [Read more...] about Kent State scolds Urban Outfitters’ red-splattered sweatshirt
Cartoon: Smart Ass Watch
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Smart Ass Watch
Finding the right words for the fight against ISIS (Guest Voice)
"Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. . . . The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity." — William Butler Yeats, "The Second Coming" Republicans were berating Secretary of State John Kerry last week for calling the fight against ISIS a "counter-terrorism operation"… Trudy Rubin: Finding the … [Read more...] about Finding the right words for the fight against ISIS (Guest Voice)
Clinton’s bubble separates her from voters
INDIANOLA, Iowa — Hillary Clinton is trapped in a bubble. She's been guarded by the Secret Service since 1993. She hasn't driven a car since 1996. When she shakes hands with voters — as she did Sunday in Iowa — she's often separated from them by metal barriers. In some ways, Clinton is a prisoner of… … [Read more...] about Clinton’s bubble separates her from voters
Can Congress be responsible?
WASHINGTON -- There was a moment in the last quarter-century when the Congress of the United States made the nation proud. It did so across all its usual lines of division: Republican and Democratic, conservative and liberal, hawk and dove. In early January 1991, the Senate and the House staged searching and often eloquent debates over the first President Bush's … [Read more...] about Can Congress be responsible?
Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Obama and the Middle East
OF RELATED INTEREST: --Reality impinges on Obama's Middle East strategy [Commentary] --Barack Obama's Iraq plan is sound but the Middle East is a graveyard for good intentions --Obama has a chance to reset American leadership --Arab Nations Offer to Fight ISIS From Air Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation’s most prominent cartoon artists for his outstanding … [Read more...] about Mike Peters Guest Cartoon: Obama and the Middle East
We Jews also have our fanatics (Guest Voice)
We Jews also have our fanatics By Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — Not all the religious fanatics are Muslims. One can think of candidates under the umbrella of Christianity, but here our concern is Jews. Two cases recently in the headlines provoke shame or something else, depending on one’s sense of responsibility or cynicism. One is a bearded, well-coiffured man whose … [Read more...] about We Jews also have our fanatics (Guest Voice)
Civil Asset Forfeiture System Leads to Abuse
Civil Asset Forfeiture System Leads to Abuse By Nadin Abbott SAN DIEGO, Calif.--East County Magazine was informed by a reader in Santa Ysabel about seizure of $4,500 during a Sheriff’s raid locally. A member of the household was arrested on drug charges, Sheriff’s records indicate. But a relative claims the money belonged to the suspect’s father--savings that the older man … [Read more...] about Civil Asset Forfeiture System Leads to Abuse
Hubris Is Alive and Well
Some economists saw the Great Recession coming. Certainly Robert Reich did. But, as Paul Krugman writes in this morning's New York Times, an army of economists missed the boat. They did so for a number of reasons: Clearly, economics as a discipline went badly astray in the years — actually decades — leading up to the crisis. But the failings of economics were greatly … [Read more...] about Hubris Is Alive and Well
Germany Bans Islamic State After Hundreds Of Residents Enlist
Germany on Friday banned the extremist militant group Islamic State, formerly known as ISIS, as the country faces the challenge of stopping hundreds of Germans from joining the group. The move is just one step away from declaring the group a terrorist organization. The ban will come into effect from 10:00 a.m. GMT (6:00 am EDT)… … [Read more...] about Germany Bans Islamic State After Hundreds Of Residents Enlist
Cartoon: Dogs of War
See great cartoons by all the top political cartoonists at http://cagle.com. To license this cartoon for your own site, visit http://politicalcartoons.com … [Read more...] about Cartoon: Dogs of War
The NSA makes Watergate break-in look like kindergarten
The NSA and the British agency GCHQ have broken into Deutsche Telekom, according to der Spiegal. Their goal? Map the Internet. The initiative is called Treasure Map: [E]very single end device that is connected to the Internet somewhere in the world -- every smartphone, tablet and computer -- is to be made visible. The article continues: Because Netcologne is a … [Read more...] about The NSA makes Watergate break-in look like kindergarten
Hurricane and earthquake hammer Baja Peninsula
Hurricane Odile hit near Cabo San Lucas on the Baja Peninsula Sunday night. It was followed by a 5.3 earthquake further north, near San Felipe, Baja California, according to the WeatherChannel. Never seen the arch like this #cabo #cabosanlucas #baja #odile #hurricane #cat4 by landsendcharters pic.twitter.com/jM7v0avqQ5— Los Cabos Mexico (@CabosNews) September 14, … [Read more...] about Hurricane and earthquake hammer Baja Peninsula
The 2016 Campaign Starting With O’Malley Taking On Clinton In Iowa
Earlier in the month I noted fund initial fund raising by Martin O'Malley which may have been the start of a potential challenge to Hillary Clinton for the 2016 Democratic nomination. It looks like he is serious, being the first to start organizing a campaign in Iowa:[icopyright one button toolbar] Martin O’Malley’s incipient presidential campaign already has 11 staffers on … [Read more...] about The 2016 Campaign Starting With O’Malley Taking On Clinton In Iowa
SciFi Weekend: Doctor Who; Sleepy Hollow; Outlander; Star Trek TOS In Wide Screen; You’re The Worst; Married; An Honourable Woman; Gilmore Girls; SHIELD; Agent Carter; The Hulk; Supergirl; Teen Titans; The Leftovers
Listen was an ambitious episode of Doctor Who, even if it does fall short of Blink, which it has been compared to. The episode deals with the character and origin of the Doctor, the further importance of the impossible girl in the development of the Doctor, along with Danny Pink's (and presumably Clara's) family tree. The episode begins with the Doctor writing on his chalk … [Read more...] about SciFi Weekend: Doctor Who; Sleepy Hollow; Outlander; Star Trek TOS In Wide Screen; You’re The Worst; Married; An Honourable Woman; Gilmore Girls; SHIELD; Agent Carter; The Hulk; Supergirl; Teen Titans; The Leftovers
Net Neutrality comments due Monday {!important}
You may have noticed a spinning-wheel-of-death atop your browser last week while visiting Etsy, Kickstarter, Netflix, Reddit, Tumbler or any number of sites around the Internet. [icopyright one button toolbar] The web site owners were raising awareness of something known as network neutrality (which should really be called network discrimination). Comments on an FCC … [Read more...] about Net Neutrality comments due Monday {!important}