According to All Income Growth is Going to the Richest 1 Percent of Washingtonians : It’s time for policymakers in Washington state to take steps to reverse decades of widening economic disparities that threaten broad prosperity, now that it has again been shown that all income growth since 2009 continues to flow to the wealthiest…
I am a lucky person. My jaw is broken, but that is not why I am lucky. I have good health and dental insurance. So when my jaw was fractured last month, I didn’t have to worry about how I could afford to fix it. Sure, I will pay some significant cost-sharing, but it will…
For a detailed, excellent analysis, see Everything mattered: lessons from 2016’s bizarre presidential election. The election was close, so many groups and people share blame for the outcome. This Politico article and this facebook video from the Young Turks describe how the Hillary campaign ignored the swing states til it was too late. By the…
(Originally published in August, 2016 as “Hot August Political Thoughts”) There is absolutely no moral, social, or political equivalency between voting for Donald Trump or voting for Hillary Clinton. Nada. Zilch. None. I am not a fan of Hillary Clinton. Far from it. She is a product of and the embodiment of the Oligarchy. Let…
The 1956 Republican national platform was a progressive document. “We are proud of and shall continue our far-reaching and sound advances in matters of basic human needs—expansion of social security—broadened coverage in unemployment insurance —improved housing—and better health protection for all our people. We are determined that our government remain warmly responsive to the urgent…
The neoliberals [ We elected them, remember? ] and neocons created an unholy matrimony. We let the globalized corporate camel’s nose under the tent and now folks are worried about Trump’s business being a conflict of interest. As I use “we” here, I am reflecting and including myself as part of a people that acted…
Alternative titles for this essay: “The natural attitude: pro-choice at conception, pro-life at term.” “Late-term abortions are rare and morally suspect. Compromise!” “I’m pro-choice, but not for late-term fetuses.” “A commonsense compromise on late-term abortions” (if I want to pick a fight): “How Pro-Choice Extremists Sabotaged the Democratic Party.” Are you okay with on-demand abortions…
From #TheResistance: I listened as they called my President a Muslim. I listened as they called him and his family a pack of monkeys. I listened as they said he wasn’t born here. I watched as they blocked every single path to progress that they could. I watched them shut down the government and hurt…
The 2016 presidential election was a battle of negatives. Despite Trump’s numerous well-known negatives — including a history of racist and sexist insults, inexperience in politics, impetuousness, sexual scandals, mediocre performance at the debates, and a 70% untrue rating from PolitiFact — Trump managed to convince almost a majority of voters that he was the…