Why Don’t We Call Corporate Handouts “Corruption”?
The Biden White House purports to be worried about corruption — just not the kind now dominating American politics, in which every new policy includes gigantic giveaways to corporations.
19522 Articles by: Benjamin Case
Benjamin Case is a researcher, educator, and organizer living in Pittsburgh.
Good Riddance, Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel’s 16-year German chancellorship has finally come to an end. Though she presented herself as the sensible and stabilizing force in Europe, her tenure was characterized by economic neglect, obstruction, and brutal austerity.
The Media Is Rewriting Bob Dole’s History as a Vicious Right-Wing Attack Dog
Today, pundits are pretending that Bob Dole, who died this past weekend, was a patron saint of compromise and decency. But for virtually his whole career, Dole was an unscrupulous partisan warrior who did big favors for wealthy donors and pushed a radical anti-government agenda.
At a Time of Crisis in the Supply Chain, Workers Have Enormous Power
The solution to the supply chain crisis is not rocket science: build unions, raise living and working standards, and shorten logistics workers’ hours at higher pay.
The Mainstream Abortion Rights Movement Needs a Complete Rethinking of Strategy
Abortion rights in the United States are in greater danger than any time since Roe v. Wade — and the abortion rights movement’s national leadership has proven incapable of mounting the kind of strategy needed to protect it. That needs to change.
The Indian Farmers’ Movement Has Shown Us How to Fight Narendra Modi
A heroic struggle has stopped Narendra Modi’s government from ramming through regressive farm laws. Modi is still deeply entrenched in power, but the farmers have shown that mass mobilization can pose a bigger challenge to his rule than parliamentary games.
The Weapons Industry Couldn’t Be Happier About Biden’s Nominee for Pentagon Arms Buyer
The revolving door between the Pentagon and the military industry never stops spinning. The latest to walk through it: Bill LaPlante, who’s moving from the arms industry to a top government position — buying arms from the arms industry.
Jen Psaki Is Annoyed by the Very Thought of Free COVID Tests for All
The White House spokesperson was asked why the administration doesn’t just send out free COVID tests, as other countries do. Her mindless, condescending response was a reminder that the Democrats are still the party of Aetna.
How Capitalism Stole Your Lunch Break
At one time, lunch meant a real break from work and a hot meal. But for many of us in today’s workplace, it means a precious few minutes at your own desk wolfing down food before you go back to work. It’s time to take your lunch break back.
Germany’s New Government Is in Thrall to Neoliberal Hawks
Today, the Social Democrat Olaf Scholz became leader of Germany’s new government. But with fiscal hawk Christian Lindner in charge of the finance ministry, there’s little hope of Germany — or Europe — breaking free of neoliberal dogmas.
West Coast Dockworkers Are Preparing to Negotiate a New Contract
The shipping industry is making record money as supply chain snarls and consumer demand drive up opportunities for profit. It’s the perfect moment for the 15,000 dockworkers who keep the goods flowing to negotiate their new contract.
The Small Business Utopia of Schitt’s Creek
Schitt’s Creek offered its audience a vision of capitalism free of prejudice and exploitation. The absurdity of this fantasy was both the source of the show’s limitations and its brilliance.
The Chilean Left Must Seize Its Historic Opportunity
Far-right candidate José Antonio Kast’s upset victory in the first round of Chile’s elections has led to claims that the country’s “left turn” has run its course. Leftist candidate Gabriel Boric needs to show that narrative is false by rallying the vast majority to his side.
Andrew Cuomo’s Team Looked to Joe Biden for Lessons on How to Shut Down Misconduct Allegations
According to investigation records, Andrew Cuomo and his lackeys talked about trying to emulate Joe Biden’s approach to discrediting sexual harassment accusers.
France’s Éric Zemmour Is Whipping His Fans Into a Violent Frenzy
Last week, far-right TV pundit Éric Zemmour announced his bid for the French presidency. His first rally this past Sunday was a spectacle of fascist politics and dark references to “civil war.”
Joe Biden Is Dragging His Feet on Sharing Vaccine Information With the World
The White House has ways it could share vaccine information with other countries — but it refuses to threaten Moderna’s profits.
Take Abortion Out of the Court’s Hands
Abortion rights shouldn’t be at the mercy of the judiciary. We need federal legislation codifying Roe v. Wade — and Democrats need to buck up and eliminate the filibuster to pass it.
Peru Minister: Our Socialist Government Is Under Attack. But We Can Still Win.
Peru’s socialist president, Pedro Castillo, came into office to fight neoliberalism, but his agenda has been derailed by the Right. One of his ministers tells Jacobin how the Castillo government can fight back and win power for ordinary Peruvians.
Tax Wealthy Private Universities Now
Elite universities like Harvard and Penn are using their tax-exempt status to rob public coffers blind. The solution is easy: tax them.
The Left Should Defend Classical Education
The great books aren’t just a collection of “dead white males,” and teaching or reading them isn’t elitist or Eurocentric. On the contrary, they are a treasure that should be made available and accessible to working-class people everywhere.