Seattle, “the Soviet of Washington”
Decades before Amazon dominated the city, Seattle was the fiery site of labor unrest, radical action — and the US’s only true general strike.
19528 Articles by: Benjamin Case
Benjamin Case is a researcher, educator, and organizer living in Pittsburgh.
“The Courts Are Political”
Legal scholar Jedediah Purdy talks about Brett Kavanaugh, the Supreme Court’s looming crisis of legitimacy, and how the Left can take advantage of that crisis.
Give Money to Workers, Not Billionaires
Socialist legislator Lee Carter on why what currently passes for “economic development” in states like Virginia is actually just a massive giveaway to corporations — and why we should promote worker co-ops instead.
Avocado Toasts for All
The recent tendency to boil class down to consumption habits and taste in food is tiresome and unsound.
Pointing the Finger at Jeff Bezos Worked
Jeff Bezos raised Amazon’s starting wage to $15 because of pressure from workers and Bernie Sanders — showing how, even when workers and socialists are weak, we can win against the most powerful people in the world.
“Brazilian Inequality Is Female”
Brazilian vice-presidential candidate Manuela D’Ávila on misogyny in politics, the ruling class’s motivations for keeping Lula jailed, and what’s driving the far right’s resurgence.
The Communist Party vs. China’s Labor Laws
President Xi Jinping’s support of a recent crackdown on workers’ attempts to organize a union is part of a broader centralization of power and repression of basic rights.
Rise of a Monster
In the new memoir of Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of France’s Front National, the powerful currents of resentment and authoritarianism that animate the far right are well on display.
Workers’ Only True Weapon
Strikes are essential for workers, which is why Cynthia Nixon pushed to legalize them for New York public-sector workers. That stance threatened bosses’ interests — which is why Andrew Cuomo, Bill de Blasio, and even some union leaders pushed to keep them illegal.
Governing Without Ideas
Labour’s conference showed a party confident in its answers to Britain’s economic woes. The Tory equivalent has exposed a government bereft of ideas.
John McCain and the Question of “Honor”
John McCain doesn’t deserve our praise. But his sense of “honor” resonated with many, even those who abhorred his politics. We can’t ignore it.
Austerity By Paperwork
Complicated eligibility requirements are meant to undermine social programs. Arkansas just proved how well they work with its new Medicaid rules.
Learning from the New Communist Movement
Socialists today don’t have to reinvent the wheel — we can learn from the successes and failures of past American radicals, including the New Communist Movement.
The Hospital That Held a City Hostage
The infuriating saga of UPMC, Pittsburgh’s abusive, profit-hungry hospital giant, is a cautionary tale. The lesson? Private economic power must be subjected to democratic control.
Why the Media Is Pro-Israel
An accurate telling of the Israel-Palestine conflict would tell of Israel violently colonizing Palestine with US support. Instead, media outlets present fables in which both sides are equally to blame.
Against Creativity
The push for “creativity” at work and in society is about serving capital’s needs.
“They Have Been Clinging on by Brute Force”
Bangladeshi authorities have jailed the internationally renowned photographer Shahidul Alam — the latest move by the nation’s elites to repress those who speak up for social justice and democratic rights.
Living and Struggling In Moscow
Set in contemporary Russia, Keith Gessen’s new novel captures the cost of modern life.
Ending Civil Forfeiture In Philadelphia
Larry Krasner is Philadelphia’s radical district attorney. His latest reforms stop short of ending civil forfeiture, but they could open the door for more transformative possibilities.
The Banality of Brett Kavanaugh
The guys like Brett Kavanaugh who run the show have no special qualities or insights that should oblige us to put up with their bullshit. They would hate for us to realize that.