With Beto O’Rourke, There’s No There There
The stakes are too high in 2020 for another charismatic, ideologically empty politician, standing for everything and nothing in particular, like Beto O’Rourke.
19144 Articles by: Christina Groeger
Cristina Groeger is a history professor at Lake Forest College and a member of the Chicago Democratic Socialists of America.
Striking For the Climate
Students at hundreds of US schools walked out of class last Friday, joining thousands around the world to demand action against climate change. Despite the Trump administration’s destructive policies, at least one public institution seems to be getting it right: New York City public schools.
Just How Precarious Is the US Economy?
Work in the twenty-first century sucks. But it’s not because of a new “gig economy” — it’s because work under capitalism always sucks.
A Radical Choice
San Juan mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz gained international attention by challenging Donald Trump’s callous response to Hurricane María. Now she’s co-chairing Bernie Sanders’s presidential campaign.
Right-Wing Extremism Won’t Win
The horrors in Christchurch remind us we’ve ignored the threat from extremists flirted with by the “mainstream” right for too long. If we resist them, they won’t win.
Blackening Our Sky
Air pollution in cities like Sofia leads to thousands of deaths every year. While media blame the crisis on consumer habits, the real problem is decades of real estate speculation and unplanned capitalist development.
Algeria After Bouteflika
Million-strong protests in Algeria have forced President Bouteflika to call off plans to stand for a fifth term. Yet powerful elites are working to maintain their grip on the transition.
Lenín Moreno’s Betrayal
Ecuador’s Lenín Moreno has allied with former political opponents to implement a conservative economic agenda, threatening to undo the country’s strides in tackling poverty and inequality under Rafael Correa.
The German Revolution’s Bloody End
The decisive battles of the German Revolution ended in March 1919 with the bloody crushing of the workers’ uprising. Why did it meet such a fate?
The Paranoid, Reactionary Dreams of Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan’s hyper-nationalist worldview grew out of the paranoid jingoism of postwar America. It led him to support fascists in Central America and see moderate liberals like JFK as dangerous radicals.
The Lives the Free Market Took
The people who died in last Sunday’s plane crash were not just killed by Boeing. Their deaths stemmed from an ideology that puts business interests above human life.
A Regime Divided
Hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets of Algeria to protest authoritarian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Yet the demand for change also reflects cracks within the ruling regime.
Jeremy Corbyn’s Secret “Stop Brexit” Button
Theresa May’s government may be descending into chaos over Brexit, but at least Britain’s media knows who to blame: Jeremy Corbyn.
The Hidden Billionaires
Media-friendly, politically moderate billionaires like Bill Gates get a lot of airtime. But the vast majority are nothing like him. Most are highly secretive — and extremely right-wing.
Rich Kids Aren’t Any Smarter Than the Rest of Us
American inequality thrives on the myth that the rich deserve their millions because they’re better, smarter, and more hardworking. The college admissions scandal shows that’s a lie.
The Neoliberal Road to Serfdom
The oldest refrain of the Right is that socialism leads to tyranny. Yet for the last four decades, it’s neoliberalism that’s been inching us closer to a police state.
Take on the Fossil Fuel Bosses
The way to think about climate change isn’t labor versus environmentalists. It’s labor versus the fossil fuel companies who are destroying both worker protections and the planet.
The Public Does Not Hate Labor
More and more states are enacting anti-labor policies. But it’s not because the public dislikes labor — it’s because conservative donors and rich people do.
Make Corporations Pay for the Green New Deal
A Green New Deal will require trillions of dollars of investment. But the government doesn’t actually need to put up all the cash — we can make corporations pay.
The Cunning of Unreason
Critics of populism lament the rise of “emotion-driven” politics. But instead of asking why politics has become so “irrational,” we should ask why people are so angry in the first place.