How Leftists Should Think About Bidenomics
President Joe Biden has proclaimed a break with the economic orthodoxy of recent decades in favor of what he calls “Bidenomics.” But how real is Biden’s break with neoliberalism?
19140 Articles by: Karl Leffme
Karl Leffme is a socialist in New York CIty.
The Teamsters’ UPS Contract Really Was an Important Victory
The contract that Teamsters just won at UPS isn’t perfect, and we should keep broader strategic goals in mind when evaluating union settlements. But we can’t lose sight of the fact that this is the best UPS contract ever negotiated.
The Left Can’t Abandon Political Independence
Socialists have demonstrated the tactical utility of running on the Democratic Party ballot line. But making our peace with the party would be a mistake — to accomplish our goals, independent political organization and identity is indispensable.
To Fight the “Rich Men North of Richmond,” Organize a Union
Reactions to Oliver Anthony’s viral hit, “Rich Men North of Richmond,” have played out along drearily predictable culture-war lines. But Billy Bragg’s response, “Rich Men Earning North of a Million,” instructing Anthony to “join a union, brother,” perfectly cuts through the noise.
The Problem With YIMBY Economics
YIMBYs are right that the US needs a major expansion of its housing supply. Unfortunately, eliminating restrictions on private housing development won’t do much to get us there.
Australia’s Public Sector Union Is in Decline Thanks to Its Labor-Aligned Leadership
For decades, the leadership of Australia’s public sector union has promised members that once a Labor Party government comes to power, it will lift wages and fix staffing shortfalls. The Albanese government is now refusing these demands.
The BRICS Expansion Isn’t the End of the World Order — or the End of the World
Responses to the expansion of BRICS ping-ponged from dismissal to fearmongering. But there’s not much reason to fear for the US-led world order quite yet — and we shouldn’t fear the multipolar one BRICS wants to build.
Isabella Weber Has Neoliberal Economists Running Scared
Eighteen months ago economist Isabella Weber faced intense criticism for blaming inflation on corporate profits. Now her analysis is regularly featured in the business press — and neoliberal ideologues are whining about it.
How Bill Clinton Became a Neoliberal
Bill Clinton came to the presidency seeking to reinvent the New Deal for an era of deindustralization. Instead he consolidated the defeat of organized labor and hollowed out the welfare state.
Canada’s Public Health Care System Faces Encroachment by Privatizing Profiteers
Subscription fees for medical services are part of a growing erosion of Canada’s public health care by the private sector.
Franz Mehring Was Marx’s First Biographer and a Marxist Pioneer in His Own Right
Franz Mehring joined the fledging socialist movement in Bismarck’s Germany and became one of its most brilliant propagandists. From his historical writings to his biography of Karl Marx, Mehring left behind a vital body of work for Marxists to draw upon.
Spain’s Footballers’ Strike Is a Show of Solidarity Against a Creepy Boss
Spain’s footballers are on strike after soccer chief Luis Rubiales kissed player Jenni Hermoso without her consent. Rubiales claims he’s the victim of “fake” feminist outrage — but the players’ action is a show of unity against a boss abusing his power.
Understanding Americans’ Gonzo Relationship to Drug Use
The US is remarkable for its extreme relationship to drugs, marked by a love affair with psychoactive substances of all kinds and also draconian efforts to curtail drug use. That relationship has roots in America’s particularly virulent strain of capitalism.
Canada Feels Like a House of Cards Waiting to Collapse
In Canada, surging house prices, the G7’s highest household debt, nationwide climate-driven disasters, and punishing interest rates have turned the crisis knob to 11. Amid all this, the Trudeau Liberals are eyeing cuts, adding potential austerity to the mix.
The Countries That Helped Devastate Yemen Must Take Responsibility for Its Reconstruction
Saudi Arabia and its Western allies, including the US, spent vast sums on a war that has reduced Yemen to abject poverty. They must not be allowed to shirk responsibility for the reconstruction work that is essential for the future of all Yemenis.
Like It or Not, the Left Can’t Get Away From the Democrats
While the Left agonizes over its relationship to the Democrats, the extreme right has few qualms about throwing elbows within the GOP. Socialists should follow their lead and accept doing battle within the Democratic Party as the only viable political option.
After a Big Lobbying Push, Robotaxi Companies Are Wreaking Havoc on San Francisco’s Streets
Driverless taxi companies Waymo and Cruise have long track records of crashes, near misses, and interfering with emergency personnel. But after spending nearly $2 million on lobbying in California, the robotaxis have been given free rein in San Francisco.
Friedrich Pollock Is a Crucial Guide to the Rise of Automation
Friedrich Pollock isn’t as well-known as other members of the Frankfurt School like Walter Benjamin and Herbert Marcuse. But Pollock’s impressive work includes a brilliant, pioneering analysis of automation under capitalism that appears highly prescient today.
For the Jacksonville Shooter, Dollar General Was an Easy Target
Dollar General workers have long raised the alarm about their vulnerability to violence due to understaffing and lack of security. They were tragically proven correct in Jacksonville when a white man murdered three black people at a Dollar General.
Sri Lanka Has a Proud Tradition of Revolt Against Leaders Who Trample on Its People
Last year, a protest movement in Sri Lanka stormed the presidential palace and forced the president to flee the country. It reminded many of the hartal strike action in 1953, one of the most impressive displays of working-class power in Asia’s modern history.