Destroying Democracy Is Central to the Privatization of Public Goods
The obsession with privatization isn’t just about turning public goods into profit generators for a small handful of wealthy people. It’s also about trampling on democracy.
19636 Articles by: Karl Leffme
Karl Leffme is a socialist in New York CIty.
Ultranationalists Are Seeing an Organizing Boom in Australia
At a recent anti-vaccine rally in Melbourne, observers identified supporters of the Ustaše, a Croatian fascist movement with Nazi-collaborationist roots. It’s no fluke: the radical right is attaching itself to the anti-vaccine movement everywhere.
The NYC Left Contemplates the Eric Adams Era
In a few months, the New York City Council will elect a new speaker for the first time since AOC’s 2018 shock victory shook up city politics. A strong left bloc in the city council could check mayor-elect Eric Adams’s law-and-order politics.
Remote Work Won’t End Exploitation
Since the pandemic became global, there has been a sharp increase in the percentage of remote workers. Liberals have championed this shift but ignored the fact that allowing people to work remotely does nothing to combat the exploitation inherent in capitalist labor.
Dysfunction Is Central to the Basic Functioning of American Society
Pandemic measures like the stimulus temporarily helped and empowered working-class and vulnerable people. And that’s quickly becoming a problem for an economy based on their hyper-exploitation.
Workplace Organizing Is Still Crucial for the Socialist Movement
Recent socialist electoral campaigns have been essential to the rebirth of the US left. Now the Left needs to commit to rebuilding the labor movement from the bottom up. If we don’t, major reforms — not to mention socialism — will remain off the agenda.
New Age Wellness Cranks Are Joining Forces With the Far Right
The Australian far right has joined forces with New Age spiritualists, snake-oil salesmen, and wellness gurus to take advantage of social alienation caused by the pandemic. Despite the new branding, their anti-union, anti-working-class politics remain the same.
With Reformers Victorious, It’s a New Day for the Teamsters
The rank-and-file reform slate Teamsters United has secured victory in the union’s internal election. Its agenda is modest: bargain hard against UPS, organize Amazon, push the PRO Act, and revitalize the labor movement.
Medicare Premiums Are About to Skyrocket Because the Government Is in the Pocket of Big Pharma
Medicare is set to push through a historic premium hike — just in time for the midterms. And it’s all because of the corrupt FDA approval of an exorbitantly priced drug that might not even work.
The Far Right Is Lurking Within Mexican Conservatism
As AMLO’s transformative social programs gather steam in Mexico, the country’s conservative opposition parties are making overtures to the far right.
How Mysticism and Pseudoscience Became Central to Nazism
Supernatural ideas were widespread at the turn of the 20th century, especially in Germany. But in the social crisis following World War I, esoteric and border-science ideas became a powerful tool of Nazi mobilization, directed at demonizing Jews and the Left.
Noam Chomsky: Ending Climate Change “Has to Come From Mass Popular Action,” Not Politicians
Noam Chomsky talks about US hypocrisy in stoking needless conflict with China, the unnecessarily bloody and grinding war in Afghanistan, and why the United States could easily solve climate change.
Abolish the House of Lords
No democratic parliament should include hereditary peers or lifetime appointees. It’s time for Britain to abolish the House of Lords.
Joe Biden Beat Donald Trump — Then Stole His Immigration Policy
Until recently, denying refugees the right of asylum, sending migrants to be killed in Mexico, and keeping kids in cages were policies considered so evil that for liberal America there was no higher priority than ending them. Then Joe Biden became president.
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Workers Are on Strike for Incredibly Reasonable Demands
Some of the lowest-paid workers at UPMC, Pennsylvania’s largest private-sector employer, are on a one-day strike. Their demands — a living wage, safe staffing — are shocking only in how incredibly reasonable they are.
Do Not Welcome Our New Billionaire Overlords
Billionaires now hold so much of the world’s wealth, their apologists argue, there’s no choice but to rely on them for philanthropy. But we can’t take our eyes off the ball: We need to tax the ultrarich out of existence.
The American Ruling Class Has Never Let Us Build Back Better
The nation’s original failure to “build back better” was Reconstruction, the attempt to radically remake society in the wake of the Civil War. Then as now, the most powerful people in the country went out of their way to maintain the status quo.
In Cities Around the US, Redistricting Is a Major Threat to Progressive Politics
Cities have long been the sites of major advancement for progressive and socialist politics. But for over a century, city leaders have tried to halt those advancements with a potent tool: redistricting.
The COP26 Deal Was Another Betrayal of Climate Justice
Western governments have tried to blame China and India for the COP26 flop. But it was the rich capitalist states of Europe and North America that refused to accept the just demands of the world’s poorest nations, leaving us still on course for disaster.
Afeni Shakur Took on the State and Won
Pregnant and facing decades in prison, the mother of Tupac Shakur fought for her life — and triumphed — in the trial of the Panther 21.