Mark Twain’s Sympathies Lay With the Working Class
At the height of his fame, Mark Twain schmoozed with robber barons like John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie. But he remained sharply critical of the unequal system they presided over.
19351 Articles by: William G. Martin
William G. Martin teaches at SUNY-Binghamton and is co-author of After Prisons? Freedom, Decarceration, and Justice Disinvestment (2016) and a founding member of Justice and Unity for the Southern Tier; he covers local justice matters at www.justtalk.blog
Railworkers May Not Share Joe Biden’s Belief That the Threat of a Rail Strike is Over
A rail system shutdown was averted by an eleventh-hour tentative agreement between rail companies and union negotiators. But union members may reject the deal — the details of which are still forthcoming — making future strikes a distinct possibility.
Employers — Not Workers — Are to Blame for the Labor Crisis
Mainstream Canadian pundits claim the country is in the midst of a “labor crisis” in which workers just don’t want to work. This is absurd: workers need unions and decent wages, and right now many don’t have either.
Socialists Should Watch the Films of Jean-Luc Godard
Director Jean-Luc Godard has died at the age of 91. Many of his films explore the struggles of the post-’68 period — but even his less explicitly political work provides a utopian message of creative freedom.
The Goal Shouldn’t Be Ending Poverty. The Goal Should Be Human Flourishing.
The poverty line is arbitrary, and many who clear the threshold are still suffering in ways no decent society should allow. The true goal of public policy shouldn’t be nudging people over the poverty line but enabling people to lead good lives.
Europe Isn’t Doing Nearly Enough to Fight the Cost-of-Living Crisis
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union address this week marked a small step away from austerity dogmas. But the EU isn’t facing up to the vast fallout of the mounting energy crisis.
Secret Documents Have Exposed the CIA’s Julian Assange Obsession
New revelations show that the CIA secretly took control of the security company hired by Ecuador’s government to guard Julian Assange during his exile in London. The agency’s spying on Assange and his visitors constitutes a major breach of civil liberties.
Seattle Teachers’ Weeklong Strike Has Ended
Seattle teachers are back in the classroom this week after walking off the job on September 7. The union won some gains — but some members aren’t happy about how the strike ended.
There’s Never Been a Better Moment to Disempower the Supreme Court
For the first time in living memory, the Supreme Court is facing a crisis of popular legitimacy. Let’s make the most of it.
Ron DeSantis Should Be Prosecuted for His Treatment of Immigrants
Stop calling it a “political stunt.” Florida governor Ron DeSantis’s use of vulnerable immigrants as props is disgusting and criminal.
Ukraine Shouldn’t Become a Neoliberal Laboratory
Hundred of thousands of Ukrainian workers have mobilized to defend their country against the Russian invasion. Yet economic elites are using this moment to push through an unpopular liberalization agenda.
The Struggle Against the First King Charles Inspired the Republican Tradition
Sycophantic journalists and politicians make it seem as if deference to the British monarchy is the natural order of things. But the country over which Charles III now reigns rose up against his 17th-century namesake to challenge hereditary privilege.
When Marx Translated Capital
Today marks 150 years since the first French edition of Capital. This wasn’t just a translation but a “completely revised” work — showing how Karl Marx’s research continually renewed his critical perspective on capitalist development.
Canada’s New Right-Wing Conservative Leader Is Saying What the Party Faithful Believe
In the contest for leadership of Canada’s Conservative Party, MP Pierre Poilievre has won a resounding victory, sparking fears of a slide into Trumpism. But Poilievre’s leadership represents continuity with the party’s past more than a break with it.
Where Exactly Is Ling Ma Trying to Take Us in Bliss Montage?
Ling Ma’s new short story collection, Bliss Montage, leads us down strange, stimulating paths — and then leaves us before we can fully gather our bearings.
Britain’s Tories Have Empowered Police to Attack Anti-Monarchy Protests
The recent arrests of anti-monarchy protesters are part of a broader trend. For years, Britain’s Conservatives have emboldened law enforcement to take an “arrest now and ask questions later” approach to policing.
While Workers Suffered, Railroad CEOs Raked in $200 Million
As a major strike looms, railroad executives have been paid more than $200 million in the last three years — while failing to meet workers’ demands for benefits and time off. They claim their skyrocketing profits do not reflect “any contributions by labor.”
The New Tom Hanks Pinocchio Is a Clumsy, Awkward, CGIed Mess
Disney’s remake of its 1940 animated classic Pinocchio is just as bad as you’ve heard.
Rail Unions and Employers Have a Tentative Agreement — but a Strike Isn’t Off the Table
The nation has watched as a labor dispute between railworkers and carriers escalated, prompting federal government intervention. The unions and bosses have a tentative agreement, but whether it’s strong enough for union members to ratify remains to be seen.
In Italy, a Once-Mighty Left Is Struggling to Make Its Mark
Polls for Italy’s September 25 general election suggest the far right is coasting to victory. Its center-left opposition is weak and divided — showing what happens to a Left that grows apart from its working-class base.