Stephen Harper: All-Canadian Neocon
This piece was originally published at Paltry Sapien. It is republished here by its author.
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The Next Great Treasury Raid
A new proposal to eliminate capital gains taxes would realize a dream the Right has had for decades.
A New European Narrative
Syriza needs mobilized support to defeat its creditors — and the far right.
Everywhere Grime in America, Terrible Time in America
Forget the parodies — West Side Story was an epic musical about gang violence that was as hard-hitting as it was stunning.
Trump Will Not March Quickly to Victory Over Iran
The US/Israeli attack on Iran has inflicted heavy damage on its command structure, but the Iranian system is designed to withstand such pressure. We should expect a more protracted war than last summer, with political factors key to the final outcome.
Keir Starmer Wasted His Chance to Stand Up to the US
The US bombing campaign in Iran relies heavily on British military bases. For a moment, it seemed Keir Starmer might refuse Washington access, but he has proved too cowardly to make even this basic stand for human rights against imperial war.
The Democratic Party Has Made a Religion of Curated Facts
Centrist Democrats claim to be the bearers of hard facts, dismissing leftist dissent as emotional and naive. But their “facts” are often a mishmash of consultant data, selectively interpreted focus groups, and big donor priorities.
A New Day for NYC Taxi Drivers Under Zohran Mamdani?
New York taxi drivers have long been mercilessly squeezed by the city, culminating in their 2021 hunger strike joined by Zohran Mamdani. Announcing a new taxi commissioner yesterday, Mayor Mamdani promised a break with that past.
Big Tech Quietly Demanded Immunity for Working With TikTok
After Congress banned Big Tech from working with TikTok, major tech firms like Apple and Google privately requested the Trump administration assure them they wouldn't be prosecuted under the law. The president happily granted them full amnesty.
After Weeks of Violence, the Iranian State Hobbles On
Amid an internet blackout, reports describe waves of catastrophic violence across Iran. Yet the ruling order remains firmly in control, even as an economic crisis erodes the welfare systems that once underpinned its legitimacy.
The War on Drugs: A Pretext for Regime Change in Venezuela
For years, US leaders struggled with botched efforts to bring the opposition to power in Venezuela. Talk of the War on Drugs provided a justification for a more direct US assault, imposing regime change without the trappings of democratic transition.
Video Game Workers at Blizzard Won First Union Contracts
Nearly 2,000 workers at Blizzard, a Microsoft-owned video game studio that makes popular games like Diablo, won their first union contracts earlier this month. Their protections include recall rights and guaranteed severance packages for laid-off workers.
Sortition Can Help Cure What Ails Our Democracy
Americans are frustrated with our increasingly oligarchic political system. Selecting an assortment of lawmaking deliberative bodies through random lotteries could help fix it, by empowering ordinary people rather than unaccountable politicians.
The Economy Is on the Brink
We’re heading into what could be a rough economic patch with the worst leadership imaginable.
Freedom for Boris Kagarlitsky
Boris Kagarlitsky, the Russian Marxist and antiwar critic of Vladimir Putin, is again being held in a brutal detention center on baseless charges. He deserves our solidarity.
Lee “Scratch” Perry (1936–2021)
Lee “Scratch” Perry, who died last week at the age of 85, wasn’t just a sonic genius — he was also a politicized producer whose work was full of demands for justice.
The Democratic Establishment Is Fighting the Left and Funding the Right
As they do their best to keep the Left weak, Democrats have spent more than $40 million in 2022 to support far-right Republican candidates.
Trump Should Be Prosecuted. So Should Other Elites Who Have Flagrantly Broken the Law.
The raid and possible prosecution of Donald Trump is a welcome break from decades of elite impunity. But to mean something, it must be a turning point in holding those elites accountable, not an exception.
Uber and Lyft Drivers’ Fight Against Independent Contractor Status Isn’t Going Away
Amid the pandemic, Uber and Lyft drivers are more precarious than ever. Even as the companies dodge court rulings, the battle for drivers to be legally classified as employees is growing.
The Canadian Right Is Declaring a Culture-War Crusade Against Bigfoot
In their crusade against a cartoon Bigfoot, the right-wing snowflakes who govern the Canadian petro-state of Alberta have taken conservative culture warfare to its absurdist conclusion.