Health care mess: how we got into it, how to get out of it
In 1979, the newly elected mayor of Chicago, Jane Byrne, at the recommendation of some labor union officials, named me to be a “consumer commissioner” on the City of Chicago Health Systems Agency (HSA) Board of Directors. I remained in that position for three years. I can’t say that either I, or the HSA, accomplished much, but it certainly was an educational experience.
LETTERS: Iran, furloughs, apologies & right-wing deprogramming
It’s Iran now No to furloughs Right wing deprogrammer Apology is right
PEOPLE BEFORE PROFITS False hope on the economy unless
In March, Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke saw 'green shoots' in the economy. Since then, various economists and government officials have seen signs that the recession may be bottoming out, with hopes that economic growth may start later this year. And many journalists in the business media are joining in, acting like paid touts for the stockbrokers.
Background on the Iranian uprising
Iran entered the 10th presidential election in difficult socio-economic conditions. Four years of Ahmadinejad's government and the neo-liberal policies it pursued (dictated by the IMF and World Bank) meant that the overwhelming majority of the Iranian working class and working people were suffering from unprecedented hardship and poverty.
COMMENTARY Slime covers GOP Senators Cornyn, Ensign
Texas Sen. John Cornyn, head of the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, is scrambling to distance himself from Texas financier, R. Allen Stanford, arrested and awaiting trial on charges of bilking people of $8 billion in a ponzi scheme.
Albany coup dtat: Whos to blame?
It’s impossible not to be disgusted by the mess in Albany. The greed, opportunism and self-serving nature of some state senators is mind-numbingly unbelievable.
Letters: Union-busting, Guantanamo Bay, Co-op not the same
It’s still union-busting Guantanamo Bay Greetings Right stuff Highly recommended reading Co-op not the same Improvement
EDITORIAL Iran in crisis
Iran’s clerical rulers are maneuvering to contain and suppress massive protests that continue to rock that country. This unprecedented mass uprising was sparked by outrage over the government’s rush to declare Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the absolute winner in the June 12 presidential elections, before votes could have been adequately counted, and despite every indication that his leading opponent, Mir-Hossain Mousavi, was headed either for outright victory or a runoff with Ahmadinejad.
COMMENTARY Iran, elections and protest: the roots of reform
The fact that Iran is not a democracy and that all candidates in the recent presidential election were “cleared” to run by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei should not blind us to the significance of the election outcome and the response of the people to it. As an exercise in mass engagement the 10th presidential election in Iran puts many in the West to shame. It has been clear from the nightly rallies in the major cities across the country that the Iranian population are desperate to make their voices for change heard.
EDITORIAL Rejecting the vast right-wing (and deadly) conspiracy
Gunmen carried out two assassinations in the United States in 12 days proving that “home-grown” terrorists are ready to act out their hatred of women, African Americans, Latinos, immigrants and people of Jewish background.
