Political Ideas

By David Swanson

The Congressional Progressive Caucus has 82 members, 81 in the House and 1 in the Senate, but has taken the anti-progressive onslaught of recent years lying down. The CPC can be counted on to say some pleasant things, but in the end 1 or 2 or 8 or 14 of its members will vote a progressive position. Almost never will the CPC attempt to organize its members to all take a stand. When it did organize 90 members to sign a letter read more

By David Swanson

Trying to squeeze any sort of peace on earth out of our government in Washington has been a steep uphill climb for years. For the most part we no longer have representatives in Congress, because of the corruption of money, the weakness of the media, and the strength of parties. There are not 535 opinions on Capitol Hill on truly important matters, but 2. Our supposed representatives work for their party leaders, not for us. Luckily, one of the two parties claims to want to read more

By David Swanson

Statements of undisputed facts about President Barack Obama’s actions can generate declarations on progressive websites that one has “gone too far” or said something that “should not be said.” Honesty has been replaced by loyalty.

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By David Swanson

There appear to be two teams in Washington playing under the banners of elephants and donkeys. They have different platforms, use different rhetoric, call each other bad names, and (in the case of the elephants) filibuster bills and impeach and prosecute abuses and crimes by the other side. One team wants to provide us with more healthcare, maybe, sort of, and the other does not. One side is hesitant about or even resistant to demonizing or discriminating against foreigners read more

TomDispatch

October 7th marked the eighth anniversary of the Bush administration’s invasion of Afghanistan and so of the… well, can we really call it a war?… that won’t end, that American commanders there now predict could last for another decade or more. And yet, here’s the weird thing: because Congress no longer actually declares war, we officially must be fighting something else entirely. Put another way, we are now heading for the longest undeclared war in U.S. read more

On October 13, 2009, David Swanson discussed his new book "Daybreak" and US politics and took questions from students at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL. Video shot by Leonard Schmiege, candidate for St. Petersburg City Council.

More below!

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Issue 40

64 Pages: This month’s 3-part Cover Story, The War On Dissent, tells how legitimate protest and freedom of speech in the United States are being suppressed. Other stories include a satire on Sarah Palin; an essay on Britain in the 70s; the battle over photographs of a dying soldier; Gaza’s tunnel economy; toxic dumping at sea; relieving the sickness read more

By David Swanson

Civics 102: Getting Real.

Our government is divided into two parties, balanced by checkbooks. The Republican Party’s role is to please lovers of death-match cage combat and Dallas Cowboys fans. The Democratic Party’s role is to befriend masochists and Chicago Cubs supporters. Together, the two parties keep the war machine and Wall Street singing in harmony.

A tourist in Washington recently asked for directions to the military industrial complex. The answer: Look read more

ACORN turns in and flags reports of fraudulent voter registration. Those who want to destroy it “discover” and “reveal” ACORN’s sins.

Iran turns in report on its nuclear facilities. Those who want to destroy it “discover” and “reveal” Iran’s sins.

ACORN concerns itself with the well-being of people without the resources of wealthy white Americans.

Iran concerns itself with the well-being of people without the resources of wealthy white read more