They Are The Disaster They Would Prevent

In the 20th Century, our American nation realized that broad and destructive calamities required federal power to manage the business of disaster relief. Beginning even before the Great Depression, this collective response to natural and economic disasters characterized our liberal American state. In the 21st Century, a major political party uses its last grip on federal […]

How to Destroy Civilization

Ron Paul’s idiotic statements on FEMA over the weekend should put paid to questions about why the media ignores him: he’s a crank. According to his libertarian ethos, the federal government should respond to multi-state emergencies by doing nothing while a magic free-market unicorn steps in. His “proof” is the Katrina debacle, an example of […]

States of Dissolution

That spate of new Republican legislatures enacting austerity? They’re doing more harm than good: Cutting state services not only harms vulnerable residents but also slows the economy’s recovery from recession by reducing overall economic activity. When states cut spending, they lay off employees, cancel contracts with vendors, reduce payments to businesses and nonprofits that provide […]

On Last Stands and Lost Causes

Slowly but surely, the urgency of the moment is becoming clear. The “new” Republican Party is prepared to sink to any low necessary to enact as much of its agenda as possible. With nearly one thousand abortion bills in the states and more than a dozen in Congress, it’s clear that jobs and deficits are […]

Monopoly Is Bad For You

Barry Lynn talks about the damage monopolies have done to the American economy. Here’s another piece of middle ground Obama can stake out: Via ShoqValue.