Unlike other political philosophers, Karl Marx did not simply dream up an ideal society or concoct ad hoc solutions to the social problems he saw in his time. Marx was an observer who devoted far more of his time and energy… Read More ›
Economy
Cuba Embargo Turns 50
by PETER ORSI HAVANA — When it started, American teenagers were doing “The Twist.” The United States had yet to put a man into orbit around the Earth. And a first-class U.S. postage stamp cost 4 cents. The world is… Read More ›
Cuba’s Cure
Why is Cuba exporting its health care miracle to the world’s poor? by Sarah van Gelder Cubans say they offer health care to the world’s poor because they have big hearts. But what do they get in return? They live… Read More ›
Michael Parenti: Free-Market Medicine — A Personal Account
by Michael Parenti When I recently went to Alta Bates hospital for surgery, I discovered that legal procedures take precedence over medical ones. I had to sign intimidating statements about financial counseling, indemnity, patient responsibilities, consent to treatment, use of… Read More ›
Romney: ‘I’m not concerned about the very poor’
All political candidates — just like all non-politicians — make verbal gaffes. On Monday, for example, Republicans jumped on President Obama for saying the word “interesting” when a woman asked him a question about her unemployed husband. (In that exchange,… Read More ›
$513 Billion DoD Budget Won’t Budge
Top Democrat on House Armed Services Committee vows no further cuts by John Glaser, January 25, 2012 A top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee said Wednesday that the $513 billion defense budget for 2013 cannot be negotiated upwards…. Read More ›
Myths About Socialism: Common Arguments Defeated
If you’ve expressed interest in socialism at some point in your life, you’ve probably had an encounter ( it can be at a family dinner, at school, the break room at work or any number of other examples) that goes… Read More ›
Oakland police arrest about 400 Occupy protesters
Editor’s note: the total estimate has risen since this article was published to 400 arrested. OAKLAND (AP) – About 300 people were arrested Saturday during a chaotic day of Occupy protests that saw demonstrators break into City Hall and burn… Read More ›
Opposition rally organizers jailed in Kazakhstan
By PETER LEONARD, Associated Press ALMATY, Kazakhstan (AP) — Some 300 opposition activists staged a rare rally in Kazakhstan’s commercial capital Saturday to protest recent elections and the violent suppression of a group of oil workers. Hours later, speakers at… Read More ›
Secrets of the billionaire backing Gingrich’s shot at the White House
Sheldon Adelson is not running for office – but his cash could swing Tuesday’s Florida primary Paul Harris Abraham Foxman, the amiably chatty director of the Jewish civil rights group, the Anti-Defamation League, has a story to tell about his… Read More ›
Texana Hollis, Evicted 101-Year-Old Detroit Woman, Can’t Go Home
(AP) DETROIT — The federal government now says a 101-year-old Detroit woman it promised could move back into her foreclosed home four months ago can’t return because the building’s unsanitary and unsafe. Texana Hollis was evicted Sept. 12 and her… Read More ›
FileSonic shutters: Another file-sharing site bites the dust
By Zack Whittaker Summary: Only days after the Megaupload website was taken offline by U.S. authorities, similar businesses are scrambling to protect themselves before any action is taken against them. File-sharing site FileSonic has announced that it is has disabled… Read More ›
The Absurdity of Intellectual Property
Beginning at midnight on January 18th, 2012, Wikipedia blacked out its website in protest to two bills, SOPA and PIPA, while other websites undertook similar actions. The following day, the federal government shut down Megaupload.com, a popular file sharing website,… Read More ›
Congress puts brakes on anti-piracy bills
By Jasmin Melvin WASHINGTON | Fri Jan 20, 2012 6:31pm EST (Reuters) – Lawmakers stopped anti-piracy legislation in its tracks on Friday, delivering a stunning win for Internet companies that staged an unprecedented online protest this week to kill the… Read More ›
The Red Phoenix 