News Blog

Losing Notre Dame

Painting of Notre Dame de Paris by Maximillian Luce

When the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris burned yesterday, it was more than a religious icon that was lost. For workers, women, artists, tourists, the city of Paris and all of France, Notre Dame was both monument and living symbol of human aspiration and French spirit.

Notre Dame has always been remembered for the prodigious labors of the generations of workmen and artisans who created it. It was ordinary people who built it and, in large part, it is their legacy that went up in flames. Read More

The Debate on Socialism

I ran into a friend the other day, and the first words out of his mouth were “Since when did the Democratic party become Socialist?” My short answer was — they haven’t. They’re they same old corporatist, center-right party they’ve been for years. It’s just that Republicans, seizing on the rhetoric of Bernie Sanders and a few others, have decided that socialism is the Democrats’ Achilles heel and so they’re making a big issue of it. Oddly enough, however, this could turn out to be a good thing. By drawing attention to it, they’ve opened a debate that’s been dormant for decades. Read More

Media Misuse of the Word “So”

Lately I’ve noticed that a great many commentators on television and radio feel obliged to begin every answer to every question with the word “so.” For example, the answer to “What did President Trump mean by his latest tweet?” might be “So, no one knows what is going on in the mind of Donald Trump, but….” The problem with this usage is that it is both unnecessary and incorrect.

There are many more or less correct uses of the word “so.” Read More

Fashionable Revolution

Student Protest Paris 1968-web

Although the times are unsettled and revolutionary jargon is in the air, one doesn’t expect a women’s fashion magazine to employ it as a motif, or at least, not one as haute as W.   In a recent issue, I discovered a highly entertaining profile of Dior creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri, subtitled “the quiet revolutionary,” and illustrated with slogan-y artwork reminiscent of early 20th century art manifestos.  How ironic, I thought, coming from the mag I read to spy on the wealthy. Read More

Thinking For Yourself

With election day upon us here in Vermont, I got to thinking about voting and what that takes. The short answer is: you’ve got to think for yourself. After all, this is what real democracy demands, that each of us weigh in with our own choices. Even though the election itself is winner takes all and not necessarily a reflection of all views, it still takes all views to determine the winners. Everyone’s vote is part of the outcome. Read More

Globalization, Coups, and the Consequences of Voting No

The United States government is currently attempting to effect “regime change” in Venezuela. To put it bluntly, we’re attempting to overthrow their government and install our own guy. The government, led by President Maduro, is socialist, i.e., on the left side of politics. The right wing “opposition” is led by a 35 year old newcomer named Guaido, who was educated in Washington, DC at George Washington University and wants to pursue the kinds of neoliberal, capitalist-friendly policies that are in favor in the US and EU. The President was duly elected. Opposition leader Guaido has simply declared himself “interim” president. The United States, and all the other globalized economies (Canada, France, England, Germany) have instantly “recognized” this self-appointed leader as the legitimate ruler of Venezuela. No votes were deemed necessary. Read More

Can Immigration Be Fixed?  Yes It Can!

After listening to Trump’s speech on immigration on Monday night and the Democrats’ response to it, I got to wondering what a humane and effective immigration policy might be. Many people seem to think immigration can’t be fixed. I believe it can.

Here are my thoughts, in the form of a convenient, ten point program: Read More

The Slow, Distressing Demise of Real Life

Increasingly, people are choosing big corporations over other alternatives. From retail to professional services, there’s an app for that! And it’s so convenient. You can do it all from your phone!

This is the 21st Century American dream come true. We are lazy, distracted, “busy,” and consequently, we want machines to do it all for us. Never mind that it was the machines themselves and our addictions to and reliance upon them that did this to us. This is where we are and there’s nothing to be done. Read More

Frank Underwood’s Unexpected Comeuppance

This morning, we sat on the back porch talking about Kevin Spacey, who has been discovered to be a groper of young men.  Although groping people is a rotten thing to do, Spacey’s case seemed more complicated than that.  For starters, he already plays the biggest villain on tv, Frank Underwood.

We’ve been binge-watching House of Cards this year, trying to catch up with the rest of America, as we grapple with a vision of American politics that’s darker than Shakespeare.  The “hero” of this drama is not a likable guy.  Frank makes ruthless deals.  He has people killed and kills people himself.  He takes advantage of people in every way — politically, personally, and sexually.  And then he has the gall to turn to the camera, conspiratorially, to tell “us,” the audience, what we think and why we’re wrong.   He brings us into his web of deceit and makes us complicit. Read More

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