Truthout - Originals

The GOP at War With Itself

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:24:32 -0500

Washington - Democrats have some thinking to do after Tuesday's elections, but Republicans don't have time to think. They're too busy trying to survive the party's internal purge and avoid being shipped off to political Siberia.

Market-Driven Hysteria and the Politics of Death

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:13:25 -0500

If we take seriously the ideology, arguments and values now emanating from the right-wing of the Republican Party, there is no room in the United States for a democracy in which the obligations of citizenship, compassion and collective security outweigh the demands of what might be called totalizing market-driven society; that is, a society that is utterly deregulated, privatized, commodified and largely controlled by the ultra-rich and a handful of mega corporations.

Death to No One

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:10:44 -0500

Wednesday, November 4, marked the 30th year since the 444-day Iran hostage crisis began in 1979. On this day, the media traditionally offer us images of Iranians burning American flags and effigies of Uncle Sam. We are reminded of the great chasm of mistrust and misunderstanding that has marked the last three decades of US-Iranian relations. But in the past year, both Americans and Iranians have asked for something new. Americans have elected a president who promises to pursue diplomacy and Iranians have given birth to a popular democratic movement.

A Social Agenda for all Americans

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:17:04 -0500

Early on the campaign trail, presidential candidate Barack Obama said, "This country is ready for a transformative politics of the sort that John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Franklin Roosevelt represented." Socially, President Obama is beginning to move in such a positive transformative direction.

Mass Shooting Indicates Breakdown of Military

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:06:06 -0500

At approximately 1:30 p.m. CST today, a soldier went on a shooting rampage at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, killing 12 people and wounding at least 31 others, according to base commander Lieutenant-General Bob Cone.

Truthout spoke with an Army Specialist who is an active-duty Iraq war veteran currently stationed at the base. The soldier spoke on condition of anonymity since the base is now on “lockdown,” and all “non-authorized” military personnel on the base have been ordered not to speak to the press.

Wouldn't It Be Easier Just to Apologize?

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:37:12 -0500

A few years back, the FBI mistakenly linked an American lawyer's fingerprint to one found near the scene of a horrific terrorist bombing in Madrid, Spain. In the tragedy of errors that followed, the lawyer was jailed in Oregon as a "material witness" for two weeks.

And what did the FBI do? It apologized. That doesn't happen very often, but it did happen this time. The FBI admitted a blunder that had led to Brandon Mayfield's unlawful imprisonment.

Will Green Energy and Electric Cars Drive Climate Plans?

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:48:04 -0500

See the entire show RIGHT NOW here.

Home to a worldwide summit on climate change in early December, Denmark is setting a global example in creating clean power, storing it and using it responsibly. The country's reliance on wind power to produce electricity without contributing to global warming is well-known, but now they're looking to drive the point home with electric cars. To do this, they've partnered with social entrepreneur Shai Agassi and his company, Better Place.

The Next Phase of Health Care Apartheid

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:57:55 -0500

In Washington, "health care reform" has degenerated into a sick joke.

At this point, only spinners who've succumbed to their own vertigo could use the word "robust" to describe the public option in the health care bill that the House Democratic leadership has sent to the floor.

Environmental Groups Battle Over Water Legislation

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:45:50 -0500

The California legislature has passed a comprehensive and complex package of water legislation with twin goals of protecting the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta while providing adequate water supplies in California. While some environmental groups supported the measure, others are already planning a future impediment to implementation.

Provision in Health Care Bill Governing Prayer Treatments May Be Unconstitutional

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:28:16 -0500

The debate over the health care bill has reached a new level - a spiritual level - with a provision in the health care legislation requiring the consideration of prayer treatments as medical expenses brought to light.