As untold millions of dollars pour into the shadowy campaign troughs of the presidential candidates, voters need to be reminded of the rosy assumptions of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision that legitimized the new spending frenzy. In allowing unlimited spending on candidates by corporations and unions, the court’s decision, in 2010, blithely pronounced, “A campaign finance system that pairs corporate independent …
Gilbert Doctorow – The Obsessive Putin-Bashing
The U.S. establishment writers on Russia are one and all “presstitutes” and when you put their writings together, back to back, in 40 pages or so as Johnson’s Russia List has so kindly done in its Christmas Eve issue, the result is an astounding propaganda barrage. For those of you in the general public who are, likely as not, unfamiliar …
Eric Zuesse – Gallup: Ukrainians Loathe the Kiev Government Imposed by Obama
On December 23rd, Gallup headlines “Ukrainians Disillusioned With Leadership,” and reports that “nearly nine in 10 Ukrainians (88%) say corruption is widespread in their government, and about eight in 10 (81%) see the same widespread problem in their country’s businesses.” 8% of Ukrainians now say they “have confidence … about the national government.” 17% approve of the job-performance of their President, Petro …
Timothy Alexander Guzman – De-Dollarization Accelerates: Iran-Russia “New Trade Agreements” to Drop US Dollar
– The threat of war against Iran is not just about its natural resources, strategic control and supposedly to protect Israel, it is also about the US dollar being used for its oil trades. Iran is moving forward to replace US dollars for its foreign trade with Russia in rials and Russian rubles. This past January, Iran made a significant …
If Mental Illness Is the Problem, America Is Mentally Ill
2015 was a year of exceptionally overt police violence against black folk and tragic mass shootings. A common response to these events has been that they are the result of “sick” individuals. Many conservatives have suggested that the shooters were mentally ill: that the problem was a proliferation of bad people, not a proliferation of guns. When, however, the murderers happen to …
George Capaccio – “The Time of the End is the Time of No Room”
Daffy Donald proposes to ban Muslims from entering the U.S., while journalist Glenn Greenwald recently reported on the frightening upsurge in attacks on Muslims. As I write these words, I am listening to John Williams’ score for the movie “Schindler’s List.” The music never fails to move me deeply. Whatever historical flaws or misrepresentations the film might have, the undeniable …
‘Thanks for destroying our country’: Angry Libyans lash out at Obama’s independence congratulations
In a message to the Libyan people, the US President said the 2011 Libyan revolution liberated them from “42 years of dictatorship.” Now there are “profound challenges,” which the Libyan people “have demonstrated the commitment to resolve.” Barack Obama welcomed the endorsement of the Libyan Political Agreement signed on December 17 and expressed confidence that with political dialogue and the …
Thomas Lodi – Why green juice is better than water
When we search for life on another planet, what we are actually looking for is water. If there is life anywhere “out-there”, there must be water. No water, no life – it’s that simple and yet, that profound. It has been said that “water is the new gold” because it is actually safer to eat out of your toilet than the ocean. …
Amanda Froelich – In 10 Months, This Cafe Has Fed 10,000 People With 20 Tons Of Unwanted Food
Are you aware that in the United States, nearly 40% of the food produced is tossed into the trash? As it makes its way to the landfill, 795 million people in the world wonder where their next meal will come from. It’s ridiculous – as well as disheartening, which is why activists around the planet are doing their part to help reduce food waste and …
DAN BREZNITZ – Trans-Pacific Partnership is a wonderful idea – for China
The website of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative proudly describes the Trans-Pacific Partnership as “Made in America.” It does so to position this treaty, made up of a motley crew of allies, as a bulwark of free competitive markets against China. It is only fair, then, to judge the TPP on these merits: Will it lead to freer, more competitive …










