Blogcritics Section: Politics

Love in the Ruins of Democracy - The Greek Uprising of 2008

Tolstoy's Cat — Wed, 7 Jan 2009 22:21:10 EST

The police shooting death of an Athenian boy has triggered a national uprising and ignited a call to global action.
"We chose this monument to democracy, this global monument, to proclaim our resistance to state violence and demand rights in education and work. (We did it) to send a message globally and to all Europe." -- Protestor to Reuters reporter on December 17th, 2008.Protesters stood atop the Acropolis. Huge banners draped the stone wall in...

Spin Your Own Argument! Here's How

Matthew T. Sussman — Wed, 7 Jan 2009 21:08:29 EST

The Washington Times gives us an uplifting lesson in how to come to any conclusion without lying.
Leave it to the folks in DC to, again, show us the way. In Tuesday's Washington Times article, "Price dip adjusts Bush's gas legacy" writer Stephen Dinan showed us an example of how someone can basically say anything if given a set of facts and -- here's the key -- still not lie.Dinan notes that the average price of a gallon...

Smoking Government: A Tobacco Tale

Tommy Mack — Tue, 6 Jan 2009 02:39:39 EST

Smoking became a significant political issue beginning with a shocking event in 1964 -- First Surgeon General's Report: Smoking and Health.
Smoking became a significant political issue beginning with a shocking event in 1964 -- First Surgeon General's Report: Smoking and Health. The Johnson Administration’s Surgeon General Dr. Luther L. Terry’s report came to what was then an astounding conclusion: “smoking causes cancer." The implications were staggering...

Consumer Power Wasted

Joel S. Hirschhorn — Tue, 6 Jan 2009 02:16:38 EST

Economic Recovery Will Come Faster From Us Than From the Government
When I was young talk about millions of dollars impressed me. When I was older talk about billions of dollars dismayed me. Now, regular talk about trillions of dollars, especially government spending, nauseates me. People never seem to learn that they control the fate of the American economy.It is far too easy to blame in bad times or thank in...

Israel and Gaza

Rollo Miles — Tue, 6 Jan 2009 00:54:18 EST

It is time for the world to stop supporting Israel and to put them in their place, they have been allowed to get away with literally murder for far too long.
I think we need to put this conflict in perspective.What is happening in Palestine (the West Bank) but more importantly in Gaza, is just too horrible to contemplate. My heart goes out to everyone living in Gaza right now....

Richardson Steps Aside Because of a Scandal -- What Else is New?

Ed Dickson — Mon, 5 Jan 2009 00:30:50 EST

Richardson stepping down because of an alleged scandal isn't news. In fact, it is a sad testament to the way things have become.
In the second scandal in recent weeks -- where palms were allegedly greased to gain political favor -- New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has announced he is withdrawing his nomination to be President-elect Barack Obama's Commerce Secretary because of a grand jury investigation into how one of his political donors won a lucrative state...

Why the Hell Are We Allied with Israel?

Kenn Jacobine — Sun, 4 Jan 2009 14:20:27 EST

The U.S. endangers its own well-being by supporting Israel.
Abu Gleg was an elderly Bedouin, father of 30. Eight years ago he donated land for an American international school to build its facilities. Within the walls of that facility, an American curriculum and the noble goals of tolerance and peace were taught to the students. Over the weekend, the benevolent Bedouin and the institution he gave birth...

A Political Quiz and Its Implications

Roger Nowosielski — Sun, 4 Jan 2009 14:13:43 EST

Political beliefs and opinions are a dime a dozen. But how sound are they? And wherein lies their basis?
Let’s take a quiz, shall we? Only six questions. Try to answer as honestly as you can and jot your responses down. 1. How do you feel about political correctness?...

Presented By:

Sun, 4 Jan 2009 14:13:43 EST

With Hard Times Coming, Should You Be Armed?

Dave Nalle — Sat, 3 Jan 2009 09:50:03 EST

Will hard economic times lead to a crime wave, or is it just unreasoning paranoia?
When St. Louis Alderman Charles Troupe went to the local police and asked what they could do about the rising crime rate which was threatening his constituents' property and safety, a police commander explained that "there was nothing he could do to protect us and the community ... that he didn't have the manpower." It was a...

What? Israelis & Palestinians Are Old News

Mark Schannon — Sat, 3 Jan 2009 02:12:37 EST

Israel and the Palestinians once again killing each other? Given the circumstances on the ground, could one expect anything else?
Day after day, I check BC to see who's written an hysterical rant about the current mayhem in that pitifully small parcel of land known by various names that lies on the Mediterranean Sea in the Middle East. Bupkus. Nada. Niente. Nyet. No Arab apologist wailing about the wanton destruction of the enfeebled Gaza Strip?No Israeli apologist...