“How do you know a politician is lying? His lips are moving.” Continue reading
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It’s not about Trump
On January 20, 2017, Donald J. Trump will be inaugurated as president of the United States. A large portion of the Amerikan people are justifiably angry and disgusted by Trump’s victory. Tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of the disgruntled will be in Washington, DC, to make their voices heard in their anti-Trump rallies and marches. Continue reading
Capitalism 101
In 1940, Woody Guthrie wrote the folk song, “This Land is Your Land,” a song that is still sung by many well-intentioned folk singers. Continue reading
Socialism is our only salvation
A friend recently asked me what is it I want. I have been writing and criticizing US domestic and foreign policies, its imperialistic agenda, the mainstream media, and the US populace that has stood by passively accepting getting lied to, manipulated, and exploited. Continue reading
Some thoughts on the two major political parties
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party? Continue reading
War crimes or liberation?
The use of language usually determines how the listener will perceive the data that is shared. What words that are used and how the data is framed will project the speaker’s biased perceptions re: the data itself. This may or may not be done consciously. Therefore, there is legitimacy to the term, “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.” Continue reading
The Russians are coming, oy vey, the Russians are coming
I was reluctant to use an ethnic expression but I felt that the Yiddish expression “oy vey” was a better reflection of the panic that has gripped this country. Continue reading
The U.S. defines dictatorship
Fidel Castro, internationally renowned, respected and loved, died on Friday, November 25, at the age of 90. He will always be remembered for his dedication to the well being of the people, not only the people of Cuba but people worldwide. Continue reading
Disaffected America strikes back
Why would the American people elect a racist, misogynist, narcissistic, criminal to the presidency of this country? Continue reading
The making of a patriot
Growing up in the Bronx, I started going to public school in 1941. Every morning before instruction began, the teacher would take attendance. Then we would all stand, face the Stars and Stripes hanging on the wall of the classroom, put our hands to our hearts and say the Pledge of Allegiance. Continue reading
The ‘exception to the rulers’
Below is a letter written by Eva Bartlett, Canadian journalist, who has journeyed to Syria on numerous occasions, including this past July and August. Eva is responding to a Democracy Now (DN) program several days ago in which Amy Goodman focused on Syria. Amy’s star guest was Yasser Munif, an assistant professor at Emerson College in Massachusetts. Continue reading
Men of peace
Robert Fisk wrote in an Independent op-ed, Sept. 28, the day Shimon Peres died, “It was a place called Qana and most of the 106 bodies – half of them children – now lie beneath the UN camp where they were torn to pieces by Israeli shells in 1996. I had been on a UN aid convoy just outside the south Lebanese village. Those shells swished right over our heads and into the refugees packed below us. It lasted for 17 minutes. Continue reading
The Russians did it!
The anti-Russian craze in the U.S. is not a new phenomena. It began in 1917 when the Russian people dismantled the oppressive Czarist government and eventually replaced it with a Bolshevik (Communist) government. Continue reading
If Obama is the best president ever, what does that say about the previous presidents?
In January 2009, the “Yes We Can” kid officially took office.’ It was an exciting time for this country and the hope of change vibrated. After all, this was the first time we accepted a black man into the White House. Continue reading
‘My country, right or wrong’?
“When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” Continue reading
There’s only one elephant in the room
Late last week, while dining in an Italian restaurant on the Upper Westside of Manhattan, my lady friend began reading a posting she found on Facebook. The theme of this posting was that a survey found that Russians and Romanians overwhelmingly expressed their desire to return to the “good old days,” when communism prevailed in their respective countries. Continue reading
Brainwashing Now!
What was once known as “Democracy Now!”, Amy Goodman’s “progressive” news outlet has adopted a different role. The program’s focus appears to be trumpeting the establishment’s propaganda. Continue reading
Political theater
The truth of the matter is there is no truth!
Last Thursday night I watched MSNBC’s The Last Word, hosted by Lawrence O’Donnell. After the endless commercials, most of the reporting focused on Donald Trump. Continue reading
Repetition compulsion
One of the definitions of mental illness is when one continues to respond to the similar situations in the same manner despite evidence that the chosen response has not been effective or, in fact, made things worse. Sometimes, this is referred to as repetition compulsion, we rely on responses with which we are familiar and, therefore, more comfortable. Continue reading
The longest war in U.S. history
Many would have you believe that the Iraq “War” is the longest war in U.S. history. That is far from the truth. The longest war in our history is the class war being waged by the ruling class against the poor and the working class. Continue reading
Evidently, this was not news that was ‘fit to print’
Has anyone heard that U.S. mayors, members of the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), denounced President Obama and NATO for conducting war games along Russia’s border and possibly provoking a nuclear confrontation. Continue reading
The Democratic Party’s ‘progressive’ agenda
If I understand this correctly, Bernie Sanders’ strong showing resulted in the Democratic Party awarding him five selections to the Party Platform Committee. His hope was to influence the party to include a more progressive platform for the Democratic nominee (Hillary Clinton) to run on. Continue reading
Was the fix in?
In 2008, Hillary Clinton was forced to accept and support Barack Obama’s nomination for the presidency, something that everyone thought she had locked up. Continue reading
If you aren’t frightened yet, then you haven’t been paying attention
The U.S. and NATO have decided to embark on a massive military buildup along Russia’s western borders. Professor Stephan F. Cohen, expert and teacher of Russian studies at Princeton University and at New York University, states that this buildup has no precedent even during the hottest moments of the 40 years of the Cold War. Continue reading
Gurus of the progressive community . . . Chomsky and Goodman
There was a time when I, like tens of thousands of my progressive partners, held Noam Chomsky and Amy Goodman in awe. After all, Amy informed us and Noam spoke for us, coherently explaining the issues. However, as I became more aware and more informed, I realized that there were great differences between their thinking and mine. Continue reading
George Soros, billionaire progressive . . . really?
For many years, George Soros has been playing the role of philanthropist and billionaire with a heart and a conscience. But, let us not be fooled. Let us take a closer look at this man who has been very politically active. Continue reading
When saying ‘I’m sorry’ is not enough
It’s getting more and more difficult for me to look in the mirror, for what do I see? Continue reading
What’s up with this new anti-Semitism?
Growing up in New York City, I didn’t have to face the level of hate and anti-Semitism that existed throughout the Western world. But, there really is no escape from hate no matter where you live. Continue reading
What happens when you are faced with an election where there is no ‘lesser of two evils?’
For decades I and many of my fellow Americans were forced, every 4 years, to hold our noses and vote for the “lesser” evil. Of course we recognized that the “lesser” was still evil but we had no other option. After all, we have a “democratic” two party system where both candidates genuflect to the ruling elite. Continue reading
Language as a political weapon
Two words often thrown out for public consumption by U.S. officials: dictator and tyrant, appear to be used arbitrarily. Continue reading
Israel is making it difficult to be a Jew
The more aware I become of Israel and the people who occupy what was formerly Palestine, the more difficult it is for me to be a Jew. Continue reading
Are we going to keep whining or do we want a movement? Stop asking, ‘Where were they when . . . ?’
Posted on February 2, 2017 by Dave Alpert
It is time for us to do some soul searching. Never before in my lifetime have I seen this large and this passionate international, as well as national, response to US policies. Yet, we who call ourselves progressives are not united. Instead, there is constant bickering and denunciation. Continue reading →