Steve Ellner is a retired professor of the Universidad de Oriente in Venezuela and currently an Associate Managing Editor of Latin American Perspectives. He is the author and editor of over a dozen books on Latin American politics and history, his most recent being his edited Latin American Extractivism: Dependency, Resource Nationalism, and Resistance in Broad Perspective (2021). He has published on the op-ed page of the New York Times and Los Angeles Times and in the Nation and is a regular
Campaign ‘donations’ are bribes and the ‘Free’ World ain’t so free: Fixing the Language of Journalism to Reflect Reality
By Dave Lindorff
We need to eliminate a bunch of euphemisms from our political vocabulary, if we’re going to have serious debates about the future of the country.
A new president, an ousted fascist predecessor, and an obstructionist opposition party that wants nothing to change despite losing a national election is a great time to take on this task.
So let’s go to it.
1. Change Department of Defense to Department of War.
The US has not played “defense”
Outgrowing Religion, Nationalism, and Militarism
Remarks to Phoenix Humanist Society, January 24, 2021
Whether humanism means atheism, or a commitment to questioning all accepted beliefs, or an identification with all of humanity rather than a small sub-group, or a celebration and promotion of all the richness of human culture, I’m in favor of it, and it has a great deal to do with the project I work
Only Rogue States Have Nuclear Weapons
By David Swanson, Executive Director of World BEYOND War, and Elizabeth Murray, of Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action, published by Kitsap Sun, January 24, 2021
From January 18 to February 14, four large billboards are going up around Seattle that proclaim “Nuclear Weapons Are Now Illegal. Get them out of Puget Sound!”
What can this possibly mean? Nuclear weapons may be unpleasant, but what is illegal about them, and how can they be in Puget Sound?
Since 1970, under the Nuclear
Pope’s Words in Open Letter to Joe Biden
By David Swanson, World BEYOND War, January 22, 2021
Dear President Joe Biden,
Congratulations and best wishes!
The Pope of your church in October 2020 wrote these words:
“We can no longer think of war as a solution, because its risks will probably always be greater than its supposed benefits. In view of this, it is very difficult nowadays to invoke the rational criteria elaborated in earlier centuries to speak of the possibility of a ‘just war’. Never again war!”242
At footnote 242, Pope Francis
Tomgram: Danny Sjursen, Peering Into a Forever-War Crystal Ball
This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.
More than 19 years ago, the U.S. launched the air war that would become the ground invasion and “liberation” of Afghanistan. More than 17 years ago, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld declared “major combat” over in that
Tomgram: Rebecca Gordon, The Fall of the American Empire?
This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here.
In 1998, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright first referred to the U.S. as “the indispensable nation.” That, of course, was seven years after the Soviet Union had
Talk Nation Radio: Pat Rosenstiel on National Popular Vote
This week on Talk Nation Radio, the National Popular Vote and the Electoral College. Our guest is Pat Rosenstiel with NationalPopularVote.com, which advocates for “The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact.”
Total run time: 29:00
Host: David Swanson.
Producer: David Swanson.
Music by Duke Ellington.
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Syndicated by Pacifica Network.
Please encourage your local
Ray McGovern and I discussed nominations and Biden
Don’t share secrets with Trump, share them with the people: Enough with the Goddamned Secrets! Open Up the Government Joe!
By Dave Lindorff
The incoming Biden administration is considering breaking with a long-standing tradition of new presidents sharing national secrets with prior presidents. Instead, in the case of his future predecessor Trump, Biden says he wants to hear the advice of key national security figures in the new government regarding whether or not to brief the impeached ex-chief executive once he’s out the White House door.
That is not the question Biden should