Stories by David Sirota

David Sirota is the author of the best-selling books Hostile Takeover and The Uprising. He hosts the morning show on AM760 in Colorado and blogs at OpenLeft.com. E-mail him at ds@davidsirota.com or follow him on Twitter @davidsirota. subscribe to David Sirota's feed

Are Progressives in Congress Getting More Assertive?

Posted on: Nov 16, 2010, Source: Open Left

Why the Politicians with the Most Dangerous, Wrong Ideas Are Probably Going to Win the Congress

Posted on: Oct 28, 2010, Source: AlterNet

Shaken by an assault on their assumptions, many Americans become more adamant in defense of discredited ideology.

Why It's So Hard to Slash the Bloated Pentagon Budgets

Posted on: Oct 14, 2010, Source: AlterNet

Beware the sophistry of budget talking points -- especially those seeking to deter any criticism of defense spending.

What the Pot Legalization Campaign Really Threatens: Alcohol Industry Profits

Posted on: Sep 23, 2010, Source: Creators Syndicate

In a society drunk off of alcohol propaganda we've had trouble separating fact from fiction. Legalizing pot would bring some sense to things.

A Lesson from "Inception": How the Right-Wing and Corporate Media Brainwash Americans

Posted on: Aug 1, 2010, Source: AlterNet

The illusions spread by both the right-wing and corporate media are deftly presented as fact; can we ever wake up?

Unless You're a Shill for Banks and Big Business, The Washington Elites Will Call You Controversial

Posted on: Jul 20, 2010, Source: AlterNet

Tim Geithner and Chris Dodd's opposition to Elizabeth Warren stems from the fact that she wasn't a puppet for big banks.

Sorry, Trillions in Unmined Mineral Wealth Is Not a Reason to Keep Occupying Afghanistan

Posted on: Jun 18, 2010, Source: AlterNet

Our leaders are now boldly selling wars as commendable instruments of such profit-focused imperialism.

Corrupt Practices Accelerating the Decline of American Journalism

Posted on: Apr 16, 2010, Source: AlterNet

We have people posturing as journalists on TV who get paid as business spokespeople, financial reporters who retire to work for Goldman Sachs -- media parasites.

Does America Hate Duke Basketball Because We Hate Privilege?

Posted on: Apr 4, 2010, Source: AlterNet

Our penchant for hating on the Blue Devils reflects America's larger, more complex relationship with privilege.

The Key Differences Between Progressive and Liberal, and how "Liberal" Thinking Can be Part of the Problem

Posted on: Mar 28, 2010, Source: AlterNet

Without progressivism, liberalism turns the Treasury into an unlimited gift card for whichever private interests are being sponsored.

Obama Adopts Bush Plan to Hide Outsourced Job Data

Posted on: Mar 3, 2010, Source: Open Left

The U.S. is hemorrhaging jobs thanks to terrible trade policies. Instead of fixing the problem, Obama wants to hide the data.

Glenn Beck Finally Admitted His Great Desire: To 'Eradicate' Progressives

Posted on: Feb 25, 2010, Source: AlterNet

We owe Beck gratitude for using his keynote address to CPAC to so frankly outline what the conservative movement has become -- and why it repulses so many Americans.

Who's Really In Control of the White House? Maybe Not Obama

Posted on: Feb 22, 2010, Source: AlterNet

When people like General McCrystal go rogue, it undermines the chain of command and challenges the Constitution.

Tax the Corporations and the Rich or Take Draconian Cuts -- the Decision Is Ours

Posted on: Feb 4, 2010, Source: AlterNet

Plagued by deficits, communities everywhere must now decide between tax reform and public spending cuts -- between economic life and death.

Why We're Addicted to Disaster Porn

Posted on: Feb 1, 2010, Source: AlterNet

We can thank the likes of Sanjay Gupta, Brian Williams, Anderson Cooper -- disaster porn stars with visions of Peabodys and Pulitzers dancing in their heads.

Bernanke Has Failed -- Time for Him to Go

Posted on: Jan 25, 2010, Source: AlterNet

Bernanke failed on the regulatory job and then doled out trillions of taxpayer dollars to clean up his mess. Why is Obama pushing for his renomination?

Democrats Help Bring Reagan Back From the Dead

Posted on: Jan 24, 2010, Source: AlterNet

Democrats' pandering to corporate interests lets the GOP win easy points with Reagan's tired anti-government ideology.

Oil Is At Obama's $80-Per-Barrel Threshold -- Will He Now Fulfill His Windfall Profits Tax Promise?

Posted on: Jan 14, 2010, Source: Open Left

Will the administration act?

Howard Dean Is a Genuine Hero: Taking on Corporate 'Centrists' Like Lieberman

Posted on: Dec 19, 2009, Source: AlterNet

Dean's attacks on the Lieberman-gutted health insurance "reform" bill are creating the political space for the final version to be better and more progressive.

Comcast-NBC Behemoth: What Will Obama Do About Media Consolidation?

Posted on: Dec 10, 2009, Source: Open Left

The question -- as it always is -- will be which side is the administration on: its corporate donors or its campaign promises?

Bernie Sanders Puts Official Senate Hold on Bernanke Nomination

Posted on: Dec 2, 2009, Source: Open Left

It's about time progressive Senators start using the power of obstruction for progressive ends.

If You Thought the Last Bailout of Wall Street Was Disastrous, Here Comes TARP on Steroids

Posted on: Oct 29, 2009, Source: Creators Syndicate

The "Financial Stability Improvement Act" would let Geithner spend as much as he wants for as long as he wants, with no specific oversight.

What Two Super-Jocks Can Tell Us About the Disastrous War on Pot

Posted on: Oct 22, 2009, Source: Creators Syndicate

We have a double standard -- promoting the recreational use of alcohol and banning the similar use of marijuana.

Why Is Everyone Pretending Olympia Snowe Is so Darn Important?

Posted on: Oct 16, 2009, Source: Creators Syndicate

Now all of American politics is focused on this unaccomplished backbencher and whether or not she will endorse the final bill.

Zombie Zeitgeist: Why Undead Corpses Are Dominating at the Box Office

Posted on: Oct 8, 2009, Source: AlterNet

Call me a zombie pundit, but the concurrent rise of zombie pop and political cultures is no coincidence.

Why Is the Military Infringing on Obama's Decison-Making Turf?

Posted on: Oct 4, 2009, Source: AlterNet

The debate over Afghanistan sharpens that question about who "the deciders" should be -- elected officials or the military?

Best Little Whorehouse in Washington

Posted on: Oct 1, 2009, Source: Open Left

In town teeming with corporate brothels, the best little whorehouse in definitely the New Democratic Caucus.

An Idiot's Guide to Tom Friedman's Idiocy

Posted on: Sep 24, 2009, Source: Open Left

Tom Friedman may be the single stupidest figure in American public life, and certainly is the supidest writer with such a large platform.

The Wrong Kind of Pressure from Obama?

Posted on: Sep 16, 2009, Source: Open Left

Is Obama pushing progressives to drop the public option?

Are So-Called "Compromises" Poisoning the Progressive Movement?

Posted on: Sep 14, 2009, Source: Creators Syndicate

Progressive groups are cheering on Obama, afraid to lose White House access. In the meantime, grassroots organizations are doing all the dirty work.

Hours After Pelosi Backs off on Public Option, Health Lobbyist Announces Fundraiser in Her Honor

Posted on: Sep 11, 2009, Source: Open Left

Corruption and legalized bribery has become so widespread that nobody in Washington even tries to hide it.

The U.S. Military's New Recruiting Ads Make War Look Like a Fun Video Game

Posted on: Aug 28, 2009, Source: Creators Syndicate

Marketing war as a Playstation fantasy masks its inherent brutalities in Afghanistan and Iraq.

What John Hughes' Death Means for America

Posted on: Aug 13, 2009, Source: Creators Syndicate

The hope/despair tightrope, established in Hughes' films, is especially pertinent in today's political climate.

Sign of the Apocalypse: Mike "Heckuva Job Brownie" Now Hosting Radio As a Political/Gov't Expert

Posted on: Aug 12, 2009, Source: Open Left

I. Shit. You. Not.

Fox News: Partisan Propaganda Machine

Posted on: Aug 11, 2009, Source: AlterNet

Fox is not merely a right-leaning news outlet -- it is a partisan propaganda machine.

The 'Me-First, Screw You Crowd' Are No Longer Hiding Their Antics

Posted on: Aug 9, 2009, Source: Creators Syndicate

Finally, there's no pretense. The ugliest traits of this despicable movement are there for all to behold.

CNN Dives Head First Into Television Payola

Posted on: Aug 6, 2009, Source: Open Left

Evidently, it's simply way too much for network news executives to require any kind of independence.

Health Care Tyranny: They Stay in Power, You Stay Sick

Posted on: Jul 31, 2009, Source: Creators Syndicate

Let go of those American (pipe) dreams. This is corrupt, pathetic health care reality.

How the Ultra-Rich Are Trying to Kill Health Reform

Posted on: Jul 24, 2009, Source: Creators Syndicate

The wealthiest 1-percent have deployed an army to destroy an initiative that would tax the super rich to help pay for health care.

The Darker Side of China's Economic "Miracle"

Posted on: Jul 17, 2009, Source: AlterNet

Many scholars and columnists celebrate China's gilded development. But what's beyond these capitalist pipe dreams?

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