Stories by Steven Rosenfeld

Steven Rosenfeld covers democracy issues for AlterNet and is the author of "Count My Vote: A Citizen's Guide to Voting" (AlterNet Books, 2008). subscribe to Steven Rosenfeld's feed

6 Key Takeaways From the Stupidity and Reality of IRS 'Scandal'

Posted on: May 16, 2013, Source: AlterNet

The maddening episode reveals how Washington works.

The Real Scandal: Official Washington Goes Nuts Over IRS Doing Its Job

Posted on: May 14, 2013, Source: AlterNet

Voter intimidation groups say they were intimidated by the IRS.

IRS Scandal Is Much Ado About Small Stuff While Karl Rove Gets Off Scott Free

Posted on: May 13, 2013, Source: AlterNet

Small Tea Party groups were bit players—not so with the big dark money groups.

Is Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg Turning Out to Be a Another Billionaire Conservative?

Posted on: May 12, 2013, Source: AlterNet

The causes he’s backing and political style signal a shift to the right.

6 Reasons Why Obama’s Popularity Is Likely to Plummet

Posted on: May 10, 2013, Source: AlterNet

The politics of hope and the politics of nope.

Feelings of Powerlessness Likely Prevented Cleveland Captives from Attempting to Escape Sooner

Posted on: May 7, 2013, Source: AlterNet

Previous cases of long-term kidnapping indicate that low-self esteem is at the heart of what keeps victims from resisting captivity.

Obama Embraces Plutocrats Again With His Billionaire Commerce Secretary Choice

Posted on: May 6, 2013, Source: AlterNet

Picking Penny Pritzker is a clear message that Obama's priorities are not what's in the public interest.

4 Ways the Payday Loan Industry Sucks Billions From Local Economies (Hard Times USA)

Posted on: May 2, 2013, Source: AlterNet

A new study tracks how interest payments hurt communities.

Major Evidence That Siding with the NRA's Gun Nut Agenda Is Politically Radioactive

Posted on: Apr 30, 2013, Source: AlterNet

There's now a political price tag for siding with the NRA.

9 Burning, Unresolved Questions About the Boston Bombings

Posted on: Apr 26, 2013, Source: AlterNet

There have been conflicting crime scene accounts from police about basic facts.

50 Reasons You Despised George W. Bush's Presidency: A Reminder on the Day of His Presidential Library Dedication

Posted on: Apr 24, 2013, Source: AlterNet

He's one of the worst presidents ever.

Plummeting Gold Prices Won't Stop Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck's Sponsors from Trying To Sell You More

Posted on: Apr 23, 2013, Source: AlterNet

Goldline sponsors offer some pretty ironic financial advice.

America's Focus on Terrorism Blinds Us To Everyday Violence and Suffering

Posted on: Apr 22, 2013, Source: AlterNet

There’s something amiss about disregarding everyday violence, just because it’s the rule and not the exception.

How Absurd: 8 Crazy Reactions, Ridiculous Conclusions, and Dumb Media Behavior Coming out of the Boston Bombings

Posted on: Apr 19, 2013, Source: AlterNet

Not a shining moment.

A Recent History of Homemade Bombs Built in the United States

Posted on: Apr 16, 2013, Source: AlterNet

The Boston Marathon's bombs are not a unique terror tactic.

Iraqi Blogger Riverbend’s 15 Lessons from a Decade of War Underscore Why War and Violence Solve Nothing

Posted on: Apr 16, 2013, Source: AlterNet

“We shouldn’t forget what this was about - making America safer.”

Boston Bombing Is a Tragedy, But Let's Not Rush to Blame Muslims or People of Arab Descent

Posted on: Apr 15, 2013, Source: AlterNet

It's normal to be scared, but it's worth recalling what happened after 9/11.

Pennsylvania Court Deals Blow to Secrecy-Obsessed Fracking Industry: Corporations Not The Same As Persons With Privacy Rights

Posted on: Apr 11, 2013, Source: AlterNet

“In the absence of state law, business entities are nothing.”

Groundbreaking 'War on Whistleblowers' Investigation Exposes Obama Admin's Record of Censorship and Persecution of Unsung Heroes and Journalists

Posted on: Apr 9, 2013, Source: AlterNet

Robert Greenwald's new documentary sheds light on how far the national security state will go to keep its secrets.

9 Tactics and 5 Mistaken Beliefs: The Christian Right's New 'Religious Liberty' Campaign Deconstructed

Posted on: Apr 9, 2013, Source: AlterNet

A stunning new report takes apart the religious right's latest makeover.

Disturbing Facts About State Lotteries: They Prey on the Poor and Trash the Economy, and Political Leaders Don't Care (Hard Times USA)

Posted on: Apr 5, 2013, Source: AlterNet

State lotteries do far more harm than good, especially at the bottom of the economic ladder.

16 Frightening NRA Police State 'Solutions' That Will Turn Our Schools into Gun-Crazy Nightmares

Posted on: Apr 4, 2013, Source: AlterNet

The NRA wants to make every student and school employee a suspect, and arm security officers with legal authority to shoot back.

Associated Press to Drop the Word 'Illegal' In Immigration Coverage -- Major Media Victory Resulting from Colorlines Campaign

Posted on: Apr 2, 2013, Source: AlterNet

The nation’s largest news-gathering organization adopts a sane and humane policy.

Taibbi: Politicians and Law Enforcement Have Trapped Too Many People in Jail for Life with Extreme Three Strikes Laws

Posted on: Apr 2, 2013, Source: AlterNet

A parade of politicians and law enforcement officials has created a Pandora’s box that’s trapped countless low-income offenders.

Is the Supreme Court Going to Take the Cowardly Way Out on Marriage Equality?

Posted on: Mar 26, 2013, Source: AlterNet

Tuesday’s hearing on California’s Prop. 8 suggests progress will be state by state.

Mayors Plan National Day of Action To Push Congress On Gun Control

Posted on: Mar 25, 2013, Source: AlterNet

More than 100 events are planned for Thursday following last week's multimillion-dollar ad buy.

Bye, Bye American Dream! U.S. Economic Inequality Is Permanent, Study Finds

Posted on: Mar 22, 2013, Source: AlterNet

Analysis of two decades of income tax trends also find the rich consume more.

NY Times Ignores Banks' Latest Role In Distorting The Housing Market

Posted on: Mar 22, 2013, Source: AlterNet

The newspaper reports a shortage of houses for sale, not surplus of underwater loans.

The Public's Hope for Meaningful Gun Reform Crumbles as Congress Still Hides From the NRA

Posted on: Mar 21, 2013, Source: AlterNet

A number of states are making progress in establishing gun controls, but Congress has its head in the sand.

8 Ways Obama Is As Bad -- Or Worse -- Than Bush On Civil Liberties

Posted on: Mar 18, 2013, Source: AlterNet

Despite a rare court victory on Friday, Obama's legacy is dismal.

The 21st-Century Version of Slavery Is Widespread In America

Posted on: Mar 18, 2013, Source: AlterNet

The abuses of the H-2B visa program are mind-boggling.

The Economy Sucks Because Banks Are Still Sticking It To Overextended Home Loan Borrowers

Posted on: Mar 7, 2013, Source: AlterNet

Banks aren't budging, and government isn't offering millions of households what they need.

Is Antonin Scalia the Vilest Person in Washington?

Posted on: Mar 4, 2013, Source: AlterNet

Scalia's hatred of democracy and democratic institutions is palpable.

Billionaire Speculators' Greed Makes Life Hard For Renters and Would-Be Homebuyers

Posted on: Mar 3, 2013, Source: AlterNet

Wealthy real estate speculators are snapping up homes with the same zeal that created the housing market bubble.

Innovative California Progressives Help Return State to Sanity With Effective Organizing

Posted on: Feb 28, 2013, Source: AlterNet

New tactics and hands-on organizing help California Calls redraw the Golden State's political map.

Most Mass Shootings Target Women and Families; Study Finds Men With Legal Guns Are to Blame

Posted on: Feb 24, 2013, Source: AlterNet

Data suggests that a gun present in a domestic violence situation increases the risk of homicide for women by 500 percent.

Are Some Men Born Pedophiles? New Science Says Yes, But Sexologists Say Not So Fast

Posted on: Feb 21, 2013, Source: AlterNet

New discoveries are upending the nurture versus nature debate.

GOP Activists Behind Three Troubling Supreme Court Cases Aimed at Dismantling Our Democracy

Posted on: Feb 20, 2013, Source: AlterNet

The 2013 Supreme Court term could roll back decades of progressive law.

NRA Outrageously Pushes Assault Rifles on Young Teens and Grade Schoolers

Posted on: Feb 1, 2013, Source: AlterNet

There are scary consequences to thinking of kids as a ripe gun market.

Major Gun Control Push in New York Sends Gun Nuts and NRA Crowd into a Tizzy

Posted on: Jan 30, 2013, Source: AlterNet

A vocal minority of gun owners chafing at the new gun control agenda in New York state unlikely to pack much punch.

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