Archive | AlterNet

Five Women Buried Alive -- and the Media Ignore It

AlterNet. September 6, 2008.
Why is it that we get so outraged over war but look the other way when women and girls are beaten and murdered in the name of tradition?

One Fifth of Iraq Funding Goes to Private Contractors

IPS News. September 6, 2008.
If spending continues at the current rate, the U.S. will have spent 100 billion dollars on military contractors in Iraq by the end of the year.

On Top of Jail Time, Prisoners Now Face Fees and Surcharges

The Nation. September 6, 2008.
Prisoners across the country are facing court fees, arrest fees and booking fees in addition to their sentences -- and states are raking in the cash.

Exposing Five Dangerous Lies in McCain's Big Speech

AlterNet. September 6, 2008.
McCain's falsehoods on health care, oil companies, trade, taxes and worker training were egregious and covered up his pro-corporate positions.

As Vets Take to the Streets to Protest the War, McCain Snubs IVAW at the RNC

AlterNet. September 6, 2008.
"War hero" McCain voted against healthcare funding for veterans in 2003, '04, '05, '06 and '07. Now veterans are confronting him on his record.

Obama's Biden Pick Signals 'More of the Same' Stupid Drug Policies

AlterNet. September 6, 2008.
Joe Biden authored the laws establishing the White House drug czar and random drug testing of public employees, among others.

Breeding Envy: Do You Need to be a Millionaire to Have Kids?

The Tyee. September 6, 2008.
Many parents are consumed by an ever-increasing list of things they should be but aren't buying for their kids.

McCain's Palin Gambit: Are Americans Weary of the Culture Wars?

AlterNet. September 6, 2008.
Sarah Palin's acceptance speech was heavy on rhetoric but light on substance. But ginning up the culture war may not work this time around.

What Republicans Can Learn from "Gossip Girl"

RH Reality Check. September 5, 2008.
The sordid, trashy teen drama "Gossip Girl" offers a much smarter and more useful take on teen sexuality than the Republican platform.

Does "Working Girls" Still Work?

On The Issues Magazine. September 5, 2008.
Is a film about prostitution made in 1986 relevant to the realities of sex work today?

Hospitals' Lessons From Hurricane Gustav

ProPublica. September 5, 2008.
The pre-storm medical evacuation -- the largest in American history -- revealed some critical flaws in American hospitals.

In Fight Over Law Securing Workers' Right to Organize, Corporations Bill Themselves as Underdogs

Creators Syndicate. September 5, 2008.
Corporate honchos and bought-off lawmakers are trying to kill a proposal that makes it easier to join a union.

Why McCain and the GOP Are So Afraid of Discussing the Economy

Huffington Post. September 5, 2008.
Whether rich, poor or somewhere in between, Americans always do better economically under Democrats.

Only in America Could a Two-Faced Creature Like McCain Attain Such Media Status

AlterNet. September 5, 2008.
Only in America could a man who has called the mainstream media his "base" run against that very same media.

McCain Uses His Big Speech to Give Us a Tour of His Vietnamese Prison Cell

MotherJones.com. September 5, 2008.
Number of sentences in John McCain's RNC speech about being a POW in Vietnam: 43. Number about his 25 years in the House and Senate: 8.

Palin Pick Is GOP Hypocrisy at its Best

AlterNet. September 5, 2008.
Will the media test her on substance or let her play "Ms. Congeniality?" It is up to the public to see through the fact-free diet we're being fed.

Amy Goodman: Why We Were Falsely Arrested

Truthdig. September 5, 2008.
Government crackdowns on journalists are a true threat to democracy.

Boatloads of Trouble: How We Are Importing Our Way to Destruction

AlterNet. September 5, 2008.
As our consumer goods travel thousands of miles by boat, train and truck, they're leaving a trail of soot and cancer in their wake.

GOP's Plan for Palin: Reignite the Culture Wars

Huffington Post. September 5, 2008.
Republicans will try to spin Palin's shortcoming into strengths, by revving up the culture wars.

Country Club First: Walking Around in the RNC's Wonderland

AlterNet. September 4, 2008.
A visit inside the GOP bubble mindset.

Why Do We Need to Talk About the Female Orgasm?

Sexy Prime. September 4, 2008.
Because female sexual empowerment is important.

Is California on the Brink of Environmental Collapse?

AlterNet. September 4, 2008.
California has spared no expense to taxpayers or natural ecosystems to become the most hydrologically altered landmass on the planet.

New Drug Survey Demolishes Drug Czar's Claims

AlterNet. September 4, 2008.
The numbers are in. Marijuana prohibition is a wasteful farce. And John Walters' tenure as drug czar has been a failure.

Leader of Anti-Immigration Movement Calls Issue a "Skirmish in a Wider War"

Imagine 2050. September 4, 2008.
John Tanton speaks of an existential struggle for survival.

Palin's Speech Tactic: Substitute Cultural Symbols for Actual Policies

AlterNet. September 4, 2008.
In this strategy, every Democratic misstep is inflated into a cultural parable, while gaping holes in the Republican story are neatly sidestepped.

An Open Letter to Gov. Sarah Palin on Women's Rights

National Advocates for Pregnant Women. September 4, 2008.
The freedom of all women relies on the legal principles that guarantee the right to choose.

Palin Fails by Her Own Standards

AlterNet. September 4, 2008.
Palin went on attack Wednesday night, deriding Democrats, mischaracterizing Obama and insulting Americans, who she must think won't know any better.

Readers Write: What the Palin Pick Means for America

AlterNet. September 4, 2008.
AlterNet readers weigh in on McCain's pick of Gov. Sarah Palin, the many skeletons in her closet, and what it all means for the country.

Palin: The Latest GOP Distraction the Dems Shouldn't Buy

The New York Times. September 4, 2008.
Sarah Palin may look like an easy target, but the Democrats should be cautious of how far they push.

Earning Less and Dying Younger: How the Growing Strain on America's Middle Class Is Pummeling Our Health

Health Beat. September 4, 2008.
Last year was a weak financial time for working families, and a new report shows it reflected in our health.

The Bush Administration Checkmated in Georgia

Tomdispatch.com. September 4, 2008.
The recent fighting in the Caucasus is part of a bigger struggle between Moscow and Washington over the energy riches of the Caspian Sea basin.

The VA Continues to Abandon Returning Vets

The Nation. September 4, 2008.
"Supporting the troops" only applies until they actually come home from war.

Spinning Iraq for a GOP Victory

Independent UK. September 3, 2008.
With an eye on the presidential election, the White House is working to create the impression that the war is ripe for U.S. victory.

Mumia Abu-Jamal Prepares to Take His Case to the Supreme Court

IPS News. September 3, 2008.
More than 25 years after being sentenced to death, Mumia Abu-Jamal is fighting for his life and against oppression at home and abroad.

The Battle Between McCain and Bush: The Cancelled First Night, The "Furious" President and the Palin Gambit

Huffington Post. September 3, 2008.
The cancellation of the first night of the Republican National Convention marks the renewal of the rivalry between George W. Bush and John McCain.

Fossil Fuels Are the Bottled Water of Energy

Huffington Post. September 3, 2008.
We already know the many reasons not to drink bottled water, but fossil fuels are really bottled energy.

Free Water: Collecting Rainwater Is Catching on in the U.S.

off-grid. September 3, 2008.
Rainwater harvesting is a well-known practice in the developing world, but it is also now gaining traction in the U.S.

How My 7-Year-Old Learned About Pre-Marital Sex from John McCain

AlterNet. September 3, 2008.
I wholly believe in educating my child about contraception. But given that he is 7, I could have waited a few years for that particular talk.

Palin Helps Alaska Get Rich Off Oil While the Rest of the Country Suffers

Truthdig. September 3, 2008.
We're all part of one nation. So why do the people of Alaska get a cut of oil company profits when the rest of us don't?

Republicans Wrap McCain in the Flag and Run Away from Bush

AlterNet. September 3, 2008.
The GOP trots out Dem backstabber Joe Lieberman for a keynote at their lackluster convention.

8 More Shocking Revelations About Sarah Palin

AlterNet. September 3, 2008.
More skeletons come out of Palin's closet.

Palin Has Chosen to Exploit Her Own Daughter's Pregnancy

Huffington Post. September 3, 2008.
If Palin succeeds in "normalizing" her daughter's pregnancy, will other teen girls look at this and say what is the problem with having a baby?

A Peek Inside Obama's Formidable Ground Campaign

AlterNet. September 3, 2008.
A visit to a Camp Obama training session reveals a focus on using volunteers to talk about issues with potential voters.

As Unlawful Arrests Continue, St. Paul Feels Like a City Under Siege for Some Residents

AlterNet. September 3, 2008.
"It's like we don't have rights. Like we don't even live here."

The Department of Labor in the Bush Years: A Damage Assessment

Huffington Post. September 3, 2008.
Under Bush, the Labor department has been stacked against workers' rights.

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn) Condemns Police Attacks on Journalists

Democracy Now!. September 2, 2008.
Rep. Ellison discusses the crackdown on reporters, why he opposes escalation in Afghanistan, and his experience as the first Muslim Congressman.

Planned Parenthood Reaches Out to Teens, Angers Adults

The Frisky. September 2, 2008.
Planned Parenthood's "Take Care Down There" is being attacked by conservatives as too glib.

How the Bush Administration Underestimated Nouri al-Maliki

IPS News. September 2, 2008.
Signs that the Iraqi PM's stance on U.S. withdrawal is hardening is undermining Bush's plan for indefinite occupation.

Keeping the Psychedelic Dream Alive: An Interview with Rick Doblin

New Scientist. September 2, 2008.
Doblin: "I awoke to psychedelics' value just as the law was shutting them down. It was very painful -- like having something snatched away."

California Govt. Offers Guidelines for Pot Smokers, Cops and Growers

Drug War Chronicle. September 2, 2008.
California attorney general Jerry Brown issues Medical Marijuana guidelines -- mostly good but some problems, say advocates.

Poll-Watch: Obama Gets Biggest Bounce Since '96 Convention; Firms Up Support Among Clinton Voters; Voters Divided on Palin Pick

AlterNet. September 2, 2008.
Obama appears to have done what he needed to during Dem convention.