Elitism, Oligarchy and Democracy

This is from a dailykos blogger/contributor 0n 10/20/08 One of the things that always amazed and bothered me was that the overwhelming majority of people who rose to the top of and were most successful at the schools that I attended and companies that I worked for were themselves the children of powerful and successful

Secrecy in the Bush Administration – Another Example

from Daily Kos June 15, 2008 The dirty secret about the Bush administration negotiations with Nouri al Maliki’s government for a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) is that they hinge upon secrecy. Begun in earnest in March, all the details have been kept secret from the US Congress, the Iraqi Parliament, and the public in

Bernie Sanders Immigration Bill Amendment

Mr. President, I want to speak about an amendment that I will be offering with Senator Grassley to the Immigration Reform Bill, Amendment 1332. This amendment has been endorsed by the AFL-CIO, the Programmers Guild and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. But, before I speak about the amendment, I want to focus on

Prescription Drugs

I think we need a forum to discuss the federal prescription drug program in particular and the health care system in America in general. As a senior with no health insurance, I know what it is like to go without health care. I have arthritis and cannot afford treatment. I am not old enough for

Bernie Sanders Prepares to Fight

By David Gram, Associated Press Writer  |  November 8, 2006 BURLINGTON, Vt. —Preparing to crash the gates of the world’s most exclusive club, self-described socialist and senator-elect Bernie Sanders on Wednesday vowed to continue his fight for the middle class and poor in the Senate. “I believe that right-wing extremist policy is now dead in America.

Votes for Democrats are registering for Republicans

Broward Co., FL: Votes for Democrats are registering for Republicans From the Miami Herald . . . .Several South Florida voters say the choices they touched on the electronic screens were not the ones that appeared on the review screen — the final voting step. Election officials say they aren’t aware of any serious voting

Bush Seeks Immunity for Violating War Crimes Act

by Elizabeth Holtzman Thirty-two years ago, President Gerald Ford created a political firestorm by pardoning former President Richard Nixon of all crimes he may have committed in Watergate — and lost his election as a result. Now, President Bush, to avoid a similar public outcry, is quietly trying to pardon himself of any crimes connected

Dubai Ports World

Apparently Dubai Ports World is still operating American ports. They were supposed to sell to an American entity. Where does it stand now? Did they get a six week extension to sell? When was the vote and who voted for it? Oversight, anyone? I wonder if anybody cares about this. Have not heard much about

Feds sue to block Vermont phone inquiry

Source: The Rutland Herald MONTPELIER — The federal government has sued the state’s utility regulators to stop an investigation into whether the National Security Agency gained improper access to Vermonters’ phone records. But state officials have vowed to continue their quest for answers, despite the lawsuit and the request for an injunction it contains. The

Problems with Voting in Maryland

Serious and widespread election day problems were evident in the Maryland election. There were machine breakdowns. Some are calling for a return to paper ballots as the only way to have a fair election. These concerns are recognized by the Governor of Maryland. We voters need to take these problems seriously. Our democracy depends on