Most St. Louisans drive to work, by themselves, every day. This ubiquitous ritual demands 38 minutes out of the average American's day, according to a June, 2007 US Census report. It's grossly ironic that the American capitalistic market economy—a model which reveres cold efficiency as a virtue of the highest order—accesses the lion's share of its workforce through such unproductive, wasteful means. And it's not only the nine-to-fivers who are affected by sprawl and the prevailing petro-culture: Across all demographic lines, we have come to think of the custom of so often traversing such distances as necessary and nearly inevitable. However, until we collectively recall the benefits of living in proximity to our frequented destinations and make cars obsolete, walking or biking everywhere will continue to be unrealistic. In the meantime, we need to rethink the model we currently support (with its soaring costs in time, money, and environmental hazard) and create alternatives that challenge the ethic of personal and private ownership of cars.

According to an informal community survey conducted by KDHX members this September, listeners and members of KDHX overwhelmingly favor bringing the award winning Democracy Now! back to its full hour broadcast five days a week on the radio station.

A record television audience of almost 70 million people viewed the vice-presidential debate last Thursday night at Washington University's Athletic Complex in St. Louis. But nearly a mile out of view of the complex lay an example of what corporations, the media, and the state have together tried to quell in increasingly forceful ways: public dissent.