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NY Times Obituary for Michael Wreszin, New Politics contributor
Joanne Landy | September 17, 2012 |
In a surprisingly warm and positive obituary, the New York Times noted the death of Michael Wreszin in August of this year. The obit says of Wrezin's writings, "His subjects were cosmopolitan, humanist thinkers who saw a growing militarism in American political culture but whose scrupulous habits of mind could make them misfits in the ideological camps they joined.” Mike Wreszin was a frequent contributor to New Politics. We miss him already.
Quantitative Easing 3
Barry Finger | September 14, 2012 |
Fed chairman Ben Bernanke announced yesterday that the Fed would buy mortgage-backed bonds at a rate of $40 billion a month until the employment picture improves and will leave effective interest rates near zero through 2015.
An open letter to Chicago parents
Lois Weiner | September 10, 2012 |
Dear Parents,Although we have never met, I’ve been involved indirectly in your children’s education, as a researcher on urban teacher education. I’ve been told that my books and articles, which explain what makes urban teaching special, have really helped city teachers do better at helping all students succeed.
The bottom line for Chicago teachers?
Lois Weiner | September 6, 2012 |
As the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) holds fast to its strike deadline of Sept. 10, negotiations continue. It's always risky to trust reports in the mass media, especially the virulently anti-teachers union media that we have today, about what's happening in negotiations.
Factcheck.org on the GOP and Abortion
Steve Shalom | August 31, 2012 |
Factcheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, often plays a useful role in exposing lies by political candidates. Sometimes, however, its factchecking is rather tendentious. Its coverage of the abortion stance of the 2012 Republican Party platform is a case in point.
Educating welfare mothers
Betty Reid Mandell | August 30, 2012 |
[This is an expanded version of a letter sent to the New York Times and not printed.]
The education wars, part 2: Giving support to Chicago and Colombia's teachers
Lois Weiner | August 23, 2012 |
I've been asked by readers how they can show their support to teacher unionists in Chicago and Colombia, whose struggles I describe in my recent NP post. One way is to contribute to the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) Solidarity Fund. The billionaires are pouring big bucks into defeating this movement and union dues alone won't be able to cover the union's costs in trying to win this battle to protect public education.
Education wars are heating up - and lives are at stake
Lois Weiner | August 22, 2012 |
You wouldn't know it from the US media, but the education wars are heating up globally. Three of the hottest spots are Chicago, Chile, and Colombia. The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) has revved up its struggle to protect public education in that city, with a vote to issue a 10-day strike notice (no strike date set).
Mexican Movement Fights “Imposition” of PRI’s Enrique Pena Nieto
Dan La Botz | July 29, 2012 |
The Mexican presidential election that took place on July 2 is over—but it is not done. Tens of thousands of Mexicans have been marching every week for almost a month in Mexico City and other cities throughout the country against what they call the “imposition” by Mexican election authorities of Enrique Peña Nieto of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) as president of Mexico.
Overlooking Outsourcing
Marvin Mandell | July 11, 2012 |
I have read many analyses of the failure to recall Gov. Walker in Wisconsin, and I am astonished that not one even mentions American industries either outsourcing or just folding their tents because they are unable to compete with foreign companies. Steel is an example of the latter: many steel workers now work as greeters at Walmart.
Surely this is an important cause of labor's sad decline. Industrial capitalism has given way to finance capitalism, as everyone knows.