Category Archives: RagBlog

Martial Law in Chile

Tossed like toys: People look at vehicles, strewn belongings, and large shipping containers hurled aground by the tsunami in downtown Talcahuano, Chile (March 1, 2010). Photo: Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images.Government declares martial law in central Chile after earthquake By Rafael Azul … Continue reading

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Empathy: Human Evolution’s Next Step

The human ability to empathize with other humans, to place oneself in the shoes of another, is a skill that is greatly diminished in modern society.Image from Demand More.‘Empathic Civilization’: When both faith and reason fail, stepping up to the … Continue reading

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Chris Hedges on Refusing to Support the Democrats

Ralph Nader was right about Barack Obama The timidity of the left exposes its cowardice, lack of a moral compass and mounting political impotence. The left stands for nothing. By Chris Hedges / March 1, 2010 We owe Ralph Nader … Continue reading

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Saying Coal Can Be Clean Doesn’t Make It So

The dirty truth behind clean coal By Joshua Frank / February 28, 2010 If you’ve tuned in to the Winter Olympics this past week, you likely sat through repeated showings of a multimillion-dollar public relations campaign paid for by Big … Continue reading

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Utah : Challenging Women’s Rights Again

Critics fear the new law could affect women who drink and miscarry.Photo: UPPA / Photoshot.Utah women may face murder charges after miscarriages By David Usborne / February 28, 2010 Outrage at bill that could jail women who ‘recklessly’ endanger unborn … Continue reading

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Cole on the "Swift-Boating" of Climate Change Science

Advice to climate scientists on how to avoid being Swift-boated and how to become public intellectuals By Juan Cole / February 28, 2010 Climate Scientists continue to see persuasive evidence of global warming and climate change when they speak at … Continue reading

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The Pentagon and All Its Suckers (That Would Be Us)

Gargantua’s mouth:The Pentagon and the suckers By Saul Landau and Nelson P. Valdes / February 27, 2010 The perpetual menacings of danger oblige the government to be always prepared to repel it; its armies must be numerous enough for instant … Continue reading

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A History of Relations with Iran

Mohammad Mosaddeq (1882-1967), Iranian Prime Minister and a major political figure in the modern history of Iran. This photograph was taken ca 1965 in Ahmadabad, Iran.Accusing Iran; Ignoring history By Ted Snider / February 26, 2010 Did Hillary Clinton seriously … Continue reading

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Health Care Reform : A Bad Proposal or a Worse One?

Senator Alexander, sitting next to Senator McCain, provided the Republicans’ opening statement at the Health Care Forum at Blair House, and he challenged President Obama and the Democrats “to renounce jamming it through in a partisan way.” Photo: Stephen Crowley/The … Continue reading

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Juan Cole on the U.S. Defense Budget

Gates Wants Europe to Beggar Itself on War Expenditures the Way the U.S. Has By Juan Cole / February 25, 2010 U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates decries Europe for general anti-war sentiment, unwillingness to beggar itself with expenditures on … Continue reading

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Poor Grow Poorer : Richest 1% Has Captured America’s Wealth

The ultra rich have captured America;How can we take it back? By David DeGraw / February 19, 2010 “The war against working people should be understood to be a real war… Specifically in the U.S., which happens to have a … Continue reading

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“Men’s Work: How to Stop the Violence That Tears Our Lives Apart.” Paul Kivel, cofounder of the Oakland Men’s project, drew on decades of experience in the movement to end male violence in producing this book that talks about patriarchial … Continue reading

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