April 1, 2020 - It's tough to think beyond the massive Covid-19 crisis to anything other than "getting back to normal." But workers - and most notably U.S. social workers, who should be (but sadly aren't) closely allied to the working class - don't want "normal." Normal is gross disparities in wealth; normal is tax … Continue reading Thinking past the mess we’re in, to what might be
POTUS’ most dangerous statements on the Covid-19 pandemic
March 26, 2020 - Okay, it's a given that President Trump lies and dissembles as easily as he breathes. He says amazingly dumb things with probably the same arrogant frequency. But with the Covid-19 pandemic, the president has passed over into new and truly dangerous territory, putting millions of Americans' lives at risk with statements … Continue reading POTUS’ most dangerous statements on the Covid-19 pandemic
Contrary to D.C. corporatists, economic health does NOT equal public health
March 24, 2020 - The word out of Washington is that President Trump wants to "open America for business" asap. "The cure can't be worse than the disease," insists POTUS. Indeed, goes the argument of a growing chorus of pro-corporate voices, public health "is" economic health, so taking care of the latter will automatically resolve … Continue reading Contrary to D.C. corporatists, economic health does NOT equal public health
Who says transformative change isn’t possible? Crisis proves otherwise
The sky is falling. Or at least so it seems. The coronavirus pandemic, the rapidly ensuing economic meltdown (now predicted by many mainstreamers to be worse than the Great Depression), and tanking oil prices (which started before the Covid crisis took hold) have obliterated the seeming stability of just a few weeks ago. Many voices … Continue reading Who says transformative change isn’t possible? Crisis proves otherwise
Message to Trump and Congress: People relief, not corporate bailouts
March 21, 2020 - With this crisis, let's do things differently. Let's focus on people, not corporate profits. The federal government needs to direct immediate relief to people that have no money coming in. People all over the country - and not just employed workers, but all people, employed and unemployed, sheltered and unsheltered, married … Continue reading Message to Trump and Congress: People relief, not corporate bailouts
Social Work: Let’s return to the grassroots
It's March 20, 2020, and two items sit atop my list of current news relevant to the profession of social work – first and foremost, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic; second, the building momentum for a November face-off between President Trump and former Vice-President Biden. There's much that might be said about each, but two … Continue reading Social Work: Let’s return to the grassroots
Wealth vs. Commonwealth
The COVID-19 pandemic is laying bare the lethal failures of the globalized profiteering system that is enabling it. Every social worker should check out this short video from Shock Doctrine author and activist Naomi Klein - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niwNTI9Nqd8
Forget Biden; the COVID crisis shows that only Sanders can beat a populist Trump
Today's March 18, and the extent of the economic carnage likely to be wrought by the Coronavirus is just sinking into the national political psyche. The amazing thing is that it's Republicans, not Democrats, making the strongest commitments to helping working Americans suddenly staring into a financial abyss. President Trump, supported in Congress by Senate … Continue reading Forget Biden; the COVID crisis shows that only Sanders can beat a populist Trump
In face of welfare corruption scandal, Mississippi considers cracking down on the poor
Just last month, the Mississippi state auditor announced that the former director of the Mississippi Department of Human Services and five others had been charged with fraudulent expenditures of millions of public dollars intended for poverty programs - reportedly the largest public embezzlement case in Mississippi in decades. Is there a worse time, then, for … Continue reading In face of welfare corruption scandal, Mississippi considers cracking down on the poor
Corporate Democrats feel threatened more by Sanders than by Trump
Why is the Democratic party establishment and their corporate news supporters (i.e. MSNBC and CNN) losing their minds over the surge in support for front-running presidential candidate Bernie Sanders? After all, poll after poll suggests that in a straight-up head-to-head contest, Sanders beats Trump. Isn't that what the Democrats want above all else - to … Continue reading Corporate Democrats feel threatened more by Sanders than by Trump
