Go to the Winter 2023 Table of Contents to see what's in this issue and to download in PDF format. [link below Table of Contents] Look for some great work by Elaheh Farmand, Gary Olson, Lenny Flank, Michael Yates, Robert Jensen, and Vijay Prashad, among others. This issue is at the printer now, and we should have printed copies available early in March. … [Read more...] about Left Turn – Winter 2023 issue now available online
Government
Will Democrats shape real climate action?
On Christmas Day, a natural gas processing plant in southwest PA caught fire, and several sources said that anyone calling the DEP emergency line to report the incident got only a voicemail. DEP denied these claims. DEP critics said the agency is ineffective in dealing with industry and communicating with the public. “They could have provided a much more detailed and … [Read more...] about Will Democrats shape real climate action?
Rethinking education & schools
As we've often indicated on this website, including in the schools section, the US educational system is dragged down by major structural flaws. The extensive use of standardized testing may be the most obvious, but it is only one of several serious problems. Thanks to prominent educator Alfie Kohn, we have a comprehensive look at what needs to be done to develop sound … [Read more...] about Rethinking education & schools
Obscene treaty symbolizes what’s wrong
The Energy Charter Treaty referred to in the story is obscene — putting corporate profits over the lives of future generations and punishing governments that try to protect their people. (Although most governments today also seem to put corporate profits ahead of people.) Whether it's coal, oil, or natural gas, we need to keep it in the ground! No elaborate — and often bogus … [Read more...] about Obscene treaty symbolizes what’s wrong
Biden not living up to pledge about Cuba
The Biden administration has made some positive moves, but their overall record on Cuba is poor. As Cuba's foreign minister says, the Biden administration “is the one that has most aggressively and effectively applied the economic blockade” — worse than the Trump administration. (As is almost always the case, of course, US sanctions hurt the people far more than the … [Read more...] about Biden not living up to pledge about Cuba
The State We Are In
Excerpt from an online post by journalist Seth Abramson: There is an active insurrection inside the United States.… A large percentage of Americans—perhaps as many as 30%—no longer wish for this country to be a democracy. They do not believe in elections, or rule of law, or the peaceful transfer of power. They would welcome martial law, an authoritarian strongman, … [Read more...] about The State We Are In
‘I don’t have a future!’
The latest action by JustStopOil. It's hard to watch, but watch it anyway! … [Read more...] about ‘I don’t have a future!’
Backyard chickens?
Lehighvalleylive / Express Times recently ran an editorial ['Bird-brained plan to bring chicken coops to Bethlehem should be plucked'] opposing current efforts to allow backyard chickens again. This caught my attention because it seems to completely miss the point that raising backyard chickens is a simple way for folks at all income levels to enjoy fresh, nutritious eggs — … [Read more...] about Backyard chickens?
Schmo Munchkin v. Ida
Raymond Nat Turner Ida: Hello, SchmoMunchkin:I’m the most powerful politician in the most powerful deliberative body in the most powerful country in the worldand who the hell are you? Ida:Who the hell do you think I am, Mr. MuthafrakkkerFossil Fuel-Big Pharma-errand boy?I’m Ida, Sister of Sandy, Daughter of Katrina andAlcohol, Geritol, protocol puppets like you don’t … [Read more...] about Schmo Munchkin v. Ida
Coxey’s Army: The First “Occupiers”
Lenny Flank In 1893, the “Financial Panic” gripped the United States as the economy fell into recession and the ranks of the unemployed and homeless swelled. In response, an organized group of people from all over the US converged on Washington DC to protest against income inequality and to demand that Congress pass a jobs bill, and vowed to camp out in front of the Capitol … [Read more...] about Coxey’s Army: The First “Occupiers”