With a few exceptions, the initial reception of the “Occupy” movement across America was fairly benign. But authorities in Oakland and elsewhere are now turning aggressive, sending in police to shut down encampments and disperse protesters, as Phil Rockstroh observes.
Some of our special stories in September dealt with America’s deepening economic crisis, the political/media failures of the Establishment, solving a three-decade-old mystery about George H.W. Bush, the Founders’ actual views on government, and more.
In America, bubbles come in two forms: how Wall Street insiders suck in a sucker’s money before the speculative bubble pops and how those same scam artists stay inside a protective bubble to spare themselves from the fallout. In this autumn of national discontent, Phil Rockstroh sees hope for real change.
Finally, a truly “populist” movement – not like the Tea Party funded by billionaires to serve the interests of billionaires – has arisen in America to challenge the growing economic inequities in U.S. society. Phil Rockstroh found his time with the “99 Percent” movement at the newly dubbed Liberty Plaza invigorating.
Some of our special stories in August explored stubborn conflicts raging from Libya to Afghanistan, reported on social upheavals within Western societies, reflected on the hypocrisy of Christian violence, and more.
For several decades, America’s political/media elites have song the siren song of a post-industrial economy based on “free trade” and “financial innovations” – while silencing dissent that questioned this new-age group think. Now, the results are in, as Phil Rockstroh encountered in the cities of Pittsburgh, Birmingham and New Orleans.
The ugly scenes of rioting and arson in Great Britain are a preview of the societal breakdown that can be expected from today’s staggeringly inequitable economic/political system, where stock-market sharpies get away with plundering pension funds but the poor get nailed for looting consumer goods, observes Phil Rockstroh.
Some of our special stories in June offered insights into continued neocon pressure for Mideast wars, the dubious praise for departing Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the reasons behind a planned voyage to Gaza, and more.
Help Us Pay Our Writers -- We rely on your donations to pay our writers a modest sum for their original content.
