Thursday, February 13, 2025

Marijuana: From Demonization to Legalization to Celebration

With marijuana prohibition finally ending in states and cities across the country, it was grassroots activists who've steadily pushed America from the darkness of marijuana madness. "This bud's for you!"

NY Attorney General Investigating Death of Woman in Police Custody

In the last month, there have been at least 13 people who've died in police custody. Now the New York attorney general is investigating the death of Raynette Turner, 42, who was found dead in her holding cell.

The Revolt Against the Ruling Class

As Robert Reich puts it, "Political insiders don’t see that the biggest political phenomenon in America today is a revolt against the 'ruling class.'” Are Trump and Sanders agents of this revolt?

A Vision of a Truly Exceptional America: Could That Become a Reality?

The United States has the potential to become truly exceptional. Job creation, U.S. corporate tax code reform, keeping jobs in the U.S., alternative forms of energy, better transportation, and so many other improvements can be made to positively change such a powerful country.

US Marshal Found Guilty of Obstruction in Drunken Shooting

A jury found U.S. Marshall Matthew Itkowitz guilty of obstruction of justice for making misleading statements to LAPD homicide detectives in order to justify killing a man. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

Body Cam Video Released After Cop Indicted for Murder

Newly released body cam footage in the death of an unarmed motorist revealed a University of Cincinnati police officer allegedly lied in order to justify the shooting. Now he's been indicted for murder for such an "asinine" act.

11 People Dead in Police Custody This Month

There have been at least 11 cases of killing or other type of deaths of people while in police custody just this month. But will any officers face criminal charges for these deaths?

‘Proud Partners’ Corporatize Our Parks

Why are our presidents so good at praising America's national park system, but lousy at maintaining it? Now Park Service officials have begun the "corporatization" process starting with "co-branding" agreements with national parks.

The ‘Private Property’ Chokehold on Equality

How extraordinary that the glaring oppression of private property remains the invisible elephant in the room. Who doubts how many huge “private” fortunes accumulate by passing huge liabilities from “externalities” (pollution, waste, disease, ruinous landscapes) onto public shoulders? Hold manufacturing liabilities to impeccable business logic, not what lobbyist influence-peddling frees them to get away with. How long can the commons survive when our most affluent free-loaders are not only “too big to fail” but “too immune to pay their own way”?

Former Deputy Charged in Flashbang Raid that Nearly Killed Toddler

This week former deputy Nikki Autry was indicted by a jury. Autry allegedly cut corners and provided false information, which resulted in a SWAT team raiding an innocent family’s house and tossing a flashbang grenade into the face of their young child.