Voices for Change

Americans are in a false debate over free market vs. government. This discussion leads us to the questions: who are the real influencers over legislative decisions and who will ultimately win this game?

In an open letter to an unknown American patriot, Tom Engelhardt offers his version of the Ten Commandments for a better American world and a better world generally.

Republican presidential candidates seem free to bend, twist and shred the truth at will—for instance, take the free-for-all CNBC debate. They all got away with prevaricating about themselves, their policies and their opponents.

Many GOP presidential hopefuls "wouldn’t rule out U.S. boots on the ground" in Iraq, or Syria for that matter. So if a Republican takes office come 2016 we can almost be guaranteed a return of combat troops to the Middle East.

There is indeed terrorism raging throughout large parts of the Ogaden and elsewhere in the country; it is State Terrorism perpetrated by a brutal regime that is guilty of widespread criminality, much of which constitutes crimes against humanity.

Could the Obama administration’s "foot-dragging" cause the Iraqi government to create an alliance with Russia? This is the final failure that sits on the shoulders of Bush and Cheney.

Anthony Ray Hinton spent 30 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, even though there were no eyewitnesses, nor fingerprints. Was he a victim of bias and racism?

Hastert openly traded legislative favors for campaign cash, including profiting personally from his powerful position. And, when he was squeezed out because of the corruption, he didn't return to the home folks — he became a K-Street lobbyist, continuing to profit to this day by doing corporate favors.

A national Permanent Fund might be the most brilliant solution to upward wealth redistribution. Outlined by Peter Barnes, it was modeled after the popular and successful Alaska Permanent Fund because shouldn't we all benefit from our nation's steadily rising productivity.

How complementary currencies can change how we think about money and community as well as inoculate our communities against the fiscal austerity.