Category Archives: Politics

Ukrainian Refugees and National(ist) Politics in Eastern Europe

In an article in our last issue (November-December Public i), I used the case of Hungary—its positive reception of Ukrainian refugees, alongside its negative role in hindering EU political and material support of Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression—to … Continue reading

 147 total views,  2 views today

Posted in Eastern Europe, Immigrants, International, International, Poland, Politics, Refugees, Section, Ukraine | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Ukrainian Refugees and National(ist) Politics in Eastern Europe

Ukraine, Hungarian Refugee Politics, and the Future of Migrants in the EU

The February 24, 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine unleashed, in addition to death, destruction, and hardship on the Ukrainian people as a whole, a wave of refugees not seen in Europe since World War II. Over six million Ukrainians were … Continue reading

 186 total views,  2 views today

Posted in Eastern Europe, International, International, Politics, Refugees, Section, Ukraine | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Ukraine, Hungarian Refugee Politics, and the Future of Migrants in the EU

Should Ukrainians Surrender for World Peace?

The February 24 one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine saw no respite for either the volunteer and professional Ukrainian troops or the civilian population. The Russian-occupied territories in eastern and southern Ukraine and the areas along the military … Continue reading

 737 total views,  1 views today

Posted in Eastern Europe, International, International, Politics, Section, Ukraine, War | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Should Ukrainians Surrender for World Peace?

Who’s Your Family?

Having just survived the winter holidays, the stressors and supports brought about by family could not be more present in our minds. However, for some of us in the American workforce, even the discussion of our loved ones at home … Continue reading

 842 total views

Posted in Community, Human Rights, LGBTQ, Politics, Section | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Who’s Your Family?

The Move toward Socialism in the United States

People on the Left are understandably preoccupied with the growing strength of fascism, white supremacist and antisemitic rhetoric and violence, and the growth of extreme right-wing groups. There is no doubt that these developments represent an obstacle to badly needed … Continue reading

 536 total views

Posted in Labor, Politics, Politics, socialism | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Move toward Socialism in the United States

A Time of Monsters: The New Nadir and the Crisis of the Black Worker

We currently reside in what Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci called “A Time of Monsters.” Exacerbated by the catastrophic COVID-19 pandemic, the Black working classes continue to struggle under what Black Studies scholar Sundiata Cha-Jua has dubbed “the New Nadir.” For … Continue reading

 408 total views

Posted in African Americans, African Americans, Economy, labor, Labor/Economics, Politics | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on A Time of Monsters: The New Nadir and the Crisis of the Black Worker

Champaign Can End its Housing Discrimination

As previously reported in the Public i, housing discrimination in Champaign is a chronic issue. Following on the “tough on crime era,” since 1994 Champaign has allowed landlords to reject tenant lease applications based on their conviction record—in excess of … Continue reading

 807 total views

Posted in Champaign County, Housing, Politics, Politics, racial segregation in Champaign/Urbana | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Champaign Can End its Housing Discrimination

Progressive Dilemmas on Ukraine

The Left has tangled itself in knots over how to respond to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Early statements, such as by CodePink and Black Alliance for Peace, while putatively opposing war, laid emphasis on US and Western responsibility, NATO’s … Continue reading

 723 total views,  1 views today

Posted in Eastern Europe, Foreign Policy, Imperialism, International, International, Politics, Refugees, Ukraine, War | Comments Off on Progressive Dilemmas on Ukraine

The Great De-Centering: The World after Ukraine

The Ukraine war is a turning point in history, but not the one you might be expecting. It won’t revive the Cold War. It won’t determine the survival of the Liberal World Order (whatever that is). And most decidedly, it … Continue reading

 735 total views

Posted in Foreign Policy, International, International, Middle East, Politics, Racism, Ukraine, War | Comments Off on The Great De-Centering: The World after Ukraine

What’s With All That Socialism in South America?

The past twenty or so years in South America have seen several powerful electoral victories of socialist-aligned candidates and parties, followed by years of reform. Eventually the momentum for change slowed, however, to be followed by disappointment and defeat. This … Continue reading

 1,720 total views,  1 views today

Posted in Economics, Imperialism, International, Latin America, Politics, Section, socialism | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on What’s With All That Socialism in South America?

Victory! Dynegy Will Move Its Ash

No More “Cap and Run” After a multi-year campaign calling for the clean-up of coal ash along the Middle Fork of the Vermilion, Illinois’ only National Scenic River, Dynegy Midwest Generation, owner of the coal ash, has finally agreed to … Continue reading

 1,396 total views

Posted in Environment, Environment, IL, Politics | Comments Off on Victory! Dynegy Will Move Its Ash

Slightly Out of Focus: A Review of One Night in Miami and Judas and the Black Messiah

For more than 70 years and over a century, respectively, television and cinema have presented demeaning images of Black people. And for equally as long, African Americans have responded with boycotts, pickets and alternative visions that “depict[ed] our men and … Continue reading

 779 total views,  1 views today

Posted in 1968 Revolt, African American, African Americans, Arts, cinema, film, Politics, Racism, Voices, Voices of Color | Comments Off on Slightly Out of Focus: A Review of One Night in Miami and Judas and the Black Messiah

Turn Off the Spigot: Money vs. Med4All

The COVID pandemic has exposed the flaws in the US health care system as never before, reinforcing longstanding arguments for creating an expanded Medicare for All system in the country. The Public i has previously published articles (see June, November … Continue reading

Posted in health care, IL, Politics, Politics | Comments Off on Turn Off the Spigot: Money vs. Med4All

If You Could Save a Million Lives, Would You Do It?

This article was first published in The Hill on October 1, 2020. Reprinted with permission. If you had the opportunity to save a million people from preventable death, would you do it? These are people who would otherwise fall victim … Continue reading

Posted in COVID-19, Economics, International, International, Politics | Comments Off on If You Could Save a Million Lives, Would You Do It?

Pro-Business Bias and Conservative Extremism at the Supreme Court

As recent books and law review articles have confirmed, the Supreme Court has been moving to the right since the Nixon Administration. Abetted by Republican politicians, anti-abortion advocates and organizations, and conservative legal entities like the Federalist Society, this rightward … Continue reading

 1,170 total views,  1 views today

Posted in Justice, Politics, Supreme Court | Comments Off on Pro-Business Bias and Conservative Extremism at the Supreme Court

Decatur Demagoguery: Part 1—City Council

  On February 3, 2020, six of the seven Decatur City Council members (Councilman Rodney Walker was absent) gathered to consider a proposal to restrict public comment regarding city annexation of territory and its impact on the reporting of the … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | Comments Off on Decatur Demagoguery: Part 1—City Council

Bolton is Out! But Imperialist Aggression Against Iran is Still In

On September 10, National Security Advisor John Bolton was fired from his post at the White House. With one of the staunchest advocates for US imperialism now out of the Trump administration, some were optimistic that the warmongering and the … Continue reading

Posted in Foreign Policy, Imperialism, International, Middle East, Politics | Comments Off on Bolton is Out! But Imperialist Aggression Against Iran is Still In

Need for System Change

The time is long past due for American citizens to realize that our political and economic systems are untenable. Trump is awful, no question there. And for those who continue to support the Democratic candidates as the lesser evil—fine, that’s … Continue reading

Posted in Elections, Foreign Policy, Immigration, Imperialism, Politics | Comments Off on Need for System Change

Unacceptable Levels—Our Body Burden, Our Planet Burden

Our planet is drowning in synthetic chemicals. Our bodies have become synthetic chemical processing plants. A 2005 Environmental Working Group study of umbilical cord blood revealed that babies are born already pre-polluted with over 200 industrial contaminates. Hundreds of the … Continue reading

Posted in Environment, film, Politics, Public Health | Comments Off on Unacceptable Levels—Our Body Burden, Our Planet Burden

Illiberal America: A Report Card

I never thought I would live to see the U.S. turn into the illiberal, authoritarian, populist, white-nationalist country it has already increasingly become in early 2019. Illiberalism Turns Liberal Democracy on its Head “Liberal democracy” is characterized in theory by … Continue reading

Posted in bigotry, Democracy, Elections, Justice, labor, Media, Politics, Trump | Comments Off on Illiberal America: A Report Card