Category Archives: Elections

A Surprise from the French Left in the 2024 Legislative Elections

Many French people were very anxious prior to the second round of their July, 2024 legislative elections. Unlike the American two-party system, in the French multiparty system a candidate needs 50 percent or more of the vote to be seated … Continue reading

 189 total views

Posted in Democracy, Elections, France, International, International, Section | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on A Surprise from the French Left in the 2024 Legislative Elections

Chile: The Hopes and Challenges of Drafting a New Constitution

In May, Chilean citizens flocked to polling stations to participate in an election for an unprecedented four categories of office. On top of the regularly scheduled elections for mayors and city councils, citizens also elected governors for the first time … Continue reading

 917 total views

Posted in Elections, International, International, Latin America | Comments Off on Chile: The Hopes and Challenges of Drafting a New Constitution

A Tale of Two Elections

  This article was first published in The Raw Story on December 21, 2020, under the title “Trump’s Coup is Failing—But a Similar Effort Backed by the US has Already Succeeded.” It has been amended to note the inauguration’s having happened. Reprinted … Continue reading

Posted in Elections, Foreign Policy, International, Latin America | Comments Off on A Tale of Two Elections

The Proposed Constitutional Amendment on the Ballot for a “Fair Tax”

Right now, the Illinois State Constitution forbids progressive taxation on income. In other words, it forbids doing what the IRS does on your federal income tax—taxing you at a rate that depends on your income. On your federal income tax, … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Economy, Elections, IL, Illinois taxes | Comments Off on The Proposed Constitutional Amendment on the Ballot for a “Fair Tax”

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

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

Getting Money out of Politics and Beyond: A Call for a We the People Amendment

The midterm elections are over. Candidates have been elected and unelected. Ballot issues have been passed and rejected. What hasn’t changed one iota, however, are the catastrophic harms to people, communities, the natural world and our republican form of self-government … Continue reading

Posted in Citizens United, Corporations, Elections, Politics | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Getting Money out of Politics and Beyond: A Call for a We the People Amendment