303 results for author: Phil Anderson
It Happened Before and it Can Happen Again
I recently read several books on American history that have a message for what is happening in our country today.
Today we face threats to democracy and to a just, civil society. We are seeing a rise of authoritarianism, resurgence of hate, racism, toxic religiosity, and the breakdown of civility in public life. There are threats of violence from far-right domestic terrorists. It has all happened before and can happen again.
Rachel Maddow is a television commentator and author. Her latest book is “Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism.” The book tells the history of the right-wing efforts in the 1930s to undermine democracy and establ...
Military Spending is Destroying America
“America’s leaders have embraced the very worst...preferring to be feared rather than loved, while putting power first and principle last...” William Astore, veteran, history professor and author.
“Sticking to the current defense spending strategy is not only economically wasteful but will also make America and the world less safe.” William D. Hartung, political scientist who specializes in military and national security issues.
We have a problem in our country with militarism. Militarism dominates our foreign policy, domestic policing, and national spending priorities. For eight decades our country has engaged in ...
Social Security is on the Ballot
Social Security works for all Americans. Social Security is essential to most people's present and future financial security. It is much more than retirement income for old folks. Social Security is very efficient with overhead costs which are way below those of private insurance companies. It is also very popular and the most successful public program in our history.
So why are Republican politicians constantly trying to mess around with Social Security? Even more inexplicable, why do so many people, who benefit from Social Security, continue to vote for Republicans?
Social Security is on the ballot in November and, if Republicans win ...
Taxes, Debt and War
“War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes.” President James Madison (1751-1836)
Today well over half the discretionary federal budget (your income tax dollars) go for war, weapons of war and the bureaucracies of war – the “armies” from which “proceed debt and taxes.” A large percentage of the national debt is the result of Pentagon spending and the cost of wars. We spend more on “defense” than the next 10 military powers in the world combined (and most of those ten are our allies).
In 1953 President Dwight Eisenhower said, “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in ...
Perfect Is The Enemy of The Good
“We’d all like to vote for the best man, but he’s never a candidate.” Kin Hubbard (1868-1930), an American cartoonist, humorist and journalist.
“How come we choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America?” Anonymous
I have been reading about and hearing from progressive's who are not happy with President Biden. He is too old, too corporate, too harsh on immigrants, too soft on environmental issues and most significantly he is a war monger. He got us into another no-win war in Ukraine. Even worse he is complicit in the crimes against humanity being perpetrated by Israel in Gaza and the West Bank.
All this ...
We Can’t Soar With Turkeys
“It’s hard to soar with the eagles when you’re surrounded by turkeys.” This saying is insulting to turkeys. The wild turkeys in my neighborhood are beautiful, intelligent birds with strong and adaptable survival skills. Perhaps this is why Ben Franklin proposed having the turkey as our national bird.
The eagles are also survivors, having come back from near extension because of DDT, a man made chemical. Today my wife and I often see them “soaring” at a roadside carcass to gorge on carrion. This is not the noble, patriotic image we associate with eagles. But who am I to criticize? I too have occasionally dined on roadkill.
But this ...
Who has better policy ideas?
Wisconsin Assembly majority leader Robin Vos claims that Republicans have “better policy ideas for the State of Wisconsin.” He claims this will allow Republicans to continue winning elections for the legislature. But he was only putting a positive spin on being forced to accept Gov. Evers more democratic redistricting maps.
Republicans may continue to win elections despite no longer having as many gerrymandered “safe” districts. But they will not win because they have “better policy ideas.” If they win it will be because they are better at manipulating the public using fear, divisiveness, misinformation and huge amounts of dirty money for ...
Wisconsin Happenings
The big story in Wisconsin is the new Assembly and Senate district maps. For a decade Wisconsin has had the most gerrymandered electoral districts in the country. The Republican legislature, fearing the Wisconsin Supreme Court creating a map, reluctantly passed Gov. Evers' redistricting plan – the least democratic option of those before the Court. Gov. Evers signed the bill and Wisconsin now has a much more competitive and democratic political landscape.
This didn't happen because Republicans were willing to compromise to resolve the redistricting controversy. Nor were they acting in the best interests of Wisconsin citizens. It was simply another ...
Honest Debate vs Political Spin
As I have pointed out in prior articles, Rep. Tom Tiffany's positions on most issues are misguided and not in the best interests of most of his constituents. Tiffany's positions on the environment are especially harmful. His thinking is founded in partisan talking points and not good science, knowledge, and the history or what is actually happening to the environment.
I am not being partisan in making these statements. When one examines Tiffany's own words, and compares them with the facts from reliable sources, it becomes very clear he is either misinformed, ignorant or deliberately distorting the truth for political advantage. Below are just two ...