In Cecily McMillan’s arrest in Zuccotti park, the New York prosecutor’s office found an outlet for its fury at Occupy Wall Street. The District Attorney seized the opportunity and held onto it like a dog with a bone. It would be the height of absurdity to charge with assault a […]
Opinion
23 posts
When we were teenagers, my brother and I lived in Iran for three years and traveled throughout the Middle East. We went to high school in the city of Shah-in Shah, and we enjoyed a great educational experience at the International School. We traveled to Afghanistan and other countries with […]
This week the White House announced that it is sending an additional 275 soldiers to Baghdad to calm unrest in the conflict stricken area. President Obama said the mission is necessary to protect American interests abroad. “This force is deploying for the purpose of protecting U.S. citizens and property, if […]
What Happened to the Will of the People? Earlier today, someone asked me to explain why corporations have so much more power than the American people. The easy answer is that now, in America, money is free speech and corporations can speak far louder. And while the sentiment is true, […]
The conviction of Occupy Wall Street protestor Cecily McMillan for assault on a police officer shows that the judiciary is corrupt and dissent will not be tolerated. We can no longer call ourselves a democratic society, and as Chris Hedges says, we are living in the “post-constitutional era.” Since 9/11, […]
By Keith Wrightson Today’s federal whistleblower protection laws are far too weak for many private sector workers, making it extremely difficult for them to expose wrongdoing because they rightly fear they can and will be retaliated against. Of concern are whistleblower protections allotted to workers under 29 U.S.C. §660, Section […]
U.S. Trade Representative Mike Froman needs a fast track bill to get some important free trade agreements to the President’s desk for signature. But you wouldn’t necessarily know it after he testified about the administration’s trade policy agenda at a House Committee hearing on Thursday. “Our focus is on the […]
by Anne Meador After its fracking well in Greene County, PA exploded, killing one worker and injuring another, and a fire raged for five days spewing toxic chemicals into the air, Chevron generously sent local residents coupons for free pizza. More accidents last week, courtesy of the natural gas industry: […]
by Keith Wrightson The joy of parenting a newborn is irrefutable. But unfortunately the support that parents receive from Maryland employers is dismal, and, to make matters worse, occupational safety and health is at risk. In Maryland an estimated 300,000 workers do not receive parental leave under federal or state […]
By Keith Wrightson Last week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) heard testimony on modernizing and improving the tracking of workplace injuries and illnesses. These hearings were convened because OSHA has proposed a rule change that will directly benefit workers in “high hazard” industries, where workers suffer the most […]
by Sam Jewler This article was originally published on DC Mic Check. Sam Jewler argues that DC workers need a living wage and the Large Retailer Accountability Act (LRAA) is the best and most available option for working toward that goal. DC City Council’s passing of the LRAA in August […]