Why Democratic Socialism is the Answer (2)

There is nothing wrong with the profit motive in and of itself. We usually do something to gain something, and money is just a unit of exchange for the something we want to gain.

Why Democratic Socialism is the Answer (1)

Government or Corporation? Who is more reliable, effective, trustworthy, and efficient to run our industries?

Egypt Shows Wisconsin The Way

The protesters are displaying their opposition to the republican sponsored bill that drastically cuts government and university employee benefits, and do away with collective bargaining rights that took over 50 years to achieve and win. Some are even demanding the resignation of the new republican governor, Scott Walker, or Scott “Hosni” Walker, as some Green Bay Packers called him.

Economic Paralysis is the Revolution

It’s about time we stopped bullshitting ourselves. People don’t risk their necks for democracy and freedom of speech. They risk their necks for economic reasons!

The least the demonstrators can do, should they choose against storming the presidential palace, is to continue the economic paralysis that is severely hurting the current Egyptian regime.

How Big Business Ruled Egypt

An exposé an AlJazeera on how the Egyptian business elite ruled the country provides some horrifying details about this incestuous relationship that concentrated the nation’s wealth in the hands of the privileged few, virtually destroyed the living standard of the middle class and the poor, and robbed the resources of the country for the benefit of western corporations.

A list of who’s who in the Ahmed Natheef cabinet that was just fired by Mubarak gives you the impression that ministerial positions were being occupied by individuals with specific, narrow agenda of securing favorable environments for their own and family businesses. Mind you Egyptian constitution explicitly forbids public servants from remaining invested in private enterprise or having other jobs or conflict of interest. A few examples:

A democracy is only as righteous as its citizens

Today, many people are outraged at the Swiss people’s decision to ban minarets from their skylines, a decision made by referendum.

From the outset, let me say that I am wholly opposed to this decision, just as I am opposed to the burqa ban in France, Egypt’s ban on building churches, several Muslim countries’ bans on conversion, and Saudi Arabia’s banning of female hair. I fundamentally believe in the right of anyone to practice their religion, anywhere (though I certainly prefer they keep it to themselves). I should also say that two wrongs don’t make a right: I’ve heard plenty of statements along the lines of “good for the Swiss, they’re standing up to Islam” from people who, were the tables turned, would call inequality if a majority-Muslim nation does the same thing.

Who Said “No Democracy In Iran’?

At least these ones did not need a manual and talking points memo from party insiders or insurance companies like the republican operatives that have been going around disrupting healthcare reform town hall meetings. In anycasee, this article, Who Wants Sactions on Iran?, by Hamid Dabashi is a must read for those who care to [...]

Poor Alternatives

Anne Applebaum, liberal-ish Washington Post and Slate correspondent, former-USSR expert, and wife of the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, recently published the most ridiculous op-ed of all time, entitled “Morocco, an Alternative to Iran.”  On Slate, it was published as “Morocco Makes Peace With Its Past” (perhaps even more proposterous), and I perhaps wouldn’t have [...]

Orange You Going to Vote for Me?

What is the story behind this fruit-flavored ad? [Tarboush tip: Matthew Cassel]

Bouteflika Re-elects Himself, Gets Love Letter from Al-Assad

Awww, isn’t that sweet? Assad congratulating Bouteflika on re-electing himself! That ought to mean a lot coming from someone who managed to pull off 97% in his re-election (whereas Boute only managed 90.24%). Congrats, Bouteflika! (Tarboush Tip: SANA)