David Swanson

If you’re like me you’ve read several books that list inspiring examples of worker owned businesses and co-ops, suggesting that expanding on such models might begin to right the wrongs of an incredibly unequal society that is growing even more unequal by the day.

The best such collection I’ve found is in a new book by Gar Alperovitz called What Then Must We Do?  This book also offers a powerful argument that radical change is needed, albeit an argument with some possible flaws.

Mr. President, if I were a professional con artist paid to give you the pros and cons on engaging in a war in Syria, here’s what they would be

The United States balances its endless war of terrorism with the institution of an endless “peace process” for Palestine, a process valuable for its peaceyness and interminability.

Imagine if at some point during the 1990s or 1980s the President of the United States had given a speech. And this was his speech:

My fellow Americans, I’ve been regularly shooting missiles into people’s houses in several countries. I’ve wiped out families. I’ve killed thousands of people. Hundreds of them have been little children.

President Obama is expected to announce that the eternal war on the world will have an end.

When?

He won’t say.

There’s a contradiction built into every campaign promise about transparent government beyond the failure to keep the promises. Our government is, in significant portion, made up of secret operations, operations that include warmaking, kidnapping, torture, assassination, and infiltrating and overthrowing governments. A growing movement is ready to see that end.

The Central Intelligence Agency is central to our foreign policy, but there is nothing intelligent about it.

After years of mismanagement, the Tribune Company newspapers — including the Chicago Tribune and L.A. Times – are up for sale. And one of the potential buyers? The Koch brothers. And wow are people outraged!

Our elected and unelected officials tell us that drone strikes target top level enemies of the United States who are imminent threats to us, and that killing innocent people is avoided altogether or minimized.

Congressional hearings, with a couple of excellent exceptions, question outside academics about the legality of this purported strategy. The Obama administration declines to send any witnesses.

But drone pilots have begun talking to the media. And they describe policies that bear a lot closer resemblance to reporting from the areas where the missiles strike. These pilots should be brought before Congress.

Most of the world’s governments no longer use the death penalty. Among wealthy nations there is one exception remaining. The United States is among the top five killers in the world. Also in the top five: the recently “liberated” Iraq.

An NPR story on Monday carried this headline: “Expansion Plans At Arlington National Cemetery Cause Environmental Concerns.” Only environmental concerns? Are there any other concerns that anyone can think of? I mean if, for example, “All Things” were going to be “Considered,” would there be any other things worth considering?