Change Comes From the Bottom Up

During the July 23 CNN/YouTube Democratic presidential debate, Hillary Clinton was asked if she would describe herself as a liberal. A serious enough question you might say, but the audience laughed. Why? Mainly, I think, because “liberal” has long been...

Between the Lines: Squandering Obama

I have known Barack Obama since the early '90s. My conversations with him had convinced me he was an unwavering progressive. I celebrated his first election to the Illinois state senate, and he compiled a strikingly progressive legislative record during his...

The World This Week: Mercky Waters

You could put what I know about high finance in a thimble and still have room for a side order of fries. Nonetheless, occasionally some news sifts up from the Wall Street babble that makes me prick up my ears. For instance, this week I heard that the stock market...

The Half-Mile Challenge

At the moment, the world—including Americans, the world's heaviest users of fossil fuels—have what may turn out to be one of the most important, and shortest, windows of opportunity in history. For a time that may be all too brief, the urgent need of...

Nuevo Mundo: Hold Burke Accountable

One of Springfield's most sought-after high schools is in danger of losing accreditation because its class sizes are too large, it lacks a sufficient number of guidance counselors and its technology is outdated. The New England Association of Schools and Colleges...