Politics & Society

Student Workers Face Intimidation on the Eve of a Historic Strike at the University of California

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This Wednesday, November 20, could be defined by one of the largest labor strikes in the history of the University of California. Custodial, food service, grounds, and health service workers affiliated with AFSCME 3299 are planning to strike on all UC campuses. They are forming picket lines to contest the stark acts of intimidation they faced from supervisors prior to a work action some of them undertook last spring to preserve safe staffing levels at UC hospitals. A number of workers were pulled into private meetings with supervisors and threatened with consequences if they joined the strike.

Politics & Society

Reclaiming Entrepreneurship on the Path to Economic Justice

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“Profit is always highest in the countries which are going fastest to ruin.” American capitalism may not be in crisis, but capitalism can only breed crisis as long as the financial wealth it creates is owned by fewer and fewer capitalists. With the current income gap, predatory nature of our economy, and misunderstanding of ‘entrepreneurship’, there is a great need to spread community wealth and not allow social values to erode under financial value.

Culture

Were the Shutdown Republicans Prophetic (After a Fashion)?

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During the 16-day government shutdown, Tea Party Republicans rose above, or somewhere beyond, earthly politics. Their aim was to stay true to their principles, to be faithful, not necessarily effective. At their meeting behind closed doors on Tuesday, House Republicans began not by calling themselves to order, but by singing all three verses of “Amazing Grace.” In other words, the shutdown Republicans were prophetic in their own way. By this, I don’t mean they accurately predicted a future state of being.

Empathy

Politics, Humility and Homophobia: The Strangest Bedfellows of All

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Does Outrage Work?
When I consider how my own mind has changed, it was never because someone attacked and judged me harshly. It almost always arose from the surprising response of someone I respected. One example: I grew up literally and genuinely homophobic, one of those who are called “haters” though it was not true that I hated homosexuals.