Working Life

This piece just broke my heart. Africa’s World of Forced Labor, in a 6-Year-Old’s Eyes By SHARON LaFRANIEREKETE KRACHI, Ghana — Just before 5 a.m., with the sky still dark over Lake Volta, Mark Kwadwo was rousted from his spot on the damp dirt floor. It was time for work. Shivering in the predawn chill, […]

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It’s considered heresy right now to say anything about problems inside “the family”–in this case, those of us who are still Democrats (or recovering Democrats). For the past few weeks, I’ve pointed out, on this blog and other places, the worrisome–and, let’s be honest, entirely predictable–expanding ties between corporate America and the Democratic Party. Actually, […]

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So, maybe it’s because I was born in Houston that I have a particular interest in the janitors who are trying to kick some serious ass down in Texas. It’s the typical story: poor people working their tails off for $20 a day. Last December, more than five thousand janitors in Houston won the right […]

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Follow me here on a bit of a twisting tale which leads to the following conclusion, albeit, arguable: if the Democrats don’t take back the House and say miss by a seat or two, they can blame themselves for not holding the line against so-called “free trade.” Here’s how I see it. In today’s New […]

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Ah, I love the smell of the influence money has on elections…regardless of party. Over in Pennsylvania, the truly repugnant Rick Santorum is trailing in his race for re-election–and, while Democract Bob Casey gives new meaning to unimpressive/unimaginative, it will be a great election night to watch Santorum’s concession speech. BUT, the drug companies aren’t […]

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I’m betting that “Dollar Bill” Jefferson will lose his seat in Congress–not on November 7th but in the run-off that he is almost certain to find himself in. He’s got 12 challengers running against him for his congressional seat in Louisiana. If no one gets a majority, under state law, there is a run-off on […]

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The Wall Street Journal is reporting today that the Beast from Bentonville (aka Wal-Mart) is running into stiff opposition to its attempt to get into the banking business. The article (subscription required) describes a potent anti-Wal-Mart coalition that has risen up against the proposal. An excerpt: When Wal-Mart Stores Inc. applied 15 months ago to […]

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It’s ironic, to say the least, that the polls show that the majority of the people believe that the political system is broken (according to a new CNN poll) and the polls also show the Democrats on the verge of taking over the House BUT, BUT, BUT, read this from The Hotline: K Street Veering […]

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Well, as many of you know, I am a Yankees season-ticket holder. When the boys from the Bronx were dispatched from the playoffs, I rooted for the Mets to go to the Fall classic–hey, I’m a New Yorker and how can you not root for success for Willy Randolph? Now that New Yorkers get to […]

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In another context, I wrote about the crisis facing workers in Palestine. This is not a new situation–and it is at the core of the anger, I believe, of many rank-and-file Palestinians who aren’t necessarily caught up in the political debates raging between Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and Israel. They can’t make a living. Here […]

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