The past couple of days, I’ve noticed postings on Facebook calling President Obama “the most successful president in U.S. history.” Continue reading
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Author Archives: Dave Alpert
The political goal of the Panama Papers
More than 11 million documents from a Panamanian law firm, Monssack Fonseca, were released last weekend that purported to show the company helped clients launder money and evade taxes. This was after a yearlong investigation by The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). Continue reading
‘She gets things done’
The mantra for some of Hillary Clinton’s supporters is that they will vote for her because, “she gets things done.” Although I have to admit that having someone in the White House that gets things done is a plus but, one must ask, what does she get done and who does it benefit? Continue reading
Don’t listen to what they say, look at what they do
He is blunt, he is insulting, he is a racist, and he is rich. Yet, he is the leading Republican candidate for the office of President of the United States. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, he is no other than Donald Trump. Continue reading
The Donald . . . that’s show biz
What’s the easiest way to get everyone’s attention? Just say Donald Trump. All ears will perk up, people you don’t know might even join your conversation. Continue reading
The elephant in the room
Against my better judgment, I decided to watch both the Democratic and Republican presidential debates this year. Everyone running for the office of president made promises. Continue reading
‘We came, we saw, he died’
“We came, we saw, he died,” the infamous words of Secretary of State Killery Clinton, referring to the assassination of Libya’s president, Muammar Gaddafi on October 20, 2011. Continue reading
Who does Our Soldiers Speak speak for?
Our Soldiers Speak claims to be an organization that is an independent, U.S. based, non-governmental organization (NGO). Continue reading
Upholding our values
There appears to be some confusion in official Washington circles . . . what exactly are our values? Continue reading
Who will shed tears for the thousands of children killed at the hands of the U.S.?
It was interesting watching President Obama giving his address on gun control on Tuesday. He seemed legitimately moved to tears, especially when referring to the 20 children gunned down and killed in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012. The killing of these babies brings all of us to tears that their lives were taken from them before they had an opportunity to live them. Continue reading
‘If you don’t vote, you can’t complain!’
If we reverse the headline of this article, it would read something like this: If you take the time and make the effort to vote, you have every right to complain. Continue reading
A country of ‘uns’
For many years I have been mesmerized by the ability of the U.S. to place the prefix “un” in front of the word American and quickly obliterate the identity and life of the targeted person. Continue reading
Let’s not scapegoat The Donald . . .
That's too easy and allows the rest of those who support and have supported our imperialist adventures off the hook.
We are all sickened by the racist and fascist rhetoric of Donald Trump. But let’s not be fooled, the Donald speaks for a large segment of people in the U.S. . . . racists, white supremacists, fascists, etc. Also, let us look at the official positions the U.S. has taken with the Muslim countries in the past two or three decades. Continue reading
Socialism or barbarism?
In 1916, strongly denouncing the then raging First World War, Rosa Luxemburg wrote: “Bourgeois society stands at the crossroads, either transition to socialism or regression into barbarism.” Continue reading
If this is not who we are, then who are we?
For years I’ve witnessed acts of violence or acts of intolerance committed by members of the U.S. community that have resulted in the deaths or intimidation of fellow Americans. Inevitably some of our elected officials, including our president, would publicly denounce such behavior and claim that this is “not who we are.” Continue reading
The right to bare arms
I am a strong believer in and supporter of the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution . . . the right of the people to keep and bear arms. Continue reading
It’s okay, relax, he’s one of us
A sarcastic accounting of the events in Colorado
When I first became aware of the shooting in Colorado Springs, inside a Planned Parenthood facility, I thought that this was another act of terrorism. But, lo and behold, to my relief, this was not terrorism, it was a shooting spree by a white, Christian man. Continue reading
What really happened on Friday the 13th?
On Friday, November 13, well over 100 people were killed in Paris. People around the world were rightfully devastated by this event. Continue reading
The way out of the trap
Here we are once again . . . it’s election season. Being a “democracy,” we the people have our opportunity to cast our votes for the man or woman who will be our president, the “leader of the “free” world.” Continue reading
‘We are a nation of laws!!’
Often, while scrolling through Facebook, I come upon comments made by well-meaning, caring people. “What they’re doing is illegal”; “They are breaking international law”; “They are creating a humanitarian crisis”; “Oh my God, they’re killing children,” etc. Continue reading
Reaching a new low . . . everything is for sale
While the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) continues on its rampage, killing unarmed Palestinian citizens and enforcing a decade long occupation and program of genocide, Walmart is providing parents with the opportunity to have their children join in the defense of Israel. Continue reading
What do we know about Zionism?
Zionism does not = Judaism; anti-Israel does not = anti-Semitism
Most people confuse Zionism with Judaism. Nothing could be further from the truth. Continue reading
Beware the global threat of U.S. capitalism
After the end of WW2, the U.S. pursued an expanding agenda of imperialism. After all, the U.S. had demonstrated its military strength when it used nuclear weapons in the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Who had the means to challenge the U.S. as it strove for world domination? Continue reading
Where has Democracy Now! and Amy Goodman gone?
For many, many years, I have relied on Democracy Now! for relevant news reporting, including voices of those who have alternative perceptions and information from that which we see and hear in the mainstream media. Continue reading
OMG, Russia is dropping bombs on our terrorists
Peace loving, democracy spreading NATO and U.S. officials have expressed their concern over Russia’s decision to drop bombs in Syria. Continue reading
Palestinian lives don’t matter on the Jewish day of atonement
Last Tuesday, three IDF soldiers confronted an 18-year-old Palestinian university student on her way to class at the Shuhada Street checkpoint. Hadeel al Hashlamon was dressed in a burqa. Though we don’t know precisely how the incident began, we know how it ended: with her shot multiple times, lying on the ground and slowly bleeding to death while the IDF refused to allow medical emergency personnel to tend to her. Continue reading
Finland and India workers send a message
When a country faces economic problems, it immediately calls for an austerity program to deal with the situation. Austerity does not mean that the wealthy will have to surrender their jet planes or their yachts, or use of personal expenses as tax write-offs. Continue reading
Where does socialism begin?
It appears that Bernie Sanders has been denounced and attacked for his support of Jeremy Corbyn, the new British Labour Party leader, by some members of Hillary Clinton’s entourage and supporters. Such action is within the parameters of her ideology and, as a friend of Wall Street and the banking and finance industries, we can understand her discomfort with Corbyn’s victory in Britain. Continue reading
Being Trumped
I’ve been asked to express my thoughts about Donald Trump. Quite frankly, I have no thoughts about him. Well, that’s not exactly true. He is a crass, narcissistic, racist , sexist billionaire and a reflection of what this country stands for. Continue reading
Fear and terrorism
In 1988, Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman, co-wrote a book they titled, “Manufacturing Consent.” Continue reading
The kinder, gentler face of Zionism
While tens of thousands of Palestinians have been either killed or rendered homeless by last summer’s mercilous attack by Israel, opposition Labor leader Isaac Herzog on Saturday called on the government of Israel to respond to the refugee crisis by granting asylum to a limited number of Syrians looking to escape the violence in Syria. Continue reading
Is reform enough or do we need a revolution?
Posted on April 15, 2016 by Dave Alpert
Bernie Sanders calls his candidacy a “political revolution;” hundreds of people get arrested while demonstrating in Washington, DC, to get the money out of the electoral system and to make the election process more democratic. Continue reading →