Thanksgiving – a time of grace and family sharing – will start with an extra-graceful act from the White House this year. Just as every president since Lincoln has done, Barack Obama will grant clemency to two turkeys that otherwise could’ve become the main entree for the first family’s holiday dinner. This traditional, presidential pardon […]
National – Jim Hightower
Posted inOpinion
Amazon threatens community vitality
It’s that time of year – Thanksgiving holiday will be here soon. And then we’ll get to celebrate Black Friday and Cyber Monday. And, if we’re shopping online, odds are good that we’ll shop on Amazon.com. Maybe we should rethink that. Even by the anything-goes ethical code of the corporate jungle, Amazon.com’s CEO, Jeff Bezos, […]
Posted inOpinion
Net neutrality in the way of corporate profits
When it comes to Internet Service Providers and high-speed Internet, the consumer marketplace has hardly been a model of competitiveness. Some of us are lucky enough to be able to choose from two providers, and some of us only have access to one. These digital conduits are essential parts of America’s utility infrastructure, nearly as […]
Posted inOpinion
Election 2014: The rise of a stealth oligarchy
A stunning surprise coming out of this year’s elections is that the most dominant contenders were not glad-handing braggarts, but the least likely of participants: shy people. Indeed, these were not the candidates listed on your ballot, but shadow candidates that are not even people. They are corporations that have been empowered by the Frankenstein-majority […]
Posted inOpinion
In Big Beer we do not trust
OK, that’s it – no more Mr. Nice Guy from me when covering the avarice and arrogance of corporate power! The monopolistic grabfest has now turned personal. It’s about beer, the nourishing nectar of a civilized society. From my teen years forward, I’ve done extensive and intensive consumer research on the brewer’s art, from the […]
Posted inOpinion
From one bad war to a worse one
In 2004, Stuart Bowen of Texas was asked by a friend to take on a difficult and important job, which he did. Bowen’s friend was George W. Bush, and the job was to investigate corruption and waste in Iraq, where his buddy George had launched a misguided and very costly war, as well as an […]
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Dumb and dumber: Political fearmongers
One thing you can say about Rick Perry is that he sticks to his guns. If one of his policy proposals turns out to be dumb, by golly, he will double down on dumb. For example, in his current re-run for the GOP presidential nomination, the “Oops” governor has repositioned himself as an expert on […]
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Marriott’s shameful hotel tipping scam
As an old popular song from the 1970s asks, what do you get if you “work your fingers right down to the bone?” Bony fingers. As the hardworking housekeepers for the sprawling Marriott chain of hotels know, that’s more than a cute song lyric; it’s the truth. Mostly women, these “room attendants,” as they’re called, […]
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GOP nightmare reveals secret corporate donors
Some people have a myriad of recurring nightmares about being publicly embarrassed, such as rising to give a speech and realizing you know nothing about the topic – then realizing you’re naked. You might be surprised to learn though, that corporations also have such nightmares. OK, corporations aren’t really people, no matter what the Supreme […]
Posted inOpinion
Wall Street walls off young farmers
We know from the childhood song that Old McDonald had a farm – but e-i-e-i-o – look who’s got his farm now! It’s groups like American Farmland and Farmland Partners. These aren’t dirt farmers wearing overalls and brogans, but Wall Street hucksters in Armani suits and Gucci loafers. The latest fast-buck fad for high-roller investment […]
Posted inOpinion
America’s natural politics
My father, W.F. “High” Hightower, was a populist. Only, he didn’t know it. Didn’t know the word, much less the history or anything about populism’s democratic ethos. My father was not philosophical, but he had a phrase that he used to express the gist of his political beliefs: “Everybody does better when everybody does better.” […]
Posted inOpinion
Help wash formaldehyde out of baby’s hair
In the U.S. alone, the cosmetics industry pulls in some $70 billion a year in sales of what’s commonly called “makeup.” But lipstick, blush, mascara, etc. are not the only kind of makeup the cosmetic giants are peddling. For years, their lobbyists, lawyers and PR agents have been making up facts, stories, half-truths and whole […]
