What would happen if a state lifted all limits on lobbying gifts and campaign contributions? Ask Missouri. It’s the only state that imposes no
Author: Gloria Shur Bilchik
Gloria Shur Bilchik is a freelance writer and community volunteer in St. Louis, Missouri. She is the editor of Occasional Planet. She views the preservation of democratic values and progressive programs as vital to making the US a humane, livable place for her children and grandchildren.
“Guns ‘n’ Hoses” needs a name change
At the risk of being labeled a wet blanket, I’d like to lodge a complaint against Gun ‘n’ Hoses. The event is an evening
Red-light camera refund
Sometime between 2005 and 2014, I got nailed by a red-light camera. I don’t remember the date or the time, but I do remember
Takeaways from “Selma”
Can I speak honestly about the new movie, “Selma?” No doubt, it’s going to get a lot of support for an Oscar. Critics have
Rooting for the grand juror in his lawsuit vs. Bob McCulloch
A member of the Darren Wilson grand jury is suing St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Bob McCulloch, claiming that McCulloch publicly mis-characterized the grand
Obamacare enrollment, Year 2: Mainstream media outlets ignore success
The ACA [Obamacare] is alive and growing—and Year 2 of enrollment is going quite well, but you’d never know that if you get your
After Ferguson: Small reforms, big potential
Ferguson has consequences—and some of them may be positive. The tragedy of Michael Brown’s death in August 2014 has been a consciousness-raiser with ramifications
Ferguson grand jury: Same old inequality, different venue
The decision not to indict Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown is wrong in multiple ways, not the least of which
The real state of emergency in Ferguson
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon’s declaration of a “state of emergency” in Ferguson is bad news in many ways, but I’ve been struggling with finding
My local democratic club doesn’t cut it. How’s yours?
What the hell are democratic clubs good for, anyway? I received an email recently from the one in my area, imploring me, as a