For everyone trying to read the Supreme Court tea leaves after this week’s oral arguments about health care reform, the discovery of a pile
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.
“Hate map” shows explosive growth of extremist groups in 2011
Is it just me, or does it seem that there’s more news than ever about extreme right-wing hate groups in America? As it turns
Individual mandates: not new, not unconstitutional
So, you think it’s unconstitutional and unprecedented to pass a federal law mandating the purchase of a product? Think again. In 1792, America’s founders,
The Heritage Foundation wants me to join up. Here’s their scary pitch.
I’m being recruited by the Heritage Foundation. They like me, they really like me! Or, perhaps, they like my zipcode and phone number, which
IRS offers mobile, refund-tracking app
If you’re wondering when your federal tax refund will arrive—and who isn’t?—you can now check your status on the go. In addition to its
HARP 2.0: Obama’s improved refi program for underwater mortgages
A lot of homeowners with underwater mortgages have March 17, 2012 circled on their calendars. That’s the day when new rules for the federal
Big government, micro-government, and freedom of political speech
Can your homeowners’ association or subdivision board prevent you from planting a political sign in your front yard? That’s a question that comes up
Talking about health care reform: People get it when they see what it does for them
Ask people if they support what specific provisions of healthcare reform actually do for them, [eliminating pre-existing conditions, etc.], and they’ll say they like
Write-in voting, and why it matters
Want to run as a write-in candidate in California in November 2012? Forget it. On February 10, 2012, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a
How poor do you have to be to qualify for the safety net in 2012?
Mitt Romney says he’s not worried about the poorest people in America, because they have a safety net. President Obama didn’t even mention poverty