What’s the correct way to put people back to work? Republicans say that cutting federal spending and reducing taxes is the way to create
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.
To get young people to vote, let them pre-register at 16
Dismally low voter turnout among eligible citizens between the ages of 18 and 24 is a perpetual cause for despair. The numbers are particularly
California launches US’s first Disaster Corps
When large-scale disasters strike, people want to help, and that’s good news. But when crowds of well-intentioned folks show up at a disaster site,
The unofficial Congressional book club
It’s reassuring to know that presidents and congressional representatives–or, perhaps, their staff–sometimes read something other than staff-prepared briefing books and lobbyist-generated manifestos. Well, at
14th Street mall on the verge of another comeback
Let’s hope that this time, it’s for real. A recent visit to the two-block area in north St. Louis, known as the 14th Street
National security strategy with a progressive twist
The Obama administration’s new 2010 National Security Strategy—unveiled on May 27—is getting good reviews, plus some caveats, from progressive organizations. “The plan is grounded
New rules for fighting hunger in the US
“Nearly one in four people in St. Louis, Mo., lives in poverty — a rate twice the national average. In a state that’s 67
Bicycles help educate girls in Zambia
In the US, living 10 miles from school means riding a school bus or organizing a car pool. In many African countries, it means
On the waterfront with Robert Criss
Bob Criss doesn’t claim to walk on water, but on a walk over the water, he has a lot to say about current [pun
Why does Haiti have it so bad?
The economic disparity between Haiti and its island-sharing neighbor, the Dominican Republic, is a question I’ve wondered about a lot since the devastating earthquake