Oh Say, Can You Shop! Oh Say, Can You Shop!
The season’s here. If you’re beset By crippling, horrifying debt, Amassing loads of costly booty Is still your patriotic duty.
Nov 30, 2011 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Bob Herbert: Rebuilding America’s Economy Bob Herbert: Rebuilding America’s Economy
The development of a fair and sustainable economy, Bob Herbert argues, will require a national conversation—not to mention a considerable amount of government involvement.
Nov 30, 2011 / Francis Reynolds and Emily Douglas
Hillary Clinton in Burma: Checking China, Testing Reforms Hillary Clinton in Burma: Checking China, Testing Reforms
As the secretary of state makes a historic trip to the southeast Asian nation, what is at stake?
Nov 30, 2011 / Rajeshree Sisodia
The Nastiness of Newt The Nastiness of Newt
Gingrich, the champion of child labor, has risen to the top of a GOP field so extreme it would scare Goldwater and Reagan.
Nov 30, 2011 / The Editors
The Real J. Edgar The Real J. Edgar
Clint Eastwood's cinematic exploration of the FBI chief's rise to power is little more than a comforting myth.
Nov 30, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Beverly Gage
Noted Noted
John Nichols on Barney Frank’s last year, Josh Eidelson on the never-ending foreclosure crisis, the editors on Tom Wicker’s passing
Nov 30, 2011 / Various Contributors
The First and the Last of Everything The First and the Last of Everything
The first fine dawn of life on earth The first cry of Man in the first light The first firefly flickering at night The first Noble Savage with the first erection The first song of love and forty cries of despair The first voyage of Vikings westward The first sighting of the New World from the crow’s nest of a Spanish galleon The first Pale Face meeting the first Native American The first Dutch trader in Mannahatta The first settler on the first frontier The first Home Sweet Home so dear The first wagon train westward The first sighting of the Pacific by Lewis & Clark The first cry of “Mark, twain!” on the Mississippi The first desegregation by Huck & Jim on a raft at night The first buffalo-head nickel and the last buffalo The first barbed-wire fence and the last of the open range The last cowboy on the last frontier The first skyscraper in America The first home run hit at Yankee Stadium The first ballpark hot dog with mustard The last War to End All Wars The last Wobbly and the last Catholic Anarchist The last living member of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade The last bohemian in a beret The last homespun politician and the first stolen election The first plane to hit the first Twin Tower The birth of a vast national paranoia The first president to become an international criminal for crimes against humanity making America a terrorist state The dark dawn of American corporate fascism The next-to-last free speech radio The next-to-last independent newspaper raising hell The next-to-last independent bookstore with a mind of its own The next-to-last Lefty looking for Obama Nirvana The first fine day of the Wall Street Occupation to set forth upon this continent a new nation! Click here to listen to Ferlinghetti read this poem.
Nov 30, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Lawrence Ferlinghetti
The Eurozone Meltdown The Eurozone Meltdown
The sooner Eurocrats dispense with their calls for more economic centralization, the better off we’ll all be.
Nov 30, 2011 / Column / Alexander Cockburn
Bishops vs. Women: Which Side Is Obama On? Bishops vs. Women: Which Side Is Obama On?
The president must decide what is more important: pandering to the Catholic hierarchy or protecting women's health.
Nov 30, 2011 / Column / Katha Pollitt