Independent since 2002 Issue No. 1102 Week of November 7, 2026 Get the free email dispatch →

Home Issue: 131

Issue: 131

March 24, 2005

Cover Story

The U.S. is Becoming a ‘Failed State’

By The Black Commentator Guest Commentator

“Privatization of social security is a road to government abdication, the cause of failed statehood.” – Henry C.K. Liu, “The Business of Private Security,” AsiaTimes. Too often lately in Black America, political discourse has become so parochial – so steeped in petty assessments of marginal advantages that might accrue to some portion of “The Race”…

“Privatization of social security is a road to government abdication, the cause of failed statehood.” – Henry C.K. Liu, “The Business of Private Security,” AsiaTimes. Too…

Continue reading 8 min

Commentary

Freedom Rider: Bread and Circuses

By Margaret Kimberley Guest Commentator

The American Heritage dictionary defines bread and circuses as “Offerings, such as benefits or entertainments, intended to placate discontent or distract attention from a policy or situation.” The term was used by the ancient Romans to describe how their rulers kept the population in the dark at politically opportune moments. The Romans have been outdone…

The American Heritage dictionary defines bread and circuses as “Offerings, such as benefits or entertainments, intended to placate discontent or distract attention from a policy or…

Continue reading 5 min

Commentary

No Fools Allowed

By The Black Commentator Guest Commentator

As King Dubya continues to proselytize his way across America on behalf of his destruction of government services, continues to defend the principles of economic and social justice. The cover story in this issue is our latest analysis of the hideous transformation of the USA into a “failed state” class. Don’t be hoodwinked by outright…

As King Dubya continues to proselytize his way across America on behalf of his destruction of government services, continues to defend the principles of economic and…

Continue reading 21 min

Commentary

Think Piece: Savage Morality

By Paul Street Guest Commentator

American empire and inequality both feed and reflect savagely selective moral concerns. Dominant United States media and policymakers express apprehension about the dangerous prospect of “nuclear weapons in the Middle East.” By this they mean the prospect that Iran might be able to develop one or two such weapons at some point in the future.…

American empire and inequality both feed and reflect savagely selective moral concerns. Dominant United States media and policymakers express apprehension about the dangerous prospect of "nuclear…

Continue reading 13 min

Guest Commentary

Beware Republicans Bearing Gifts

By Troy Peters Guest Commentator

Over the past few months President Bush and the Republican Party have been making blatant efforts to court African American voters through black churches. But like the European slavers of old trading guns and rum to African kings for enslaving their own, Republicans offer only disaster. The GOP’s questionable attempts to recast themselves as the…

Over the past few months President Bush and the Republican Party have been making blatant efforts to court African American voters through black churches. But like…

Continue reading 12 min

Guest Commentary

Redefining The Black Struggle

By Dr. Anthony Asadullah Samad, PhD Columnist

For those of us who maintain some constant involvement in the many, many conflicts that face Blacks in the 21st Century, individually and in the collective, what one fights for and who one is fighting for, seems to always be a point of contention for some people. While some understand the complexities of black struggle…

For those of us who maintain some constant involvement in the many, many conflicts that face Blacks in the 21st Century, individually and in the collective,…

Continue reading 5 min

Commentary

Diff’rent Strokes for Diff’rent Folks

By John Maxwell

This article originally appeared in the Jamaica Observer. Mr. Bush is on a roll. He’s so happy he’s thumbing his nose at the world. He’s got away with Abu Ghraib, with Fallujah and Haiti and everywhere the rent-a-crowd counter-revolutions just seem to go rolling along. For a man who had traveled out of the United…

This article originally appeared in the Jamaica Observer. Mr. Bush is on a roll. He’s so happy he’s thumbing his nose at the world. He’s got…

Continue reading 9 min

$ $ Contribute $ $