2012-02-14  Remembering Howie

Many who read these articles will have learned much from having read Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States. Justifiably, it has sold millions of copies and revivals since its birth years ago. Howard was always called "Howie" by those who were lucky enough to get to know him. Howie was born in Brooklyn, the son of poor Russian Jewish immigrants who, having fled from the cruelties of Russia, were exposed to them again in New York, if with variations. Poverty and the discrimination sensitized him to much of what was wrong in the USA, and his experience as a bomber in the war deepened them when he found himself bombing French civilians. Racial discrimination facilitated his becoming involved in politics.

After the war, Howie, like so many vets, went to the university, and his anger became a well-informed radicalism. Much more than the rest of us, however, Howie had a truly rare gift of communication and honest warmth that justifiably made him a likeable — even beloved — hero of those who were trying to move the USA toward decency.

As most who read this know, Howie died in January 2010. I wish to dedicate my articles to him, for they have been written in his spirit, although not with his down-to-earth skill.

We had many occasions to be together for political causes, but also just for the hell of it. That said, I will never forget — or regret — one week we spent together in Paris (along with Marilyn Young and a reporter), to meet with the North Vietnamese for over a week re The War. That was deeply interesting, but what made the visit more than that was when, after long discussions with the Vietnamese, we dragged ourselves toward our hotel. Usually, walking behind Howie and the newsman, Marilyn and I could tune in on Howie's education of the reporter.

Howie was very smart and very tough, but they don't come any sweeter.
Those who were lucky enough to know him, not only admired him; we loved him.

2012-02-09  New Articles by Doug

Tough Times Past and Present -- The 1930s and Today
The 1930s were a difficult time. Much has happened since. Today and tomorrow are even more perilous, on several fronts.

What's That Coming Around the Corner?
All too many of us have been suckers of Big Business. We must climb our way out of that dangerous ditch before it becomes fatal.

Three Cheers for the Occupiers and Their Supporters -- Now What?
The Occupy movement has been exciting, admirable, and necessary. But now our focus must broaden and deepen, and its demands must become national. The rightists bought their way; we have to work them down and bring decency up. We must win — and we can!

Financial Crises: Past and Present
The crises of the 20th and 21st Centuries are delineated. And what will the future hold?

Wall Street and the Financial Crisis -- What's Next? (That's Up to Us)
The story of capitalism begins in the 17th Century. Its latest wrinkle is to run (and ruin) the world with speculative finance. Wall Street is the belly of the beast. What can we do? What should we do?

It's Us or Them: And It's Now or Never
Most of the people in the world are suffering because of the actions of a few powerful people. There is a panoply of problems. The time to act is now.

Toward a Second and Stronger New Deal
This article is concerned with the political efforts "We the People" must make in order to halt and reverse the ongoing social and political tendencies in the USA.

Toward a Much Better USA
What we must also do after the 2012 election, no matter who wins? We must work to create a permanent national political movement; we must develop and participate in always stronger political struggles and support only those in government who work for social decency at home and peace abroad.

2012-01-20  RRPE Interview

Interview with Michael Keaney for the Review of Radical Political Economics - listen here...