BackgroundLike other Massachusetts Puritans, Increase Mather considered Christmas a "profane and superstitious custom." The Boston minister wrote in 1687 that December 25th was observed as the birth date of Christ not because "Christ was … [Read more...]

"The roots of the NYU conflict, which now seems stalemated, go back to 2000, when the National Labor Relations Board ruled, in a historic decision, that graduate assistants at private universities were "employees" and thus entitled to union … [Read more...]

The article continues:Steven Aftergood, who heads the Project on Government Secrecy for the Federation of American Scientists, told us, "It's a belated recognition that existing policy on reconstruction and stabilization has been woefully … [Read more...]

Which brings out the very interesting question, where the heck is this race going? There's no doubt in my mind that Festa would be the strongest DA out of the four we have to choose from, but can the other three spend millions combined and … [Read more...]

Plus, as much as I hate to admit it, the movement of Dean is incredibly limited.  Sometimes we forget this.  We generally surround ourselves with like minded people.  So as you, Cos, who is awesome and incredibly involved, … [Read more...]

I got MassEquality and KnowThyNeighbor's emails that they have the public ballot init signature lists for the anti-gay-marriage petition, and I thought it would be a good thing to let readers in my town know what politicians here signed the … [Read more...]

Third, the illegal strike disproportionately hurt the poorest and least well off. Transit workers are reasonably paid relative to most people in New York, and well off compared to many, including for example police, especially when job … [Read more...]

Some of our esteemed contributors appear to disagree. They feel online political communities should provide marching orders and rally the base. I think this vision is too limited and will not be effective. Worse, it is unnecessary: there is … [Read more...]

Since I am incensed by the illegal transit strike against the people of New York City, I decided to cross-post the comment I wrote yesterday at DailyKos and MyDD.  Here are a few observations from my little expedition to two of the … [Read more...]

There are a couple things at work in regards to the lack of information about the LDCC (Lowell Dem City Committee) and local party apparatus. First, there's the time-honored tradition of apathy and lack of interest. In this, we are all … [Read more...]