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European History: Who Cares?
Dear Commie, Why is everyone obsessed with 19th and early 20th century European politics and should I care even a little? Sincerely, Over the Eurocentrism Dear Understandably Over It, Should you care? Yes. Before I explain why this history matters, I first want to share my very real sympathy for your exasperation. There’s something about…
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The Afghanistan Papers: Another Blip in the History of a Forever War
By Ben Heili I remember my 14th birthday well. That day, my grandparents’ newspaper told me the USA had started to bomb Afghanistan—Operation Enduring Freedom, they called it. Something in my 14-year-old brain approved of that name at the time, and it turned out to be partially accurate — one thing that operation did is…
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February Political Cartoon
Cartoon by Corey Alexander Forbe’s pegs Epic CEO Judy Faulkner’s net worth at $4.3 billion. It’s hard to calculate the average salary of an Epic worker because there’s wide variation in pay across jobs. For example, among the employee-reported salaries on Glassdoor.com the average yearly salary for Quality Assurance workers is $54,690 while the average…
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Wisconsin’s Brutal Cuts to Medicaid Prove Necessity of Medicare for All
By Karl Locher During the infamous lame duck legislative session in the closing days of 2018, the Wisconsin legislature passed a breathtakingly reactionary agenda. The rapid move to limit the power of the incoming Evers administration was the object of significant attention in state and national news media. Indeed, as much as the Wisconsin Republican…
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Remembering the Uprising
By Paul Buhle The Wisconsin Uprising of 2011-12 was so unexpected, so inspired and inspiring, and the thumping defeat that followed so disheartening, that the whole series of events now threatened to become a phantom memory, almost unreal. The idea that crowds of 10,000, 25,000 or 125,000 and a few times upward of 200,000, could…
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Homelessness: Austerity leads to Blindness
By Mary E. Croy Eight bills and not even a band aid in sight. As homelessness continues to soar in Wisconsin, the Republican led legislature refuses to take action. There have been eight bills proposed, and only one is even being considered in the current session. In the state budget, $3.7 million was allocated to…
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An Ecosocialist Madison Is an Equitable Madison
By Clare Michaud Imagining an ecosocially just world requires us to look at making radical changes to myriad aspects of our everyday (American) lives. Working toward an ecosocialist society would implicate everything from resource extraction and waste disposal to access to healthy food and clean water to the country’s approach to warfare, the consumption of…
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Socialists vs Progressives
Dear Commie, What makes socialists different from super progressives? Yours, Figuring it Out Dear Figuring it Out, The big difference between a socialist and a progressive is that while socialists and progressives may want some of the same things in the short term (raise the minimum wage, better environmental controls, taxing wealth), socialists see the…
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January Political Cartoon
by Kai Rasmussen. As of July 2019, ABODO reported that the average rent for a studio apartment in Madison was over $900 per month. ABODO also recommends not spending more than 30% of your gross income on rent. Good luck!
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Bourgeoisie?
Dear Commie, How do you pronounce bourgeois? What’s up with this word? Thanks, Bad with Words Dear Bad with Words, “Bourgeois” is pronounced like boo-jwah. Maybe you’ve heard someone call something expensive “bougie”? Same thing. It comes from the word “bourgeoisie” (boo-jwah-zee), which originally referred to merchants and other businesspeople who lived in cities in…
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Socialists Must Fight the War Machine at Home
By: Allen Ruff The Madison area’s current campaign to stop the stationing of twenty F-35 attack jets at Truax Field/Dane County Airport demands the active support of all socialists. The local and global issues related to the proposed base should readily engage all comrades as we fight for social, economic and environmental justice. Sound…
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Harassment and Grievance Officers and their Important Role in creating a Socialist Future
By: Sarah Glomski, HGO Madison Area DSA (MADSA) is currently accepting nominations for a Harassment and Grievance Officer. Per our constitution and bylaws and in accordance with National DSA policy, our chapter has two Harassment and Grievance Officers (HGO), who are responsible for ensuring that the chapter is a safe space for our members and…
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A False State of Austerity
By Dayna Long Over the last ten years, Republicans in the Wisconsin state legislature have severely undermined local control including barring state regional transit authorities and instituting levy-limits, leaving local governments with few options for raising funds. In response, county and city governments have adapted their budgets to fit these state-imposed constraints, meting out austerity…
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Foxconn: We Want Our Money Back!
By Mary E. Croy Trump trumpeted the technology manufacturing deal with Taiwanese company Foxconn as the “eighth wonder of the world” when company executives visited the White House, according to then Chief of Staff and Wisconsin GOP insider Reince Priebus. In 2017, Foxconn reached an agreement with the Walker administration, promising to invest $10 billion…
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No War With Iran
Protestors expressed their shock, dismay and anger in response to the U.S. assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. On Saturday, January 4th at noon, at least a hundred activists representing a cross section of anti-war and political groups gathered on the steps of the Capitol to oppose a potential war with Iran. The event was…