NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS: 2023
The monster showed its face; heroes were honored; Social Security (and our bodies) were attacked; and your help was requested.
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That said, here are some highlights from the last year.
Global War: In an ever-expanding horizon of global militarism, I called 2023 “the year the monster showed its face.” A line-by-line analysis of Biden’s war speech hinted at the skull beneath the skin. And I ended the year with Ukraine Needs a Ceasefire, Not Biden’s $50 Billion Escalation of a Lethal and Failing War.
The events in Israel in Gaza have been a major focus since October 7 — how could they not? Writings on that topic included:
I was proud to see that my February interview with ousted Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan kicked off some wider coverage of America’s role in his removal and legal persecution. (I called for Khan’s freedom in November.)
The passing of Sinéad O’Connor was emotional for me because I considered her a powerful example of spiritual, moral, and personal courage. I think I understand something of her struggles. I also memorialized another hero of mine, Dan Ellsberg, in Against the Unthinkable.
And I wrote about a less-known hero, the 1940s actress who a) defied the sexist expectations of her time, b) had a defiant (and hilarious) clause written into her studio contract, and c) was a childhood crush of mine.
For St. Patrick’s Day, I had fun reviewing a British science-fiction book I enjoyed as a kid but later realized was appallingly anti-Irish.That reflection on colonialism, economics, bias, and futurism was called “Top o' the Late Stage Capitalism to Ya.”
Social Security was a major theme this year, with pieces on what it means for liberty, Lies, Damned Lies, and Pie Charts, the reasons billionaires really, really hate Social Security, and what elites see when they see old people.
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Even our bodies are under attack. The “living body horror” of a new proposal would encourage prisoners to trade their internal organs for reduced sentences. We have “death inequality” between the rich and poor. The government is derelict in its duty during an ongoing pandemic. And it’s time we asked why drug corporations should even exist.
I discussed President Biden’s military interventions and the risk they pose to him and his party in the 2024 elections. And I asked whether West Virginia Democrats can win back so-called “Trump country” with an economically left program (and explained why it isn’t really Trump country; it’s “none of the above country”).
I had five observations after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank; they included, “every bank is now too big to fail.” I also wrote about that Dilbert guy and something I called “polling as trolling.”And I published the recording of a song I wrote, sang, and produced in 1977 called "Downtown Boys.”
And now, here comes 2024. Ready or not.
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I’ll switch to paid when my social security check arrives in the next couple of days! Definitely, I do want to support your work. The voices of truth and reason are few, and we lost a special one in John Pilger these past few days.