The False Choice of Peace v. Justice
The last month has been an important one for international
war crimes proceedings. Monday night the
"most wanted man in
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Recent Posts
- The False Choice of Peace v. Justice
- Climate Prognosis
- G-8, not so Gr-8
- Aid to States: Sounds Good
- At Long Last, A Legislative Win!
- "Drilling: America's False Profit"
- Extreme Makeover: House of Representatives Edition
- Winning Hearts and Minds in the Fight Against Age Discrimination
- What time is it? Summer time!
- Rallying for Justice at the DOJ
Movable Type 4.1
July 22, 2008
July 16, 2008
Climate Prognosis
For the past few days I have been pacing the marble of Capitol Hill. And while I know I was pacing the hallowed halls of Congress, I felt more like an anxious loved one pacing the hospital corridors awaiting the doctor's prognosis. An odd metaphor perhaps but allow me to explain...
July 9, 2008
G-8, not so Gr-8
Yesterday, in a tremendous show of global, ethical, and ecological leadership, the G-8 firmly committed to reducing international carbon emissions by the amount deemed scientifically necessary! Mazel tov world - we're finally headed down the proper path.
July 1, 2008
Aid to States: Sounds Good
"Aid to states," despite its assonance, is not a sexy issue. With the economy in the tank and millions of low- and middle-income Americans struggling, the first remedy to come to mind is usually not fiscal relief to the 50 statehouses across the country.
Extending unemployment benefits, increasing food stamp assistance, or sending tax rebates all jump out first (think of the imagery: the unemployed worker, the hungry child, the check in the mail). And those are useful policy tools, don't get me wrong. But there's one missing: aid to states.
June 26, 2008
At Long Last, A Legislative Win!
In my 10 months at the RAC, I'd yet to see a really big victory on any of the legislation I've been focused on this year. It can be disheartening to toil day in and day out on bills that never see the light of day on the House and Senate floors, pushing for change that never comes. But yesterday was a welcome relief - a victory!June 25, 2008
"Drilling: America's False Profit"
This past weekend's New York Times editorial by Thomas Freidman, yet again, gives us brilliant insight into DC's vicious energy politics turned blame-game. "Mr. Bush, Lead or Leave," exposes President Bush's unfortunate demand for expanded domestic oil drilling. It's a must read article for anyone concerned about energy security these days.
June 24, 2008
Extreme Makeover: House of Representatives Edition
With the ADA Amendments Act (formerly known as the ADA Restoration Act) making its way to the House of Representatives floor this week, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced that the House will begin practicing what it preaches when it comes to equal access for individuals with disabilities. Continue reading "Extreme Makeover: House of Representatives Edition" »
June 20, 2008
Winning Hearts and Minds in the Fight Against Age Discrimination
Older workers gained a big victory in the fight against employment discrimination yesterday when the Supreme Court ruled 7-1 in Meacham v. Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) places the burden on employers to prove that layoffs of older workers are based not on age but on some other "reasonable factor." This was--the New York Times notes--"a closely watched age discrimination case."
But while Meacham is an unqualified win for older workers, the efficacy of the ADEA, which celebrated its 40th anniversary last year, is very much in question. I went to a symposium on Monday at the AARP, titled "The Age Discrimination in Employment Act in the 21st Century: Can It Still Do the Job?" The short answer: Probably Not. The longer one after the jump.
Continue reading "Winning Hearts and Minds in the Fight Against Age Discrimination" »
June 17, 2008
What time is it? Summer time!
Cross-posted at MKBlog
Rabbi Michael Namath is the Program Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and coordinates the Machon Kaplan summer internprogram.
The arrival of our Machon Kaplan College interns marks the official start of my summer. They bring with them their desire to change the world and their enthusiasm for Washington. The come from all over the country to do the work of social justice in our nation's capitol.
As the Washington Post has noted, these interns live their faith through public service. Over the next six weeks, I urge you to take time to read the participants' posts about the time of their lives and their adventures this summer. You can also check out posts from last year's crew here.
June 13, 2008
Rallying for Justice at the DOJ
Over hundred people rallied outside the Department of Justice on Wednesday in support of Indian guest workers who were trafficked to the Gulf Coast, endured abusive employment practices, and now face deportation. Human rights advocates, labor organizers, and members of the faith community (including me) came together to call for justice for the workers. Progressive champions Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed, also spoke passionately in the workers' defense.