Ira Chernus: Why Don't We Have a National Narrative of Empathy?

An effective president needs a clear, simple narrative to tie his policies together. The words on Obama's teleprompters during his presidential campaign offered a fine narrative, based on empathy as the key term. And it would be great if Obama would keep up that narrative - and act upon it. At least it would be great for those of us who would like to see a major shift leftward in American politics.

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David Michael Green: The Do-Nothing 44th President

What do nine dead Gaza activists in the Mediterranean, nine-plus percent unemployment, and ninety years of oil catastrophe clean-up have in common? How about one astonishingly tepid president?

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Iran Sanctions as Good as 'Used Tissue'

The United Nations resolution for a fourth round of sanctions, voted in by the Security Council on Wednesday, calls for the inspection of vessels suspected of carrying materials, setting the stage for military incidents at sea between Iran and the US Navy. With Brazil and Turkey, the architects of a nuclear-swap deal with Iran, voting against it, the resolution also removes any pretence of unified global support for coercive diplomacy on Iran.

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Pepe Escobar: There Is a Method to Israel's Madness

Why would Israel, in a deliberate and methodical operation planned over a week in advance - according to statements by senior Israeli military commanders made in Hebrew-language media days before the attack - target an unarmed ship on a humanitarian mission flying the flag of Comoros?

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Democratic Party Defends Israeli Attack

Countering the broad consensus of international legal scholars who recognize that the attack was in flagrant violation of international norms, prominent Democrats embraced the Orwellian notion that Israel's raid, which killed at least nine activists and wounded scores of others, was somehow an act of self-defense.

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Robert Reich: Don't Listen to the Cheerleaders, the Main Street Economy Isn't Improving

Today's most important economic news: U.S. household debt fell for the seventh straight quarter in the first three months of 2010 as Americans continued to respond to the recession's fallout. But like all economic news, its significance depends on where you're standing -- whether you're a typical American or someone at the top.

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John de Graaf: The Progressive Politics of Happiness

Once upon a time, in a far-off land of green valleys and soaring mountains, a boy of 16 was crowned King—and began in a quiet way to change the world. The year was 1972—not so long ago. The faraway land was a tiny Himalayan Kingdom called Bhutan. And the 16-year-old king was Jigme Wangchuck, who, when asked what he would do to increase Bhutan’s Gross National Product, replied that, as far as he was concerned, “Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product.”

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Don't Buy in Bulk! Busting Down the Myths of Bargain Shopping and Coupon Clipping

We all think we “know” how to save: Buy in bulk, buy generic, and you can’t go wrong. And, of course, you can only save on things that are really, really bad for you. Well, guess what? Everything you’ve heard about saving money at the store is wrong! Here, some realities behind common bargain shopping myths.

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Effectiveness of Iran Sanctions Widely Questioned

While top U.S. officials touted the U.N. Security Council's approval Wednesday of a new sanctions resolution against Iran as a major diplomatic breakthrough, most nuclear and Iran specialists say it is unlikely to be effective and could prove counterproductive.

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The Danger of Invisible Corporate Power

It may take several election cycles to scrub corporate influence and control from our political system.

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