in Human Rights
The U.S. spends more than any other country on health care, yet women in the U.S. have a higher risk of dying from complications during pregnancy than in 40 other countries. A new report out today from Amnesty International calls this troubling statistic what it really is: signs of a pattern that our health care system is failing big time in the area of maternal health.
in Poverty in America
Local and federal administrations, including Bush's and Obama's, have for years prioritized the creation and funding of permanent supportive housing to combat the 10 percent of the homeless population considered "chronic." Their quotas are coming at the expense of emergency shelters and affordable housing for homeless or near-homeless who are in need of a bed more than a barrage of services.
in Homelessness
A Massachusetts court has ruled that a homeless shelter can be a person's home, meaning that homeless citizens are entitled to the same reasonable expectation of privacy under the Fourth Amendment as those who have housing. The case resulted from the warrantless search of a 16-year-old boy's room at a family shelter.
in Social Entrepreneurship
When President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize last year, he didn't just win prestige, admiration and a few skeptical glances. He also won about a million and a half bucks. In a charitable (and totally politically necessary) move, this week, he opted to donate that money to a handful of nonprofits. So how did he do in his choices?
in Criminal Justice
Once again yesterday, the spirit of bipartisanship inspired Democrats to sacrifice their principles. Offered the chance to abolish America's notorious crack-cocaine sentencing disparity, they simply settled for...making it a little less racist. But that's no reason to give up hope. This battle's not over yet.
in War and Peace
Sixty years ago, Senator Joseph McCarthy’s formula was to call into question the patriotism and loyalty of his political opponents and malign them as jeopardizing America’s integrity and national security. These days, Liz Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, seems to be taking a page from his book with her attacks on U.S. Justice Department lawyers.
in Criminal Justice
Need an excuse to road trip to New York City? For drug reform aficionados, here's one good reason to plot your itinerary. Now that CBS has caved and agreed to run a pro-marijuana billboard in Times Square, the once-censored ad will debut next week -- thanks in no small part to the nearly 10,000 Change.org members who collectively spoke out.
in Gay Rights
When it comes to the question of ordaining gay and lesbian clergy, you’ll get no hesitation from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Long one of the most important religious leaders in the world, Tutu says that clergy should be judged on their commitment to social justice, not on their sexual orientation.
