"Palestinians: Divided We Fall" by Amira Hass

Two locations (West Bank and Gaza), two rival political powers (Fatah and Hamas). Solidarity against Israel is gradually disintegrating as both regimes, and many individuals living under them, begin to see the future only in terms of their personal survival. Amira Hass analyzes the situation…

Le Monde Diplomatique (october 2008)
http://mondediplo.com/2008/10/10palestinians


"Is Obama Backing Off a Crucial Pledge to Labor?" by STEVE EARLY

It's only been a month since hundreds of thousands of union members and their families helped Barack Obama win key "battleground states."  Yet, already, some labor supporters of the president-elect fear he may be backing away from a key campaign promise to workers threatened by recession. While running for office, Obama said he strongly favored the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), a long overdue labor law reform measure that should be part of his promised economic stimulus plan. However, is EFCA still part of the package? Steve Early reports…

CounterPunch (12/8/08)
http://www.counterpunch.org/early12082008.html


"Neoliberalism and Bottom-Line Morality: Notes on Greenspan, Rubin, and the Party of Davos" by Edward Herman

Now that the NAFTA financial model has hit the United States itself, we can see that neoliberal advocates are again in the lead, arguing that the Feds continue to socialize risks for investors and pass off costs to ordinary citizens. With Bob Rubin and Larry Summers waiting in the wings, the Democrats swallowing the latest bailouts, and Wall Street still funding the Party generously, we may have more of the same in a new Democratic administration. Analysis by Edward Herman…

Z Magazine (12/1/08)
http://www.zcommunications.org/zmag/viewArticle/19835