Why the current Congress isn’t working for the people — and how Democrats can change that. Do you miss “Schoolhouse Rock”? Me, too. And there’s no question that many members of the current U.S. House of Representatives, particularly Republicans, could benefit from a re-run, a refresher course on how legislating is actually supposed to work. During the Netroots Nation conference […]

NOW can we ask, “Where are the jobs”??? Back in February, Michigan had the 4th highest unemployment rate in the country. Today, we have the 3rd highest at 7.5%. That’s up from last month, by the way. In fact, only Mississippi and Rhode Island – who are tied for last place – and Nevada are higher. 46 states and the […]

Workers are just pawns in the GOP’s sabotage game In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled that federal tax credits cannot by awarded to anyone who purchased health insurance from the marketplace the federal government set up in 36 states. (And just a few hours later, the Fourth Circuit Court ruled in “precisely […]

Last week, over 3,000 people from around the country and around the world came to Detroit to participate in Netroots Nation, the largest conference for progressive organizers in the world. Team Eclectablog was there to help, of course, but none so much as Anne Savage who was a staff photographer for the event. Anne took all of the photos for […]

Support your local bloggers! This week we’ll be coming to you once a day for our second quarter fundraiser. I am determined to prove that we can have a successful site where all of the writers are paid. However, that can only happen with support from our readers. Your financial support will also allow us to bring on new writers, […]

Last Friday, a crowd of over 1,000 protesters, bolstered by hundreds and hundreds of Netroots Nations attendees, filled the streets of downtown Detroit. An event that would likely have seen scant national coverage became a huge media story with reporting by the New York Times, MSNBC, the Wall Street Journal, Democracy Now!, the Los Angeles Times, and countless others. The […]

From Watergate to watering down wages: How Reagan sold America on conservatism NOTE: The contest has now ended. Misunderestimating conservatives can be hazardous to your middle class. In 1973, Ronald Reagan’s glib optimism and refusal to acknowledge the rank criminality of the Watergate scandal made it easy for liberals to dismiss his appeal. Less than eight years later, he was […]

Here is a glimpse of the huge march and rally to protest the Detroit water shutoffs. It’s an amazing feat of organization, led by National Nurses United. The massive turnout was bolstered by hundreds and hundreds of attendees of the Netroots Nation conference.

Sex scandals. Passing drugs to inmates. Running out of prison food. Maggots in prison food. MORE maggots in prison food. And now more sex scandals. All of this from one for-profit vendor for food in Michigan prisons: Aramark. In all, over 80 of their employees have been banned from Michigan prisons because of inappropriate conduct. Here’s the latest: In a […]

The Michigan legislature has had a lot of bad ideas about our environment. Here’s who voted for them This hasn’t been a great couple of years for environmental protection in Michigan. To help us all keep track, and hold the legislature accountable, the Michigan League of Conservation Voters released its legislative scorecard last week, rating the Michigan House and Senate […]

As Netroots Nation lands in Detroit, it does so during an unprecedented time in our country’s history. In an attempt to get over 90,000 water customers to pay upwards of $90 million in unpaid water bills. Over ten thousand Detroit residents have already had their water source eliminated in this draconian effort. Meanwhile, major businesses still have water flowing despite […]