Tag Archive

Libertarianism vs. Progressivism

By Mike Burns

A friend of mine posted this video on Facebook and I took the time to offer my critique. It’s very well done, but I wouldn’t be true to myself if I didn’t argue about a couple of things. First – I strongly disagree with the premise that the Tea Party came about as a result of... »

The Tea Party Wins, America Loses

By Mike Burns

You have to hand it to the radicals in Congress. They stuck to their guns and convinced the President and the country that they were more fanatical, more committed and more reckless than an Al Qaeda suicide bomber. Who really knows if they would have followed through with their irresponsible threats? The President decided... »

Cut, Cap & Balance Is A Bipartisan Bill

By Mike Burns

How many Democratic votes does it take for a controversial bill to become bipartisan? Evidently, not a lot. Immediately after the near party line vote on the balanced budget bill, the Republicans started calling it bipartisan. Yet, only 5 Democrats voted for the radical bill. Just because 5 Democrats decided that it was politically correct for them to... »

Compromise Or The Cliff

By Mike Burns

Here we are at the 11th hour of the debt ceiling debate(?) and still we have no sign of intelligent life among the Republican caucus. They have drawn a line in the sand that leaves them unable to pass a bill through both houses of Congress. Now they are fighting amongst themselves over the... »

“This Election Was A Victory For The People”

By Mike Burns

There has been some variation of this lie from all segments of the Republican establishment since before the election. The people did speak by voting, but it was hardly a victory for them. The things that people really care about, jobs and the economy, will not be getting better because of these results. The... »

Where The Regulations Meet The Road

By Mike Burns

As I am writing this, thousands of gallons of oil are gushing out of the bottom of the ocean and threatening to destroy the wetlands and beaches of several southern states. We all know that this disaster could have been prevented with just a little bit more regulation and oversight. Why didn’t it happen?... »

Voodoo Economics: The Bush Tax Policies Rise From The Grave

By Mike Burns

As we debate the  efficacy and wisdom of extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, it would be beneficial to review what that policy has actually accomplished  in the past. The annual Census Bureau report on income, poverty and access to health care serves up the bad news for the Bush legacy project.... »

What Did George W. Bush Do All Day?

By Mike Burns

Here is an article I had written a couple of months ago for another website but I liked it so well I thought I would reprint it for you here. The recent article in GQ magazine detailing Donald Rumsfeld’s incompetence while Secretary of Defense reads like a chapter from a bizaro version of the idiots... »

Why Not Have True Single Payer?

By Mike Burns

While the health care debate has focused on the question of public option or no public option it seems that idea of true universal health care has been forgotten. The only way to make sure that all Americans get access to the health care they deserve is to abandon the idea that insurance companies... »

Socialism isn’t Scary Anymore

By Mike Burns

For years, the right wing has been successful in labeling the left as socialist. From their ideological pure perspective, this seems perfectly natural. If you believe that capitalism and free markets will solve all problems and that “Government is the problem”, then anything that limits capitalism or expands government must be socialism and that,... »