Author Archives: toxic

About toxic

I write

On Christopher Hitchens

Posted on December 20, 2011 by toxic

Christopher Hitchens succumbed to cancer on December 15th.  Hitchens was a prolific writer and polemical pugilist who angered many and wooed more.  He possessed an acerbic  wit and a taste for battle.  Unfortunately, toward the end of his life, these … Continue reading →

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The Art of Negative Campaigning: A Book Review

Posted on December 16, 2011 by toxic

With Newt Gingrich going around the country abusing the most vulnerable, I thought I’d take the time to share a book review on Negative Campaigning. Those who study politics are constantly subjected to the idea that no one likes negative … Continue reading →

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Hard Times at Occupy Boston | The Nation

Posted on December 2, 2011 by toxic

Hard Times at Occupy Boston | The Nation.

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How Are We To Live? A Discourse on Ethics

Posted on December 2, 2011 by toxic

In an age dominated by greed and the pursuit of narrow self-interest, Peter Singer asks the question, “How are we to live?” Ultimately, we ought to live ethically, but what does that mean? To answer these questions, Singer draws on … Continue reading →

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Occupy Wall Street and ‘White Privilege’: A Personal Perspective

Posted on November 29, 2011 by toxic

 The issue of racial minorities and the Occupy Wall Street movement has been making big news recently.  For example, the Boston Metro reported last week that some in the Occupy The Hood movement have been breaking ties with Occupy Boston.  … Continue reading →

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A Black Friday Special: Consumed by Benjamin Barber

Posted on November 25, 2011 by toxic

In the 1930s and 1940s, the United States was in crisis. A Great Depression afflicted the nation and millions suffered in poverty. Real needs were not met in the market. Today, the United States is in crisis again. However, it … Continue reading →

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How the United States Became an Empire: A Review of James Carroll’s House of War

Posted on November 23, 2011 by toxic

Has the rise of American power been disastrous?  James Carroll asks this pointed question in House of War, a brilliant history of the Pentagon interwoven with a personal narrative.  Carroll is an apt person to tell this story.  The son … Continue reading →

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Bananas, Beaches, and Bases: Cynthia Enloe on the Plight of Women, World-Wide

Posted on November 22, 2011 by toxic

All too often, it is women who bear the heaviest burden of social, cultural, and political acts. In particular, the tourism industry is one in which women are often subordinate to men and other women alike. Such is one of … Continue reading →

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Just Foreign Policy Responds to Super Committee “Failure”: “We Now Have a Historic Opportunity to Cut Military Spending” | Common Dreams

Posted on November 21, 2011 by toxic

WASHINGTON – November 21 – Responding to reports that the Congressional “Super Committee” had failed to reach agreement on a new plan to reduce projected government debt by $1.2 trillion over ten years, Just Foreign Policy Policy Director Robert Naiman … Continue reading →

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Bank Lobbyist Firm Memo Proposes Opposition Research into Occupy Wall Street

Posted on November 20, 2011 by toxic

Reuters is reporting that a lobbying firm for major banks is proposing opposition research into Occupy Wall Street in order to undermine it. From the report… Clark Lytle Geduldig & Cranford, a Washington-based firm, proposed the idea in a memo … Continue reading →

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