I write about politics, culture, language and music, having done so for a variety of left publications including Truthdig, Truthout, Jacobin, Counterpunch, and New Politics.
This blog is the main outlet for current work which these outlets have, for the most part rejected.
Go here for my previous writings on various subjects.
I currently teach music theory at Bard College Conservatory of Music, compose and occasionally perform as a pianist.
Thanks for the nice article on counterpunch.org.
It seems rather obvious from reading your article, but relying on outside groups for money to fund the party appears to be a fatal flaw. In this case, its not the Koch Bros but labor unions.
Perhaps once that might have been ok, but its rather obvious by this point that the official American labor movement has become essentially a company union. One simply does not see them fight for workers any more. Instead, every slimy pro-war, pro-banker Democrat seems to have a stack of union money behind them and ranks of union leaders willing to endorse them. Thus, little or no surprise that this is the lever used to get the WEP in line supporting the same Reagan Democrats that the union’s support these days.
Any real populist movement is going to have to be grassroots based. And that means in terms of money as well as in terms of energy and support. Only then will such a grassroots movement be able to stay true to the cause of the people in the movement. Its harder that way of course. No nice checks rolling in to pay the salaries of the supposed leaders of the movement. Instead, more work on more fundraisers and more bake sales. But, its the only way.