Marty Kassowitz

Have White Supremacists Morphed into a Fifth Column?

Have White Supremacists Morphed into a Fifth Column?

The fear of a "fifth column" within the United States after Pearl Harbor led to the internment of Japanese Americans, another dark racist stain on our modern history. This same fear was again used by the House Un-American Activities Committee in the McCarthy era, when fear of Communism was the order of the day.
Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg — Confronting Our National Covid Loss Through Art

Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg — Confronting Our National Covid Loss Through Art

Last year, artist Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg created an outdoor installation in Washington comprised of more than 267,000 white flags—one for every person in the United States who had died from COVID-19. This year, she has returned and expanded her work. Now, there are some 650,000 flags placed on the National Mall.
Landslide: Trumpublicans Lose Bigly in the California Recall

Landslide: Trumpublicans Lose Bigly in the California Recall

Yesterday's massive loss by California recall supporters should bring a huge sigh of relief from those who feared the worst. The prospects of Larry Elder being elected governor by a tiny minority of the California electorate were nothing short of grim.
Overcoming Our Differences—With or Without a Heineken

Overcoming Our Differences—With or Without a Heineken

In 2017, Heineken put considerable time and expense into creating a video which while it is a commercial, pointed out the solution that the purveyors of hate seriously dislike: open and direct communication.
For Joe Manchin, Corruption and Greed Are a Family Affair

For Joe Manchin, Corruption and Greed Are a Family Affair

Joe Manchin's opposition to the environmental aspects of the $3.5 trillion infrastructure bill has some connection to the fact that he is heavily invested in coal and a considerable portion of his personal wealth is based on it.
Infrastructure and the Economy: The Long and Short View

Infrastructure and the Economy: The Long and Short View

Today marks the passage of a $3.5 trillion dollar budget blueprint through the House The massive bill has something for everyone in a massive investment in the physical and human infrastructure of the country. No Republicans voted for this bill.
The Blame Game — The Washington D. C. Reality Show Where Nobody Wins

The Blame Game — The Washington D. C. Reality Show Where Nobody Wins

Everyone involved in The Blame Game reality show  in D.C. is fully armed with pet facts designed to paint someone else in as bad a light as possible. But like every reality show, the facts and circumstances are contrived. Today's Afghanistan edition of the Blame Game is no exception.
Pharma Lobbying — Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

Pharma Lobbying — Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

Been to the pharmacy lately to pick up a prescription and find that your drug cost and/or copay has gone to the moon? Pharma companies, they really should be called cartels now, spend a lot of money to keep these prices high.
Vaccinated and Living Responsibly in a Covid Hotspot

Vaccinated and Living Responsibly in a Covid Hotspot

My wife and I have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 for many months now. Since two weeks after that out last shot we have felt quite safe, even though as a moderately elderly asthmatic I am the apparent target market for the Covid-19 virus.