Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments for two cases that could have major ramifications for black and brown Americans. One, Fisher vs. University of Texas, is a more-or-less standard “affirmative action is reverse racism” case that could potentially bar or severely restrict colleges and universities from considering race in the application process. The…
Ben Jealous and The Center for American Progress recently released True South: Unleashing Democracy in the Black Belt 50 Years After Freedom Summer,a report on politics in the Black Belt. True South demonstrates that an effective voter registration drive in the South could shift the balance of power in some states from Republican to Democrat.…
If you follow mainstream American news media, chances are that you’ve heard about Bridgegate. Basically, 2 of the 3 lanes which connect Fort Lee, New Jersey to the George Washington Bridge were closed for 4 days in September. While the closure was explained as a “traffic study,” it has since been revealed that the lanes…
One June 5th, The Guardian published the first of a series of articles that have shed light on the breadth of the US government’s unconstitutional (but in many instances legal) surveillance programs. Further stories from The Guardian, The Washington Post, The South China Morning Post, and Der Spiegel have helped reveal that the US government…
After an extra day of voting due to long lines and technological failures and pending the results of an NPP court challenge, the NDC has come out on top in Ghana’s 2012 parliamentary and presidential election. This continues the electoral pattern that has emerged here since the 1992 conclusion of military rule in which one…
The bulk of Ghana’s electricity is generated by the Akosombo Hydroelectric Dam on the Volta River. This means that as the Volta’s water levels rise or fall, so to does the availability of electricity throughout the country. Generally speaking, there isn’t enough electricity to go around.
Mitt Romney has been under some intense scrutiny lately as a result of recent revelations about his role in outsourcing American jobs and his personal offshore bank accounts. As a more detailed image of Romney’s financial track record has emerged it has become increasingly clear (as if it wasn’t clear already) that Romney is a…
I wasn’t planning on doing a part 3 but Vernon is the gift that keeps on giving. The highly anticipated Vernon City Council elections were held yesterday. A canvassing board was scheduled to count the ballots at 8 PM but didn’t get around to counting them until 10:30 PM. Why? Because, as the LA Times…
In my last post I wrote about Council elections in the City of Vernon, California. While the council elections seem to be particularly tame, Vernon found itself in the middle of an intense political battle last year which threatened its ability to maintain the business-friendly practices which have made it such a noteworthy city.
A couple days ago I came across an LA Times article about Council elections in the city of Vernon, California. Vernon is only 5.2 square miles and is the least populous city in Los Angeles County with a total population of 112 and only 74 registered voters. But this small city has received a disproportionately…
