February 9, 2009 Issue

Cover art by: Cover design by Gene Case & Stephen Kling/Avenging Angels

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Feature

Jobless in America

Nation readers who have joined the ranks of the unemployed share their stories–and their suggestions of what government needs to do.
Our Readers
Alex Aronson, The Bus Project

Welcome to politics Bus Project style, where costumes are encouraged and successful activism is measured in both efficacy and, well, fun.
Onnesha Roychoudhuri
Scientists Come Out for Human Rights

After eight years of being sidelined by the Bush administration, many in notoriously apolitical professions are ready to stand up and be counted on the social and ethical implications of their work.
Sonia Shah
Purple Heart, Purple Haze

By honoring the psychological wounds of soldiers–not shaming them–the armed forces might give fighting men and women the respect they deserve.
Simon Maxwell Apter
‘Global Gag Rule’ Lifted

With little fanfare, Obama has reversed one of the most damaging GOP policies ever visited on developing nations, which deprived millions of women of family planning services.
Barbara Crossette
Rockefeller Drugs Laws: Ripe for Reform

New York activists who oppose the state’s repressive drug laws are optimistic about the new political landscape but unsure of whether politicians will embrace the necessary radical reforms.
Sarah Arnold
A Revolution in Spirit

The economic crisis requires a radical response–not revved-up consumerism.
Benjamin R. Barber
Obama and the Return of the Real

The path of ruling through illusion has been tried and failed. Obama must govern with a realism of the sort America has not seen for a long time.
Jonathan Schell
Hope for the Homeless?

With homeless rates at record highs, America needs a bold new housing policy.
Lizzy Ratner and Patrick Markee
A House-Poor Nation

Without significant federal action, affordable housing will become increasingly out of reach.
Adam Doster
Foreclosure Fightback

Activists demand a foreclosure freeze, renegotiated loans and a bailout for all.
Ben Ehrenreich

Editorial

My Future as an Arms Manufacturer

It’s not that I’m keen on killing people. It’s just that the money’s so good.
Terry Jones
Seeking Obama’s Center

The pundits insist Obama will govern from the center, but to me it seems he’s dedicated to redefining where the center is.
Victor Navasky
Winning & Losing in Gaza

If both sides embrace the fragile cease-fire with leaps of imagination and faith, Israelis and Palestinians could chart an escape route from the inferno.
Richard Falk
‘I Saw My People’

Washington desperately needs new blood. Will Obama’s people provide the necessary transfusion?
Chris Hayes
Missing Howard Dean

Why has Howard Dean become a virtual stranger to the Democratic Party he helped revive?
The Editors
Noted.

John Nichols on Pete Seeger, Roberto Lovato on censorship in San Antonio.
The Editors
A Matter of Justice

Obama declines to “criminalize policy differences”–but what about holding lawbreakers to account?
The Editors
Renewing America

With realism, grit and hope, Obama begins a new era: his first hundred days will be a decisive test of his resolve and vision.
The Editors
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Column

Obama’s Better Bailout

He’s off to a good start, but it’s up to ordinary people who are hurting in this economy, to make sure Obama bailout benefits them and not the power players.
Robert Scheer
Lost Your Job? Tell Your Story

To take center stage in the current debate, joblessness must be made real in personal and policy terms. Jobless Americans, tell us what happened–and what you need most.
Nicholas von Hoffman
Tiger’s Tepid ‘Coming Out Party’

The notoriously apolitical Tiger Woods’s presence at Barack Obama’s pre-inauguration concert could have been momentous. But it wasn’t.
Dave Zirin
Ethics Under TARP

As government takes a larger role in business, political skills may matter more than business acumen. And ethics? Not so much.
Nicholas von Hoffman
Stimulating Reading

The economy of reading is rapidly collapsing. If we can bail out banks, why not the book industry?
Katha Pollitt
Hail Caesar!

Warning sign one: Obama plans a “fiscal responsibility summit.” Warning sign two: entitlements are on the table.
Alexander Cockburn
‘Bailout Is a No-Strings Windfall to Bankers, If Not to Borrowers’—New York Times

Got money?
Calvin Trillin

Books & the Arts

Hammerheads: David Mamet’s Money Plays

As David Mamet’s views become more Manichaean, he’s squared the jaws of his tough guys.
Alisa Solomon
Adventures in Editing: Ted Solotaroff’s ‘Commentary’ Days

An unfinished memoir by the late literary editor and critic. The first part of a two-part article.
Ted Solotaroff
Stimulating Reading

The economy of reading is rapidly collapsing. If we can bail out banks, why not the book industry?
Katha Pollitt
Clair de Lune

Timothy Donnelly
The stakes are higher now than ever. Get The Nation in your inbox.

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Letters

Boycott Israel?

Amherst, Mass.
Naomi Klein and Our Readers

Crossword

Puzzle No. 3155

ACROSS

1 Such as “O Death, Where Is Thy Sting!”–signs that such as A or B have moved out. (11)
Frank W. Lewis

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February 9, 2009 Issue

Feature

Nation readers who have joined the ranks of the unemployed share their stories–and their suggestions of what government needs to do.

Welcome to politics Bus Project style, where costumes are encouraged and successful activism is measured in both efficacy and, well, fun.

After eight years of being sidelined by the Bush administration, many in notoriously apolitical professions are ready to stand up and be counted on the social and ethical implications of their work.

By honoring the psychological wounds of soldiers–not shaming them–the armed forces might give fighting men and women the respect they deserve.

With little fanfare, Obama has reversed one of the most damaging GOP policies ever visited on developing nations, which deprived millions of women of family planning services.

New York activists who oppose the state’s repressive drug laws are optimistic about the new political landscape but unsure of whether politicians will embrace the necessary radical reforms.

The economic crisis requires a radical response–not revved-up consumerism.

The path of ruling through illusion has been tried and failed. Obama must govern with a realism of the sort America has not seen for a long time.

With homeless rates at record highs, America needs a bold new housing policy.

Without significant federal action, affordable housing will become increasingly out of reach.

Activists demand a foreclosure freeze, renegotiated loans and a bailout for all.

Editorial

It’s not that I’m keen on killing people. It’s just that the money’s so good.

The pundits insist Obama will govern from the center, but to me it seems he’s dedicated to redefining where the center is.

If both sides embrace the fragile cease-fire with leaps of imagination and faith, Israelis and Palestinians could chart an escape route from the inferno.

Washington desperately needs new blood. Will Obama’s people provide the necessary transfusion?

Why has Howard Dean become a virtual stranger to the Democratic Party he helped revive?

John Nichols on Pete Seeger, Roberto Lovato on censorship in San Antonio.

Obama declines to “criminalize policy differences”–but what about holding lawbreakers to account?

With realism, grit and hope, Obama begins a new era: his first hundred days will be a decisive test of his resolve and vision.

GET UNLIMITED DIGITAL ACCESS FOR LESS THAN $3 A MONTH!

Column

He’s off to a good start, but it’s up to ordinary people who are hurting in this economy, to make sure Obama bailout benefits them and not the power players.

To take center stage in the current debate, joblessness must be made real in personal and policy terms. Jobless Americans, tell us what happened–and what you need most.

The notoriously apolitical Tiger Woods’s presence at Barack Obama’s pre-inauguration concert could have been momentous. But it wasn’t.

As government takes a larger role in business, political skills may matter more than business acumen. And ethics? Not so much.

The economy of reading is rapidly collapsing. If we can bail out banks, why not the book industry?

Warning sign one: Obama plans a “fiscal responsibility summit.” Warning sign two: entitlements are on the table.

Got money?

Books & the Arts

As David Mamet’s views become more Manichaean, he’s squared the jaws of his tough guys.

An unfinished memoir by the late literary editor and critic. The first part of a two-part article.

The economy of reading is rapidly collapsing. If we can bail out banks, why not the book industry?

The stakes are higher now than ever. Get The Nation in your inbox.

Letters

Amherst, Mass.

Crossword

ACROSS 1 Such as “O Death, Where Is Thy Sting!”–signs that such as A or B have moved out. (11)

ACROSS

1 Such as “O Death, Where Is Thy Sting!”–signs that such as A or B have moved out. (11)