October 12, 2009 Issue

Cover art by: Cover illustration by Ward Sutton

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Feature

Anti-Choice Amendments Fail in Senate Finance Committee

Two anti-choice amendments considered by the Senate Finance Committee today were soundly defeated.
Sharon Lerner
Arrest Warrant Out for USAID Contractor in Afghanistan

While corruption by the Afghan government has been widely condemned, corruption by Western officials in Afghanistan has received little if any scrutiny.
Aram Roston
The Student Sex Column Movement

The explosion of student sex columns, as captivating as they are controversial, represents a campus movement possessed of the same subversive potential that fueled 1960s student activism.
Alex DiBranco
What Have We Done to Democracy?

What’s next in a world where democracy has been so hollowed out, so emptied of meaning?
Arundhati Roy
There Is Much to Do: An Interview With Hugo Chavez

Hugo Chávez talks about his relationship with Barack Obama, the Honduran crisis, plans to extend the Pentagon’s presence in Colombia, and domestic successes and challenges.
Greg Grandin
Fortress Pittsburgh

In heavily fortified Pittsburgh, protesters are kept isolated from local residents and from conference attendees.
Robert S. Eshelman
Where is the Defund Blackwater Act?

Democrats joined Republicans in voting to “Defund ACORN” yet have done nothing to stop Blackwater’s taxpayer-funded crusade in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Jeremy Scahill
The Silent Depression

Among racial and ethnic minorities, a disproportionately high foreclosure rate is spreading to homeowners with prime loans.
Greg Kaufmann
Healthcare Reform–at the Price of Women’s Health?

If Republicans don’t have much hope of derailing healthcare reform, they still have a shot at seriously limiting women’s access to affordable reproductive healthcare.
Sharon Lerner
A Tale of Two Countries

Silvio Berlusconi’s increasingly erratic behavior may bring about his downfall. But in a bitterly divided Italy, the most likely successor does not look appetizing.
Frederika Randall
How to Trap a President in a Losing War

Are we heading for a Petraeus Moment in the Afghan War, along with a titanic civilian-military clash of wills?
Tom Engelhardt
How to Save the News

The case for public funding of journalism and news outlets.
William F. Baker
Meet the Hazzards

If banks were people, here’s what the full $17.5 trillion bailout would look like.
Chris Hayes and Nomi Prins
America’s Teacher

The Shock Doctrine author interviews Michael Moore on the roots of the economic crisis and the promise and peril of this political moment.
Naomi Klein

Editorial

The Supreme Court Slams the Door

How a mere “procedural” decision blatantly shortchanges justice.
Herman Schwartz
Democrats Don’t Deliver Healthcare Reform… Again

Five Democratic senators on the Senate Finance Committee helped defeat a public option; do they really think that will advance reform–or even their political careers?
Adam Howard
The Medicare Gravy Train

Humana and other insurance industry giants have been fomenting a scare campaign among seniors to keep the industry’s wasteful taxpayer subsidy going.
Trudy Lieberman
Huge Hurdles to Nuclear and Energy Reform

At the UN this week, Barack Obama told the world to stop complaining about US hegemony and start working with Washington on big global problems. He should take his own advice.
Barbara Crossette
Missing from Healthcare Bills: Coverage for Reproductive Health

Health reform promises support for comprehensive care. That promise plainly does not extend to women who depend on public funds and seek abortions.
Sylvia Law
Noted.

Panic and silence greet the release of the UN Human Rights Council report on Gaza; the FCC backs net neutrality.
The Editors
Lowballing Health Reform

Progressives need to be as concerned about insurance coverage affordability as we are about a public option.
J. Lester Feder
Nader’s Road to Utopia

In Ralph Nader’s new utopian novel, “only the super-rich can save us.”
Richard Lingeman
ACORN and Accountability

The ACORN tapes and the Inequality of Accountability.
Chris Hayes
A White Hot Season

Policy can be racist even when no one crafting it harbors hatred of a particular racial group.
The Editors
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Column

Exorcising America’s Diplomatic Demons

This week the Chinese Communists celebrate their sixtieth year in power, an event that the make-war-not-peace crowd might benefit from contemplating.
Robert Scheer
Can the NFL Tackle Homophobia?

Some National Football League players appear to be turning over a new leaf when it comes to gay rights, but a history of homophobia still haunts the sport.
Dave Zirin
The House That Irving Built

Grappling with Irving Kristol’s legacy.
Eric Alterman
Voice of America?

When does a society tip from expressive speech into excessive fulmination and then into repression or violence?
Patricia J. Williams
A Grand Jury Investigates John Edwards

He’s got some explaining to do.
Calvin Trillin

Books & the Arts

Nader’s Road to Utopia

In Ralph Nader’s new utopian novel, “only the super-rich can save us.”
Richard Lingeman
America’s Teacher

The Shock Doctrine author interviews Michael Moore on the roots of the economic crisis and the promise and peril of this political moment.
Naomi Klein
Fever Charts: On Jack Tworkov

Jack Tworkov’s writings wrestle with the figures of Abstract Expressionism and his own lost illusions.
Barry Schwabsky
Back Talk: E.L. Doctorow

A conversation with the author of Homer and Langley about opting out.
Christine Smallwood
Ratmansky Takes Manhattan

A celebrated Russian choreographer is charting a stylish new course for American Ballet Theatre.
Marina Harss
Narragansett

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

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Letters

Letters

Adoption: Giving It All Away?
Seattle
Our Readers

Crossword

Puzzle No. 3186

ACROSS

1 A playboy of this world finds a sweet, dizzy registered nurse, a short one! (7)
Frank W. Lewis

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October 12, 2009 Issue

Feature

Two anti-choice amendments considered by the Senate Finance Committee today were soundly defeated.

While corruption by the Afghan government has been widely condemned, corruption by Western officials in Afghanistan has received little if any scrutiny.

The explosion of student sex columns, as captivating as they are controversial, represents a campus movement possessed of the same subversive potential that fueled 1960s student activism.

What’s next in a world where democracy has been so hollowed out, so emptied of meaning?

Hugo Chávez talks about his relationship with Barack Obama, the Honduran crisis, plans to extend the Pentagon’s presence in Colombia, and domestic successes and challenges.

In heavily fortified Pittsburgh, protesters are kept isolated from local residents and from conference attendees.

Democrats joined Republicans in voting to “Defund ACORN” yet have done nothing to stop Blackwater’s taxpayer-funded crusade in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Among racial and ethnic minorities, a disproportionately high foreclosure rate is spreading to homeowners with prime loans.

If Republicans don’t have much hope of derailing healthcare reform, they still have a shot at seriously limiting women’s access to affordable reproductive healthcare.

Silvio Berlusconi’s increasingly erratic behavior may bring about his downfall. But in a bitterly divided Italy, the most likely successor does not look appetizing.

Are we heading for a Petraeus Moment in the Afghan War, along with a titanic civilian-military clash of wills?

The case for public funding of journalism and news outlets.

If banks were people, here’s what the full $17.5 trillion bailout would look like.

The Shock Doctrine author interviews Michael Moore on the roots of the economic crisis and the promise and peril of this political moment.

Editorial

How a mere “procedural” decision blatantly shortchanges justice.

Five Democratic senators on the Senate Finance Committee helped defeat a public option; do they really think that will advance reform–or even their political careers?

Humana and other insurance industry giants have been fomenting a scare campaign among seniors to keep the industry’s wasteful taxpayer subsidy going.

At the UN this week, Barack Obama told the world to stop complaining about US hegemony and start working with Washington on big global problems. He should take his own advice.

Health reform promises support for comprehensive care. That promise plainly does not extend to women who depend on public funds and seek abortions.

Panic and silence greet the release of the UN Human Rights Council report on Gaza; the FCC backs net neutrality.

Progressives need to be as concerned about insurance coverage affordability as we are about a public option.

In Ralph Nader’s new utopian novel, “only the super-rich can save us.”

The ACORN tapes and the Inequality of Accountability.

Policy can be racist even when no one crafting it harbors hatred of a particular racial group.

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

Column

This week the Chinese Communists celebrate their sixtieth year in power, an event that the make-war-not-peace crowd might benefit from contemplating.

Some National Football League players appear to be turning over a new leaf when it comes to gay rights, but a history of homophobia still haunts the sport.

Grappling with Irving Kristol’s legacy.

When does a society tip from expressive speech into excessive fulmination and then into repression or violence?

He’s got some explaining to do.

Books & the Arts

In Ralph Nader’s new utopian novel, “only the super-rich can save us.”

The Shock Doctrine author interviews Michael Moore on the roots of the economic crisis and the promise and peril of this political moment.

Jack Tworkov’s writings wrestle with the figures of Abstract Expressionism and his own lost illusions.

A conversation with the author of Homer and Langley about opting out.

A celebrated Russian choreographer is charting a stylish new course for American Ballet Theatre.

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

Letters

Adoption: Giving It All Away? Seattle

Crossword

ACROSS 1 A playboy of this world finds a sweet, dizzy registered nurse, a short one! (7)

Adoption: Giving It All Away?
Seattle

ACROSS

1 A playboy of this world finds a sweet, dizzy registered nurse, a short one! (7)