Top Stories
Wealth Gap between Congress and Other Americans Widens to 9 to 1
Recent economic times have been tough on most Americans. But for those representing the struggling masses, it’s been much easier to accumulate wealth.
The wealth gap between lawmakers and constituents increased substantially from 2004 to 2010,... read more
Police Departments Use Federal Grants to Stock Up on Fancy Riot and Terrorism Gear
To the benefit of weapons manufacturers, Police departments throughout the United States have been loading up on sophisticated weaponry and riot gear since September 11, 2001, thanks to generous grants from the federal government.
About $34 bi... read more
Two Thirds of U.S. Foreign Aid is Really Military Aid
When some Americans complain that foreign aid is wasting taxpayer money abroad that could be put to better use at home, they may not realize that today’s version of foreign aid isn’t what it used to be. Call it the Pentagon-zation of U.S. foreign ... read more
Are Military Contractors Free to Commit Torture without Punishment?
Iraqis tortured by American defense contractors at the infamous Abu Ghraib prison are still seeking justice in U.S. courts, which will hear their claims in early 2012.
Human rights attorneys from the Center for Constitutional Rights are assist... read more
Super Rich Liberation Front Speaks Out
Tired of being beaten up in the press and the focus of public protests, some of America’s richest individuals are banding together to shape the national discourse on the top 1%, or, as comedian John Hodgman refers to them, “moneyed Americans.”
... read more
U.S. Population Growth Rate Drops to Lowest Level Since World War II
Due to the bad economic times that have plagued the country for the past several years, the U.S. is experiencing its slowest rate of population growth since World War II.
The population went up by about 2.8 million to 311.6 million from April ... read more
FDA Approves Trials of Anti-AIDS Vaccine
The Food and Drug Administration has approved clinical trials for a new HIV vaccine manufactured in Canada.
With the financial backing of the South Korean pharmaceutical venture company Sumagen, scientists at the University of Western Ontario,... read more
Homeless Children in U.S. Younger than 7 Number 672,000
America’s streets are now home to more than 1.5 million youths, with more than 40% of them under the age of seven.
Out of the 1.6 million children in the U.S. who were homeless at some time last year, 672,000 were babies, toddlers and other ki... read more
One Third of Young Americans Arrested by Age 23…Is Drug Crackdown to Blame?
American youth are landing in jail far more often than most realize, according to a new study that found about one-third will be arrested for a non-traffic offense by age 23. The research shows that between 25% and 41% of 23-year-olds have been ar... read more
Dictator of the Month: Who Was Kim Jong-il of North Korea?
The death of Kim Jong-il probably marks the end of an era, the end of one family controlling the fates of 24 million people. Despite the fact that I have written about living dictators for many years, I managed to visit North Korea in 2007. It was... read more
U.S. Prison Population Drops for First Time in 38 Years
The U.S. prison population, the world’s largest, got a little smaller last year, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The total number of inmates in U.S. prisons from 2009 to 2010 decreased by 9,228, the first such decline since 1972.
... read more
Death Sentences Decline to New Low
This year has witnessed the fewest number of prisoners sentenced to death since the U.S. reinstated the death penalty in 1976, while support for the death penalty fell to a 39-year low.
To date, only 78 death sentences have been imposed on pri... read more
U.S. Marriage Rate Drops to Record Low
It won’t be long before those married in the United States constitute less than a majority of all adults.
Today, barely more than half of all adults (51%) are married, according to the Pew Research Center. This rate is the lowest on record, as... read more
Big Campaign Donors are an Extremely Elite Breed
There’s the “One Percent,” and then there’s the “One Percent of the One Percent” when talking about campaign fundraising.
American elections these days are funded to a significant degree by a relatively small group of wealthy individuals, acco... read more
Fracking Suspected in Rash of Earthquakes in Unlikely Places
Ohio is not exactly earthquake country, and yet the area near Youngstown has been struck nine times in eight months by seismic activity.
Critics of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, used to capture underground supplies of natural gas blame it... read more
Drug Companies Increase Profits by Creating Fear of Diseases (and Even Diseases)
Coined nearly 20 years ago, the term “disease mongering” is still applicable today for what the pharmaceutical industry is doing to promote its blockbuster drugs among America’s “sick.”
In her book Disease-Mongers: How Doctors, Drug Companies,... read more