Pitting Worker Against Worker

BLANK May 1, 2010 In this May Day special feature, economist Moshe Adler argues that the answer to our immigration, labor and broader economic problems is more immigration and more welfare for all. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

German High Court Outlines Profound Welfare Rights

Staff / Truthdig Mar 23, 2010 Germany's Federal Constitutional Court has rejected cuts to the welfare state, ruling that all citizens, even the poor, have a right to a "minimum level of participation in social, cultural, and political life." That's a much higher standard than providing for food and other basic needs. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

South Carolina Lt. Gov. Apologizes for Comparing the Poor to ‘Stray Animals’

Staff / Truthdig Jan 26, 2010 South Carolina's Lt Gov Andre Bauer has apologized for comparing poor people to "stray animals" that are encouraged by gifts of food to breed uncontrollably Bauer, who is running in the state's gubernatorial election, told CNN while apologizing that he is "not against animals". Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Massachusetts Senate Race Heats Up

Staff / Truthdig Jan 16, 2010 He's not your, er, conventional Republican -- having spent part of his childhood being raised by a bona fide welfare mom, not to mention posing nude during law school -- but regardless, Massachusetts state Sen. Scott Brown could pose a serious challenge to his Democratic opponent, Martha Coakley, in the race to fill the late Edward Kennedy's U.S. Senate seat. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

And Now, the California Budget Cuts

Staff / Truthdig Jan 9, 2010 What's to be done about California's budget woes? Well, Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger is cutting way back on spending on such superfluous concerns as "health, welfare, transport and the environment," according to the BBC But really, this'll hurt him more than it'll hurt oh, never mind . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

States Ignoring Stimulus Welfare Fund

Staff / Truthdig Sep 8, 2009 Congress created a $5 billion emergency fund for needy families that can be used to immediately create jobs or pay rent for families facing eviction, but many states say they can't afford to take advantage of the windfall. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

Election ‘Revolution’ Swings Japan to the Left

Staff / Truthdig Aug 31, 2009 Japan's Liberal Democratic Party has ruled for all but 11 months since 1955, but a stunning electoral defeat cut its representation in the Diet by perhaps hundreds of seats The victor in all this, Yukio Hatoyama, called it a revolution and promised to take Japan from a corporate state to a welfare state. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

That Good Ol’ Tennessee Socialism

Staff / Truthdig Jul 27, 2009 Faced with one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, Tennessee has taken matters into its own hands. In a work project inspired by the New Deal, the state is using money from the federal stimulus package to create hundreds of jobs ranging from working for the state Transportation Department to baking goodies at the local pie shop. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

California Sees Red

Staff / Truthdig Jul 16, 2009 Looks like Republicans are going to win out in California's seemingly endless budget battle, despite holding a minority in the state Legislature. The deal lawmakers are inching toward favors Gov. Schwarzenegger's desire to make the poor, the elderly and schoolchildren pay for the state's financial crisis. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Number of Welfare Recipients Rises Sharply

Staff / Truthdig Jun 22, 2009 The number of people claiming welfare has gone up in 23 of the 30 largest states since last year. The biggest increases can be found in states with the highest unemployment rates. The new figures are troublesome considering how difficult it is to qualify for welfare, which caters only to the very poor. In a time of recession and few jobs, many others may be slipping through the cracks because they don't qualify for help. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Democrats Aren’t Buying What Schwarzenegger’s Cutting

Staff / Truthdig Jun 3, 2009 As if delivering the tagline of his latest movie, California's governor announced to the state Legislature Tuesday that the "day of reckoning is here." But Democrats are fighting Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to cut funding for schools, the poor and sick children while refusing to raise taxes. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Our Justified Populist Rage

E.J. Dionne Jr. / Truthdig Mar 19, 2009 We are at the beginning of a great popular rebellion against those who showed no self-restraint when it came to lining their own pockets. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )