Moving Ideas Newsletter

Haiti's election dates have now been reset for the fourth time in the last five months. The logistical defects should not obscure the more fundamental problems that will prevent the elections, whenever held, from helping Haiti to break from its brutal history of political instability, says Brian Concannon Jr.

With an appointment that could span thirty years, confirming Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court will ensure a future for young women in a country where discrimination flourishes and rights diminish, says Crystal Plati.

David Isenberg says that when we see activity like illegal citizen surveillance in other countries, we usually call them police states.

As the official rationales for the U.S. invasion of Iraq are now widely acknowledged to have been fabricated, there are a number of plausible explanations, ranging from control of the country’s oil resources to strategic interests to ideological motivations. One explanation which should not be taken seriously, however, is the assertion that the right-wing government of Israel and its American supporters played a major role in leading the United States to invade Iraq, says Stephen Zunes.

Eric Umansky says that the senator's anti-torture bill fails in the details -- and may increase the practice of rendition.

This New York Times editorial endorses the work of the Prison Policy Initiative and calls for the Census Bureau to "get to work immediately on procedures that would allow it to count inmates where they actually live."

Peter Wagner argues that although some state and local governments are able to fix Census Bureau counts of prisoners after the fact, the only body that can institute an efficient national fix to the redistricting process is the Census Bureau.

Chip Berlet says that there is tragic irony in the Christian Right's Justice Sunday extravaganza occurring the week before the national celebration of the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The legacy of King is the call to nurture unity and peace rather than sow division and discord. The Christian Right sees justice in much narrower terms. Posted on DefConBlog.org.

Russ Baker says that Jack Abramoff's plea is just the beginning. DeLay's dealings with Russia should be one of the biggest stories of the year.

Dean Baker says that Democrats could profit politically from the disastrous Medicare drug benefit -- by fixing it. Posted on TomPaine.com.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State hailed a Florida Supreme Court decision striking down the state’s school voucher program.

Court papers released when Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy, tax evasion and mail fraud, detailed lavish gifts and contributions that he gave Rep. Ney in return for Ney's agreement to use his office to aid Abramoff clients.

In this issue: FRAC Urges 2007 Farm Bill Make Food Stamp Program Investments; USDA Releases State-by-State Food Stamp Program Access Index (PAI) for 2003 and 2004; Budget Fight Continues Into 2006; state reports; and more.

The Vice President visited the Heritage Foundation to explain why it was necessary for the administration to circumvent American law and spy on Americans. Throughout his speech the Vice President invoked images of 9/11 and even had the audacity to claim that unwarranted phone tapping could have stopped several 9/11 hijackers.

Eighteen Members of the United States Congress sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow and Export-Import Bank President James Lambright, requesting that the U.S. return its share of the $12.4 billion to be paid by Nigeria in arrears payments and debt stock by March 2006 as part of a deal reached with the Paris Club group of creditors.

Pastor Herb Lusk, the Philadelphia preacher hosting Religious Right-led “Justice Sunday III” rallies, has a long history of partisan activity on behalf of Republicans and has been awarded more than $1 million in “faith-based” grants by the Bush administration.

Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) is spearheading legislation that would set up an asbestos federal trust fund. The bill, which recently passed out of committee, would: limit the liability of companies who knowingly poisoned their workers; cut benefits to asbestos victims; deny some victims compensation altogether; and pre-empt state laws that provide for speedy trials for terminally ill plaintiffs.

This coming week the U.S. and Thai governments will be meeting in Thailand to negotiate intellectual property provisions for a free trade agreement. The agreement promises to make multinational drug companies big profits while leaving Thai people without affordable access to AIDS drugs and other essential medicines. 10,000 Thai Activists, over half of them living with HIV and AIDS, will be taking to the streets demanding a halt to the negotiations until their voices are heard and life-threatening provisions are taken off the table. In DC we will join with them. Please join activists from HEALTHGAP, the MOBILIZATION FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE, STUDENT GLOBAL AIDS CAMPAIGN, and other groups who will engage in a dramatic visual protest to demand that USTR value life over profit. When: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 @ 1pm Where: The office of the U.S. Trade Representativeat the corner of 17th St & F St. NW (near Farragut West & Farragut North Metro)Washington, DC RSVP:

To start the new year right join SALSA and the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPNdc) on January 12, 5:30-7:30 pm for a New Year Blender at Busboys & Poets, 14th and V Streets NW. Please RSVP for the Blender @ Busboys here!

WE have the power to shape the future of our state. Join fellow Iowans who are tired of the politics of fear and division. WE can and must reinvigorate the political debate. In OUR democracy WE can act together for the common good.