Bernie Sanders: What Went Wrong for the Former Frontrunner?
On April 8, Senator Bernie Sanders ended his 2020 presidential campaign. The announcement came almost five years after the start of his 2016 run. In those five years, despite never ascending to the presidency or even clinching the Democratic nomination, Sanders transformed the American political...
How a Lack of Coordination Among Government, Industry and Society Resulted in a Dismal Response to COVID-19 in the U.S.
The United States reported 244,228 cases of COVID-19 as of 5:00 a.m. on April 3, according to The New York Times. The same morning, there were 10,062 cases in South Korea. Both countries reported their first cases of COVID-19 on Jan. 20. By Feb. 16,...
An Open Letter to the UCSC Administration
I write this letter as an individual faculty member who has been at UC Santa Cruz since 1990. I am not representing any faculty group, department or Academic Senate Committee. It is my own assessment after 30 years at this university. I attended the Academic...
A Super Tuesday Sweep
In a stunning resurgence, former vice president Joe Biden dominated Super Tuesday, winning 10 of the 14 states and racking up a plurality of delegates. A significant victory in South Carolina just three days earlier consolidated party support around his candidacy, creating momentum that Vermont...
Primary Heats Up as Super Tuesday Looms
Following Saturday’s Nevada caucuses, the Democratic presidential field heads into the Feb. 29 South Carolina primary divided behind its frontrunner, Bernie Sanders. The Vermont Senator’s 26-point victory in Nevada over second place finisher Joe Biden is his third victory in as many states and accelerates...
Abolish the Two-Party System
The lesser of two evils. Anyone but _____. These disaffected refrains are common in our current political climate. Despite warnings of partisan polarization from George Washington and John Adams, electoral politics in this country have been governed by a two-party system since the beginning. Centuries-old...
Time to Shred the Blank Check
In the days following 9/11, Congress voted to approve 60 words that would fuel the American war machine for years to come. The Office of the President has used these 60 words to justify drone strikes, black site detention and military occupation of other countries....
The Coming Eco-Fascism
For decades, the U.S. right-wing consensus on climate change has been defined by denial and motivated by loyalty to special interests. The oil and gas industries, specifically, have funneled billions into the pockets of legislators to ensure their profits are protected. Simultaneously, since its inception...
Bernie 2020
The United States is in political turmoil. Divisions within our country are growing deeper. We need dramatic change, and we need it now. Our next president must possess an unwavering commitment to fight for basic human rights, which our current president has abused since he...
Power to the People, Not the Police
In his message to Santa Cruz on the SCPD website, Chief Andrew Mills claims his force treats people with respect. He says he does not support vigilantism and believes in peaceful de-escalation. But Mills’ policies dispel all hope that he means what he says. He...