The conclusion of the debt ceiling fiasco, and the appropriate progressive response.

So the debt crisis appears to be nearing its end. With the deal that was reached last night between all four legislative leaders between the House and the Senate, it appears that a potentially crippling default will be avoided. There are still votes to be taken and, given the nature of the Republican caucus, one [...]

Article VIII: The Grover Branch (or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Policy Pledge).

For many Americans; it was their high school civic class, where basic knowledge of this Republic’s inner workings initially struck a chord. It was at this point in our lives where we learned of the single most fundamental elements of what has become our national lighthouse: The United States Constitution and its delegated powers; and separation [...]

Thoughts from those affected by the Minnesota State Government Shutdown.

I put out a call over the My Progressive Life Facebook page for stories from those affected by the Minnesota state government shutdown, and I got a couple back.  I always feel like it is important to get the stories of those who are personally affected by the decisions that are made in our houses [...]

The Day After the Minnesota State Government Shutdown: Part II.

For the second time in six years, the Minnesota state government officially went into shutdown mode at midnight.  The negotiations between Gov. Mark Dayton (DFL-MN) and the Republican-led legislative caucuses broke down early yesterday evening, and it was apparent for hours before the midnight that the deadline was not going to be met.  Because of [...]

The Minnesota State Government Shutdown: Part I.

Hopefully, this will be the only part that we have to do at My Progressive Life, as we are hoping that there can be some sort of budget deal before Minnesota’s government shuts down tonight at midnight.  However, I do not see this being quick, and I do not see this being painless, so I [...]

Could the Republican Party have a brokered convention in 2012?

I know, I know.  It is always folly to ask questions like this.  You have a lot of candidates in the beginning, and by the time Iowa and New Hampshire are done, you have maybe three or four legit candidates.  Then the media eventually weighs in with their say, proclaiming one candidate or another to [...]

The case for high-speed rail.

The pinch at the pump is back.  Just today, I had to pay $3.29/gallon for gas in Columbia.  There have been many reasons cited for this, with the main theory centering around the people’s revolutions in the Middle East, and their effect on the distribution of oil from the region.  For what it is worth, [...]

So the Republican war on the working class has come to this. How shameful.

This is what it has come to.  The Wisconsin State Senate passing a law without a working quorum to pass budgetary bills.  But the public was sold a bill of goods about the legislation being a “budget repair” bill.  How did this happen?  The Wisconsin State Constitution is fairly clear about this: you must have [...]

No way. Socialism creates jobs? What?

It seems that the word “jobs” has been a favorite amongst Republican members of Congress recently.  President Obama was criticized by House Speaker John Boehner’s office (R-OH) because: “Michael Steel, a spokesman for Boehner, said in an e-mail he questions why Obama ‘thinks now is the appropriate time to stir up a controversial issue that [...]

Is the Republican assault on the labor movement warranted?

The above picture is from the Wisconsin State Capitol, where over 10,000 people protested Gov. Scott Walker’s (R-WI) plans to take away collective bargaining rights for public employees.  It seems that since the Republicans took over in many state legislatures, governorships, and the U.S. House of Representatives, labor unions have been under a sustained attack. [...]