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What will it take for the majority to understand voting for either Republicans or Democrats is counter-productive in changing our societal issues through politics? The Wisconsin recall is an excellent example. From day one of the recall campaign, people were confident that Democrats were going to be out in full force. People assumed resources were going to be handed out; such as finances, campaign staff, and media tactics designed and/or on behalf of Wisconsin Democrats. Instead, no help came f

I interviewed former Distinguished Professor of Education and Senior University Scholar at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Bill Ayers. His various articles on education have appeared in countless publications, including the Harvard Educational Review, The Nation, The New York Times, and Rethinking Schools. Along with his academic career, Ayers was actively involved with the Civil Rights movement where he fought discrimination in Ann Arbor, MI. Could you provide your background in policy

Florida holds the dubious honor of wrongfully convicting the largest number of innocent people put on death row. Since 1973, the Sunshine State wrongfully incarcerated and released twenty-three people set for a state sanctioned killing. And nationwide, 140 people in twenty-six states have been exonerated of the crimes for which they were convicted and sent to death row. If this tells independent voters anything, it’s that the criminal justice system is in desperate need of reform, with capital p

Artur Davis, at one time a Democrat representing Alabama's 7th Congressional District from 2003 to 2010, has decided to leave the Democratic Party. Furthermore, while undecided about the possibility of running for office in the future, Davis said on his website,"If I were to run, it would be as a Republican." The question is, should such a departure be of any major concern to President Obama's reelection campaign? To answer that question, we need to look more closely at Davis and the type of Dem

I recently attended the 19th Dealing with Difference Institute Conference on the campus of Western Illinois University in Macomb, IL, where I was invited to speak on “Contemporary Social Justice Movements” with an emphasis on the Occupy Movement. After my presentation I was approached by two individuals who live in the same town as I do, to which they said, “We saw your name on the program, and we asked our local activist since they know everyone; however they did not know you”. This line of lo

For the last few days I have been thinking about President Obama's stance on gay marriage. As much as I want to stand up and cheer for him I really have to do it with reservations. As an LGBTQA activist I have to pose the question to the president: Why are you making such a statement at this juncture versus making one two years ago? Understandably the president is figuring out ways to handle our nation's economic crisis, conflicts in the Middle East, and wanting to be re-elected as president. On

So North Carolina voters approved a ballot measure that prohibits same-sex marriages within the state.  It became the last southern state to do so... and the 31st overall.  It was done during the primary election instead of the general election because the Republican-controlled legislature knew that Democratic turn-out during the primary would be low since there was no real primary taking place within that party.  Even so, the vote was close to a 60-40 split.  A couple of days later, President O

The blogosphere is in a flurry today on the heels of the Ron Paul campaign announcement. Concerning its future in states yet to hold Republican primary elections, it looks like Dr. Paul will not be pouring money into these contests as he has continued to do. Is he done, completely? Or will he continue amassing what have been called "stealth delegates"? Even without an "official" campaign effort in states like Texas and California, can Dr. Paul continue to siphon a sizable chunk of Republican sup

I remember as a young high school student hearing Senator Everett Dirksen of Illinois making the comment, “A billion here, a billion there, before you know it you are talking about real money.” How far from that cry for fiscal sanity have we come as a nation? Here is the sad reality, ladies and gentlemen, about the current situation the United States of America finds itself in with regard to our finances. We have not even been a country for a trillion seconds and yet we are throwing around the

Phil Huckelberry is the Co-chair of Green Party US Ballot Access Committee. IVN contributor AJ Segneri recently chatted with him about ballot access issues facing third parties. AJ: Provide for the readers your background in politics and activism, specifically ballot access. Phil: I've been involved in the Green Party since 2000. I was Co-Chair of the Green National Committee from 2007-2009, and I've been Chair of the Illinois Green Party since 2008, in addition to a bunch of other committee h