Gavyn Davies: Deflation is now a more serious threat than inflation |
Yet another thoughtful piece which shows just how adrift mainstream political and economic thinking in Ireland is from the ideas being touted to deal with our unprecedented economic crisis. Davies advocates PRINTING MORE MONEY. And cites the chair of the US Federal Reserve to [...]

America the Liberal
John Judis argues that 2008 may mark an historic leftward realignment in America, akin to 1930 and 1896, that could pave the way for an enduring Democratic majority over the next several decades. Will the Obama presidency seize the moment?

Will Hutton: This terrifying moment is our one chance for a new world |
Will Hutton details the roots of the current crisis and the enormous scale of the challenge now facing us. Yet he somehow finds the optimism to identify the great opportunity this presents to recast the international financial system. A call to action [...]

Drew Westen: Avoiding President Palin
Drew Westen takes issue with the Obama campaign's lacklustre response to Sarah Palin's nomination and the Republican Convention and offers 10 pieces of advice on how Obama can avoid joining the failure list of Dukakis, Gore and Kerry. Depressing, if essential, reading for anyone interested in how to get progressives elected.

Drew Westen: What Obama Needs to Do in Denver
Drew Westen, author of the brilliant The Political Brain gives us his thoughts on what Obama needs to do at the Convention. In brief - define himself and his story, explain how the US got to the low point it's now at, explain why John McCain [...]

Kira Cochrane on the apparent backlash against feminism | World news | The Guardian
The sex industry is booming, the rape conviction rate is plummeting, women’s bodies are picked over in the media, abortion rights are under threat and business leaders don’t want to employ women. It adds up to an all-out assault on feminism. But [...]

Michael Tomasky: Barack Obama must compromise his liberal principles in order to get elected | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk
the question here is about how far a candidate for president can go to inoculate himself against likely attacks – attacks that have a proven track record of working – before he’s no longer the candidate [...]

The Ethics of Climate Change: Pay Now or Pay More Later?: Scientific American
Good article on the ethics and economics of climate change. How do we value the lives and well being of future generations? What sacrifices are appropriate now to ensure our children’s and grandchildren’s well being in the future

Referenda: democracy vs elites | openDemocracy
Following on from George Schöpflin’s earlier piece: The people’s direct voice in judging constitutional change in the European Union must be upheld, says Gisela Stuart.

The referendum: populism vs democracy | openDemocracy
The idea of the referendum as an instrument of the people’s will rests on pre-democratic foundations, says George Schöpflin.