The use of high-stakes testing across the country has its roots in the Reagan era when the ruling class responded to the gains made by social movements in the 1960s. Conservatives such as Milton Friedman pushed for a pro-free market model of education, which shifted the emphasis from the public interest to the private sector.

The questions of global warming and high gas prices are hot topics in the media. The politicians are talking about a number of different solutions. Will these solutions help or hurt the environment? Will they be able to provide relief from high gas prices?

It is entirely understandable why the vast majority of African Americans are enthused by his candidacy and why many people see the election as a referendum on racism. But as socialists, we must state clearly that electing Obama will not fundamentally alter the position of the black working class and poor, a position which is in fact deteriorating.

Given how the corporate media presents elections as one big personality contest, and corrupt politicians lie and cheat to get ahead, it’s not surprising that many working-class people have become fed up with elections.

Recently, a lot of attention in the media and political establishment has shifted towards Afghanistan. After the Taliban was overthrown in 2001, Afghanistan was held up as a model for “nation building”. Now, over the last few years the Taliban has been making a comeback, gaining more and more popular support.

The fallout from the financial crisis is clearest at the state level. Sinking property values, coupled with lower retail sales and income tax revenues, have created severe budget crises in many states.

The fallout from the financial crisis is clearest at the state level. Sinking property values, coupled with lower retail sales and income tax revenues, have created severe budget crises in many states.

On May 12, the largest single immigration raid in U.S. history took place in the tiny town of Postville, Iowa, home to the Agriprocessors Kosher meatpacking plant. During the raid, the feds issued 700 warrants and made nearly 400 arrests. The 700 displaced workers represented 75% of the Agriprocessors workforce and a full third of the town’s residents.

Rushing to Wall Street’s aid with the urgency of a knight for a damsel in distress, Democrats and Republicans rescued their buddies from the looming implosion and the series of defaults that would follow. Congress put aside any bickering and put together a huge federal bailout to benefit the very people who created this disaster.

Workers and young people need a party of our own – one that doesn’t accept a penny from corporations and fights for what the vast majority of ordinary people need: An immediate end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, universal healthcare, an end to discrimination, living-wage jobs, and a good quality of life.

Can the epic social and environmental crises we face be solved on the basis of capitalism, or is democratic socialist change necessary? Unfortunately, most opinion leaders tend to simply avoid such fundamental questions, or offer "solutions" that amount to mere band-aids on the wounds inflicted by capitalism. But serious thinkers and activists have an obligation to look deeper.

Justice interviewed Cindy Sheehan, the "peace mom" whose son was killed in Iraq and who is now running as an independent anti-war, pro-worker challenger to Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Bumper stickers on thousands of cars throughout the northeastern U.S. simply read “1.20.09 — Bush’s last day.” The sigh of relief on that day will be audible from the highest peaks of the mountains of New Hampshire to the lowest valleys in the southwest. Crooked smirk Cheney, who couldn’t tell a baby quail from a business tycoon, will be exiting the halls of power too.