A continuation of the conversation sparked by Jennifer’s article which appeared on the Flaming Grasshopper March 2. David Corn of The Nation wrote a defense of his choice to sign with a large publishing house for his book The Lies of George W. Bush. Now, Jennifer writes him an e-mail and promises a more lengthy response next week.

Mr. Corn,

Thanks for taking the time to respond publicly. I welcome the opportunity to further this debate, as you missed some points and misinterpreted others. In particular, I never said that writers do not deserve advances.

(more…)

I’ve got an invitation for all progressive authors out there.

How about putting your money and ideas where your mouths are? Why not work with independent book publishers to share with the public your thoughts about progressive politics, social justice, sustainability and media reform…instead of lining the pockets of the corporate publishers–and ultimately, the five or ten rich, white men who control nearly every media message we read and hear in the U.S. today.

Let me share with you a story about an independent publisher waging battle against the corporate-owned and fossilized business of book publishing. We could use a little help from you, friends.

(more…)

Vermont residents are demanding accountability on the US involvement in Iraq from the White House and Congress. As of March 1, 50 Vermont towns had passed a resolution asking for the President and Congress to begin taking steps toward pulling out of Iraq and for an investigation into the use of Vermont National Guard troops in the war. Read the article about the resolution at Common Dreams.

Why does the media shy away from the human rights abuses that are occurring in the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center? Why does it not seem to be big news when President Bush wants to hold detainees indefinitely on secret evidence?

Read what Chelsea Green’s publisher, Benjamin Malancon of Narco News interviewed Chelsea Green’s publisher, Margo Baldwin about about Guantanamo, the Bush administrations roll in human rights abuses, and the media’s deafening silence.

Margo: The media’s coverage of Guantanamo has been incredibly simplistic. They just don’t deal with the larger legal issues about what’s going on. They never discuss the basically unlimited powers that Bush has taken on as commander-in-chief, never discuss the idea that detaining people indefinitely goes against 400 years of the rule of law. Nobody seems to make the connection that if he can do it to those people he can do it here or anywhere. Pathetic! Then, when [Guantánamo co-author Michael Ratner and the Center for Constitutional Rights] did win the cases before the Supreme Court, it basically hasn’t made any difference. The Bush administration has continued to deny any legal rights to the detainees and the media don’t even mention it. Incredible!

Read more