"From Out of the Aether," Another Voice

(Paying tribute to an Atlanta fanzine of my youth.)

1. I fell across an article by Eli Zaretsky, "Why America Needs the Left."
   

   Indeed, more than the struggle between Left and Right, the struggle between the Left and liberalism over the meaning of equality is at the core of U.S. history. Without a Left, liberalism becomes spineless and vapid; without liberalism, the Left becomes sectarian, authoritarian and marginal. In contrast, the Right is merely a reaction to the Left.
   
   But the difference runs deeper still. Behind the Left’s commitment to equality is a passion for emancipation from entrenched forms of oppression. Criticizing forms of domination that liberals tolerate or ignore, the Left stands not only for equality, but also for an enhanced concept of freedom.
   
   [...]
   
   Occupy Wall Street represents a stark contrast to the missed opportunities of the Obama presidency. The protests on behalf of the 99% bear witness to the irrepressible American commitment to equality and speak to the impossibility of a successful resolution of the current crisis without a robust, independent Left. Given the fact that Occupy Wall Street has already changed the discourse of American politics, nothing could be more harmful than for the movement to be absorbed into the neoliberal, corporate-dominated Democratic Party. Instead, its goal should be to recreate a permanent radical presence in American life. For that to happen, progressives, liberals, feminists, ecology activists, gay liberationists, pacifists, antiwar activists as well as the Occupiers must reaffirm their common identity as a Left.

   I would say "a Left" because I don't believe in monoliths, but that's just me.  Also, I've got rock salt in the salt shaker.  Something's missing...
2. Department of No, They Don't Give Up:  CISPA,  successor to SOPA and PIPA.  Via Shakesville.  Text of bill.
3. Mental Floss presents six Onion articles that were taken seriously.