ASSOCIATED PRESS

De Blasio has been exceptionally evenhanded in his respect for police while trying to help us grasp the perspectives of people of color. He has tried to be a true friend to the NYPD, in the sense of a friend who believes in you enough to be critical when you can be better.

Jeffrey S. Trachtman

The Supreme Court will decide shortly whether to review and decide a marriage equality case before its current term ends in June. Many are praying for this, eager to wrap up an issue long past the tipping point that folks are sick of discussing. But there is a more important reason the Court should act now.

The warning signs of impending trouble are clear: the $57 billion U.S. investment in Afghanistan's security forces is at risk because the Afghans cannot supply, or resupply their troops, can't prevent their weapons and vehicles from breaking down and can't fix them when they do.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

It's hardly the first time that some official or official source in North Korea has gotten caught with its racial dirty linen waving. The verbal war is the outcrop of the deep suspicion, distrust, antagonism, and confrontation that's characterized relations between the U.S. and North Korea for decades.

NICHOLAS KAMM via Getty Images

At a well-publicized speech in Buffalo, New York on August 22, 2013, President Barack Obama announced that he would create a plan for sweeping reform of higher education. The details were sketchy, but the projected plan would institute a rating system of colleges and universities nationwide.

The Hollywood Christmas classic was once accused of hiding a subversive Communist message. A number of years ago, I was telling a longtime city dweller friend of mine yet another story about the small, upstate New York town in which I grew up.

Thank you Congressman Waxman. Your district, your state and your country thank you for your exemplary service. It is said that words are dwarfs and deeds are giants -- which makes Henry Waxman the world's first 5'-5" super-giant.

Scott Olson via Getty Images

"War is peace" double-speak has become commonplace these days. And, the more astute foreign policy journalists and commentators are beginning to realize the extent of how "liberal interventionists" work in sync with neocon warhawks to produce and sustain a perpetual state of U.S. war.

Daniele Carotenuto Photography via Getty Images

As 2014 closes, I want to take a moment to look back at what We the People accomplished in health policy and health justice this year. By celebrating these accomplishments, I hope our community of activists can find inspiration to keep up the hard work that waits for us in 2015.  

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Best Idea for 2014 was requiring police to wear body cameras. This idea was so good it actually cut across the lines of the protestors and the supporters of police. Many on both sides of that divide support the idea, for what boils down to the same reason: the camera doesn't lie.

Shutterstock

Don't look now, but President Barack Obama has been inching up in the polls, tying Reagan for this juncture in his presidency. Several polls have him inching up to nearly 50 percent approval rating after a rough 2014.

File/Getty

The U.S. is over-burdened militarily and effectively bankrupt financially, but Washington is determined to preserve every base and deployment, no matter how archaic -- such as the many military facilities in Okinawa.

It is the time of year to think about the Christmas story, even if the main characters are a bit on the radical side. It is good to remember as we fight the battles of today that common-sense and basic justice have always sounded a little radical, especially to those in power.

Is it true that companies trying to manufacture in America, workers, communities and environmentalists need the President to explain their interests to them, as if 25 years of lived experience with NAFTA-style trade deals haven't been sufficiently clear?

It is astonishing that someone so bright and well-intentioned does not see the hypocrisy in calling taxes a "drag," "destructive" and "the culprit" and then complaining that money was "slashed" from an entitlement program.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Let's face it, turning this kind of microscope on our own actions brings with it a lot of controversy, calls that we are endangering or damaging the CIA, or opening a can of worms that is best left closed. The dilemmas of a free society are many, and this is one of them. And the dilemmas of a free society are messy. But we should never walk away from them because of that.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

I often feel like I see two distinct angles of the current generation of 20-30 year olds. Both, riding a wave of technological advances making it easier than ever to share ideas. On Saturday, December 13, I felt the contrast in stark relief with the convergence of two cultural events: The Millions March NYC protest, and 2014 Santacon.