04
April 30, 2008
War in the Spotlight: Filmmakers Focus on Iraq
The past year has seen a number of films take on the far-reaching effects of the Iraq War both at home and abroad.
April 30, 2008
The United States Can Do More for Iraqi Refugees
Iraq’s displaced population is the primary threat to the country’s future stability, write Brian Katulis and Peter Juul.
April 30, 2008
It’s Easy Being Green: Mission Zero
Ray Anderson took Interface from a company with no environmental vision to a leader in sustainable business.
April 30, 2008
Arab Unity: Now Is the Time for New Policies
The United States has a window of opportunity to show leadership in the Middle East, writes Amanda Rios.
April 30, 2008
Fixes for the Food Fight
The world is not food secure. An overextended global food system operating in an increasingly resource-constrained world with little or no cushion to cope with catastrophe is now at the brink of break down due to soaring global food prices. In the United States and internationally, our response must be immediate and enduring, requiring swift action this week by Congress, the World Bank, the Group of Eight industrialized nations and the United Nations.
April 30, 2008
All Signs Point in the Wrong Direction
All signs point in the wrong direction for the U.S. economy after today’s release of the latest GDP estimates, writes Christian E. Weller.
April 29, 2008
Dealing with Militants
This past weekend's assassination attempt on Afghan president Hamid Karzai, along with ongoing negotiations between the Pakistani government and elements of the Taliban, should move the focus on America's national security debate away from Iraq. But it is not likely to have much of an impact - in large part because of the misplaced priorities of the Bush administration. America's national security debate remains fixated on Iraq, a policy costing US taxpayers upwards of $10bn a month and diverting attention away from other national security priorities.
April 29, 2008
Alternative Routes to Teacher Preparation
CAP event brings together education experts to discuss a new report arguing for the development of alternative teacher preparation programs.
April 29, 2008
How Could We Spend $600 Billion?
The U.S. has so far given approximately $600 billion dollars toward operations in Iraq. What if that money was spent on research into energy efficiency and renewable energy instead?
April 29, 2008
The Right Way to Pressure Beijing
When the U.S. Congress recently passed a resolution calling on Beijing to end its repression of dissent in Tibet and open a dialogue with the Dalai Lama, a Chinese spokesperson declared that the resolution had “seriously hurt the feelings of the Chinese people.” Nor was this the first time the Chinese had expressed emotional distress at some political gesture. Everyone from the Icelandic singer Björk, who shouted “Tibet! Tibet!” at the end of a concert in Shanghai, to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who met with the Dalai Lama in Ottawa, has been accused of hurting the feelings of the Chinese. Indeed, the Chinese might be the only people who regard the rantings of CNN’s Jack Cafferty, who referred to the Chinese government as “goons and thugs,” as worth taking seriously. Nerves this sensitive bespeak either a severe case of adolescent angst or a revealing insight into national character, or both. It is hard to imagine Vladimir Putin or Robert Mugabe, or George W. Bush for that matter, confessing to having hurt feelings about anything, much less the kind of symbolic ephemera that seem to regularly rile the Chinese.
April 29, 2008
El Estado de las Minorías
April 29, 2008
The State of Minorities
Hispanic and African-American households are likely to suffer first and to suffer more in the current economic downturn, write Tim Westrich and Amanda Logan.
April 29, 2008
New Housing Numbers Underscore the Need for Action
New numbers show the housing market hitting a new low, and congressional action ever more urgent, writes Andrew Jakabovics.
April 28, 2008
Thinking Outside the University
New report on alternative certification delves into the history and current research about these techniques and profiles innovative programs around the country.
April 28, 2008
This Week in Congress 4.28.08 - 5.02.08
CAP prepares you for Medicaid funding, genetic non-discrimination, the Iraqi refugee crisis, and immigration visas.
April 28, 2008
Disenfranchising American Voters
The decision to uphold an Indiana law requiring photo ID to vote disenfranchises those that need access the most: the poor and minorities.
April 28, 2008
Nationalism v. International Protest
Winny Chen on what we should expect when the Olympic torch arrives in China? And what China and the United States can do in the lead-up to the Olympics.
April 28, 2008
Issue Pulse: Too Few Resources, Too Many Battles
Expert consensus is that continued strain from fighting two wars is keeping the United States from accomplishing goals in Afghanistan.
April 25, 2008
Public Turning Even More Negative on Iraq
Recent polls show a record high proportion of the U.S. public now believes Iraq was a mistake.
April 25, 2008
Making the Most Out of Service
Service learning keeps students engaged and boosts graduation rates, but we need to rethink the way programs are funded, writes Shirley Sagawa.
April 25, 2008
Fair Pay is a Better Way
Fair wages are a better way to improve women's economic security than government promotion of marriage, write Jessica Arons and Alexandra Cawthorne.
April 24, 2008
Fifteen Years After Black Hawk Down: Somalia's Chance?
Just as the Somali insurgency is intensifying, a possible window of opportunity has swung open in the form of a power-sharing agreement to end the war.
April 24, 2008
Think Again: The Boys in the Bubble
Stephanopoulos and Gibson somehow remain blissfully unaware—or worse—unconcerned about the problems facing the vast majority of Americans.
April 24, 2008
Wide Range of Faith Communities Celebrate Earth Day
Faith communities all over the country embraced Earth Day this year, but their commitment to climate change extends far beyond a single day.
April 23, 2008
Strengthening America’s First and Foremost Retirement Plan
April 23, 2008
It’s Easy Being Green: Chicago’s Alleys Get a Makeover
Chicago is resurfacing its alleys with sustainable, permeable concrete that will provide the city and the environment with great green benefits.
April 23, 2008
Petraeus Appointment Raises Questions
General Petraeus’ prospective appointment as the head of the U.S. central command raises concerns of objectivity and the future, writes Lawrence Korb.
April 23, 2008
New Role for the IMF: Global Credit Crisis Offers International Monetary Fund a New Lease on Life
Global credit crisis offers International Monetary Fund a new lease on life, write Naoko Nakamae and Jonathan Jacoby.
April 23, 2008
We Need a Plan for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas
Caroline Wadhams and Colin Cookman outline six strategic guideposts for addressing the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in Pakistan.
April 23, 2008
There’s More to College than Just Getting In
We need an aggressive national effort to better prepare all students to finish their college degree, write Robin Chait and Louis Soares.
April 22, 2008
Let's Dump "Earth Day"
I don't worry about the earth. I'm pretty certain the earth will survive the worst we can do to it. I'm very certain the earth doesn't worry about us. I'm not alone. People got more riled up when scientists removed Pluto from the list of planets than they do when scientists warn that our greenhouse gas emissions are poised to turn the earth into a barely habitable planet.
April 22, 2008
`The Wire' Showed No Options for Men
April 22, 2008
Genetic Non-Discrimination
Report addresses uncertainties that need consideration as genetic medicine gets increasingly personal and the Senate considers genetic non-discrimination legislation.
April 22, 2008
Issue Brief: Overcoming Legal Barriers to the Bulk Sale of At-Risk Mortgages
Selling loans and loan pools to new owners would help stabilize housing prices, write Michael Barr and James A. Feldman.
April 22, 2008
Nasty Neighbors: Resolving the Chad-Sudan Proxy War
With the root causes of conflict in Chad and the Sudan still untended, this regional crisis is poised to deepen, writes Colin Thomas-Jensen.
April 22, 2008
Record Gas Prices Add Pressure to Already Squeezed Consumers
As gas prices rise and the economy falls, consumers are running out of ways to save money and pay for extra expenses, writes Christian E. Weller.
April 21, 2008
This Week in Congress 4.21.08 - 4.25.08
CAP prepares you for housing crisis legislation, wage discrimination, Medicaid funding, and veterans' benefits.
April 21, 2008
Global Warming Red Herring
Bush predicts disaster if we comply with Supreme Court ruling and existing environmental laws, scoffs Robert Sussman.
April 21, 2008
A Small Business Administration for Non-Profits
The nonprofit sector is America's best hope for solving the pressing problems facing its communities. Unfortunately, too many nonprofits are high on mission and passion but weak on resources and strategy. As a result, they struggle to achieve the impact they seek, operating inefficiently, with limited use of technology and without access to expertise they need. To help small businesses in a similar situation, we have the Small Business Administration. What's needed is an SBA for nonprofits – a government agency that can provide funding and guidance to the nonprofit sector.
April 21, 2008
Rebuilding New Orleans
Video shows that almost three years after Hurricane Katrina, residents still live with the devastating effects of the disaster.
April 21, 2008
The North Korea-Syria Nexus: Congress Needs to Ask Tough Questions
Congress needs to ask tough questions about weapons transfers from North Korea to Syria and the Middle East.
April 21, 2008
Affordable Long-Term Care
America is in desperate need of a long-term care solution. On the verge of the baby boomers' retirement—the 65-plus population will increase by some 30 million over the next 20 years, a three-fold increase over the previous two decades—the United States is utterly unprepared to finance their long-term-care needs.
April 21, 2008
Got "Access"?
Access to emergency rooms is not enough. The uninsured are less likely to receive the care they need, creating longer waits and higher costs for everyone.
April 19, 2008
Tortured Explanations
Torture Team shows that those who drew up the United States' post-9/11 policy on interrogation were woefully inexperienced and badly advised.
April 18, 2008
The United States and Shifting Global Power Dynamics
Foreign policy experts with a wide range of specialties—from economics to military power to diplomacy—foresee sweeping shifts in global power dynamics during the twenty-first century. One of the most pressing questions for U.S. policymakers is how to confront these power shifts productively. Here, two experts with new books on the topic debate how the United States should respond to rising hegemony elsewhere in the world. Nina Hachigian is a Senior Vice President at the Center for American Progress. Parag Khanna is director of the Global Governance Initiative and a senior research fellow at the New America Foundation.
April 18, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: Fear of Falling
The public believes that over the last five years it has become harder for middle class families to maintain their standard of living.
April 18, 2008
Problems with Plastic: Credit Card Debt Hits Record High
Credit card debt hits record high as U.S. consumers try to cope with economic downturn, writes Tim Westrich.
April 18, 2008
We Are Hungry: Solving the Food Crisis at Home
Growing food insecurity in the United States needs immediate attention, writes Alexandra Cawthorne.
April 17, 2008
Resist the Attempt to Hold the Olympics Hostage
The first big domino fell last week in the grassroots movement in Europe and America calling for a boycott the Beijing Olympics over China's human-rights record. Britain's prime minister, Gordon Brown, has announced he would not attend the Opening Ceremonies. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton quickly issued a statement praising his decision and calling on President Bush to stay away, too. Meanwhile, the Olympic torch was in San Francisco, ducking into dark warehouses and fleeing down back alleys to evade protesters.
April 17, 2008
Seven Years of Failure: Bush gets an F for the Earth
Administration has blocked progress toward creating a low-carbon economy.
April 17, 2008
Bush's Bankruptcy Legacy: Three Years and Nearly 1.5 Million Bankruptcy Filings Later
Three years after changes in bankruptcy law, nearly 1.5 million individuals have filed for personal bankruptcy.
April 17, 2008
Ask the Expert: A New Farm Bill
What issues have been holding up the vote on the Farm Bill? How can we fix the subsidy system? And how do biofuels figure into the debate?
April 17, 2008
Sounding the Alarm on Abyei: An ENOUGH Report
A new ENOUGH report states that immediately addressing the deteriorating situation in Abyei should be a priority for U.S. peacekeeping.
April 17, 2008
Think Again: The Media (Finally) Talk About Torture
April has seen a series of media revelations about the Bush administration's use of torture at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib.
April 16, 2008
Transforming U.S. Policy Toward Pakistan
We need to work with Pakistan to help them take advantage of the current window of opportunity to achieve progress on security, political, and economic fronts.
April 16, 2008
Early Deployment
Report from Ken Berlin and Robert Sussman explains how to maximize carbon capture and storage under the Lieberman Warner global warming bill.
April 16, 2008
Welcome to the New Website!
We’ve redesigned the website to put more of CAP’s expanding body of work at your fingertips. The new homepage includes a “Featured Stories” box where five articles and one video are displayed in rotation. The “Progressive Pulse” section provides quick links to the latest headlines, both from CAP and partner websites. Other new sections highlight the issues we believe matter most, and give quick access to our latest publications.
April 16, 2008
Olympian Rhetoric: Propaganda Traps China’s Leaders
Soaring promises to the Chinese people of global prestige from the Olympic games now has the nation’s authoritarian leadership caught in a web of its own making.
April 16, 2008
It's Easy Being Green: Living Off the Grid
Residents in Oregon and Los Angeles are joining the ranks of Americans unplugging from commercial power and generating their own.
April 16, 2008
The State of America's Ground Forces
Lawrence J. Korb testifies before the House Armed Forces Subcommittee on Readiness and Air Land Forces.
April 16, 2008
No Bang for the Buck
Lack of contracting oversight, epitomized by contracts to Efraim Diveroli's AEY, is hurting the mission in Afghanistan, write Lawrence Korb and Colin Cookman.
April 16, 2008
Analysis of CAP Report on Rural Learning Opportunities
Terry K. Peterson, the Director of the Afterschool and Community Learning Network, highlights the importance of afterschool and expanded learning time for rural students.
April 16, 2008
Fixated on Tactics: Iraq War Supporters Lack Strategies
Defending tactics for an open-ended military commitment in Iraq exposes proponents of “strategic patience” to the folly of their own arguments, writes Peter Juul.
April 15, 2008
What Would 10 More Years Bring?
Both Gen. David Petraeus and President Bush have indicated a willingness to keep American troops in Iraq for at least 10 years without regard to the costs in both human lives and dollars and to our overall national security. The Center for American Progress has calculated cost projections for a 10-year troop presence in Iraq.
April 15, 2008
Fool Me Twice, Shame on Me
The Clean Air Act proved that studies predicting big electricity price hikes will be wrong, write Daniel Weiss and Nick Kong.
April 15, 2008
What Should Have Happened in Bucharest
Earlier this month in Bucharest, NATO lost an opportunity to build upon, and reinforce, an important aspect of its post-Cold War raison d'etre.
April 15, 2008
War and Taxes: Sharing the National Burden
April 15 should remind every American that sacrifices by our soldiers on the battlefield require sacrifices at home, too.
April 14, 2008
The Technology that Will Save Humanity
One of oldest forms of energy used by humans—sunlight concentrated by mirrors—is poised to make an astonishing comeback. I believe it will be the most important form of carbon-free power in the 21st century. That's because it's the only form of clean electricity that can meet all the demanding requirements of this century.
April 14, 2008
This Week in Congress 4.14.08 - 4.18.08
CAP prepares you for genetic nondiscrimination, student loan legislation, infrastructure, and continued negotiations on the farm bill.
April 14, 2008
CAP Hosts Human Rights Conference
Albright and Moreno-Ocampo headline the Samuel Dash Conference on Human Rights, hosted by CAP and Georgetown University Law Center.
April 14, 2008
The People Behind Body of War
Phil Donahue and former soldier Tomas Young talk about their film, working with Eddie Vedder, and the media coverage of the war.
April 11, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: What Part of “Get Out of Iraq” Don’t They Understand?
The public must be wondering what part of "get out of Iraq" the Bush administration doesn't understand, writes Ruy Teixeira.
April 11, 2008
Neighborhood Realities: Media Focus on Poverty, Race, and Health
TV series and journal article draw attention to the links between childhood poverty, race, and health, write Meredith King and Joy Moses.
April 11, 2008
Strategic confusion
Misunderstanding Iran's role works to increase its influence in Iraq, write Brian Katulis and Matthew Duss.
April 11, 2008
Post-Annapolis: U.S. Needs a Comprehensive Strategy
Moran Banai and Mara Rudman outline next steps for the United States in Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking six months after Annapolis.
April 10, 2008
A Second Chance: Key Anti-Poverty Law Enacted to Fight Recidivism
President Bush signed landmark legislation embraced by CAP to help former prisoners reenter society with a fighting chance against recidivism.
April 10, 2008
Consumer-Driven Health Plans May Preempt, Not Promote, Prevention
Prioritizing prevention is critical to health reform, but consumer-driven plans are not the answer to promoting prevention.
April 10, 2008
The Human Side of Global Warming
Little attention has been paid to global warming's effects on human health, but without a low-carbon change of course, they will persist.
April 10, 2008
Economic Snapshot for April 2008
Massive debt, falling house prices, disappearing jobs, flat wages, lower benefits, and skyrocketing costs are emptying the pockets of middle America.
April 10, 2008
Ask the Expert: Biofuels Under Fire
Will biofuels affect food prices? And what's the best way to proceed on biofuels?
April 10, 2008
Think Again: The End of the Network News?
Network news may still be valuable, but it's also aging with its audience in the era of the 24-hour cable network.
April 10, 2008
Online Behavioral Advertising: Technical Steps Needed to Ensure Consumer Control
Peter Swire and Annie Anton outline principles for protecting privacy in online advertising in FTC testimony.
April 10, 2008
The Write Stuff
The Office returns to TV tonight, one of the first shows back after the writers' strike. David Madland examines what this means for the economy.
April 10, 2008
Virtue Out of Necessity: Bush Troop Decision Disingenuous
Stress on our military, not the success of the surge, are behind the president’s decision to withdraw some troops from Iraq, writes Lawrence Korb.
April 9, 2008
The Reinvention of Greensburg: It's Easy Being Green
The town of Greensburg, KS used the devastation of a tornado as an opportunity to transform itself into a model green community.
April 9, 2008
Iran’s Special Groups: The Latest “Stay the Course” Excuse
U.S. forces are threatened by various Iran-backed groups in Iraq, says Gen. Petraeus. Does he include those groups that we also support?
April 9, 2008
Shared Equity in Action: Recovery and Affordability Are Possible Amid the Crash in Housing Prices
Report outlines way to address the needs of large numbers of overleveraged homeowners while avoiding windfalls and unwarranted bailouts through shared equity.
April 9, 2008
Conflating Al Qaeda in Iraq and Osama bin Laden’s Transnational Network
Gen. Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker insist on directly linking Al Qaeda in Iraq with Osama bin Laden, observes Peter Juul.
April 9, 2008
Subprime Mortgages and the Moral Imperative to Help Homeowners
The government has helped Wall Street while ignoring its moral obligation to help homeowners, writes Michael Boylan.
April 9, 2008
Homeless Veterans by the Numbers
CAP examines the problem of homelessness among veterans and what can be done as House Veterans Affairs Committee gathers for hearing on the issue.
April 8, 2008
Rural Schools Need Support
Education experts gather at CAP event to discuss afterschool learning and challenges facing rural schools.
April 8, 2008
Restoring the Waters
Progressive thinking takes a new turn in western water management as states across the region act to fix damaged rivers, lakes, and wetlands.
April 8, 2008
Basra Was the Test: The Surge Fails Politically and Militarily
The “surge” strategy now under review on Capitol Hill failed to meet its most important goals recently in Basra, writes Ian Moss.
April 8, 2008
How Much Will This Cost? CAP Interviews Steve Kosiak
The defense budget expert talks about military reset, supplemental budgets, and the Pentagon's responsibility to the public.
April 8, 2008
Hazy Iraq Benchmarks: Political Success Requires Implementation
Petraeus claims “surge” is fostering Iraqi reconciliation, yet by his own benchmarks this is fiction, write Brian Katulis and Peter Juul.
April 8, 2008
The Future of Human Rights
U.S. commitment to human rights should reflect the best of American tradition, says a new book edited by CAP's Bill Schulz.
April 7, 2008
Capital Responsibilities: Congress Must Weigh Housing Risks
Deploying taxpayer money judiciously to calm the housing and credit crises is important to Wall Street and Main Street, writes Ed Paisley.
April 7, 2008
Did Liberals Cause the Sub-Prime Crisis?
Conservatives blame the housing crisis on a 1977 law that helps-low income people get mortgages. It's a useful story for them, but it isn't true.
April 7, 2008
Veterans' Mental Health by the Numbers
CAP takes a by the numbers look at the mental health toll on our veterans in Iraq and Afghanistan and why improvements are needed.
April 7, 2008
This Week in Congress 4.7.08 - 4.11.08
CAP prepares you for testimony from Petraeus and Crocker, the Senate housing package, and international trade and the farm bill.
April 4, 2008
Additional Learning Opportunities in Rural Areas
A new report examines the challenges facing rural schools that serve low-income areas and offers ideas for successful programs.
April 4, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: Failing to Police Wall Street
Public opinion polls show negative reactions to Bush administration’s handling of financial market turmoil on Wall Street and Main Street.
April 4, 2008
The Dream Reborn: Remembering Martin Luther King Jr., Forty Years On
Honoring a death too early, Americans commit to a green and equitable future, write Bracken Hendricks and Benjamin Goldstein.
April 4, 2008
Dismal Employment Numbers: 80,000 Jobs Lost
Weak jobs growth over the past several years gives way to declines amid Bush recession, writes David Madland.
April 4, 2008
Afghanistan Is Not Iraq
The sinking ship of Iraq threatens to bring Afghanistan down with it. But Afghanistan is not Iraq.
April 3, 2008
Think Again: Getting Iraq Right
Iraq demands a change in direction, but it's hard for people to demand a change on policies that go unreported, writes Eric Alterman.
April 3, 2008
Insiders Report on Iraq
CNN correspondent Michael Ware and journalist Nir Rosen joined CAP to talk about increasing sectarianism and Iran's role in the Iraq war.
April 3, 2008
Big Oil Plays Congress for a Fool
Big five oil companies made case for continued subsidies and Arctic drilling despite record profits, write Nick Kong and Alexandra Kougentakis.
April 3, 2008
Scrambling for Health Insurance Coverage: Health Security for People in Late Middle Age
CAP's Jeanne Lambrew testifies before the Senate Special Committee on Aging on attaining health security for people in late middle age.
April 3, 2008
In the Body of a Soldier
Veteran Tomas Young and filmmakers talk about their new film that follows Young after he returns from Iraq.
April 2, 2008
AP: China Gives IAEA Intel on Iran
April 2, 2008
The Liberal Imagination of Frederick Douglass
April 2, 2008
The NATO Summit in Bucharest
Afghanistan, missile defense, enlargement, and peacekeeping in Kosovo form a complex agenda for NATO's three-day conference that starts today.
April 2, 2008
The Creation of a Home Guard for Domestic Preparedness
April 2, 2008
It's Easy Being Green: Sustainable Learning
America’s colleges and universities are riding a green wave in the fight against global warming. Here are some of the leaders.
April 2, 2008
How Does This End?
Report from Korb, Katulis, Duggan, and Juul shows why "staying the course" endangers our overall security and endangers our long-term goals in Iraq.
April 2, 2008
Helping Homeowners: Congress Takes Big Step Forward
Quick action to help American homeowners is now in train on Capitol Hill, writes Andrew Jakabovics. That's good news for the economy.
April 2, 2008
Real Problems with the REAL ID
Before the REAL ID Act is implemented, Secretary Chertoff and Congress need to address serious concerns about privacy and civil liberties.
April 1, 2008
Hungry for Next Generation Biofuels: Sustainable Crop Diversity Combats Poverty
Next-generation biofuels can deliver lower energy costs, more equitable earnings for farmers worldwide, and a cleaner planet.
April 1, 2008
Shooting for the Stars: Ballistic Missiles by the Numbers
Ballistic missiles are no longer the threat to the U.S. they once were, yet missile defense programs are still funded generously.
April 1, 2008
Waitin’ On A Sunny (and Windy) Day
Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act would boost clean energy technologies and set America on a path toward a low-carbon economy.
March 19, 2008