Why We Should Take Our Children to Demonstrations

The Chicago Teachers Union went on strike on Monday, September 10, 2012 to defend public education.  That sentence alone should be cause for celebration, since according to most reports strikes have been decreasing steadily for the last 30 years. But wait, the CTU won! And they won against the most powerful and toxic brew of political forces.

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“For the Kids”: Rahm Emanuel’s Grim Fairy Tale

This is a blog about children and how we as parents, caregivers and general putter-uppers relate to them.  This is why we have to talk about the Chicago mayor, Rahm Emanuel, for Rahm is all about the kids. Rahm has uttered the words “It’s for the kids” almost as many times as he has slashed budgets for social programs; and if you know Rahm that will be many times.

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Raising Cain: Parenting for the 99%

I have exactly one cat, one partner and one child.  The first two numbers are subject to change, the last—no way.  On a Monday morning, as the work week begins, if you asked me about having more kids, I would probably say: “no f***ing way”. Raising a child is relentless.  The particularly difficult age, I think, is between 0-18 years.  After that it tapers off into sleepless nights, general mind-numbing worry and screaming at them over a long distance line, while they say they have a bad connection and need to hang up.

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