Katha Pollitt

[Michael Hoover]

> Cheers to Katha Pollitt for resigning her editorial post at the Nation
> (she will remain a columnist) in protest against the magazine publishing
> a signed editorial by a rightwing entrepreneur by the name of Unz. Unz
> wrote about public schools and while he is opposed to vouchers, he says
> many ridiculous things about schools.  Pollitt correctly points out that
> the Nation has given this dog a liberal credibility utterly undeserving.
> Also, Doug's article on social welfare spending and poverty in various
> nations in the last LBO is excellent.  Check it out.
> michasel yates

folks who haven't read Michael Yates' book _Why Unions Matter_ (and I 
sheepishly admit to not yet having done so) should check out Jane
Slaughter's review in May 30 issue of *In These Times*...

Slaughter (who used to be with Labor Notes, is she still?) concludes by 
saying that Michael is:

'positive about the real differences made by the "new AFL-CIO" under
John Sweeny, and he argues lucidly for changes that (he knows) the
current AFL-CIO Executive Council will never make.  That's where we
get back to the role of reds and the "struggles for the hearts and
souls of our national unions."  _Why Unions Matter_ makes an excellent
text for worker education or a college labor studies class.  Yates'
challenge to the conventional progressive wisdom should be discussed
in all labor arenas, expecially those where debate is usually
squelched.'   

Michael Hoover