In George Orwell's novel 1984, "Big Brother" is the dictator of Oceania. No one knows whether Big Brother is a real person, or simply the personification of the dictatorship. Big Brother spies on every citizen through "telescreens." Everyone is reminded constantly, "Big Brother is Watching You." Let's compare that to ...
Open Mike
Blogger Profile: Alan Grayson
Former Florida Congressman Alan
Grayson was born and grew up in the Bronx neighborhood of New York
City. He graduated with high honors from Harvard College. Congressman
Grayson worked as an economist after college, but returned to Harvard.
In four years, Alan earned a J.D. with honors from Harvard Law School,
and a master’s degree from the Harvard School of Government, and Alan
finished all of the course work and passed the general exams for a
Ph.D. in Government. His master’s thesis focuses on gerontology. He
went on to be a founding member of the Alliance for Aging Research.
In the early 1990s, Alan took leave from the practice of law, and
started a business. Alan was the first President of IDT Corp., a
telecom/internet company, which is now a Fortune 1000 company, traded
on the New York Stock Exchange.
Congressman Grayson was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008.
Alan Grayson lives in Orlando with his wife, Lolita, and their five children, Skye, Star, Sage, Stone and Storm.
Alan Grayson's Blogs
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Trade Sell-Out: Out of the Mouths of Citizens...
If you have received my emails for a while, you know that I sometimes refer to you all, affectionately, as "Alan's Army." You are passionate, smart and dedicated. But last week you were something else: Amazing. I told you about a proposed partnership between multinational corporations and their sellout tools ...
I recently happened to be at an event where billionaire George Soros was being interviewed. The right wing hates Soros because he is: (a) liberal, (b) rich, and (c) fearless. [I could also make a case that they hate Soros because he is (d) Jewish, but I leave that up ...
The Fed Bailouts: Money for Nothing
I think it's fair to say that Congressman Ron Paul and I are the parents of the GAO's audit of the Federal Reserve. And I say that knowing full well that Dr. Paul has somewhat complicated views regarding gay marriage. Anyway, one of our love children is a massive 251-page ...
Lincoln: "Labor is the Superior of Capital"
During my two years in Congress, I heard an awful lot of speeches. Some of them were delivered by some of the finest public speakers in America today – like Barack Obama, Neil Abercrombie, John Lewis, Anthony Weiner and Alcee Hastings. But none of them was as profound and poignant ...
Harry Chapin on What Made America Famous
This may surprise you, but I prefer listening to speaking. Listening is much more relaxing. And, as the Chairman of the Florida Democratic Party often says, I never learn anything when my lips are moving. (Just to be clear, he says that about himself, not about me. He didn't say, ...
I like to help my children with their homework, whenever I have time. (And since January, I've had more time.) It's great to help them -- I know all the answers, and I never have to take the exams. Last night, we tried something different. They helped me with my ...
When I went to the Daily Kos website earlier today, I was surprised to see three – count ‘em, three – diaries about me. One of them drew over 600 comments. Hey, I’m not that important. I’m just a former Congressman. There are 10,000 former Members of the House of ...
About a year after 9/11, I was sitting in an airport terminal, waiting for a flight, when nature called. I turned to the young lady sitting next to me, and asked her if she would watch my carry-on baggage while I went to the restroom. She looked at me, she ...
At Least We Can Still Go Broke
Unless you've been living in a cave recently -- Osama, you can stop reading here -- you know that the Republicans have blocked the passage of the appropriations bills that apply to all federal spending between April 8 and September 30, so we are facing a government shutdown. And as ...
No Fly: A Tactic in Search of a Strategy
One of the unfortunate imperatives of public life is that when something is the lead story, you think you've got to be doing something about it. Not just have an opinion on it. Be doing something about it. Volcano erupts? Prepare a news release on the new anti-volcano policy. Zombies ...
On May 4, 1886, in Haymarket Square in Chicago, the public rallied peacefully in support of 40,000 workers in Chicago who had gone on strike, to win the right to organize. The police attacked, and eight died. On July 6, 1892, in Homestead, Pennsylvania, 3800 workers went on strike, to ...
Today is Labor Day. All across America, millions of people are discovering that the best way to celebrate Labor Day is by not working.Do you live to work, or do you work to live?If you are married, look at your wedding album: Are there any pictures in there of you ...
The Republican Plan: Punch Me in the Face
They may not have a health plan. Or a jobs plan. Or a peace plan. But they do have a plan.Here is the Republican plan:"I'll give $100 to first Rep. who punches smary [sic] idiot Alan Grayson in nose."That incitement to violence was tweeted by Dan Gainor. Who is Dan ...
If Conservatives Are Serious About Fiscal Responsibility, They'll Oppose Afghan Funds
By Rep. Mike Honda, Rep. John Conyers, Rep. Alan Grayson & Rep. Raúl M. GrijalvaIt is disingenuous to say this is an "emergency" supplemental. The only "emergency" is this: In funding the longest war in history, we are putting America further into debt with China, expanding the deficit, increasing wasteful ...
Which Party is the Peace Party?
Me: "Why are people so uninformed and apathetic about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?"Right-winger: "I don't know, and I don't care."A recent poll showed that almost twice as many Americans think that we are losing the war in Afghanistan as think that we are winning it. (Whatever "losing" and ...
In the New York Times for June 13th, the Pentagon proclaimed that Afghanistan holds almost one trillion lira - no, sorry, that's one trillion dollars - in hitherto-unknown mineral wealth.Allow me to offer these revelations:(1) Paris Hilton actually is Albert Einstein, with a wig. Think about it - you've never ...
Today, the war in Afghanistan becomes America's longest war. Longer than the war in Vietnam. Longer than the Korean War.It took America two years to end World War I, and bring peace to the world. World War II was a little harder; that took us 3½ years to finish off.The ...
The War Is Making You Poor Act
Next week, there is going to be a "debate" in Congress on yet another war funding bill. The bill is supposed to pass without debate, so no one will notice.What George Orwell wrote about in "1984" has come true. What Eisenhower warned us about concerning the "military-industrial complex" has come ...
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Open Mike
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June 14th, 2013
In George Orwell's novel 1984, "Big Brother" is the dictator of Oceania. No one knows whether Big Brother is a real person, or simply the ...
-
May 16th, 2013
Trade Sell-Out: Out of the Mouths of Citizens...
If you have received my emails for a while, you know that I sometimes refer to you all, affectionately, as "Alan's Army." You are passionate, ...
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May 16th, 2012
I recently happened to be at an event where billionaire George Soros was being interviewed. The right wing hates Soros because he is: (a) liberal, ...
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December 5th, 2011
The Fed Bailouts: Money for Nothing
I think it's fair to say that Congressman Ron Paul and I are the parents of the GAO's audit of the Federal Reserve. And I ...
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December 3rd, 2011
Lincoln: "Labor is the Superior of Capital"
During my two years in Congress, I heard an awful lot of speeches. Some of them were delivered by some of the finest public speakers ...
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September 27th, 2011
Harry Chapin on What Made America Famous
This may surprise you, but I prefer listening to speaking. Listening is much more relaxing. And, as the Chairman of the Florida Democratic Party often ...
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September 8th, 2011
I like to help my children with their homework, whenever I have time. (And since January, I've had more time.) It's great to help them ...
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April 8th, 2011
At Least We Can Still Go Broke
Unless you've been living in a cave recently -- Osama, you can stop reading here -- you know that the Republicans have blocked the passage ...
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June 14th, 2013
In George Orwell's novel 1984, "Big Brother" is the dictator of Oceania. No one knows whether Big Brother is a real person, or simply the ...
-
September 8th, 2011
I like to help my children with their homework, whenever I have time. (And since January, I've had more time.) It's great to help them ...
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March 12th, 2011
On May 4, 1886, in Haymarket Square in Chicago, the public rallied peacefully in support of 40,000 workers in Chicago who had gone on strike, ...
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May 21st, 2010
The War Is Making You Poor Act
Next week, there is going to be a "debate" in Congress on yet another war funding bill. The bill is supposed to pass without debate, ...
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May 16th, 2012
I recently happened to be at an event where billionaire George Soros was being interviewed. The right wing hates Soros because he is: (a) liberal, ...
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March 21st, 2011
No Fly: A Tactic in Search of a Strategy
One of the unfortunate imperatives of public life is that when something is the lead story, you think you've got to be doing something about ...
