Why Some Vote Against Their Own Interests

The Republicans' shock victory in the election for the US Senate seat in Massachusetts meant the Democrats lost their supermajority in the Senate. This makes it even harder for the Obama administration to get healthcare reform passed in the US.

Political scientist Dr David Runciman looks at why there is often such deep opposition to reforms that appear to be of obvious benefit to voters.

Highly recommended!  Read more »

Supreme Court Dilutes Democracy

On January 21, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that corporations are entitled to spend unlimited funds in our elections.

The First Amendment was never intended to protect corporations.

This cannot stand. Get involved before it's too late!

2009 Misinformation Awards

And the winners are...

Glenn Beck

Media Matters combed through the almost 2,000 research items, more than 5,000 video clips, and more than 3,000 blog posts to select the "2009 Misinformer of the Year." This year's "winner" frequently trafficked in outlandish conspiracy theories about the Obama administration and progressives in general, unleashed a barrage of outrageous, incendiary and increasingly paranoid rhetoric on a daily basis, and used both his nationally syndicated radio show and cable news program to openly organize political events targeting progressive policies and politicians.

2009 Misinformer of the Year: Glenn Beck


Death Panels

PolitiFact asked it's readers to vote for the "2009 Lie of the Year" and Sarah Palin's 'Death Panels' claim easily won. Her assertion — that the government would set up boards to determine whether seniors and the disabled were worthy of care — spread through newscasts, talk shows, blogs and town hall meetings. Opponents of health care legislation said it revealed the real goals of the Democratic proposals. Advocates for health reform said it showed the depths to which their opponents would sink. Still others scratched their heads and said, "Death panels? Really?"

PolitiFact's Lie of the Year: 'Death panels'