Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

  • Democracy is for People: Fighting Corporate Influence in Our Elections

    State Senator Jamie Eldridge Over the past few years, frustration with the increasing power that corporations have on our political system has been growing across the country. Whether it has been the debate over healthcare reform, financial reform and consumer protection, or clean air and water regulations, we’ve seen time and time again the very…

  • Editorial: Court Gives Big Money the Biggest Say

    Massachusetts legislators should get behind resolution S772 that calls for a federal constitutional amendment to reverse the United States Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. There is the letter of The Constitution and the spirit of The Constitution. Somehow the U.S. Supreme Court tortured some rationale out of that guiding document…

  • COALITION: MASS. HOMELESSNESS RATES AT “ALL-TIME HIGH”

    By State House News Service Homelessness is a growing problem in Massachusetts that affects thousands of families, children, teenagers, single people and the elderly and will require millions of dollars more in state funds to alleviate, advocates from the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless told lawmakers this week at the State House. The group came…

  • Cookies get the word out on housing need

    Beatrice Bell Spare Change News I went to the Massachusetts State House Feb. 15 for the third annual Cookie Day. I thought it would be similar to a bake sale for the State House in order to support funding for housing, or there would be a march or rally of some sort to support funding…

  • A Dialogue on Race Relations in America

    Jacques Fleury Spare Change News I recently joined a writer’s group from the website meetup.com. The first day I attended the group, I was considerably late. Upon entering, a la true Jacques fashion with my cyborg glasses, looking like the black guy from Star Trek, the members (who happened to be all white) looked up…

  • The People Have Spoken

    James Shearer Spare Change News Last week there was a rally in front of the Boston Public Library organized by people who are against the MBTA’s service cuts and fare increases, which are scheduled to take place in July. The rally, which was shortly before one of the many public hearings organized by the T…

  • The Birth Of Ar Lain Ta (Conclusion)

    Marc D. Goldfinger Spare Change News Ar Lain Ta was a man of humble origins. His parents were farmers from the west bank of the Salween River. The terrorist but legally sanctioned army of Burma, known as the Tatmadaw, had driven his parents from their farm. The Tatmadaw used what they called a “Four Cuts…

  • New Chapter for Harvard Square Bookstand: $2 books give way to free book exchange

    Julie Monrad Spare Change News Have you ever noticed the second-hand bookstand in Cambridge on the sidewalk in front of 1324 Massachusetts Ave., near Holyoke Street? Not just glanced and continued walking, but truly observed it? Next time you find yourself walking along Massachusetts Avenue, debating whether or not to enter Harvard Book Store or…

  • Success in St. Bartholomew’s Meal Program

    Robert Sondak Spare Change News The Feed the Hungry Wednesday night meals program at St Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church on Harvard Street in Cambridge has grown rapidly in a matter of four months since its inception last October. Feed the Hungry has expanded into a community service organization with over 40-campus members. Interest among students at…

  • Carlos Robinson

    Michael Ahern Spare Change News Upon first meeting with Carlos Robinson, there is an immediate feeling of optimism radiating from him. He wheels his bike around with him and grins when he speaks. And he is ecstatic that he gets to tell his story. Born and raised in Cambridge, Carlos has been selling Spare Change…

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