Carly W

Continuity in Crisis

In many ways, the Obama administration’s response to the Great Recession of 2007 and 2008 was a continuation of, rather than a break from, the conservative consensus that had dominated U.S. economic policy since the 1980s. The crisis did challenge the faith in deregulated markets, and prompted questioning of the idea that markets naturally allocateContinue reading “Continuity in Crisis”

Economy Over Environment

In Behind the Curve, Joshua Howe challenges the idea that more scientific knowledge automatically leads to political action regarding climate change. Howe’s explanation of U.S. climate policy (especially during the Bush Sr. administration) shows that even as scientists grew more confident about the dangers of rising CO₂ levels, political progress actually became more difficult toContinue reading “Economy Over Environment”

Addicted to “More”

In the first chapter of his book The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism, Andrew Bacevich argues that the United States’ involvement in the Middle East isn’t solely about combating terrorism. Instead, he says that U.S. foreign policy is driven by an older, underlying value: America’s need to continue its high-consumption way ofContinue reading “Addicted to “More””

Who Owns the Open Range?

The Sagebrush Rebellion and the Wise Use movement were both major conservative backlashes against federal environmental regulation in the Western United States during the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s. Both of these movements went beyond the debates of land use and tapped into deeper societal frustrations about who gets control of public lands. The Sagebrush RebellionContinue reading “Who Owns the Open Range?”

Falwell’s Gospel of Conservative Politics

Jerry Falwell was more than just a preacher—he was a key political player who helped lay the foundation for what became known as the Christian Right. Falwell’s role in shaping this movement extended beyond his fiery sermons. He focused on strategically linking evangelical beliefs with the conservative political and economic ideologies that were gaining tractionContinue reading “Falwell’s Gospel of Conservative Politics”

The Pittsburgh Working Class: Unraveled in the Midst of Deindustrialization

Beginning in the late 1960s, Black workers—who often served as general laborers and second and third helpers in the Pittsburgh steel industry—began to feel the first wave of impact from deindustrialization. While only a handful of these first layoffs affected White workers, “a rising sense of instability was creeping into steel work, intensifying its dailyContinue reading “The Pittsburgh Working Class: Unraveled in the Midst of Deindustrialization”

Political Realignment in the Wake of Vietnam

In the words of historian Penny Lewis, “we have misremembered the working class as particularly hawkish during Vietnam.” As opposed to wealthy, college-educated, suburban-living White Americans, White members of the working class were often portrayed in popular media as bigoted, simple-minded red-necks. As Lewis illustrates, although these images of the White working class were notContinue reading “Political Realignment in the Wake of Vietnam”

Battles Beyond the Field in Vietnam: The Class Divide and Demoralization

At the time of the Vietnam War, 27 million “baby boomer” men were becoming of draft age. Of the 27 million, the relatively small portion of these young men that were enlisted and served in Vietnam were not representative of the population as a whole—rather, roughly 80% of them came from working-class and poor backgroundsContinue reading “Battles Beyond the Field in Vietnam: The Class Divide and Demoralization”

De jure vs. de facto segregation: The false de stinction

In fifth grade, our class celebrated Black History Month by making poster presentations about a “key figure” in the Civil Rights Movement. My poster was about Ruby Bridges, the first Black child to attend an all-white school in the South. My classmates made posters about activists like MLK Jr, Rosa Parks, the Freedom Riders, andContinue reading “De jure vs. de facto segregation: The false de stinction”

South Dakota’s Minutemen Missiles and the Military-Industrial Complex

During his farewell address in January of 1961, President Eisenhower said the following regarding the “immense military establishment” and “large arms industry” that was beginning to characterize America: “We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; soContinue reading “South Dakota’s Minutemen Missiles and the Military-Industrial Complex”