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The New Deal Still a Good Deal

Critics often deride the New Deal by contending that it took World War II to pull the country out of the Great Depression. But that argument ignores that the New Deal set the stage for shared prosperity.

(SILVERTON, Ore.) - The bronze statue atop the Oregon Capitol celebrates the pioneer era, but the building itself is a testament to the New Deal's Public Works Administration, born 75 years ago this month in the midst of the Great Depression. The New Deal also bequeathed to Oregon many other superb structures, including Mt. Hood's Timberline Lodge and the Yaquina Bay Bridge. But all of them pale in comparison to the New Deal's greatest creation: a broad middle-class society.

No blueprint existed when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt set out to rebuild the nation after its economic collapse. Yet legislation enacted over the course of several years laid the foundation for an economy in which the fruits of prosperity were widely shared.

Fiery Situation in California

Intense Heat Will Diminish as Wildfire Threat Continues.

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) - Gusty winds today could offset cooler temperatures and an onshore flow along the California coast as firefighters battle dozens of wildfires sparked by a weekend of dry thunderstorms and lightning strikes, AccuWeather.com reports. Hundreds of lighrning strike generated fires broke out Sunday night in California's wine country, threatening over 100 homes and destroying at least one.

According to the AccuWeather.com West Regional Center, cooler air today will spread along the West Coast, following a weekend of record and near record heat in Southern California.

Foreign Policy Announces 2008 Failed States Index

Somalia Ranked Most Unstable Country in the World; Israel Is Now Among the 60 Most Vulnerable States

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - For the first time, Somalia has become the most unstable country in the world, according to the 2008 Failed States Index, and Israel has fallen into the ranks of the 60 weakest states. The fourth annual report, produced by FOREIGN POLICY magazine and the Fund for Peace, ranks the world’s most vulnerable states and is published in FOREIGN POLICY’s July/August 2008 issue.

For a complete ranking of all 177 countries, methodology, data sets, frequently asked questions, and a listing of experts available to comment, visit ForeignPolicy.com and FundforPeace.org.

Two Oregon Residents Die in Crash Near Cave Junction

Highway 199 was closed Sunday evening in both directions for about four hours.

(CAVE JUNCTION, Ore.) - Police say two people died and two children were seriously injured Sunday evening in a two-vehicle head-on crash on Highway 199 about 24 miles south of Grants Pass.

The investigation revealed that Sunday, around 6:53 PM, a Mitsubishi 3000 two-door driven by 34-year old Azlan Breeze of Cave Junction, was southbound on Highway 199 near milepost 24 when, for unknown reasons, it crossed into the northbound lane and crashed head-on with a 2005 Kia Amanti driven by 61-year old Carolyn Calkins of Talent. Both operators were pronounced deceased at the scene.

Small Steps of Progress in Rebuilding Iraq

A children's hospital in Basra and an orphanage in Irbil are under construction, but even combined, these large scale U.S. projects will serve less than 300 people.

(SALEM, Ore.) - I have written several times about the tragedy of George W. Bush squashing the Afghan Children's Fund after just a couple of years of operation, in 2005. We dropped bombs all over Afghanistan in an effort to rid the country of the Taliban which we absolutely have not accomplished based on the latest casualty reports, and while we have improved things, we have not been able to accomplish our goals there as the necessary money and resources have been sent to Iraq, a nation that we attacked over lies and falsely planted propaganda.

In a way it has come to define our country, and our President who is nothing but a blowhard that talks big and yet performs little. We are much better at blowing things up than we are at putting them back together, and that in itself is anything but the mission of a God fearing nation.

California Wildfires in the State`s Wine Country Ignited by Lightning (VIDEO)

Firefighters in California are working hard to control numerous fires.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Forecasters say a storm system that pushed into the Northwest touched off numerous thunderstorms across northern California on Saturday. According to Accuweather.com, the thunderstorms produced significant rain but also sparked lightning, igniting wildfires as the lightning bolts struck the extremely dry vegetation covering parts of northern California, predominantly in the state's wine country.

One of the biggest problems facing firefighters is the fact that rather than just a few spots, hundreds of wildfires were started by the lighting strikes, . The AP reports that this series of destructive fires in rain starved northern California was 10% contained Sunday morning.

Reports Indicate Rising Trend of Violence Against Children in Strife-Torn Countries

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), thousands of children have been rounded up by armed groups and used as child soldiers or held in captivity as sexual slaves for extended periods of time, the agency notes.

(GENEVA) - The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that child kidnappings are on the rise in several countries affected by violence – including Haiti where more than 50 children have been abducted so far this year – and are often carried out with impunity.

Kucinich`s Articles of Impeachment: A Three-Part Guide

More details on the move by Congressman Dennis Kucinich to Impeach George W. Bush.

(SALEM, Ore.) - It is entirely possible to be a reasonably well-informed citizen of the United States and not know that on June 9th 2008, Representative Dennis Kucinich (D. Ohio) took to the floor of the House of Representatives and spent over four hours reading thirty-five Articles of Impeachment against President George W. Bush.

Even worse, it is not merely possible, but likely, that the vast majority of people who have been more than willing to ignore or ridicule those charges have not read them. Or, if they have read them, they have found the allegations and citations so overwhelming they just switch off their minds.

Bush Changes Position, G.I. Bill Now Moving Toward Full Acceptance

Bush is known for hanging onto his bad policies and decisions with a death grip. But in this unusual reversal of opinion, he withdrew his long-held objections to a new G.I. Bill that would adequately fund the cost of a public college education for today's veterans.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Bush Administration has abandoned its determined efforts to block and veto the implementation of a new G.I. Bill that would aid Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Bush was unflinching in his position earlier; saying the bill that would have allowed veterans to attend college was just too expensive. It was nearly perverse when considering the sacrifice these men have exhibited in the present conflicts overseas.

It all came down two days ago, on June 18th, when a critical agreement was reached between leadership in the House of Representatives and the White House on the fate of the war funding bill. Bush's threat to veto the bill to help veterans was ever present until this new development.

UN Wants to End `Silent War` of Sexual Violence in Combat Zones

The UN can act more forcefully by adopting more resolutions with strong language on sexual and gender-based violence. Condoleezza Rice has been the chair for 8 years and little if any progress has occurred on her watch.

(GENEVA) - Noting that an increasing number of women and girls are falling victim to the "silent war" of sexual violence in conflict areas, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today led a chorus of United Nations officials in urging greater efforts to combat the scourge.

"Violence against women has reached unspeakable and pandemic proportions in some societies attempting to recover from conflict," Mr. Ban told a Security Council debate focusing on sexual violence in situations of armed conflict.