Spare Change Community Blog

A Cup of Tea For Occupy

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Joel Foster

On the first night of Occupy Boston, when protesters flooded Dewey Square and set up a makeshift tent village, I overheard a conversation. It was spoken between a young kid watching the action unfold and an older guy, who identified himself as a former Democratic activist.

The gist of the conversation was that these protests were the left’s response to the Tea Party and, any day now, the democrats would cling on and make this all about Obama’s reelection.

Even then, I felt that this guy was completely off the mark. At least I’d hoped he was.

Boston Gets Occupied

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Joel Foster

Election Practices: A Cross-National Overview

We should recognize that the recent Senate Special Election reflects the strengths and weaknesses of U.S. campaign system. Highlighting the campaign process of culturally similar industrialized countries can help to shed light on alternative campaign practices and spending on elections. Two of our European allies have a comprehensive election system like the United States but similarities change after that. Both the United Kingdom
and Germany permit government and private funding under a managed system of regulations.

Stupid Human Tricks Part Duh

It never, well almost never amazes me at the stupidity of some people when it comes to certain things, take the latest idea around homelessness, The state legislature the same folks who brought us the budget crisis are now considering a bill to ban sex offenders from shelters, Check that homeless sex offenders from homeless shelters and homeless advocates are actually OK with this, These are level three offenders and this no doubt is a

A Doll, A Square & Healthcare

James Shearer

1. Gwen, The Homeless Doll

The Streets Are Watching

While my position of editor at Spare Change is a hat I wear with considerable pride, it is not the only decoration that habitually adorns my oft-reeling head. In fact, my primary professional role is that of a graduate student in clinical psychology, a field with which I am in frequent contention. Since initiating studies in the doctoral program in which I now matriculate, I have repeatedly questioned the function of clinical psychology in society, the integrity of its practices, and what it means for my own moral dissonance to be an agent of its systems.

Editor's Note October 22 Issue

I and the rest of the Spare Change editorial staff have intentionally avoided mention of the subject in the pages of recent issues. My thoughts were that there are moments for the raising of awareness and moments when things are better left unsaid. The moment in question, I had thought, belonged to the latter.

Voices From The Street: October 22 Issue

James Shearer   

    This past week, Gov. Patrick announced that there was a budget shortfall of oh say $600 million or so. Naturally, Joe Taxpayer will have to pay for it with severe cuts to cities and towns already under the knife, (pun intended). Patrick may even cut some 2,000 state jobs before Christmas. Talk about a lump of coal in your stocking.

Some Zimbabweans See Only More Pain as Prices Fall

After the government of Zimbabwe decided to get rid of the local dollar whose value had been destroyed by inflation, goods have finally begun to reappear in stores and prices are falling. But some Zimbabweans are finding it even harder to make a living because they now have to survive solely off their allowance. People can no longer sell on the black market either, but some are being resourceful and selling the old, worthless Zimbabwe dollars to tourists for as much as $20.

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