Author Archives: David S. Meyer

Unknown's avatar

About David S. Meyer

Author and professor of Sociology and Political Science at the University of California, Irvine

Pussy Riot goes global

Posted on August 17, 2012 by David S. Meyer

The members of a Russian feminist punk band (sort of) have been sentenced to two years in prison for making a critical video of an anti-Putin song.  Most reports suggest that the ambitions of the three young women in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Politics as consumption

Posted on August 8, 2012 by David S. Meyer

After a boycott announcement, a buycott day, and a same sex kiss-in, the consumption thread of the battle over same sex marriage has taken a new turn.  Yesterday (August 7), the front moved from fast food chicken to milk-saturated coffee.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Boycott everything!

Posted on August 2, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Chick-Fil-A had a good day yesterday, as supporters of president Dan Cathy’s* stance in support of “traditional” marriage lined up to buy chicken sandwiches.   Radio host and one-time Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee had urged his audience to stand up for … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Chicken in, chicken out

Posted on August 1, 2012 by David S. Meyer

When the history of the struggle for same sex marriage is written, it’s unlikely that this week’s chicken battles will rate more than a footnote, but it’s an entertaining day.  Opponents of same sex marriage, mobilized by Mike Huckabee, have … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Markets, movements, and municipalities: Who’s chicken? Whose chicken?

Posted on July 30, 2012 by David S. Meyer

There are all kinds of good reasons for restricting the expansion of fast food restaurants, but are the political views of a chain’s founder enough?  Boston’s Mayor Tom Menino, appalled by the “traditional marriage” stance of Dan Cathy,* founder and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Cannabis contention and the election

Posted on July 24, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Medical marijuana is available legally in California, but not in the United States.  Last year, President Obama’s Justice Department followed US law, raiding Oaksterdam University (“America’s first and premier cannabis college”), which promises high quality training for those involved in … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Boycott politics

Posted on July 23, 2012 by David S. Meyer

Chick Fil A is the most recent company to fall within the sites of a boycott campaign.  Dan Cathay, president of the fast food chicken restaurant chain founded by his father, reaffirmed his commitment to an evangelical approach to his … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Republicans wrestle with race and Tea Party

Posted on July 20, 2012 by David S. Meyer

The headline of Jake Sherman’s story at Politico is “Republicans line up to rip Michele Bachmann.” Rep. Bachmann (Minnesota) and four other Tea Party conservatives    ( Reps.  Trent Franks [Arizona], Louie Gohmert [Texas], Thomas Rooney [Florida] and Lynn Westmoreland [Georgia]) … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments

Where’s the peace movement?

Posted on July 2, 2012 by David S. Meyer

(This was written in response to a request from Mobilizing Ideas.  You can see related essays from Catherine Corrigall-Brown, David Cortright, William Gamson, Michael Heaney, Kathy Kelly, Lisa Leitz, and Andrew Yeo here.) Just over a decade ago, activists around … Continue reading →

Posted in academic | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rights and facts on the ground

Posted on June 29, 2012 by David S. Meyer

The Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold the Affordable Care Act means that Governor Mitt Romney, by campaigning to repeal the Act, is promising to take health insurance away from 30 million people, none in Massachusetts.  This is far tougher than … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment