Author Archives: David S. Meyer

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About David S. Meyer

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

It’s not just protest (Madison)

Although those dramatic demonstrations, like the ones we saw in Madison, capture the imagination, by themselves, they won’t change a policy or a government.  Protest signals, supports, and coerces.  Changes in politics and policy depend upon how a broad range … Continue reading

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More on the Phelps Family (Not much, I hope)

At Slate, David Weigel reports that Michael Moore lampooned the Phelps Family and the Westboro Church nearly fifteen years ago, posting a video.  He also notes that Sarah Palin is angry about the Court’s decision, and has attacked it on … Continue reading

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The Phelps Family and the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court ruled today that vicious anti-gay rhetoric, deployed at unrelated events, was Constitutionally protected (8-1, Justice Alito dissenting). The tiny Westboro church, comprised mostly of Pastor Fred Phelps and his family, pickets military funerals and other public occasions, … Continue reading

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Beck & Piven III

NPR’s All Things Considered has come to the Beck/Piven saga, a story we discussed  a while back [see (II) and (I)].  Maybe this is getting to the tale late; on the other hand, once crazy provocative charges reach a few … Continue reading

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Beyond Madison: Who’s Watching? Who’s Talking? Who’s Doing?

Watch the crowd in a fight. That’s an old insight in the social sciences, stated pretty clearly by E. E. Schattschneider in The Semi-Sovereign People fifty years ago. The point: The losers in any political struggle have an interest in … Continue reading

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On Wisconsin and beyond

The protests in Madison are just the start of a larger struggle about budgets and labor across the United States. I’m on the Joy Cardin show on Wisconsin Public Radio, talking about the protests in Madison.  (I got to tell … Continue reading

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On and on Wisconsin

The stand-off in Madison continues: Activists organized by, or supporting, the state’s major labor unions continue to march in and around the State House. Importantly, the firefighters, police officers, and other public safety employees, exempted from this harsh budget bill, … Continue reading

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On Wisconsin: Class War and Coalitions

Calling the mash-up in Madison, where the Tea Party meets organized labor, “class war,” was Mike Huckabee’s idea.  Huckabee deplored President Obama’s choice to weigh in, rather modestly, on the conflict in Wisconsin.  (Class war, apparently, is a large problem … Continue reading

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Americans Protest against Austerity Budgets

Activists in Wisconsin have commenced staging dramatic protests against newly elected governor, Scott Walker’s plans for harsh cuts in public spending.  We’re going to watch to see if such protests spread across the American states the way revolutionary movements have … Continue reading

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Irvine 11 news goes national

The Orange County DA’s decision to pursue criminal charges against the Irvine 11 continues to pay off for their cause.  The controversy around the criminal charges has percolated all the way from Irvine (my home), a suburban community of about … Continue reading

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