Inside Government: Facts, Politics & Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes: Online Magazines and other Clues
Canadian Political & Government Sites
Finding Your Way Around the Political Scene
From and about Congress
Info on Jobs & Workers from the Government
Other Useful U.S. Government Agencies

Behind the Scenes: Online Magazines and other Clues

Center on Budget and Policy
This think tank publishes good, influential research on budget and policy issues, especially those affecting average workers and low--income Americans.
Its work is praised by the media and both liberal and conservative politicians for blending rigorous research with the ability to present work in a timely and non-technical manner.

CMC Magazine
Computer-Mediated Communication Magazine looks at technology and events from the point of view of people, not machines, and links this to public policy, culture, study, and other issues. Some issues are scholarly, some deal with issues like unionism.

Fairness & Accuracy in Media (FAIR)
Gets behind the news to expose bias and stereotypes and how out of touch our news sources often are with the average worker.

In These Times
This respected magazine of "Independent News & Views" is worth checking out. Some of the latest articles are complete online; others are just teasers, inviting you to subscribe to the magazine after you've read a paragraph or two..

Radio Commentator Jim Hightower
From the man who's been "championing the concerns of working people and skewering the high and mighty," listen to (or read) his humorous daily comments.

Roll Call
A news weekly that focuses on Congress, covering both legislative issues and the House/Senate races. The print version is read religiously by politicians and their staffs.

The American Prospect
Lively and thoughtful analysis about the American political scene from people friendly to labor.

The Gallup Poll
A wealth of info on how people are thinking about politics, economics and social issues.

The Mojo Wire
The full text of Mother Jones, a progressive magazine, and other features.

The Multinational Monitor
Founded by consumer advocate Ralph Nader, this magazine reports on the disasters befalling workers, other citizens, and the environment throughout the world. Its coverage of the American scene, however, sometimes comes with an anti-union bias.

The Nation Online Edition
This excellent weekly journal covering politics, arts, thought and media goes on-line with a few major feature articles and other goodies, such as Calvin Trillion's clever political poems. It adds to that forums and other features designed for the web and lists the highlights of the printed edition.

The New World Village / People Link
Offers web services to progressive groups & links to progressive groups, including unions. Also hosts internet and media news & discussions, including alternative media.

The Texas Observer
You don't have to live in Texas to get this bit of progressive down-home Texas wisdom. Actually, the online articles are for us all. Their goal is "defending the powerless, offending the powerful, investigating irresponsible corporations, exposing outright sleaze-bags, and rocking every boat necessary.

Web Active
Online magazine includes audio commentaries on politics from favorites like comedian Will Durst, Jim Hightower, and the Pacifica News Network.

Canadian Political & Government Sites

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
A well-done site packed with information on issues of great concern to citizens in Canada, and worldwide. Includes highlights from their quarter and monthly magazines and agitates for alternatives that are more people-friendly, such as an alternative federal budget.

Federal Government of Canada Sites
From Canadian cable companies comes this list of Canadian federal government-related sites; includes an extensive list of government agencies.

Finding Your Way Around the Political Scene

Map of Washington D.C.
If you actually go to Washington, here's where everything is.

The Electronic Activist
A wonderful internet service that quickly links you to e-mail addresses of your elected officials in Washington and the local media, sorted by state. Gives helpful tips on contacting politicians in FAQ section.

The UAW Political Action Center
Finds your Senators and Representatives even if all you know is your zip code and helps you write a letter you can mail or email on the spot..

From and about Congress

Public Citizen Global Trade Watch
Keeps track of bills before Congress that affect working people and communities throughout the world, with clear explanations and up-to-date news on their progress. From a group dedicated to fighting for world-wide trade and investment policies promoting government and corporate accountability, consumer health and safety, and environmental protection.

The White House
Hear your president speak, take a tour, visit a while, and get lots of vital information

THOMAS
Gives the entire Congressional Record, right up to yesterday. Don't be intimidated by all this information; scroll down and you'll see search tools to help you find what you're looking for. The best place to keep up on Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives
How the House works, who's there, and laws they pass. Try not to get paranoid about the fact that some Democratic parts of the site recently vanished.

U.S. Senate
This site has had a much-needed facelift and now includes much more useful information, including explanations of how the Senate works.

Info on Jobs & Workers from the Government

Bureau of Labor Statistics
Front page takes a long time to come up, but here you can find more details on the above figures, news releases, etc.

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
Explains how mediation and arbitration work to help solve labor disputes, gives updates on disputes the agency is currently helping with, and hosts an electronic reading room.

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
This is the agency that does the research on workplace hazards; part of the Centers for Disease Control. Many research findings can be found here.

National Labor Relations Board
Lots of information about activities of the agency that's supposed to enforce labor law, including defining key terms. Here you'll find their rulings, up to a couple of weeks ago. You may need to download the Adobe Acrobat reader to read the documents, however.

Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
Statistics on workplace hazards, health and safety rules, and news on what the government does to prevent sickness and injury.

Quick look at key statistics on labor & jobs
Includes the latest unemployment figures, how much money the average worker makes, average hours worked, etc.

The EEOC (U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity) Commission)
Explains the laws that bar discrimination, including the recent law barring bias against disabled workers, and tells you how to file a charge if you've been discriminated against.

The Federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
The federal agency that insures most workers' pensions. Includes special online list of all workers it can't find who are owed pension money.

The IRS Can Be Fun -- Really!
This whimsical "Digital Daily" is full of useful information, tax news and even cartoons as well as those painful forms we love to fill out. But since it can take forever to load, you might prefer this text-only version.

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB)
An agency set up to do scientific investigations on ways to prevent chemical accidents. Their latest discoveries and chemical safety facts are online here.

U.S. Department of Labor
Takes a long time to load, but offers government information on jobs and workers and regulations.

Other Useful U.S. Government Agencies

Administration On Aging
This site has a political info and facts, but also helpful tips for individuals. With information from what's going on in congress to how the elderly can deal with the flu, sexuality, or home repair, or obtain services locally. Well maintained and up to date.

Centers for Disease Prevention
Whether you have a fascination for the morbid or just want to stay healthy, go to this site to find out about diseases, health risks, and guidelines and strategies to stay healthy.

Consumer Information Center
Dozens of useful government publications are now on-line. Click on cars, children, health, food & nutrition, employment, housing, federal programs, money, travel & hobby, small business or environment, lots of useful information.

Department of Veterans Affairs
The official U.S. Government site for the Department of Veterans Affairs, with links to announcements, benefits, organization and policies, VA offices and medical facilities, research and how to get help.

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
From the agency that insures bank deposits, find out what your rights are when it comes to mortgages, credit cards, leasing, etc. in their consumer section.

FedWorld
A catch-all site of important government databases and links to recent government reports. It predates the web, and much of its info is still in a clunky old Telnet format. Its search engine covers many areas, but when we tried it was too busy to work.

Financial Markets Center
Don't let their dry name scare you off. On this brand new site you'll get the low-down on what the bankers who control the nation's interest rates (The Federal Reserve Bank) are doing. These are the folks who would throw the economy into a recession if they thought labor was getting out of hand.

This site comes from experts eager to share what they know with unions and other grassroots groups.
You could read minutes of Fed meetings here -- but if you prefer a down-to-earth primer on how the mysterious Federal Reserve operates, click on "Tools" Or read what popular writer William Greider thinks they're up to.

National Committee for Quality Assurance
A non-profit group that takes a hard look at managed-care health organizations and then lets you know how health plans score in quality management, preventive health services, etc. The UAW is listed as one of the unions using its services.

National Personnel Records Center
The official repository of millions of military personnel, health and medical records of discharged and deceased veterans of all services during the 20th century.

Social Security Online
Plan your retirement by looking at your earnings history and finding out how much Social Security you're eligible for. File your request online, and they'll send you a report in the mail.

The Census Bureau
You might be surprised at how much info they collect. You'll find a map section where you can look up the numbers of people who live in various areas, down to the county, and who they are. You'll find economic indicators, world population, and interesting reports, such as who lost their health insurance -- but you may need an Acrobat reader program to read these. This site also gives the latest figures on U.S. imports and exports.

The Code of Federal Regulations
Sponsored by the National Archives and Records Administration, you can find all the regulations the Federal government sets, from environmental rules to executive orders.

The Environmental Protection Agency
Let's just call this a minimalist site. It has information, lots of news releases and even a page for kids, but, well, you'll see.

The Post office (U.S. Postal Service)
This is the quickest way to find a zip code: type in your address and you'll even get the carrier route. If you're a stamp collector or like to read other people's mail, you could hang around the site for a while.

U.S. Department of Labor
All the federal agencies that deal with jobs and workers, the rules they enforce, and the information they collect.