Fiscal Therapy

Can Obama fix the economy, lower the national debt, and give you a tax break in the process? No problem.
By David Cay Johnston


FEATURES

Stimulus Is for Suckers Stimulus Is for Suckers
Stop worrying about 2009. To really get out of this mess, we need to start thinking about 2029.
By James K. Galbraith


Buying the bull Buying the Bull
Why did 9,000 business reporters blow the biggest story ever to hit their beat?
By Dean Starkman
 


Brave New Welfare Brave New Welfare
Lies. Questions about your sex life. Outright threats. Here’s what faces families when their luck runs out.
By Stephanie Mencimer


Class Is the New Black Class Is the New Black
How I had to look past race and learn to love equality
By Debra J. Dickerson


Man With the Plan Man With the Plan
Obama’s the first president in 50 years to prioritize fighting poverty. Meet the man who showed him how.
By Paul Tough


Dreams From My Father Dreams From My Father
Chicago Hope: The South side wonders what’s next.
Photographs by Jon Lowenstein; Text by Jerald Walker


The People vs. Dick Cheney The People vs. Dick Cheney
Who will throw the book at the Bushies?
By Karen Greenberg


PLUS:  If Congress won’t, these folks might.


Listen to the Lionfish Listen to the Lionfish
Walking snakeheads, carnivorous snails, and the superpredator from the reef: The invasion has begun.
By Julia Whitty

As a public service, Mother Jones, which is a non-profit magazine, will release the full contents of this issue online over the next several weeks. If you’d like your Mother Jones sooner—and you want to support independent investigative journalism—please subscribe now.

DEPARTMENTS

OUTFRONT
Why Obama should get hip to the Gipper; did the Mafia kneecap Wall Street?; rebooting Washington; you might be a liberal if…; aei hawks hunker down; cruises to float every boat; why Obama might bomb Iran; the other 1600 Pennsylvania Avenues

EXHIBIT
The Waistland
By Kiera Butler
Our national fat fixation, through the thick and thin

PRACTICAL VALUES
Prius Envy
By Kimberly Lisagor
Should you junk your clunker and plunk down for a Prius?

MEDIA JONES
Dennis Cass on the nature of niceness; Muslim punks rock out; plus more book(Dating Jesus, Naughty by Nature), film(Waltz With Bashir, The Order of Myths), and music(Alligator Purse, Noble Beast, Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future, Songs of Leaving) reviews

MoJo Interview
The Maddow Knows
By Clara Jeffery
Mother Jones editor Clara Jeffery talks to Rachel Maddow about comic books, perfect cocktails, and unruly hair.

P.S.
All the Presidents’ Mugs
Illustration by Steve Brodner