WEEKEND READING (12-06-14)

On Dec. 6, 1904 Teddy Roosevelt affirmed the Monroe Doctrine through the Roosevelt Corollary.

In the first week for open enrollments, more than a million apply for health insurance on federal website (NY Times).

The origins of Mockingjay's haunting song, 'The Hanging Tree' (Vulture).

11 months after marijuana legalization, here's what's happening to Mexican cartels (Mic).

20 signs that you're a tool (Rant Lifestyle).

FERGUSON AFTERTHOUGHTS
The police in America are becoming illegitimate (Rolling Stone).

Choke-hold cop sued 3 times in prior misconduct cases (USA Today).

Nashville police refuse to crack down on Ferguson protesters, no violence ensues (Ben Swann).

'I hate n*ggers. That is all': 5 Ohio deputies probed for years of racist text messages (Raw Story).

Killings by Utah police outpacing gang, drug, and child-abuse homicides ... ranked second only to homicide of intimate partners (Salt Lake Tribune).

5 reasons you should never agree to a police search (Alternet).


WHY EUROPE LOOKS TO GERMANY
Germany's expensive gamble on renewable energy (WSJ).

Why Germany dominates the U.S. in innovation (Harvard Business Review).

German Inventions - Ordinary, yet ingenious (Germany Travel).

Interesting ... 10 things the Nazis got right (Listverse).

THIS SHOULD BE EMBARRASSING
Religious overreach, again. Did the Founding Fathers really turn to Moses for inspiration (We're History)?

How a wealthy California town makes sure no poor kids attend its 'public' school (Alternet) ... but then reversed course when the media spotlight hits (San Jose Mercury).


WHY THE RICH SHOULDN'T BE RUNNING OUR COUNTRY
5 billionaires who are making life miserable for ordinary Americans (Salon).

The Republican Party's top priority is to raise taxes on the poor. Literally (The Week).

Study confirms Tea Party was created by Big Tobacco and billionaire Koch brothers (Huffington Post).


THIS IS GOOD NEWS
Judge allows libel lawsuit against Glenn Beck to proceed (Salon).

West Virginia coal country sees new era as Donald Blankenship is indicted (NY Times).

Woman who told Obama girls to 'show a little class' isn't a GOP staffer anymore (NY Magazine).


RACE & WHITE PRIVILEGE
Racial inequality in America: How far have we come (Christian Science Monitor)?

How to really understand white privilege (Quartz).


MISCELLANEOUS
"These pseudo-religious people who I find laughable": Jesse Ventura talks Republicans, Nazis and running for president (Salon).

Have the homeless become invisible? You be the judge (NY Rescue Mission).

Here comes oil at $60 a barrel ... OPEC tests U.S. shale market production costs (Bloomberg News).

The state of Washington is ranked 51st, and has the lowest average retail price for residential sector electricity in the country (EIA).

- Mark