Who's behind Good Left Hook?

We are the writers of Irregular Times, ardent admirers of the burgeoning online culture. We blog, we host a system of diaries to let others speak their piece, and are happy to promote the online activities of local liberal and progressive causes in large and small communities across the United States.

We've opened Good Left Hook because we don't just live in the blogosphere. We all live in a real flesh-and-blood world as well. In that world, what we see strongly influences the way we think and feel about issues of the day. To get the word out about a message or a person, we are determined to give that word physical, not just virtual, reality.

Who needs political apparel, anyway?

Conservative political operatives have known for years that visibility matters, and so have dedicated significant time and resources to getting pro-conservative, anti-freedom messages plastered over every square inch of American public and private space that they can get their hands on. Although conservatives make up less than a third of the American public, they have managed to spread their message enough to get everyone to think that conservatism is the dominant strain of American thought.

To combat the false front of American conservatism, we liberals have to make ourselves seen as well. It is vital that we use our rights of free expression to spread our liberal and progressive ideals -- against war, for the environment, against Bush, for freedom, against intolerance and hatred, for diversity, against closed-mindedness, for free thought. And so we have designed a line of shirts and other apparel to help you get the word out -- we are here, we are proud, and we're not clamming up until our positive vision of America is realized.

Do You Practice What You Preach, Papa?

We try. All of the shirts, pants, and other clothing items we offer through Good Left Hook are only produced by ethical manufacturer American Apparel, which makes items sweat-free in the USA. It makes no sense to make a shirt with a progressive message when its fabric is woven with sweat or blood.