America's Prosperity Requires a Level Playing Field: Information Clearing House: ICH
"To fix the economy, we must boost demand. To do that, we have to address inequality."
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Mitch McConnell leads unprecedented filibuster against appeals court nominee
Mitch McConnell leads unprecedented filibuster against appeals court nominee
"For the first time ever, an appeals court nominee with bipartisan Judicial Committee support was blocked by Senate Republicans, urged on by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. His reason? He says he's honoring past Senate tradition of not approving judges so close to a presidential election. Because McConnell, the guy who has set numerous records for obstruction, cares so much about Senate tradition."
"For the first time ever, an appeals court nominee with bipartisan Judicial Committee support was blocked by Senate Republicans, urged on by Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. His reason? He says he's honoring past Senate tradition of not approving judges so close to a presidential election. Because McConnell, the guy who has set numerous records for obstruction, cares so much about Senate tradition."
Millionaire Mitt still whining about how hard it was 'to make ends meet'
Millionaire Mitt still whining about how hard it was 'to make ends meet'
"Clearly, Romneyland believes that if Mitt and Ann insist often enough that they're just regular folks who've had it tough, lived on the edge, struggled to make ends meet, and, of course, pulled themselves up by their bootstraps all on their own with no help from anyone (except for that stock portfolio from Daddy Romney, of course, and that house from Daddy Romney, of course), maybe voters will believe it."
"Clearly, Romneyland believes that if Mitt and Ann insist often enough that they're just regular folks who've had it tough, lived on the edge, struggled to make ends meet, and, of course, pulled themselves up by their bootstraps all on their own with no help from anyone (except for that stock portfolio from Daddy Romney, of course, and that house from Daddy Romney, of course), maybe voters will believe it."
House GOP Tax Plan Raises Taxes On 10 Times As Many People As Democratic Proposal
House GOP Tax Plan Raises Taxes On 10 Times As Many People As Democratic Proposal: Senate Republicans last week proposed a plan that would raise taxes on more than 20 million Americans, while maintaining the high-end Bush tax cuts. Letting those tax cuts on income in excess of $250,000 expire would affect just two million wealthy taxpayers, by comparison. Now, House Republicans have adopted the same plan, and the effect [...]/p
Mitt Romney’s 20th-Century Worldview | Common Dreams
Mitt Romney’s 20th-Century Worldview | Common Dreams
"Like a caveman frozen in a glacier, Mitt Romney is a man trapped in time — from his archaic stance on women’s rights to his belief in Herbert Hoover economics."
"Like a caveman frozen in a glacier, Mitt Romney is a man trapped in time — from his archaic stance on women’s rights to his belief in Herbert Hoover economics."
Meet Mitt Romney’s Economic Advisers
Meet Mitt Romney’s Economic Advisers: Steven Perlberg contributed to this report. In April, a Republican National Committee spokesperson said the Republican Party’s 2012 platform would focus on the same policies pushed by former President George W. Bush, “just updated.” In case anyone needs a reminder, Bush’s policies included massive tax cuts that led to exploding deficits and debt and a [...]/p
California's Prop 32: The Next Big, Deceptive Corporate Attack on Working Families | Alternet
California's Prop 32: The Next Big, Deceptive Corporate Attack on Working Families | Alternet
"Never content with record income inequality and corporate profits, America's billionaires are forging ahead with an attempt to destroy what is left of the labor movement. And they're doing it by attempt to use anti-corporate populism to fool the voters In California, that takes the shape of the odious Proposition 32 in California, which does this:"
"Never content with record income inequality and corporate profits, America's billionaires are forging ahead with an attempt to destroy what is left of the labor movement. And they're doing it by attempt to use anti-corporate populism to fool the voters In California, that takes the shape of the odious Proposition 32 in California, which does this:"
Monday, July 30, 2012
A History Of Paul Ryan’s Attempts To Dismantle Social Security
A History Of Paul Ryan’s Attempts To Dismantle Social Security: That House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) supports the privatization of Social Security is well known. Ryan proposed $1.2 trillion in cuts and the partial privatization of Social Security upon taking control of the Budget Committee in 2011, and he has constantly warned about the supposed doom facing the program if major reforms aren’t [...]/p
Peaceful Protest Over Tar Sands Takes a Violent Turn in Burlington, Vt. | Common Dreams
Peaceful Protest Over Tar Sands Takes a Violent Turn in Burlington, Vt. | Common Dreams
"A Sunday tar sands protest in Burlington, Vermont turned violent when riot police shot protesters with pepper spray and rubber bullets."
"A Sunday tar sands protest in Burlington, Vermont turned violent when riot police shot protesters with pepper spray and rubber bullets."
Billionaire Mayor Bloomberg Sues to Keep New Yorkers' Wages Low | Alternet
Billionaire Mayor Bloomberg Sues to Keep New Yorkers' Wages Low | Alternet
"The world's 20th richest man declared recently that a living wage bill passed (over his veto) by New York's city council was the next best thing to Communist central planning. Michael Bloomberg, who's also made news recently trying to ban large sodas, today took the next step in proving how serious he is about keeping wages low--I mean, keeping New York City a "business-friendly" climate."
"The world's 20th richest man declared recently that a living wage bill passed (over his veto) by New York's city council was the next best thing to Communist central planning. Michael Bloomberg, who's also made news recently trying to ban large sodas, today took the next step in proving how serious he is about keeping wages low--I mean, keeping New York City a "business-friendly" climate."
Florida Governor Rick Scott Preaches Austerity, Spends Big On Frivolous Lawsuits
Florida Governor Rick Scott Preaches Austerity, Spends Big On Frivolous Lawsuits: Florida Governor Rick Scott has spoken a lot about cutting government spending, lowering taxes for corporations, and removing social safety nets that millions of people rely on. But while he is busy eliminating more than $3 billion from public classrooms, his administration is simultaneously racking up hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars in legal expenses [...]/p
PA Mayor Reaches Settlement With Unions To Pay Back Public Workers’ Wages
PA Mayor Reaches Settlement With Unions To Pay Back Public Workers’ Wages: After Scranton, PA Mayor Chris Doherty (D) reduced the pay of hundreds of his city’s public workers — including firefighters, police officers, and other safety workers — to minimum wage earlier this month, three unions challenged the cuts in federal court. In a deal reached today, the mayor has agreed to pay back the wages [...]/p
The CEO Plan to Steal Your Social Security and Medicare
The CEO Plan to Steal Your Social Security and Medicare
"Many of the same folks who brought the economy to ruin just a few years ago are now going to come up with a plan that is supposed to set the budget and the economy on a forward path. At the center of their proposal are big cuts in Social Security and Medicare.
"Many of the same folks who brought the economy to ruin just a few years ago are now going to come up with a plan that is supposed to set the budget and the economy on a forward path. At the center of their proposal are big cuts in Social Security and Medicare.
The most popular Social Security cut among this gang is a reduction in the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) by 0.3 percentage points. They are betting that are ordinary people are too dumb to notice this cut since it is a relatively small amount each year."
Health Care Workers, Patients Lead Fight for Divestment from Corrupt Private Health Insurance Industry | Common Dreams
Health Care Workers, Patients Lead Fight for Divestment from Corrupt Private Health Insurance Industry | Common Dreams
"In the midst of a fierce debate on the national level around the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, the Divestment Campaign for Health Care made its official debut. Its stated mission: “to expose how the health insurance industry puts the need for profit above the needs of patients and to escalate public support for total removal of the private health insurance companies from our nation’s health care"."
"In the midst of a fierce debate on the national level around the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, the Divestment Campaign for Health Care made its official debut. Its stated mission: “to expose how the health insurance industry puts the need for profit above the needs of patients and to escalate public support for total removal of the private health insurance companies from our nation’s health care"."
ALEC: Hawking "Freedom" in Salt Lake City | Common Dreams
ALEC: Hawking "Freedom" in Salt Lake City | Common Dreams
"The average baby in America now enjoys the “freedom” to be born pre-polluted with over 200 chemicals and heavy metals in their blood causing subtle, and sometimes not so subtle damage to virtually every organ and altering their chromosomes leading to a broad range of chronic, debilitating and even fatal diseases later in life. Those chromosomal changes can be passed on to subsequent generations diminishing their health as well. Attempts to reign in pollution, our exposure to pesticides, plasticizers, endocrine disruptors and the 83,000 industrial chemicals that now contaminate every corner of the earth and every living in it, are fought tooth and nail by many of the corporations meeting with legislators across the street."
"The average baby in America now enjoys the “freedom” to be born pre-polluted with over 200 chemicals and heavy metals in their blood causing subtle, and sometimes not so subtle damage to virtually every organ and altering their chromosomes leading to a broad range of chronic, debilitating and even fatal diseases later in life. Those chromosomal changes can be passed on to subsequent generations diminishing their health as well. Attempts to reign in pollution, our exposure to pesticides, plasticizers, endocrine disruptors and the 83,000 industrial chemicals that now contaminate every corner of the earth and every living in it, are fought tooth and nail by many of the corporations meeting with legislators across the street."
Privatization: The Big Joke That Isn't Funny | Common Dreams
Privatization: The Big Joke That Isn't Funny | Common Dreams
"The privatization of public goods and services turns basic human needs into products to buy and sell. That's more than a joke, it's an insult, it's a perversion. It generally benefits only a privileged group of businesspeople and their companies while increasing inequality and undermining the common good."
"The privatization of public goods and services turns basic human needs into products to buy and sell. That's more than a joke, it's an insult, it's a perversion. It generally benefits only a privileged group of businesspeople and their companies while increasing inequality and undermining the common good."
At For-Profit Colleges, It's All About Profits, Not Students | Common Dreams
At For-Profit Colleges, It's All About Profits, Not Students | Common Dreams
"For-profit colleges are following a corporate model that puts profits above students, according to the findings of a U.S. Senate report published Sunday."
"For-profit colleges are following a corporate model that puts profits above students, according to the findings of a U.S. Senate report published Sunday."
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Walmart abuses aren't just a problem for workers. They're a problem for the rule of law.
Walmart abuses aren't just a problem for workers. They're a problem for the rule of law.
"Walmart is so big and powerful that it exerts a powerful downward force on wages and working conditions not just in retail but throughout its supply chain of warehouses, manufacturers, and other producers, with other large chains always trying to keep up in the race to the bottom."
"Walmart is so big and powerful that it exerts a powerful downward force on wages and working conditions not just in retail but throughout its supply chain of warehouses, manufacturers, and other producers, with other large chains always trying to keep up in the race to the bottom."
Friday, July 27, 2012
It's Scary -- Ayn Rand's Nutty Ideas Are Being Taken Seriously, Even in Canada | Alternet
It's Scary -- Ayn Rand's Nutty Ideas Are Being Taken Seriously, Even in Canada | Alternet
"The masters of a Randian society would rule a wasteland of clear cuts, poisoned streams, and empty seas, except for those patches they personally owned and protected. To maintain themselves would be vastly more expensive, in wealth, time and energy than it is today: their own farms, their own roads, their own firefighters and teachers and engineers. Marx made no predictions about the shape of a communist society. Similarly, Ayn Rand and her followers really don't (or can't) imagine what their own utopia would be like.That in itself is the final contradiction of Objectivism: A philosophy of radical capitalism, without a business plan. But it's no longer a joke."
"The masters of a Randian society would rule a wasteland of clear cuts, poisoned streams, and empty seas, except for those patches they personally owned and protected. To maintain themselves would be vastly more expensive, in wealth, time and energy than it is today: their own farms, their own roads, their own firefighters and teachers and engineers. Marx made no predictions about the shape of a communist society. Similarly, Ayn Rand and her followers really don't (or can't) imagine what their own utopia would be like.That in itself is the final contradiction of Objectivism: A philosophy of radical capitalism, without a business plan. But it's no longer a joke."
Democrats introduce bill to raise minimum wage to $9.80
Democrats introduce bill to raise minimum wage to $9.80
"More than 100 House Democrats introduced a bill Thursday to raise the minimum wage. Rep. George Miller's proposed legislation would raise the minimum wage to $9.80 over three years, 85 cents per year, then link it to inflation, so that raising it wouldn't have to be a giant political fight every few years."
"More than 100 House Democrats introduced a bill Thursday to raise the minimum wage. Rep. George Miller's proposed legislation would raise the minimum wage to $9.80 over three years, 85 cents per year, then link it to inflation, so that raising it wouldn't have to be a giant political fight every few years."
House Republican Bill Would Fast-Track Tax Cuts For The Wealthy And Corporations
House Republican Bill Would Fast-Track Tax Cuts For The Wealthy And Corporations: House Republicans next week intend to vote on a plan that would both extend all of the Bush tax cuts — including those on income in excess of $250,000 — and fast-track “tax reform.” If the House GOP bill were adopted, tax reform legislation would “have special protections in the U.S. Senate, limiting the opportunities [...]/p
Trader Claims Rate Rigging Scandal Dates Back To 1991
Trader Claims Rate Rigging Scandal Dates Back To 1991: In the Financial Times today, a former trader for Morgan Stanley claims that rigging of the LIBOR rate has been going on since at least 1991. Revelations that LIBOR — a key benchmark for interest rates — was being rigged has caused a wide-reaching scandal in both European and American financial circles, and could lead [...]/p
Expiration of Bush Tax Cuts for the 1% Are a Step Forward, But Not Nearly Enough | Common Dreams
Expiration of Bush Tax Cuts for the 1% Are a Step Forward, But Not Nearly Enough | Common Dreams
"Between 1979 and 2007, the richest 1 percent received three-fifths of all the income gains in the country. Most of this went to the richest 10th of that 1 percent, people with an average income of $5.6 million"
"Between 1979 and 2007, the richest 1 percent received three-fifths of all the income gains in the country. Most of this went to the richest 10th of that 1 percent, people with an average income of $5.6 million"
Bank Of America Cancels Foreclosure Auction On Minnesota Home After Occupiers Take Action
Bank Of America Cancels Foreclosure Auction On Minnesota Home After Occupiers Take Action: Bank of America has decided to renegotiate the terms of a Minnesota homeowner’s mortgage just days before it was scheduled to be auctioned off following a week of action by activists with Occupy Our Homes MN and other groups. Ruby Brown began fighting the foreclosure more than five years ago. She found out last week [...]/p
Caterpillar Strike: In the US, It's Open Season on Unions | Common Dreams
Caterpillar Strike: In the US, It's Open Season on Unions | Common Dreams
"Caterpillar understands this. Its corporate culture may be more predisposed than most to punishing uppity workers. But for it to do so without even the flimsiest appeal to economic necessity is truly a milestone. And in today's atomised America, it isn't just good business. It's good politics."
"Caterpillar understands this. Its corporate culture may be more predisposed than most to punishing uppity workers. But for it to do so without even the flimsiest appeal to economic necessity is truly a milestone. And in today's atomised America, it isn't just good business. It's good politics."
It's Official: The NYPD Does Not Like Occupy Wall Street
It's Official: The NYPD Does Not Like Occupy Wall Street
"A new report by the Protest and Assembly Rights Project, which includes civil liberties experts from law clinics at NYU, Fordham, Harvard, and Stanford, has determined what anyone paying attention already knows: The NYPD went way overboard with seemingly random protesters, and media personnel (Even innocent bystanders in multiple instances) during Occupy Wall Street. But the group's findings, compiled inSuppressing Protest: Human Rights Violations in the U.S. Response to Occupy Wall Street, detail many incidents beyond the extreme few that got the most media play, counting 130 examples of extreme force in all, on top of "a complex mapping of protest suppression"."
"A new report by the Protest and Assembly Rights Project, which includes civil liberties experts from law clinics at NYU, Fordham, Harvard, and Stanford, has determined what anyone paying attention already knows: The NYPD went way overboard with seemingly random protesters, and media personnel (Even innocent bystanders in multiple instances) during Occupy Wall Street. But the group's findings, compiled inSuppressing Protest: Human Rights Violations in the U.S. Response to Occupy Wall Street, detail many incidents beyond the extreme few that got the most media play, counting 130 examples of extreme force in all, on top of "a complex mapping of protest suppression"."
ALEC Exposed, ALEC Diminished: A Special Report from Salt Lake | Common Dreams
ALEC Exposed, ALEC Diminished: A Special Report from Salt Lake | Common Dreams
"Who has stood by ALEC as directors despite the revelations of ALEC's extreme agenda andlegally suspect claims to the IRS and ethics boards? Big Oil & Coal: Koch Industries,Peabody Energy, Exxon Mobil,Salt River Project, and Energy Future Holdings; Big Tobacco:Reynolds, Altria/Philip Morris, and CenterPoint 360; Big Drugs: PhRMA (the drug companies' trade group); Bayer, and Glaxo Smith Kline: Big Insurance: State Farm; Big Alcohol: Diageo; Big Bail: the American Bail Association; and Big Telecomm: AT&T.
"Who has stood by ALEC as directors despite the revelations of ALEC's extreme agenda andlegally suspect claims to the IRS and ethics boards? Big Oil & Coal: Koch Industries,Peabody Energy, Exxon Mobil,Salt River Project, and Energy Future Holdings; Big Tobacco:Reynolds, Altria/Philip Morris, and CenterPoint 360; Big Drugs: PhRMA (the drug companies' trade group); Bayer, and Glaxo Smith Kline: Big Insurance: State Farm; Big Alcohol: Diageo; Big Bail: the American Bail Association; and Big Telecomm: AT&T.
Plus, for some yet to be discovered reason, UPS. One wonders, what is Brown doing at ALEC?"
Former Florida Republican Party Chair Says Republicans Actively Suppressed The Black Vote
Former Florida Republican Party Chair Says Republicans Actively Suppressed The Black Vote: In a 630-page deposition, released to the press yesterday, former Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer described a systemic effort by Republicans to suppress the black vote. Referring to a 2009 meeting with party officials, Greer said “I was upset because the political consultants and staff were talking about voter suppression and keeping blacks from voting.” [...]/p
Repeatedly debunked lies still front and center in Romney campaign ad blasting Obama stimulus
Repeatedly debunked lies still front and center in Romney campaign ad blasting Obama stimulus
"Even revealed, lies help shape a narrative as surely as does the truth. Individual lies may be exposed as frauds from time to time, but the big picture built out of a welter of lies gets absorbed unconsciously. You can be pretty sure that the ad twisting the record of the stimulus money is designed to achieve exactly that purpose. Approved by Mendacious Mitt."
"Even revealed, lies help shape a narrative as surely as does the truth. Individual lies may be exposed as frauds from time to time, but the big picture built out of a welter of lies gets absorbed unconsciously. You can be pretty sure that the ad twisting the record of the stimulus money is designed to achieve exactly that purpose. Approved by Mendacious Mitt."
Phil Gramm: Repealing Glass-Steagall Didn't Cause Crash
Phil Gramm: Repealing Glass-Steagall Didn't Cause Crash
"Pause here for belly laughs. Okay, I'll give him this: The Commodity Futures Modernization Act he rammed through in the 2000 budget showdown between Congress and Clinton was much worse. In fact, it had even more to do with the 2008 crash. It made sure that the credit swaps market was unregulated, and that banks and hedge funds didn't need a minimum reserve to back their casino bets."
"Pause here for belly laughs. Okay, I'll give him this: The Commodity Futures Modernization Act he rammed through in the 2000 budget showdown between Congress and Clinton was much worse. In fact, it had even more to do with the 2008 crash. It made sure that the credit swaps market was unregulated, and that banks and hedge funds didn't need a minimum reserve to back their casino bets."
EXCLUSIVE: GOP Senate Nominee Shorting U.S. Treasury Bonds, Would Profit From Government Default
EXCLUSIVE: GOP Senate Nominee Shorting U.S. Treasury Bonds, Would Profit From Government Default: The Republican nominee in Ohio’s Senate race stands to reap a significant financial windfall if the government defaults by not raising the debt ceiling, a move he opposed last year and has indicated he would vote against if elected to the Senate. According to personal financial disclosure documents examined by ThinkProgress, Josh Mandel’s wife owns [...]/p
Capital One Forced To Pay $12 Million To Military Members Over Abusive Financial Practices
Capital One Forced To Pay $12 Million To Military Members Over Abusive Financial Practices: Just a week after it was ordered to pay $165 million in refunds and penalties for wrongful credit card practices, Capital One reached a settlement with the Department of Justice over charges that it financially abused active military members. Under the terms of the settlement, the bank will pay $12 million to American military members [...]/p
Survey: "Climate Skeptics" More Likely to Embrace "Free Market" Ideology, Conspiracy Theories | Common Dreams
Survey: "Climate Skeptics" More Likely to Embrace "Free Market" Ideology, Conspiracy Theories | Common Dreams
"A new survey of so-called "climate skeptics" -- who reject the global scientific community's broad consensus that global warming and climate change are being driven by modern society's emission of greenhouse gasses -- concludes that individuals who hold such views are also much more likely to believe in outlandish conspiracy theories and hold favorable views of the "free market" theory of the economy."
"A new survey of so-called "climate skeptics" -- who reject the global scientific community's broad consensus that global warming and climate change are being driven by modern society's emission of greenhouse gasses -- concludes that individuals who hold such views are also much more likely to believe in outlandish conspiracy theories and hold favorable views of the "free market" theory of the economy."
Are We Headed Back to the Dust Bowl? Blame the Banks | Alternet
Are We Headed Back to the Dust Bowl? Blame the Banks | Alternet
"Uncertainty is profitable. The Food and Agriculture Organisation is worried about price swings, even though prices are far from their 2011 peaks . Volatile prices create markets for hedge funds to trade and gamble on future trends. Traders, enabled by lax futures regulations, are perhaps the only people to see the bright side of the beating sun.
"Uncertainty is profitable. The Food and Agriculture Organisation is worried about price swings, even though prices are far from their 2011 peaks . Volatile prices create markets for hedge funds to trade and gamble on future trends. Traders, enabled by lax futures regulations, are perhaps the only people to see the bright side of the beating sun.
Which is why it's worth looking to history. Record-breaking weather, farmers losing crops, banks repossessing land from the poor, a president scorned by his opponents for socialism. We've seen this before. Such were the conditions of the dust bowl in the 1930s. Then, the drought stretched across most of the decade.By 1938, 80% of the Great Plains had been damaged by wind erosion . In large part, it was because farmers on small farms weren't taking care of the soil. What would bring farmers to the point of destroying the soil on which they depended? Most of them were deeply indebted to banks, and hanging on by their fingernails. Environmental destruction staved off financial oblivion."
How Will the 99% Deal with the Psychopaths in the 1%? | Alternet
How Will the 99% Deal with the Psychopaths in the 1%? | Alternet
"Did you know that roughly one person in a hundred is clinically a psychopath? These individuals are either born with an emotional deficiency that keeps them from feeling bad about hurting others, or they are traumatized early in life in a manner that causes them to become this way. With more than 7 billion people on the planet that means there are as many as 70,000,000 psychopaths alive today. These people are more likely to be risk takers, opportunists motivated by self-interest and greed, and inclined to dominate or subjugate those around them through manipulative means."
"Did you know that roughly one person in a hundred is clinically a psychopath? These individuals are either born with an emotional deficiency that keeps them from feeling bad about hurting others, or they are traumatized early in life in a manner that causes them to become this way. With more than 7 billion people on the planet that means there are as many as 70,000,000 psychopaths alive today. These people are more likely to be risk takers, opportunists motivated by self-interest and greed, and inclined to dominate or subjugate those around them through manipulative means."
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Rupert Murdoch's Reputation Is Shattered in UK -- Meanwhile He's Still Embraced as GOP Kingmaker in the U.S. | Alternet
Rupert Murdoch's Reputation Is Shattered in UK -- Meanwhile He's Still Embraced as GOP Kingmaker in the U.S. | Alternet
"Yet at the same time Murdoch is forced to withdrawal from Britain's political life, his profile is rapidly rising in the United States thanks to the unprecedented role News Corp's Fox News is playing this election cycle as it openly, and forcefully, campaigns against President Obama. The dichotomy between Murdoch's standing in Britain and America is striking, for rarely has a media mogul had his fortunes sink so low on one continent, while simultaneously rise so high on another."
"Yet at the same time Murdoch is forced to withdrawal from Britain's political life, his profile is rapidly rising in the United States thanks to the unprecedented role News Corp's Fox News is playing this election cycle as it openly, and forcefully, campaigns against President Obama. The dichotomy between Murdoch's standing in Britain and America is striking, for rarely has a media mogul had his fortunes sink so low on one continent, while simultaneously rise so high on another."
Don't talk about Ann Romney's fancy Olympic horse. Don't even THINK about it.
Don't talk about Ann Romney's fancy Olympic horse. Don't even THINK about it.
"Just add Ann "Woman of the People" Romney's fancy shmancy dancing horse to the list of things the Romneys believe should not be discussed at all: Mitt Romney's tenure as governor of Massachusetts, his tenure as CEO of Bain, his tenure as CEO of the 2002 Olympics, his tenure as a bishop of his Mormon church."
"Just add Ann "Woman of the People" Romney's fancy shmancy dancing horse to the list of things the Romneys believe should not be discussed at all: Mitt Romney's tenure as governor of Massachusetts, his tenure as CEO of Bain, his tenure as CEO of the 2002 Olympics, his tenure as a bishop of his Mormon church."
Hide the Ball: Romney's Long History of Hiding His Exorbitant, but Questionable, Business Practices
Hide the Ball: Romney's Long History of Hiding His Exorbitant, but Questionable, Business Practices
"How is it possible that, for two decades now, Mitt Romney has successfully avoided revealing any details about his vast wealth, has been able to manipulate and stash wealth overseas with no public accountability, has not been held to account for his complete lack of transparency, has painted himself as a creator of thousands of jobs even though the public record shows business decisions he presided over resulted in the loss of jobs because of mass wealth being scooped out of the assets of these same companies?"
"How is it possible that, for two decades now, Mitt Romney has successfully avoided revealing any details about his vast wealth, has been able to manipulate and stash wealth overseas with no public accountability, has not been held to account for his complete lack of transparency, has painted himself as a creator of thousands of jobs even though the public record shows business decisions he presided over resulted in the loss of jobs because of mass wealth being scooped out of the assets of these same companies?"
Worst. Congress. Ever.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
The damage the 112th Congress is doing to America, the media's complicity by letting them off the hook, and voters' disgust with the whole process
Top Three Myths Conservatives Use To Oppose Increasing The Minimum Wage
Top Three Myths Conservatives Use To Oppose Increasing The Minimum Wage: House Democrats have introduced a bill in the House — bound to go nowhere due to the Republican majority — that would increase the minimum wage to $10. This would give the wage the purchasing power that it had in the 1960s. Republicans have publicly met the idea of raising the minimum wage with contempt, [...]/p
Top Two Oil Companies Earn $160,000 Per Minute, Paid Low Tax Rate
Top Two Oil Companies Earn $160,000 Per Minute, Paid Low Tax Rate: The top two corporations on the Fortune 500 Global ranking, Royal Dutch Shell and ExxonMobil, announced their 2012 second-quarter earnings today, bringing the total profits for three Big Oil companies to $44 billion for 2012 or $250,000 every day this year. Exxon profited by $16 billion this quarter, bringing its earnings for 2012 to $25 [...]/p
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Romney Struggles To Distinguish His Economic Policies From Bush’s
Romney Struggles To Distinguish His Economic Policies From Bush’s: Mitt Romney couldn’t substantially distinguish his economic policies from former President George W. Bush’s during an interview with NBC’s Brian Williams on Wednesday, saying only that he would “take action to get America on track to have a balanced budget.” Bush increased the national debt by trillions of dollars. Rather than detailing specific differences with [...]/p
Republicans And Democrats Push For Preservation Of Tax Cut For 3,600 Multimillionaires
Republicans And Democrats Push For Preservation Of Tax Cut For 3,600 Multimillionaires: The tax cut extension package that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) brought up for a vote today did not include an Obama administration proposal to reset the estate tax to the 2009 level. Senate Republicans, along with a handful of Senate Democrats — including Sens. Mark Pryor (D-AR), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and Kay Hagan [...]/p
NSA Whistleblowers: They're Spying on 'the Entire Country' | Common Dreams
NSA Whistleblowers: They're Spying on 'the Entire Country' | Common Dreams
"The National Security Agency (NSA) has created a "pernicious, persistent and permanent" database since 9/11 and is spying on "the entire country" according to NSA whistleblowers Thomas Drake, Kirk Wiebe and William Binney."
"The National Security Agency (NSA) has created a "pernicious, persistent and permanent" database since 9/11 and is spying on "the entire country" according to NSA whistleblowers Thomas Drake, Kirk Wiebe and William Binney."
Former Citigroup Chairman Calls For Breaking Up Big Banks
Former Citigroup Chairman Calls For Breaking Up Big Banks: Former Citigroup Chairman and CEO Sanford “Sandy” Weill called for the separation of deposit and investment banks in an interview this morning on CNBC’s “The Squawk Box.” Weill is credited with inventing the so-called financial supermarket, a type of financial institution wherein a wide range of products involving banking, real estate, and stock trading are [...]/p
5 Reasons the Super-Rich Need Government More Than the Rest of Us | | AlterNet
5 Reasons the Super-Rich Need Government More Than the Rest of Us | | AlterNet
"Wealthy individuals and corporations want us to believe they've made it on their own, without the help of government or the American people. Billionaire financier Sanford Weill blustered, "We didn't rely on somebody else to build what we built." He was echoing the words of his famous predecessor, the formidable financier J. P. Morgan, who spouted, "I owe the public nothing."
"Wealthy individuals and corporations want us to believe they've made it on their own, without the help of government or the American people. Billionaire financier Sanford Weill blustered, "We didn't rely on somebody else to build what we built." He was echoing the words of his famous predecessor, the formidable financier J. P. Morgan, who spouted, "I owe the public nothing."
That's the bull of Wall Street. There are at least five good reasons why the wealthiest Americans need government as much as the rest of us, and probably more."
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Bernie Sanders Versus the Billionaires | Common Dreams
Bernie Sanders Versus the Billionaires | Common Dreams
"If two dozen billionaire families were combining their wealth to effectively buy the 2012 election, it would be time for patriots to mount a bold response on behalf of democracy itself.
"If two dozen billionaire families were combining their wealth to effectively buy the 2012 election, it would be time for patriots to mount a bold response on behalf of democracy itself.
Well, that time has come."
Verizon Will Cut Off DSL To Up Prices, Kill Their Unions
Verizon Will Cut Off DSL To Up Prices, Kill Their Unions
"Verizon stopped selling standalone DSL back in April, so they could force you to buy a landline. That change is part of a strategic plan that will ultimately screw consumers - and the FCC seems just fine with that."
"Verizon stopped selling standalone DSL back in April, so they could force you to buy a landline. That change is part of a strategic plan that will ultimately screw consumers - and the FCC seems just fine with that."
Senate GOP Provides $1.1 Million Tax Cut To Wealthy Estates While Raising Taxes On 20 Million Working Families
Senate GOP Provides $1.1 Million Tax Cut To Wealthy Estates While Raising Taxes On 20 Million Working Families: The Senate GOP plan to preserve the Bush tax cuts on incomes above $250,000 already amounts to a budget-busting tax cut for the rich, and in addition to it, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) also added another tax cut that benefits only the super-wealthy. The Hatch-McConnell plan effectively eliminates the [...]/p
Senior Economists Feel That GOP Jobs Package Is More Likely To Make People Sick Than Create Jobs
Senior Economists Feel That GOP Jobs Package Is More Likely To Make People Sick Than Create Jobs: House Speaker John Boehner and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor have taken every opportunity to tout the work that the GOP has done on jobs. From carrying around cards that lists the “more than 30 jobs bills” to bringing it up in every press conference or campaign ad, Republicans have been keen to publicize their [...]/p
What Five Oil Companies Did With $375 Million Profits Per Day In 2011
What Five Oil Companies Did With $375 Million Profits Per Day In 2011: The Big Five oil companies – BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Shell – are slated to announce their 2012 second-quarter profits later this week. We can expect these companies, all of which rank in the top 10 of the “Fortune 500 Global Ranking,” to announce billions of dollars more in profits, after earning $375 million [...]/p
GOP Senate Candidate Paid 15 Percent Tax Rate On $30.6 Million Income
GOP Senate Candidate Paid 15 Percent Tax Rate On $30.6 Million Income: Pressure mounted in recent days on Linda McMahon, a candidate in the Republican primary for Connecticut’s open U.S. Senate seat, to release her tax returns from the last two years, as former Rep. Chris Shays (R), her opponent in August’s primary, raised the issue as a matter of transparency. McMahon, who co-founded World Wrestling Entertainment [...]/p
Economists and Workers Both Say: Raise the Minimum Wage | Common Dreams
Economists and Workers Both Say: Raise the Minimum Wage | Common Dreams
"Marches and rallies are planned,according to McClatchy, at congressional district offices and at businesses that pay low wages. In Chicago, protesters will hold a trolley tour of low-wage employers, while activists in Pittsburgh will rally for higher wages outside City Hall. Similar events are planned in dozens of cities, including New York, Washington, Miami, Kansas City, Mo., Sacramento, Calif., and Philadelphia"
"Marches and rallies are planned,according to McClatchy, at congressional district offices and at businesses that pay low wages. In Chicago, protesters will hold a trolley tour of low-wage employers, while activists in Pittsburgh will rally for higher wages outside City Hall. Similar events are planned in dozens of cities, including New York, Washington, Miami, Kansas City, Mo., Sacramento, Calif., and Philadelphia"
Two Years After Financial Reform, Republicans Rake In Wall Street Fundraising Dollars
Two Years After Financial Reform, Republicans Rake In Wall Street Fundraising Dollars: It’s been two years since the passage of Dodd-Frank, and the finance industry is still doing its best to completely gut the reforms meant to prevent another financial crisis. Republicans have spent the last two years trying to water down Dodd-Frank, and data suggests they have been solidly rewarded for their efforts. The finance, insurance, [...]/p
7 Ultra-Rich Companies Rake in Profits While Paying Workers Peanuts | | AlterNet
7 Ultra-Rich Companies Rake in Profits While Paying Workers Peanuts | | AlterNet
"Of the 50 largest employers of low-wage workers, 92 percent of those were profitable last year —and three-fourths of them are doing better than they were before the recession."
"Of the 50 largest employers of low-wage workers, 92 percent of those were profitable last year —and three-fourths of them are doing better than they were before the recession."
Monday, July 23, 2012
Small businesses do just fine with high taxes on wealthy
Small businesses do just fine with high taxes on wealthy
"Guess what else is good about letting the tax cuts for income over $250,000 expire? It's what the people want. They see it as both helpful to the economy, and to make the tax system more fair. All of which means the Senate Democrats have to stand firm on their threat to let the tax cuts expire."
"Guess what else is good about letting the tax cuts for income over $250,000 expire? It's what the people want. They see it as both helpful to the economy, and to make the tax system more fair. All of which means the Senate Democrats have to stand firm on their threat to let the tax cuts expire."
Don't Regulate the Banks, Nationalize Them | Common Dreams
Don't Regulate the Banks, Nationalize Them | Common Dreams
"The Barclays interest-rate scandal, HSBC’s openness to money laundering by Mexican drug traffickers, the epic blunders at JPMorgan Chase — at this point, four years after Wall Street wrecked the global economy, does anyone really believe we can regulate the big banks? And if we broke them up, would they really stay broken up?"
"The Barclays interest-rate scandal, HSBC’s openness to money laundering by Mexican drug traffickers, the epic blunders at JPMorgan Chase — at this point, four years after Wall Street wrecked the global economy, does anyone really believe we can regulate the big banks? And if we broke them up, would they really stay broken up?"
REPORT: Debt Limit Fight Cost Government $1.3 Billion In 2011
REPORT: Debt Limit Fight Cost Government $1.3 Billion In 2011: Republican opposition to raising the debt ceiling increased the government’s borrowing costs by $1.3 billion in fiscal year 2011, and costs will continue to rise in the future, a report from the Government Accountability Office found. The U.S. Treasury was forced to take varying actions to avoid hitting the debt limit before Congress raised it [...]/p
In Victory for Corporatized Education, Federal Court Strikes Down Regulation of For-Profit Colleges
In Victory for Corporatized Education, Federal Court Strikes Down Regulation of For-Profit Colleges
"If America, like most industrialized nations, had no-cost universal access to public institutions of higher learning for all students, there would be no need for private colleges that cater to the poor and disenfranchised. But this will involve more than a court battle. It will necessitate that an informed and active citizenry force the Department of Justice, the state attorneys general and the Security and Exchange Commission to begin to do their job of prosecuting those persons and organizations responsible for breaking US law. Until this happens, there will be nothing but more and more lawyer fees, lobbying costs, court cases and student suicides. All items the for-profit schools look at as "the cost of doing business."
"If America, like most industrialized nations, had no-cost universal access to public institutions of higher learning for all students, there would be no need for private colleges that cater to the poor and disenfranchised. But this will involve more than a court battle. It will necessitate that an informed and active citizenry force the Department of Justice, the state attorneys general and the Security and Exchange Commission to begin to do their job of prosecuting those persons and organizations responsible for breaking US law. Until this happens, there will be nothing but more and more lawyer fees, lobbying costs, court cases and student suicides. All items the for-profit schools look at as "the cost of doing business."
PERRspectives: Democrats Crush Republicans as Capitalists in the White House
PERRspectives: Democrats Crush Republicans as Capitalists in the White House
"As the historical record shows, from economic growth and job creation to stock market performance and just about every other indicator of the health of American capitalism, the modern U.S. economy has almost always done better under Democratic presidents. Despite GOP mythology to the contrary, America generally gained more jobs and grew faster when taxes were higher (even much higher) and income inequality lower. While the U.S. recovery from the crippling Bush recession has been painfully slow, most economists - including the nonpartisan CBO and some of John McCain's own 2008 advisers - believe President Obama saved the American free-enterprise system from the abyss. And many economists are increasingly worried that businessman-turned-President Romney would lead the United States back into recession."
"As the historical record shows, from economic growth and job creation to stock market performance and just about every other indicator of the health of American capitalism, the modern U.S. economy has almost always done better under Democratic presidents. Despite GOP mythology to the contrary, America generally gained more jobs and grew faster when taxes were higher (even much higher) and income inequality lower. While the U.S. recovery from the crippling Bush recession has been painfully slow, most economists - including the nonpartisan CBO and some of John McCain's own 2008 advisers - believe President Obama saved the American free-enterprise system from the abyss. And many economists are increasingly worried that businessman-turned-President Romney would lead the United States back into recession."
PERRspectives: Romney Will Put Walmart in the White House
PERRspectives: Romney Will Put Walmart in the White House
"Even at a time of record income inequality, the lowest federal tax burden in 60 years and plummeting effective tax rates for the top one percent of earners, it is often difficult to put a face on the yawning chasm between the super-rich and everyone else. But now we have six. New data from the Federal Reserve reveal that the heirs of Walmart founders Sam and James "Bud" Walton now possess total wealth equivalent to 49 million American families, 42 percent of the total. As it turns out, that shocking number will grow much larger if Mitt Romney wins in November. After all, would-be President Romney not only wants to deliver another massive tax cut windfall for the wealthy, but wants to eliminate the estate tax altogether, a move that on paper would divert over $30 billion from the U.S. Treasury into the vaults of the Walton family."
"Even at a time of record income inequality, the lowest federal tax burden in 60 years and plummeting effective tax rates for the top one percent of earners, it is often difficult to put a face on the yawning chasm between the super-rich and everyone else. But now we have six. New data from the Federal Reserve reveal that the heirs of Walmart founders Sam and James "Bud" Walton now possess total wealth equivalent to 49 million American families, 42 percent of the total. As it turns out, that shocking number will grow much larger if Mitt Romney wins in November. After all, would-be President Romney not only wants to deliver another massive tax cut windfall for the wealthy, but wants to eliminate the estate tax altogether, a move that on paper would divert over $30 billion from the U.S. Treasury into the vaults of the Walton family."
California Faith Group Helps Move $750,000 In Customer Funds From Wall Street Banks
California Faith Group Helps Move $750,000 In Customer Funds From Wall Street Banks: Nearly nine months after the Bank Transfer Day protest that resulted in millions of dollars in lost customer deposits for the nation’s biggest banks, a Fresno, California-based faith group is leading the charge to get even more customers to move their money. Faith In Community, an interdenominational group, joined with Occupy Fresno and other groups [...]/p
Corporate CEO Donates His $3 Million Bonus To Company’s Lower-Paid Workers
Corporate CEO Donates His $3 Million Bonus To Company’s Lower-Paid Workers: Yang Yuanqing, the chief executive of computer distributing company Lenovo, has decided to distribute his $3 million bonus to 10,000 of his company’s lower-paid workers, many of whom are manufacturers in the company’s Chinese plants. Each worker will receive about $317 worth of the bonus, an amount that roughly equals the average monthly salary of [...]/p
Corporation Pushes Six-Year Pay Freeze On Workers While Making Record Profits, Paying CEO $17 Million
Corporation Pushes Six-Year Pay Freeze On Workers While Making Record Profits, Paying CEO $17 Million: Back in June, ThinkProgress noted that the manufacturing giant Caterpillar was seeking major concessions during contract negotiations with striking workers, even as it was making billions in profits and giving its CEO a 60 percent pay boost. The New York Times’ Steven Greenhouse added more details today, noting that the company wants to implement a [...]/p
Anaheim Residents Continue Protests After Cops Open Fire at Women, Kids
Anaheim Residents Continue Protests After Cops Open Fire at Women, Kids
(You read that right, demonstrators who were protesting police brutality became victims of police brutality themselves and after all that cops shot a second guy that same weekend.)
(You read that right, demonstrators who were protesting police brutality became victims of police brutality themselves and after all that cops shot a second guy that same weekend.)
5 Food Companies Run by Radical Right-Wingers | Economy | AlterNet
5 Food Companies Run by Radical Right-Wingers | Economy | AlterNet
"A number of food chains are owned by far right-wingers who've spent significant money opposing gay rights and abortion rights and funding conservative super-PACs."
"A number of food chains are owned by far right-wingers who've spent significant money opposing gay rights and abortion rights and funding conservative super-PACs."
Sunday, July 22, 2012
From an Unlikely Source, a Serious Challenge to Wall Street
From an Unlikely Source, a Serious Challenge to Wall Street
"There’s been so much corruption on Wall Street in recent years, and the federal government has appeared to be so deeply complicit in many of the problems, that many people have experienced something very like despair over the question of what to do about it all."
"There’s been so much corruption on Wall Street in recent years, and the federal government has appeared to be so deeply complicit in many of the problems, that many people have experienced something very like despair over the question of what to do about it all."
Mitt Romney's Olympics Bailed Out by Tax Payers
Mitt Romney's Olympics Bailed Out by Tax Payers
"As they noted, there are more questions which might be answered by Mitt Romney releasing his tax returns, which it seems more obvious day by day that he is never going to release. Romney seems to love that government "free stuff" when it benefits himself and his business buddies, but not so much for the working class and the poor."
"As they noted, there are more questions which might be answered by Mitt Romney releasing his tax returns, which it seems more obvious day by day that he is never going to release. Romney seems to love that government "free stuff" when it benefits himself and his business buddies, but not so much for the working class and the poor."
Global Super Rich Now Hoard $31 Trillion in Tax Havens: Report | Common Dreams
Global Super Rich Now Hoard $31 Trillion in Tax Havens: Report | Common Dreams
"A new report by the Tax Justice Network released Sunday reveals that between $21 trillion and $31 trillion is currently tucked away in global tax havens by the global super-rich--an amount that far exceeds previous estimates. Through exploiting gaps in global tax rules, the global financial elite are managing to hide "as much as the American and Japanese GDPs put together" from taxation, leaving the world's poor to carry the burden of global debt through harsh austerity measures."
"A new report by the Tax Justice Network released Sunday reveals that between $21 trillion and $31 trillion is currently tucked away in global tax havens by the global super-rich--an amount that far exceeds previous estimates. Through exploiting gaps in global tax rules, the global financial elite are managing to hide "as much as the American and Japanese GDPs put together" from taxation, leaving the world's poor to carry the burden of global debt through harsh austerity measures."
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Farm Bill Budget Cuts Will Mean Millions of Americans Go Hungry | Common Dreams
Farm Bill Budget Cuts Will Mean Millions of Americans Go Hungry | Common Dreams
"More seniors will be forced to choose between medical care and food, or utilities and food. Many families receiving Snap benefits are also eligible for free and reduced lunch. The proposed cuts could also mean lost lunches for hundreds of thousands of children, exacerbating an already intolerable situation."
"More seniors will be forced to choose between medical care and food, or utilities and food. Many families receiving Snap benefits are also eligible for free and reduced lunch. The proposed cuts could also mean lost lunches for hundreds of thousands of children, exacerbating an already intolerable situation."
From an Unlikely Source, a Serious Challenge to Wall Street | Common Dreams
From an Unlikely Source, a Serious Challenge to Wall Street | Common Dreams
"Something very interesting is happening.
"Something very interesting is happening.
There’s been so much corruption on Wall Street in recent years, and the federal government has appeared to be so deeply complicit in many of the problems, that many people have experienced something very like despair over the question of what to do about it all."
How Banks Cheat » Counterpunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names
How Banks Cheat » Counterpunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names
"Readers should understand that the foregoing does not purport to be a complete list of banks that have devised schemes to enrich themselves at the expense of their customers. It is only a small sampling. As I said at the outset, the nice thing about Bernie was how straightforward his malfeasance was. Everyone can understand it. The banks are no more honest than he-just more artful."
"Readers should understand that the foregoing does not purport to be a complete list of banks that have devised schemes to enrich themselves at the expense of their customers. It is only a small sampling. As I said at the outset, the nice thing about Bernie was how straightforward his malfeasance was. Everyone can understand it. The banks are no more honest than he-just more artful."
Friday, July 20, 2012
Santorum Backer The Latest Millionaire Donor To Abandon Campaign Finance Disclosure
Santorum Backer The Latest Millionaire Donor To Abandon Campaign Finance Disclosure: During the Republican primaries, millionaire Foster Friess became a household name for his more than $2 million in donations to the pro-Rick Santorum Red, White & Blue Super PAC. At that time, he told ThinkProgress that he would like to see more flexibility for big donors like himself to give directly to the candidates and [...]/p
Court Battle: Corporate Power Vs. Human Genes | Common Dreams
Court Battle: Corporate Power Vs. Human Genes | Common Dreams
"he Salt Lake City-based Myriad has patents on two genes associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer creating a monopoly on genetic tests for them, which prevents women from being able to get tests from other laboratories or even second opinions and provides insured profits for Myriad."
"he Salt Lake City-based Myriad has patents on two genes associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer creating a monopoly on genetic tests for them, which prevents women from being able to get tests from other laboratories or even second opinions and provides insured profits for Myriad."
Boston Globe: Bain insiders say Romney 'was not merely an absentee owner'
Boston Globe: Bain insiders say Romney 'was not merely an absentee owner'
"Again, none of that is surprising. What's surprising is that the Boston Globe had to do so much digging in order to put the pieces of the story together. And the reason they had to do so much digging is that Mitt Romney has staked his personal narrative on the clearly false claim that after Feb. 11, 1999 he had nothing to do with running Bain Capital. Clearly, however, he did. The question is: Why did he lie?"
"Again, none of that is surprising. What's surprising is that the Boston Globe had to do so much digging in order to put the pieces of the story together. And the reason they had to do so much digging is that Mitt Romney has staked his personal narrative on the clearly false claim that after Feb. 11, 1999 he had nothing to do with running Bain Capital. Clearly, however, he did. The question is: Why did he lie?"
New Arkansas Study Says Medicaid Expansion Would Save State $350 Million
New Arkansas Study Says Medicaid Expansion Would Save State $350 Million: The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities today pointed out a new study from Arkansas’ Department of Human Services, which found the expansion of Medicaid in health reform would save the state $350 million between 2014 and 2025. This stands in stark contrast to an earlier estimate from the state that participation in the reform [...]/p
Corporation That Paid Nothing In Taxes For Four Years Tells Congress It Pays Too Much In Taxes
Corporation That Paid Nothing In Taxes For Four Years Tells Congress It Pays Too Much In Taxes: Over a four years period from 2008 to 2011, Corning Inc. was one of 26 companies that managed to avoid paying any American income taxes, even though it earned nearly $3 billion during that time. In fact, according to Citizens For Tax Justice, the company received a $4 million refund from 2008 to 2010. That [...]/p
Senate GOP Tax Plan Would Raise Taxes On 20 Million Working Families
Senate GOP Tax Plan Would Raise Taxes On 20 Million Working Families: Republicans have consistently denounced President Obama’s plan to allow the Bush tax cuts on income over $250,000 to expire at the end of the year. “We ought not raise taxes on anyone at the end of the year,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has said of the Obama plan, which would raise taxes on [...]/p
The Elites Are Unanimous: Lower Everyone's Wages and Standard of Living -- Except They Don't Say it Out Loud | Economy | AlterNet
The Elites Are Unanimous: Lower Everyone's Wages and Standard of Living -- Except They Don't Say it Out Loud | Economy | AlterNet
"All of which leaves the American middle class on a badly listing, although not yet sinking, economic ship. Even before the financial crash, real wages for the typical American worker had been stagnant for 30 years as a result of: 1) trade and investment deregulation that shoved American workers into a brutally competitive global labor market for which they were unprepared; 2) the relentless war on unions that began with the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980; and 3) more recently, the erosion of the social safety net for low wage workers and the unemployed."
"All of which leaves the American middle class on a badly listing, although not yet sinking, economic ship. Even before the financial crash, real wages for the typical American worker had been stagnant for 30 years as a result of: 1) trade and investment deregulation that shoved American workers into a brutally competitive global labor market for which they were unprepared; 2) the relentless war on unions that began with the election of Ronald Reagan in 1980; and 3) more recently, the erosion of the social safety net for low wage workers and the unemployed."
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Republicans block Bring Jobs Home Act, protecting companies that outsource jobs
Republicans block Bring Jobs Home Act, protecting companies that outsource jobs
" As Reid pointed out, "It's no surprise Republicans are on the side of corporations making big bucks sending American jobs to China and India. After all, their presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, made a fortune outsourcing jobs, too"."
" As Reid pointed out, "It's no surprise Republicans are on the side of corporations making big bucks sending American jobs to China and India. After all, their presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, made a fortune outsourcing jobs, too"."
US Austerity Continues to Empty Student Pockets as Public Universities Crumble | Common Dreams
US Austerity Continues to Empty Student Pockets as Public Universities Crumble | Common Dreams
"n an economy marred by the financial crisis and subsequent austerity measures, public universities are continuing to gut programs, fire teachers, and raise tuition at alarming rates, an analysis by Reuters shows. As a result, the cost of education for the average student has continued to sky-rocket, as the quality of education suffers and national student debt continues to rise above the $1 trillion mark."
"n an economy marred by the financial crisis and subsequent austerity measures, public universities are continuing to gut programs, fire teachers, and raise tuition at alarming rates, an analysis by Reuters shows. As a result, the cost of education for the average student has continued to sky-rocket, as the quality of education suffers and national student debt continues to rise above the $1 trillion mark."
Report: Big Corporations Are Making Huge Profits While Keeping Their Employees Stuck At Minimum Wage
Report: Big Corporations Are Making Huge Profits While Keeping Their Employees Stuck At Minimum Wage: The popular conservative response to those who want to increase the nation’s minimum wage, which currently stands at $7.25 per hour, is that doing so will inevitably kill jobs at small businesses. However, studies have shown that raising the minimum wage does not kill jobs, but most certainly helps workers at the low end of [...]/p
Demonizing the Poor | Common Dreams
Demonizing the Poor | Common Dreams
"It is sad and, frankly, frightening when Americans explain away the harshness and lack of compassion in their country by vilifying individuals who manage to survive in difficult circumstances. A lack of class consciousness, racism, puritanism, and pure delusion about America’s purported superiority result in nonsense being passed off as social science and matters which should be political being made personal."
"It is sad and, frankly, frightening when Americans explain away the harshness and lack of compassion in their country by vilifying individuals who manage to survive in difficult circumstances. A lack of class consciousness, racism, puritanism, and pure delusion about America’s purported superiority result in nonsense being passed off as social science and matters which should be political being made personal."
A Guide To Consumer Brands Helping Bankroll Right-Wing Attack Ads
A Guide To Consumer Brands Helping Bankroll Right-Wing Attack Ads: Have you eaten at White Castle recently? Or caught a movie at Regal Cinemas? If so, you may be unwittingly helping finance right-wing attack ads. That’s because many of the country’s most common brands are run by rich conservatives who are using their personal wealth to bankroll outside spending groups that are running attack ads [...]/p
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