'I don't have the time' to explain tax plan, says Paul Ryan on Fox News
"Ryan is straight-up using his reputation as the Republican party's big budget wonk to get out of giving direct answers to any actual budget wonking questions. Because from his point of view, "I don't want to get too wonky" or "I don't have the time" are more palatable answers than "if I gave you details you'd see that I've been lying"."
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Big Pharma Medicaid Fraud Penalties at Record High | Common Dreams
Big Pharma Medicaid Fraud Penalties at Record High | Common Dreams
"The seemingly undeterred pharmaceutical industry remains the biggest defrauder of the federal government."
"The seemingly undeterred pharmaceutical industry remains the biggest defrauder of the federal government."
Wall Street's War Against Your City | Alternet
Wall Street's War Against Your City | Alternet
"Unlike the U.S. federal government, most states and cities have constitutions that prevent them from running budget deficits. This means that when they cut property taxes, they either must borrow from the wealthy, or cut back employment and public services.
"Unlike the U.S. federal government, most states and cities have constitutions that prevent them from running budget deficits. This means that when they cut property taxes, they either must borrow from the wealthy, or cut back employment and public services.
For many years they borrowed, paying tax-exempt interest to wealthy bondholders. But carrying charges on these have mounted to a point where they now look risky as the economy sinks into debt deflation. Cities are defaulting from California to Alabama. They cannot reverse course and restore taxes on property owners without causing more mortgage defaults and abandonments. Something has to give – so cities are scaling back public spending, downsizing their school systems and police forces, and selling off their assets to pay bondholders.
This has become the main cause of America’s rising unemployment, helping drive down consumer demand in a Keynesian nightmare."
Another right-wing attack on public workers | Economic Policy Institute
Another right-wing attack on public workers | Economic Policy Institute
"How does government pay compare with that in the private sector? The answer is pretty much what you’d expect: Wages and salaries are lower, but benefits are better. Overall compensation is, if anything, slightly lower, though this varies by class of worker; less educated workers are better paid in the public sector and more educated workers are better paid in the private sector. This again is not surprising when you consider that less educated workers in the private sector often earn poverty wages with no health benefits and government employers have little incentive to shift costs onto Medicaid and other government programs.
"How does government pay compare with that in the private sector? The answer is pretty much what you’d expect: Wages and salaries are lower, but benefits are better. Overall compensation is, if anything, slightly lower, though this varies by class of worker; less educated workers are better paid in the public sector and more educated workers are better paid in the private sector. This again is not surprising when you consider that less educated workers in the private sector often earn poverty wages with no health benefits and government employers have little incentive to shift costs onto Medicaid and other government programs.
But anti-government ideologues have deep pockets, so a minor industry has sprung up trying to show that government workers are overpaid. "
Meet a Romney Extremist in Virginia | The Progressive
Meet a Romney Extremist in Virginia | The Progressive
"A staffer in a Romney campaign office wants to execute parents on welfare and give their kids up for adoption."
"A staffer in a Romney campaign office wants to execute parents on welfare and give their kids up for adoption."
The Billionaire Bandits Behind Paul Ryan - In These Times
The Billionaire Bandits Behind Paul Ryan - In These Times
According to Palast, “Romney picked Ryan at the request of one of their most important donors, Paul Singer, a hedge fund manager literally known in the industry as ‘The Vulture.’”
According to Palast, “Romney picked Ryan at the request of one of their most important donors, Paul Singer, a hedge fund manager literally known in the industry as ‘The Vulture.’”
Taibbi: Wall St. Is Turning Dodd-Frank Into Swiss Cheese
Taibbi: Wall St. Is Turning Dodd-Frank Into Swiss Cheese
"Rolling Stone's Matt Taibbi, who has done more than just about anyone to keep Wall Street perfidy in the public spotlight, points out their latest successful effort to undermine what few regulations they do have."
"Rolling Stone's Matt Taibbi, who has done more than just about anyone to keep Wall Street perfidy in the public spotlight, points out their latest successful effort to undermine what few regulations they do have."
Why Right-Wingers Need ‘Skewed Polls’ Conspiracy Theory for Romney to Win -- And Even More If He Loses | Alternet
Why Right-Wingers Need ‘Skewed Polls’ Conspiracy Theory for Romney to Win -- And Even More If He Loses | Alternet
"Since the inception of the ironically named Fox News Channel, right-wing media consumers have been convinced that every news source outside of their favored outlets pushes lies designed to destroy their beloved country with a collectivist agenda, one that favors those perceived as unworthy of partaking in the nation’s bounty. (These “unworthy,” of course, are often non-white and/or non-heterosexual-male.)
"Since the inception of the ironically named Fox News Channel, right-wing media consumers have been convinced that every news source outside of their favored outlets pushes lies designed to destroy their beloved country with a collectivist agenda, one that favors those perceived as unworthy of partaking in the nation’s bounty. (These “unworthy,” of course, are often non-white and/or non-heterosexual-male.)
To those of the paranoid, xenophobic mindset first identified by Richard Hofstadter in the 1960s, it’s hardly a stretch to believe it when they’re told that the very polls that are used by media to assess the state of political contests are skewed to favor the liberal candidate, especially when the candidate is a black man named Obama."
Friday, September 28, 2012
Brown v. Warren: Choosing Between Automatons and Leaders - In These Times
Brown v. Warren: Choosing Between Automatons and Leaders - In These Times
"Corporate execs fear elected officials who have inconvenient morals or brains–like Elizabeth Warren."
"Corporate execs fear elected officials who have inconvenient morals or brains–like Elizabeth Warren."
Romney Loves American Cars; Obama Loves American Car Workers - In These Times
Romney Loves American Cars; Obama Loves American Car Workers - In These Times
"Obama has repeatedly confronted countries whose illegal trade practices threaten American companies and workers, filing twice as many cases in one term as Bush did in two. He has tangibly demonstrated his love for American cars and American car workers."
"Obama has repeatedly confronted countries whose illegal trade practices threaten American companies and workers, filing twice as many cases in one term as Bush did in two. He has tangibly demonstrated his love for American cars and American car workers."
Stupid GOP Voter Registration Tricks Continue in Swing States
Stupid GOP Voter Registration Tricks Continue in Swing States
"You'd think Florida, of all places, would be jumping on this terrible registration fraud. After all, this is the state that wants to purge actual registered voters from the rolls not once, but twice. Brad Friedman reports that the Palm Beach Election Supervisor is mystified by Florida's apathy to what is clearly voter registration fraud. Could that be because it's Republican voter registration fraud?"
"You'd think Florida, of all places, would be jumping on this terrible registration fraud. After all, this is the state that wants to purge actual registered voters from the rolls not once, but twice. Brad Friedman reports that the Palm Beach Election Supervisor is mystified by Florida's apathy to what is clearly voter registration fraud. Could that be because it's Republican voter registration fraud?"
Questions for Governor Romney
Since republicans are blocking the Veterans Jobs Bill, it's time for Mitt Romney to answer some questions.
Bill Moyers Exposes the Stranglehold the Corporate & Right-Wing Alliance Has on Our Democracy | Alternet
Bill Moyers Exposes the Stranglehold the Corporate & Right-Wing Alliance Has on Our Democracy | Alternet
"This week, Moyers & Company reports on the most influential corporate-funded political force most of America has never heard of — ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council . A national consortium of state politicians and powerful corporations, ALEC presents itself as a “nonpartisan public-private partnership”. But behind that mantra lies a vast network of corporate lobbying and political action aimed to increase corporate profits at public expense without public knowledge. Using interviews, documents, and field reporting, the episode explores ALEC’s self-serving machine at work, acting in a way one Wisconsin politician describes as “a corporate dating service for lonely legislators and corporate special interests.” In state houses around the country, hundreds of pieces of boilerplate ALEC legislation are proposed or enacted that would, among other things, dilute collective bargaining rights, make it harder for some Americans to vote, and limit corporate liability for harm caused to consumers — each accomplished without the public ever knowing who’s behind it."
"This week, Moyers & Company reports on the most influential corporate-funded political force most of America has never heard of — ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council . A national consortium of state politicians and powerful corporations, ALEC presents itself as a “nonpartisan public-private partnership”. But behind that mantra lies a vast network of corporate lobbying and political action aimed to increase corporate profits at public expense without public knowledge. Using interviews, documents, and field reporting, the episode explores ALEC’s self-serving machine at work, acting in a way one Wisconsin politician describes as “a corporate dating service for lonely legislators and corporate special interests.” In state houses around the country, hundreds of pieces of boilerplate ALEC legislation are proposed or enacted that would, among other things, dilute collective bargaining rights, make it harder for some Americans to vote, and limit corporate liability for harm caused to consumers — each accomplished without the public ever knowing who’s behind it."
Mike Papantonio on Romney Harvesting America's Middle Class
Recent video that has surfaced with Mitt Romney discussing his plan to pillage companies through Bain Capital.
Romney Versus Realonomy: A Peek Inside the Bubble
Romney Versus Realonomy: A Peek Inside the Bubble
"In the real economy - the place where the 99% live and work - it's hard to take Mitt Romney's plan seriously; but let's try to make sense of it anyway, unhindered by logic, arithmetic or the laws of time, space and gravity."
"In the real economy - the place where the 99% live and work - it's hard to take Mitt Romney's plan seriously; but let's try to make sense of it anyway, unhindered by logic, arithmetic or the laws of time, space and gravity."
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Meet One of America's Worst Election 2012 Hack Reporters | Alternet
Meet One of America's Worst Election 2012 Hack Reporters | Alternet
"The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza has a problem. He's the type who unironically referred to Bush's plan to let Wall Street pillage Social Security as “reform.” He now says that Paul Ryan's mission to replace Medicare with coupons-of-lesser-value is a “ plan to reinvigorate ” the program. On MSNBC, he said the probably-won't-be Veep's now-infamous slew of RNC lies were merely facts “out of context.” All the tragic, familiar signs are there. Hell, even his blog is called The Fix. Like so many poor souls of his lost journalistic generation, Chris Cillizza is addicted to bullshit."
"The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza has a problem. He's the type who unironically referred to Bush's plan to let Wall Street pillage Social Security as “reform.” He now says that Paul Ryan's mission to replace Medicare with coupons-of-lesser-value is a “ plan to reinvigorate ” the program. On MSNBC, he said the probably-won't-be Veep's now-infamous slew of RNC lies were merely facts “out of context.” All the tragic, familiar signs are there. Hell, even his blog is called The Fix. Like so many poor souls of his lost journalistic generation, Chris Cillizza is addicted to bullshit."
New Romney Video Surfaces Debunking His Job Creator Claims
New Romney Video Surfaces Debunking His Job Creator Claims
Remember when Mitt Romney used his time with Bain Capital to assure us that he was the only candidate in the race who "understood job creation" because he had been in business and had "turned around" companies?
Remember when Mitt Romney used his time with Bain Capital to assure us that he was the only candidate in the race who "understood job creation" because he had been in business and had "turned around" companies?
Yeah. Not so much. Thanks to David Corn over at Mother Jones, we have a new video of a much younger Willard Mitt Romney talking up the purpose of Bain Capital. Here it is in a nutshell straight from Willard himself:
Bain Capital is an investment partnership which was formed to invest in startup companies and ongoing companies, then to take an active hand in managing them and hopefully, five to eight years later, to harvest them at a significant profit…
Police Accused of Using Torture Tactics Against Nonviolent Keystone XL Pipeline Protesters | Alternet
Police Accused of Using Torture Tactics Against Nonviolent Keystone XL Pipeline Protesters | Alternet
"A tree-sit continues in Texas despite an unprecedented escalation in police and industry violence toward peaceful blockaders working to prevent construction of the Keystone XL pipeline."
"A tree-sit continues in Texas despite an unprecedented escalation in police and industry violence toward peaceful blockaders working to prevent construction of the Keystone XL pipeline."
Republican senators file court brief to protect their right to break the government
Republican senators file court brief to protect their right to break the government
"Republicans had been using and were going to continue using the filibuster to block any appointments to the NLRB and CFPB, simply because they don't think an NLRB controlled by Democrats should be allowed to function and don't want the CFPB to exist at all. Now they're objecting to President Obama taking steps to make the government work. So what we have here is 42 of 47 Republican senators—all but Scott Brown of Massachusetts and Dean Heller of Nevada, both of whom are in tough reelection battles, along with Mark Kirk of Illinois, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Olympia Snowe of Maine—who are filing a court brief to insist on their right to, as a minority, prevent government agencies from functioning. Breaking the government is their priority, and they think they should get more power."
"Republicans had been using and were going to continue using the filibuster to block any appointments to the NLRB and CFPB, simply because they don't think an NLRB controlled by Democrats should be allowed to function and don't want the CFPB to exist at all. Now they're objecting to President Obama taking steps to make the government work. So what we have here is 42 of 47 Republican senators—all but Scott Brown of Massachusetts and Dean Heller of Nevada, both of whom are in tough reelection battles, along with Mark Kirk of Illinois, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Olympia Snowe of Maine—who are filing a court brief to insist on their right to, as a minority, prevent government agencies from functioning. Breaking the government is their priority, and they think they should get more power."
How The Tea Party Hopes To Purge Thousands of Ohio Voters
How The Tea Party Hopes To Purge Thousands of Ohio Voters: Members of an Ohio tea party group are taking it upon themselves to individually police alleged voter fraud, launching challenges to a targeted list of voters that includes hundreds of college students, trailer park residents, homeless people and African Americans in counties President Obama won in 2008. In all, the group has sought to remove [...]/p
Wells Fargo Courts Latinos While Investing in Private Prisons That Profit From Detaining Immigrants: Report Calls for Bank to Break Ties
Wells Fargo Courts Latinos While Investing in Private Prisons That Profit From Detaining Immigrants: Report Calls for Bank to Break Ties
"Wells Fargo has marketed itself as the bank of choice for Latinos, yet a new report details the bank's ties to the private prision industry, which lobbies for, and profits from, stepped-up enforcement and criminalization of immigration laws, like Arizona's SB 1070."
"Wells Fargo has marketed itself as the bank of choice for Latinos, yet a new report details the bank's ties to the private prision industry, which lobbies for, and profits from, stepped-up enforcement and criminalization of immigration laws, like Arizona's SB 1070."
Explaining Today’s Great Jobs News
Explaining Today’s Great Jobs News: New data released this morning by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the private-sector added 450,000 more jobs as of March 2012 than previously thought. This means that the economy has crossed the threshold and more jobs [...]/p
Romney Has a Jobs Plan ... for China | Common Dreams
Romney Has a Jobs Plan ... for China | Common Dreams
"You may never have heard of Sensata Technologies, but in this election season, you’ve probably heard the name of its owner, Bain Capital, the company co-founded and formerly run by Mitt Romney. When they learned this, close to a dozen Sensata employees decided to put up a fight, to challenge Romney to put into practice his very campaign slogans to save American jobs. They traveled to Tampa, Fla., joining in a poor people’s campaign at a temporary camp called Romneyville (after the Hoovervilles of the Great Depression). They organized a petition drive, getting 35,000 people to join their demand for Romney to call on his former colleagues to save their jobs. Since Freeport is close to two swing states, Iowa and Wisconsin, they traveled to a Romney rally and appealed directly to him there (Ironically, for appealing to Romney to save their jobs from being sent to China, the Sensata workers were jeered as communists at the rally, and removed by U.S. Secret Service)."
"You may never have heard of Sensata Technologies, but in this election season, you’ve probably heard the name of its owner, Bain Capital, the company co-founded and formerly run by Mitt Romney. When they learned this, close to a dozen Sensata employees decided to put up a fight, to challenge Romney to put into practice his very campaign slogans to save American jobs. They traveled to Tampa, Fla., joining in a poor people’s campaign at a temporary camp called Romneyville (after the Hoovervilles of the Great Depression). They organized a petition drive, getting 35,000 people to join their demand for Romney to call on his former colleagues to save their jobs. Since Freeport is close to two swing states, Iowa and Wisconsin, they traveled to a Romney rally and appealed directly to him there (Ironically, for appealing to Romney to save their jobs from being sent to China, the Sensata workers were jeered as communists at the rally, and removed by U.S. Secret Service)."
Voting As a Constitutional Right: What A Real “Protect The Vote” Movement Would Look Like | Common Dreams
Voting As a Constitutional Right: What A Real “Protect The Vote” Movement Would Look Like | Common Dreams
"To be sure, the right wing vote stealers are well-practiced, in many jurisdictions, in tactics like sending the most broken down voting machines to the poorest areas, ruling millions of would-be voters off the rolls with felony-conviction restructions. Lazy pundits like Michael Eric Dyson lean on the discredited myth that Ralph Nader's Green vote in 2000 cost Al Gore the election. But Gore's home state of Tennessee alone, which George Bush carried, ruled half a million ex-felons, most of them black and all of them poor, off the ballot, and more than a dozen other states where his margin was thin did the same. There's vote caging, in which categories of voters are identified and targeted with misleading information about their eligibility to vote or selectively challenged. And in addition to all these, voter ID laws have been enacted in twenty or thirty states specifically aimed at lowering the number of eligible voters among the demographic groups least likely to vote Republican."
"To be sure, the right wing vote stealers are well-practiced, in many jurisdictions, in tactics like sending the most broken down voting machines to the poorest areas, ruling millions of would-be voters off the rolls with felony-conviction restructions. Lazy pundits like Michael Eric Dyson lean on the discredited myth that Ralph Nader's Green vote in 2000 cost Al Gore the election. But Gore's home state of Tennessee alone, which George Bush carried, ruled half a million ex-felons, most of them black and all of them poor, off the ballot, and more than a dozen other states where his margin was thin did the same. There's vote caging, in which categories of voters are identified and targeted with misleading information about their eligibility to vote or selectively challenged. And in addition to all these, voter ID laws have been enacted in twenty or thirty states specifically aimed at lowering the number of eligible voters among the demographic groups least likely to vote Republican."
US Designates Wikileaks "Enemy of the State" | Common Dreams
US Designates Wikileaks "Enemy of the State" | Common Dreams
"Military documents (pdf) obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request and posted online by Wikileaks show that the US government has designated the whistleblower website and its founder Julian Assange as "enemies of the state"—the same legal category as Al Qaeda and other foreign military adversaries."
"Military documents (pdf) obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request and posted online by Wikileaks show that the US government has designated the whistleblower website and its founder Julian Assange as "enemies of the state"—the same legal category as Al Qaeda and other foreign military adversaries."
Romney’s Budget Plan Could Kill Millions Of Jobs Over The Next Two Years
Romney’s Budget Plan Could Kill Millions Of Jobs Over The Next Two Years: The budget and tax proposals put forth by Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney would not lead to the economic prosperity and job growth he has claimed, according to a new study released this week. In fact, the Economic Policy Institute found that Romney’s plans would actually lead to a net loss of jobs over the [...]/p
Forbes 400 List Reveals Why the Greedy Rich Fully Deserve Your Contempt -- And Jesus’s | Alternet
Forbes 400 List Reveals Why the Greedy Rich Fully Deserve Your Contempt -- And Jesus’s | Alternet
"The bulk of America’s superwealthy refuse to pull their weight and kill opportunity for the rest. And they want your thanks!"
"The bulk of America’s superwealthy refuse to pull their weight and kill opportunity for the rest. And they want your thanks!"
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Florida Officially Restarts Voter Purge, Revised List Still Appears To Be Inaccurate
Florida Officially Restarts Voter Purge, Revised List Still Appears To Be Inaccurate: Florida has officially restarted it’s controversial purge of registered voters less than 6 weeks before election day. Governor Scott’s intention to resume the effort, detailed in a PowerPoint presentation, was first reported by ThinkProgress. Initially, Florida identified 180,000 potential non-citizens to be purged from the voter rolls. That list was subsequently narrowed down to 2600 [...]/p
6 Ways Mitt Romney's Getting His Butt Kicked | Alternet
6 Ways Mitt Romney's Getting His Butt Kicked | Alternet
"One has to admire the conservative brain's ability to stave off cognitive dissonance. Republicans have convinced themselves that Obama is the second coming of Hitler, and were sure that Americas would reject him for a nice-looking white business-guy with good hair. But now things aren't going well, so they've simply decided, en masse , that a conspiracy is afoot. The polls are being skewed, and any minute now Romney will come thundering back to crush the Kenyan interloper.
"One has to admire the conservative brain's ability to stave off cognitive dissonance. Republicans have convinced themselves that Obama is the second coming of Hitler, and were sure that Americas would reject him for a nice-looking white business-guy with good hair. But now things aren't going well, so they've simply decided, en masse , that a conspiracy is afoot. The polls are being skewed, and any minute now Romney will come thundering back to crush the Kenyan interloper.
Here in the real world, however, a different picture is emerging. After the necessary caveats – Romney can still win, external events could shake up the race late, nobody knows how restrictive voting laws will ultimately impact the vote – Romney is getting his butt kicked. And here’s how."
Nestlé: Malevolent Corporation Capitalizes on Global Water Crisis | Common Dreams
Nestlé: Malevolent Corporation Capitalizes on Global Water Crisis | Common Dreams
"But what does Nestlé know about delivering water and sanitation services? Nothing! It is involved with this partnership to gain credibility and to have the Swiss government open doors to new private water markets in the developing world. It is the same reason the company is deeply involved with the funding arm of the World Bank. In fact, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe chairs a new advisory board called the 2030 Water Resources Group that helps set policy models and priorities for water and sanitation programs around the world.
"But what does Nestlé know about delivering water and sanitation services? Nothing! It is involved with this partnership to gain credibility and to have the Swiss government open doors to new private water markets in the developing world. It is the same reason the company is deeply involved with the funding arm of the World Bank. In fact, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe chairs a new advisory board called the 2030 Water Resources Group that helps set policy models and priorities for water and sanitation programs around the world.
This is a disaster in a world where demand for water is outstripping supply at an accelerating rate. As Wenonah Hauter from Food and Water Watch says, Nestlé’s goal is to shift government policy away from providing public municipal water supplies to people, and toward a dependency on bottled water to provide basic drinking water. And of course, it is about capitalizing on the global water crisis.
It is time to call out Nestlé and the governments that partner with them. I will return to Nestlé’s home base again soon where we will shout out against this malevolent water hunter."
Staples to close 30 U.S. stores, dealing another blow to Mitt Romney's job creation claims
Staples to close 30 U.S. stores, dealing another blow to Mitt Romney's job creation claims
"Mitt Romney didn't create those $9 an hour jobs he knows just aren't right, but he wanted us to believe he did. For a while, those jobs were pretty much the basis for his entire presidential campaign. Now some of them—we don't know how many—are going away. Kind of like Mitt's political career."
"Mitt Romney didn't create those $9 an hour jobs he knows just aren't right, but he wanted us to believe he did. For a while, those jobs were pretty much the basis for his entire presidential campaign. Now some of them—we don't know how many—are going away. Kind of like Mitt's political career."
Phoenix Mayor Attempts To Live On A Food Stamp Budget: ‘I’m Tired, And It’s Hard To Focus’
Phoenix Mayor Attempts To Live On A Food Stamp Budget: ‘I’m Tired, And It’s Hard To Focus’: When local activist groups challenged Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton to live on a food stamp budget for a week to mark Hunger Awareness Month, he took them up on the offer and found out just how hard it was. Stanton kept a diary on the challenge, which allotted him roughly $29 a week, the same [...]/p
The Better Bargain: Transaction Tax, Not Austerity | Common Dreams
The Better Bargain: Transaction Tax, Not Austerity | Common Dreams
"On the eve of Occupy Wall Street’s first anniversary, Congressman Keith Ellison introduced a much-needed common sense bill: HR 6411, the Inclusive Prosperity Act. The bill taxes financial transactions to generate revenue for social needs. Amid our consensus-narrowed, deficit-obsessed political debate, it’s a call to arms, and a breath of fresh air."
"On the eve of Occupy Wall Street’s first anniversary, Congressman Keith Ellison introduced a much-needed common sense bill: HR 6411, the Inclusive Prosperity Act. The bill taxes financial transactions to generate revenue for social needs. Amid our consensus-narrowed, deficit-obsessed political debate, it’s a call to arms, and a breath of fresh air."
Romney’s Tax Rate Lower Than Any President’s Since Nixon
Romney’s Tax Rate Lower Than Any President’s Since Nixon: Mitt Romney is worth double the sum of the last eight presidents’ wealth, but he has paid one of the lowest tax rates. According to CNN Money, only President Richard Nixon paid a lower tax rate, at 6.1 percent, in the last 40 years. The chart below compares Romney’s relatively low tax rate to recent [...]/p
Who would promote job growth most in the near term?: Macroeconomic impacts of the Obama and Romney budget proposals | Economic Policy Institute
Who would promote job growth most in the near term?: Macroeconomic impacts of the Obama and Romney budget proposals | Economic Policy Institute
"The most pressing economic challenge facing the United States as of September 2012 remains elevated unemployment and underemployment rates, a legacy of the Great Recession that began at the end of 2007 and from which the labor market has yet to fully recover. In the near term, boosting employment will overwhelmingly hinge on fiscal policy."
"The most pressing economic challenge facing the United States as of September 2012 remains elevated unemployment and underemployment rates, a legacy of the Great Recession that began at the end of 2007 and from which the labor market has yet to fully recover. In the near term, boosting employment will overwhelmingly hinge on fiscal policy."
1st they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win...
Congratulations to Sheldon Adelson - the casino mogul who's made a fortune in China - and is now the new record-holder for the most money spent in an election here in the United States - at least that we know about. According to Politico - Adelson has funneled $70 million to the Republican Party so far this election - more than tripling the previous record of campaign spending by any single individual. And while Adelson hasn't shied away from the spotlight - and is, in fact, proud of his attempts to buy the election for Mitt Romney - there are a lot of other right-wing millionaires and billionaires in the shadows also spending huge amounts of money. You won't hear their names - you won't see their faces - but they're sure to have a profound effect in November - if not on the White House, then on the congressional and Senate races across the nation.
And we can thanks the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision in 2010 for making all of this possible. According to a new report by the sunlight foundation - more than three-quarters of the $465 million in outside spending so far this election would have been a crime for which people could go to prison before five right-wingers on the Supreme Court, in their lopsided 5-4 Citizens United decision, decided that billionaires and corporations - including those that make their money in other countries - should be able to buy American elections. SuperPACs - those political creatures spawned by the Supreme Court's five to four decision - have dished out $272 million so far on this year's election - and trade organization and non-profits, which according to Citizens United don't have to disclose their donors, have spent another $93 million so far - that we know about.
Voter Suppression Is the Last Resort of These Stop-at-Nothing Republicans | Common Dreams
Voter Suppression Is the Last Resort of These Stop-at-Nothing Republicans | Common Dreams
As millions of ad dollars have failed to put Mitt Romney ahead, his allies are trying to rig this election in worst Jim Crow tradition
As millions of ad dollars have failed to put Mitt Romney ahead, his allies are trying to rig this election in worst Jim Crow tradition
Germany Could Become First Country To Limit High-Frequency Trading
Germany Could Become First Country To Limit High-Frequency Trading: Germany is set to become the first nation to enact limits on high-speed trading, the computer-based trading that generates millions of dollars in profits for big banks but also makes financial markets more volatile. The German government approved draft legislation that would require all high-speed trades to be licensed and clear labeling of all financial [...]/p
California's Prop 37: Monsanto, GMO Labelling and the Public Interest | Common Dreams
California's Prop 37: Monsanto, GMO Labelling and the Public Interest | Common Dreams
"While the initiative merely seeks to add a few words to nutrition labels, it has incurred the wrath and moneyed opposition of biotech and food giants - no doubt because they fear the initiative might herald actual regulations on an industry that has long been allowed to experiment willy-nilly with the food people consume in the United States."
"While the initiative merely seeks to add a few words to nutrition labels, it has incurred the wrath and moneyed opposition of biotech and food giants - no doubt because they fear the initiative might herald actual regulations on an industry that has long been allowed to experiment willy-nilly with the food people consume in the United States."
Romney’s startling confession on taxes
Romney’s startling confession on taxes
"For months, Mitt Romney has argued repeatedly that President Obama raised taxes. It's not really true -- Obama has cut taxes repeatedly -- but it's a standard line of attack."
"For months, Mitt Romney has argued repeatedly that President Obama raised taxes. It's not really true -- Obama has cut taxes repeatedly -- but it's a standard line of attack."
Exposed: "Small Business" Group Just a Front for "Big Business" Interests | Common Dreams
Exposed: "Small Business" Group Just a Front for "Big Business" Interests | Common Dreams
"As the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), a little-examined business lobbying group, floods millions of dollars into this year’s elections, the Center for Media and Democracy is launching a new website (www.NFIBexposed.org) to shine a light on the group’s secret funding and partisan efforts. NFIB, the leading plaintiff in the lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act nicknamed “Obamacare,” has received $3.7 million from Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS, and as disclosed on this new website, NFIB's legal arm received $1.15 million in 2010 from Donors Trust, a major donor to the Koch brothers’ Americans for Prosperity Foundation."
"As the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), a little-examined business lobbying group, floods millions of dollars into this year’s elections, the Center for Media and Democracy is launching a new website (www.NFIBexposed.org) to shine a light on the group’s secret funding and partisan efforts. NFIB, the leading plaintiff in the lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act nicknamed “Obamacare,” has received $3.7 million from Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS, and as disclosed on this new website, NFIB's legal arm received $1.15 million in 2010 from Donors Trust, a major donor to the Koch brothers’ Americans for Prosperity Foundation."
Time for a People’s Education Platform | Common Dreams
Time for a People’s Education Platform | Common Dreams
"What if the real education experts — parents, teachers, students and school leaders — got to fashion a platform of policy goals for education and determine which ideas provide maximum opportunity for public school students, our future citizens?"
"What if the real education experts — parents, teachers, students and school leaders — got to fashion a platform of policy goals for education and determine which ideas provide maximum opportunity for public school students, our future citizens?"
Lawsuit: Bank Of America Failing To Maintain Foreclosed Homes In Black, Latino Neighborhoods
Lawsuit: Bank Of America Failing To Maintain Foreclosed Homes In Black, Latino Neighborhoods: A nonprofit group that supports fair housing has filed a lawsuit claiming that Bank of America, the nation’s second largest mortgage servicer, has failed to maintain and market foreclosed homes in African American and Latino neighborhoods the same way it does in white neighborhoods. The National Fair Housing Alliance filed the complaint with the Department [...]/p
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Romney Ignores Facts, Lies About Taxes
"This is the same sort of scam that the extremely wealthy have been perpetrating on working people for centuries. And to compound the hustle, now Romney and his rich buddies are claiming that if we tax them at the same rate a surgeon pays, at 35 percent like everybody else instead of the 15 percent "capital gains" rate paid for by banksters like Romney and heiresses like Paris Hilton, then the economy will suffer. But history - and facts - prove this point wrong."
Romney's Need for Cash Fuels Lust for Iran War | Alternet
Romney's Need for Cash Fuels Lust for Iran War | Alternet
"Romney’s war posturing aligns with Adelson’s lust for a war on Iran. And at a time when the Romney campaign is reportedly in debt and in need of some more fundraising help, Adelson’s donations to pro-Romney Super PACs doing the campaign’s dirty work is all the more important."
"Romney’s war posturing aligns with Adelson’s lust for a war on Iran. And at a time when the Romney campaign is reportedly in debt and in need of some more fundraising help, Adelson’s donations to pro-Romney Super PACs doing the campaign’s dirty work is all the more important."
There's Been a Dictatorial Coup -- Koch Bros. Have a Bunch of Czars Running Cities Across Michigan | Alternet
There's Been a Dictatorial Coup -- Koch Bros. Have a Bunch of Czars Running Cities Across Michigan | Alternet
"The Republican and Koch political networks are going all out to win--and if they do, your state/city could well be next on their Berzerkistan anti-democracy agenda."
"The Republican and Koch political networks are going all out to win--and if they do, your state/city could well be next on their Berzerkistan anti-democracy agenda."
Mitt Romney's Terrible Horrible Plan For Poor People
Mitt Romney's Terrible Horrible Plan For Poor People
"The idea of Mitt Romney taking food out of the mouths of hungry kids on school lunch programs, or housing assistance away from veterans, or leaving people with no options for long-term care for their elderly loved ones is so incredibly evil and cynical it should be called what it is: Selfish greed."
"The idea of Mitt Romney taking food out of the mouths of hungry kids on school lunch programs, or housing assistance away from veterans, or leaving people with no options for long-term care for their elderly loved ones is so incredibly evil and cynical it should be called what it is: Selfish greed."
Meet Renee: A 47 Percenter Whose Life Was Turned Around By Programs Romney Denigrated
Meet Renee: A 47 Percenter Whose Life Was Turned Around By Programs Romney Denigrated: Renee Fleming is a mother and grandmother who has spent most of her 54 years living on the streets of Brooklyn, except when she’s been in prison. But the last time she went in, she found a helping hand from Providence House, a New York-based charity that visits women in prison and helps re-unite them [...]/p
Five Facts About Voting In America For National Voter Registration Day
Five Facts About Voting In America For National Voter Registration Day: Today is National Voter Registration Day. With little more than a month remaining until the elections, time is running out for new voters or voters who moved since the last election to register to vote this November. Voters who need a registration form from their home state can sign up for one here. In honor [...]/p
Ryan's 'Secret' Tape Is Even More Extreme Than Romney's | Alternet
Ryan's 'Secret' Tape Is Even More Extreme Than Romney's | Alternet
"When they booed Paul Ryan at the American Association of Retired Persons last week, most people didn't even know he called Medicare and Social Security "third party or socialist-based systems." Or that he said he wants to privatize them in order to "break the back" of a "collectivist philosophy."
"When they booed Paul Ryan at the American Association of Retired Persons last week, most people didn't even know he called Medicare and Social Security "third party or socialist-based systems." Or that he said he wants to privatize them in order to "break the back" of a "collectivist philosophy."
On recently transcribed remarks from an audio recording, Ryan said his ideas and values were shaped by an extremist author who thought humanity must "reject the morality of altruism," and that his opinions on monetary policy are guided by a fictional speech which says "the words 'to make money' hold the essence of human morality." That author says the "collectivist philosophy" Ryan ascribes to Social Security and Medicare is a "looters' credo." By that reckoning, anyone who receives assistance from the government -- including disabled combat veterans or impoverished children -- is a "looter"."
Taxes and the Super Rich » Counterpunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names
Taxes and the Super Rich » Counterpunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names
"A few more years of supply-side economics and America will turn into a virtual reality of the film Escape from New York, a dystopian world where the city of New York has been converted into a maximum-security prison."
"A few more years of supply-side economics and America will turn into a virtual reality of the film Escape from New York, a dystopian world where the city of New York has been converted into a maximum-security prison."
Calamity Romney and his tax troubles
Mitt Romney can't get himself out of his tax mess because no matter what he says, his low tax rate looks unfair to mainstream Americans.
Elizabeth Warren is GOP Target #1: Smear Campaigns Start in Key Races -- It's the Start of Political Mud Season | Alternet
Elizabeth Warren is GOP Target #1: Smear Campaigns Start in Key Races -- It's the Start of Political Mud Season | Alternet
"This year’s political mud season is beginning, where campaign ads based on the flimsiest assertions and dirtiest lies will pound voters throughout their days—on televison, radio, online and in the mail. When campaign finance reformers say big money drowns out debate and monopolizes the microphone, this is what they are talking about."
"This year’s political mud season is beginning, where campaign ads based on the flimsiest assertions and dirtiest lies will pound voters throughout their days—on televison, radio, online and in the mail. When campaign finance reformers say big money drowns out debate and monopolizes the microphone, this is what they are talking about."
Wall Street’s Latest Magic Trick: Imaginary Prices for Non-Existent Products | Alternet
Wall Street’s Latest Magic Trick: Imaginary Prices for Non-Existent Products | Alternet
"This is extremely creepy. What does an index of prices mean when it reflects prices that are not real for financial instruments that do not exist? The situation sounds uncomfortably reminiscent of LIBOR, the interest rate that banks charge each other for loans, which, it was lately discovered, has been rigged by Barclays and other banks.
"This is extremely creepy. What does an index of prices mean when it reflects prices that are not real for financial instruments that do not exist? The situation sounds uncomfortably reminiscent of LIBOR, the interest rate that banks charge each other for loans, which, it was lately discovered, has been rigged by Barclays and other banks.
We've already had a whale of tale with the JP Morgan disaster. But this one sounds even fishier."
$20 Dollar Per Ton Carbon Tax Could Reduce Deficit By $1.2 Trillion In 10 Years
$20 Dollar Per Ton Carbon Tax Could Reduce Deficit By $1.2 Trillion In 10 Years: Over the last year, there’s been increasing talk in Washington political circles — including conservative ones — about how to use a carbon tax as a deficit reduction tool. However, with an election season in full swing and a large number of Congressional Republicans campaigning against climate action, the current likelihood of getting a price [...]/p
Top 10 Ways Corporate Food Is Making Us Fat and Threatening Our Food Supplies | Alternet
Top 10 Ways Corporate Food Is Making Us Fat and Threatening Our Food Supplies | Alternet
"Large corporations account for half of the national economy and pay more for lobbyists to write and pass laws in Congress favorable to themselves than they do in Federal taxes. The way in which the Congressional committees that are supposed to watch certain industries actually become beholden to them is called ‘legislative capture.’
"Large corporations account for half of the national economy and pay more for lobbyists to write and pass laws in Congress favorable to themselves than they do in Federal taxes. The way in which the Congressional committees that are supposed to watch certain industries actually become beholden to them is called ‘legislative capture.’
For this reason, I don’t entirely trust the US government any more to look out for our health. We are increasingly exposed to thousands of chemicals that haven’t really been tested (plastics are full of them). We’re not even given the courtesy of knowing which foods are genetically modified so we can make a market choice for the natural ones.
Here are the top ten disturbing news stories about our food that have come across my screen in recent days, and which inspire a certain amount of alarm in me."
Wealthy Right Wingers Including the Kochs Have Pledged to Raise $1 Billion to Elect Romney and Other Republicans | Alternet
Wealthy Right Wingers Including the Kochs Have Pledged to Raise $1 Billion to Elect Romney and Other Republicans | Alternet
"Koch wasn't discussing the stock market or oil futures. He was talking money in politics: wealthy donors "investing" in elected officials, apparently with the expectation of getting a return . In total, donors like the Kochs, along with Sheldon Adelson, Harold Simmons, and "outside" groups have pledged to raise a total of $1 billion this election to elect Republicans, particularly President Barack Obama's opponent Mitt Romney.
"Koch wasn't discussing the stock market or oil futures. He was talking money in politics: wealthy donors "investing" in elected officials, apparently with the expectation of getting a return . In total, donors like the Kochs, along with Sheldon Adelson, Harold Simmons, and "outside" groups have pledged to raise a total of $1 billion this election to elect Republicans, particularly President Barack Obama's opponent Mitt Romney.
With support from these deep-pocketed outside donors and organizations, Romney could be the first candidate in modern history to outraise and outspend the incumbent president. Much of that money will be spent funding a flood of ads in the next few weeks in an effort to reverse Romney's poll numbers."
Monday, September 24, 2012
Three GOP Attorneys General Sue To Protect Bank Bailouts
Three GOP Attorneys General Sue To Protect Bank Bailouts: The Wall Street bailouts happened in no small part because the big investment banks had America over a barrel in 2008. The banks could grow larger and larger, taking riskier and riskier investments, knowing full well that the world could ill afford to allow them to fail and send shockwaves throughout the economy. Indeed, the [...]/p
Romney’s ‘War On Coal’ Ad Features Miners Who Were Forced To Attend His Rally
Romney’s ‘War On Coal’ Ad Features Miners Who Were Forced To Attend His Rally: Mitt Romney’s new ad, “War On Coal,” accuses President Obama of “ruining the coal industry” and putting coal miners out of work. It also showcases footage of Romney speaking at a rally at an Ohio coal mine, flanked by solemn-looking miners. Those miners, however, are not Romney supporters. In fact, they later said they were [...]/p
78% of Outside Campaign Spending Due to 'Citizens United Effect' | Common Dreams
78% of Outside Campaign Spending Due to 'Citizens United Effect' | Common Dreams
"According to a new report released Monday by the Sunlight Foundation, 78% of 2012 outside election spending can be attributed to the 2010 Citizens United ruling, which allows unregulated amounts of corporate and otherwise outside campaign donations."
"According to a new report released Monday by the Sunlight Foundation, 78% of 2012 outside election spending can be attributed to the 2010 Citizens United ruling, which allows unregulated amounts of corporate and otherwise outside campaign donations."
Opening A Shell Company Is Easiest In The United States And Other Rich Countries
Opening A Shell Company Is Easiest In The United States And Other Rich Countries: A shell company is a business with no actual employees or assets. It exists only on paper, as a purely legal artifact, and is sometimes what’s used when a company incorporates offshore. Shell companies have their legitimate uses, such as addressing brand concerns. But their uses can also be less savory (such as tax avoidance) [...]/p
How Facebook Plans On Tracking Your Prescription Drug Purchases, And How To Stop Them
How Facebook Plans On Tracking Your Prescription Drug Purchases, And How To Stop Them: In its quest to sell more and more specifically targeted ads, Facebook has embarked on a new partnership with data-mining company Datalogix, which tracks the real effect of online ads on consumer behavior. Datalogix compiled data on the purchasing habits of 70 million American households from loyalty card memberships of more than 1,000 retailers, including [...]/p
Kochtopus Pours Vast Resources Into Election Day Ground Game
Kochtopus Pours Vast Resources Into Election Day Ground Game
"It's sickening, the amount of money and manpower the Kochtopus is pouring into this year's election. All we have are our votes. Will it be enough to fight the right-wing tide? This is not a year where we can take even one vote for granted. After all, they've made it clear they're willing to steal their way to control."
"It's sickening, the amount of money and manpower the Kochtopus is pouring into this year's election. All we have are our votes. Will it be enough to fight the right-wing tide? This is not a year where we can take even one vote for granted. After all, they've made it clear they're willing to steal their way to control."
Paul Ryan called Cayman Islands 'the place where you hide your money'
Paul Ryan called Cayman Islands 'the place where you hide your money'
"So according to Paul Ryan:
"So according to Paul Ryan:
- People like Mitt Romney use the Cayman Islands to hide their money.
- The reason they hide their money their is to avoid American tax laws.
- The solution is to make American tax laws just like the Cayman Islands so guys like Mitt Romney won't want to bail on America.
Most awesome Republican ticket ever. In a race to the bottom kind of way."
'Won't Back Down' Pushes ALEC's Right-Wing Education Agenda
'Won't Back Down' Pushes ALEC's Right-Wing Education Agenda
"So the new movie, "Won't Back Down", is a production of Philip Anschutz, a right-wing extremist billionaire -- one of the major funders of Americans for Prosperity -- and not coincidentally, ALEC. Which also happens to be the group pushing this "parent trigger" legislation."
"So the new movie, "Won't Back Down", is a production of Philip Anschutz, a right-wing extremist billionaire -- one of the major funders of Americans for Prosperity -- and not coincidentally, ALEC. Which also happens to be the group pushing this "parent trigger" legislation."
Millionaire Mitt: It’s ‘Fair’ For Me To Pay Lower Taxes Than Middle Class Americans
Millionaire Mitt: It’s ‘Fair’ For Me To Pay Lower Taxes Than Middle Class Americans: Mitt Romney told CBS’s 60 Minutes that it’s “fair” for him to pay a tax rate of just 14.1 percent on his investment income of $20 million, a lower rate than someone earning $50,000 a year in wage income: SCOTT PELLEY (HOST): Now, you made on your investments, personally, about $20 million last year. And [...]/p
'Citizens United' and the Corporate Court | The Nation
'Citizens United' and the Corporate Court | The Nation
"We live in what will surely come to be called the Citizens United era, a period in which a runaway corporatist ideology has overtaken Supreme Court jurisprudence. No longer content just to pick a president, as five conservative Republicans on the Rehnquist Court did in 2000, five conservative Republicans on the Roberts Court a decade later voted to tilt the nation’s entire political process toward the views of moneyed corporate power."
"We live in what will surely come to be called the Citizens United era, a period in which a runaway corporatist ideology has overtaken Supreme Court jurisprudence. No longer content just to pick a president, as five conservative Republicans on the Rehnquist Court did in 2000, five conservative Republicans on the Roberts Court a decade later voted to tilt the nation’s entire political process toward the views of moneyed corporate power."
The decline of collective bargaining and the erosion of middle class incomes in Michigan | Economic Policy Institute
The decline of collective bargaining and the erosion of middle class incomes in Michigan | Economic Policy Institute
"In Michigan between 1979 and 2007, the last year before the Great Recession, the state’s economy experienced substantial growth and incomes rose for high-income households. But middle-class incomes did not grow. The Michigan experience is slightly worse than but parallels that of the United States as a whole, where middle-class income gains were modest but still far less than the income gains at the top. What the experience of Michiganders and other Americans makes clear is that income inequality is rising, and it has prevented middle-class incomes from growing adequately in either Michigan or the nation."
"In Michigan between 1979 and 2007, the last year before the Great Recession, the state’s economy experienced substantial growth and incomes rose for high-income households. But middle-class incomes did not grow. The Michigan experience is slightly worse than but parallels that of the United States as a whole, where middle-class income gains were modest but still far less than the income gains at the top. What the experience of Michiganders and other Americans makes clear is that income inequality is rising, and it has prevented middle-class incomes from growing adequately in either Michigan or the nation."
Report: New Laws Could Disenfranchise 10 Million Latino Voters | Common Dreams
Report: New Laws Could Disenfranchise 10 Million Latino Voters | Common Dreams
"Regressive voting laws pushed by Republican controlled legislatures in 23 states across the country could keep more than 10 million Latino citizens from registering and voting this year, according to a new study to be released Monday."
"Regressive voting laws pushed by Republican controlled legislatures in 23 states across the country could keep more than 10 million Latino citizens from registering and voting this year, according to a new study to be released Monday."
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Ryan Shrugged - In These Times
Ryan Shrugged - In These Times
"You’d expect a Rand devotee mired in the bureaucratic maw of the federal Leviathan to emulate her heroes by cultivating their sneeringly autocratic flare for rebellion. But Ryan has been an arch GOP loyalist, backing George W. Bush’s massive expansion of Medicare drug coverage and the costly invasion of Iraq, in spite of his carefully curated image as a crusading budget slasher.
"You’d expect a Rand devotee mired in the bureaucratic maw of the federal Leviathan to emulate her heroes by cultivating their sneeringly autocratic flare for rebellion. But Ryan has been an arch GOP loyalist, backing George W. Bush’s massive expansion of Medicare drug coverage and the costly invasion of Iraq, in spite of his carefully curated image as a crusading budget slasher.
On closer look, though, Ryan’s Randianism seems like a pose adopted as a deeper psychic compensation to make up for a chronic need to please in every conventional manner. He shows a craving for approval going back to his senior year in Janesville, Wis., when the yearbook named him the school’s “biggest brownnoser.” And that penchant for not merely pursuing, but luxuriating in, the ripest opportunity has stayed with Ryan ever since."
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Keep an Eye on Some of the Best Organizing Going On in America: 6 Activist Projects to Watch | Alternet
Keep an Eye on Some of the Best Organizing Going On in America: 6 Activist Projects to Watch | Alternet
"As the date to go to the polls comes near, many seasonal activists will lace up their sneakers and do the work of knocking on doors to lend an aid to high-profile and local campaigns alike."
"As the date to go to the polls comes near, many seasonal activists will lace up their sneakers and do the work of knocking on doors to lend an aid to high-profile and local campaigns alike."
Friday, September 21, 2012
10 Questions Romney Must Answer About His Taxes
10 Questions Romney Must Answer About His Taxes: On Friday afternoon, the Romney campaign released the candidate’s 2011 tax return, which showed that he paid a tax rate of approximately 14 percent on more than $13 million of reported income. The campaign also disclosed that [...]/p
Obama campaign calls on Romney to release full 20 years, not just summary
Obama campaign calls on Romney to release full 20 years, not just summary
"And one of those questions is, as Greg Sargent wrote earlier, what Mitt Romney's actual net tax rate was during that 20 year period. Remember, the figure Romney released was theaverage tax rate per year—not the cumulative tax rate. That means years in which he had lower income but a higher tax rate are weighted the same as years in which he had higher income and a lower rate. It's sort of a like a baseball player hitting .600 as a rookie in five games and then hitting .250 the next year in a full season, and then claiming a .425 lifetime batting average. It just doesn't add up."
"And one of those questions is, as Greg Sargent wrote earlier, what Mitt Romney's actual net tax rate was during that 20 year period. Remember, the figure Romney released was theaverage tax rate per year—not the cumulative tax rate. That means years in which he had lower income but a higher tax rate are weighted the same as years in which he had higher income and a lower rate. It's sort of a like a baseball player hitting .600 as a rookie in five games and then hitting .250 the next year in a full season, and then claiming a .425 lifetime batting average. It just doesn't add up."
State economies need help getting to the express lane | Economic Policy Institute
State economies need help getting to the express lane | Economic Policy Institute
"As state budget cuts continue to take a toll on state economies, what is needed now is a concerted effort to put every state firmly on the path to recovery. The best way to achieve this is throughfederal aid to state and local governments. Significant new investment in public infrastructure,such as schools, highways and bridges, would also make a big difference in state economies."
"As state budget cuts continue to take a toll on state economies, what is needed now is a concerted effort to put every state firmly on the path to recovery. The best way to achieve this is throughfederal aid to state and local governments. Significant new investment in public infrastructure,such as schools, highways and bridges, would also make a big difference in state economies."
Surprise! Another Financial Meltdown on the Horizon
Professor Max Wolff, Economist/Instructor, New School University / Senior Analyst-Greencrest Capital joins Thom Hartmann. Surprise surprise! A new report out says the very banks we bailed out in 2007 and 2008 are behaving riskier now than those that didn't get the bailout. So - now that Wall Street is again up to its same old dirty tricks - is another financial meltdown on the horizon?
By Romney’s Own Standard, His Tax Returns Would Disqualify Him From The Presidency
By Romney’s Own Standard, His Tax Returns Would Disqualify Him From The Presidency: Mitt Romney will disclose his 2011 tax on Friday, along with a summary going back 20 years. The campaign has published the following summary: In 2011, the Romneys paid $1,935,708 in taxes on $13,696,951 in mostly investment income. The Romneys’ effective tax rate for 2011 was 14.1%. The Romneys donated $4,020,772 to charity in 2011, [...]/p
Disdain for Workers | Common Dreams
Disdain for Workers | Common Dreams
"By now everyone knows how Mitt Romney, speaking to donors in Boca Raton, washed his hands of almost half the country — the 47 percent who don’t pay income taxes — declaring, “My job is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.” By now, also, many people are aware that the great bulk of the 47 percent are hardly moochers; most are working families who pay payroll taxes, and elderly or disabled Americans make up a majority of the rest."
"By now everyone knows how Mitt Romney, speaking to donors in Boca Raton, washed his hands of almost half the country — the 47 percent who don’t pay income taxes — declaring, “My job is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them that they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.” By now, also, many people are aware that the great bulk of the 47 percent are hardly moochers; most are working families who pay payroll taxes, and elderly or disabled Americans make up a majority of the rest."
Demonizing Those Kicked Hardest by a Failed Economic System | Common Dreams
Demonizing Those Kicked Hardest by a Failed Economic System | Common Dreams
"This is the fourth post in TheNation.com's #TalkPoverty series—an effort to push a deeper conversation about poverty into the mainstream political debate. The series profiles people working on poverty-related issues and lays out the questions they want President Obama and Governor Romney to answer. You can read the first posts here, here, and here."
"This is the fourth post in TheNation.com's #TalkPoverty series—an effort to push a deeper conversation about poverty into the mainstream political debate. The series profiles people working on poverty-related issues and lays out the questions they want President Obama and Governor Romney to answer. You can read the first posts here, here, and here."
Is GE Part of Romney’s 47 Percent? | Common Dreams
Is GE Part of Romney’s 47 Percent? | Common Dreams
"Is he including, for instance, the General Electric Corp., which routinely finds a way to weasel out of paying any taxes yet basks in a ton of government services that help support it, and all-too-much of the rest of corporate America, which likes to complain about high taxes but seldom pays any?"
"Is he including, for instance, the General Electric Corp., which routinely finds a way to weasel out of paying any taxes yet basks in a ton of government services that help support it, and all-too-much of the rest of corporate America, which likes to complain about high taxes but seldom pays any?"
REPORT: Expiration Of High-End Bush Tax Cuts Would Have Little Effect On Economic Growth
REPORT: Expiration Of High-End Bush Tax Cuts Would Have Little Effect On Economic Growth: The United States is approaching the so-called “fiscal cliff” at the end of 2012, when a set of policies enacted by the debt deal reached in August 2011 will go into effect. In addition to massive spending cuts, several tax provisions will expire, including the full Bush tax cuts. Though both the GOP and Democrats [...]/p
Ryan Lies And Gets Booed At The AARP
Ryan Gets Booed At The AARP: The address didn’t go over well. One man called Ryan a “liar” and the audience repeatedly booed his critique of President Obama and health reform.
Koch Cash: As American Income Decreased, Billionaires' Brothers' Wealth Skyrocketed | Alternet
Koch Cash: As American Income Decreased, Billionaires' Brothers' Wealth Skyrocketed | Alternet
"The billionaire Koch brothers, Charles and David, richest men on earth #7 and 8 (but together with more wealth than #1) have been in the headlines all summer thanks to their pouring funds into SuperPACS designed to unseat President Obama and the Democrats. Oh, and as ofrecently they're also funding a bogus "astroturf" anti-Occupy protest.
"The billionaire Koch brothers, Charles and David, richest men on earth #7 and 8 (but together with more wealth than #1) have been in the headlines all summer thanks to their pouring funds into SuperPACS designed to unseat President Obama and the Democrats. Oh, and as ofrecently they're also funding a bogus "astroturf" anti-Occupy protest.
But how have they been doing personally? Is all that SuperPAC and fake-protest spending making a dent in their massive family fortune? Sadly the answer is no."
Joseph Stiglitz Calls to Abolish the Capitalist Church of Self-Interest | Alternet
Joseph Stiglitz Calls to Abolish the Capitalist Church of Self-Interest | Alternet
"Even after a terrible financial crisis exposed their folly, the High Priests of Old Time Economics still speak the cold, barren language of self-interest. Acting solely in your own interest, they preach, is the key to efficiency and human well-being.
"Even after a terrible financial crisis exposed their folly, the High Priests of Old Time Economics still speak the cold, barren language of self-interest. Acting solely in your own interest, they preach, is the key to efficiency and human well-being.
Not Joseph Stiglitz. Wednesday night, the Nobel Prize-winner spoke to a packed chapel at New York City’s Union Theological Seminary, which, along with the Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET), a New York-based think tank, hosted the first conversation in a brand-new series meant to change the way we understand economic issues. Union Theological Seminary president Dr. Serene Jones, INET Executive Director Robert Johnson, Professor Gary Dorrien of Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University, and Betty Sue Flowers, Director of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, joined Stiglitz to talk about the topic at hand: “Economics & Theology"."
Former Romney Campaign Chairman Turned Bank Lobbyist: Banks Should Regulate Themselves
Former Romney Campaign Chairman Turned Bank Lobbyist: Banks Should Regulate Themselves: Former Minnesota Governor and unsuccessful presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty announced yesterday that he was stepping down as co-chairman of the Romney campaign in order to take over the top spot at the Financial Services Roundtable, a lobbying group that represents the largest financial services companies in the country. Pawlenty assumed the role as a top [...]/p
Radical Rich Rage
Radical Rich Rage
"Anyone who has read "Atlas Shrugged" recognizes the underlying subtext in Mitt Romney's appeal to those attending the $50,000/plate fundraiser: he's stroking those supermen egos and all but threatening to go Galt on 47% of the American population. He feed into their notions of how much these uber-wealthy are giving to the undeserving moochers."
"Anyone who has read "Atlas Shrugged" recognizes the underlying subtext in Mitt Romney's appeal to those attending the $50,000/plate fundraiser: he's stroking those supermen egos and all but threatening to go Galt on 47% of the American population. He feed into their notions of how much these uber-wealthy are giving to the undeserving moochers."
GOP says 'lazy people' shouldn't vote
Mike Papantonio, Attorney / Host, Ring of Fire Radio joins Thom Hartmann. I've said it on this show several times - the only way Mitt Romney can win the White House is by lying. But even that might not be enough anymore - especially after he was caught candidly telling the truth about what he really thinks about half the nation. So now - the only way Mitt Romney can genuinely win - is by kicking enough Democrats off the voting rolls before November. And Republican state lawmakers like Daryl Metcalfe in Pennsylvania are working overtime to do just that with Voter Suppression ID laws. As are Republican state lawmakers in the battleground state of Ohio - like Secretary of State Jon Husted - who is hoping to win a legal battle and cut off early voting for Ohioans this election since he knows it's minority, Democratic voters who often rely on early voting the most. As are Republicans in the battleground state of Florida - like Governor Rick Scott who's still pushing ahead with an illegal voter purge targeting voters who don't have white, anglo-saxon names. Governor Scott has also managed to cut down early voting hours - and make it a lot harder for independent organizations to register new voters. If you think these efforts to restrict democracy in very important, battleground states aren't going to have an impact on this election - then you're flat out wrong. The right-wing war on voting rights is one of the most important issues facing the nation - with just weeks to go until the election.
Senator Bernie Sanders Eviscerates Mitt Romney's 47% Secret Video
Bernie Sanders Eviscerates Mitt Romney's 47% Secret Video
Koch Brothers Cashing in 220,000 Acres of Tar Sands Holdings
Koch Brothers Cashing in 220,000 Acres of Tar Sands Holdings
"Recent action by Koch Oil Sands pulls the curtain back further on the Koch family's deep but quiet involvement in Canada's oil sands industry."
"Recent action by Koch Oil Sands pulls the curtain back further on the Koch family's deep but quiet involvement in Canada's oil sands industry."
Why QE3 Won't Jumpstart the Economy - and What Would
Why QE3 Won't Jumpstart the Economy - and What Would
"the banks' balance sheets will remain the same, and the circulating money supply will remain the same."
"the banks' balance sheets will remain the same, and the circulating money supply will remain the same."
Democratic Senators Will Call For Stronger Rule Against Risky Bank Trades After Investigation Of JP Morgan Chase
Democratic Senators Will Call For Stronger Rule Against Risky Bank Trades After Investigation Of JP Morgan Chase: The Senate panel responsible for probing the $9 billion “London Whale” trading loss that shook JP Morgan Chase earlier this year will release its findings before the end of the year and will call for a stronger Volcker Rule, sources told Bloomberg. The rule is a piece of the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law that [...]/p
Every State Taxes Its 1 Percent At A Lower Rate Than Low-Income Households
Every State Taxes Its 1 Percent At A Lower Rate Than Low-Income Households: As ThinkProgress has noted, the “47 percent” that Mitt Romney derided for paying no federal income tax, and thus taking no “personal responsibility and care for their lives,” actually pay a slew of other taxes at rates higher than Romney himself pays. The lion’s share of the tax breaks handed out by the U.S. don’t [...]/p
9 Wall Street Journal Op-ed Writers Who Weren't Disclosed As Romney Advisers | Alternet
9 Wall Street Journal Op-ed Writers Who Weren't Disclosed As Romney Advisers | Alternet
"The Wall Street Journal has published op-eds from nine writers without disclosing their roles as advisers to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign. The op-eds attack President Obama and his administration or discuss Romney on a range of topics like the economy, health care, education and foreign policy."
"The Wall Street Journal has published op-eds from nine writers without disclosing their roles as advisers to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign. The op-eds attack President Obama and his administration or discuss Romney on a range of topics like the economy, health care, education and foreign policy."
How Mitt Romney and Bain Helped Grow Monsanto Into a Biotech Giant | Alternet
How Mitt Romney and Bain Helped Grow Monsanto Into a Biotech Giant | Alternet
"The romance between Romney and Monsanto began back in 1977, when the recently minted Harvard Law and Business School graduate joined Bain, the Boston-based consulting firm launched in 1973, the same year Monsanto became one of its first clients. One of Bain’s founding partners, Ralph Willard, described to theBoston Globe in 2007 how “Romney learned the technical aspects of the chemical business so thoroughly that he sounded as if he had gone to engineering school instead of business school,” and that Monsanto executives soon began “bypassing” him to go directly to Romney.This history matters not just because of the light it sheds on Romney’s self-ballyhooed business experience but because of the litany of Monsanto corporate objectives that clash with planetary concerns. If Romney is elected, this bête noire of environmentalists will have a very old friend in a very high place."
"The romance between Romney and Monsanto began back in 1977, when the recently minted Harvard Law and Business School graduate joined Bain, the Boston-based consulting firm launched in 1973, the same year Monsanto became one of its first clients. One of Bain’s founding partners, Ralph Willard, described to theBoston Globe in 2007 how “Romney learned the technical aspects of the chemical business so thoroughly that he sounded as if he had gone to engineering school instead of business school,” and that Monsanto executives soon began “bypassing” him to go directly to Romney.This history matters not just because of the light it sheds on Romney’s self-ballyhooed business experience but because of the litany of Monsanto corporate objectives that clash with planetary concerns. If Romney is elected, this bête noire of environmentalists will have a very old friend in a very high place."
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