Light at the End of the Unemployment Line? (July 16th)
The latest jobless claims offer new hope of 'green shoots' emerging after more than 18 months of recession. A disappointing unemployment report earlier this month that saw the loss of 467,000 jobs in the month of June and a rise in the unemployment rate to 9.5 percent, caused predictions of a nearing economic turnaround to fall flat in recent months.
Lonesome Hobo Economics: Mountaintop-removal on Recovery Road
In the Coal-creek river valley in Southern West Virginia actress Daryl Hannah and NASA climatologist James Hansen were arrested protesting continuation of mountain top – 'surface' – mining, warning of dire environmental consequences and unfunded costs exceeding the value of coal mined.
Message to Obama: We Need a New Deal
Now they are out to nickel and dime us to death. Here in my home town the traffic and parking department has been prevailed upon to “step up” its enforcement activity – and maneuvering to have parking meters work far into the night – in order help cover some of the city’s budget deficit.
Light at the End of the Unemployment Line? (July 8th)
After a disappointing unemployment report earlier this month that saw the loss of 467,000 jobs in the month of June and a rise in the unemployment rate to 9.5 percent, predictions of an economic turnaround soon have fallen flat. Despite positive signs in housing and manufacturing activity, poor jobs number remain the 'lagging economic indicator.'
Small Business Owners Slam Chamber of Commerce
Charging the US Chamber of Commerce with supporting only the 'interests of Fortune 500 companies,' small business owners this week sharply criticized the business the group for refusing to endorse the Fairness and Transparency in Contracting Act.
The Great Baby-Boomers Economic Stagnation of 2007-2017
Many observers think that “prosperity is around the corner” and that this recession, like others since World War II, will end as soon as the stock market, as a leading indicator, recovers and people start spending again. This is a myopic view of the current economic big picture.
The Stimulus Package and Green Jobs
If it’s a U.S. industry that has the potential to be cleaner and greener, chances are the Obama administration has already set aside some stimulus money for it.
Lonesome Hobo Economics
The official unemployment rate now exceeds 9.5 percent – the worst in at least 25 years. The unofficial – including discouraged, underemployed, and otherwise discarded workers – rises above 15 percent.
Cartoon: Goodbye Capitalism....
A recent poll showed that only about half of Americans think capitalism is better than socialism, while the rest are unsure or see socialism as a better idea. With the collapse of the financial system and the economy, the ideology of the free market has fewer and fewer adherents.
Change is Here, Change is Coming
If the last 30 years were an era of reaction, then the coming decade could turn into an era of reform, even radical reform. Six months into the Obama presidency, I would say without hesitation that the landscape, atmosphere, conversation and agenda have strikingly changed compared to the previous eight years.
