From “gridlock” to “disaster politics”
The word “gridlock” is commonly used to describe politics as usual in Washington. It signals not only an inability to compromise, but also an inability to govern. Democrats and Republicans…
Republicans reinvent “class warfare”
Yesterday President Obama introduced a new plan to decrease the deficit by another $3 trillion that includes a combination of spending reductions, efficiency goals for programs like Medicare, and tax…
Obama to introduce “American Jobs Act”
In a speech to a joint session of Congress tonight President Obama is expected to unveil a new White House economic strategy to bolster employment. With unemployment at 9.1 percent,…
DOJ blocks AT&T offer for T-Mobile
The Department of Justice filed an anti-trust challenge in court today blocking a $39 billion deal by communications giant AT&T to acquire wireless giant T-Mobile. The move is part of…
Obama appoints labor economist to head economic council
Some temporary signs boosted investor confidence over the weekend, rallying stocks in the first round of trading on Wall Street following the deflationary storm called Hurricane Irene. Investors chose to…
FED stands ready, but does not make a change
In a closely watched speech in Jackson Hole, WY this morning, FED Chairman Ben Bernanke tried to boost investor confidence without announcing a new round of anticipated “quantitative easing” (QE).…
The Golden State’s Tarnished Anti-Tax Image
According to the U.S. Labor Department’s monthly household survey released today, unemployment and joblessness in California officially stands at 12 percent. That number is, of course, an underrepresented sample. It…
In debt ceiling compromise, we are all losers
Negotiations to raise the debt ceiling came down to the wire Monday night with the winners and losers striking a compromise deal. President Obama proved he can “kind of” stand…
Syrian security forces fire on protests
The widespread discontent with governments throughout the Middle East and North Africa continues, as troops in Yemen, Bahrain, and now Syria use lethal force against its citizens in an effort…
Permanent crises, disaster capitalism, and kanji
The earthquake that leveled much of northern Japan on March 11 and the tsunami that followed, stresses the fragility of humanity despite modern technology. In the aftermath of a 9.0…