Though the news this week is of the election of Pope Francis and what this means for the Catholic Church’s Legacy following the resignation of Benedict XVI, I want to focus on the big news last week. Last Thursday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average hit the astronomical all-time high of 14,253.77, and has continued breaking records for nine straight trading days.… [Read more]
The stock markets soar and the rich get richer, but the middle class has lost ground and the poor live in stagnation. For many, the “American Dream” is nowhere in sight. Teachers, cops and other civil servants have seen their salaries erode before their own eyes as they struggle to try to fulfill a dream rigged by the powers that be.… [Read more]
Two-time Pulitzer winning cartoonist Mike Luckovich, of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, sketched an appropriate cartoon the other day on the string of inept GOP brinksmanship showdowns. Yes, America is tired of it. Making a mess in the kitchen, and leaving it for the missus is not a path to domestic bliss.
Kowtowing to the Tea Terrorists, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Oh.) “led” his ‘Party of No’ on another sabotage raid on the American economy.… [Read more]
Beginnings, endings and periods that mark great changes occur during every moment of every day. Wrapping up this week, a few events in history that took place on February 24th caught my attention:
Ask most and they will tell you there are two ways to salvage an economy: the revenue side, by way of taxation or fees, or on the the spending side, by way of expenditure reductions. Determining where and how much is the point at which negotiations and compromise get bogged down.
The President re-elect has released his budget for 2013 that the administration believes is fair; at another time in history the budget would be viewed as pragmatically centrist.… [Read more]
Everyone is concerned about our economy. Fiscal cliffs and what-have-you.
The easiest and best way for all of us to do something RIGHT NOW to help is to support small businesses.
That’s right. Forget the big box stores and the corporate greed, and go local and go small.
When you support small businesses, you put money back in the pockets of the middle class.… [Read more]
The Dow Jones Industrial Average is a very general metric one can use to ‘feel out’ stock market performance. Merriam-Webster defines the word “dow” as useful or capable, but the old English dictates ‘having worth’ as the initial utilization of the term. Nasdaq, the second largest stock exchange, is purely the tech market on display; its ebbs and flows reflect trading activity for publicly-traded technology companies.… [Read more]
Now that the dust has settled on the Presidential election (I’m still smiling) things will slowly but surely get back to normal in Washington. Despite recent assurances from House Speaker John Boehner regarding ‘working together’ we can expect more Republican bickering and attempts to derail and stall anything and everything that might just be beneficial to America as a whole.… [Read more]
“Fly Like An Eagle“….the lyrics mean as much today as they did when the Steve Miller Band released this song in 1976. The political parties have spoken and their platforms are clear; it is now up to the citizens to decide which party plans to address the needs of the hungry, the elderly, and the homeless…not just the select few at the very top of the economic ladder.… [Read more]
The deafening noise coming from Republicans about the deficit is nothing but a lot of…. noise. Most of these people, especially on the far fringe right, are talking about something that they really do not understand.
Many understand the underlying thought but a picture will help to reinforce the concept. Towards that goal, here is an extremely simplified picture of the economy:
The concept to keep in mind here is that the economy is a network of circulating money.… [Read more]
A report today noted the nation’s recovery is still slow, but the most recent annualised figures for the period ended September 30th reveal that the economy experienced 2% growth — and that growth was more than originally projected.
Increased strength in the housing market and higher consumer spending resulting from a slight increase in consumer spending are contributing factors.… [Read more]
It’s laid out pretty clear in study after study that if the PTC Extension (Production Tax Credit) isn’t passed in Congress, jobs will be in jeopardy. These aren’t imaginary jobs that someone has made up on paper but are jobs that have been built, one by one throughout the country. The United States is facing the oncoming train that wind energy could be damaged by the severe loss of jobs and support with the PTC.… [Read more]
Aside from Mitt Romney’s bird problem – and what went largely unnoticed during the second presidential debate was his sneering jab at the Keystone pipeline, and his accusation that the Obama Administration launched a criminal action against the drilling: ”. . . 20 or 25 birds were killed and brought out a migratory bird act to go after them on a criminal basis” – he’s got a lady parts problem.… [Read more]
We loyal lefties have had to endure some hits this go around. From the ACA (“ObamaCare”) without a public option, to necessary bank bailouts with no strings attached, to continued wholesale tax giveaways for the rich and corporate welfare for Exxon/Mobil and the like, to watered down legislation of all varieties, it hasn’t been a perfect ride.… [Read more]
The morning after the President’s speech at the Democratic National Convention showed a drop in the unemployment rate, but fewer than anticipated new hirings. Immediately, the Romney campaign pooh-poohed the report as yet another sign the President’s plan wasn’t working. When it comes to reducing headcount, the Quarter Billion Dollar Man From Bain is the Jedi Master.… [Read more]
Even when you know the story by heart, where the villains are classic WWF-styled heels and the good guys are us, thank Christ, and not them, a political convention is compelling stuff. Talking heads babble and party flacks coo about how only their gang really ‘gets’ the American people. It is a riveting event, like a train wreck in slow motion, or a fat guy falling over the third base railing trying to snag a foul ball and keep his beer from spilling.… [Read more]
In the midst of the gloom expressed over the continued moribund state of the American economy, it heartened yer obedient scribe to see that even a 76 year old, life appointed US Supreme Court justice can rock his inner capitalist and push publishing royalties with the best of them. Hollywood celeb tell-alls, the Harry Potter franchise, Da Vinci Code hilarity, and (forthcoming) the wit and wisdom of Nancy Grace, certain contender for the world’s thinnest book award – step aside!… [Read more]
We began this week discussing accountability; we were focused on international issues — Pakistan, specifically — but, once again, the nutty GOP — Mitt Romney, specifically — diverted our attention…Oh goodie! Since we’re all about putting the truth out there, we’re glad to see that even the mainstream media is catching on to the notion that the most phony candidate this side of Mars doesn’t want to be held accountable for where he worked and/or where his loot money is stashed.… [Read more]
The 2012 presidential election is just around the corner, and it appears the two contending parties are gearing up for a knife fight. With Democrats now treading down a slightly more dirty route with privacy-breaching campaign tracking of Republicans (a tactic that would strangely seem right out of the Republican playbook), and the Romney camp out-fundraising Obama, its obvious that someone’s blood will be spilt.… [Read more]
Honestly, I wasn’t too surprised to hear that the Supreme Court upheld Arizona’s “lemme see your papers” doctrine; such laws are completely constitutional, and, furthermore, illegal aliens are guaranteed precisely zero protections under the U.S. constitution. Also, we need to keep American jobs for Americans and Mexicans are a drain on our already-burdened social welfare system.… [Read more]
