News & Comment
Blogs and Opinion
When Conservatives Are Right... by Dave Johnson, OurFuture.org | March 12, 2010
Pat Buchanan has a column today on manufacturing, The Disemboweling of America, that hits the nail on the head. In fact, if I fairly excerpt enough of the column and send you over to read it, my work here is done. For today. Buchanan begins by outlining just how much our country has lost by allowing others, particularly China, to take over manufacturing. read more »Getting Direct Foreign Investment In US Workers by Natasha Chart, OurFuture.org | March 11, 2010
Remember the Texas wind project that got this whole discussion started about where the stimulus money was going? The Chinese company involved in the project is now scoping out sites in Nevada for a 1,000 person manufacturing and assembly plant, like they said they would. read more »Why Won't Obama Label China A Currency Manipulator? by Dave Johnson, OurFuture.org | March 11, 2010
There is a great deal of pressure on the Obama administration to declare China as a currency manipulator, and with very good reason: they are manipulating their currency. read more »Activist Win Against Goldman-Sachs' Local Government Ripoff by Mike Elk, OurFuture.org | March 11, 2010
A few weeks ago, I wrote about how big banks refused to renegotiate deceptive, Greek-style interest rate swaps with local governments throughout the US. read more »Congress Has a Job To Do for Workers by Kimberly Freeman Brown, The Progressive | March 10, 2010
Our nation’s leaders have a choice to make. They can continue to turn the other cheek as employers flush job standards down the drain, or they can ensure that the jobs of tomorrow are good, decent jobs that will move Americans into recovery. Yes, we need to put people to work, and it is imperative that Congress pass legislation to provide incentives for businesses to hire more workers and extend unemployment benefits for those struggling to find jobs and pay the bills. But make no mistake: We must not let our standards go by the wayside in the name of job creation. We must ensure the jobs that are being created are good jobs. read more »The Source of Obama’s Trouble by Bob Herbert, The New York Times | March 10, 2010
The Obama administration and Democrats in general are in trouble because they are not urgently and effectively addressing the issue that most Americans want them to: the frightening economic insecurity that has put a chokehold on millions of American families. The talk inside the Beltway, that super-incestuous, egomaniacal, reality-free zone, is that President Obama and the Democrats have a messaging or public relations problem. That’s just silly. People are upset because they are mired in economic distress and are losing faith that their elected representatives are looking out for their best interests. read more »Tale of Two CEOs: One of Them Needs to Do Better by Leo Hindrey, Huffington Post | March 10, 2010
The Financial Times just devoted a special section of the paper to "individuals and companies who have displayed courage and vision in the aftermath of the most wrenching financial crisis since the Great Depression." This piece of journalism -- and the awards that were granted -- were especially designed "to recognize boldness on a global scale." A few years ago, in a book I titled It Takes a CEO: It's Time to Lead With Integrity (Free Press, 2005), I tried to identify all of the traits -- including boldness -- that I believe characterize truly successful CEOs. It would have been a pleasure to collaborate with the FT's editor and writers -- they did a great job -- however, when it came to matching specific companies and CEOs with leadership attributes, I think that in at least one instance they missed the "Integrity" trait. Let me elaborate. In its Foreword, the FT said: "While recognizing the profit imperative, these awards have also paid due weight to the impact of a company on the wider community, whether through innovation, education or philanthropy." read more »The Terrible Punishment For Firing American Workers by Natasha Chart, OurFuture.org | March 8, 2010
So, if you ran a company like Whirlpool that was planning to fire 1,000 American workers and move their jobs to Mexico, where you'd be paying your new employees $70 per week, one thing that might happen is that you might get publicly praised by a sitting US Senator. read more »Offshore Wind Farm Construction - Pictures by Jerome A. Paris, OurFuture.org | March 8, 2010
This post is part of the Wind power series. After showing pictures of offshore wind turbine foundations in this story, I am pleased to be able to now post pictures of the above-the-water parts, before their installation at sea: read more »We Already Have A Huge Carbon Tax - But Oil And Coal Companies Get The Money by Dave Johnson, OurFuture.org | March 8, 2010
We all pay a huge "hidden" tax when we burn oil and coal. Oil companies get the money. This is holding our economy back. read more »
The Latest
TARP expected to cost U.S. only $25 billion, CBO says, The Washington Post | November 30, 2010
The Troubled Assets Relief Program, which was widely reviled as a $700 billion bailout for Wall Street titans, is now expected to cost the federal government a mere $25 billion - the equivalent of less than six months of emergency jobless benefits. read more »
If GOP wins, Expect More Obstruction, The Washington Post | October 19, 2010
I'm cautious about the conventional wisdom that the Democratic Party is about to get flattened by a Republican steamroller. Pollsters are less certain than they'd like you to believe about who's a "likely voter" and who isn't. read more »
Banks Restart Foreclosures, The Wall Street Journal | October 19, 2010
Bank of America Corp. reopened more than 100,000 foreclosure actions, declaring that it had found no significant problems in its procedures for seizing homes. GMAC Mortgage, a lender and loan servicer, said that it also is pushing ahead with an unspecified number of foreclosures that came under intense pressure.
Geithner Weak Dollar Seen as U.S. Recovery Route Versus BRICs, bloomberg.com | October 19, 2010
Gridlock Sam: The Tea Party’s Bridge to Beyond Nowhere, pbs.org | October 19, 2010
The Tea Party has captured the imagination and spirit of many Americans and may very well turn that into a powerful voting bloc come November. But, that bloc may not have a leg or girder to stand on as our nation’s infrastructure continues to crumble. read more »
Administration Assures Pelosi on Restoration of Renewables Aid, thehill.com | August 11, 2010
The Obama administration has “assured” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) that $3.5 billion in renewable energy loan guarantees diverted for other policy priorities will be restored this year. read more »
S. Carolina Takes Stimulus Money, The New York Times | August 11, 2010
State Aid Bill Breezes Into Law, dyn.politico.com | August 11, 2010
Included is $10 billion to preserve teaching jobs in the new school year, and $16.1 billion to help states cover their Medicaid payments for the first six months of 2011. read more »
$26-Billion Aid Package for States Becomes Law, Los Angeles Times | August 11, 2010
House Democrats return from brief recess for unfinished business, thehill.com | August 10, 2010
House Democrats are set to approve $26 billion in emergency state aid, fight off a lame-duck lockout and pass a border-security bill before they wrap up their work period Tuesday and repack their bags for home. read more »
