AltWeeklies Wire
N.C. Gov.'s Budget Balancing: So far, Not So Badnew
Gov. Bev Perdue's austerity budget proposal, unveiled last week, earned an overall thumbs-up from the N.C. Justice Center, the progressive think tank in Raleigh that monitors such matters.
Lincoln's Banking Crisis and Obama'snew
The parallels between Barack Obama and Abraham Lincoln are many, but is there anything in the Lincoln lore to help Obama cope with the raging financial crisis and global economic meltdown he's facing as he takes office? Absolutely there is.
Dean Baker: No Blank Check for Wall Streetnew
Done properly, Baker says, the $700 billion "bailout" of Wall Street and the big banks shouldn’t cost the taxpayers a dime. "My view," the progressive economist told the Indy following a speech in Raleigh, "is that [the bailout] is necessary, but if it's structured right, we're not giving the banks anything. We're keeping the banks functioning, and that's in the public interest."
Tax Refund Loans Target the Poornew
Refund Anticipation Loans are the latest wrinkle in predatory lending -- you get your tax refund when you file, and you only pay interest of 100-700 percent.
