AltWeeklies Wire
Obama's Mortgage Plan Has Already Been Tried and Defeated in Congressnew
Obama's proposed legislation would allow judges to adjust the mortgage terms of homeowners who are in bankruptcy, so they'd have a better chance of saving their homes from foreclosure. But such legislation was considered by the Senate in April, and defeated. Both Arkansas senators voted against it. Both say there's a good chance they'd do so again, even if the bill had Obama's backing, and even though they're both Democrats and supporting Obama for president.
Arkansas Times |
Doug Smith |
09-25-2008 |
Economy
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."
Facing Foreclosure? Con Man Paul Noe II Has a Deal for Younew
A few months ago, Dustanto Lopez got a phone call from someone offering him a tempting, if screwy, deal with a company called United First, Inc. that would supposedly help postpone foreclosure proceedings. What Lopez didn't know was that the president, secretary, treasurer, and director of that recently registered Nevada shell company was a con man.
Comrade Bush Nationalizes the Banksnew
The panicky flight from free-market orthodoxy in the United States is bound to fuel a revival of government intervention and welfare-state policies in the rest of the world. In the United States itself, however, they are likely to hang the wrong culprit in the end.
The Georgia Straight |
Gwynne Dyer |
09-24-2008 |
Economy
Save People, Not Bankers
Bailouts go to bankers. Why not help homeowners facing foreclosure instead?
How McCain's Economic Advisor, and Bill Clinton's, Screwed the Economynew
What we're experiencing is not just one of those occasional stock market swoons or interest-rate tangos. What's going on now is a calamity of the sort not seen since the dark days of 1929.
Ex-Tory PM Condemns Canadian Arts Cutsnew
Former prime minister Joe Clark is calling the federal government's decision to cut a prominent arts program "a big mistake."
Fast Forward Weekly |
Jeremy Klaszus and Adrian Morrow |
09-04-2008 |
Economy
Violent South American Thieves are Stealing Millions in Precious Gemsnew
For years, South Florida has been one of the worst areas in the nation for jewelry theft. Now the South American Theft Group Intelligence Network wants to join law enforcement agencies in taking on gangs of illegal Colombian immigrants terrorizing jewelers across the US with near-impunity.
New Times Broward-Palm Beach |
Brantley Hargrove |
09-03-2008 |
Economy
Would Drilling for Oil Off Florida's Gulf Coast Lower Fuel Prices?new
Why wouldn't it? Just pump that stuff out and ship it a few short miles over to gas stations in Tampa Bay, ready to dispense at our local convenience stores. How cheap would that be?
Creative Loafing (Tampa) |
Wayne Garcia |
09-03-2008 |
Economy
Inflation's Bad, But it Could Be Worsenew
Although consumer inflation is at a 17-year high, historically high oil prices are not necessarily to blame. In fact, high oil prices, the economic slowdown and the Chinese work in tandem to keep inflation from becoming even worse.
Shepherd Express |
Ken Reibel |
08-22-2008 |
Economy
Could You Survive on the New Minimum Wage?new
How a single parent with two children in the Triangle could survive -- or not -- on the bare minimum.
Living on Scrap: How Two Men Found Their Calling in the Garbagenew
The skyrocketing market for metal is turning into a boom for scrappers, guys who roam the streets searching for metal they can pile into their truck haul to the scrap yard for cold hard cash. Despite having led hard lives and having checkered pasts, Greg and Ron are now making an honest go of it as scrappers.
Philadelphia City Paper |
Isaiah Thompson |
08-05-2008 |
Economy
Is It Open Season on the 401(k)?new
In yet another troubling sign for the U.S. economy, more Americans are borrowing against their 401(k) retirement plans to make ends meet. What's more, some banks are making it easier by offering people debit cards that tap into their retirement funds.
Shepherd Express |
Ken Reibel |
08-01-2008 |
Economy
Floyd Gessner, the 5 Million Mile Mannew
At 76 and with more than 40 years at the same company, Floyd has no plans to retire. He speculates that he's driven between 4 and 5 million miles. To put that in perspective: Earth's circumference at the equator is 24,902 miles. Floyd has effectively driven around the world at least 180 times.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Matthew Schniper |
08-01-2008 |
Economy
Goldman Sachs Paints Picture of Changing World Ordernew
You have to hand it to the economics team at Goldman Sachs. It came up with the concept of the "BRICs": the four big economies, in Brazil, Russia, India, and China, which were going to catch up with and then overtake the big economies of the developed world. More recently, they added the "Next Eleven": middle-sized developing countries like Turkey, Indonesia, and Mexico that will also grow fast enough to overtake their old-rich counterparts in the next generation.
The Georgia Straight |
Gwynne Dyer |
07-31-2008 |
Economy
