Us Economy

Will We Let Detroit Go and the Recession Deepen Out of Disgust Over Financial Bailout?

David Paul | Posted 11.21.2008 | Business

Read More: Automakers, U.S. Economy, Creative Destruction, Wall Street Bailout, Joseph Schumpeter, Bailout, Detroit Three, Banks, Financial Crisis, Henry Paulson, Detroit Bailout Reaction, Big Three Automakers, Etroit, United Auto Workers, Detroit Bailout, Ford, Detroit Automakers, Cars, Gm, Chysler, Automaker Bailout, The Big 3, Auto Industry, Business News
David Paul

We have watched one bailout unfold, and we have not been impressed. We heeded the Wise Men, and now we feel violated. But how do we now hold failing auto companies to a higher standard?

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Falling Prices Raising The Fear Of Deflation

Washington Post | Steven Mufson and Michael S. Rosenwald | Posted 11.21.2008 | Business

Read More: Deflation Fears, Federal Reserve, Stock Market, US Economy, Deflation, Prices, Business News

With the stock market crumbling and the economy shrinking, a whiff of deflation is in the air. Oil prices yesterday slid below $50 a barrel to the lo...

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A Bad Idea: Using a Financial Solution to the Financial Crisis

Saskia Sassen | Posted 11.20.2008 | Business

Read More: U.S. Economy, Banking Crisis, Banks, Economy, Banking, Financial Crisis, Finance, Economic Crisis, Business News
Saskia Sassen

It is almost irrational to give finance the instruments to do more of what has brought us to the brink. The prior bailouts each contributed one more element to the unsustainable leveraging we have now reached.

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Public Employee Pensions are Not the Problem

Gerald McEntee | Posted 11.20.2008 | Business

Read More: Pensions, Retirement Security, U.S. Economy, Congress, States, Financial Crisis, Business News
Gerald McEntee

Right-wing critics of public employee pensions will use any angle to convince folks that these plans are bankrupting states, cities and towns. However, they are an essential part of the capital market.

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Health Care Reform -- Yes We Can -- NOW!

Gerald McEntee | Posted 11.19.2008 | Politics

Read More: Health Care Reform, U.S. Economy, Health Care for America Now, Yes We Can Government, Economy, Health, Politics News
Gerald McEntee

Health care reform is a vital part of rebuilding the economy and expanding America's middle class. We have to do it now -- precisely because economic times are so tough.

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An Economy Based On Consumerism Is Not Sustainable

Philip Slater | Posted 11.19.2008 | Business

Read More: U.S. Economy, Consumerism, Ecology, Financial Crisis, Business News
Philip Slater

If we humans are to survive we're going to have to stop over-producing -- ourselves and everything else. If we can't face the future without an eternally expanding economy, we won't have one.

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How Long Will the Recession Last?

Hale "Bonddad" Stewart | Posted 11.19.2008 | Business

Read More: Economy, Job Losses, U.S. Economy, Recession End, Job Cuts, Economic Recession, Economic Crisis, 2008 Recession, Jobs, Recession Watch, Recession, Business News
Hale

Ten months of heavy job losses left places the end of terrible job losses somewhere next summer. And that assumes we'll see a rate of job destruction on par with the worst rate of the last 60 years.

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America: Get Your Financial Act Together

Diane Francis | Posted 11.18.2008 | Business

Read More: Ayatollahs, U.S. Economy, Meltdown, Economy, U.S. Treasury, Federal Reserve, Credit Default Swaps, Global Crisis, Global Rescue Effort, g20, U.S. Recession, Housing Crisis, Fraud, Aig, Iran, Wall Street Crisis, Worldwide Recession, Wall Street, Bailout, Atomic Bombs, u.s. Economy Problems, Real Estate Bubble, Skullduggery, Financial Crisis, Banking Crisis, Crisis, Global Financial Crisis, Tech Bubble, Business News
Diane Francis

It would be as irrational to allow the Ayatollahs to build bombs as it would be to allow Wall Streeters to run amok again building their weapons of financial mass destruction.

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Poor Obama... It Gets More Complicated Every Day

Francine Hardaway | Posted 11.17.2008 | Business

Read More: U.S. Economy, US Auto Industry, Bailout, Obama 60 Minutes, Gm, Obama Economy, Auto Industry Bailout, Auto Industry, Business News
Francine Hardaway

I've been debating with myself for weeks over whether we ought to bail out the auto industry. I made a little pro-con list for myself today.

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The New World Economy

Zachary Karabell | Posted 11.17.2008 | Business

Read More: U.S. Economy, Saudi Arabia, Stock Market, g20, Financial Crisis, Henry Paulson, China, Barack Obama, Bush, Business News
Zachary Karabell

The financial balance of power is shifting. China, Brazil, even Japan can all claim more sound economies than the United States. They expect a voice, and they are not asking permission.

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The Meaning of Change Will Be Tested by the Auto Industry Bailout

Mitchell Bard | Posted 11.17.2008 | Politics

Read More: Foreign Oil, U.S. Economy, Automaker Bailout, Meet the Press, Congress, Democratic Congress, Economic Crisis, George W. Bush, This Week, Barack Obama, Automakers, Detroit Automakers, Auto Bailout, Obama Change, Tom Brokaw, General Motors, Obama 60 Minutes, 60 Minutes, David Brooks, New York Times, Paul Krugman, Richard Shelby, Carl Levin, Auto Industry, Global Warming, Politics News
Mitchell Bard

The question shouldn't be whether or not to bail out the U.S. auto industry, but how assistance to the car manufacturers fits within the larger national energy plan that is greener, self-sustaining and economically positive.

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Obama: Having Nothing to Fear, Not Even Fear Itself?

M. and V. Sommer, D. Wyles | Posted 11.16.2008 | Politics

Read More: U.S. Economy, Middle East, Barack Obama, Politics News
M. and V. Sommer, D. Wyles

Commentary by Michael Sommer The essential task of Barack Hussein Obama as the 44th President of the United States will be, first, to get America an...

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Outrage Growing Over Executive Pay

Washington Post | Heather Landy | Posted 11.15.2008 | Business

Read More: CEO Pay, US Economy, Wall Street Pay, Executive Pay, Business News

The public's indignation over lavish executive pay has rippled beyond the circles of activist investors and corporate governance watchdogs, who for ye...

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"The Witch of Wall Street," a Cautionary Tale for Tough Times?

Erica Heller | Posted 11.15.2008 | Style

Read More: Bail-Out, John McCain, Wall Street, Oprah, Financial Crisis, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Money Saving, U.S. Economy, Humor, American History, Style News
Erica Heller

Hetty Green was the world's richest woman, but also earned the nickname of the "Witch of Wall Street," with her severe Quaker clothing and staggering thriftiness.

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Obama and Pelosi's First Conversation

Stephen H. Baum | Posted 11.13.2008 | Politics

Read More: U.S. Economy, Financial Crisis, Pelosi, Obama, Economy, President Election Obama, Obama White House, Obama Financial Policy, Obama Presidency, President Obama, Obama Administration, Barack Obama, President Elect Obama, Politics News
Stephen H. Baum

"I [Barack Obama] am President of all the people. I will do everything within my power to make heroes of those who work for the common good. I don't need the credit."

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Bad Economy Downsizing Office Holiday Parties

AP | JENNIFER PELTZ | Posted 11.12.2008 | Business

Read More: Office Parties, Holiday Parties, Office Holiday Parties, Economy, US Economy, Business News

NEW YORK — In this brutal season of cutbacks, the office holiday party is getting downsized, too. From American Express to MTV to the Bend, Ore...

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Food Fight; Falling Corn Prices Reveal Big Food's Lies

Dave Vander Griend | Posted 11.11.2008 | Green

Read More: Farming, U.S. Economy, High Food Prices, U.S. Farmers, Economy, Economic Crisis, Farmers, Food Prices, Green News
Dave Vander Griend

When it was convenient for them, critics of the biofuels industry were quick to place blame for rising food costs on ethanol, claiming that ethanol was increasing the price of corn.

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Economist Shiller: Let's Pay Wall Street to Teach Main Street How to Lose Money like Pros

Charles H. Green | Posted 11.11.2008 | Business

Read More: Main Street, U.S. Economy, Wall Street Crisis, Wall Street, Money, Economy, Business News
Charles H. Green

For a Yale economist to play "blame the consumer" is incredible enough, but to use that argument ostensibly in support of "bridging the wealth gap" is disingenuous at the least.

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The D Word

Giles Slade | Posted 11.10.2008 | Politics

Read More: U.S. Economy, Depression, Fear, New Deal, Economy, Obama, Recession, Fdr, Poverty, Jobs, Warren Buffett, Politics News
Giles Slade

Across the nation, the most vulnerable have already been stripped of their security. They are wildly adrift in the economic chaos like autumn leaves caught in a hurricane.

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Not a Dime... Unless

Murray Fromson | Posted 11.09.2008 | Business

Read More: Chrysler, U.S. Economy, Humvees, Tesla Motors, General Motors, Tax, Economy, Ford, Cars, Department of Energy, Auto Industry, 2008 Election, Detroit, Business News
Murray Fromson

What a way to emerge from the excitement of last Tuesday's election than to read about the three major automakers plea for another handout.

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Economic Stimulus Proposal May Not Be Big Enough

McClatchy | David Lightman | Posted 11.09.2008 | Business

Read More: Economic Stimulus, US Economy, Bailout, Business News

Washington is poised during the next 90 days to approve spending perhaps $100 billion to jolt the ailing economy. The only questions are when it will...

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Hey Karl, Thanks

James Moore | Posted 11.07.2008 | Politics

Read More: U.S. Economy, Bush Administration, Karl Rove, Economy, Bush's Brain, Karl Rove Barack Obama, George W. Bush, James Moore, Katrina, Bush Ken Lay, Hurricane Katrina, President Bush, 2008 Election, HuffPost Election Reaction, Election Reaction, Politics News
James Moore

Dear Karl: Since I'm the guy largely responsible for giving you a reputation as being very smart, then it seems appropriate that I also deliver the news that, as it turns out, you aren't too bright.

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Investing in our Nation's Infrastructure

Stephanie Neely | Posted 11.07.2008 | Chicago

Read More: U.S. Economy, Obama Economic Stimulus Plan, Economic Stimulus Package, Federal Deficit, National Infrastructure, Economy, New Bailout Bill, Crumbling Infrastructure, New New Deal, American Infrastructure, Health Care, Chicago News
Stephanie Neely

Another flat-screen television made in Asia or a new pair of designer shoes made in Europe will not prevent another bridge from collapsing in Minnesota.

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Jobless Rate Jumps To 14 Year High

AP | JEANNINE AVERSA | Posted 11.07.2008 | Business

Read More: Economy, Economic Crisis, U.S. Economy, Jobless Rate, Unemployment, Business News

WASHINGTON — The nation's unemployment rate bolted to a 14-year high of 6.5 percent in October as another 240,000 jobs were cut, far worse than ...

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I'll Take MY Bailout, Now, Thanks!

Keith Blanchard | Posted 11.06.2008 | Business

Read More: U.S. Economy, Financial Crisis, Wall Street Bailout, Wall Street Crisis, Wall Street, Bailout, Business, Economy, Business News
Keith Blanchard

The plain fact is, each and every company and industry in America today needs and deserves a bailout. So I'm staking my claim: I represent one of more than 25 million small businesses.

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