Economy
Watching the House vote on the Senate’s bill to avoid the fiscal cliff last night, I was struck by how relieving it can be to watch our leaders to their jobs. When the votes were tallied, we saw forward movement, with Reps. Boehner and Paul voting in favor of the necessary legislation. A splinter of hope was realized in the middle of the night on New Year’s Day. Rationality won out over ideology.
What has nearly broken our union time and again is a devotion to identity politics: so often we vote for candidates we think are like ourselves rather than the best people for the jobs. President Obama’s administration has been harassed and harangued by politicians and a media outlet obsessed with how his identity is different than theirs- and consequently, they’ve felt him unworthy of their support. At last, we are seeing that strident belief begin to weaken, and a glimmer of logic shines in. Read more
Tax fairness is a pillar of a successful economy but the GOP wants to further tax cuts for the rich without saying how they'll pay for those cuts...meaning working Americans will pay the tab.
Our social safety net has strengthened our society but the Tea Party wants to slash entitlements...yet won't name particular programs they'd cut.
We want revenue to keep our country running, but conservatives argue for closing loopholes...without showing how that can add up.
One side is arguing for a stronger America. The other side isn't making an argument at all.
We want the New Deal. They are offering No Deal.
At least we know who we're dealing with.
Deal yourself in for a coupe of rounds of good conversation with great company at your local progressive social club.
DRINKING LIBERALLY
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While President Obama made necessary calls to CEOs in every major industry this week, small businesses prepared for the one day a year they get recognized: Small Business Saturday- November 24th. As a member of a local arts organization, and an instructor at an nonprofit art gallery, I can tell you, local businesses provide unique merchandise and services in this Wal-Mart World.
The holiday season is one time of year Americans now give themselves permission to do a little retail therapy. The days of mall-binges have been replaced with a new mindfulness for most of us. Nevertheless, this time of year we allow ourselves some freedom to buy gifts for family and friends. Nothing says “I care” like products and services from small businesses, which are created by folks who love what they do. Read more
Patience; this is what I have been recommending all along. The economy has been improving for a while now, the stock market has recovered and making money, and now Americans are going back to work.
It was just reported, unemployment fell for September to its lowest number since January 2009. There were 114,000 jobs added in September, and 86,000 more jobs were added in July and August than originally reported.
This is of course, good news for the Obama Campaign and it should turn the election even more in his favor. Mitt Romney’s job to convince Americans that Obama does not know what he’s doing when it comes to the economy, just got a lot more difficult. Read more
Nestled in the cloudy, forested crevices of the Oregon Coast is Tillamook County, home to a hundred small dairy farms that work together cooperatively. The Tillamook County Creamy Association (TCCA) has been thriving for a hundred years, and some members of the original families still belong today. One of the products they work together to create is the much famed Tillamook Cheese.
Making both quality products and ethical business practices, the TCCA is a model in how the secret of success can be integrity. Stated at their website, www.tillamook.com, are their values. Quality, cooperation, integrity, stewardship, and responsiveness are the ethical underpinnings of their business practice, and the meanings of these are spelled out clearly. There is no mistaking the vision sustained for a hundred years in Tillamook County. Read more
The General Laws of Massachusetts states, in Section 6 of Chapter 4:
“In construing statutes the following rules shall be observed, unless their observance would involve a construction inconsistent with the manifest intent of the law-making body or repugnant to the context of the same statute: . . .
Third, Words and phrases shall be construed according to the common and approved usage of the language; . . .”
So, with that in mind, what does the following sentence mean? Read more
I am one of the unemployed persons in this economy. It is hard as hell to find a job, first and foremost, and I have been doing since the end of the school semester. I’ve had two interviews and few prospects but nothing has been landed.
Yesterday my mom was on her driving route and recommended a spot to apply. “Some Mexican restaurant across from QT,” she says.
The next morning I drive around that area and find the restaurant to be Los Lupes. I walk inside the place, ask for an application, only to be told, “We don’t applications at this location. Go to the one next to Chase bank.” I think, “Why would you have “now hiring” on the building but no applications?”
Whatever that reason may have been, I returned home. Read more
As students celebrate graduation around the country,
they learn you can become a Presidential candidate
if you showed leadership bullying a peer in high school.
Graduates learn that the business world is forgiving:
you can push the economy to the brink of collapse,
and still be given another chance to lose $2 billion.
The Class of 2012 learns that corporations are people
except they have ways to escape their losses
unlike people who carry student loans forever...
& this year's class has the most debt in history. Read more
Workers rallied & picketed & marched
to celebrate & defend their rights
while the man who opposed child labor laws
ended his own job hunt for the White House.
While Occupiers took to the streets together
to call for a more just & fair economy,
the 1% candidate of vulture capitalism defended
tax cuts for the rich & loan hikes for everyone else.
As Americans call for help from their leaders,
the GOP seeks help from Rumsfeld & Ted Nugent,
showing they are just as desperate
as the Americans they are ignoring.
Will Americans shouting "May Day!" in solidarity
push our leaders to march with us,
or will conservatives push back so hard
we all call "May Day! May Day! before long? Read more
We’re being told that fiscal responsibility requires big cuts in education, nutrition, and health care for millions of children. This shortsighted and uncaring thinking is not only a nightmare for those directly affected; it is an imminent threat to America’s economic future.
We have to let our policy makers know that fiscal responsibility requires caring economic policies. Here’s why. Read more
David Suzuki is a icon for the Canadian environmental movement. He's like our Al Gore and Rachel Carson all rolled up into one. I read and reviewed his memoirs a while back and they are terrific.
When he talks, sensible people listen. Read more
February employment in the private sector rose by 217,000 according to an Automatic Data Processing report. Service sector employment rose 202,000, while employment in the goods-producing sector rose 15,000. The company revised its January report slightly, up to a gain of 189,000 from 187,000.
The Federal government will report its February non-farm payroll numbers on Friday, and economists are expecting a gain of 200,000 jobs for an official unemployment rate of 9.1%.
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I’m sure those that read this are first wondering; who is the Devil that I refer to? In a biblical sense, the Devil is the destroyer and seeks the destruction of his enemies. I’m not quite referring to the Devil, or Satan himself but I do refer to those who would cause harm to Barack Obama’s chances to be reelected by standing in the way of anything he does. So at the risk of being a bit overboard, we all know who we’re talking about. Read more
The upcoming Republican primary in South Carolina which former Governor Mitt Romney is leading in the polls, may well help send this man on to be the Republican nominee to face off with President O Read more
