April 2010

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The United States of Corporate America: From Democracy to Plutocracy

    "The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men."    Plato, ancient Greek philosopher    ...“The 20th century has been characterized by three developments of great political importance: The growth of democracy, the growth of corporate power, and the growth of corporate propaganda as a means of protecting corporate power against democracy.”    Alex Carey, Australian social scientist    “The most effective way to restrict democracy is to transfer decision-making from the public arena to unaccountable institutions: kings and princes, priestly castes, military juntas, party dictatorships, or modern corporations.”    Noam Chomsky, M.I.T. emeritus Professor of Linguistics On Tuesday, January 19 (2010), the Obama administration got a kick in the pants from the Massachusetts voters when they filled former Senator Ted Kennedy's seat by electing a conservative Republican candidate.

Three Views of Financial Reform

In my view, the three prevailing schools of thought on financial reform are as follows, with many economists sharing one or more features of the three:1.

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Obama Admin. Announces Investments in Green Manufacturing

As new government data show the economy shed an additional 85,000 jobs in December, President Obama this week announced funding for tax credits to promote new job growth in the clean energy manufacturing sector.Over 180 companies will receive about $2.3 billion in tax credits to directly create 17,000 jobs.

The Big Minus

    …Kind ladies and kind gentlemen...    Once I was very prosperous    There was nothing I did lack    I had fourteen carat gold, in my mouth,    and silver on my back    But I did not trust my brother    I carried him to blame    Which led me to my fatal doom    To...