OPINION: How to solve the mortgage meltdown
It had to happen: Some Republicans are trying to blame the Democrats for the mortgage meltdown, and for the stock exchange crisis that this has triggered, because Democratic politicians have allegedly pushed laws to make it easier for lower income, inner city householders to get mortgages. Also, some are asking what’s the big deal about owning property anyway? Wasn’t it presumptuous and stupid for people who are one paycheck away from poverty to take on mortgage debt they couldn’t afford?
OPINION: Finances and the current crisis: How did we get here and what is the way out? Part 2
The turmoil in financial markets and the bailout to the tune of $700 billion has turned the public eye and wrath on Wall Street and Washington. While millions are aware of the triggering causes, ranging from predatory lending to deregulation to insatiable greed, what isn’t so obvious is the longer-term process that brought our financial system and economy to the edge of the abyss.
The union and I why labor unions are good for labor
I arrived at the University of North Florida (UNF) in the fall of 1979 as an untenured faculty member with two contractual guarantees. The first was the bargaining agreement between the faculty union and the state Board of Regents, in effect a due process document that offered collective protection and a route for protest that could end in the final court of appeal for labor agreements — binding arbitration. The second was a four-year “letter of appointment,” in effect a separate employment contract. It was issued to protect me against the uncertainties of the special pot of money dedicated to supporting my new faculty line.
Letters - August 16, 2008
People’s Daily World Historic platform Stop killing unionists Time is right Election proposals New rule: confuse
Health care: truths and struggles
In September 2004, this newspaper issued a pamphlet called “Medicare For All! A Guide to Single Payer National Health Insurance.” It explained what “single-payer” is and why so many organizations, health professionals and politicians see it as a necessary program to fulfill the critical health care needs of millions of Americans.
EDITORIAL: Hungry for change
Karl Marx once noted, “The rate of profit is the motive power of capitalist production. Things are produced only as long as they can be produced with a profit.” Does this apply to food?
EDITORIAL: A welcome pledge
After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the United States had the chance to do something good and right, Barack Obama said in a major Iraq policy speech this week. But a failure of leadership and ideas on the part of the Bush administration led us down the wrong path.
LETTERS: July 19
Speaking out for Nader Best take on Obama How loathsome Note of thanks Don’t forget
Texas agency defies history
A fruitful way to understand the fanatical efforts of America’s right wing is to realize that they want to turn back the clock and the calendar. Their efforts are clearest within the Texas Education Agency, where crazy scandals are epidemic.
Justice for immigrants is a united effort
As I left the theater after watching “The Visitor” I started thinking about all the things we have lost in the last eight years. Loss of civil liberties and justice are a couple of the main casualties that have been delivered to the working class behind the veil of the “war on terror.” This movie highlights the human victims of the terrorism that has been used against all of us.
