New South Africa president spurs hope for workers, poor
Workers and the poor of South Africa looked to “a new dawn” following the leadership upheaval in the country’s dominant party, the African National Congress. With only months left in his second and final term, Thabo Mbeki resigned as the country’s president, following a call by his own party to vacate the post. The decision by the party’s National Executive Committee followed a judge’s ruling throwing out fraud and bribery charges against ANC President Jacob Zuma.
Palin or Pelosi who represents the real West?
Sarah Palin knows how to hunt wolves. She can skin a moose. She lives way up there on America's last frontier. So, we might think, here's a national candidate who represents the 'real' American West, not its Hollywood imitation.
Stock market drops 777 points as House votes down Wall Street bailout
The stock market dropped by 777 points today, in response to the bailout vote in Congress, its largest numerical drop in history. As a percentage of overall volume, the drop did not measure in the top ten – at least not yet. The vote was in response to widespread anger at the proposed bailout of Wall Street. Joining together were right-wing conservatives, middle-of-the-roaders and progressives. Strange bedfellows indeed.
The financial crisis and the 2008 elections
John McCain is posing as a populist. In a typical sound bite, he says, 'We need to put our country first and focus what's best for Main Street. It's the excess and greed of Washington and Wall Street that got us in this situation to start with.' (CNN.com. quoting McCain in a campaign stop in Media, Penn., Sept. 22 or 23).This theme was echoed by the majority of Republicans who voted against the deal in the House on Sept. 29.
Stop the U.S.-India nuclear deal
By this time next week, Congress will likely have left Washington for the countdown to Election Day. Before your representative and senators go home, President Bush is urging them to rush through a nuclear cooperation agreement with India allowing that country to resume nuclear testing without facing international sanctions. India has already exploded one nuclear weapon and has refused to join the international agreement to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
A modest proposal: How about a trickle-up bailout instead of trickle-down
Perhaps the biggest fault of the bailout being debated (possibly passed by the time you read this) is that it is based on the idea that the relief given to Wall Street will trickle down to hard hit working class folks on Your Street.
Guide to financial crisis: week 2
The week of September 22, 2008 saw huge popular opposition to the Bush administration's bailout of Wall Street banks at taxpayer's expense. While stabilization of credit markets and banking sector is crucial, the smart choice is to pursue a solution that addresses the fundamental causes of the collapse and helps working families avoid further economic calamity.
Californias budget: 85 days late & billions of dollars short
After an unprecedented nearly three-month delay, California finally has a budget. The $103 billion-plus spending plan is being roundly criticized on all sides.
Obama lays out vision for 21st century schools
Barack Obama laid out the changes he would bring to the nation’s educational system as president in a forum last month in Dayton, Ohio.
EDITORIAL: Shock and awe revisited
The Bush administration developed expertise in the use of “shock and awe” in its Iraq war for oil. Now it is using those tactics in economic warfare against the American people.
