President Obama and many congressional Democrats seem to feel their only chance to reform health care lies in passing the lousy Senate bill or a few a la carte measures — lame, face-saving expedients they hope would allow them to move on to other issues without being accused of giving up.
We’ve got a better way [...]
Posts under ‘Business’
Our eight-point health care reform plan
Nonmystery wrapped in a cellophane enigma
New York Times economic columnist David Leonhardt raises a worthy question about Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke’s likelihood of detecting a new bubble in the making, given his and his then-boss’ failure to recognize the housing bubble for the economy-trashing monster it was.
Unfortunately, Leonhardt fumbles around what was going on as the housing bubble grew to [...]
Banks have a political reason
for prolonging economic misery
We suspect the major banks, at least, aren’t lending because they’ve made a cynical, self-serving political calculation. If they can see to it Obama will be a failed, one-term president, the chances of replacing him with a Bush-style pro-business, antiregulation Republican are very good.
With Dems like these, who needs Republicans?
Evidence mounts that a good many “centrist,” “moderate” and “blue dog” politicians only ran and won seats as Democrats because in some corner of their pro-corporate, conservative minds they realized 2006 and 2008 wouldn’t be good years to run as Republicans.
The latest involves House so-called Democrats tipping the balance in favor of easing — [...]
Legislative process generates
so much pain, so little gain
If the Democratic Party wants to energize its base, I suggest it start handing out antidepressants — generously and soon, before health care reform, if any, is passed and financial reforms, if any, get to the president’s desk.
So disgusted with the health care reform muddle we can hardly stand to read about it any more, [...]
Who we don’t need as Fed chairman
— and who could do a better job
What’s wrong with Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is the same thing that makes Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and top Obama economic advisor Larry Summers poor choices for their high posts at this time: they’re devoted to an outdated notion that what’s good for big business and the financial industry is good for America.
That notion [...]
Sanders makes compelling case
against second Bernanke term
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders put a hold this week on the nomination of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke for a second term, laying out his case in a public statement.
Here’s why Sanders believes President Obama should replace Bernanke with a new nominee.
“The American people overwhelmingly voted last year for a change in our national priorities to [...]
Wal-Mart sells out Black Friday customers
Black Friday sales are supposed to generate excitement and get big crowds to show up at stores before dawn on the day after Thanksgiving, luring customers with incredibly low prices for limited quantities of name-brand merchandise — in hopes those shoppers will buy other, profitable items.
So, why would a California Wal-Mart hand out [...]
Three good moves counter SNL rap
about Obama not getting stuff done
On Oct. 3, Saturday Night Live directed its satire at President Obama, depicting him as coolly and matter-of-factly acknowledging a lack of accomplishment during his first eight months in office.
As might be expected, right-wing noisemakers had a field day portraying Obama as a slacker and failure — never mind that they’ve opposed everything he’s [...]
Stimulus sign prices trigger backlash
Identifying the people’s money at work on a broad range of infrastructure repairs and improvements is a worthwhile thing to do, but not at these prices.
