Archive for February, 2009
Chicago Factory Workers To Be Rehired
A rare piece of good news on the jobs and labor front. The former workers of Chicago’s Republic Windows and Doors factory will be getting rehired by a California company that is buying the plant. More good news — the company specializes in energy efficient and eco-friendly products. See our previous posts and commentary on ...Read more.
G.M. Loses $9.6 Billion
Just posted to the New York Times website. Sorry if this ruins tomorrow morning’s paper for you. It probably won’t be such a good day for Rick Wagoner either, and he’s probably ruining lots of UAW members’ days too. DETROIT—The chief executive of General Motors met with government overseers on Thursday to explain the carmaker’s ...Read more.
Stiglitz Criticizes O.'s Speech, Favors Single-Payer
This seems pretty explosive to me: Nobel-Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz came put in favor of a single-payer universal health program as “the only alternative” in an interview with Amy Goodman on Democracy Now!. Hat-tip to Dr. Christine Adams of Health Care for All Texas. Very interesting also that he also criticizes Obama as having “confused ...Read more.
Obama's Address (Dave Lindorff–Counterpunch)
Recently posted to Counterpunch. Hat-tip to Bob F. For an assessment of O.’s address by frequent D&S blogger Larry Peterson, click here; someone just left a nice comment on it: “Thanks, Larry. Some of the best writing on the economy is here at Dollars and Sense.” Obama’s Address to Congress Smooth? Yes. Transformative? No. By ...Read more.
Alternative Job Creation Plan (S. Aronowitz)
This is from Bob Feldman—he sent it to me before the last item he sent for me to post about alternative job creation plans (the one from a 1973 book), but I forgot to post it. It raises interesting issues that we have covered in D&S, e.g. the idea of a “basic income guarantee” (and ...Read more.
Closures and Layoffs (Feb. 22-28)
From Mark Heschmeyer of the CoStar Group: Nationwide: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is taking aggressive action to reduce tire production and cut costs by approximately $700 million in 2009. Actions include further reducing personnel levels by nearly 5,000 in addition to almost 4,000 reductions in the second half of 2008 and freezing salaries. ...Read more.
Dull Compulsion (vi): Obama's Speech
The Dull Compulsion of the Economic A series of posts by D&S collective member Larry Peterson Obama’s Mixed Up Metaphor I suppose it’s a luxury, of sorts, these days, to look at a presidential address as something more than an opportunity for a good laugh, but President Obama’s first attempt to articulate his vision of ...Read more.
Bank Throws $Million Bailout Party
You know it’s bad when entertainment blog TMZ breaks a story on a bank blowing millions on a party after it received $1.6 billion in bailout funds, which is exactly what happened to Chicago bank Northern Trust. The bank not only spent millions sponsoring a golf open at the Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, ...Read more.
Cheese Sandwiches For School Kids
Cash-strapped school districts from California to Florida are taking a tough approach on the growing number of school kids whose parents have fallen behind on their school lunch bills. Instead of hot meals, the children are given a cold cheese sandwich, a piece of fruit, and a milk carton. From the wires: ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – ...Read more.
Delasantellis on Foreclosure Endgame
He has some great observations about US politics setting the upper middle class against the working and lower classes as well. From his Asia Times column: A scam at the heart of the USBy Julian Delasantellis Asia Times, February 26th, 2009Travelers visiting New York city from Americas’s rural heartland in the 1980s might have been ...Read more.
