Psyact » economy

Recession threatens U.S. progress in child wellbeing | U.S. | Reuters

admin — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:40:42 +0000

“Our projections show that virtually all the progress made in family economic well-being since 1975 will be wiped out,”

via Recession threatens U.S. progress in child wellbeing | U.S. | Reuters.

Faux-Populist “Tea Parties” Ignore Tax Breaks for Overpaid CEOs

admin — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 17:56:47 +0000

From Huffington Post: While the Fox News-fueled coverage of the “tea parties” has hoodwinked major media outlets into believing it’s just a spontaneous protest against high taxes, it’s actually been a well-orchestrated campaign driven by lobbyists and right-wing corporate front groups that are seeking to keep taxes low and preserve loopholes for wealthy CEOs and corporations. Both sets of tax breaks for the ultra-rich are targeted in President Obama’s budget and tax reform plans, while the “Tea Party” activists ignored the real threats posed by a tax system geared to benefiting the rich. Energy would be better focused here: http://tiny.cc/4aZIO

Art Levine: Faux-Populist “Tea Parties” Ignore Tax Breaks for Overpaid CEOs.

Noam Chomsky: Workers Will Build the Recovery, Not Wall Street

admin — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:32:25 +0000

From Alternet: Chomsky notes that while the recent bank bailouts have brought a great deal of attention to the disconnect between public investment and private profit, it has become routine for the taxpaying public to foot the bill for important research that eventually creates big corporate profits. To ensure that we all reap the benefits of our investments, it is essential to make institutions accountable to their communities, rather than exclusively dedicated to maximizing shareholder returns.

Noam Chomsky: Workers Will Build the Recovery, Not Wall Street | Corporate Accountability and WorkPlace | AlterNet.

Nickelsville: Seattle’s Homeless Name New Tent City After City’s Mayor

admin — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:10:55 +0000

An encampment is made up of over a hundred pink tents and is named to protest Seattle Mayor Greg Nickel’s policies around the homeless.

Nickelsville: Seattle’s Homeless Name New Tent City After City’s Mayor | Rights and Liberties | AlterNet

Homelessness Is at Record Highs

admin — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:51:18 +0000

America needs a bold new housing policy as growing numbers of Americans sleep in shelters, surf friends’ couches and camp in their cars.

Homelessness Is at Record Highs: Lets Show Some Real Compassion | Corporate Accountability and WorkPlace | AlterNet

The Financial Crisis Is Taking its Driving us Mad

admin — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 12:41:54 +0000

As if things weren’t bad enough, the depths of this financial crisis is taking its toll on our mental health. Pushed past their breaking points, people are robbing banks to pay the rent, setting homes on fire — even taking their own lives.

The Financial Crisis Is Driving Hordes of Americans to Suicide | Corporate Accountability and WorkPlace | AlterNet

How Globalization Set the Stage for the 2008 Economic Collapse

admin — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 17:41:10 +0000

huffingtonpost.com — The extent of the 2008 economic collapse surprised and shocked the conventional wisdom in Washington and on Wall Street. But in hindsight, a good case can be made that the massive globalization of labor and financial markets, coupled with “free markets über alles” policies, formed a toxic mixture that made the collapse inevitable.

Robert Creamer: How Globalization Set the Stage for the 2008 Economic Collapse

As economy sinks, officials fear violent solutions

admin — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:27:44 +0000

Across the country, authorities are becoming concerned that the nation’s financial woes could turn increasingly violent, and they are urging people to get help. In some places, mental-health hot lines are jammed, counseling services are in high demand and domestic-violence shelters are full. With nowhere else to turn, many people are calling suicide-prevention hot lines. The Samaritans of New York have seen calls rise more than 16 percent in the past year, many of them money-related. The Switchboard of Miami has recorded more than 500 foreclosure-related calls this year.

As economy sinks, officials fear violent solutions – CNN.com

Our economic system has always caused immense stress for those on the bottom of the food chain. And we can trace most individual suffering back to social determinants such as inequality. Now the weight is heavier and hitting more people. The natural reaction will be to build more counseling centers and shelters to help people cope. We need to resist that urge. We need to keep the pressure on the decision-makes to re-work our economic system so that fewer people have to endure the constant stress of not having enough. We can’t treat, counsel and comfort our way out of this mess.

Lets Stop the Greatest Theft in the History of Humankind

admin — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:32:40 +0000

If America is to adopt socialism, why not have socialism for the poor, rather than for the rich? Why should American households that earn $50,000 a year subsidize Goldman Sachs partners who earn $5 million a year?

Lets Stop the Greatest Theft in the History of Humankind | Corporate Accountability and WorkPlace | AlterNet

Temp, part-time workers have more health problems

admin — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 12:02:54 +0000

Workers on temporary or part-time contracts don’t just have budget shortfalls to worry about. New Canadian research suggests that workers who do not have job security will develop more physical and mental health problems compared to their full-time counterparts.

CTV.ca | Temp, part-time workers have more health problems