Economy and Business
The Roaring Twenties Are Back
Not much left Worth fighting for; The rich already Won the war. Many of us who have reached Social Security age had a pretty good run. We lived through those heady days that followed the Great Depression and World War II, a delightful — though brief — moment in U.S....
Watch Out for Those Helpful Bankers
The word "help" is so uplifting. It conveys our best humanitarian values. How odd, then, to see it used in this New York Times headline: "Banks' Lobbyists Help in Drafting Financial Bills." I'll bet they did! We all know how altruistic, beneficent, and kindhearted...
Anti-American Budget Cuts
Families across the country recently celebrated the Fourth of July like they always do: with annual beach trips, barbecues, baseball games, and fireworks. But one of my favorite local traditions was canceled, courtesy of Congress. Every year on the Fourth, without...
It Can’t Happen Here
After paying a staggering $1,500 to a recruitment agency in her home country of Thailand, "Wen" was excited to come to the United States to be an au pair. Like all au pairs, she would live with a host family and provide childcare. This guest worker program is supposed...
Predistribute the Wealth
Sometimes we need new words to grasp new ideas. Frances O’Grady, Britain’s highest-ranking labor leader, has coined one of these handy new words: predistribution. Why does O’Grady, the general secretary of the UK’s Trades Union Congress, want us talking...
North Carolina Rips More Holes in Its Safety Net
Something profoundly awful has seeped into the top strata of American society: Our nation's corporate and political elites have developed immunity to shame. It has become morally acceptable for those in lofty circles to enrich themselves while turning their backs on...
The Tradeoff Between Apple and Apples
In May, Americans watched as Apple CEO Tim Cook defended his company's tax avoidance strategies before a Senate investigative panel. Prior to the hearing, Senate investigators released a report documenting Apple's use of accounting gimmicks to shift $74 billion of...
A More Perfect Union
Ten generations have come and gone since 1776. Yet the Founders still fascinate us. Books about Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington still regularly dot our best-seller lists. What so attracts us to these men of means who put their security and...
One More Untaxed Bite at the Apple
Where Would We Be Without Social Security?
Nearly every single American is intimately connected with the earned benefits of Social Security and Medicare — as either a contributor, a recipient, or both. In fact, a recent national poll indicated nearly 90 percent of us favor taking strong measures to preserve...
