Economy and Business
Deconstructing a Paul Ryan Sound Bite
Rep. Paul Ryan from Wisconsin revels in his reputation as America’s ultimate conservative policy “wonk.” He plays the part well. At the drop of a hat, the Republican lawmaker can rattle off a stream of stats that make his rich-people-friendly budget nostrums seem almost reasonable.
State Budget Battles are about More than Cutting Deficits
Earlier this year, people across the country were riveted to the politics of Wisconsin. Claiming to address the state’s budget crisis, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker proposed eliminating the right of public workers to unionize. Wisconsin’s citizens immediately took to the streets in massive protests — only to see the union-busting legislation pushed through by the state senate in a late-night surprise vote.
Debt Ceiling Kabuki
The Kabuki tradition in Congress over raising the federal government’s debt ceiling is in full flower. It’s a more reliable Washington ritual than the Cherry Blossom Festival.
Colombia Free Trade Deal Could Boost Cocaine Exports
Manuel Esteban Tejada was a teacher in the Colombian province of Cordoba, near the Panamanian border. Unfortunately for him, he was also a union member. On January 10, paramilitary gunmen broke into his house at 6 a.m. and shot him multiple times, killing him.
America’s Housing Paradox
As the Bible pointedly reminds us, rains fall alike upon the just and the unjust. Nowhere is this axiom more pointed than in securing a place to live. Sure, maybe some of those luckless homeowners who fell victim to the Great Mortgage Scam were indeed trying to pull a fast one on their creditors–but most folks were simply plodding nobly through the American Dream. It didn’t matter. Honest or shady, Wall Street took them all down.
Why are we the Tea Party’s Hostages?
At issue was the federal budget, which needed to clear Congress to keep the government going. The protestors think the government is spending way too much and the national debt is too big. They want to cut both of them to the bone. And they intend to use the Republican Party as their knife.
Finally, Obama Leads on the Deficit
Wow. A president of the United States being partisan. Imagine that. I can see why the Republicans were so upset. They’re such gentle, kind, cooperative people whose first instinct is to compromise. Always.
Gubernatorial Goofiness in Maine
LePage’s rampage includes busting unions, rolling back child labor laws, gutting programs for the middle class and poor, and raising the retirement age for Maine workers–all in his first few weeks in office.
Mickey Mouse Wage Hike
Good news, people: America’s wages are up–the average worker is making more today than a year ago! How much more, you ask? Get ready to be excited: 58 cents a week.
The Lineup: Week of April 4-10, 2011
In this week’s OtherWords editorial package, we’ve got three Tax Day op-eds–including one by Chuck Collins that tells Congress where to find $400 billion a year in revenue–and a cartoon by Khalil Bendib lampooning GOP budget priorities
