Thursday, December 12, 2024

From ‘Demos’ to ‘Podemos’: Popular Uprisings in Greece and Spain

The future of Europe is in flux, as popular movements in Greece and Spain gain power and challenge traditional economic and political systems. The global economic crisis created enormous suffering for billions around the world, but it also created an opening.

Goosey as Ever

It's nearly two years away, but the 2016 presidential candidates are "goosey" than ever. So who will the next presidential race come down to—Bush vs. Clinton? The race is on.

How Trade Deals Boost the Top 1 Percent and Bust the Rest

While the White House thinks a trade deal will help the U.S. contain China’s power and influence, it will actually make global corporations in the U.S. even more powerful and influential than they've already become. The rich keep getting richer.

Four Numbers to Make Us Fighting Mad. And One Way to Fight.

A national Permanent Fund might be the most brilliant solution to upward wealth redistribution. Outlined by Peter Barnes, it was modeled after the popular and successful Alaska Permanent Fund because shouldn't we all benefit from our nation's steadily rising productivity.

A Corporate Apostate

Not only did Mark Bertolini, corporate chief of the health insurance giant Aetna, increase the company's lowest wage to $16 an hour and improve health benefits, he publicly revealed that these increases aren’t as financially painful as other corporate conglomerates claim.

A Farewell to Arms? Not on Your Life!

"In non-medical cases, firearms may soon cause more death than motor vehicle accidents." Guns have long been a leading cause of non-medical deaths throughout the U.S.— far more more than any other developing country. It's the scary reality.

Aetna Lifts the National Standard for ‘Competitive Wages’

One rare CEO is increasing up to one-third of his employees' pay as well as adjusting its company health plan so lower-income workers can get the same health coverage. Aetna set a new national standard for competitive wages.

Back to the Nineteenth Century

The argument that the growth of on-demand jobs are less predictable and secure for workers is similar to the “freedom of contract” argument, which took place in the late nineteenth century. Are we heading back in time?

New Evidence that Half of America is Broke

Half of America is barely surviving and new data strengthens the case. Yet, people's views are distorted by growing financial wealth. As half of our nation is in poverty, where is that booming economy everyone's talking about?

Net Neutrality, Back by Popular Demand

During the past two decades, as the Internet flourished and transformed our society, several major corporations have assumed dominant “gatekeeper” positions, threatening net neutrality. We must protect net neutrality.