Louis CK Bit Describes Current Economy - Business Insider

English: Comedian Louis C.K. performs for servicemembers at the Zone 6 Morale, Welfare and Recreation Stage during the Sergeant Major of the Army Hope and Freedom Tour 2008, Camp Arifjan Kuwait, Dec. 18, 2008. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Louis CK Bit Describes Current Economy - Business Insider:

 ""Why are you so mad at it?"

It's a wise question to ask. When something doesn't work perfectly but is still much better than it used to be, you are better off. Our perceptions and emotions play an evil trick by convincing us otherwise. "

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• The Haphazard Theology of Louis C.K.

The Goldilocks economy and the minimum wage

It's time to take the economy out of the freezer and return it to a temperature that is "just right."

The first step is to recognize the serious imbalances in our economy, chief among them is to get inequality just right. Too much of it, and we risk a return to the terrible inequality of 19th-century Europe and 20th-century Latin America that drove most of our ancestors to emigrate to the United States.

Too much equality, and people seek to emigrate to find opportunities reflective of their talents, as they did escaping from communism.

Related articles

• The Goldilocks economy and the minimum wage

▶ 4 Ways Sequestration Gets Worse Next Year - YouTube

▶ 4 Ways Sequestration Gets Worse Next Year - YouTube:


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Huge fire destroys key Bangladesh garment factory, no one killed | Firstpost

Huge fire destroys key Bangladesh garment factory, no one killed | Firstpost:

 "a series of deadly incidents, including an April building collapse that killed more than 1,100 people, has triggered global concern over weak safety standards in the $22-billion garment industry."




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Secretary Of Labor Says Raising Minimum Wage Will Grow Economy : NPR

Secretary Of Labor Says Raising Minimum Wage Will Grow Economy : NPR:

 "U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez has only been in office for a few months, but he's already making waves. He's pushing for a higher minimum wage and immigration reform. Perez speaks with host Michel Martin about his goals for the U.S. labor force."



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Another Shot Tony Auth

Why Congress Must Extend Emergency Unemployment Benefits

The western front of the United States Capitol. The Capitol serves as the seat of government for the United States Congress, the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government. It is located in Washington, D.C., on top of Capitol Hill at the east end of the National Mall. The building is marked by its central dome above a rotunda and two wings. It is an exemplar of the Neoclassical architecture style. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

'If Congress does not extend emergencyunemployment compensation before the end of the
year, 1.3 million Americans will lose their benefits
just after Christmas, and another 1.9 million will
lose their benefits in the first six months of 2014.
Furthermore, allowing emergency unemployment
benefits to expire would constitute yet another self-
inflicted wound to the U.S. economy.'

Sarah Ayres, a policy analyst in
the Economic Policy Department
at the Center for American Progress

CAP

November 20, 2013

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• As Maine's unemployment rate dips, 4,000 face loss of unemployment benefits
• Clock ticking on unemployment benefits for thousands in state
• Congress Should Renew Emergency Unemployment Compensation Before the End of the Year
• Rep. Sandy Levin on why Congress should talk to more unemployed workers
• Democrats Begin Push to Extend Unemployment Benefits

▶ Floor Speech on the Retirement Crisis - YouTube

▶ Floor Speech on the Retirement Crisis - YouTube:

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The Recap: JPMorgan Chase takes a record $13 billion hit - The Washington Post

The Recap: JPMorgan Chase takes a record $13 billion hit - The Washington Post:

 "This marks the largest penalty ever levied against a single company and represents a colossal win for the government after years of public criticism over its struggle to hold Wall Street accountable for crisis-era sins."

Trans Pacific Partnership is like SOPA on steroids – Kristinn Hrafnsson - News - World - The Voice of Russia: News, Breaking news, Politics, Economics, Business, Russia, International current events, Expert opinion, podcasts, Video

Trans Pacific Partnership is like SOPA on steroids – Kristinn Hrafnsson - News - World - The Voice of Russia: News, Breaking news, Politics, Economics, Business, Russia, International current events, Expert opinion, podcasts, Video:

 "We of course just see that this is being pushed through undemocratically without any consideration for the consumers and for the individuals in the US, elsewhere in other countries. Yes, I would have to agree that those who would say that this is an evidence that the corporations basically hijacked power in Washington.
Read more: http://voiceofrussia.com/2013_11_23/Trans-Pacific-Partnership-is-like-SOPA-on-steroids-Kristinn-Hrafnsson-1552/"

Report questions assumptions behind Detroit bankruptcy | Michigan Radio

Report questions assumptions behind Detroit bankruptcy | Michigan Radio:

 "“At the end of the day, the report points out, the $18 billion number figure is a red herring,” says Saquib Bhatti, a municipal finance expert with the Nathan Cummings Foundation. “Because when it comes to municipal bankruptcies--unlike a corporate bankruptcy, where you’re trying to figure out the liquidation value by balancing liabilities against assets--you don’t do that with cities.”"



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▶ Walmart: Is it too much to ask? - YouTube

▶ Walmart: Is it too much to ask? - YouTube:


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Report: Detroit bankruptcy caused by state cuts, shrinking tax base, not long-term debt | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Report: Detroit bankruptcy caused by state cuts, shrinking tax base, not long-term debt | Detroit Free Press | freep.com:

As the cost of living in Massachusetts keeps rising, low-wage workers fight back - Metro - The Boston Globe

As the cost of living in Massachusetts keeps rising, low-wage workers fight back - Metro - The Boston Globe:

"“People have said that this is an issue that matters, and one that can’t wait any longer,” Conway said Tuesday. “People are choosing between heat and food.”"



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Walmart collecting food donations to feed employees | MSNBC

Walmart collecting food donations to feed employees | MSNBC:

"The majority of Walmart employees reportedly make less than $25,000 annually, and many of them rely on food stamps. A case study compiled by the Democratic staff of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce found that employees in one Walmart location received between $96,007 and $219,528 in food stamps over the course of a single year."

The One Percent Income Gains

▶ Million American Jobs Project - YouTube

▶ Million American Jobs Project - YouTube:


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▶ Wikileaks Exposes the TPP as a Capitulation to Corporate Interests - YouTube

▶ Wikileaks Exposes the TPP as a Capitulation to Corporate Interests - YouTube:


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What’s Behind the Decline of Unions in Manufacturing? | Industry Market Trends

What’s Behind the Decline of Unions in Manufacturing? | Industry Market Trends:

 "Union proponents view the hiring of anti-union consultants and similar actions by employers as “union busting” tactics that deprive workers of having a voice at the workplace.

A 2011 study by Cornell’s Bronfenbrenner and Dorian Warren, an assistant professor of political science at Columbia University, found that:

Employers required workers to attend “captive audience meetings” with management in 89 percent of the campaigns started by unions to organize the workforce;
Workers are threatened with plant closings in 57 percent of the union campaigns and with loss of wages and benefits in 47 percent;
In 64 percent of the campaigns, workers are interrogated about how they and other workers intend to vote.
“The data show that employer campaigns against union certification elections begin much earlier than expected and continues all the way up to the election,” the researchers concluded."

Justice set to approve merger of American Airlines, US Airways - The Washington Post

Justice set to approve merger of American Airlines, US Airways - The Washington Post:

 "This agreement has the potential to shift the landscape of the airline industry,” U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement announcing the deal. “By guaranteeing a bigger foothold for low-cost carriers at key U.S. airports, this settlement ensures airline passengers will see more competition on nonstop and connecting routes throughout the country.”"

'via Blog this'

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Corporate Profits Soar. The Super Wealthy Reinvent American Capitalism | Global Research

Corporate Profits Soar. The Super Wealthy Reinvent American Capitalism | Global Research:


 "The pro-billionaire Economist magazine recently discussed the pass through fad:

“A mutation in the way companies are financed and managed will change the distribution of the wealth they create…The corporation is becoming the distorporation…More businesses are now twisting themselves into forms that allow them to qualify as pass throughs.”

So, for example, imagine that nine rich guys get together and call themselves a pass through corporation of some variety. They do this because they want to avoid personal liability in case things go awry. Their partnership only buys and sells stocks and goes on to make billions, while paying zero corporate taxes. When their risky bets go bust and the partnership is sued by hoodwinked investors, the company instantly declares bankruptcy, since all profits were quickly “passed through.” The partners (the nine guys) cheerfully go home to swim through their sea of cash. "

The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA): When Foreign Investors Sue the State | Global Research

The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA): When Foreign Investors Sue the State | Global Research:

 "In most US free trade agreements (FTAs) with investor-state dispute provisions, the tribunal most mentioned is the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), an arbitration court hosted by the World Bank in Washington.

ISDS would be a powerful system for enforcing the rules of the TPPA, which is currently being negotiated by the US and 11 other Pacific Rim countries. Any foreign investor from TPPA countries can take up a case claiming that the government has not met its relevant TPPA obligations."

The Origins and Evolution of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) | Global Research

The Origins and Evolution of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) | Global Research:

 "It was only in February 2008, when President Bush announced that the US would join the deferred P-4 negotiations on financial services and investment, that the US came into the picture.

One key reason for the US’s interest in the trade talks is to be found in the US President’s 2008 Annual Report on the Trade Agreements Programme. It says, in part, ‘US participation in the TPP could position US businesses better to compete in the Asia-Pacific region, which is seeing the proliferation of preferential trade agreements among US competitors and the development of several competing regional economic integration initiatives that exclude the United States.’1 Apart from economic considerations, there are also geopolitical concerns, particularly with regard to the growing power and influence of China, something which became clearer with the Obama administration’s policy announcement of a military and diplomatic ‘pivot’ or ‘rebalance’ towards Asia. As a research paper for the US Congress notes:"

The Origins and Evolution of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) | Global Research

The Origins and Evolution of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) | Global Research:

 "It was only in February 2008, when President Bush announced that the US would join the deferred P-4 negotiations on financial services and investment, that the US came into the picture.

One key reason for the US’s interest in the trade talks is to be found in the US President’s 2008 Annual Report on the Trade Agreements Programme. It says, in part, ‘US participation in the TPP could position US businesses better to compete in the Asia-Pacific region, which is seeing the proliferation of preferential trade agreements among US competitors and the development of several competing regional economic integration initiatives that exclude the United States.’1 Apart from economic considerations, there are also geopolitical concerns, particularly with regard to the growing power and influence of China, something which became clearer with the Obama administration’s policy announcement of a military and diplomatic ‘pivot’ or ‘rebalance’ towards Asia. As a research paper for the US Congress notes:"

▶ The Story of Broke (2011) - YouTube

▶ The Story of Broke (2011) - YouTube: ""

'via Blog this'

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▶ Raise The Minimum Wage -- Robert Reich & MoveOn.org - YouTube

▶ Raise The Minimum Wage -- Robert Reich & MoveOn.org - YouTube:


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St. Louis hearing spotlights government subsidies of fast food giants » peoplesworld

St. Louis hearing spotlights government subsidies of fast food giants » peoplesworld:

 ""It's not surprising because people often wonder 'How do people live on the money they earn in the fast food industry?' Well, now we know the answer. They don't. They have to rely on other sources including public assistance."

"This is an enormous public subsidy" to already very profitable corporations, MacNeiil continued."



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