0
POPSFed's Yellen: Crisis "ongoing and perhaps deepening"
Second, export growth alone contributed one-half of the total real GDP growth registered in the second quarter. This element has been an important source of strength in our economy for over a year, being buoyed by strong growth abroad and by the weakening of the dollar. However, as I discussed, in recent months the dollar has risen somewhat and economic growth in many of our industrialized trading partners has slowed or even turned negative, suggesting that we can no longer count on exports as an important source of strength. Third, the problems in the housing markets, financial markets, and labor markets continue to be a drag on growth and employment. Fortunately, the recent fall in commodity prices should help to cushion some of this downward pressure on activity. Overall, I anticipate that real GDP growth in the second half of this year will come in below the growth of potential output which implies that the unemployment rate will rise. On its own, this obviously is not good new
0
POPSWhy cheaper oil signals trouble Deflation will win over inflation. But the "good news" will go on until just after the USA election. Then reality will begin to intrude its ugly head, again.
0
POPSThe Problem Is Empire (cont.)I am campaigning for and voting for Barack Obama not because I agree with him on every foreign policy issue but because I think we need to unleash the energy of those who fight for justice and housing and healthcare and jobs and the environment here at home. The Obama movement is registering and mobilizing millions of new voters, young people, working class, people of color and poor. The mere fact of their being mobilized will create a pressure for new priorities on the economic home front against the present priorities of militarization abroad. The fact that Obama rose to his present position on the tide of antiwar sentiment forces Obama and the Congressional Democrats to pay greater attention to our needs at home or pay a political price. If he expands the quagmires in Afghanistan and Pakistan, we will have to oppose those wasteful wars as well.
1
POPSThe Return of the Robber Barons Another deceit is the measure called “core inflation.” This measure of inflation excludes food and energy, two large components of the average family’s budget. Wall Street and corporations and, therefore, the media emphasize core inflation, because it holds down cost of living increases and interest rates. In the second quarter of this year, the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a more complete measure of inflation, increased at an annual rate of 5.2 per cent compared to 2.3 per cent for core inflation. An examination of how inflation is measured quickly reveals the games played to deceive the American people. Housing prices are not in the index. Instead, the rental rate of housing is used as a proxy for housing prices. More games are played with the goods and services whose prices comprise the weighted market basket used to estimate inflation. If beef prices rise, for example, the index shifts toward lower priced chicken.
0
POPSIslands Of Adventure Tickets Buy online Islands Of Adventure Tickets for Disney attractions and enjoy the tour with your family. Search through the web to find out latest deals Islands Of Adventure tickets.
2
POPSMcCain and Michigan In its "Insiders Poll" this week, the National Journal asks 77 Republican luminaries (pollsters, lobbyists, strategists, and so on) which states McCain has the best chance of picking up. At the top of of the list is Michigan. A handful of Democrats, polled on the same question, put New Hampshire at the top of the list and Michigan second. The clip delves into the political dynamics at work in Michigan.
7
POPSCEO's And Their Paychecks Disproportionate, outrageous, rip-off, shear greed, socking it to the people, billions lost to the "fair tax system" and Biden, Obama, McCain and the rest have no real answer, or do they? What a scam. When will people get really ticked off? What does it take?
3
POPSHousing Crisis is Far From Over It's not just a house, it's a home. Perhaps some are thinking it is just an investment into stone and concrete. Perhaps people got into thinking it was a " Piece of the Action ". And who exactly is the Middle Class? There are still people out there that are barely making $ 20.000.00 for a family of four and they too consider themselves part of "The Middle Class". Deception and self-deception all the way. Consumer society gone hay wired.
4
POPSHypocrisy or Incompetence? The Democratic National Committee will uphold the same standard: We will not take a dime from Washington lobbyists or special interest PACs. … They will not fund my party! Take a look at the top five industries that donate to Biden as well: * Lawyers/law firms * Real estate * Retired * Securities & investment * Miscellaneous finance Real estate and miscellaneous finance — wouldn’t that figure into the credit crisis and the housing market collapse?
5
POPS Epic Fail continued........about his bombings in the 60s is that they didn’t go far enough, who walked all over an American flag in 2001, and who said right before 9/11 that the very idea that America is a fair place “makes me want to puke”. Meanwhile, McCain’s campaign is launching a salvo of its own tonight - an ad reminding us all of just how tight the Obamessiah was with convicted felon and Chicago money man Tony Rezko. Aside from folks like Stanley Kurtz, who is currently running headfirst into an old-school Chicago stonewall over Obama’s work with Ayers in the Windy City... o major network or newspaper had any interest at all in either Rezko or Ayers. But Barack Obama opened up the Rezko story by yakking about John McCain’s houses and he opened up Ayers by questioning his basic character. Housing War http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=Nzk0MzhjYzk2NzI2ZjY4YWQ1NmI3N2Q0OWUwODMxY2Q=