America: The Sick Man of the Western Hemisphere

Eric Margolis, 02.09.2010

Veteran journalist and Author

America has become the Sick Man of the Western Hemisphere, an economic cripple like the defunct Ottoman Empire whose inept financial management was legendary.

Weekly Audit: Attack of the Imaginary Budget Demons

The Media Consortium, 02.09.2010

Network of Leading Progressive Independent Journalism Organizations

By Zach Carter, Media Consortium Blogger On Feb. 1, President Barack Obama unveiled his 2011 budget proposal. While conservative pundits reacted with ...

Bad Economy? We Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet

Nathan Havey, 02.09.2010

New Media Communications/Political Consultant, Videographer, Feminist

Our elected representatives (and much of our media) are afraid to look this crisis in the face and talk straight about how to solve it.

Let's Call It "Pocketbook Populism"

Mark Green, 02.09.2010

Author and former Public Advocate of New York City

Time to take back "populism" from Teabaggers and Palinites who've kidnapped it to only mean less government and taxes. Democrats need to define a phrase and philosophy that tells Independents we're on your side.

Justice Department Pays Legal Fees To American Small Business League

Lloyd Chapman, 02.08.2010

Small business advocate

The U.S. Department of Justice has been forced to pay the legal fees incurred by the American Small Business League (ASBL), after the ASBL substantial...

Whose Fault? What Happened to the Economy and What We Can Do About It

James Kwak, 02.08.2010

I agree that blaming everything on George W. Bush is neither good policy nor good politics. But there are some issues on which it is not only relevant, it is necessary to point out why we are in the mess we are in.

Partners In Change: President Obama and Senator Michael Bennet

Nancy Cronk, 02.09.2010

Arapahoe County, CO progressive activist

The divisions are deep, the fear explosive, and real solutions hard to find. But still, in each community, in each school and in each workplace, a small voice here and there says, "Yes... we still can."

All's Fair in War

Stephen Gyllenhaal, 02.08.2010

Stirring the pot...

I was having coffee with a friend, who finally opened up and admitted she was in dire financial straits. Her features were equal parts relief and misery -- she had spoken to almost no one about this.

No One Will Ever Be Happy Again

Stephen Herrington, 02.09.2010

Jock, cowpoke, oil roughneck, founder in Silicon Valley, stock trader and such

In attempt to make improvements on which we all agree, Obama confronts a wide ideological division and an opposition that is resolute in that they don't care how bad they make it for the American people.

Rate of job loss, Bush v Obama (fact checked)

Craig Newmark, 02.07.2010

Founder of Craigslist

UPDATE: just got factchecked, report and raw data (Courtesy of howardweaver) ...

Tell Me I'm Wrong

Mark Goulston, M.D., 02.06.2010

The heads of all influential nations need to come together and build a shared vision that will spontaneously enroll all peoples. From that a coherent strategy can follow.

6 Tips For Facing Your Finances With Confidence

Anne Naylor, 02.05.2010

Personal motivation consultant and author

Your sense of status, place in life and well-being may have come to depend upon a level of income and expenditure. Expectations dashed, disappointment and financial loss can make for deep-seated misery.

Mayors Use State-of-the-Village Addresses to Lay Out Common Vision: Hang On for Dear Life!

David Murray, 02.05.2010

Chicago writer specializing in politics, culture and sports

Woodridge, Ill. Mayor William Murphy declared the coming year would be focused on "our core services." Kind of like the functioning of a human being with mild hypothermia.

The Lodge at Woodloch Brought Me Back to Life

Maria Rodale, 02.05.2010

CEO and Chairman of Rodale, Inc. and book author

I confess, it felt great to have all my dead winter skin scrubbed off, and to have a masseuse attempt to unlock my muscles, tangled from too much working, driving, and just plain living.

Mr President, You Asked For Suggestions to Save Our Health and Our Economy. Here They Are.

Dr. Behzad Mohit, 02.05.2010

Author, Physician

If all the health care paid for by state and federal governments (i.e. Medicare and Medicaid) were contracted to a coop by the government it would have the immediate power to lower health care spending.

Cut the Deficit -- Cut Military Spending

Jim Wallis, 02.04.2010

Founder of Sojourners; speaker, author, activist

To reduce a $1.6 trillion shortfall in the 2011 budget, we should cut the contracts of private defense contractors who serve their own profits.

When is $100 Billion Not Enough?

Deepak Bhargava, 02.04.2010

Executive Director of the Center for Community Change

While many have protested a $100 billion price tag is too much to spend at time of record deficits, the reality is it's not nearly enough.

Artists Face Tough Times In Economic Downturn

Agnes Gund, 02.04.2010

President Emerita and Chairman of the International Council of The Museum of Modern Art

Things are bad, but things are worse for artists. However, in times like these, extraordinary ideas are often born and become realities.

Go Nuclear: Health Care 51 Budget Reconciliation

Jennifer Donahue, 02.05.2010

Political Analyst, Harvard IOP Fall 2008 Fellow, Journalist for CNN, MSNBC, C-SPAN

Ironically, Scott Brown is the vote the Democrats need to change the game on their health care strategy. He makes it plausible and relevant to the Budget Reconciliation process for a 51-vote reconciliation to include health care.

Raj Patel: The Value Of Nothing, Part 1 (VIDEO)

Rebecca Gerendasy, 02.04.2010

Co-founder of Cooking Up a Story and video journalist

Raj Patel, food activist, scholar, and author of two important books: Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System and his new boo...

Not Just Numbers: The President's Budget and Real Life

Deborah Weinstein, 02.03.2010

Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs

The President's budget came out on Monday. I've been awash in the fine print for a couple of days, and what's starting to emerge out of all the pages...