2009 Economic Year in Review: How Did We Get Here?

Hale "Bonddad" Stewart, 12.19.2009

Tax lawyer, former bond broker, financial blogger

Because we are approaching the end of the year, it is appropriate to take a look back at the economy for the last year to see how we're doing.

No Thrill Up Dylan Ratigan's Leg

Taylor Marsh, 12.19.2009

Political analyst, commentator, with foreign policy focus

That was just painful to watch. That Rep. Wasserman-Schultz, a progressive d...

Save The New York Times: Bankrupt It

Charles Warner, 12.18.2009

Charles Warner is an active blogger at Media Curmudgeon.com and teaches at The New School

The survival of the best and most important paper in the country will only be assured if the Times is bankrupted and wrested from the Sulzburger family.

Feminomics: Women Reformers Motivated by a No Tolerance Rule

Nomi Prins, 12.18.2009

Senior Fellow, Demos

For the most systemically compromising and expensive breaches of corporate ethics, it has been women who have fought against the barrier of male nonsense to shine a light.

An Effective Jobs Program Needs to Target Those Who Are Hurting Most

Deborah Weinstein, 12.18.2009

Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs

The economic recovery has begun. Or so we're told. The Dow has risen well past 10,000 again and the big banks have started paying back those governm...

A More Honest Look at Time Person of the Year Ben Bernanke

Damien Hoffman, 12.18.2009

Editor-in-Chief, Wall St. Cheat Sheet

While it is true that Bernanke "most influenced the news during the past year," Time is embarrassingly wrong in declaring Bernanke our financial lord and savior.

Have We Forgotten How To March?

Les Leopold, 12.18.2009

Author, "The Looting of America"

Was the president signaling that it was time for progressives to form a visible protest movement against "fat cat bankers"?

Four Letter Words That Could Change Your Life

Eli Davidson, 12.18.2009

Reinvention Expert, Executive Coach and Speaker

"Do I need this?" is a great question to ask yourself. Spending less money on your immediate gratification want can assist you in building up the cash to have more of what you really want.

The Battle in the Citadel of Capitalism

Garrett Johnson, 12.18.2009

Freelance writer

In 1947, union leaders decided to take the fight to Wall Street, and shut down trade at the source: The New York Stock Exchange.

Banks with Glass Walls

Cate Long, 12.17.2009

http://riski.us

We could use some banks with glass walls... Banks that don't operate like black boxes and put the entire economic system at risk with their risky trading ventures.

The Parable of the Unmerciful Bankers

Jim Wallis, 12.17.2009

Founder of Sojourners; speaker, author, activist

It's estimated that the bonus pool of just one of these big banks would have been enough money to prevent or significantly delay foreclosure for all 2.3 million people who lost their homes last year.

Senate Banking Committee Holds Hearing on Bernanke Confirmation: One Hot Committee Room

Cate Long, 12.17.2009

http://riski.us

A fight's a'brewin in room 538 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building... This is the committee room of the Senate Banking Committee...

Disillusionment And The 'Knowledge Economy'

Bob Wells, 12.17.2009

Editor, boulderreporter.com

S's death has become an example of (or at least a metaphor for) the pained existence of the growing number of people I know and hear about who could be classed professionally as Knowledge Workers.

Republicans' Job Creation Tripe

Lawrence Mishel, 12.17.2009

President, Economic Policy Institute

The bank bailouts are now expected to cost $200 billion less than initially anticipated. When last week President Obama rightfully proposed using thes...

Health Care Without Bankruptcy, Please

Jeffrey Feldman, 12.17.2009

Author of Framing The Debate and Outright Barbarous, Founder of Frameshop blog

A mandate for health insurance would, if signed into law, would take the already flawed business model of health insurance and turn it into a perfect storm of financial and then physical ruin.

Wall Street Tells the President of the United States to Bugger Off

Raymond J. Learsy, 12.19.2009

Scholar and author, "Over a Barrel: Breaking Oil’s Grip on Our Future"

With the nation up in arms about the perversity of pouring billions into the coffers of the banks the symbolism of the three CEO's tone deaf failure to be present in Washington is beyond understanding.

Time Magazine's Person of The Year Joke

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, 12.17.2009

Political Analyst and Social Issues Commentator

Time Magazine's editors got a jump on April Fools Day when they named Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke its Person of the Year. Here's what Bernanke did sin...

Obama Administration Gives Bechtel Bettis a $128 Million Small Business Contract

Lloyd Chapman, 12.16.2009

Small business advocate

The American Small Business League (ASBL) has uncovered a $128 million small business contract awarded to Bechtel Bettis by Obama officials. Bechtel,...

Bring Back the Glass-Steagall Act to Break Up the MegaBanks that Caused the Crisis

Rep. Maurice Hinchey, 12.16.2009

The financial system in this country has been rigged and my new bill to re-establish Glass-Steagall will help undo the circumstances that led to this most recent collapse while helping to prevent future ones.

Goldman Sachs: Let Me Count the Ways You Offend Us

Marcella Mroczkowski, 12.17.2009

Marcella Mroczkowski is a Huffington Post citizen journalist, attorney and parent of six..

How do you offend us, Goldman Sachs? Let me count the ways: nstead of investing that money to grow the economy you foster predatory lending to our more vulnerable citizens, to feed your derivative gambling.

Holiday Songfest: It's Another Ho-Ho-Horowitz Christmas!

Rick Horowitz, 12.16.2009

Satirist and syndicated columnist

Jingle Bells // Sarah sells // Now she's got a book // Truth? Or lies? // While she tries and tries // To be worth a second look. // Oh, the weather outside is frightful // And the GOP is spiteful