Why we don't think the stimulus stimulated

A new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll found that nearly 3 out of 4 Americans think that at least half of the money spent in the federal stimulus plan has been wasted. (Experts say it actually saved jobs. According to the economists’ median estimate, unemployment would have hit 10.8 percent without Obama’s $787 billion stimulus program, or another 1.2 million jobs lost.) I liked Joel Klein’s (Chancellor of the New York City Dept.of Education) response, in is new piece about how Americans are dumber than they used to be, titled “Too Dumb to Thrive.": “...it’s been wasted on them. This is why your child’s teacher wasn’t laid off ... and why the fire station has remained open, and why you’re not paying even higher state and local taxes to close the local budget hole.” 

You mean foreign corporations can...

One of the subtleties overlooked by conservatives in the Supreme Court decision on allowing corporations to buy their way with our government – foreign corporations can do it as well.  Just imagine Europe’s Air Bus buying support for selling their planes to the Pentagon at Boeing’s expense. Since governments control Air Bus this means foreign governments can buy our congress people.  How would you like Chinese Corporations buying influence in congress or running slick commercials telling us how to vote?  I don’t know about you but I see a problem.

Move Your Money - Still moving

Jim Rubenstein at the Credit Union Times – January 25, 2010

Consumers are being driven in higher numbers to credit union Web sites as a result of the media and government focus on big bank practices, according to NAFCU and CUNA. NAFCU, for one, said this week its “CULookup” locator has recorded “a tripling of volume” since the first favored mention of CUs appeared on New York pundit Arianna Huffington’s “Move Your Money” Web site.

Guns for Jesus - I don't think so

“Trijicon, the gunsight maker that has imprinted Bible verse numbers on its scopes, has announced that it will no longer imprint the verses on the sides of scopes intended for the U.S. military, and will also provide clients with the kits to remove the Bible verse numbers from existing scopes.” The decision comes after days of scrutiny from the mainstream media and significant critique that American troops would be made less safe in the field if they were seen to be crusaders.

Possible Northern Goshawk sighting - Tune in to Birdwatch Sat. morning.

Learn how difficult it is to correctly identify raptors as Caleb Putnam, the Michigan Important Bird Areas Program Coordinator for Audubon helps us sort out a possible goshawk sighting. Following CBS news at 8:00 on 590KZO.

Why we need to respect our neighbors

Thanks to Kelly Troff for sending this to me.

The beat goes on - the standard of living slips away

"Now the results of a new study by Elizabeth Warren of Harvard Law School and Deborah Thorne of Ohio University finds that as of 2007, bankruptcy has become a phenomenon of the middle class."

"When credit card companies lobbied Congress for revisions to the bankruptcy code, they claimed interest rates would go down, saving the average family $300 a year. The new law took effect in October 2005 and bankruptcy filings temporarily declined, but interest rates did not."

"The middle class is adjusting by spending less and saving more, however, unless banks modify under-water mortgages, hold the line on interest rates and we have significant health insurance reform, middle-class workers will remain vulnerable and we will continue to see them in bankruptcy court."     Jeffrey Freedman

Click here to read the complete article.