Economic Update

Economic Update - Profit Motive Costs - 10/08/13

Updates on meaning of government shutdown and possible default, new French law gives workers say on selling companies, biggest billionaire US land-owners, grocery store evidence show no "recovery" in US economy. Major discussions on costs and consequences of profit-driven capitalist enterprises versus workers self-directed enterprises. Response to questions on (1) Germany's Sept 22 elections and (2) whether Obamacare, if passed, would at least guarantee health insurance to America's poorest.

Economic Update - Economic Downturns - 10/01/13

Updates on buying politics, an adjunct's story, women in the US economy, and cutting mental health spending. Major discussions of "debt ceiling" maneuvers in Washington and meaning of Bangladesh workers' demonstrations. Response to listeners on the meanings of cutting need-based state help for students and San Jose, CA's fiscal crisis.

Economic Update - Economics, Art, and Activism - 09/10/13

Updates on G-20 absurdities, Walmart's peculiar "buy America" campaign, UK plans to sell post office, luxury apartments with separate entrances for rich and poor, even more bank outrages. Interview with Steve Lambert, socially engaged artist. Response to questions on defining capitalism and latest Census data on US households.

Economic Update - Uncounted Costs of Capitalist Crisis - 09/03/13

Updates on privatization scandals in Greece, wild dogs roaming Detroit, criminalizing the homeless in South Carolina, and poorer New Haven subsidizing richer Yale. Major discussion of how the crisis has impacted colleges, universities and students yielding social costs for decades to come. Response to listeners on US federal income taxes and intro to a women workers coop in Brooklyn, New York.

Economic Update - Economics and Health - 08/27/13

Update on intern's death in London, austerity and suicide, over-prescribing anti-depressants, cutting health benefits, and laying off mortgage workers at Wells Fargo. Major discussions of the economics of the richest 1% and their relation to the Democratic Party in the US. Continuing response to listeners on defining capitalism and Black Star workers coop (brewpub) in Austin, Texas.

Economic Update - 08/20/13

Updates on Social Security, real wage decline, part-time work, political mavericks and others, subsidy for Walmart. Interview with Laura Gottesdeiner on foreclosure epidemic. Response to listeners on demographic change and economics.

Economic Update - 08/06/13

Updates on latest US GDP growth, corporate guilty pleas in Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster, "economic insecurity" in US, Detroit's new sports arena and Prince William's paid paternity leave. Major discussions of US disposable income drop, banks deny 10 million checking accounts, and remarkably favorable polling numbers for labor unions. Response to listeners on sources of capital for worker coops.

Economic Update - Economy: Private and Public - 07/30/13

Updates on polls on the economy, austerity and national debts, financial transaction tax, North Carolina's people mobilize on economics, G-20 plans to tax corporations, austerity's privatization effects, and Walmart fights DC to keep minimum wage low. Major discussions on Detroit's bankruptcy and private versus public enterprises. Response to listeners on "wagemark" and on capitalism and race.

Economic Update - Economics and Religion - 07/23/13

Updates on Fiat labor struggles in Italy, stagnating real wages in US, capitalist corruption (US, China, Russia), "eminent domain" helps homeowners against foreclosure. Interview with Dr. Obery Hendricks, Jr., professor of religion and biblical studies: how the bible contradicts conservatives' interpretations. Responses to listeners on workers coops forming in Italy, how workers coops can manage growth, and US capitalists substituting stock for cash in paying workers.

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Economic Update - How The System Works - 07/16/13

Updates on rich investors buying up and converting foreclosed homes into rental properties, insurance companies prove that allowing guns into schools do not make them safer, gross pay packages for CEOs, effective corporate tax rates far below official 35%, US non-financial corporations hoarding cash, Australian pawn broker records fastest growth in country's retail sector. Major discussions of (a) IMF report on slowing global economy, and (b) why austerity and stimulus programs both do not work. Responses to listeners' question on state of Puerto Rican economy. Analysis of successful workers coop in Milwaukee.