Economic Update

Economic Update - Recent Economic History - 01/07/14

 Updates on Wisconsin's public employees, the GRAT tax evasion, and the last 50 years of the "War on Pverty." Major discussions of the FED's "taper program," the Boulder, CO vote to produce electricity production itself, and evaluating 20 years of NAFTA. Response to emailed question on AIG bailout and its results.-- 
Bryan Isom

Economic Update - There are alternatives - 12/31/13

Updates on dangers in anti-bacterial soap, South African union to start socialist party, Germans retire abroad, billionaires' whims shape health care. Major discussions of Obamacare and alternatives to capitalist bank scandals. Responses to emails on worker coops in US and on "regulated capitalism."

Economic Update - Giving Thanks? - 12/03/13

Updates on seriously wrong solutions for real economic problems (in Hawaii and at Walmart), 10 big companies paying the lowest wages, Pope's assistant with strong critique of capitalism, correction on Swedish economics prize. Major discussion on the economics of organized religion and separating the issue of full employment from respecting the environment. Response to listeners on Philippine typhoon and critique of seeing "capitalism" as root of all evil.

Economic Update - 11/26/13

Learning from History Updates on key economic causes of Obamacare difficulties, risks of global deflation, Madrid’s garbage strike, and the $13 billion settlement with JP Morgan Chase. Interview with Prof Sheila D. Collins on new book about lessons from the New Deal for today’s crisis. Response to listeners on super PACs and issues of socialism.

Economic Update - 11/05/13

Updates on Goldman Sachs charity/PR, bank scandals, housing "recovery" exposed, suicides rise in Kansas, and Benedictine Nun leads new anti-austerity party in Catalonia. Major discussions of public banking (as in North Dakota) and the basic analysis of continuing "austerity" policies around the world. Response to questions on nature, impact, and injustice of US property taxes. 

Economic Update - 10/15/13

Uneven Development, Part 1

Blurb:  Updates on world wealth distribution, Swiss referenda to reduce economic inequality, and capitalism vs democracy. Major discussions on uneven development's impact on migration and on critique of national debt as matter of "a selfish generation" or "living beyond our means."

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.