2008

• 

  Imagining a New New Deal

  Radio Nation

  Howard Zinn, Frances Moore Lappe, Andrea Batista Schlesinger, Eric Schlosser and...FDR himself weigh in on the troubled economy.

• State Banks Could Solve Financial Crisis

  Nicholas von Hoffman : Banks & Banking

  Forget big bailouts. The fed should finance non-profit state banks like the Bank of North Dakota--no profit means no reason for bankers to misbehave--to get real money to real people in the real economy.

• Return of the Wall Street Hustlers

  Robert Scheer : Banks & Banking

  Obama, who promised change, has put the same old Wall Street hustlers on his economic team. Maybe he could send us an e-mail to explain.

• 

  Bonfire of the Vanities

  William Greider

  Timothy Geithner is responsible for much of the generous deal-making now underway with Wall Street. If Obama's not careful, he will be blamed.

• Stimulus Now

  The Editors : Barack Obama Administration

  On Day One, Congress must present Obama with a bold stimulus plan focused on putting people to work, rebuilding infrastructure and expanding the productive capacity of the economy.

• Spreading the Wealth

  Mark Engler : Gap Between Wealth & Poverty

  Amid the ruins of a new gilded age, the devalued and depressed American people are ready to demand more.

• The House Folds

  Max Fraser : Ethical Economics

  Without a commitment to affordable housing for all, the ownership society remains a myth for many Americans.

• Past and Future

  William Greider : Barack Obama Administration

  Obama's too smart to allow the ideas of the past to define his presidency. Yet Timothy Geithner is an architect and enabler of the unfolding crisis.

• Obama Faces Deflation Risk

  Nicholas von Hoffman : Barack Obama Administration

  Wall Street was buoyed by the appointment of Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary. But that can't offset worries that deflation will compound our economic woes.

• Time for a Bank Holiday

  William Greider : Banks & Banking

  No more free money from Washington. No more masters of the universe. No more business as usual.

• Nail That Double Standard to the Mast!

  Alexander Cockburn : Labor

  If America loses its domestic auto industry, 5 percent of the workforce may be on the street. Don't workers need a bailout, too?

• Change We Can Bank On

  Robert Scheer : Barack Obama Administration

  Reject the old-boy network whose sexism, stupidity and greed helped drive our current financial crisis. How about Sheila Bair for Treasury Secretary?

• Why We Shouldn't Save GM

  Nicholas von Hoffman : General Motors

  The bailout should be used to expand unemployment compensation instead of propping up a single, failing corporation.

• Paulson Plays While We Pay

  Nicholas von Hoffman

  A little under $300 billion of the $700 billion bailout has been invested, loaned out or lost. And as long as Henry Paulson's in charge, we won't know where it went.

• In Praise of a Rocky Transition

  Naomi Klein : Barack Obama Administration

  Every sweetheart deal the Bush administration makes threatens to hobble Obama's ability to deliver on his promise of change.

• The Summers Conundrum

  Mark Ames : Presidential Appointments & Nominations

  In light of all of the corruption and cronyism that have marked the career of Lawrence Summers, why is Obama considering him for treasury secretary?

• Cashing Out Detroit

  Nicholas von Hoffman : Labor

  Saving jobs by giving automakers large amounts of cash is a very expensive form of trickle-down. What we need is a clear plan about how automakers will use the money.

• Introducing a New New Deal

  Campaign for America's Future

  As we move forward, perhaps the best lessons come from yesterday.

• Paul Krugman's Economic To-Do List

  MSNBC

  The Nobel Prize-winning economist recommends what course of action President Obama should take to rescue the middle class.

• Treasury Secretary? Let's Hope Not

  TruthDig : Barack Obama

  Robert Scheer explains why Lawrence Summers would be a bad choice as Treasury Secretary for President-Elect Obama.

• 

  How to End the Recession

  Robert Pollin

  The economy needs a shot of public investment--and if it's green, the payoff will be greatest.

• Slouching Towards Bankruptcy

  Marissa Colón-Margolies : Labor

  GM is banking on a merger that may threaten the company and its workers' survival.

• Invest in Innovation

  James S. Henry & Jim Manzi : Technology

  The US economy rewarded the finance industry at the expense of our most creative problem-solvers. We need an innovation revival to grow our way back to health.

• The Bailout: Bush's Final Pillage

  Naomi Klein : Economic Policy

  Brace yourself for a final, frantic stripping of public wealth as the Bush regime goes out the door.

• The Road to Socialism?

  Philip Green

  Contrary to what you may have heard from John McCain, there's a long way to go.