Category: Economy
The U.S. could learn a thing or two from the Netherlands
Every time I come to the Netherlands, I can't help think that the United States could learn a thing or two from the Dutch. Over the last week I've watched their incredible capacity to move people using their mass transit system while at the same time reaping the results of their investment into an infrastructure which encourages people to use human-energy-propulsion methods (i.e. the bicycle).
They employ a version of the “hub system” similar to what the top airlines have been forced to embrace as a cost cutting philosophy to become more efficient. The hub system develops hubs to which all feeder routes converge and connect. The Dutch do this so effectively with their cities as the natural hub where everyone wants to go. And I mean everyone.
In Amsterdam for example, there is an incredible array of choices for the commuter to get from the outer suburbs into the incredible city of Amsterdam. And all of the various forms of mass transit have been developed to feed off of and take advantage of the Dutch people's love affair with the bicycle.
The mass transit systems are well thought out and well maintained. For the commuters, this means that you get incredibly efficient, incredibly clean, safe, and very cheap mass transit to the hub city of Amsterdam, and once you are there, you can continue to rely on their mass transit system in and around the city as well. Or you can do as the natives do and grab a bike.
And when you examine the system closer, the bicycle is the key that sets Holland's system apart from any other big city with a subway or commuter trains system. One of the first things visitors to Amsterdam notice are the thousands of bikes locked everywhere they are allowed, but even more impressive to someone from the United States are the huge bicycle parking lots.
Gov Schwarzenegger would rather close fire stations than legalize pot
The news wire is all abuzz that California’s Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger is open to the debate on legalizing marijuana and taxing the sale of it to raise funds.
When asked about the issue the Governor responded tepidly, "No, I don't think it's time for that, but I think it's time for a debate, and I think we ought to study very carefully what other countries are doing that have legalized marijuana and other drugs, what affect it had on those countries, and are they happy with that decision.”
While this may signal the first time the governor gave anything but a flat-out “No” on the issue, it is far from a ringing endorsement. This is on the heels of television ads he is running to muster support for measures of his budget reform that come to vote in a special election on May 19th. If the measures fail, the Governor is threatening to eliminate 1700 fire-fighting positions and the scare tactics used in the ads say failure to pass could jeopardize public schools.
Obama: Our Economy is a concern that rises above all others
President Barack Obama’s first speech to the joint houses of Congress was a message of stern reality, American courage and resilience and most importantly, hope based on a determination to emerge stronger from our weak economic state.
Once again President Obama made it clear that without bi-partisan participation and cooperation we would see many more years of faltering in the global economy.
His most telling statement came near the end of his speech, and with it he tried to remind us that though we have different viewpoints and political philosophies we are all Americans who want the best for our country.
I know that we haven't agreed on every issue thus far, and there are surely times in the future when we will part ways. But I also know that every American who is sitting here tonight loves this country and wants it to succeed. That must be the starting point for every debate we have in the coming months, and where we return after those debates are done. That is the foundation on which the American people expect us to build common ground.
Trump Entertainment files for Bankruptcy - 3rd Time
Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc. filed for Chapter 11 seeking bankruptcy protection from its creditors, for the 3rd time, the last time in 2005, and guess who will pay for it? With assets of $2.1 billion and debt of $1.7 billion piled up in just 3 years, it is another typical example of when credit goes haywire.
Because of the name and despite its horrible business record, people just throw money at the company with no regard for the safety of the loan and no need for collateral. In December, because gambling had taken such a dump, the company decided to stop making their loan payments. When a big company does it, it’s a referred to in such terms as “strategic”. If a person stops making payments he or she is considered a deadbeat, and branded as unworthy of credit for 7 to ten years. In many states they lose their home, and nobody wants to even know them.
House passes stimulus plan: GOP doesn't get it
Today the House of Representatives passed Obama's $819 billion economic stimulus package and not one Republican voted for it. Instead a group of prominent House Republicans offered their own bill which focused primarily on tax cuts. What they seem to have forgotten was that tax cuts were also the crown jewel of John McCain’s rejected economic campaign proposals, illustrating once again that Republicans are totally out of tune with America. Tax cuts are great if you have a job and you are paying taxes in the first place, but they do little for the millions of Americans who lost their jobs last year and the thousands who are losing their jobs each day this year.
While Obama Looks to the Future - Republicans Wish for Trickle-Down Past
Today on CNN.com newly elected Republican House Whip, Eric Cantor, Republican in his 5th term representing the 7th District of Virginia, published an editorial commentary on President-elect Barack Obama’s sorely needed economic stimulus package, and he showed his true colors as a Republican who cannot get beyond his conservative view of wishing for the same old trickle-down economics that got us into this mess in the first place.
D.C. Economic Heavyweight Bout Begins: Obama vs Congress
On Sunday, President-elect Barack Obama finally arrived in Washington after a last chance holiday vacation before officially inheriting the mess the Bush Administration and the last Congress left him. Today he will meet with Congressional leaders to pitch his economic package and it is a bout of legendary magnitude and consequences which he begins.
Though the country is in dire need of quick action on the economy, it doesn’t look like Congress will be able to pass it before mid-February and it’s safe to say that that’s under ideal circumstances and an atmosphere of cooperation and compromise.
Are America's problems caused by our aggression?
Americans in general are aggressive and that can be a positive or a negative trait depending on the situation and the degree. Americans are known for their aggressive nature, and it should be no surprise. Being aggressive when we fought in the two World Wars was a good thing, and hard fighting and the will to win brought about the end to both wars.
More recently Senator John McCain ran almost his entire presidential campaign on the premise that he was a “fighter”, and that he would “continue the fight” throughout his presidency. Unfortunately for him, he offered little else, and the American people know well enough that we need someone in the White House who is more than just ornery.
U.S. Mayors join the federal soup line
Over the last few months, the halls of Capitol Hill resemble a soup kitchen more than the Congress of the United States. Day after day, suffering millionaires are appearing before Congress with their hands out begging for billions. CEO’s flying to Washington in private jets with “Will Work for Food” signs scrawled on worthless stock certificates. We’ve heard sob stories about cut-backs on executive perks such as entertainment and travel costs, and even corporate jets being sold. They’ve all been in on it, the banks, the insurance industry, the auto industry, the governors, and now the mayors have joined in.
Fixing the economy: The Big Picture
The United States is facing so many domestic problems at the same time right now, we can only hope that when President-elect Barack Obama finally gets into the White House, he has the vision to look at the “Big Picture”. All of these problems are intermingled, and unless the solutions are intertwined as well, we will find ourselves putting a band-aid on one problem and exacerbating another.
U.S. Auto Bailout? Let the chips fall where they may.
The Big Three U.S. Automakers were in Washington today, pleading their cases on Capitol Hill for bailout money, threatening the country with dire consequences if we don’t give them billions of dollars.
While many top Democrats and top economists seem to agree that the consequences would be grave and could spark the loss of millions of jobs, nobody seems willing to write another blank check, not even with so much at stake. More and more the public sentiment seems to be to let the business marketplace have its way with GM, Ford and Chrysler, and let the chips fall where they may.
Amex becomes bank to get Fed aid
American Express is facing such tough times, that a couple weeks ago they announced they are laying-off about 7,000 employees. But that’s just the tip of the melting iceberg. What should really convince all the citizens of the United States and get them united behind Amex is almost unconscionable, and shows the true metal of the company executives at the helm.
Poverty: Starving for equality
I’m watching the Presidential Debate tonight on Blog Action day, on a day chosen to discuss “poverty”. As I listen to the dialogue between the candidates, I realize that though this debate is about the economy, it is not addressing poverty. Real poverty is ugly, and costly, and often swept under the rug, so we no longer have to look at it. The causes of poverty are not dealt with, instead, the eyesore is removed and hidden.
Homelessness in America: On the rise?
In a little over three weeks I will be participating in Blog Action Day which is a worldwide discussion on one specific subject by over four thousand websites, and read by over nine million people. The subject of the 2008 Blog Action day is “poverty”.
The discussion will take place on Wednesday, October 15th, but the subject is close to my heart, and I see it as among the most reprehensible, controllable human conditions. But why jump the gun? Because over the last two days, I witnessed a form of poverty, in all places, Key West, Florida. I was reminded that there are more homeless people in this country than there should be, and though it’s not one of the ugliest forms of poverty, it is sad just the same.
America's oil addiction: Issue #1
What is the most important issue we face this election? Is it the war in Iraq, Iran’s nuclear program, Osama Bin Laden, Al-Qaeda, the economy, the price of oil, the price of gas, the mortgage crisis, the housing crisis, unemployment, health insurance, inflation, a crumbling infrastructure? I say all of the above, but if there is one over-riding factor that ties almost all of these issues together, it's America’s addiction to foreign oil.
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