Business & Economy

America Faces the Music in Davos

William Pfaff / Truthdig Feb 2, 2009 The American participants in this year's World Economic Forum have been the first to confront the full international blowback to the U.S.-created world economic crisis, which has devastated the nation's reputation for competence, along with the justification for its six-decade role as world leader. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

‘Left, Right & Center’: Socialism or Protectionism?

Staff / Truthdig Jan 31, 2009 Will President Obama's stimulus plan be a help or a hindrance to America's economic future? The "Left, Right, & Center" panelists have their opinions, of course, on the subject, and they're ready to go to battle -- and sometimes even agree -- on this week's show. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Obama Blasts ‘Shameful’ Bonuses

Staff / Truthdig Jan 30, 2009 The president is famous for his even disposition, but he appears to be flat-out pissed at the news that Wall Street bankers showered themselves with bonuses while helping drive the economy into a ditch. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Economic Policy That Might Actually Work? Who Knew?

Marie Cocco / Truthdig Jan 29, 2009 After eight years of trickle-down tax cuts that pushed the prosperous up and left most everyday Americans sliding further down, the stimulus bill now moving swiftly through Congress is more than a reversal of political course. Let's hope it's not too late. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Hey, Big Spender: Obama Talks Stimulus

Staff / Truthdig Jan 25, 2009 Barack Obama is coming out of the gate with quite the to-do list, not the least part being his new economic recovery plan, which carries quite the price tag at about $1 trillion. What is he thinking? Here, Obama gives some details in his weekly online address. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Congress Sings the Bailout Blues

Staff / Truthdig Jan 19, 2009 Want to know where the $350 billion banking bailout went and why it hasn't done a bit of good? Read, and weep over, this little-noticed report from the congressional panel set up to monitor the Treasury Department's distribution of our taxpayer funds. Dig deeper ( 6 Min. Read )

Wall Street Robber Barons Ride Again

Robert Scheer / Truthdig Jan 14, 2009 Why rush to throw another $350 billion of taxpayer money at the Wall Street bandits and their political cronies who created the biggest financial mess since the Great Depression? And why should we taxpayers be expected to double our debt exposure when the 10 still-secret bailout contracts made in the first round are being kept from the public? Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Obama Gets to Work on Economy

Staff / Truthdig Jan 11, 2009 In his weekly address posted on Change.gov Friday, Barack Obama explains why he's starting his job before assuming office: It's the economy, stupid. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Beware, Mr. Obama, of Tax-Cut Seduction

Marie Cocco / Truthdig Jan 8, 2009 Much of the business-tax package Obama contemplates fails his own test of cutting business taxes "where it makes sense and is going to work." Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Obama Pushes Economic Recovery Plan

Staff / Truthdig Jan 5, 2009 In this series of weekly addresses posted on Change.gov before news of the Bill Richardson scandal broke, the president-elect makes an appeal for an economic recovery strategy that would ideally prevent further job losses and spark a turnaround in Americans' prospects as soon as possible. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

FDR Prolonged the Depression? Really?

David Sirota / Truthdig Jan 2, 2009 If you're like me, you sometimes find yourself speechless when confronted with abject insanity, such as conservatives' newest talking point -- the one designed to stop Congress from passing an economic stimulus package. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Swindler of the Year

Eugene Robinson / Truthdig Jan 1, 2009 In a sense, we're all Bernie Madoff. We've been running our economy in accordance with his accounting principles for a generation -- and now we face a most unpleasant reckoning. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )