Business & Economy

GOP Gas Rebate Plan Draws Bipartisan Scorn

Staff / Truthdig May 2, 2006 Republican senators received a flood of angry e-mails and phone calls in response to their plan to mail $100 checks to voters to ease the pinch of ever-rising gasoline prices. Even Rush Limbaugh said the GOP was treating Americans like "whores." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Greed, Sex Slavery and Forced Abortions–Made in the USA

Staff / Truthdig Apr 25, 2006 Ms. Magazine documents quasi-endentured servitude in garment factories in the Northern Mariana Islands--which, because they're a territory of the U.S., labels their clothes "Made in the USA." The surprise: Jack Abramoff facilitated the situation. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Study: Oil Company Profits, Not Crude Prices, Are Pumping Gas Prices

Staff / Truthdig Apr 21, 2006 Corporate profiteering--not increased crude oil prices, not ethanol switch-overs--is responsible for recent gas price increases in California, according to an independent watchdog group. Sounds like Enron all over again. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Facing Terrible PR, McDonald’s Will Tout “Healthier” Side

Staff / Truthdig Apr 18, 2006 In anticipation of a movie version of "Fast Food Nation," along with a similarly-themed upcoming book co-written by the same author, the fast food giant will promote its salads and fruit options. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Cell Phones Set to Dial For Dollars

Staff / Truthdig Apr 17, 2006 PayPal will now allow users to buy goods and exchange money using their cell phones. Sweet! It's been getting far too hard to blow money on impulse items in recent years. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Growth Phase for Obesity Marketing

Staff / Truthdig Apr 17, 2006 From super-size coffins to super-reinforced beds to resorts for those afraid to be seen in bathing suits, the number of products and services for America's obese is growing rapidly. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Wal-Mart Tries to Clean Up Its Image

Staff / Truthdig Apr 17, 2006 The retailing giant will try to help small local businesses via grants and in-store radio ads, among other things The chain has also started carrying organic products and made attempts at being more transparent in its business practices Hey, it's a start. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Exxon Paid Its Ex-Chairman $686 million

Staff / Truthdig Apr 15, 2006 As gas prices soar across the nation, Exxon's board paid its recently-retired chairman, Lee R. Raymond, over $686 million since 1993--with $400 million of that coming in his final year with the company. A compensation payout like that got N.Y. Stock Exchange Chairman Richard Grasso sued. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Food Writer Strips Away Whole Foods Myths

Staff / Truthdig Apr 12, 2006 Author Michael Pollan tells Truthdig: "[Whole Foods is] very cleverly designed, but it's based on illusions If you go to the farm depicted on those labels, you find that in fact things look a little bit different" . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Google’s Wi-Fi Plan Stirs Big Brother Concerns

Staff / Truthdig Apr 12, 2006 The company's free wireless service in San Francisco would allow Google to monitor all its users' whereabouts--ostensibly to serve up location-specific advertising. The feeling you just got? That would be the hairs on the back on your neck rising. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Christian Coalition Shrinks as Debt Grows

Staff / Truthdig Apr 10, 2006 More than $2 million in debt, the conservative Christian organization founded by Pat Robertson is struggling to hold on to its chapters. Amen Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Whistle-blower: AT&T Colluded With NSA on Wiretaps

Staff / Truthdig Apr 9, 2006 AT&T gave the National Security Agency open access to its customers' phone calls and Web-surfing activities, according to a former AT&T employee cooperating in the Electronic Frontier Foundation's lawsuit against the company The full story and a public statement by the whistle-blower . Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )