Detroit’s Pensions Under Attack

Staff / Truthdig Jul 22, 2013 The bankrupt city is looking to cut its already underfunded retirement benefits; given the current economic climate, perhaps it's time for the affordable housing options that were used in the last century to make a comeback; meanwhile, Pope Francis' new banker, hired to clean up the Vatican's messy accounts, comes with sex scandals of his own. These discoveries and more after the jump. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Independence From Terror

By Subhankar Banerjee, Climate Story Tellers Jul 4, 2013 Do we write words of mourning? Or do we write words of resistance? Those two braids have joined and from now on will flow together -- in our age of the Anthropocene. Dig deeper ( 14 Min. Read )

The Shame of America’s Gulag

Chris Hedges / Truthdig Mar 18, 2013 US prisons are the engines of a system of neo-slavery in which corporations feed on the bodies of people of color Reform is unlikely in the face of enormous profits. Dig deeper ( 11 Min. Read )

Banks Rake In Highest Quarterly Profits Since 2007

Staff / Truthdig May 24, 2012 The American banking industry enjoyed profits of $35.3 billion in the first quarter of 2012, the industry’s best performance since 2007, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. But it did so largely because banks put aside less money to cover bad loans, while keeping a lid on new lending. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Whose Corporations? Our Corporations!

By Ken Jacobsen, AlterNet Apr 7, 2012 Historically, corporations were understood to be responsible to a complex web of constituencies, including employees, communities, society at large, suppliers, and shareholders. But in the era of deregulation, the interests of shareholders began to trump all the others. How can we get corporations to recognize their responsibilities beyond this narrow focus?How can we get corporations to recognize their responsibilities to society, rather than just shareholders? Dig deeper ( 8 Min. Read )

Plight of U.S. Workers, by the Numbers

Staff / Truthdig Jul 4, 2011 You already know Americans are overworked. But what are the hard numbers? This collection of charts from definitive sources plainly shows that the biggest industries are hiring the least, the Internet has extended the workday, employed women do more domestic work with less leisure time than men, and more. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

The U.S. Economy’s Stagnation Problem

Staff / Truthdig Jun 1, 2011 The economic indicators for May aren't pretty, throwing up red flags that American job growth and factory output aren't enough to carry the U.S. economy into a recovery and forcing a critical look at the way the crisis has been managed. (more) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Health Insurers Reaping Record Profits

Staff / Truthdig May 14, 2011 The health insurance industry is raking in profits on the backs of consumers who are increasingly forgoing medical care due to economic concerns, though that hasn't stopped big insurers from drastically raising premiums. (more) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Restive Egypt Looks Over Its Shoulder

Staff / Truthdig Jan 24, 2011 The uprising that sacked Tunisia’s government is continuing to echo through the region, with Egypt, especially, looking over its shoulder and fearing instability that could scare off foreign investors. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

For-Profit Schools Sue to Stop Reforms

Staff / Truthdig Jan 22, 2011 For-profit schools, some of which are accused of failing to properly educate while loading students with debt, have banded together to fight the introduction of three federal reforms. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

BP Puts a Price on Gulf Damage Control

Staff / Truthdig Jul 27, 2010 Will $32.2 billion be enough to foot the bill for the tremendous mess the BP oil spill has made of the Gulf of Mexico? The higher-ups at the oil company seem to think so -- at least for now. (continued) Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Goldman Sachs’ Profit Takes a Major Plunge in Q2

Staff / Truthdig Jul 20, 2010 Those of us who have stood aghast and watched as Goldman Sachs seemed to sail almost unscathed through the erupting economic catastrophe of the last two years (thank you, bailout!) might stop now for a moment of pure schadenfreude, as the megabank's profits took a precipitous dive in the second quarter of this year. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )