White House Juices the Job Count

Staff / Truthdig Jan 12, 2010 The White House will now count all jobs funded by stimulus money, not just those that were created or saved. The job market is still hemorrhaging and the administration might be looking to do a little inflation. Or it might honestly be trying to simplify a confusing and highly criticized formula for counting jobs. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Goldman Sachs Becomes ‘SNL’ Punchline

Staff / Truthdig Nov 10, 2009 Those entitled Wall Street types at Goldman Sachs are apparently oblivious to the fact that they're having some PR issues of late -- either that, or they don't really care. Either way, "SNL" stars Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers make them the brunt of their jokes in this clip from last weekend's show. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Goofy Stimulus Projects Have Real Value

Staff / Truthdig Nov 6, 2009 Don't be fooled by stimulus critics who cite expenditures such as the "electric fish orchestra" (actually an educational demonstration of a larger project related to robotics and prosthetics) or trips to resorts (to train special-ed teachers). "Waste," as ProPublica reports, "is in the eye of the beholder." (continued) Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

White House: Stimulus Made, Saved Nearly 650,000 Jobs

Staff / Truthdig Oct 31, 2009 The White House sounded a triumphant note Friday about the success of the economic stimulus in salvaging and creating close to 650,000 jobs in recent months, but some Republicans, along with the AP, are questioning the accuracy of the government's figures. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Don’t Worry About Us Seniors

Ellen Goodman / Truthdig Oct 22, 2009 You can't go wrong in politics giving money to seniors, but it's the poor and hungry -- often kids -- who need $250 checks. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Sorry Grandma, No COLA for You

Staff / Truthdig Oct 15, 2009 For the first time in 34 years, Social Security beneficiaries will not get a benefit boost from a cost-of-living adjustment. Falling energy prices, in particular, should keep seniors flush with their monthly average $1,094 checks. So what if their health care costs have gone up by a third? Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Summers to Boehner: Stimulus Is Working

Staff / Truthdig Oct 13, 2009 There is some rumbling among the congressional Republican ranks that Team Obama's stimulus package has driven the country into ever deeper economic trouble, but one prominent member of said presidential team, economic adviser Lawrence Summers, begs to differ -- and he's written a letter to House GOP honcho John Boehner to tell him why. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Why Obama Must Spend More

Joe Conason / Truthdig Oct 8, 2009 If the president and Congress don't come to the aid of workers, the political consequences will be severe, and deservedly so. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

States Ignoring Stimulus Welfare Fund

Staff / Truthdig Sep 8, 2009 Congress created a $5 billion emergency fund for needy families that can be used to immediately create jobs or pay rent for families facing eviction, but many states say they can't afford to take advantage of the windfall. Dig deeper ( 7 Min. Read )

Here’s Hoping Obama Really Is a Socialist

Staff / Truthdig Aug 14, 2009 In this topsy-turvy world it seems one's proximity to full-blown communism is directly proportional to one's success in capitalism. Take Red China's explosive economic growth, or the unexpected success of semi-socialist Germany and France, which just bid auf Wiedersehen and adieu to the recession. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

That Good Ol’ Tennessee Socialism

Staff / Truthdig Jul 27, 2009 Faced with one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, Tennessee has taken matters into its own hands. In a work project inspired by the New Deal, the state is using money from the federal stimulus package to create hundreds of jobs ranging from working for the state Transportation Department to baking goodies at the local pie shop. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Here Comes the ‘New’ GM

Staff / Truthdig Jul 11, 2009 General Motors Chief Executive Fritz Henderson tooted his company's horn plenty when he ushered in a new, post-bankruptcy era for the Detroit automaker -- but he couldn't promise that GM 2.0 would be able to pay back the billions of dollars his company got from taxpayers. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )