Topic: Economics

Will uncontrolled debt be the downfall of America? I.O.U.S.A. may have the answer

By Christine Anne Piesyk | August 22, 2008 |

The audience was small but enthusiastic at Opry Mills 20 in Nashville last night for the national premiere of I.O.U.S.A. and a live panel broadcast that put the opinions and experience of five fiscal leader in the line of fire from the public.

For one night only, both Opry Mills and Nashville’s Green Hills cinemas screened what can only be described as a new kind of horror film, I.O.U.S.A., a Sundance award-winning documentary on the state of the nation’s finances. The picture isn’t pretty.

The film itself is a medley of old political footage, newly taped events, lots of graphics and a occasionally irritating hand held cam in need of a steadier ride. Its opening is an eclectic selection of former Presidents, and current President George W. Bush, making statements about how we must get the economy (read: out of control spending) under control. From Presidents Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, the first G. Bush, Clinton and the current White occupant, we hear the same noise. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, Business, Education, Issues, News, Opinion | 1 Comment »

Ethanol: great politics, ineffective energy

April 5, 2008 |

Corn Ethanol is becoming the Iraq war of energy policy. A policy based on lies, that initially won supporters political advantage, is highly destructive to the US, and ultimately destructive to its supporters when the costly truth becomes widely known.

In 2007, 115 US plants produced 7 billion gallons of Corn Ethanol - the energy equivalent of 132 million barrels of oil using about 15% of corn production. While this sounds large, it is tiny in the context of the US economy. This is equal to only 1.6% of the energy from from oil in 2007 used in the US. But the situation is worse than this because it takes 1 unit of fossil fuel to produce 1.3 units of corn ethanol. The net energy produced was only 0.5% of the energy from from oil - while consuming 15% of the US corn crop!

Vast sums of taxpayer and consumer dollars are funding an ineffective solution to the real problems of global warming and energy independence. While the country does not sufficiently fund what can be real solutions. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion, Politics | 3 Comments

“The State of Black America Report” Forward by: Senator Barack Obama

By Terry McMoore | June 9, 2007 |

The NAACP has spent the past 98 years advocating for civil rights and equity. While the NAACP is know for its political battles over policy barriers and issues of discrimination, there is another lesser known organization that focuses its energies on primarily education and economic empowerment. The National Urban League , with it’s rich 88-year history, publishes an annual report  that focuses on some of the problems that face Black Americans, as well as looking at solutions to those problems. This yearly report, titled “The State of Black America,” is broken down into six principal categories: Total Equality, Economics, Health, Education, Social Justice and Civic Engagement. This year’s report features the Portrait of the Black Male. Here are some of the noteworthy facts:

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Sections: Opinion, Politics | No Comments