I looked up some numbers. Wow ( Read more... )

This is very interesting.  Take a look at this consumer price index graph as brought to you by Flowing Data.  Now cross-reference that with items that the poor tend to consume more of than maybe a rich, liberal dick like me.

Item 1: Gasoline +~30%
The poor tend to live further from city centres or further from their jobs, need to travel more to get ( Read more... )

 Here's something that I haven't heard a peep about in the news:

The Canadian dollar is worth 1.05USD.  That's right, not only has it surpassed the US dollar, but it has done so for the last month.  In fact, it has gained 3% since I've been tracking it.

The general dialogue according to the Republicans is that we can't raise taxes in a recession.  What does this mean?  Those who can control or manipulate markets (because they are too big to fail?) have a vested interest in making sure the economy never recovers so that they don't have to pay their share into the society that gives them everything ( Read more... )

"Steve Smith, president of Universities UK, said: "No one takes any pleasure in asking graduates to take on more debt. "
-BBC
I disagree.  Capitalists and bankers everywere take plenty of pleasure in that.  In fact, I think they have learned that's how they force many of us into indentured servitude.  Your 30s, 40s, and 50s are spent digging yourself ( Read more... )

I don't think that's the result Shell was really looking for.

Wow, Ireland.  You done fucked up good.

But I have to say, this bailout sickness is starting to wear on me. It isn't because of the bailouts, per se, but it is who is funding them and where the money is going.  In short, the working class is funding the banking class with their blood, sweat, tears, pension funds, retirement accounts, houses, and ( Read more... )

NPR is running a media blitz looking at Americans and our ongoing struggle with the Holy Dollar.  I think they're making some valid connections here, but sometimes their presentation seems disjointed.  I would like to use this forum to have a better dialogue about it.

( Care to read more about economic inequality? )

Currently, there's a debate about tax breaks in Congress (in case you haven't heard). The Washington Post shows an excellent infographic of how it may change your income.

Personally, I think these sorts of things should be normalised to the average wage to show the percentage of income to a normal person so that the argument is on equal footing. ( Read more... )

I was in my bathroom this morning for some reason thinking about socialism and capitalism... you know, like you do before you're going to brush your teeth and go to work.  Doesn't everyone think this way?  (I thought not.)

Separatists (capitalists) draw lines in the sand. Taxes are a forced means to erase these lines.  We're contributing to the ( Read more... )