Robert Reich: What Obama's plan for fixing the economy should be

Come to think about, when is the last time you heard President propose an idea for creating jobs:

President Obama’s electoral strategy can best be summed up as: “We’re on the right track, my economic policies are working, we still have a long way to go but stick with me and you’ll be fine.”

That’s not good enough. This recovery is too anemic, and the chance of an economic stall between now and Election Day far too high.

Even now, Mitt Romney’s empty “I’ll to it better” refrain is attracting as many voters as Obama’s “we’re on the right track.” Each man is gathering 46 percent of voter support, according to the latest New York Times/CBS poll. Only 33 percent of the public thinks the economy is improving while 40 percent say they’re still falling behind financially — an 11 point increase from 2008. Nearly two-thirds are concerned about paying for housing, and one in five with mortgages say they’re underwater.

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Are the super rich perverting our constitution in the political process?

Are the super rich perverting our constitution in the political process? | Articles | IndUS Business Journal

The Las Vegas casino Mogul Sheldon Adelson kept the presidential hopes of Newt Gingrich alive since the start of the GOP elections by infusing large sums from his personal wealth to "Winning the Future" — the super Political Action Committee supporting Gingrich in the Republican caucuses and primaries. Similarly, the millionaire Foster Friess of Wyoming is bank­rolling the pro-Rick-Santorum group (Red, White and Blue Fund), while several wealthy individuals are behind "Restore our Future" super PAC in support of Mitt Romney's candidacy.

The financial support of Gingrich should trigger a new debate on campaign financing and First Amendment speech rights vested in super PACs by the U.S. Supreme Court decision of 2010. By that five to four decision in favor of Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission, the high court has allowed unlimited corporate and union spending in elections as a token of free speech.

While the super PACs are confusing the campaign financing process, the recent Montana Supreme Court decision to uphold a century-old ban on corporate campaign spending in the state (Montana's 1912 Corrupt Practices Act), has befuddled the workings of the nation's highest court. Acknowledging the conflict with Citizens United, Montana's Chief Justice Mike McGrath justified the five to two vote since the state was endangered by the "continued efforts of corporate control to the detriment of democracy and the republican form of government."

US jobless data suggests slowdown in job creation

WRAPUP 3-US jobless data suggests slowdown in job creation | Reuters

The number of Americans claiming unemployment benefits for the first time fell only slightly last week, suggesting that job growth in April will not improve much after March's disappointing performance.

Other data on Thursday showed factory activity in the Mid-Atlantic region slowed sharply this month and home resales dropped for a second straight month in March.
Economists viewed the string of weak reports as payback after an abnormally warm winter boosted activity and did not believe that the economy would suffer a repeat of 2011, when growth slowed down sharply in the first half of the year.

Striking for Dummies: How to skip work to join Occupy Wall Street’s May 1 General Strike

Striking for Dummies: How to skip work to join Occupy Wall Street’s May 1 General Strike | Death and Taxes

On May 1 (May Day), or the International Worker’s Day holiday, Occupy Wall Street will stage a general strike. Oddly, though, union workers suffer under the yolk of a piece of 1947 GOP legislation called the Taft-Hartley Act, which requires unions to give 60 days notice for any strike action, and bans a variety of actions like the general strike.

However, as we saw wtih Wisconsin’s Scott Walker protests last year, many schoolteachers took a personal day or called in sick, so there are ways around Taft-Hartley. This, of course, doesn’t cover non-union workers who might be sympathetic to the May 1 General Strike, but are worried that showing solidarity will imperil their job.

White House: 'Silver spoon' words not about Romney

Bull!

White House: 'Silver spoon' words not about Romney

Sen. Rubio refers to himself as 'vice president'

Sen. Rubio refers to himself as 'vice president'

Mexico Loses over 56,000 Soldiers to Desertion in Six Years

Mexico Loses over 56,000 Soldiers to Desertion in Six Years | Fox News Latino

Bachmann: Obama Is ‘Waiving A Tar Baby In The Air’

Bachmann: Obama Is ‘Waiving A Tar Baby In The Air’

Pew Poll: Support For Afghanistan War Sinks To New Lows

Pew Poll: Support For Afghanistan War Sinks To New Lows

China's Ai Weiwei hits Catch 22 in tax lawsuit

Dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is learning a frustrating lesson about challenging Chinese authorities - he is welcome to sue the government over a festering tax case, but must first produce a company seal confiscated by police that he has no way of recovering. Ai sued the tax authorities over a 15 million yuan ($2.4 million) tax evasion penalty on the company he works for...

From: http://ping.fm/3bTHs

Syrian troops clash with rebels in eastern city

Syrian troops clashed with army defectors in an eastern city Thursday, leaving at least one person dead, while government forces bombarded rebel-held neighborhoods of the central city of Homs, activists said.

From: http://ping.fm/SiIld

Inside the Racist Mind: Why Most People Have Some Prejudice or Bias

The fact that you may honestly believe you are not biased does not free you from unconscious racism...

From: http://ping.fm/T5klS

Video: 'The Daily Show' Makes Fun of the GSA Scandal (4-18-12)

April 18, 2012 - The Daily Show With Jon Stewart - Watch more Funny Videos at Vodpod.

Russia attacks Nato Afghanistan withdrawal plan

Russian foreign minister says 2014 deadline is 'artificial' and worries China and other countries as well as Moscow

The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, has criticised Nato's plan to withdraw its forces from Afghanistan by 2014, saying coalition troops should remain in the country until government forces are capable of ensuring security.

From: http://ping.fm/eMpz9

Scientists hail Revolutionary Breast Cancer Breakthrough

Scientists hail revolutionary breast cancer breakthrough - Science - News - The Independent

A dramatic breakthrough in breast cancer research will lead to a revolution in the way the disease will be diagnosed and treated in years to come, leading cancer specialists said yesterday.

Researchers have discovered that breast cancer patients can be subdivided into ten different groups each with a unique genetic fingerprint that will determine the type of drugs and treatment that could lead to a cure.