Global
The numbers are grim, whether in the West Bank or the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian economy is in one of its most wretched states, and the disaster is mostly, if not entirely manmade, thus reversible.
The World Bank made no secret of the fact that Israeli restrictions are largely to blame, as poverty rates in the Gaza Strip and West Bank have soared to 79.4 per cent and 45.7 per cent respectively. It concluded: "With a growing population and a shrinking economy, real per capita GDP is now 30 per cent below its height in 1999." "With due regard to Israel's security concerns, there is consensus on the paralytic effect of the current physical obstacles placed on the Palestinian economy," it added.
The World Bank made no secret of the fact that Israeli restrictions are largely to blame, as poverty rates in the Gaza Strip and West Bank have soared to 79.4 per cent and 45.7 per cent respectively. It concluded: "With a growing population and a shrinking economy, real per capita GDP is now 30 per cent below its height in 1999." "With due regard to Israel's security concerns, there is consensus on the paralytic effect of the current physical obstacles placed on the Palestinian economy," it added.
Wow! The Obama campaign is doing a terrific job so far don't you think?
I really feel that obama has a really good chance that he will become president. He really took charge when the bail out crisis was going on! Presidents have to juggle many things all at once, and i think he showed that he has what i takes to handle a crisis like that and handle the big debate! Big thumbs up on that one.
I really feel that obama has a really good chance that he will become president. He really took charge when the bail out crisis was going on! Presidents have to juggle many things all at once, and i think he showed that he has what i takes to handle a crisis like that and handle the big debate! Big thumbs up on that one.
To the Editor:
Here are my terms for the bail-out 1. Prohibit gold, silver, or bronze parachutes to any employee whose company bellies up to the bail-out bar. Limit total compensation to any/each employee to the sum of the salary of the US President and the cost of health insurance for US Congresspersons. 2. Require government equity positions in return for bail-out monies. 3. Apply a retroactive surtax to investors who profited during any year since 2001 from companies that get bailed-out.
Robert A. Letcher, PhD Columbus, Ohio 43212
Here are my terms for the bail-out 1. Prohibit gold, silver, or bronze parachutes to any employee whose company bellies up to the bail-out bar. Limit total compensation to any/each employee to the sum of the salary of the US President and the cost of health insurance for US Congresspersons. 2. Require government equity positions in return for bail-out monies. 3. Apply a retroactive surtax to investors who profited during any year since 2001 from companies that get bailed-out.
Robert A. Letcher, PhD Columbus, Ohio 43212
There was only one foreign policy asked about in Friday night's foreign policy debate: war and potential wars.
Obama began the debate by allowing McCain to get away with claiming the mantle of "accountability" on the issue of a bailout that rewards fraud in financial markets. Why? Because Obama won't oppose the bailout.
Then he let McCain get away with complaining about a huge increase in the size of government, without pointing out that the larger "size" of government is wars and military spending supported by McCain (and Obama).
Obama finally spoke up on a serious and good difference with McCain on taxes, even going so far as to speak in favor of taxing businesses rather than people, but allowed McCain to seize the high ground on earmarks and "pork barrel spending."
In most cases, Obama spoke on one topic and McCain on another. This was not a debate in which both were required to speak on the same points.
Obama openly promised shock-doctrinal success for the bailout, telling us that he will have to cut back spending for useful projects. But he took the opportunity to speak about the need for all the things he may or may not fund.
Obama began the debate by allowing McCain to get away with claiming the mantle of "accountability" on the issue of a bailout that rewards fraud in financial markets. Why? Because Obama won't oppose the bailout.
Then he let McCain get away with complaining about a huge increase in the size of government, without pointing out that the larger "size" of government is wars and military spending supported by McCain (and Obama).
Obama finally spoke up on a serious and good difference with McCain on taxes, even going so far as to speak in favor of taxing businesses rather than people, but allowed McCain to seize the high ground on earmarks and "pork barrel spending."
In most cases, Obama spoke on one topic and McCain on another. This was not a debate in which both were required to speak on the same points.
Obama openly promised shock-doctrinal success for the bailout, telling us that he will have to cut back spending for useful projects. But he took the opportunity to speak about the need for all the things he may or may not fund.
We are constantly being asked: "What can we do to stop the 2008 election from being stolen?"
Because we broke many of the major stories surrounding the theft of the 2004 election in Ohio (and because after four years it is abundantly clear that election most definitely was stolen) the flow of inquiries is heartfelt and non-stop. We cannot afford to have this happen again on November 4.
There is a simple answer for what you can do: be a poll worker.
There are additional options: be a poll judge, a poll observer, a member of a video the vote team, a voter registration researcher and assistant, an organizer for a post-election public hearing, and more.
Because we broke many of the major stories surrounding the theft of the 2004 election in Ohio (and because after four years it is abundantly clear that election most definitely was stolen) the flow of inquiries is heartfelt and non-stop. We cannot afford to have this happen again on November 4.
There is a simple answer for what you can do: be a poll worker.
There are additional options: be a poll judge, a poll observer, a member of a video the vote team, a voter registration researcher and assistant, an organizer for a post-election public hearing, and more.
By Harvey Wasserman & Bob Fitrakis
We are constantly being asked: “What can we do to stop the 2008 election from being stolen?”
Because we broke many of the major stories surrounding the theft of the 2004 election in Ohio (and because after four years it is abundantly clear that election most definitely was stolen) the flow of inquiries is heartfelt and non-stop. We cannot afford to have this happen again on November 4.
There is a simple answer for what you can do: be a poll worker.
There are additional options: be a poll judge, a poll observer, a member of a video the vote team, a voter registration researcher and assistant, an organizer for a post-election public hearing, and more.
We are constantly being asked: “What can we do to stop the 2008 election from being stolen?”
Because we broke many of the major stories surrounding the theft of the 2004 election in Ohio (and because after four years it is abundantly clear that election most definitely was stolen) the flow of inquiries is heartfelt and non-stop. We cannot afford to have this happen again on November 4.
There is a simple answer for what you can do: be a poll worker.
There are additional options: be a poll judge, a poll observer, a member of a video the vote team, a voter registration researcher and assistant, an organizer for a post-election public hearing, and more.
Singer-songwriter Jackson Browne nailed the nuclear power industry on the Colbert Show. Browne is in New York touring for his new album "Time the Conqueror." He is also suing the John McCain campaign for the illegal use of his "Running on Empty." McCain placed the song as background in an attack ad against Barack Obama. (For a full transcript and video, see this page).
As you read this, nuclear power liabilities embraced by the federal government could be making small radioactive potatoes of the mere hundreds of billions George W. Bush wants to hand the pirates of Wall Street.
In fact, they could make all the money spent in Iraq, on the defense budget, on social security and on this bailout seem like nickels and dimes.
Why? Because as of this moment the taxpayers of the United States are on the hook for potential catastrophic melt-downs at 104 licensed atomic reactors. Every one of them can kill hundreds of thousands of American citizens. Every one of them can inflict more financial damage than can be reasonably calculated.
On September 11, 2001, we missed by just one minute learning what costs such a catastrophe can really incur.
And what’s truly astonishing is that the reactor industry wants to build even more of these radioactive machines of mass self-destruction.
So while the national mind is focused on the gargantuan cost of what the Bush Republicans have done to the American economy, let’s note what could be happening right now.
In fact, they could make all the money spent in Iraq, on the defense budget, on social security and on this bailout seem like nickels and dimes.
Why? Because as of this moment the taxpayers of the United States are on the hook for potential catastrophic melt-downs at 104 licensed atomic reactors. Every one of them can kill hundreds of thousands of American citizens. Every one of them can inflict more financial damage than can be reasonably calculated.
On September 11, 2001, we missed by just one minute learning what costs such a catastrophe can really incur.
And what’s truly astonishing is that the reactor industry wants to build even more of these radioactive machines of mass self-destruction.
So while the national mind is focused on the gargantuan cost of what the Bush Republicans have done to the American economy, let’s note what could be happening right now.
The grassroots green energy movement has won a huge---but temporary---victory over the nuke power industry.
The triumph comes at the federal level, while state-wide ratepayers are still being gouged to pay for new reactors in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and elsewhere.
But it means that no new major federal loan guarantees will be designated to build new reactors at least until after the November 4 presidential election.
Since last fall the new nuke builders have been badgering Congress to vote them gargantuan subsidies and guarantees. Because they cannot compete in the marketplace with Solartopian technologies such as wind, solar, geothermal and other clean, renewable sources, no Wall Street investors have been willing to back new reactor construction.
In the fall of 2007, the nuke pushers sponsored an Energy Bill with $50 billion in loan guarantees for new reactors. But a grass roots campaign, in concert with NukeFree.org and wide range of national green groups, defeated the proposal. Not a single major environmental organization supported the hand-outs.
The triumph comes at the federal level, while state-wide ratepayers are still being gouged to pay for new reactors in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and elsewhere.
But it means that no new major federal loan guarantees will be designated to build new reactors at least until after the November 4 presidential election.
Since last fall the new nuke builders have been badgering Congress to vote them gargantuan subsidies and guarantees. Because they cannot compete in the marketplace with Solartopian technologies such as wind, solar, geothermal and other clean, renewable sources, no Wall Street investors have been willing to back new reactor construction.
In the fall of 2007, the nuke pushers sponsored an Energy Bill with $50 billion in loan guarantees for new reactors. But a grass roots campaign, in concert with NukeFree.org and wide range of national green groups, defeated the proposal. Not a single major environmental organization supported the hand-outs.