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Ideas into Action for Peace, Justice, and the Environment - Institute for Policy Studies
Nurses have been on the front lines of the crisis, seeing firsthand the health impacts of skyrocketing poverty and record high rates of uninsured Americans. The father of Bank of America wouldn't recognize it today. The "built-to-last" institution he founded has turned into a "built-to-loot" operation obsessed with short-term gains. Amadeo P. Giannini built Bank of America into the first nationwide financial institution.
Advances in drilling and recovery technologies for shale gas have reshaped our assumptions about America’s natural gas resources and our future energy options. Expanded development of shale gas and its associated liquids offer the potential for turning energy scarcity into plenty, fostering a renaissance in our petrochemical and manufacturing sectors, and offering a cleaner option for power generation. If shale gas production realizes its potential of providing reliable supplies of natural gas for decades at affordable prices, it will lower utility bills for households and, by driving down feedstock and production costs, boost American manufacturing. In addition, greater use of natural gas in electricity generation is already providing environmental and climate benefits as a cleaner, market-friendly substitute for coal and as a complement to intermittent renewable resources like wind and solar.
Progressive Policy Institute - The Place for Pragmatic Progressives
The mortgage finance market has leaned heavily on government support over the past few years. More than 90 percent of mortgages originated in 2011 were securitized by government entities using taxpayer funds to guarantee investors against default risk. This support cannot continue forever. The status quo perpetuates many of the policies that contributed to the housing bubble and consequently promotes an unstable mortgage market. In order to avoid another crisis, and to reduce the $5.8 trillion in liabilities for taxpayers, the government must exit mortgage finance and private capital must shoulder mortgage default risk. There are several roadblocks facing this transition, including subsidies for government-sponsored enterprises, Dodd-Frank regulations, legal complexities for mortgage-backed securities, and a profound lack of confidence in the models used by credit rating agencies to assess mortgage investments.
Reason Foundation
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Conflicts over water can pose national security concerns, yet joint management of the essential resource can also inspire international cooperation. The Wilson Center’s Geoff Dabelko explains the government’s latest intelligence assessment on global water security.
29 March 2012 While the advantage enjoyed by Democratic presidential candidates among women has a long history, Barack Obama's margins over his GOP rivals in this year's campaign are striking. Women favor Obama over Republican candidates Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum by 20 and 26 points, respectively. When it comes to the parties, 51% of women identify with the Democrats compared to 42% of men. 26 March 2012 As the Supreme Court hears arguments this week about the 2010 Affordable Care Act, surveys show that the public remains divided over the basic law. However, majorities continue to oppose the key element of the bill before the Court this week -- the requirement that all Americans buy health insurance or face a penalty.
Pew Research Center
Three much-discussed ways to curb Social Security payouts may be inadequate—and come at a high human cost. Reducing benefit payouts is one way to solve Social Security’s current shortfall. Three measures to accomplish this are to raise the full retirement age, encourage people to postpone retirement, or curtail benefits. Unfortunately, none of these methods are good solutions.
American Institute for Economic Research (AIER)
AIPAC \looking [to] bring more pressure to bear...our hope is...it will alter Iran's calculations about...pursuing nuclear capabilities.\-Geithner AIPAC SWIFT's decision to halt #Iran 's ability to use its system could potentially lead to the collapse of Iran's economy http://t.co/GChag2Ok AIPAC AIPAC welcomes yesterday\u2019s announcement by the EU and the SWIFT Board to cut ties with blacklisted Iranian banks. http://t.co/N8oxULzK AIPAC For the first time since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the Iranian parliament summoned the president (Ahmadinejad) to answer questions. AIPAC 22 Azerbaijani citizens were arrested...for cooperating with Iran\u2026they were preparing to carry out attacks against the US, Israeli embassies
aipac
Reuters/Andrew Winning - U.S. President Barack Obama speaks as Britain's Prime Minister Cameron, Russia's Prime Minister Medvedev and Germany's Chancellor Merkel listen at the start of the first working session of the G8 Summit at Camp David The next president—whatever his party—will confront the nation’s domestic and international challenges in the context of two complex realities: America’s reliance on the global economy and global reliance on America’s military power. Bruce Jones, Thomas Wright and Jane Esberg argue that the next administration must work to promote international trade, foster a more stable international order and intensify efforts to develop new strategic partnerships.
Brookings
The Cato Institute
The Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty , named in honor of perhaps the greatest champion of liberty in the 20th century, is presented every other year to an individual who has made a significant contribution to advance human freedom. The prize, a cash award of $250,000, will be presented to Chinese economist Mao Yushi on May 4 at the Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty's Biennial Dinner at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. The dinner will feature a keynote address by Gov. Chris Christie and special remarks by John Stossel.
The Center for American Progress compiled its own bracket for March Madness on the worst conservative legislation in the last year. Help us a pick a winner.