Economy

(OnlineJournal) – The Big Six banks are shorting the American Dream

The Big Six investment banks, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, Bank of America and Wells Fargo, are “shorting the American Dream,” according to economist Simon Johnson and entrepreneur James Kwak in an interview on April 16, “Financial Regulation and Regulatory Capture” on Bill Moyers Journal. Here’s a summary of the big and important ideas and issues on the table. Read More Here

(GlobalResearch) – Break up the Banks and Combat Financial Crime – Danny Schechter – Read More Here

(InfoClearingHouse) – What Really Triggered the Financial Crisis? – The Shadow Banking System Blew Up – Mike Whitney Read More Here

(ZeroHedge) – Will Goldman Sachs Prove Greed is God?

The investment bank’s cult of self-interest is on trial against the whole idea of civilization – the collective decision by all of us not to screw each other over even if we can Read More Here

(FinancialSense) – Reports of Our Recovery Are Greatly Exaggerated – Peter Schiff

From all outward appearances, it seems that a grim chapter in U.S. economic history has come to an end. Newsweek magazine declares that “America is Back,” government statistics indicate revival, and our stock market has put in a rally for the record books (by rate of ascent, not highs – we are still more than 25% below the 2007 peak). Read More Here

(SilverBearCafe) – The Middle Class Game Is Up: We’re Heading to a Slave Labor Planet Read More Here

(FinancialTimes) – US prepares to push for global capital rules

The US is preparing to pivot from domestic regulatory reform to a push for a tough new international capital regime after the weekend’s G20 and International Monetary Fund meetings glossed over differences between leading economies. Read More Here

(USAWatchdog) – Housing Sales and Inflation Surge

The big news in the economy last week was new home sales jumped 27% in March. It was the best monthly increase percentage wise since John F. Kennedy was in office. What the mainstream media did not tell you was new housing starts jumped up from a very low level– like the lowest level in history! This chart from shadowstats.com illustrates the point: Read More Here

(TimesOnline) – Greek meltdown in danger of spreading

Germany, France and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) must act quickly to bail out Greece to prevent a slide in confidence in financial markets, Alistair Darling said yesterday. Read More Here

(CNNNews) – Obama Sends Mixed Message on VAT as Fiscal Commission Prepares First Meeting Read More Here

(WashingtonsBlog) – Unemployment for Those Who Earn $150,000 or More is Only 3%, While Unemployment for the Poor is 31%

Boeing CEO Jim McNerney succinctly summarized a recent study by Northeastern University’s Center for Labor Market Studies regarding unemployment rates for different income brackets: Read More Here

(PaulWatson) – Video: Obama Debt Czar Says Tax Hikes “On The Table”

The Democratic co-chairman of President Obama’s debt commission, Erskine Bowles, told Fox News Sunday that tax hikes for Americans are “on the table,” despite Obama’s election campaign promise that no individual earning under $200,000 dollars a year would be hit with any tax increases. Read More Here

Video: Gold, Cash, Currency, and Inflation Trends

Pastor Timothy Neptune (First Baptist Church of Marco Island) discusses the realities of our current economic crisis with Steve Meyers of Grainbelt Commodities. For more information, including the complete viewing of each study, visit us at http://www.fbcmarco.com

World War

(PressTV) – 80 Afghan girls allegedly poisoned

Thirteen more Afghan schoolgirls have fallen ill to suspected gas poisoning in Kunduz Province, raising total number of such cases to 80 in the past weekRead More Here.

(CNN) – Iran reportedly tests five new missiles

Iran said Sunday it fired five new types of locally-made coast-to-sea and sea-to-sea missiles in the last stage of its “Great Prophet 5” military maneuvers in the Persian GulfRead More Here.

(Telegraph) – Thailand is close to civil war as its British-born PM rejects deal with angry Red Shirts

Thailand is on the brink of civil war after Abhisit Vejjajiva, its British-born prime minister, rejected a deal with angry Red Shirt protesters. Read More Here

(NYTimes) – 90,000 Protest U.S. Base on Okinawa

More than 90,000 Okinawans rallied Sunday to oppose the relocation of an American air base on their island, adding to the pressure on Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to resolve an issue that has divided Tokyo and Washington. Read More Here

(ElectronicIntifada) – Gaza’s Calm Determination – Norman Finkelstein

To preserve my sense of purpose, and keep the Palestine struggle from becoming a lifeless abstraction, I need periodically to recharge my moral batteries by reconnecting with the actual people living under occupation and by witnessing firsthand the unfolding tragedy. From each trip I invariably carry away a handful of stark images that I fix in my mind’s eye to dispel the occasional hesitations about staying the course. When the memories begin to fade I know it is time to return. Read More Here

(InfoClearingHouse) – Is the CIA behind Mexico’s Bloody Drug War? – Mike Whitney

On Friday, two patrol cars were ambushed by armed gunman in downtown Ciudad Juarez. In the ensuing firefight, seven policemen were killed as well as a 17-year old boy who was caught in the crossfire. All of the assailants escaped uninjured fleeing the crime-scene in three SUVs. The bold attack was executed in broad daylight in one of the busiest areas of the city. According to the Associated Press: Read More Here

(AntiFascistCalling) – Cyberwar, the Internet and the Militarization of Civil Society – Tom Burghardt

Unfailingly, defense industry boosters and corporate media acolytes promote the disturbing hypothesis annunciated by former Director of National Intelligence, Mike McConnell, that the nation is in peril. Read More Here

(AntiFascistCalling) – Cyberwar and Repression: Corporatist Synergy Made in Hell

Unfailingly, defense industry boosters and corporate media acolytes promote the disturbing hypothesis annunciated by former Director of National Intelligence, Mike McConnell, that the nation is in peril. Read More Here

(AntiFascistCalling) – Pentagon’s Cyber Command: Civilian Infrastructure a “Legitimate” Target Read More Here

(WSWS) – The Instruments of Worldwide Domination: Obama Administration Spending Billions on New Global Strike Weapons

The Obama administration is spending billions of dollars to develop new weapons systems, including powerful conventional warhead missiles capable of striking any target in the world within less than an hour. Read More Here

(JewishFastForGaza) – Rabbis Condemn Israel for War Crimes Committed in Gaza: Open Letter to Judge Goldstone – Read More Here

Video: Blackmail – How The Controlling Elite Owns Politicians

(PaulWatson) – Lindsey Graham homosexual controversy underscores why government is broken

CIA Director Says Cyber Attack Could Be Next “Pearl Harbor”

(SacramentoPress) – Editor’s note: Recall what the last Pearl harbor event shilled by the neocons resulted in — more than a million dead Iraqis.

Central Intelligence Agency director Leon Panetta told 300 Sacramento Metro Chamber Cap-to-Cap delegates that the next “Pearl Harbor” is likely to be an attack on the United States’ power, financial, military and other Internet systems.

Lawmakers Call for Troops on the Streets of Chicago

(KurtNimmo) – Illinois state Reps. and Chicago Democrats John Fritchey and LaShawn Ford are calling for on the governor, Chicago mayor Daley and Superintendent Jody Weis to use the National Guard in response to crime in the city.

“As we speak, National Guard members are working side-by-side with our troops to fight a war halfway around the world,” Fritchey said in a Sunday release. “The unfortunate reality is that we have another war that is just as deadly taking place right in our back yard. Is this a drastic call to action? Of course it is. But is it warranted when we are losing residents to gun violence at such an alarming rate? Without question.”

GMO Case Before Supreme Court

(InterPressService) – The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday in its first-ever case involving genetically modified crops. The decision in this case may have a significant impact on both the future of genetically modified foods and government oversight of that and other environmental issues.

The case, Monsanto Co. v. Geertson Seed Farms, revolves around an herbicide-resistant alfalfa, the planting of which has been banned in the U.S. since a federal court prohibited the multinational Monsanto from selling the seeds in 2007.

This bill will kill small farms, and wreck our food supply

Unless it is amended, the Food Safety Modernization Act will regulate our local food sources out of business. As written now, the legislation is a big gift to the industrial food producers, and a drastic blow against small farms.

So please take steps, ASAP, to tell your senators either to amend the bill or vote against it.

Here, below Gianni Ortiz’s prefatory note, is all you need to know to take immediate action.

US threatens Iran with all options

(PressTV) – Washington says “all options are on the table” in dealing with Tehran, in a veiled threat, which refers to a new US nuclear policy.

During a Sunday address to attendees of a Pentagon briefing, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates touched on the newly-crafted Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), under which the Obama administration promises not to use nuclear weapons against states that do not possess nuclear warheads, with the exception of Iran.

Climate change bill collapses in Senate

(PressTV) – A long-awaited climate change bill that would put a price on excessive carbon emissions and generate billions of dollars has been postponed indefinitely.

US Senator John F. Kerry’s 20 years of climate change plans hit the bottom Saturday after Senator Lindsey Graham, who had allied himself with Kerry on the issue, abandoned the effort in an unprecedented move.

Video: Texas Straight Talk With Ron Paul – “Obama = Corporatist, Worse Than a Socialist!”