Exploitation of Port Truck Drivers by Banks (for 12/12/11)

Port truck drivers are treated, at an 82% rate, as independent contractors not employees. Goldman Sachs is a 50 percent owner of SSA Marine, an operator of four Long Beach, California port terminals. This operator has had safety problems as one worker was pinned to death between two trucks and another was nearly crushed to death by a cargo container. New companies drove unionized companies out of business and sold their trucks to their drivers to further exploit them. Everyday these drivers must pay for truck leases, sign new contracts, and inspect their vehicles, for which they are liable for damages. They get paid by the load, not an hourly wage, and do not receive benefits. Contract workers are often not covered by workplace health and safety laws.
http://www.alternet.org/occupywallst/153393/how_goldman_sachs_and_other_companies_exploit_port_truck_drivers_%E2%80%94_occupy_protesters_plan_to_shut_down_west_coast_ports_in_protest?page=entire

President Obama: Economic Recovery Could Take Years (for 12/11/11)

President Obama says in 60 Minutes interview that it will take years before the economy is stable again. He is not sure if the unemployment rate can be cut to 8% by next November's election.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/10/obama-60-minutes-interview-economic-fix_n_1140521.html?ref=unemployment

Mitt Romney's $10,000 Bet at GOP Debate (for 12/10/11)

Who has $10,000 that they could just casually throw away as if it were nothing? Apparently former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, the favorite for the GOP Presidential nomination, does. Romney did this by making a bet over his standing on his Massachusetts healthcare mandate with Rick Perry in the GOP Presidential debate in Iowa.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/10/mitt-romneys-10000-bet-rick-perry_n_1141387.html

GOP: Drug Test the Unemployed & Welfare Recipients (for 12/9/11)

GOP Representative Jack Kingston of Georgia wants to test unemployment insurance applicants for drug abuse. In Florida, welfare applicants there faced drug testing starting earlier this year after its government passed a new law. But, then a federal hudge declared this testing in Florida unconstitutional. Those on welfare in Florida also have less failed drug tests compared to the national average.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/08/jack-kingston-drug-test-jobless_n_1135991.html?ref=unemployment

Unemployment Extension Standoff (for 12/8/11)

GOP Representatives in Congress want to slash federal unemployment assistance from 73 weeks to 33 weeks. GOP state legislators also want to restrivt access to unemployments, even as job applicants often need to submit several dozen resumes to get one callback. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/08/unemployment-extension_n_1137403.html?ref=unemployment

State Income Tax Dodging by America's Largest Companies (for 12/7/11)

American companies have devised numerous tax avoidance schemes to avoid paying state income taxes, according to Citizens for Tax Justice. They have used the expertise of lawyers to do this. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/07/68-companies-state-income-tax_n_1133661.html?ref=goldman-sachs

If Top 1% Had Not Ripped Off Trillions, You Would Be Making Thousands More Now (for 12/6/11)

In 1947, the wealthiest 1% of Americans received almost 12% of national income. This figure fell to 10.7% by 1967. The wealthiest 1%'s share of America's income never topped 12.8% from 1949 to 1979, and stood at 10% when Americans voted Ronald Reagan President of the U.S. in 1980. This rose to 15.5% when he finished his term in Office and rose to 21.5% when George W. Bush became President in 2001. It rose further to 23.5% in 2007. This means the bottom 99% of Americans have seen their share of America's economic output fall by over 10%. Annually, this equals $1 trillion in extra income for the wealthiest Americans. Since 1980, if trends based on productivity for the middle class held form to today, they would be making an average of $12,500 more per year.
http://www.alternet.org/story/152621/if_top_1_hadn't_ripped_off_trillions,_you'd_likely_be_making_thousands_of_dollars_