Awaz Apni

I usually start with something that I recommend not reading, but today I have something a bit different -- an article that I found totally baffling.  It's the article from the Sunday NYT, by Timothy Williams, about reconstruction in Iraq.  Here, I'll even break normal format and supply a link .  What I found baffling about it was there's a lot of he said, she said, with very little way for the reader to guess at what's going on.  Should we trust Iraqi officials that things are really bad, or the Army that things are actually not so bad at all.  Neither seems to be a very reliable source to me, without some more tangible evidence.  If things are bad, is it because the US is rushing to leave?  Because security is still terrible?  Because of long-term corruption (and if so, is it the Iraqis, the US military, someone else, or some combination)?  Is this a Bush-era story, an Obama-era story, or both?  Perhaps there are cues here that I'm miss...

The White House's take on today's unemployment figures (via Ezra Klein ): Today’s employment report shows continued signs of gradual labor market recovery.  Private nonfarm payroll employment increased by 83,000 in June and the unemployment rate fell two-tenths of a percentage point to 9.5%.  June marks the sixth month in a row that private sector employment has increased.  These continued signs of healing are important, particularly given the recent volatility in world markets and the mixed behavior of other recent economic indicators.  However, much stronger job gains are needed to repair the damage caused by the financial crisis and put the millions of unemployed Americans back to work. That's Christina Rhomer, of the Council of Economic Advisers.  Glass half full, right?  I wouldn't go so far as to call it a full-out Rosy Scenario, but the focus here is on the positive side.  And, Klein reports, that does seem to be the White House messag...

The White House's take on today's unemployment figures (via Ezra Klein ): Today’s employment report shows continued signs of gradual labor market recovery.  Private nonfarm payroll employment increased by 83,000 in June and the unemployment rate fell two-tenths of a percentage point to 9.5%.  June marks the sixth month in a row that private sector employment has increased.  These continued signs of healing are important, particularly given the recent volatility in world markets and the mixed behavior of other recent economic indicators.  However, much stronger job gains are needed to repair the damage caused by the financial crisis and put the millions of unemployed Americans back to work. That's Christina Rhomer, of the Council of Economic Advisers.  Glass half full, right?  I wouldn't go so far as to call it a full-out Rosy Scenario, but the focus here is on the positive side.  And, Klein reports, that does seem to be the White House messag...

Paul Krugman calls it. (Reminder: Soup line protest in Pittsburgh tomorrow.) .

Via Pennsylvania Communities Organizing for Change : PROTEST THE SENATE - JOIN OUR SOUP LINE FOR THE HOMELESS and the UNEMPLOYED Where: 5907 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh PA WHEN: Wednesday, June 30th, 11:00 a.m. until the soup runs out(press conference at 11:30) The Senate just kicked millions of American workers off unemployment insurance. Thanks to the US Senate many Americans families will get to party like its 1932 all over again. Join us in protest as we relive the good old days of the great depression with our Soup line and get some FREE SOUP for lunch. Pennsylvania Communities Organizing for Change is sponsoring the event to protest the US Senate’s failure and to launch of the Campaign for Resources for the Unemployed, Jobs, Retraining for Displaced Workers, or at least enough to keep us in our homes and keep us from starving! RSVP on Facebook or call 412-567-7275 for more information. Or just show up, Soup lines are open to everyone. More on US Senate here . .

A secret report to "Canada's New Government" from a "world renowned energy economist" (quote from Green Party website) has concluded that a $50 carbon tax would in fact lead to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and have an insignificant effect on Canada's economy—contrary to what Prime Minister Harper would have you believe. ( see the Green Party press release ) While there has been no commentary yet by Harper or Environment Minister John Baird (at least to my knowledge), I am not even certain that they could start fighting the findings of this study. Thanks to this study, Canadians can now know the truth—the truth about a carbon tax; and the truth about this government.

A secret report to "Canada's New Government" from a "world renowned energy economist" (quote from Green Party website) has concluded that a $50 carbon tax would in fact lead to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and have an insignificant effect on Canada's economy—contrary to what Prime Minister Harper would have you believe. ( see the Green Party press release ) While there has been no commentary yet by Harper or Environment Minister John Baird (at least to my knowledge), I am not even certain that they could start fighting the findings of this study. Thanks to this study, Canadians can now know the truth—the truth about a carbon tax; and the truth about this government.