by calvin davis [courtesy of Blog for America]

This election cycle should repersent the American worker, the American worker is under more stress today than at anytime in resent history. The American worker is not given a fair chance at reaching the American dream, in toady's economy. With the high rate of  health care, fuel cost. home foreclosure at  a all-time high and the cost of a college education for there childrens fading from site, family saving not a real option. Jobs being sent overseas for low wages, without concern for this nation welfare.

In this presidential season we the American worker should be demanding tax reform, in the form of total elimination of the overtime tax penalty that the worker is now paying, The American worker is working harder and longer hours only to have his earning go to big government. France removed the overtime penalty on there work force and the economy took off, with higher worker productivity. They base the taxes the worker pay on thrity five hour work week, we have a forty hour work week, and should be tax on a forty hour work week, so the American worker can take home his or her overtime pay.

by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

The Governor vetoed SB1, legislation which would have allowed students who are children of undocumented immigrants to apply for financial aid and have the same opportunity at contributing to the American dream as their counterparts.  These are young men and women who did not make the decision to come to this country, yet represent out best hope to continue as a strong nation by contributing to our economy and our historic diversity.  They consider themselves Americans and Californians and wish to use their talents and skills to benefit this country and this state.  The Governor said no.

And get this, he blamed it on the high cost of college (yeah, who's responsible for THAT?).

At a time when segments of California public higher education, the Universirt of California and the California State University, are raising fees on all students attending college in order to maintain the quality of education provided, it would not be prudent to place additional strain on the General Fund to accord the new benefit of providing state subsidized financial aid to students without lawful immigration status.

That expense will pay itself back 10 times over in the future.  But now the dream of a college education for these students becomes ever more remote.  This used to be a different kind of country.

by Sheri Divers [courtesy of Blog for America]

Time to relax and celebrate workin’ for a livin’ in the USA!

We are thankful to all Americans who work and take care of those they love for keeping democracy and opportunity alive in America. 

Working Americans have built this country, created the opportunities that this country holds for our children and grandchildren, and have sustained the American Dream which has inspired democracy and human rights in other countries around the world.

As much as we should to celebrate all of this, we also need to deal with the biggest challenge to opportunity, democracy, and free enterprise in America.

It’s time we had a national conversation about the integrity, accountability, and standards of competency among our business leadership.  Yes, there are many great businesses and business leaders in America.  But it is also true that we are  living in the golden age of the overpaid and underperforming chief executive.  Currently:

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Part One of a Three Part Series

Testimony of Paul Leonard
California Office Director
Center for Responsible Lending http://responsiblelending.org

Before the California Senate Banking Committee
August 21, 2007

[Editor's note: Tuesday, overshadowed by the passage of the state budget, the California State Senate Banking, Finance, and Insurance Committee held its third informational hearing of the year regarding the subprime mortgage collapse. This is an issue of great importance to the economic well being of California as well as to many individual borrowers.