Middle Class Dismissed

New Poll Finds 86 Percent Of Americans Don’t Want To Have A Country Anymore [2006]

"Among the 86 percent of poll respondents who were in favor of discontinuing the nation, the most frequently cited reasons were a lack of significant results from the current democratic process (36 percent), dissatisfaction with customer service (28 percent), and exhaustion (22 percent). Of those who were against maintaining an American nation, 77 percent said they believe that having a country is 'counter to the best interests of Americans.' Twelve percent said 'the time and effort citizens spend on the country could be better spent elsewhere,' and 8 percent said they just didn't care." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNew Poll Finds 86 Percent Of Americans Don’t Want To Have A Country Anymore [2006]

The GOP’s Drug-Testing Dragnet

"The annual Drug & Alcohol Testing Industry Association (DATIA) conference, held in 2012 in San Antonio, Texas, looks like any other industry gathering. The 600 or so attendees sip their complimentary Starbucks coffee, munch on small plates of muffins and fresh fruit, and backslap old acquaintances as they file into a sprawling Marriott hotel conference hall. They will hear a keynote address by Robert DuPont, who served as drug policy director under Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Nothing odd about any of this until you consider that the main subject of the conference is urine." Continue reading →

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Doug Casey: All Banks Are Bankrupt

"The whole banking business is corrupt from top to bottom today. Part of the problem is that banks are no longer financed by the individuals who start them, putting their personal net worth on the line. Now, they are all publicly traded entities – just like all brokerages – playing with Other People's Money. Management has no incentive to do anything but pad their wallets, so they pay themselves gigantic salaries and bonuses, and give themselves options. These people aren't shepherding their money and that of clients they know personally. They've got zero skin in the game. This is true all over the world, not just in the US and Europe." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDoug Casey: All Banks Are Bankrupt

The Eurozone Unemployment Picture

"The unemployment rate for the currency bloc’s 17 nations was a seasonally adjusted 12% in February, up from 10.9% in February 2012. Among member nations with the lowest unemployment rates are Austria, at 4.8%, and Germany, at 5.4%, reports WSJ. Among members with the highest unemployment rates is Spain, at 26.3%. Three things are going on here." Continue reading →

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“3% Down” Mortgages: They’re Back!

"With the Federal Reserve System buying half a trillion dollars worth of Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac IOUs a year, the mortgage market is flooded with newly created money. Lenders are now offering 3% down payment mortgages. Why, it’s 2006, back from the grave. There is a problem here: the number of mortgage applications has remained flat for three years. So, the recovery is nowhere near a bubble. Not enough people can qualify for loans. The rates are great, but only if you qualify. The time to buy an income-producing rental home is sooner rather than later. But don’t pay retail. Shop." Continue reading →

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NYC Apartment Rental Market; A Shoebox for $2,000 per Month

"I moved to NYC in February of 2011 and found a studio in the East Village for $1,550. A year later the landlord and I agreed to a 4 month lease at $1,650. After 4 months I had not found a new place so signed a one year lease with the hope of moving out and subletting. The new amount was for $1,725. I moved out a month later. She quickly found a new tenant willing to pay $1,900. Let me again state that this is a studio apartment. The room is 11’x13’ with a kitchen and bathroom attached that combined are 10’x7’. The term ‘shoebox’ would be generous. This is a SMALL apartment that is going for nearly $2,000 dollars! In two years the rent increased by 22%." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingNYC Apartment Rental Market; A Shoebox for $2,000 per Month

Fast food workers stage surprise strike in New York City

"The coalition of striking workers includes employees of McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Pizza Hut, KFC and other major chains, as well as community and clergy groups dedicated to improving the lives of low-wage workers in the mostly non-unionized field of restaurant work. One of the main organizing groups behind the strike told CNN that dozens of workers walked off the job at the Times Square McDonald’s and that the Flatbush Avenue Burger King in Brooklyn barely opened its doors on time Thursday morning. The workers are asking for a minimum pay of $15 an hour and the right to organize and collectively bargain without fear of firing or retaliation." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFast food workers stage surprise strike in New York City

Another Reason Obamacare Costs Are Headed Through the Roof

"The Obama administration now says a special system of exchanges designed to make it easier for small businesses to provide insurance will be delayed an entire year -- to 2015. The exchanges were designed to give workers a range of choices supported by dollars from their employers. But now they will have only one choice until 2015, which could mean they can't shop for insurance that includes their current providers. Since insurance is more expensive for small businesses, many of which have no obligation under the law to provide coverage, analysts now fear many might just stop trying and let workers go on the soon-to-be-launched state exchanges." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAnother Reason Obamacare Costs Are Headed Through the Roof