Obama on Infrastructure

Submitted by Michael Moynihan on 2/13/08

Crisscrossing Wisconsin today in advance of what may be his next primary win next Tuesday, Barack Obama delivered what aides billed as a major economic policy address. Most notable about the speech following a tour of a GM assembly plant in Janesville--a venue loaded with meaning given the huge losses just announced by GM--was Obama's support for a $60 billion National Infrastructure Bank to rebuild America's infrastructure and his support for a $150 billion energy and technology investment plan to create five million jobs in the new green economy.

Against the backdrop of an economy in turmoil, Obama's message of creating the conditions for long term economic revival was refreshing. The bi-partisan stimulus package signed today to forestall or blunt a recession is certainly needed. However, short term relief is no substitute for the long term leadership needed to get America moving again and to ensure that benefits of globalization flow to all Americans.

The Bush Administration has focused exclusively for seven years on short term appearances at the expense of long term economic growth. Lost has been any sense of vision or leadership for the future. In November, in a paper I authored for NDN on rebuilding America's infrastucture, I offered support for the Dodd-Hagel legislation to create a National Infrastructure Bank and a new Green Act to green the federal government. Obama's support for a bank along the lines suggested by Dodd and Hagel and his $150 billion plan to invest in new energy technologies--like a similar plan proposed by Senator Clinton--is the sort of bold stroke needed to set America on a path of future growth.

A growing consensus is emerging among venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, politicians and increasingly the public that the green economy will be central to America's economic future--this at a time when the once far off dangers of global warming are coming home--as hurricanes rage and the summer ice line of the Artic continues its alarming retreat.

Money and energy are now pouring into efforts to halt climate change and create a post carbon economy. The changes will be profound and overwhelmingly positive--quiet, exhaust free electric cars, a smart and more decentralized electric grid--and new modes of living. As a new NDN Fellow and director of a new green project, I am going to be exploring these issues in coming months. Nothing could be more exciting for me and it is exciting to hear that Senator Obama views building the green economy as central to his economic agenda.

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Recession

Submitted by Tristan A. on 5/7/09.

Normal 0

Governments usually respond to recessions by adopting expansionary macroeconomic policies, such as increasing money supply, increasing government spending and decreasing taxation. During recessions, many macroeconomic indicators vary in a similar way. Everyone knows that recession is a general slowdown in economic activity in such a country over a sustained period of time, or a business cycle contraction. On the other hand, recession depressingly affects not only the country but also the people itself. It makes paying people’s bills a little more anxious, thus, some don’t know if they’re going to be able to continue paying them. All wants to get rid of their debt as fast as they can. During periods of recession, more and more people get payday loans as their fast solution to lessen their debts. Short-term credit is a need that pops-up. Those who don't want to use their cards often turn to fast payday loans in a recession. Normal 0

To read more please click the link http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/04/30/payday-loans-assist-recession/

That is definitely true.

Submitted by Ahmad C on 4/2/09.

That is definitely true. As of now money and energy are now pouring into efforts to half climate and create a post carbon economy. Indeed it will have a profound and overwhelmingly positive, quiet, and exhaust free electric cars. Tesla Motors is gunning to be at the forefront of electric cars, after announcing plans for the Tesla Roadster, a fully electric car with a 200 plus mile range that goes from 0-60 in 4 seconds. Up until now, they haven't delivered many. The company has just unveiled an electric sedan, which retails for a more modest price than the Roadster that is due to start mass production in 2012. Both sedan and the roadster require some hefty cash advance loans to get one. The S Model (sedan) carries an estimated MSRP of about $57,000, and the roadster is a paltry $110,000. However, a few years after the S model is hitting the streets, a $30,000 model should be about ready from Tesla Motors.