According to a damning and sobering new report by the Center For Economic and Policy Research, the prospects for an immediate recovery of the 8 million jobs shed during the 2000s are dim.  Unfortunately, our politicians and policymakers do not get it.  Calling for more austerity measures, the Republicans have demonstrated that they are either uninformed or unconcerned about the dire state of our economy.  If they regain power, they would drive America over a fiscal cliff.  However, the Democrats have been either too inept or too unconcerned to make a compelling case for a true jobs bill to the American people.

Either way, as this study demonstrates, unless our politicians are willing to confront the harsh truth and find innovative ways to get Americans working again, our current misery will be long and persistent.

It appears that Wall Street will get the bill that they have wanted all along.  Please do not be fooled by the complex charade that is taking place on Capital Hill.  Although, Wall Street put up a nominal fight, this was the mother of all point-shaving scams.  In the game of Wall Street versus Main Street, Wall Street still wins the championship.  Although the margin wasn’t as big as we expected, they still get to go to Disney World, while the rest of us make our way from our foreclosed homes into tent cities.  Don’t forget to save your grub worms.  Your canned beans become barely edible with a little protein in them.

How did we reach this current state of affairs?  Why has the current administration gone out of its way to ensure Americans that these tepid regulations are actually going to prevent the next financial meltdown?  This bill is a flawed blowout preventer.  If, (more than likely, when), the economy blows up again, we will lament the fact that we purposely enacted legislation that was ill equipped to handle the fallout.  Despite evidence to the contrary, the recovery is slowing.  The rush to declare the recession over was deliberately premature.

Mission Accomplished.

What makes all of this particularly galling is the blocking of a $33 billion extension of unemployment benefits.  Republicans, and some Democrats, are calling for these costs to offset elsewhere in the budget.  I would point out the blatant hypocrisy of their newfound adherence to fiscal discipline.  However, that has already been thoroughly documented.  Americans can be intuitive at times.  Despite conservative attempts to demonize the unemployed, with a plummeting housing market, a rising foreclosure rate, and a decrease in consumer confidence, Americans know that the line between employment and unemployment is thinner than ever.

Now whom do we blame?  Reasonably, we could blame the Obama administration.  Besides pushing a weak stimulus through Congress, Mr. Obama also over-hyped the supposed benefits of the package, predicting that unemployment would not get much higher than 8%.  Now that the unemployment rate is hovering between 9.5-10%, his administration has lost the credibility needed to advocate for a second stimulus.  Instead of promoting the stimulus as a cure-all, they should have proposed it as the first measure in their comprehensive strategy to get the economy back on track.  Everything that they have done since, including the unemployment extensions, appears reactive instead of predictive.

Of course, Republicans share a large portion of the blame because of their cynical election strategy that seems to be “Let them eat cake as we take back Congress and the White House.”  The Democratic base is understandably angry because rather than govern, it appears the Dems have allowed themselves to be hamstrung by Republican obstructionism.  Ezra Klein stated that this would go down as one of the most productive Congressional sessions in decades.  If our calculus is that something is better than nothing, then I agree.  However, if we are measuring potential versus results, then this session is an unmitigated failure.

As usual, I am at a loss for how to move forward.  Liberals (excluding myself and a few others) believed that Mr. Obama would actually work to enact progressive legislation and worked hard to elect him.  Instead, President Obama has governed from the pragmatic center and liberals were scolded as naive children for believing that anything other than governing from the center was possible.  It will be a long time before the country is again ready for transformative change.  Things will probably have to get worse than they are now.  Do we sit on our hands and wait for the world to end?  Thoughts?

Read this Politico article to understand the bullshit narrative the administration is pushing.

Read digby’s excellent counter…

by Vivian Furrows

If you are planning to sell your HDB flat and you want to get as many buyers as you can, as well as a good selling price, there is one thing you might want to consider, renovation.

Before you get started, there are a couple of things you need to think about.  First, you need to understand how prices are set.  Of course you will not want to invest so much on renovation that you end up losing money.  Research how much a renovated house can sell in the market and perform the cost benefit analysis.

Think like a buyer.  And what exactly do buyers do?  When they go to your house, they step inside and look around.  Steve Berges, author of the book called “101 Cost Effective Ways to Increase the Value of Your Home”, formulated guidelines that will give a very good impression for home buyers once they
step in to your place.  These includes the following:

1. Spend money on what can be seen vs. what can’t be seen.  Looking at your budget, Berger mentioned that you should put a higher priority on improvements that can be easily seen because those will you give the best return on your investment.

2. Repair the exterior first, then the interior.  An ugly exterior can drive prospective buyers away before they even enter your home.

3. Clear up any trash and make sure your house is clean and smells nice.  This is a very easy thing to do.  It does not cost much money and failure to do so could cost you potential buyers.

For the best results, Berges advises that you seek the help of real estate agents who are familiar how the HDB market works.

Find and get experienced top Renovation Singapore contractors to perform your HDB Flat
Renovation at the best deals!

Since the early 90′s, the Internet has become known as an excellent medium for advertising. It has been increasingly utilized by consumers and businesses. Unlike any other media, such as television, radio and print, the Internet can provide a wide array of advertising solutions.

Due to the exponential growth in the number Internet users and because of the inexpensive Internet advertising solutions, advertisers have the ability to reach an astronomical number of potential consumers. Due to its versatility, advertisers can utilize audio, video, and the written word to entice customers and promote their goods and services. Creative marketers have powerful tools at their disposal with which to design sophisticated campaigns aimed at a specific demographic.

Besides substantially lowering the cost of advertising, the Internet has also streamlined the way society communicates, transacts, and distributes information and tender.

Internet advertising solutions provide a low cost and effective solution for attracting targeted, high quality customers. This low cost internet advertising solution also provides web site publishers with a way to generate advertising revenue from their unsold marketing inventory.

Conventional advertising could never be replaced. However, because of developments in the technology, an increasing number of people are conducting a majority of their personal and business transactions online. Savvy marketers and entrepreneurs will continue to find innovative ways to bridge the gap between producers and consumers.

by Barbara VanKline

If you are just starting out in the world of Internet marketing you must remain alert and focused at all times.  Listed are ten unspoken rules you should review and use to your benefit.

1.) The first advantage of having a home based business is that you can set your own hours.  You are able to work when you want for as long as you want.  When you are able to get your business fine-tuned, you can utilize software that will set your business on autopilot.  This
will afford you that coveted time to spend with your family and enjoy various leisure activities as well.  However, there is no such thing as a “Get-Rich-Quick” scheme.  It takes time, dedication, and commitment to begin building an online business.  If you build your business correctly, you will be rewarded with residual income that can last for years.  Creating a firm foundation is the key to a successful business whether it’s online or offline.

2.) While it is important to have your mindset focused on a full-time, successful online business, it is useful, especially early in your Internet career, as part of the learning curve, to try out a few programs in your spare time.  Get the feel of the Internet marketing arena and at the same time learn a little about HTML, scripts, creating attractive images while working towards building your first website.  This can all be achieved as a ‘spare time’ activity.

3.) NEVER…get involved in ‘get paid to read email’ sites–they are scams and you won’t earn a penny.  They won’t even answer your emails of complaint!  MLM too, or in fact any website telling you that your money will be doubled or tripled in a matter of days, or you will become rich overnight, are scams.  Avoid them!  It’s not difficult to find bona fide marketers on the Internet.  Look for offline contact points.  An address or telephone number is a good sign they are genuine.  Another good test is to send them an email before you sign up to see how efficiently they reply.  Avoid the ‘Get-Rich-Quick’ schemes–they don’t work!

4.) If I had a “guarded secret” of how to make thousands of dollars per day on the Internet, would I tell you?  The answer is a resounding no.  The Internet does not have secrets.  However, it does have information that you can glean with a little due diligence.  So when you see the advertisements about “earning $75K monthly on auto-pilot”, please don’t click any further.  You and I both know when something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.  Stay safe on the Internet and avoid the ridiculous hype.

5.) Think positive and stay focused at all times.  If you were to take a close look at all the successful Internet marketers who have made a great deal of money from their endeavors, you would find they have one thing in common!  Dedication!  They are prepared to work long and hard to achieve their goals.  They do not lose heart just because they encounter some failures and the ‘quick buck’ rarely influences them.

6.) Stick to the basic etiquette of Internet Marketing.  Don’t be tempted to send out high volume unsolicited email (spam).  It won’t be worth the hassle, believe me!  Read the Terms and Conditions section when you join a program and if you decide to sign up, then adhere to those terms.  You will make useful contacts during your Internet campaigns.  Try not to antagonize people and remain courteous and helpful.

Learn more about How To Create Your First Website.  Stop by Barbara VanKline’s site where you can find out all about Starting An Internet Marketing Business and how it can replace your income!

Today is the perfect day to reflect on all of the wonderful things that make our nation great and our people strong. Let us also consider how we can continue to work harder in order to form a more perfect union. STR wishes everyone a Happy July 4^th.

Yesterday, the Senate failed to pass an unemployment extension, among a variety of other fixes, that were designed to help stave off a double-dip recession.  I was searching for someone to articulate the rage and sadness I felt at how far my country has fallen.  Try to watch these two clips from last night’s Rachel Maddow show and not mourn the pathetic state of our political system.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

As Congress dithers, people across this country, who have lost jobs through no fault of their own, nervously await the fate of their meager unemployment checks. More Medicaid patients are having a tougher time finding doctors because Congress has not extended funding. States are poised to layoff close to a million employees because Congress has not extended aid to cash-poor states. It would be pointless to point out the hypocrisy of the Republican’s newfound concern about deficit spending. Conservative Democrats and Republicans have formed a coalition whose sole purpose seems to be sacrificing vulnerable citizens on the altar of political expediency.

Our country is bleeding out at a rapid rate. We have multiple wounds and there appears to be no way to dress them all. We are exsanguinating from environmental damage. Our lands, our air, and now, most visibly, our seas are being irreparably harmed. Mired in two wars and saddled with an incomprehensible foreign policy, America is bleeding from the accumulated damage of our overseas misadventures. In addition, America is bleeding from domestic wounds. The economy still struggles and Congress refuses to protect those at the margins of society. As interest rates increase and unemployment remains steady, we are in danger of a double-dip recession.

These terrible wounds have put a severe strain on America’s heart and soul. As people truly come to believe that the government is unable or unwilling to address these concerns in an effective way, as people turn away from the government and seek their own solutions, disinterest and anger will breed more contempt. People will lose sight of what it means to be an American because the government has continuously failed them as citizens.

The nation’s exsanguination is obvious to anyone who is honest about what is going on around them. Yet, the people we elected to staunch the bleeding are refusing to do so. Why? Is it merely greed and avarice? Although I am deeply cynical, even I find it hard to believe that our country is being allowed to slowly die because a few people want to line their pockets. Surely, if that were happening, then the true 99ers, those of us in the bottom 99% of wage earners, would do something about it. Until we can figure this out, apply pressure here, here, and here…

The University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law held their 18^th annual Joseph L. Rauh, Jr. lecture on June 17, 2010. The guest lecturer was United States Attorney General Eric Holder. General Holder spoke about how individual acts of justice can create a better and more just society. The UDC law school requires an incredible 700 hours of public service so that law students can provide legal assistance to low-income D.C. residents. Mr. Holder issued a call to law students everywhere. Mr. Holder believes that using the law and the legal system to assist those at the margins of society can create a ripple effect throughout our nation that will ultimately lead to a more just and equitable society.

After the lecture, the Attorney General took some questions. One questioner asked him how he felt about the right to vote for D.C. residents. Mr. Holder stated unequivocally that D.C. citizens should have the right to vote. Another question dealt with the Obama administration’s advocacy for the Defense of Marriage Act. General Holder does not personally agree with the statute, though he is required to offer a legal argument for statutes passed by Congress.

He also stated his support for the way Mr. Obama has handled the BP disaster and reiterated his disagreement with the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Citizen’s United case. Mr. Holder stated, “The logic of the decision escapes me.” According to General Holder, the Justice Department is working with Congress in order to create statutory remedies that will limit the harmful impact of the decision.

The Attorney General also discussed tribal sovereignty, the public safety exception to Miranda, and the ongoing review of whether certain CIA officers overstepped the OLC torture guidelines. For the most part, Mr. Holder towed the administration line regarding these issues. However, he did reiterate the government’s strong support for Native American tribal sovereignty.

Although Mr. Holder did not stray too far from the talking points, his call for more public service was very refreshing. It is important to take a step back and look at what our country could be. We should all aspire to do what we can in order to make the world around us a little better.

Although the unemployment rate fell to 9.7% for the month of May, the Obama administration is not happy.  The vast majority of jobs added to the economy were temporary census positions.  Meanwhile, private companies failed to meet economists’ expectations.  Last month, when unemployment rose to 9.9%, the administration was encouraged.  Now that it has dropped, they are scrambling to put a positive spin on the terrible economic news.

Most economists agree that the long-term economic situation is not promising.  Although the Obama administration keeps trying to spin a narrative that the economy is improving, the facts belie their optimism.  As fears about a double-dip recession grow, it is imperative that the Obama administration abandon their piecemeal approach to recovery and implement a comprehensive plan designed to put the U.S. economy on a road to real recovery.

This requires political courage that the Democrats in Congress seem to lack and political capital that Mr. Obama has all but exhausted.  Historically, there are only a few presidents that have had as much on their platter as President Obama.  However, when he ran for president, Mr. Obama recognized that he would be assuming office during a time of unprecedented challenges.  America’s problems cannot be solved by one stimulus package.  He still has access to the bully pulpit and the goodwill of a majority of the American people.  Instead of convincing us that the problems are going away, it is time for Mr. Obama to level with the American people about the challenges ahead and what it will cost to get this storied nation back on track.