09
September 30, 2008
China's Deadly Investments
Tomorrow, China assumes the Presidency of the U.N. Security Council, a position that it last held in July 2007 when it led the authorization of a U.N. peacekeeping force for Darfur. At that time, Beijing appeared to be responding to a global campaign by activists, in advance of the Olympics, to shame China into using its influence to address human rights crises in locales in which it has significant economic investments. But China's actions have belied its rhetoric, and it has continued to protect its favorite deadly dictators in places like Darfur, Burma, and Zimbabwe. A revised strategy must put greater focus on China's wallet.
September 30, 2008
Will Naysayers See the Pain?
The consequences of failing to act on President Bush’s financial rescue plan will haunt the U.S. economy, writes Ed Paisley.
September 30, 2008
Setting the Record Straight: Blame Conservatives, not CRA, for subprime mortgage mess
Tim Westrich details why conservatives are responsible for the subprime mortgage mess, not the Community Reinvestment Act.
September 30, 2008
Rescuing the American Economy
Michael Ettlinger on what happened to the financial markets, why it matters, and what we can do.
September 30, 2008
Getting to the Root of It All
Helene Cooper tells the story of her privileged Liberian childhood cut short by a bloody 1980 coup, her family’s escape, and her return to find her sister left behind.
September 29, 2008
High-Risk Insurance Pools: A Flawed Model for Reform
High-risk insurance pools are an impractical model for nationwide health care reform, write Morgan Mulveon, Karen Davenport, and Ellen-Marie Whelan.
September 29, 2008
Una Cuestión de Prioridades
La administración de Bush favorece a empleadores abusadores por encima de los trabajadores latinos
September 29, 2008
A Question of Priorities
The Bush Labor Department focuses on immigration enforcement while ignoring protections for Latino workers.
September 29, 2008
Bailout Package Necessary, but Only the First Step
The Center for American Progress argues that President Bush’s financial rescue plan requires overwhelming congressional support even though more needs to be done to help Main Street.
September 28, 2008
National Security Strategy Must Combine Diplomacy, Might, and Strong Alliances
Just over three months from now, our next president will enter the White House, inheriting a host of serious national-security challenges—two wars, a financial system in havoc, a mountain of debt, and an America more alone than at any point in recent history. But our 44th president will have a unique opportunity and a clear duty to steer the United States toward new and progressive national-security priorities.
September 26, 2008
Culpemos a los Inmigrantes
Michele Malkin y los conservadores quieren culpar a los inmigrares de nuestra crisis financiera. ¿Podremos creer esta manipulación?
September 26, 2008
The Coldest Days of the Cold War
The next U.S. president can learn much from looking at that time and the approaches of Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy.
September 26, 2008
In Hard Economic Times, Church Must Proclaim Justice, Good Stewardship
September 26, 2008
Blame it on the Immigrants
Michele Malkin and fringe conservatives want to blame the financial crisis on immigrants. David Abromowitz shows the truth behind the flimsy facts.
September 26, 2008
The Credit Crisis Is Serious
Key interest rate spreads show U.S. businesses and consumers alike face serious problems if conservatives block the financial rescue package now before Congress, warns Christian E. Weller.
September 26, 2008
Fighting Poverty to Stabilize the Economy
Hearing focuses on why a new stimulus must help Americans work their way out of poverty in order to stabilize the economy, writes Kate Bell.
September 26, 2008
New Provincial Election Law Passes in Iraq
The law is one small step forward in Iraq’s political transition, write Brian Katulis and Peter Juul, but there still many more ahead.
September 26, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: The Public Calls for a New International Order
New data show that the American people are looking for the United States to engage with its neighbors and change its role in the global community.
September 26, 2008
The Week in Photos 9.22.08 - 9.26.08
This week CAP provided in-depth analysis of the financial crisis and its solutions, examined the progress on benchmarks in Iraq, and looked at state models for providing domestic partner benefits.
September 26, 2008
A Bad Time to Roll the Dice
Scott Lilly warns congressional conservatives that now is not the time to make misguided political calculations about their president’s $700 billion financial rescue package.
September 25, 2008
A Progressive Vision for Antitrust Enforcement to Protect the Opportunities for Small Businesses and to Protect Consumers
David Balto testifies that a progressive approach to antitrust will protect opportunities for small businesses and consumers.
September 25, 2008
Real Solutions to the Financial Crisis
Andrew Jakabovics details the Center’s answers to the financial crisis facing our financial institutions and our families.
September 25, 2008
Think Again: The Crisis from Nowhere
No wonder Americans were shocked when Wall Street fell into crisis last week. The media had barely been covering economic issues for months.
September 25, 2008
The Greening of Newark
Mayor Cory Booker gives an inside look into how Newark is transforming its economy with green jobs and spaces.
September 25, 2008
An Update on the State of Minorities
Key indicators show that minorities continue to fare poorly in the current economy, write Amanda Logan and Tim Westrich.
September 24, 2008
Bush Flunks on the Environment: Seven Years of Bad Policy
Today a Senate committee examines the Bush environmental record. Use our interactive timeline to explore it for yourself.
September 24, 2008
Helping Detroit Go Green
Low-interest direct loans to automakers in the continuing resolution to fund the government would help produce more fuel-efficient vehicles, writes Daniel J. Weiss.
September 24, 2008
A Fair and Effective Financial Solution
The global financial crisis caused by the Bush administration's utter failure to supervise our mortgage lending and financial markets properly can only be fixed by going to the root of the problem—the ailing U.S. housing market. Find out how we can fix it.
September 24, 2008
It’s Easy Being Green: 10 Steps for Business Water Conservation
10 steps businesses can take to lower water consumption and become environmental caretakers.
September 24, 2008
Some Good News for Children and Families
The Senate legislation passed yesterday will expand the availability of the child tax credit, extending its benefits for millions of poor children.
September 24, 2008
The Greater Fool
The Bush administration may include all kinds of "troubled" assets in the $700 billion financial rescue package, not just home mortgage assets. That’s a fundamentally bad idea, writes Ed Paisley.
September 24, 2008
A New Policy Toward Pakistan
The United States must overhaul its approach toward Pakistan, writes CAPAF Senior Fellow Brian Katulis.
September 24, 2008
Help for Main Street
Landmark credit card protections passed by the House in the midst of bailout negotiations are good news for consumers, writes Tim Westrich.
September 23, 2008
Warning $700 Billion: Handle with Care
Treasury Secretary Paulson needs help and oversight if U.S. taxpayers are going to help the nation weather the global financial crisis, writes Michael Ettlinger.
September 23, 2008
Fair and Effective
Congress needs to ensure the $700 billion financial rescue package helps Main Street and Wall Street. Our plan does that, as this illustration details.
September 23, 2008
Reject the Highmark/Blue Cross Merger
CAPAF's David Balto testifies to the Pennsylvania Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on why they should reject the merger between two insurance giants.
September 23, 2008
Sudan: Opportunity in the Midst of Crisis
The International Criminal Court's request for an indictment against against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir creates a new opening for peace, write John Prendergast and Colin Thomas-Jensen.
September 23, 2008
The Perils in Pakistan
Caroline Wadhams weighs in on the Marriott hotel bombing in Islamabad and why the United States needs to be concerned about Pakistan's security.
September 23, 2008
Bush Plays Politics as Cubans Suffer
Stephanie Miller explains why we need to temporarily ease restrictions so that Cuban Americans can care for their families.
September 23, 2008
One Simple Step for Equality
States prove that the federal government can offer domestic partner benefits with ease, write Winnie Stachelberg, Josh Rosenthal, and Claire Stein-Ross.
September 22, 2008
Is the Financial Crisis More Dire than the Climate Crisis?
If there's no action before 2012, that's too late. What we do in the next two to three years will determine our future. This is the defining moment.
September 22, 2008
Mbeki Out in South Africa
Gayle Smith provides analysis on what happened with Mbeki's resignation, why it matters, and what we can do.
September 22, 2008
Rescuing the American Economy
Ed Paisley provides analysis on what happened to the financial markets, why it matters, and what we can do.
September 22, 2008
“Sí Se Puede”
As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, Teresita Perez takes a moment to reflect on the phrase's history and power.
September 22, 2008
“Sí Se Puede”
September 22, 2008
This Week in Congress 9.22.08 - 9.26.08
CAP prepares for this week's issues, including legislation to address the financial meltdown, as well as energy packages and a credit card bill.
September 21, 2008
Neither Fair Nor Effective
Treasury Secretary’s $700 billion proposal to rescue Wall Street ignores Main Street, which Congress needs to fix, write David Abromowitz and Andrew Jakabovics.
September 21, 2008
How to Deal with Failing Financial Institutions
Policymakers at the Federal Reserve and in the Bush administration were slow to admit they had a mortgage mess on their hands. Foreclosure rates are shattering previous records, just to be broken a few months later. The Mortgage Bankers Association reports that the share of mortgages that entered foreclosure in the second quarter of 2008 stood at 1.1 percent, and the share of all mortgages in foreclosure was 2.8 percent during the same period. Since the 1970s, the share of mortgages entering foreclosure never exceeded 0.5 percent before the end of 2006, and the share of total mortgages in foreclosure never exceeded 1.5 percent before the second half of 2007.
September 19, 2008
Learning from the Past
CAP paper from Ellen Seidman and Andrew Jakabovics lays out how to deal with distressed mortgages and other debts to begin coping with the current financial crisis.
September 19, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: The Public Condemns Bush's Economic Policies
Analysis of polling from Ruy Teixeira shows that the public is tired of the Bush administration’s failed economic policies.
September 19, 2008
The Week in Photos: 9.15.08 - 9.19.08
Highlights for this week include the hype over earmarks, what to do about the current financial crisis, and restoring the rule of law.
September 19, 2008
Parsing the Paulson Plan
U.S. Treasury Secretary Paulson’s newest plan to resolve the global credit crisis comes none to soon. Congress must ensure it protects not merely firms but families, writes Ed Paisley.
September 18, 2008
Labor Rights Can Be Good Trade Policy
Christian Weller and Stephen Zucconi analyze U.S. trade with less industrialized economies and find that strong labor standards are good for the United States.
September 18, 2008
Rebuilding the Economy with Green Collar Jobs
Bracken Hendricks explains what green collar jobs are, and how investing in a clean energy economy can create 2 million new jobs.
September 18, 2008
The Green Road to Economic Recovery
CAPAF's Bracken Hendricks testifies to the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming on how investing in climate solutions can help rebuild our economy.
September 18, 2008
Think Again: Out, Out, Damned Earmark
Earmarks get a bad rap, but they're not necessarily bad and receive more attention than is deserved, write Eric Alterman and George Zornick.
September 18, 2008
America's Need for Health Reform
CAPAF Senior Fellow Elizabeth Edwards testifies before the House Subcommittee on Energy and Commerce about the need for health reform.
September 18, 2008
Second Stimulus Needed to Create Jobs and Revive Our Economy
Congress needs to prevent further economic harm due to the Bush administration's mis-supervision of our economy, write Michael Ettlinger and David Madland.
September 17, 2008
Black Ministers Rally Action on Climate Change
African Americans are disproportionately affected by global warming, and black churches are taking action, writes Lester Feder.
September 17, 2008
Another Predictable Black Monday
Unsupervised financial markets led to today’s crisis on Wall Street, just as unsupervised mortgage lending led to today’s housing crisis, writes Andrew Jakabovics.
September 17, 2008
Dangerous Doctrine
America must consider the global implications of President Bush's risky preventive war policy, write Lawrence J. Korb and Laura Conley.
September 17, 2008
Green Your Clean
Safer, alternative products exist for cleaning your home, and many homemade concoctions do the trick as well.
September 16, 2008
Too Much Secrecy Puts Our Nation at Risk
CAPAF's John D. Podesta outlines to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution key recommendations for restoring the rule of law.
September 16, 2008
Recommitting to the Rule of Law
CAPAF's Mark Agrast testifies to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution about how to restore the rule of law after eight years of the Bush administration.
September 16, 2008
Credit Card Showdown
Both Congress and the Fed could pass much-needed protections to help consumers manage rising credit card debt, writes Tim Westrich.
September 16, 2008
Iraq's Booming Budget Surplus
CAPAF's Lawrence J. Korb testifies to the House Budget Committee on how to reign in budgetary mismanagement and shift the financial burden in Iraq.
September 16, 2008
How Sound Is the Economy?
Conservatives haven’t a clue about the real state of the U.S. economy, writes Scott Lilly.
September 15, 2008
An Education Agenda for Latino Students
Eight ideas from Melissa Lazarín that the federal government can implement to improve education for Hispanic children.
September 15, 2008
Winter Weather and Low-Income Heating Assistance
Federal programs can help low-income families cope with the rising cost of winter heating bills.
September 15, 2008
Ten Reasons Not to Expand Offshore Drilling
Offshore oil drilling in sensitive coastal areas won’t increase oil production for years.
September 15, 2008
Una Agenda Educativa para los Estudiantes Latinos
Ocho ideas que el gobierno federal puede usar para mejorar la educación de los niños hispanos por Melissa Lazarín.
September 15, 2008
This Week in Congress: 9.15.08 - 9.19.08
CAP prepares you for this week's issues, including energy legislation, the Defense Authorization bill, and a possible stimulus package.
September 12, 2008
Getting China Right
With the Olympics behind us, and the U.S. elections ahead, we are entering a potentially challenging time for U.S.-China relations. Given the numerous serious policy differences between the United States and China—on human rights, trade and currency, and Sudan, to name a few—getting China right from day one will be a key challenge for the next U.S. administration.
September 12, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: What the Public Thinks on the Anniversary of 9/11
The public has lost hope that we’ll ever catch Bin Laden, and the majority now think that Iraq was a mistake, writes Ruy Teixeira.
September 12, 2008
America: A Service Nation
On the 15th anniversary of AmeriCorps, Shirley Sagawa examines how far the program has come, and the opportunities for expanding national service.
September 12, 2008
Take a Walk on the Supply Side
Michael Ettlinger and John Irons outline the failures of supply side economic policies, which have not delivered economic success on par with progressive policies.
September 12, 2008
The Week in Photos 9.8.08 - 9.12.08
CAP spotlighted green jobs and the political transition in Iraq, and commemorated the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
September 11, 2008
Feeling the Squeeze: Challenges Facing American Workers
CAP's Michael Ettlinger testifies to the House Ways and Means Committee on the current economic difficulties faced by U.S. workers.
September 11, 2008
Kumbaya at CAP
Huckabee, Crowley, put aside political differences to sing the praises of music education at CAP event.
September 11, 2008
The Right Way to Remember 9/11
An incoming administration presents the opportunity to openly discuss how to make America safer, write P.J. Crowley and Michael Signer.
September 11, 2008
Think Again: Shallow Reporting on Deep Drilling
Months after the offshore drilling debate first intensified, the media has all but forgotten the hard facts that dispute drilling's effectiveness.
September 11, 2008
Seven Years After 9/11
Caroline Wadhams discusses how global terrorism has changed since 9/11, the biggest threats facing the United States right now, and how to make America safer.
September 10, 2008
Iraq’s Political Transition After the Surge
Brian Katulis, Marc Lynch, and Peter Juul outline five enduring tensions and ten key challenges in Iraq.
September 10, 2008
It’s Easy Being Green: Organic vs. Conventional Foods—The Gloves Come Off
Compared to conventionally grown food, organic food comes off looking safer and potentially cheaper when the true cost of food is taken into account.
September 10, 2008
Victory in Iraq Declared, Not Achieved
The Iraq troop withdrawals President Bush announced on Tuesday at the National Defence University were much ado about nothing. The slight reduction in troop levels will keep US troop levels several thousand above what they were in January 2007 when he announced the "surge" of US troops. Bush administration critics will say the troop withdrawals are too little and too late, while supporters will echo Bush's "return on success" talking point.
September 9, 2008
Bush Shirks Role as Top Labor Cop
Workplace safety has eroded under the Bush administration, but we can make workers safer again, write David Madland and Karla Walter.
September 9, 2008
The Future of Fannie and Freddie
The government acted wisely by rescuing the mortgage giants, but policymakers now need to consider the long-term benefits of homeownership, writes David Abromowitz.
September 9, 2008
Economic Snapshot for September 2008
The labor market recession deepens, writes Christian E. Weller, yet trade deficits and tax cuts for the rich stand in the way of effective economic solutions.
September 9, 2008
Green Recovery
John D. Podesta unveils a new program to create good jobs and build a low-carbon economy.
September 9, 2008
Signed, Sealed, Delivered?
David Balto testifies that the proposed merger between UPS and DHL could facilitate collusion between UPS and chief rival FedEx.
September 9, 2008
Strategic Collaboration
The United States is about to enter its first presidential transition since the September 11 attacks. In January 2009, President-elect John McCain or Barack Obama will face a radically different world than the one that George W. Bush inherited. Beyond the instability in the Middle East, several large, assertive powers—-China, India, and Russia—-have reemerged on the world stage. Two others, the European Union and Japan, remain strong and are going through their own transitions. This strategic environment is unlike any the United States has ever encountered. This new landscape poses risks but also offers opportunities for the United States if it takes advantage of the moment. The next administration must invest anew at home and harness the power of these new players, particularly through a new forum that can tackle the greatest threats to contemporary global security.
September 9, 2008
Bush Makes Mountains Out of Molehills
Bush’s speech hides the reality of still high troop levels and a deteriorating situation in Iraq, write Lawrence J. Korb and Sean Duggan.
September 8, 2008
Good Health Starts Early
Kate Bell analyzes new reports showing that child poverty is linked to poor health in adults, even those who rise out of poverty.
September 8, 2008
Crisis Averted but Unresolved
Government rescue of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will not by itself resolve the U.S. housing crisis, argues Andrew Jakabovics.
September 8, 2008
Sea-Based Missile Defense
Report from Andrew Grotto and Rebecca Grant provides near- and long-term recommendations and analysis for expanding sea-based missile defense.
September 8, 2008
Congress Is Back!
Congress has a lot to get through before the end of the month, including a slate of appropriations bills.
September 5, 2008
From Bad to Worse: Unemployment Rate Hits Working Americans Across the Spectrum
Unemployment rate hits working Americans across the spectrum, writes Christian E. Weller, signaling the need for immediate policy action.
September 5, 2008
Public Opinion Snapshot: Priorities This Election Season
Election time should be an opportunity to talk about the public's priorities, not biased ideological ones.
September 5, 2008
The Week in Photos: 9.2.08 - 9.5.08
Highlights from this week include new unemployment numbers, an agreement on Denver's ProComp program, and a quiz on plastics.
September 4, 2008
Allowing Pension Plans to Manage Risks
Christian E. Weller delivers a presentation to the Public Interest Committee of the American Academy of Actuaries during its hearing on the disclosure of market value of assets and liabilities for public pension plans.
September 4, 2008
Think Again: Remember Iraq?
The media buries news of an agreement that could end the war, write Eric Alterman and George Zornick.
September 4, 2008
Americans' Dangerous Last Resort
Tim Westrich explains that Americans are turning to more harmful credit card debt to cover rising costs as standards tighten on other types of debt.
September 3, 2008
Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Plastic Recycling?
Test your knowledge of which plastics can be recycled and which can't with CAP's interactive quiz.
September 3, 2008
Somalia
ENOUGH report outlines the current crisis in Somalia, failed policies, and what needs to be done to get the country back on track.
September 2, 2008
Avoiding Costly Overdrafts: Think Twice Before You Swipe Your Debit Card
Even checking accounts—probably the most basic account in banking—contain a plethora of hidden traps these days and practice a type of “gotcha capitalism” that will get you if you don’t take a few steps to avoid the most common pitfalls.
September 2, 2008