UFE in the News

Talking About Change, Talking About Hate

nmelotti — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

The hostilities that led to Lucero's death have long roots-in policies and cultural attitudes that lay the groundwork for an entrenched underclass, in the tacit assumption that some lives are worth less than others. Proclamations of "change" rang loudly across the country with last week's election, but that word will remain an empty promise unless communities take action to deal with unspoken resentments.

Read the full article in Newsday.

Talk is Cheap: Last Words on the Economy

HShapiro — Mon, 3 Nov 2008 14:53:31 -0800

The presidential campaign trail is coming to an end just as the country sputters into an economic ditch. In a pair of dueling Wall Street Journal essays today, McCain rails against Obama's proposed tax increases for the wealthy, while Obama advocates leveling out the tax burden so that the wealthy pay more while middle-income families get a cut. And liberal and conservative commentators have polarized the debate into an epic battle of liberal versus conservative economic philosophies.

Cuba's Natural Disaster: A Good Time to Life the US Embargo and End a Failed Policy

HShapiro — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 13:52:24 -0800

The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: "If the government of the United States is really willing to cooperate with the Cuban people in the face of the tragedy of the hurricane, it is requested to allow the sale to Cuba of those materials considered indispensable and to temporarily suspend the trade restrictions that prevent U.S. companies from offering private commercial credits to our country for the purchase of food in the United States."

Are CEO's Ready to Face Career Instability?

HShapiro — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:11:51 -0800

In pro sports, both older athletes declining in performance and younger, unproven ones in their physical prime will sign incentive-laden contracts with relatively low guaranteed salaries. This equates to a probationary period — if you produce, your salary goes up next year. It worked just dandy for future Hall of Famer Frank Thomas. He signed a $500K one-year deal with the Oakland A’s at age 37, performed amazingly well, then landed a two-year deal for some $9 million annually.

It’s healthy for fat cats to lose weight

HShapiro — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:29:48 -0800

I don’t have any stock options, severance packages or bonus deals in my portfolio, which is so tattered my dog must be chewing on it. If I can find a loan shark in China, I could borrow. But unless the economy gets a little better and Alpo drops in price, my dog might have to be sacrificed like an Old Testament fatted calf.

Read the full article from The News and Tribune.

The Truth About Class Warfare

nmelotti — Fri, 3 Oct 2008 12:27:00 -0700

It's class warfare for presidential candidate Senator John McCain to propose making the Bush tax cuts permanent - a coup de grace for struggling Americans who already saw the median household income go down from 2000 to 2007. This proposal would give raises next year of 4.4percent in after-tax income to the top 0.1 percent and 3.4 percent for the top 1 percent. Combat pay, we assume?

Read the full article in The Citizen-Times.

Americans query CEO pay scales as crisis deepens

HShapiro — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:24:08 -0800

Public health director Paul Pisinski from Massachusetts thinks multi-million dollar payouts for CEOs are "unfair" and "unwarranted" as a global financial crisis deepens.

Read the full article from Reuters.

Housing Crisis Hits Minorities

HShapiro — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:16:09 -0800

Some estimates put the loss for African-American homeowners who lose homes to foreclosure at $122 billion, while Latino homeowners stand to lose up to $129 billion, according to a study by the nonprofit group United for a Fair Economy.

Read the full article from The Columbus Dispatch.

New Book Offers Distressed Homeowners Tips for Preventing, Surviving & Overcoming Foreclosure

HShapiro — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:21:06 -0800

“American Nightmare is a practical handbook on what to do if you are behind on your mortgage. Too many times, people are doing nothing to save their homes simply because they don¹t know their options. Becoming informed about foreclosure prevention and survival tools is the first critical step to keeping your home and saving your credit,” said Rebecca Gallardo-Serrano, Chairman of NAHREP.