James Surowiecki on the Debt-Ceiling Crisis : The New Yorker

This week in the magazine, James Surowiecki writes about the debt-ceiling crisis. On Tuesday, Surowiecki answered readers’ questions in a live chat. Read a transcript of the discussion below.JAMES SUROWIECKI: Welcome, everyone. I’m James …

MORE via Ask the Author: Ask the Author Live: James Surowiecki on the Debt-Ceiling Crisis : The New Yorker.

Filed under: News, America through European eyes, American alliances and prospects, Election 2012: Operation Next?, It's the economy "&%$@!*!", national debt; national budget; spent surplus; balancing the budget; American values; How we spend our national budget, national identity, News, WeSeeReason on Twitter

The long-term implications of a US downgrade | Felix Salmon

David Boucher, of The Economic Word, asks a very good question via email, about the implications of the US losing its triple-A rating:

I was wondering if the state-level impact of a debt downgrade would be different, more severe.

From my understanding, Illinois and California have the two lowest ratings of the US states; if the US were to be downgraded and so would a couple of trouble states, would it have an impact on the ability of the Federal Government to lend a hand to those in trouble? And as a result create a Euro-ish type of debt crisis within the US?

There’s certainly a general understanding, in the markets, that …

MORE via The long-term implications of a US downgrade | Felix Salmon.

Filed under: News, America through European eyes, American alliances and prospects, Election 2012: Operation Next?, It's the economy "&%$@!*!", national identity, News, The US Economy; the recession; Economic Recovery; US Job Market; American recovery; Employment numbers; national debt; deficit; tax cuts for the rich;, WeSeeReason on Twitter

Health-care reform: Looking to Uncle Sam | The Economist

POLITICIANS want to lower spending, or at least they say they do. But in all the to-and-fro over raising the debt ceiling, little sensible has been said about lowering spending in the long …

MORE via Health-care reform: Looking to Uncle Sam | The Economist.

Filed under: News, Election 2012: Operation Next?, Federal Budget; Federal Deficit; balancing the budget; National Debt; Medicare; cutting healthcare; limiting Medicare; Republicans;, Health Literacy & Health Findings and Facts, Health Policy, It's the economy "&%$@!*!", News, Policy & Politics, Things Worth $Supporting, WeSeeReason on Twitter

The Big Mac index: Currency comparisons, to go | The Economist

correct” level. It is based on the theory of purchasing-power parity (PPP), the notion that in the long run exchange rates should move towards the rate that …

MORE via The Big Mac index: Currency comparisons, to go | The Economist.

Filed under: News, America through European eyes, American alliances and prospects, Election 2012: Operation Next?, It's the economy "&%$@!*!", News, The US Economy; the recession; Economic Recovery; US Job Market; American recovery; Employment numbers;, WeSeeReason on Twitter, world recession; world economy; the West; How the West is run; Political Economy; international order; international disorder;

Norway after terrorism: Flowers for freedom | The Economist

“WITH the strongest weapons in the world—freedom of speech and democracy—we are staking out the course for Norway after 22 July 2011.” Jens Stoltenberg, Norway’s prime minister, echoed the sentiments of …

MORE via Norway after terrorism: Flowers for freedom | The Economist.

Filed under: Discrimination, News, discrimination, hate crimes, immigration and national identity, national identity, News, Parenting: Loving and living with our kids..., racism; racism and hatred; racist terrorism; angry white male; right wing madness; right wing extremism; bigotry; right wing violence; Christian violence; Christianity and intolerance; religious fanat, WeSeeReason on Twitter

Strassel: Boehner’s Moment of Truth – WSJ.com

It isn’t easy to turn Washington around on a dime. If nothing else, give Republican House Speaker John Boehner marks for …

MORE via Strassel: Boehner’s Moment of Truth – WSJ.com.

Filed under: News, Election 2012: Operation Next?, Federal Budget; Federal Deficit; balancing the budget; National Debt; Medicare; cutting healthcare; limiting Medicare; Republicans;, It's the economy "&%$@!*!", Leadership and Wisdom: Good ideas and good people can save the world, national debt; national budget; spent surplus; balancing the budget; American values; How we spend our national budget, national identity, News, Policy & Politics, WeSeeReason on Twitter

Nintendo: Apple’s Latest Prey – WSJ.com

Sales of Nintendo Co.’s most important new gaming device have plunged since its release, the company said Thursday, prompting the videogame pioneer to slash its profit forecast and scramble to deeply discount the gadget to ….

MORE via Nintendo: Apple’s Latest Prey – WSJ.com.

Filed under: News, Apple brand; Apple success; Value of Google; social media wars; tech wars; technology competition;, digital media; technology news; latest digital gadgets; technology and you, It's the economy "&%$@!*!", new technology; technology trends; Tablet Computers; must have gadgets; must have commodities;, News, Parenting: Loving and living with our kids..., Social Media & Tech, WeSeeReason on Twitter

Carmakers Back Strict New Rules for Gas Mileage – NYTimes.com

Four years ago, the American auto industry was so opposed to higher fuel economy standards that executives of Detroit camped out in Washington in an unsuccessful bid to …

MORE via Carmakers Back Strict New Rules for Gas Mileage – NYTimes.com.

Filed under: News, It's the economy "&%$@!*!", News, Oil prices; global economy; world recession; Oil company profits; gas prices; consumer protection;, price of gas; oil companies; consumer; gasoline prices, Things Worth $Supporting, WeSeeReason on Twitter

A Young Lama Prepares to Be a Tibetan Leader – NYTimes.com

At the age of 7, he was deemed to be the 17th reincarnation of the Karmapa — one of the most revered figures in Tibetan Buddhism — and whisked from the yak-hair tent of his nomad family in the Himalayas to be …

MORE via A Young Lama Prepares to Be a Tibetan Leader – NYTimes.com.

Filed under: News, Dalai Lama; leadership; political succession;, discrimination, Leadership and Wisdom: Good ideas and good people can save the world, News, WeSeeReason on Twitter

Review Shows Title IX Is Not Significantly Enforced – NYTimes.com

In 1998, the University of Southern California was accused of denying its female students a fair chance at participating in sports. Thirteen years later, the federal agency charged with investigating sex discrimination in schools has …

MORE via Review Shows Title IX Is Not Significantly Enforced – NYTimes.com.

Filed under: News, discrimination, national identity, News, Parenting: Loving and living with our kids..., Policy & Politics, sexism; heterosexism; gender politics; feminism; old boy network; patriarchy;, Things Worth $Supporting, WeSeeReason on Twitter, women's rights; gender roles; feminism; the changing family; family roles;

Atheists Sue to Ban Display in 9/11 Museum of Cross-Shaped Beam – NYTimes.com

In the days after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, some workers and mourners at the World Trade Center site seized upon a cross-shaped steel beam found amid the …

MORE via Atheists Sue to Ban Display in 9/11 Museum of Cross-Shaped Beam – NYTimes.com.

Filed under: News, atheists; religious conflict; religion; beliefs; discrimination, discrimination, national identity, News, Public Policy, WeSeeReason on Twitter

9 Excellent Celebrity-Powered Social Good Campaigns [VIDEOS]

The Stars of Social Good Series is supported by CITGO and the Fueling Good Campaign, helping to change the world one mile at a time through contributions to local charities.

Want to see John Mayer make fun of Justin Bieber? Want to see Ed Helms run around Africa in a silly safari outfit? Now do you want to see them do it for …

MORE via 9 Excellent Celebrity-Powered Social Good Campaigns [VIDEOS].

Filed under: News, Doing social good; giving money away; measuring outcomes in Philanthropy; Philanthropic giving and outcomes; Philanthropy and social good results;, Leadership and Wisdom: Good ideas and good people can save the world, News, Social Media & Tech, Things Worth $Supporting, WeSeeReason on Twitter