| Pressure mounts for new controls on oil futures speculators
Sean Cota runs a family-owned fuel oil business in Bellows Falls, Vt., and has been active in the futures markets for 20 years, locking in prices to protect both himself and his customers. But over the past five years, he has watched in amazement -- and growing anger -- as speculators flooded into the market. It has created tremendous volatility and, he believes, driven up prices for crude oil, heating oil and a host of other commodities. As prices hover near record levels this year, his customers are bearing the brunt -- turning down their thermostats, taking longer to pay their bills and even using credit cards to pay for home heating. "All of these things are having a huge impact on people for something that is just not justified by supply and demand," Cota said.
A Neolib New Deal?:
For example, the government could undoubtedly use its monopsony power to lower the price it pays for drugs--maybe lower the price to something approaching the marginal cost of producing additional pills. It's not at all clear, however, that this is the price we should want to pay, because it does little to fund research and development costs of developing both the existing drug and new drugs. See Michael Kinsley's analysis here. Paying medical providers enough to fund future advances will be very expensive. 4) Yglesias writes The significant financial challenge has to do with covering the bills for old people, but that challenge exists one way or another thanks to Medicare (and the basic reality that senior citizens are largely uninsurable in the private sector) and has relatively little to do with whether or not we can afford to bring universal coverage to the under-65 crowd.
StormFisher Biogas and Denham Capital Management Announce $350 Million ...
StormFisher Biogas announced today that it has formed a strategic partnership with Denham Capital Management, a Boston-based private equity firm, to develop a Cdn$350 million portfolio of biogas projects. StormFisher believes that this is the largest dedication of capital to a biogas-focused renewable energy platform to-date. The partnership is projected to bring about a reduction of greenhouse gases equivalent to removing approximately 26,000 average-sized cars from the road. Bas van Berkel, StormFisher's President, said the firm will seek biogas projects, at any stage of development, across North America, and will consider acquisitions as well. "We have aligned ourselves with Denham because of its commercial experience and clear understanding of our business model, including the carbon element.
McCain resignation talk swirls, Pederson, Barrett, Shadegg, Flake ...
U.S. Sen. John McCain's office Wednesday countered speculation that the Arizona Republican would resign this summer to focus on his presidential bid. McCain spokeswoman Melissa Shuffield told the Phoenix Business Journal that McCain has "no current plans" to step down from his Senate seat. A summer resignation could create a mad dash to succeed McCain in the November election. Gov. Janet Napolitano would appoint an interim senator to serve until the November election if McCain resigns. State law requires that appointment to be of the same party as the officeholder. Business and political sources familiar with the issue already are talking about possible interim contenders, including Phoenix attorneys Grant Woods and Patrick McGroder, McCain aide Deb Gullett and Secretary of State Jan Brewer.
I swear this site is worse than most high schools.
Minister of Neo Political Correctness from West Palm Beach, United States writes Have we EVER treated one of your PM's in such a shabby manor? --------That would require most Americans to have a clue as to what's beyond their borders. It's hard to protest the leader of another country and watch the latest news on Britney and Lindsay at the same time. GWB is standing up to islamofacism (I used that before he did). -----Yes he's fighting it so well by abandoning the prime terror target in Afghanistan and starting a non related, oil war in Iraq. You call it fighting terror. The world calls is taking your eye off the ball. YOU were first in WW1 and 2 yet now we hear the calls "honest broker" which mean the destruction of Israel. ---We weren't first in these wars but we were well ahead of you. Those were just wars because most Canadians came from lands directly involved in the conflict.
Lenders freeze equity lines in response to tumbling property values
Several banks issued statements this week saying they were temporarily suspending withdrawals from open home equity lines out of concern that borrowers could owe more than the house is worth.Historic declines in property values have stripped many local homeowners of their safety nets as lenders freeze lines of credit ---- even on people who are current on their mortgage payments. "It's an emotional hardship," said Patti Lien of Menifee. "We kept our credit good. We've done everything right, and this is what we get because Countrywide made all these crappy loans." .
Former Cherokee chief Mankiller endorses Clinton for president
Just heard on Tulsa Fox 23 News the government is passing a law that will regulate how much you fat over weight people can eat.The law will also prevent fat over weight people from eating in resturants.It is about time something is done about all the fat over weight people. .
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