The Latest Economic Numbers

Published April 08, 2009 @ 12:00PM PT

From Continental Packaging Solutions It's ugly out there. And I'm not talking only about the 1 in 10 on food stamps, or the 8.5 - 15% unemployment rate, depending on your measurements.

I'm talking about the FDIC's gamble on Geithner with our $$, the number of Refund Anticipation Loans on Indian reservations, grandparents raising grandkids, housing the chronically homeless and alcoholic, and pallets galore.

0 - Losses expected by the FDIC in insuring Geithner's Public-Private Plan (a.k.a. TARP II). Color me skeptical.

$1 - of scrip, or local currency, a Berkshires region resident gets for 95 cents, to use in local stores as a means to help cash-strapped municipalities, shops and customers. Another Depression-Era innovation enjoying a comeback these days!

6 - U.S. Counties with Indian Reservations that are among the places with the most low-income taxpayers losing portions of their return to costly refund anticipation loans;

6 - number of bills under consideration in the Montana state legislature concerning grandparents' custodial rights;

9 - people living in a 600 square foot apartment in Las Vegas as tenants crowd in to make ends meet;

30 - Upper end estimate of percentage increase of library patrons in recent years as the jobless and homeless crowd in for services, warmth and a respite from the harsh realities of our current economy;

57 - Percent of Americans who are willing to pay higher taxes in order to provide universal health coverage;

58 - Percent of Americans who disapprove of Obama's financial crisis policies; Color me not surprised.

70 - Years, at least, that farm workers have been fighting for and waiting for their legal rights;

87 - Percent of low-income children living in older, possibly substandard housing in Rhode Island, the worst rate in the nation, according to the advocacy group Kids Count;

90 - Percent of cases mishandled by the Labor Department's bureau responsible for enforcing minimum wage, overtime and other fair pay rules, according to the government's General Accountability Office;

2,100 - Cases of mortgage fraud under investigation by the FBI as vultures swoop in to scam households facing foreclosure;

$4,000,000 - saved in one year by Seattle taxpayers from providing chronically homeless alcoholics a permanent place to live;

$1,000,000,000,000 - What a trillion dollars looks like.

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Comments (2)

Community currency is making a very big helpful comeback in America. It provides jobs and saves money,

Mark

Posted by Mark Herpel on 04/08/2009 @ 07:59PM PT
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Subject: Help me hold Wall St. CEOs accountable

Hi,
Last week the Obama administration took tough, decisive action with the auto industry, forcing the resignation of the CEO of General Motors.

It's time to do the same for the banks. And the best way to start is by firing Bank of America CEO Ken Lewis. He's the worst of the worst.

I just signed a petition to ask Treasury Secretary Geithner to replace the leadership at bailed-out banks, starting with Ken Lewis. Can you join me at the link below?
http://pol.moveon.org/lewis/?r_by=-15402681-YhVl_9x&rc=confemail

Thanks!

Posted by Mary Acosta on 04/10/2009 @ 11:36AM PT
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Author

Leigh is a PhD candidate in urban planning at MIT, and a consultant on U.S. Gulf Coast recovery. She sits on the Board of the Allston-Brighton Community Development Corporation in Boston, and has worked with non-profits, foundations and local governments on policies and programs aimed at reducing urban poverty and inequality.