Stimulate US

With the federal "Cash for Clunkers" program such a resounding success and now out of money, prepare for the next wave of federal stimulus money -- "Cash for Refrigerators."That isn't the formal name of the federal program, which is set to begin late this fall with rebates of $50 to $200 on...

Emmanuel Saez, a professor of Economics at UC Berkeley has raised concern about income inequality in the United States. In his recent article, he stated that the income gap is at an all time high; exceeding levels during the Great Depression. His research provides us with a candid look at a telling...

The United States is facing a major sugar shortage, according to the Wall Street Journal (subscription may be required). On Aug. 5, General Mills, Hershey Co, Mars Inc., and Kraft Foods alerted Thomas J. Vilsak, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, of their combined forecast of low...

California residents can now bid on new General Motors cars and trucks through eBay's online marketplace. Approximately 250 GM dealers in California are selling Buick, Chevrolet, GMC and Pontiac vehicles on eBay Motors, and you can either use the "Buy It Now" option or make your best offer. You can...

As Americans struggle to keep up with payments, the government is busy trying to economize. The country is facing a $1 trillion deficit that is increasing as government spend more to tackle the problems of the recession. Recently, the Wall Street Journal featured an article that explained the new...

When car manufacturers fell in love with rebates, some car dealers found that these programs didn't increase sales very much; they simply drew the shoppers who intended to buy in the near future. I wondered if Cash For Clunkers might be doing the same thing, leading to a sharp decline in sales...

Lost in the gloating over car sales figures tied to the Cash For Clunkers program is the original intention -- to help clean up the environment by purging the roads of exhaust-belching jalopies. Instead, the legislation has become a handout to the auto industry, or, more accurately, another handout...