Fallout on leaked call | The Australian

The article, published on October 25, reported that in a conversation about the global financial crisis, Mr Bush asked the Prime Minister what the G20 forum was.

US officials denied Mr Bush asked that question, rejecting that aspect of the report’s claims through an article in The Washington Post. Mr Rudd’s office has also denied that version of events.

I don’t think Americans would be surprised if this is true.

I came across the story that jobs paying below the poverty line have increased by 4.7 million in the last four years.

The number of jobs with pay below the poverty threshold increased to 29.4 million, or 22 percent of all jobs, in 2006 from 24.7 million, or 19 percent of all jobs, in 2002.

“The real surprising news, the alarming news, is that both the number and percentage of low-income families increased during this period,” said Brandon Roberts, co-author of the report. “This was a time when we had solid and robust economic growth.”

Technorati Tags: Bush

The New York Times has a story out today talking about the rise in renters erasing the gains of home ownership.

Driven largely by the surge in foreclosures and an unsettled housing market, Americans are renting apartments and houses at the highest level since President Bush started a campaign to expand homeownership in 2002.

Yet, there’s probaby around 20% of the American people who still approve of Bush. The problem with people looking to rent now is the fact that it’s getting harder to find a place to rent. Also the cost to rent is increasing as the demand has increased. Neoliberal Milton Friedmanism shows it’s true face once again. The only good thing about the foreclosures is that greedy and somewhat predatory lenders are being put out of business or are taking a big loss. Yes, some of the people who took out mortgages or who speculated are at fault for taking on something they should not have; but it doesn’t erase the greed of the banks.

Technorati : bush, ownership society