Writer Budd Schulberg, unrepentant informer, dead at 95

Original article, by David Walsh, via World Socialist Web Site:

Writer Budd Schulberg, author of What Makes Sammy Run? (1941), a well-known novel about the film industry, and the screenplay for On the Waterfront (1954), died in Westhampton, New York on August 5 at the age of 95.

Schulberg was a member of the Communist Party in the late 1930s and subsequently “named names,” those of fellow writers and others who had also been CP members, before the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) in May 1951. To the end of his life he defended his informing, and that experience largely defines his legacy.

Another HUAC snitch bites the dust.

Whose recovery?

Via World Socialist Web Site

As the Obama administration and the corporate-controlled media tout the supposed signs of an economic recovery, American workers confront a worsening job market, declining real incomes, and the spread of poverty and social deprivation on a scale not seen since the 1930s.

The other real estate bubble

Original article, subtitled Petrino DiLeo analyzes the pleas of the not-so-suffering victims of another real estate crisis--and explains why they shouldn't get a bailout, via socialistworker.org:

DURING A special hearing of Congress' Joint Economic Committee in mid-July, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, a Democrat, talked about the growing volume of bad mortgages and said, "Doing nothing is not an option."

Mind you, it's a Congressperson being quoted.

Right-wing Republican Sen. Sam Brownback chimed in, too. "Now it's on us," he said, "and I think we need to look at what it is that's taking place, and what policy issues we can address to try to make it better, or at least not as bad as it possibly could get."

Hmmm...a Republican agreeing with a Democrat? Something foul's afoot....

What's this? After years of mounting losses, foreclosures and evictions, is Congress finally getting serious and coming up with a real plan to help homeowners in danger of default?

You've got to be kidding, right?

So is something about to change? Sadly, no.

Instead, Maloney and Brownback were voicing their concern about the crisis of commercial real estate--that is, office buildings, shopping centers, apartment complexes, light industrial warehouses, hotels and so on.

Instead of finally doing more to help ordinary people, Congress seems poised to jump to the aid of another group of millionaires and billionaires--and throw federal dollars at exactly the people who don't really need it.

Ah...I see. As per usual, the captitalists get bailed out, all the while screaming about encroaching socialism. It's a joke, of course...but the jokes on us.

I'll let you read the rest of the article. DiLeo points out how Congress will probably help the capitalist elite while allowing the 'little guy' to slog away on his/her own. As always trillions of dollars will go in the pockets of the richest amongst us (and some will trickle down as campaign contributions). Just what the doctor ordered. DiLeo finishes with a question most of us are asking:

Isn't it time that our side got a bailout instead?

Mike Whitney: Bernanke's Shell Game

Mike Whitney: Bernanke's Shell Game

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Isn't it fun to read how the financial institutions are screwing the rest of us over?

Blackwater Founder Implicated in Murder - Democratic Underground

Blackwater Founder Implicated in Murder - Democratic Underground

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If true, I wonder if this will implicate the former (or for that matter, the current) administration?

The Recession Isn't Over, By a Long Shot

By David Lindorff

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Just what we need to know. I wonder if the reality based community is paying attention?