Forums: Business And Economy

All across the country there were demonstrations on March 4 by students (and some faculty) against cuts in higher education funding, but inevitably attention focused on California, where the modern genre originated in 1964. I joined the University of California faculty in 1966 and so have watched a good many of them, but have never seen one less impressive that this year’s. In 1964 there was focus and clarity. This one was brain-dead. The former idealism and sense of purpose had degenerated into a self-serving demand for more money at a time when both state and university are broke, and...

Politics: Another bank failure is nothing new these days — except if the bank is run by the family of a U.S. Senate candidate who profited handsomely and lent millions to a convicted felon. But then, that's the Chicago way. 'I did not run for office to be helping out a bunch of fat-cat bankers on Wall Street," President Obama said in a recent interview with "60 Minutes." Speaking to those bankers, he said: "You guys are drawing down 10, 20 million dollar bonuses after America went through the worst economic year that it's gone through in — in decades,...

BEIJING -- Managers of a factory that makes Columbia Sportswear garments didn't spend the recent Lunar New Year holidays with family, as virtually all 1.3 billion Chinese did. Instead, the Beijing Topnew managers packed wine and fruitcake gifts and drove through rural villages. There, they bowed and thanked parents for sending young adults to work in their busy plant. They talked up wage increases and new benefits. They urged families to send the workers back again. "It's a tough task for the managers," said Larry Liu, Topnew general merchandising manager. "There are no hotels, and some days they end up...

Major business groups Tuesday announced a multimillion-dollar ad campaign to stop President Barack Obama's health care overhaul as it approaches a make-or-break vote in the House.

Major business groups say President Barack Obama's health care overhaul is a job killer... The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, and groups ranging from contractors to retailers said Tuesday the Democratic health care bills would raise their expenses, while failing to control health care costs.

While the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce awaits responses to letters it sent to natural gas producers as a precursor to hearings later this month on whether federal regulation is warranted on hydraulic fracturing, Louisiana’s congressional delegation and state legislators are taking a very vigorous and aggressive stance in fighting Washington’s attempts to interfere with the promise of the mammoth Haynesville Shale natural gas play and the coming energy boom it can mean for the state.

On March 5, 2010, Senator Harry Reid said, "Today is a big day in America. Only 36,000 people lost their jobs today, which is really good." Give or take, that is. Harry offered no condolences for those within the 36,000 jobs lost bracket.

Paying up Under pressure, GM is now putting up half the money needed to rescue Opel THE mood at this week’s Geneva motor show, if not exactly upbeat, was in contrast to the fear that gripped the event last year. Europe’s car market is expected to fall in volume terms by around 10% in 2010 as the scrappage schemes that helped underpin demand for smaller cars last year are withdrawn. But slowly returning sales of larger, more profitable vehicles should underpin revenues. Moreover, the action carmakers have taken to strengthen their balance sheets is working: most are expecting to generate...

I have a question/request/need for info on how to develop an idea into a marketable product. I know this pres. is anti-business, but I have an idea for a baby-product several moms have told me would be a wonderful idea. I need some help on finding out how to get it from an idea to an actual product on the market. Can any Freeper help? TY

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is meeting with television executives this week to pitch a documentary about her home state, FOX has learned. Despite several media reports that the project was a reality show, Fox411 confirms that it is a documentary that will focus on the people, geography and wildlife of Alaska. A source close to Palin says the show has absolutely nothing to do with her personal life or her family. Palin is teaming up with “Survivor” creator Mark Burnett and Robert Barnett to produce the project, sources tell Fox. The group is in Los Angeles this week meeting...