(on banking, sunshine, and regulation... - promoted by poligirl)
I'm sure most people here know who Paul Volcker is but have you heard of the Group of Thirty and the 18 Recommendations released prior to the inauguration called Financial Reform: A Framework for Financial Stability?
I know that economics is a boring topic. I keep nodding off over the keyboard myself. But restoring confidence in the U.S. market is all about our being able to pay our bills again. Those recommendations are vital to the continuity of an economy in our nation. Guidelines that will have an enormous impact on the future of this nation and how we live.
Below the fold is a diary that first explains some of the challenges these reforms face, followed by an explanation of Mr. Volcker's guidelines. Then there is a look at the government that protected Americans compared with the one that did not. There is also an objective look at the present government and Mr. Volcker followed by the forces that stand against real banking reform.
Please read it and please recommend this diary because if we don't have Paul Volcker's back then perhaps nobody does and business as usual will continue.
Howdy to all you fine folks out here surfin' the Progressive Blue today! Now that the longest election season in American history is over, it's time to get back to some basics, and keepin' and eye on those shifty Congress Critters is necessary. So welcome to the Critter Watch! We do it because, of course, we all know that we have to keep a close eye on those Congress Critters of ours; you never know what they'll vote forsellauction off give away next...
(photo by Cam in Van on Flickr)
The first order of business is to give you the two links to everything Congress, both of which are excellent sources of information:
The first link is for The Library of Congress, affectionately called THOMAS after Thomas Jefferson. Here you can look up just about anything that Congress has done (even previous Congresses.)
The second link is to the GPO Access site regarding Legislative Branch Resources. This page has quick links to many Legislative documents, including Rules, Procedures, Calendars, Reports, etc...
However, since this week is inauguration and a holiday (and a travel week for me), the Critter watch will return next week when they're all done with their hangovers and start actually doing the people's business (with the exception of the Bailout Bill part deux, which they had a chance to turn down last week, but didn't...)
On Thursday an economists' forum named the Group of Thirty released a report called Financial Reform: A Framework for Financial Stability.
The report addresses flaws in the global financial system and provides 18 specific recommendations to: improve supervisory systems by redefining the scope, boundaries, and structure of prudential regulation; enhance the role of the central banks; improve governance practices and risk management; address pro-cyclicality via capital and liquidity standards; enhance accounting practices; strengthen the financial infrastructure; and increase coordination internationally.
Paul Volcker, the head of President-elect Barack Obama's special economic recovery advisory board was the lead author.
"The issue posed by the present crisis is crystal clear," said Volcker. "We [must] restore strong, competitive, innovative financial markets to support global economic growth without once again risking a breakdown in market functioning so severe as to put the world economies at risk."
Howdy to all you fine folks out here surfin' the Progressive Blue today! Now that the longest election season in American history is over, it's time to get back to some basics, and keepin' and eye on those shifty Congress Critters is necessary. So welcome to the Critter Watch! We do it because, of course, we all know that we have to keep a close eye on those Congress Critters of ours; you never know what they'll vote forsellauction off give away next...
(photo by Cam in Van on Flickr)
The first order of business is to give you the two links to everything Congress, both of which are excellent sources of information:
The first link is for The Library of Congress, affectionately called THOMAS after Thomas Jefferson. Here you can look up just about anything that Congress has done (even previous Congresses.)
The second link is to the GPO Access site regarding Legislative Branch Resources. This page has quick links to many Legislative documents, including Rules, Procedures, Calendars, Reports, etc...
In this week's Critter Watch: Well, as expected, they didn't do a whole lot of anything past the formalities of a new Congress, but the festival of Roland Burris continued, and there was a notable hearing not about appointments. Also, a couple of good bills passed the House and the Senate had some cloture. ;>
Well well guys! Howdy to all you fine folks out here surfin' the Progressive Blue today! It has been a while. Now that the longest election season in American history is over, it's time to get back to some basics, and keepin' and eye on those shifty Congress Critters is necessary. So welcome to the Critter Watch! We do it because, of course, we all know that we have to keep a close eye on those Congress Critters of ours; you never know what they'll vote forsellauction off give away next...
(photo by Cam in Van on Flickr)
The first order of business is to give you the two links to everything Congress, both of which are excellent sources of information:
The first link is for The Library of Congress, affectionately called THOMAS after Thomas Jefferson. Here you can look up just about anything that Congress has done (even previous Congresses.)
The second link is to the GPO Access site regarding Legislative Branch Resources. This page has quick links to many Legislative documents, including Rules, Procedures, Calendars, Reports, etc...
In this week's Critter Watch: Not much this week except a brief introduction to the D-newbies and a couple of other notes on what to expect this week (hint: a lot of bloviating and not much actual work; oh and you'll hear the word "economy" a LOT...)
Integrity, Duty, Honor and Responsibility aren't just words to Charlie Brown. They are the guiding principles of an officer and a true patriot who has devoted his life to serving his country.
Not every retired military officer lives by these words, but when you find one that does, you can remember what it feels like to be proud of a fellow American.
That's how I felt one evening two years ago when I had the opportunity to join a group called the Band of Brothers gathering at a suburban hotel meeting room just outside of Washington, DC. And that's when I first met Lt. Col. (ret.) Charlie Brown. Charlie didn't make it up the Hill in 2006; we stand ready today to make sure he is successful this time.
Here at Progressive Blue, we love our friend Barry Welsh, running for Congress in Indiana's 6th Congressional District. We love what he stands for, we love his blog posts, and we love his fighting spirit.
Did you know that Barry even took a punch earlier this year when he stood up for people's right to register to vote? Now THAT'S the kind of fighter we need in Congress.
Barry has taken a pledge to the citizen's of Indiana's 6th District. He's highlighted some important issues in his pledge, so let's take a look at Barry's goals for his work in Congress.
There are a number of candidates this cycle that would be considered netroots favorites. However, perhaps the most beloved by all of the Congressional Candidates is Darcy Burner running for Congress in Washington 08.
Dave Reichert currently represents this district, one of the most leaning Democratic congressional districts held by a Republican. Reichert narrowly beat Burner in 2006 and the rematch became one of the most expensive races in the country.
Here at Ryan for Kentucky, one of our proudest accomplishments has been recieving the endorsement of Progressive Blue. One read through the posts on this blog and one can easily see that the Democrats here represent the heart and the soul of our party. It has been a wild ride for us here, and many of you have been along on it with us since the beginning. I wanted to look back at some of the things we accomplished together.
John Boccieri was born and raised in Northeast Ohio. The grandson of coal miners, steelworkers, and carpenters, he went to college on a baseball scholarship, then joined the U.S. Air Force. He has served in the military for 14 years, including four tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and has represented eastern Stark County for eight years in the Ohio legislature as a State Representative and State Senator. John lives in Alliance with his wife and four children.
When John Boccieri launched his campaign for Congress in June 2007, he made a vow to Ohioans.
He promised to be a voice for change in Washington - a fighting force for working families, veterans, living wage jobs, and free and fair trade. And John vowed to always bring honesty and integrity to his work.
It's time, John said, to renew the American spirit. It's time to bring back hope in the promise of America, and reverse the poor decisions in Washington which are jeopardizing this promise for Ohioans today.
In the Seventh Congressional District of Florida, a real battle has broken out with Faye Armitage (known around these parts as [ fayeforcure]) coming on strong against incumbent Republican John Mica.
Florida's 7th District isn't an easy place to be a Democrat. In 2004, Bush won over Kerry by 57-43. In 2006, Mica beat his challenger 63-37. Republican voter registrations outnumber Democrats 43 to 35. Swing voters in this district will play a critical role in unseating the seven-term Congressman, and turning this race toward Armitage. This is a great district to to see if Obama has the long coat tails we're hoping for.
Faye holds bachelor's and master's degrees in economics from the University of Amsterdam and taught economics at Valencia Community College in the late 1990s. She became a crusader for embryonic stem-cell research, patient safety and universal health care after a 1996 soccer accident left her son a quadriplegic. Although a first-time candidate, Faye Armitage knows her way around the halls of power already, and will combine her economics training and experience as a citizen-lobbyist in Tallahassee and Washington, to advocate for her 7th District constituents.
Here at Progressive Blue, we love our friend 
