Book Review: Paul Krugman’s ‘End This Depression Now!’

(Cross-posted at Winning Progressive)

Right now the disconnect between Washington’s political-media class and the American people is astounding. Somehow in the midst of this economic catastrophe, the conversation steered away from fiscal stimulus and job creation to deficits and spending cuts. Meanwhile, millions of unemployed and underemployed Americans continue struggling to make ends meet.

Along comes Nobel Prize-winning economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman with his new book “End This Depression Now!”. Since 2008, Krugman (and a few other courageous individuals like former Obama economic adviser Christina Romer and economist Joseph Stiglitz) has been a voice in the wilderness calling for bigger and bolder government intervention to stimulate job growth while political leaders on both sides of the Atlantic fail to meet the challenge of this economic crisis with timid half measures and awful austerity. In America, the Republican Party is ruled by anti-government hysteria and free-market fundamentalism.

Obama, Ford and the First NYC Green Festival

2012 Ford Focus Electric charging up at inaugural New York City Green Festival, held April 21st and 22nd at Javits Center North on Manhattan's West Side. Photo credit: Josh Marks

(Cross-posted at Winning Progressive)

Earth Day weekend the inaugural New York City Green Festival took place at Javits Center North on Manhattan’s West Side. The most striking thing about the nation’s premier sustainability event was the convergence of corporate titan Ford Motor Company with an event more known for progressive politics, vegan cooking demonstrations and lefty speakers like environmental advocate Van Jones and “Democracy Now!” broadcast journalist Amy Goodman.

The fact that Ford — a former gas-guzzling enemy of the environmental movement — was displaying its new eco-friendly vehicles, is attributed directly to President Barack Obama not just saving the United States automobile industry and more than a million American jobs, but retooling Detroit by forcing them to produce smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles.

Green Traveler: California

Nissan Leaf electric vehicle charging up in Santa Monica, California.

December 24, 2011-January 2, 2012 -- California is on the cutting edge of America's green revolution, so whenever I visit the Golden State there is always something new to write about on Green Forward.

San Francisco Airport

The last trip to the Left Coast took me first from Washington Dulles International Airport on Virgin America (the best domestic airline in my humble opinion) to San Francisco International Airport's spectacular new Terminal 2, where I was greeted by a Google representative at something called a Chrome Zone pop-up shop. He explained to me that as a promotion, Google was renting out their new Chromebook laptop to Virgin America customers. The Chromebook could either be used while waiting in the terminal for a connecting flight or on a flight to another airport with a similar pop-up shop where it could be returned.