Business

The White House’s and Congress’ continued inaction on responsible immigration reform has led to disaster and crisis, for state governments, local officials, and families alike. But the most serious side effect of this egregious abdication of responsibility is the “open season” many politicians seem to have declared against hard-working immigrant families. In North Carolina, for example, a sheriff’s racist remarks in 2008, used to describe the Latino community during a news interview, resulted not in condemnation but instead praise and adoration. The elected official’s popularity spiked and a Facebook group seeking his re-election was created. Is this really the America we thought we knew?

The biggest bank in the US, Bank of America has said it will restart legal proceedings to repossess 102,000 homes. The lender had stopped its foreclosure process earlier this month after it emerged that thousands of cases may have been mishandled. The bank said it would restart proceedings in 23 states. It is continuing an internal review of cases in the other 27 states, but said it expected fewer than 30,000 foreclosures to be seriously delayed. The bank spokesman said that as was the case for our judicial state review, our initial assessment findings show the basis for our foreclosure decisions is accurate. The news was greeted well by markets, with Bank of America's and JP Morgan's share prices rising 2.9% and 2.4% respectively by the close of trading on Monday. JP Morgan also suspended its foreclosures this month for similar reasons.

Two weeks ago, BP America, Caterpillar Inc. and ConocoPhillips decided not to renew their membership in the US Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), an alliance of major businesses and environmental groups calling for federal regulation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Since then, there have been some wild assertions about the health of the movement for clean energy in America. A lot of people are looking at this like tea leaves, and trying to figure out what it means, so here's my reading.

Our favorite irascible media tyrant is in the news once again, and once again it’s time for me to bring you a story of doing one thing while wishing for another.

In a November 6th interview, Sky News Australia’s David Speers spent about 35 minutes with the CEO of NewsCorp, Rupert Murdoch; the conversation covering topics as diverse as software piracy, world economics, the role of Fox News (and Fox NewsPinion©) in American politics, a strange defense of Glenn Beck, and, not very long afterwards, an even stranger defense of immigration.

We have heard a lot about the…how can I put this politely…challenges Murdoch seems to face associating factual reality with his reality, and we could have lots of fun going through his factual misstatements—but instead, I want to take on one specific issue today:

Rupert Murdoch says he hates it when people steal his content from the Internet to draw readers to their sites…which is funny, if you think about it, because he has no problem at all stealing my content (and lots of yours, as well) for his sites.

(To be

Another year, another top ranking for NC in the business climate department.

Don't believe me 'cause I'm some crazy blogger on BlueNC? Then trust the pros at Site Selection magazine.

They even start their article with this line about NC's consistent ranking about such supposed better business places as Texas, Virginia, or South Carolina.

How has North Carolina managed to rank No. 1 in Site Selection’s annual business climate rankings eight times in the past nine years?

Wal-Mart is a scourge on small towns and small business across America. If you haven't seen this frightening map yet, Wal-Mart has been invading communities nationwide for decades like a virus. But a new study out of Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business has some advice about how small businesses can cope.

On Tuesday, February 3, the NC Chamber of Commerce (formerly known as NCCBI - NC Citizens for Business and Industry), will hosts its government affairs conference in Raleigh. State legislative and government leaders will attend and speak.

What is offensive is that this organization under the new leadership of a Mr. Lew Ebert (previously of Kansas and Pennsylvania) opposed the recently passed Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.

See their email alert here

While most small businesses may not be members of the statewide NC Chamber, many local chambers of commerce throughout the state affiliate with this organization. People at the local level should urge their local chambers of commerce to express their disbelief that the formerly well-respected NC Chamber has sunk to the new low of opposing equal pay for women in the workplace.

I submitted the following idea on change.gov and it has quite a few votes so far.  I am hoping that others will see it and vote it to the top of the list so it gets referred to President Elect Obama. 

Funding for conversion of homes to solar/alternative energy power details

Just another long post...and another GREAT depiction of the truth :

This should be required reading in every high school economics class and all adults...."letter from employer to employees" :

To All My Valued Employees,

There have been some rumblings around the office about the
future of this company, and more specifically, your job. As you
know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many
challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn't
pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is
the changing political landscape in this country.

However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might
help you decide what is in your best interests.

Wal-Mart is refusing to pay North Carolina $30 million in unpaid taxes.