Jan 20 As Republicans Push Health Reform Repeal, How Do Americans View Law? In terms of keeping promises, Wednesday's vote to repeal the health reform law stands as a significant checkmark on the House Republican agenda, but what does it mean outside of Washington? Maybe not as much as GOP leaders… Continue reading
Jan 19 Philadelphia Among City Economies Riding Out the Highs and Lows Philadelphia's City Hall building. Photo via Flickr user Th.omas. PHILADELPHIA | High atop the city hall the statue of William Penn looks down on this city and sees a city that stands as a symbol of the hopes and… Continue reading
Jan 14 Patchwork Nation: The Gun Law Divide When Congress returns to Washington to begin work in earnest following the shootings of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 18 other people in Tucson, gun control advocates will likely be making the case for new measures. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D- N.Y.,… Continue reading
Jan 04 Better Days Ahead in 2011? Measuring American Optimism in the New Year Say this about Americans: they are nothing if not hopeful. While 2009 and 2010 may have brought economic trouble and pain, the mood among most Americans appears surprisingly upbeat going into 2011. In each of Patchwork Nation's 12… Continue reading
Dec 29 Midterm Results Reveal Problems for Democrats in Key Communities Christmas 2010 is in the past and New Year's is approaching, which means it's time to start thinking about ... 2012. Yes, Iowa and New Hampshire are more than a year away, but for presidential hopefuls the political… Continue reading
Dec 23 The Holiday Economic Divide: Wal-Mart or Saks? Wal-Mart shoppers in Syracuse, N.Y.; Creative Commons photo courtesy flickr.com/number13001/ As the Christmas gift season winds down there are distinct holiday retail stories emerging - one for the wealthiest communities and one for places that are struggling. Luxury… Continue reading
Dec 02 The Complicated Equation Behind Unemployment Benefits On Tuesday, Congress refused to further extended long-term unemployment benefits, keeping the cut-off at 99 weeks. That doesn't mean the fight is over. Democrats continue to argue for more time, while Republicans say the country can't afford it. Continue reading
Nov 26 Black Friday: How Much Will Richest Communities Be Willing to Spend? Hoping to cash in on the annual holiday season gift-giving frenzy Toy R Us opened its doors this year at 10 o'clock. That's p.m. -- on Thanksgiving. Other stores didn't even wait for Turkey Day. If you found… Continue reading
Nov 22 What Does Bankruptcy Surge Across U.S. Mean for Recovery Chances? As a measure of economic pain, bankruptcies carry a special power. A bankruptcy is more than losing one's job or home, it is essentially calling for a complete financial do-over. Since 2007, the number of bankruptcies in the United… Continue reading
Nov 08 Democratic Dustbowl: The End of the Prairie Progressives? "Tea Party tidal wave," "historic election," "political realignment": there have been a lot of overblown claims about the scope of this midterm election but as Nov. 2 recedes a bit, some clearer and still potentially troubling realities appear to… Continue reading