U.S.

Money creates MoneyThe U.S. Federal Reserve is attempting to create another way for them get money out of the banking system: the program would be called the term deposit facility. Essentially it would enable banks and other financial institutions to ear interest on loans to the central bank. Right now banks can loan money to the Fed overnight, and earn interest on that overnight loan- A term deposit facility would allow them to make loans of much longer duration and earn more interest on those loans.

"Term deposits would be one of several tools that the Federal Reserve could employ to drain reserves to support the effective implementation of monetary policy," said the Fed. Read more

International Bank Tax? Um, no.Yeah! You want to see an international throwdown? Propose an international financial tax to the U.S. You think we’ve sent out troops and secret missions in the last 50 years? Don’t mess with the financial rules, my friends.

The G20, fresh from its third meeting of the year (yikes!) is still cautious about being optimistic, and, in fact, is cautious about doing anything at all. It’s one of those situations where everyone is feeling the heat from home, everyone is somewhat aware of a deep, deep problem, but everyone is also unwilling to really do anything about it. Read more

Flag of PrideIn a move that should surprise no one, the EU is pressing the U.S. to do more on climate change. This was called for earlier this week by the UN and is warranted with everything going on around climate change.

Here are a few points to consider:

1.    The U.S. is the #2 emitter of carbon emissions in the world, only recently falling from #1. 2.    The U.S. has around 300 million people out of the world’s 6.6 billion or more. Do the division: We are 1/22 of the world’s population and the second largest contributor to the problem. 3.    The U.S. refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.4.    The U.S. is ignoring the Copenhagen climate summit as a deadline for passing meaningful climate change legislation. Read more

Netanyahu, center, with U.S. politiciansSince the creation of Israel in the middle of the 20th Century as, among other things, a homeland for Jews persecuted around the world, there has been an uneasy peace that may better be described as a slow battle between Israel and the Palestinian states that surround it. That battle has erupted in the Gaza Strip more than a few times and has erupted in smaller ways with many of the other states. Through it all the U.S. has stood behind Israel, supplying machines, guns, training, bombs- whatever was needed for the military. As well, the U.S. has provided diplomatic arguments for the existence, relevance and necessity of Israel as a Jewish state. From starting peace talks to engaging with other countries outside of the middle east in necessary diplomacy, the U.S. has been a staunch ally of Israel and all that it stands for. Read more