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Supreme Shocker — Why Liberals Should Be Wary

June 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Chief Justice Roberts is now getting rave reviews from many on the left for “saving” Obamacare.  But while Roberts did “save” Obamacare, he broke with the right wing for one critical reason: to build up goodwill with the public, especially progressives.

Here’s the rub:  in just a few months, Roberts will redouble his efforts to dismantle affirmative action, weaken the Voting Rights Act, and further tilt the law in favor of large corporations (a la Citizens United).  After lionizing him for “saving” healthcare, many would be hard pressed to criticize him as being too “partisan” or “political”.

I salute Chief Justice Roberts for exercising restraint in addressing what will become one of the most far reaching laws of the young 21st century.  Yet at the same time, I harbor no illusions on how he’ll rule in the future.  The Chief Justice remains a formidable figure who is determined to tilt the Supreme Court to the right for decades to come.

If President Obama is re-elected, he’ll have the chance to restore some balance to the Supremes — because he’d probably get to appoint at least one justice to the High Court.

Elections matter.

– Gautam Dutta

Filed Under: 2012 Presidential, Economy, Gautam Dutta, Grassroots Activism, Healthcare, Obama Administration, Political Reform, Social Justice

Pandas: Good for the Environment, Good for the Economy

June 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Saving the pandas is important not simply because they’re incredibly cute but also because their leavings may help solve global energy problems. That’s right; panda droppings may well contain bacteria extremely efficient in helping to create biofuel.

“Our studies suggest that bacteria species in the panda intestine may be more efficient at breaking down plant materials than termite bacteria and may do so in a way that is better for biofuel manufacturing purposes,” Brown said.

Under certain conditions, the panda poop bacteria can covert 95 percent of plant biomass into simple sugars, Brown estimated. The powerful enzymes in the bacteria speed up chemical reactions, eliminating the need for high heat, harsh acids and high pressures currently used to produce biofuels. Bacteria would also be a more energy-efficient way to turn materials such as switchgrass, corn stalks and wood chips into fuel, Brown said.

Once China expends its supplies of rare earths, panda excrement could become a key component of the Chinese economy. Now if someone can just figure out how to get pandas to make more pandas.

I know, the post’s title says pandas. By the rules of the internet, that means their must be panda pictures or video. Enjoy:

- Justin Gillenwater

Filed Under: Economy, Environment, Foreign Affairs, Justin Gillenwater

The Paper Bag Was On My Knee

June 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Author’s note: I have been a frequent flier with United since 2006, racking up over 300,000 lifetime flight miles, and haven’t even contemplated flying with Southwest since 2005.

Houston Intercontinental Airport is the largest hub of the largest hub of the largest airline in the world with room for more growth. United, that largest airline, however, is threatening to reduce its presence after Houston City Council voted voted 16-1 to expand Houston’s other commercial passenger airport, Hobby , which will allow Southwest Airlines, who agreed to fund the expansion, to begin international flights, pending federal approval.

Strangely, Councilmember Al Hoang shortly before the vote asked that United make sure Houston is the gateway between Asia and Latin America by having direct flights to Asia. A quick look at United’s timetable shows the only direct flight to Asia from Houston is to Tokyo. United has a very strong Asia presence, dating to its purchase of Pan Am’s Asia routes in 1985. From Tokyo, passengers can connect on United to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Saigon, Seoul, Singapore, and Taipei, not to mention the routes served by other Star Alliance partners including Tokyo-based All Nippon Airways. The only way I see Houston getting more direct flights to Asia that make any sense is adding on a Houston leg to flights out of Chicago or San Francisco like with some direct flights to Europe that stop at Newark.

United responded to the vote by immediately announcing over 1000 job cuts, suggesting that they would not utilize one of their soon-to-be-delivered Boeing 787s to bring nonstop service between Houston and Auckland, and suggesting the expansion and improvements of its regional terminal would not continue past its current phase. expects United to keep its commitment to Houston having the largest hub of the largest airline in the world. I think it will, and its partners seem to think so too.

Turkish Airlines [TK], a Star Alliance of United Airlines, will soon launch a nonstop flight between Houston and Istanbul. Such a decision, absent significant origin-and-destination demand, is based on connecting traffic. TK expects to use United’s network in the US, especially from Houston, combined with its own network to make the flight profitable.

What’s more, Lufthansa [LH], another Star Alliance partner, is changing its daily 747-400 flight between Houston and Frankfurt to a daily A380 flight.

I’m reservedly concerned United’s spiteful actions will spill over into their local charitable giving. One can find ContinentalUnited’s logo at many Houston museums and performing arts venues.

Hopefully United will start to behave more reasonably. Houston City Council had little real choice in this matter. Most of the population of the city supports increased competition; I certainly do. Southwest was prepared to begin international operations from San Antonio if Houston wouldn’t cooperate. United would suffer similarly with a Southwest international hub still so near.

- Justin Gillenwater

Filed Under: Economy, Foreign Affairs, Grassroots Activism, Jobs/Employment Issues, Justin Gillenwater, Texas

You’re Giving Me A WaWa

June 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I previously discussed bizarre ways to interact with voters and he’s done it again. It’s just another part of his pattern of clearly not being a regular human being. Other highlights include: his “humorous Wisconsin connection” in which a Wisconsin marching band helped point out how his father had moved jobs from Michigan, putting his dog on the roof of his car, which, as a Fox “News” contributor puts it makes Romney unfit to be president, and suggesting that cookies from a well-respected local bakery came from a 7-11, which I can only guess is a way rich people joke around with each other.

Romney has expanded his insults of food service establishments in Pennsylvania to a variety of sandwich shops after he marveled at the touchscreen sandwich-ordering menu at WaWa, a fuel and sandwich-based fast food chain. Romney, who appreciates the efficiency of the touchscreen menu instead of ordering through a person, somehow linked that efficiency to the lack of the efficiency in the United States Postal Service, making up a 33-page change of address form, which simply doesn’t exist. Such a long form only comes from lack of competition, at least that’s where Romney’s logic will take anyone who follows it. Apparently Romney has never heard of United Parcel Service or Federal Express.

- Justin Gillenwater

Filed Under: 2012 Presidential, Economy, Justin Gillenwater

Meet America’s New Poverty Class: Twentysomethings

May 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

1 out of 4 US households is underbanked

Millennials are having a difficult time finding gainful employment which is leading them to make poor financial decisions.

From The Street:

Right now, the U.S. unemployment rate for the age 20-24 demographic stands at 13.5%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, compared to 8.1% for the general population.

Besides the larger realization among this Millennials generation — and many economists — that between automation and outsourcing, good job opportunities are scarce, younger adults are moving back into their parent’s house because they’re broke. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 5.9 million young adults between the ages of 25 and 34 lived with their parents by 2011, up from 4.7 million in 2008. The agency also says that 45% of those “double-upper’s” generate incomes that are below the poverty lines.

But the capper on the jug could be a new report from Fort Worth, Texas-based Think Finance, an online financial products provider. The survey of 640 U.S. Millennials reveals that more of them are using purportedly downscale financial products like pre-paid credit cards and pay day loans — and are actually ‘satisfied” with the experience.

Filed Under: Economy, Jobs/Employment Issues

For 1st time, majority of unemployed have attended college

May 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Yesterday I gave a presentation for APA Heritage Month about the model minority myth and APA unemployment. The crux of my discussion is that although it’s popularly perceived that APAs are doing well and financially secure, what folks don’t realize is that APAs have the worst long term unemployment. Asian Pacific Americans who become unemployed remain unemployed for longer than other ethnicities (see Economic Policy Institute’s report on AAPI unemployment.) This doesn’t even cover the discrepancy within our community of who has more education, who remains unemployed longer, because lumping us all into one category elides the ethnicities that are faring less well – or as the Urban Institute puts it, the model minority myth hides the economic reality of Asian Americans.  This has implications for the 50% of college students who graduate only to still be jobless, while having to pay back increasing amounts of debt as tuition skyrockets. My cousin is graduating this year, and his friends who graduated the year before him were largely unemployed. Or if they had jobs, they were working for their family’s small business.

Now comes the finding that for the first time ever, a majority of the unemployed have attended college (h/t the Atlantic.) This is alarming in and of itself, but when you take a closer look at the data, it shows that it includes people who had to drop out of college because they couldn’t afford it, and those who had to take more time to finish. So in actuality it says as much about the student debt crisis as it does about the increasing educational attainment of our unemployed.

P.S. Fascinating fact: if you google “unemployment” it’ll turn up a chart of the unemployment rate in your area. You can compare it to any other city easily. For a data geek like me, this is heaven. So I discovered that DC actually has a higher unemployment rate (8.3%) than the US average (7.7%) Meanwhile, Virginia and Maryland have far lower unemployment than the national average.

–Caroline

Filed Under: AAA Fund, Caroline, Demographics, Economy, Education

Question of the Week: Same-Sex Marriage

May 21, 2012 By 1 Comment

Will President Obama’s endorsement of same-sex marriage help or hurt his chances for re-election?  Personally, I believe it won’t play that much of a role — because the economy and foreign policy will play a far greater role.

While Obama’s adept stewardship of foreign policy (which includes killing Osama bin Laden) guarantee him re-election?  Probably not — the economy will play an equally important role.  Simply put, people will re-elect Obama if the unemployment rate has gone down between now and the November election.

It’s about time that Obama endorsed same-sex marriage, as a growing number of Americans agree that no one should be denied the right to commit to a lifetime relationship.

That being said, social issues are not foremost on voters’ minds this year.  Rather, voters are looking for a leader who can bring this country out of one of the worst recessions in living memory.

Which issues do you think will swing this Presidential election?  Please comment below.

– Gautam Dutta

Filed Under: 2012 Presidential, Economy, Gautam Dutta, Obama Administration, Social Justice

Question of the Weekend: Walmart

May 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Walmart, which is now under federal investigation for a bribery scandal, has been a leader in recruiting Asian American attorneys and supporting Asian American organizations.  How will Asian American groups respond to Walmart’s current scandal?  Let us know your thoughts.

– Gautam Dutta

Filed Under: Economy, Gautam Dutta

APAICS Event Wed May 9: Leadership for Generations: Shaping Our Future through AAPI Families

May 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Editor’s Note: Note that Norman Mineta is the recipient of our 2012 AAA-Fund Award at our Annual Gala and Mike Honda is on our Honorary Board. We encourage you to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by checking out the APAICS‘ work as they share our same mission.

We invite you to attend the APAICS inter-generational event sponsored by AARP on Wednesday, May 9, 2012 from 10-11:30 am at the LBJ auditorium at the Department of Education located at 400 Maryland Ave SW, Washington, DC 20202 (Google Maps). The roundtable entitled “Leadership for Generations: Shaping Our Future through AAPI Families” will honor the legacy of public service that has been passed down from generation to generation within AAPI families. The event will be a round table with moderator and will feature prominent inter-generational pairs within the AAPI community. The discussion will focus on how an ethos of service was passed from one generation to the next.

The conversation will follow each panelist’s history of involvement. The hosts invites anyone with a rich background in teaching, military service and government service to speak and has also invited a wide array of AAPI groups, non profits and members to listen and ask questions and we will take questions from Facebook, Twitter & other social media services.

We will update this post with the final participants. Richard Lui, MSNBC News Anchor, will moderate the panel. Other panelists include Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, Congressman Mike Honda and Campbell, CA Vice Mayor Evan Low who will share the stage to discuss their intergenerational leadership and their interconnections. There will food and drink at the event. Post any questions or comments below.

Pre-register here for this event.

Filed Under: Economy, Grassroots Activism, States

GOP Jesus Speaks

April 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

What is the Vatican worth, like 500 billion dollars? This is great. Sell the Vatican, take a big chunk of that mony, build yourself a gorgeous condominium with all the amenities-swiming pool, tennis court ... waterslide. And with the rest of it, Feed the world. Sarah Silverman

This morning, Republican Paul Ryan gave a speech at Georgetown University, a Catholic university, saying his controversial budget plan is inspired by church teaching.

Too bad Georgetown faculty and priests said he’s wrong.

Note that Romney praised Ryan’s plan. How dare they claim to be using church teaching (nevermind which church: evangelical? Presbyterian? Catholic? Mormon?) when they’re hypocrites waving the flag of Jesus to cover their own cause(s)?

We would be remiss in our duty to you and our students if we did not challenge your continuing misuse of Catholic teaching to defend a budget plan that decimates food programs for struggling families, radically weakens protections for the elderly and sick, and gives more tax breaks to the wealthiest few …

Letter from Georgetown faculty and priests

But Ryan doesn’t care, he knows most Americans won’t hear of that letter and will instantly believe anything with the words “Jesus” or “God” or “church” attached. Brilliant media play. If anything, as happens whenever a Republican is criticized, he (it’s usually a he anyways) repeats his claim and ignores critics. Nice political strategy. Perhaps he should hire Romney’s paranoid and defensive PR rep?

Too bad it takes too much intelligence and education to fight him off with the problems of associating debt with morality.

Filed Under: 2011+2012 Campaigns, Economy, Religion, Richard Chen, Social Justice
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