Author Archives: Jerri-Lynn Scofield
Does Wall Street Do “God’s Work”? Or Even Anything Useful?
Bank executives frequently proclaim that Wall Street is vital to the nation’s economy and performs socially valuable services by raising capital, providing liquidity to investors, and ensuring that securities are priced accurately so that money flows to where it will be most productive. There’s just one problem: the Wall Street mantra isn’t true.
Read more...9th Circuit Shoots Down FTC’s Consumer Protection Authority Over Common Carriers
A federal appeals court recently decided that the FTC lacks consumer protection authority to regulate common carriers in any respect. This decision hamstrings the agency from regulating ATT, Google, Verizon and potentially applies to a wider range of companies, unless the decision is reversed on appeal or Congress chooses to act.
Read more...Links 9/3/2016
BLM Moves Onshore Oil and Gas Lease Auctions Online To Stymie ‘Keep It In The Ground’ Protests
Jerri-Lynn here. This short post highlights an important problem that we’ve seen arise over and over again with the administration which pledged to be the most transparent ever: the disconnect between public rhetoric and behind-the-scenes practice. The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) presides over the allocation of oil and gas […]
Read more...What India Can Teach the US About Free and Fair Elections
US elections suffer from suppressed voter turnout and are prone to manipulation. India shows that electoral systems can be freer and fairer.
Read more...Links 9/2/2016
Death of TTIP: True? And What Should Follow?
European leaders last week conceded that the TTIP was in trouble. Nick Dearden of Global Justice Now discusses trade talks and what follows.
Read more...Military Insiders and War Profiteers Will Be Reviewing Private Prisons for Homeland Security
Jerri-Lynn here. The Department of Justice received considerable plaudits in August when it announced a decision not to renew contracts with private prison companies. At the time, a Marshall Project analysis made it clear that significance of that decision was overstated, as it only affected about 15% of inmates held in private prisons. The Department […]
Read more...Links 9/1/2016
SEC Takes Victory Lap for Pathetic Performance of Whistleblower Program
The SEC has taken a premature victory lap on the pathetic performance of its whistleblower program, with messaging trumping performance.
Read more...Fighting for Whose Freedom: Racism, Police Unions, Veterans, and Colin Kaepernick
Outrage over Colin Kaepernick’s comments on racism ignores the role of activism in improving the lives of veterans and Black Americans.
Read more...Links 8/28/2016
DoJ Says Jail for Not Making Bail is Unconstitutional
The DoJ says jailing poor defendants for not being able to pay bail is unconstitutional. Reform requires challenging the bail bond industry.
Read more...Business Groups Aim to Strong-Arm CFPB on Arbitration
Business groups seek to thwart proposed CFPB regulations to limit forced arbitration clauses and allow consumers to bring class actions.
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