Fed’s zero interest rate bails out Wall Street and Treasury, sinks middle class

by James A. Bacon

The Federal Reserve Board announced plans last Tuesday to keep short-term interest rates at … [visit site to read more]

By Peter Galuszka

As conservatives argue about cutting deficits and keeping low taxes for the rich both in Virginia and nationally, a bigger question is coming up: does Vladimir I. Lenin actually have the answer?

Sounds strange, I know, but not if you read Britain’s center-right weekly business newsweekly, … [visit site to read more]

By Peter Galuszka

Gov. Robert F. McDonnell has punted on the uranium controversy and that’s a good thing, assuming the General Assembly doesn’t lift the mining ban anyway.

There are simply too many unknowns about mining the tract owned by Virginia Uranium near Chatham and the state has no knowledge or … [visit site to read more]

By Peter Galuszka

Is there something stinky going on in Portsmouth?

It’s a question that has suddenly wafted up when residents of the port city learned that the Virginia Ports Authority has been in secret talks with … [visit site to read more]

The Republican presidential primary season has taken on a peculiar wackiness, particularly when free market advocate Next Gingrich takes on front-runner Mitt Romney for his days as a private equity capitalist at Bain Capital.

The conservatives amongst us shudder at the very idea that something as … [visit site to read more]

By Peter Galuszka

The incredible, shrinking Richmond Times-Dispatch offers a lot less to read these days. Under  the leadership of Publisher Thomas A. Silvestri, many staffers have been fired to boost parent firm Media General’s top line. The effort hasn’t been entirely successful since its stock, once around … [visit site to read more]

By Peter Galuszka

Barack Obama’s nearly $500 billion in budget cuts are certain to impact Virginia.

It’s only fair, of course, that if Obama is going to join the chorus of (largely Republican and often hysterical) budget cutters, then the military should be included. After all, we haven’t even begun paying yet for … [visit site to read more]

Norfolk naval base

How will President Obama’s proposed defense cutbacks affect Virginia? It’s too early to say for sure but Bill Bartel … [visit site to read more]

By Peter Galuszka

Tobacco has always been a powerful industry in Virginia since the days of the Jamestown colony. It is no less influential today as Henrico County-based Philip Morris USA and its parent firm, Altria,  constantly play shell games about the hazards of their products.

Just before … [visit site to read more]

Experian's map of 10 Best (blue) and 10 Worst (yellow) average credit scores for major U.S. metros.

James A. Bacon

It’s basic … [visit site to read more]