NOBAR: Could It End the Credit Gap and Get Banks Lending Again?

While a whole lot of folks are obsessed with what to do about, or to, the 1%, I would like focus on an issue involving the 90%. This isn't about the wealth or income...

Hackers: If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Pay ‘Em Like Bankers

So what's it worth to you to prevent world-wide economic collapse, or even a major interruption of essential services, like power or water? These are not hypothetical questions. Nor will they be caused by the...

Did Facebook’s Privacy Problems Foretell the IPO?

For anyone who plays the stock market -- and I confess I do from time to time -- the drama that unfolded over the past couple of weeks surrounding the Facebook IPO reminded me...

Hello Citizens United, Goodbye CFPB: Consequences of the Wisconsin Recall

I have watched with horror Republican efforts to emasculate, strangle and kill the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. At present, there are at least nine pieces of legislation (that we know of) snaking their...

A National Service Corps Can Solve the Student Loan Crisis

Suddenly, and finally, everywhere we turn somebody is talking about the student debt disaster. Headlines scream it. The presidential campaigns are beginning to seriously talk about it. Congress is starting to focus on it,...

Is It True About Commencement Speeches? (A Response to James Franco)

Over the past few months, in preparation for and in reflection of the commencement address I had the privilege of giving at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University on May...

Crowdsourcing the Student Loan Mess

For the record, I am not now, nor have I ever been, a member of the Hitler Youth. I point this out because based on the comments to my last few columns (which focused...
Student loan

It’s Time to Solve the Student Loan Crisis

If you're worried about student loan debt, what it means for graduating seniors and for the future of our nation, congratulations. That means you're paying attention. Now that Americans owe over $1 trillion in...

The Other Student Loan Slow Jam: Is It Time for a National Service Corps?

If you haven't taken the time to watch Obama slow jam the news on Late Night from last week, take the time. It was a political masterstroke that so infuriated conservatives (because they're incapable...

Say Something Already! Obama and Romney’s Housing Crisis

President Obama, Governor Romney and their backers may be spending hundreds of millions of dollars to live in the most expensive and exclusive house in the nation, but they aren't saying enough about the...