For the past half-century or more, homeownership has formed the cornerstone of the American Dream. But ever since the economic crisis, America has been in the throes of a long-running Great Reset as it shifts gradually from homeownership toward renting. The number of “renter households” increased by more than half a million in 2013 according to a recent analysis on the state of the housing market from Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.
A recent post over at the economics blog Sober Look suggests that the shift is occurring faster than even I expected. This huge growth in the renting population means that, in the coming years, America’s housing crisis will have less to do with foreclosures and underwater homes and more to do with rental housing, as the supply of these units is falling far behind growing demand. Continue reading America’s Looming Rental Crisis – CityLab
Monthly Archives: July 2014
Arthur Delaney: The White House Had A Plan To Help The Long-Term Jobless. How’s It Going?
“I’ve been asking CEOs to give more long-term unemployed workers a fair shot at that new job and new chance to support their families,” President Barack Obama said in his State of the Union address. “This week, many will come to the White House to make that commitment real.”
More than 300 companies signed a pledge that they wouldn’t avoid hiring anyone just because of a long jobless spell. Studies have shown that long-term unemployment has become its own obstacle to getting hired. Continue reading Arthur Delaney: The White House Had A Plan To Help The Long-Term Jobless. How’s It Going?
Inside Moral Mondays | MSNBC – Inners
All In With Chris Hayes‘ report on the coalition that makes up North Carolina’s Moral Mondays movement.
Additional materials:
To read Mother Jones’ feature, “Meet The Preacher Behind Moral Mondays,” about Reverend William Barber, click here.
Lest we forget! Rand Paul and the Civil Rights Act on Rachel @Maddow Show | Blog#42
Rachel Maddow reminds us, in this video clip dated July 2nd, 2014, of Rand Paul’s shifting views on civil rights. In four short years, Mr. Paul has gone from “I wouldn’t have voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1964” to a sudden and enthusiastic embrace of it.
Watch:
Molly Ball: #HobbyLobby Is Already Creating New Religious Demands on #Obama |The Atlantic
Faith leaders friendly to the administration are asking for an exemption from a forthcoming gay-rights order.
By MOLLY BALL
This week, in the Hobby Lobby case, the Supreme Court ruled that a religious employer could not be required to provide employees with certain types of contraception. That decision is beginning to reverberate: A group of faith leaders is urging the Obama administration to include a religious exemption in a forthcoming LGBT anti-discrimination action. Continue reading Molly Ball: #HobbyLobby Is Already Creating New Religious Demands on #Obama |The Atlantic
Tim Walker: How Finland Keeps Kids Focused Through Free Play | The Atlantic
An American teacher in Helsinki questioned the national practice of giving 15 minute breaks each hour—until he saw the difference it made in his classroom.
By TIM WALKER
Like a zombie, Sami—one of my fifth graders—lumbered over to me and hissed, “I think I’m going to explode! I’m not used to this schedule.” And I believed him. An angry red rash was starting to form on his forehead.
Yikes, I thought. What a way to begin my first year of teaching in Finland. It was only the third day of school and I was already pushing a student to the breaking point. When I took him aside, I quickly discovered why he was so upset. Continue reading Tim Walker: How Finland Keeps Kids Focused Through Free Play | The Atlantic
As the #CivilRights Act Turns 50, Creating Cross-Racial Alliances | NYTimes
By Sheryll Cashin
WASHINGTON — THE Civil Rights Act of 1964, which banned discrimination in public accommodations, employment and federally funded activities like education, would not have passed without the support of House and Senate Republicans who were competing for black votes. And Presidents Kennedy and Johnson would not have advocated for the bill without being pressured to do so by a multiracial grass-roots movement. Continue reading As the #CivilRights Act Turns 50, Creating Cross-Racial Alliances | NYTimes
Paul Horwitz: #HobbyLobby Is Only the Beginning | NYTimes
By Paul Horwitz
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — THE United States Constitution speaks of the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction over “cases” and “controversies.” But when social controversies do come before the court, its powers are limited. In Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, which concerned the dispute over the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive mandate, the court may have decided the case. The larger controversy, however, won’t be settled so easily. Continue reading Paul Horwitz: #HobbyLobby Is Only the Beginning | NYTimes