Progressive Opinion

climateprogress.org — Senate Republicans are demanding lengthy economic analyses of progressive clean energy policy, despite having spent careers voting for and against major energy legislation without such delay.

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truthdig.com — In 2009, trade and globalization have transcended their “old economy” ghetto and become central to the “new economy,” health care and even the Earth’s very survival.

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blog.aflcio.org — With more than 2 million U.S. manufacturing jobs lost since the beginning of this recession in December 2007, a new report says developing a clean energy economy in the United States could create some 850,000 new manufacturing jobs.

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climateprogress.org — We’re spending $1 billion a day on foreign oil, money that could instead be invested here at home to help create 1.7 million new jobs, increase our security and lessen our pollution. What is the real motivation behind the Republican members blocking clean energy reform? Perhaps it has something to do with the $3,507,321the seven minority members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee have received from Big Oil, along with millions more from utilities, mining and the national resource sector.

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ipsnorthamerica.net — The possibility of environmental catastrophe has led many leaders, scholars and average citizens to reconsider an economy based on constant growth. It is becoming clear that people, especially in the United States, will need to consume less in the way of natural resources to avoid planetary peril. The million-dollar question, of course, is how the U.S. can move to a sustainable, zero-growth economy without losing more jobs. If people are consuming fewer goods and services, does that mean fewer jobs in the manufacturing, sale, and provision of those goods and services?

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slate.com — The Chamber of Commerce pursued failed policies during the Bush years, so why should Obama listen to it?

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huffingtonpost.com — Global warming is one of the greatest challenges of our generation. Addressing this challenge also represents enormous opportunities for economic recovery and long term prosperity. But sometimes the big picture is lost when just a part of the story is told.

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openleft.com — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has had some bad days over the past few months, many of them related to the the organization's ridiculous positions on climate policy. These bad days for the Chamber are positive developments for people working towards strong legislation to curb climate change (or a public option in healthcare reform, or strong financial regulatory reform, etc.). Read on for a quick run-down of recent hits the Chamber has taken and why we shouldn’t celebrate too soon.

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blog.aflcio.org — What would it look like if the United States had a long-term national economic development policy — including an industrial policy — to grow the clean energy economy?

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openleft.com — If the public option campaign succeeds, it will be a proof of concept for the Progressive Block strategy — House Progressives threatening to join with Republicans to block must-pass Democratic legislation unless they receive a major concession. After all, the public option campaign would not even exist had House Progressives not voted to draw a line in the sand on the public option. So, thinking ahead for a moment, what should House Progressives target next if they achieve this proof of concept?

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