New from the Business & Media Institute
As GM Goes, So Go the Media [1]
General Motors has had its share of trials - renegotiating worker benefits
and now closing plants. The media continue to blame the auto
manufacturer's worries on high gas prices and foreign automakers. The
glaring omission in the coverage is the United Auto Workers, the union
that has driven GM's costs to unsustainable heights.
Pilgrims and Ingrates [2]
There's a lot to be thankful for this year.
Americans have pulled through two devastating hurricanes, and the economy
has rebounded and continued growing. People are working hard to
bring jobs to hurricane victims. But the media aren't grateful for charity
and opportunity. They're focusing on government handouts - which are
running out.
Movie Review: 'Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price' [3]
It's the attack-umentary everyone's talking about. Sure, you've heard that
Wal-Mart is sticking it to workers and destroying communities. But what
you might not know is that Wal-Mart wants to let you die in its parking
lot according to Robert Greenwald's new film.
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly [4]
The Good, the Bad & the Ugly tracks the best and worst media coverage of
business and economics. Readers are invited to submit suggestions or news
tips to staff writer
Ken Shepherd [5].
This week: Chewing the fat about federal pork; Oil tax just
'a hill of beans'; ABC reporter driven to shame over SUV.
Also from BMI:
Liberals Learn to Laugh at Climate Change, Too [6]
ABC's Bill Weir Feels Guilty about Driving SUV [7]
$4B Tax a 'Hill of Beans' to CNN's Serwer [8]
Research, News & Commentary
General Motors
Commentary [10]: Cato's Daniel T. Griswold gives a prescription for what ails General Motors.
Taxes
Commentary [11]: Kevin Hassett of the American Enterprise Institute sees a fresh opportunity for tax reform in spite of President Bush's poll numbers.
Research [12]: The Tax Foundation's Chris Atkins and Scott Hodge report on how America's 34-percent corporate tax rate is causing the U.S. to lose business to foreign countries with lower tax rates.
Property Rights
Research [13]: Bill Peacock of the Texas Public Policy Foundation looks at protecting Texans from the states abuse of eminent domain.
Government
News [14]: The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports on Ohio state grants to private companies to hire interns.
Environment
Commentary [15]: Hans Labohm at Tech Central Station says it's time to bury the Kyoto treaty for good.
Commentary [16]: A Rocky Mountain News columnist calls for selling off some federal land to private owners, citing poor environmental stewardship by the federal government.
Health Care
Commentary [17]: Heritage's Nina Owcharenko praises market-based approaches to Medicare reform in South Carolina and Florida.