Certainly the outlook for democracy seems pretty bleak-and how could it be otherwise? The surest way to make a problem worse is to pretend it isn't there, which is exactly what our press and politicians have been doing; and the rest is, unfortunately, history.

The state of the American economy affects both domestic and international affairs, as well as the financial stability of households and businesses around the world. In an age of globalization, it is important to understand things that influence American economics. This bi-monthly blog carnival includes articles and editorials that reflect various economic topics, realities and perceptions, as well as some information on how to deal with the personal impacts of national economic shifts.

To afford a middle-class lifestyle, many workers are trading in time at home for time on the interstate. No wonder Americans feel they are literally out of time.