Government, Politics, and the Economy Consumer Confidence Soars A step towards the right direction, consumers are now looking positively towards the future in regards to spending, housing, employment, and the economy.  CNNmoney.comManagement and Operations3 Vital Business Lessons from Tiger Woods' PGA LossThe big upset of Tiger Woods losing the prestigious PGA tournament has not only created a buzz in the sports world, but in the business world as well. See how Woods' loss translates into business lessons. BusinessKnowHow.comManagement and Operations [Read Full Article]

  Government and Economy Obama Meets with Credit Card Industry—Wants to End Deceptive Practices Executives from the nation's credit card issuers met with President Obama, who is pushing for consumer protections that go beyond proposals approved yesterday by a US House committee and rules issued last year by the Fed, to argue against new limits on fees and interest rates. Bloomberg.com BofA's Lewis: Feds Pushed Merrill Purchase According to New York's attorney general, federal officials pressured Bank of America Corp. CEO Ken Lewis with threats to his job security to complete the bank's purchase of Merrill Lynch. Breitbart.com [Read Full Article]

"We never expected this. We expected to go to jail." These were the words of Melvin Maclin, a factory employee and vice president of the local union that represents the workers at Republic Windows and Doors. The 200 workers involved, who occupied the plant of their former employer after the company abruptly fired them last week, are sitting in and demanding severance and vacation pay. Symbols of Economic Turmoil The protesters, the company and the bank have all become symbols of the crisis currently burning its way through the American economy. The protesters are the poor workers thrown out of work by forces beyond their control. The bank, a recent recipient of billions of dollars in bailout money, is cast as the villain, yanking the credit rug out from under the poor company, forcing it to fire 200 employees, refusing to allow it to have the money it needs to pay off its people and denying any and all responsibility in the matter. As for the company, it seems to be cau... [Read Full Article]