Proposed Massachusetts law would require corporate responsibility

A new law affecting Massachusetts corporations has been proposed to require corporations to be more than money-makers:

The Code for Corporate Citizenship (the "Code") would amend Section 8,30 (a)(3) of the Massachusetts Business Corporations Act which now requires corporate directors only to act "in a manner the director reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation." The Code will change this duty to add 28 words, "but not at the expense of the environment, human rights, public health and safety, dignity of employees and the welfare of the communities in which the coproration operates."

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Here’s how to strike back against Internet censorship and why

It's time to step up and voice your concerns because we now have a bit of momentum. Here's how to strike back against Internet censorship. Here is why you should consider taking at least a few minutes to get involved. I've blackened the DI banner today as a symbol of my concern regarding efforts to pass SOPA (pending in the House) and the Protect IP Act (pending in the Senate). Free Press has offered a page indicating the senators who are pro, con and on the fence. If you plug in your zip code, you will be presented with phone numbers for your senators and it LITERALLY takes only a minute to voice your concern to the staffer of your senator. I called my two senators in two minutes. Please join me in voicing your concern to your elected officials. You will be doing your part to use logic, fairness and reason to oppose $90 million in campaign contributions. Reason sometimes work, as demonstrated by today's reversal of course by Senator Marco Rubio of Florida.

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Socialist investing

Dan Solin points out that it's more profitable to invest in socialist countries:

According to one report, for the 39 years ending December 31, 2008, the annualized stock returns of "socialist" countries (like Norway, Denmark, Hong Kong, Sweden and France), exceeded the stock returns of the U.S. Unlike the U.S., these countries aggressively curtailed economic freedom. It appears there is an inverse relationship between higher returns and economic freedom. It is also difficult to conclude that government intervention in private industry is a precursor to lower returns.

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Anatomy of a foreclosure case

Consider this description of a Florida foreclosure docket by the Orlando Sentinel:

Most of the borrowers — maybe 95 percent — don't have representation," said dispute-resolution expert Sandra Upchurch, who administered the state foreclosure mediation in Volusia County courts. "Many made bad decisions, and some loans have legitimate problems. But if borrowers have no lawyers, the cases aren't being argued. And those cases are going to get opened and closed in 30 seconds, and those buyers don't have a chance.

If you don't believe this, go visit your own state's foreclosure docket--except, wait! Most states have non-judicial foreclosure. They don't even require a judge to review foreclosure sales. And this is in the context of a system where most home loans have seriously defective paperwork. These are numerous cases out there where a good lawyer can successfully fight off the foreclosure, yet 95% of foreclosed homeowners don't have lawyers.

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