A recent Consumer Reports survey of 1,005 adults found that more than half of consumers seek out foods with the word "natural" on the label, often in the false belief that the foods were produced without genetically modified organisms, hormones, pesticides, or artificial ingredients. But on food labels, the word does not necessarily mean any […]
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Think Progress reports that traditional are planning to jump into the market for low-rate loans after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalizes rules on payday and auto title lending. Relying on an American Banker article (subscription required), it says that at least three major American banks are planning to offer comparable loans at far lower […]
NPR reports: The Texas-based Pastoral Medical Association gives out "pastoral provider licenses" in all 50 states and 30 countries. Some providers call themselves doctors of pastoral medicine. But these licenses are not medical degrees. That has watchdog organizations concerned that some patients may not understand what this certification really means. Listen here.
Yes, argue proponents of basic income, the policy proposal to scrap social welfare programs in favor of just cutting everyone a check. Fivethirtyeight summarizes the arguments: Efficiency-minded libertarians like the idea of streamlining the bureaucracy of the welfare state. Silicon Valley techies hope a guaranteed income would cushion the blow as automation replaces human jobs. […]
The New York Times, in an article titled, "One Top Taxpayer Moved, and New Jersey Shuddered," explains: Our top-heavy economy has come to this: One man can move out of New Jersey and put the entire state budget at risk. Other states are facing similar situations as a greater share of income — and tax […]
Another important regulatory document related to the CFPB's proposed rule is the Final Report of the Small Business Review Panel on the CFPB’s Potential Rulemaking on Pre-Dispute Arbitration Agreements. In creating the CFPB, Congress subjected its regulations to the requirements of SBREFA, the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act, a piece of legislation originally enacted […]
The Federal Trade Commission has charged the operators of dozens of companies with deceiving consumers by using fake newspaper subscription notices. According to the FTC’s complaint, through a complicated web of companies, the defendants send consumers “Notice of Renewal/New Order” mailers for subscriptions to newspapers such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, […]
Marketers of green coffee bean extract weight-loss supplements, male enhancement products, and skin care products will forfeit assets totaling approximately $9.2 million, and have already turned over a Ferrari to settle the Federal Trade Commission’s court action brought against them in October 2014. The proposed stipulated final order bans individual defendants Danelle Miller and Jason […]
by Paul Alan Levy When I saw the Popehat Signal a few years ago, seeking counsel to help Todd DeShong fend off a lawsuit in federal court in Texas claiming that he defamed Clark Baker on his "HIV Innocence Group Truth blog, which criticizes Baker for profiting through charlatanism (Baker claims that HIV status is unrelated […]