Nearly 16 million Americans

The pledge behind the

One of the groups that we turn to when it comes time to understand the economic crisis is the Center for Economic and Policy Research. These are the folks that saw the housing bubble in 2002, and they’ve been advocating on behalf of working Americans since long before most of us realized just how important a task that was. CEPR has produced an analysis of the so-called “stimulus” packages’ tax provisions — you might be surprised at how much the rich will benefit from this supposed “socialist” program. Also, check out Dean Baker’s explanation of the relative stimulus impacts of direct government spending vs. tax cuts.

There are a lot of groups out there preying on the desperation of homeowners caught between high mortgage payments and falling property values. One group recently featured on the show is the real deal: the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America. If you need help restructuring a bad mortgage, look first to NACA’s Home Save Program. This is the real deal.

NACA also mobilizes people to pressure for change in the big banks through protests and direct action. If you really want to make a difference in corporate policy that affects everyday people’s lives — maybe even your own — consider getting involved in NACA’s Neighborhood Stabization Committees.

One of the things listeners ask for most is the title of the latest book by Michael Pollan, who was a guest on the May 13th show. Listeners loved Michael, and many say his book In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto changed their lives. The book is a radical revaluation of how most Americans think of food.

Another great guest who discussed related issues was

Let’s face it: infographics are cool. For those of us burdened with limited attention spans, visually scanning a graphical representation of a bunch of data is easier on the eye, the brain and the schedule. One of the coolest places on the Web to learn stuff you definitely did not know — from the vitally important to the fascinatingly irrelevant — check out the awesome Tumblr archive of infographic blog/clearinghouse

October 5 guest

After a successful bone-marrow transplant helped extend the life of Pete’s uncle Jon, our became aware of the scarcity of transplant sources. Now he is a huge advocate of everybody undergoing a simple cheek-swab test and getting into the pool of potential donors to participate in this remarkable life-saving procedure. The folks at DKMS Americas regularly hold donor drives. Find one near you, donate some spit, and maybe save a life.

One of the things listeners ask for most is the title of the latest book by Michael Pollan, who was a guest on the May 13th show. Listeners loved Michael, and many say his book In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto changed their lives. The book is a radical revaluation of how most Americans think of food.

Another great guest who discussed related issues was

Haiti was rocked by a terrible earthquake Tuesday, January 12, 2009. We are strongly urging all Stand Up! listeners to support the relief agency of your choice with whatever you can afford to donate — whether it’s $10 or $1,000. Americans and Canadians are making a difference! The two agencies we are presently endorsing are Partners in Health and Doctors Without Borders, both of which will spend your money quickly and wisely, having longstanding operations in Haiti on the ground and working hard. Update: ShelterBox is another great organization that responds in a concrete way — donate here.

"The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund is a leader in supporting the men and women of the armed forces and their families, begun in 2000 under the auspices of the Intrepid Museum Foundation and established as an independent not-for-profit organization. In 2003 the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund has provided more than $65 million in support for the families of military personnel lost in service to our nation and for severely wounded military personnel and veterans. These efforts are funded entirely with your donations, and hundreds of thousands of individuals have contributed to the fund. I hope that you will today. 100% of the contributions raised by the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund goes toward these programs. All the administrative expenses are underwritten by the Fund