Richard (RJ) Eskow, 12/05/12

Writer; host, 'The Breakdown'; Senior Fellow, Campaign for America's Future

Let's stop hearing smart and insightful people say that Adelson and his pals "lost" millions on this election. If they hadn't spent all that money we'd be debating how big the stimulus should be, not how deep to make the spending cuts.

Joe Peyronnin, 12/05/12

Hofstra Journalism Professor

The holiday season is already upon us, but Congressional Republicans are not in a holiday mood. Because of their recalcitrance in the ongoing negotiations surrounding the pending fiscal crisis, they are on the verge of becoming the Grinch that stole America's economic recovery.

Robert Reich, 12/05/12

Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy, University of California at Berkeley; Author, 'Beyond Outrage'

If we had a functional government America would address three "cliffs" posing far larger dangers to us than the fiscal one.

Dan Solin, 12/04/12

Author of the Smartest series of books

I applaud Cramer for taking on the 401(k) industry. Now he should do investors a huge favor by either dispensing academically-based advice about the perils of market timing, stock picking and fund manager selection or go off the air.

Ray Gagnon, 12/05/12

Principal and Founder, Gagnon Associates

You've just developed a new strategic plan for your company. You're pleased about it. And so are the other people on the planning team. So far so good. But now you face the next and most critical challenge: How do you get the rest of the company on board?

Denise Gosnell, 12/05/12

CEO, ThrivingBusiness.com

Poor customer service is killing business growth worldwide. No wonder businesses are struggling -- they are forgetting about listening to the very people that keep them in business to begin with!

Patricia Harned, 12/05/12

President, Ethics Resource Center

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) received 3,001 tips to its new Whistleblower Office during fiscal 2012 (starting in October 2011). This undoubtably begs the question: How can we put that number into context?

Jared Bernstein, 12/04/12

Fmr. Obama administration economist; CNBC and MSNBC contributor

The Center for American Progress has a smart, simple, progressive, and politically plausible new fiscal plan out and it's worth a close look. It's actually pretty Clintonesque.

Richard (RJ) Eskow, 12/04/12

Writer; host, 'The Breakdown'; Senior Fellow, Campaign for America's Future

The GOP "counter-offer" to the president's fiscal-cliff proposal isn't really an offer at all: It's a rehash of the tired and extremist right-wing economic warfare which the American people soundly rejected last month.

Richard Zombeck, 12/05/12

Founder, Home Preservation Network at hpnhelp.com

In an unprecedented move that can only be described as stunning ignorance, the California State Bar recently released a legal opinion that will effectively deny legal representation to millions of homeowners faced with foreclosure.

Nancy Hechinger, 12/05/12

There are two heart-stopping moments when you watch a trapeze artist. One is the moment she leaves the security of the platform to catch the trapeze. The second is the moment she lets go of one trapeze, hangs in the air, before catching the second. It's a lot like deciding to become an entrepreneur.

Minister Leslie Watson Malachi, 12/04/12

Director of African-American religious affairs, People for the American Way & People For the American Way Foundation

A combination of swift tax hikes on lower- and middle-income earners and drastic cuts in social services would not only stunt economic growth, it would place an immediate burden on the most vulnerable. And unfortunately, a disproportionate number of the most vulnerable are African American.

Sarah A. Webster, 12/04/12

Editor-in-Chief, Manufacturing Engineering Media

Seventy-four percent of respondents in one survey indicated that workforce shortages or skills deficiencies in skilled production roles are having a significant impact on their ability to expand operations or improve productivity.

Vala Afshar, 12/05/12

Chief customer officer and CMO, Enterasys Networks

If, as a job candidate, you haven't built up your personal online brand -- accomplishments and most importantly beliefs and values -- you risk becoming irrelevant to any forward-looking employer regardless of your domain expertise.

Lawrence Wittner, 12/04/12

Professor of History emeritus, SUNY Albany

By not opposing the corporate cultivation of untrammeled greed among Americans, the churches have left the door open to the triumph of America's new religion -- not liberal secularism, but shopping.

Kare Anderson, 12/04/12

Co-founder, Say it Better Center

Despite reports that company holiday parties are coming back, they aren't what most matters to employees -- even if they include an open bar.

Nathan Newman, 12/04/12

NYU Information Law Institute Fellow

If the FTC and European regulators are not yet ready to deal with the ultimate source of Google's economic power, its control of user data, then it may be just as well that any likely settlements in coming months will be limited.