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MINNEAPOLIS, April 2 (UPI) — Fair Isaac, a credit-rating firm with headquarters in Minneapolis, will cut 420 jobs through layoffs and by jettisoning certain units, the firm announced.  The reduction amounts to 14 percent of the workforce at Fair Isaac, known for its FICO credit score, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported Wednesday. The company will close or consolidate about a dozen offices around the world, with operations in San Diego expected to be hit hardest, the newspaper said.  “We will produce a smaller yet more profitable Fair Isaac,” Chief Executive Officer Mark Greene said.

We shall see what happens.  In the meantime, consider the vested interests to which some in Congress may be beholden.  Example (courtesy of Center for Responsive Politics):  Sen. Chris Dodd’s big contributors (note - the corporations are not the contributors; the actual contributors are their Political Action Committees)

CHRISTOPHER J. DODD (D-CT)
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In many parts of the world people are protesting, including rioting and striking, over the high price of food, as they simply cannot feed their families.  The BBC reports today that one is dead in a food price riot in the Ivory Coast.

 →  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7325733.stm  

This is us folks.  The US government, i.e. taxpayers, guarantees the NY Federal Reserve loan of $29,000,000,000 to JPMorgan/Bear Stearns.  Call and write your congressional representatives if you disagree.  Otherwise, you need not do anything.  Click to read the letter →  treasuryletter0308.pdf