The CBS TV show “Person of Interest” started as science-fiction, yet despite no change in its premise, it is becoming just drama.  Its premise of pervasive video and audio surveillance is no longer very fictional, and these technologies raise real-world privacy concerns for consumers.   In the last week, news has featured Carrier IQ, a [...]

Here is an op-ed written by Steve Pociask on how Florida can attract investment, increase the tax base, and create jobs by developing resort casinos in southern Florida.

This ConsumerGram examines how the shift from purchasing to the Internet is not only influencing retailers, but also positively affecting the environment by reducing energy and decreasing air pollutants, hazardous waste and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  Cyber Monday can now be looked upon as Green Monday in more ways than one.  Click here to read [...]

Should Legislation Protect Consumers or Cons and Ticket Scalpers? Everyone knows someone that has gone to a concert or a sporting event, having paid far beyond the ticket’s face value.  Many of us have also heard the horror stories of a fan going to concert only to find someone else sitting in their seat – [...]

SURVEY RESULTS 1. The explosive growth in Internet is raising privacy concerns among consumers who worry about the collection and use of their personal information by some technology companies like Google, Facebook and others.  To what extend do you trust online companies with your personal information? A.    Completely trust (2%) B.     Somewhat trust (33%) C.     [...]

A national consumer survey conducted by the American Consumer Institute finds that the majority of consumers support stronger privacy protections.  Consumers expressed concerns about the collection and use of their personal information by tech companies like Google and Facebook, with 62% not trusting these companies with their information.  Of the 800 consumers surveyed, 33% said [...]

It’s hard to imagine a more transparent epistle than the one Sean Shaw sent to the Tallahassee Democrat. He was attempting to recast an op-ed from Steve Pociask with the American Consumer Institute which pointed to Shaw as being, well…transparent. Pociask alleged that trial lawyers, especially the former state Insurance Consumer Advocate, were manipulating the [...]

Euro Zone members are pointing fingers, lecturing on austerity and mugging for cameras by convening riots in the streets and gatherings of politicians.  U.S. consumers just want to hear the “prepare for the worst” commentary, as did Houseman:   And while the sun and moon endure Luck’s a chance, but trouble’s sure, I’d face it as [...]

Congress has an urgent need to control Federal Deficit.  Earlier this year, the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform identified the containment of government medical program costs as a major priority to controlling the Federal spending.  With the aging US population, the need to address ways to control medical costs is more important than [...]

82% of Consumers Say Post Office Closings Would Be Inconvenient; 76% Say They Would Pay More to Prevent Planned Cuts A national consumer survey conducted by the American Consumer Institute (ACI) finds that the vast majority of consumers do not support the United States Post Office’s planned closing of 4,000 post offices.  According to the [...]