I.O.U.S.A–a documentary premiering August 21 that’s based on an upcoming book of the same name–takes a hard look at America’s growing national debt. A “town hall” discussion following the premiere aims at starting a national dialogue on what we can do to start digging ourselves out of the mountain of debt that’s threatening our nation.

(View the trailer at agorafinancial.com/iousa/movietrailer.html.)

From the press release: “Does watching the news make you shake your head and mutter incredulously, “I can’t believe this s*@#!!!” You’re not alone. As we continue to feel pain at the pump, as the dollar falls, as jobs vanish into the ether, and as the national debt explodes, more and more people are convinced that they’re witnessing the demise of America.

Well, FINALLY, someone is doing something about it–and YOU can get involved. Mark your calendar now for Thursday, August 21. That’s the premiere of I.O.U.S.A., a new documentary that takes an unflinching look at our nation’s current economic crisis.

Following the film, a 45-minute LIVE panel discussion from some of America’s top financial leaders and policy experts–including Warren Buffett–will be simulcast to movie theaters across the country.

Black eye for socially responsible investing

Pax World Management was once a shining example of how socially responsible investing could work. Between 2001 and 2006, it generated returns of more than 14 percent while it stuck to its principles: no stocks of companies with links to weapons, alcohol, bad labor practices and gambling. Now comes news from the New York Post that two Pax funds held up to 8 percent of their portfolios in sin stocks. Gads! The SEC, which has slapped Pax with a fine, said Pax traders would regularly ignore the firm’s in-house warnings and hold banned stocks for as long as six months. These employees are no longer with the company apparently. This is a bit like a vegetarian finding out that the veggie chili he’s been enjoying for years had been laced with Spam bits. Makes you want to spit–and maybe even sue.

[With acknowledgments to Jim Kim of FierceMarkets.com]

For more: here’s the article

Read more about: SRE, socially responsilble investing, Pax World, Labor Practices