Leo hosts John Wasik, author of The Cul-De-Sac Syndrome, and they discuss home ownership, sprawling urban communities, and the results of rampant Federal highway funding.  Leo reveals the answer to his Risk Capacity Quiz. Also some news, including the the Sears Tower's plan for wind turbines and the situation in Iran, with agreement with Tom Friedman: help Iran by launching a green revolution here; $70 barrel of oil only goes into the hands of the oppressors.

READ: John Wasik's The Cul-De-Sac Syndrome
LINK: Leo's Tweets

Follow Leo on twitter where he gives regular, less than casual views on today's economic condition, progressive observations, and some tweets on life in general.  Also, on today's show, San Francisco passes mandatory recycling to improve an already terrific program, Obama introduces financial reform legislation, and Leo gives his Risk Capacity Quiz.  Want to take it yourself?  You can here.

LINK: Leo Gold on Twitter

Leo discusses the use of vast amounts of capital for, at best, highly questionable projects like more resorts in the Nevada desert and stadiums on the North Texas plain.  With huge deficits facing the US and a constrained capital account, why did we make the choices that we did over the past decades?  One thing is for sure, and that is it won't be easy to undo overnight.

As the economy tumbles itself about, Leo spots an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal that may prove to be the underlining solution for which we are so desperately searching.  The article speaks of Doctors in Taiwan who deeply understand the gift of Cadavers for medical research and pass this on to the next generation of students.  Leo contemplates that if you have a society that cares deeply about health, you get a good health insurance system.  If we desire a society of fairness and openness then you will get Corporations that are fair and open.  Perhaps the economy, the current demeanor of certain companies, and our overall health system are more a true reflection of ourselves than anything else.

READ: Poems and Tears for 'Silent Mentors' Spark a Surge of Cadavers in Taiwan

While the Country was fully steeped in tea bag rallies, Leo was not so sure that the messenger was quite so trustworthy to deliver the message that these rallies were conveying.  From the Newts to the Hannitys to the Limbaughs and the Becks, these all seem like unlikely messengers of fiscal responsibility.  Fun to be had with the tea bag rally and its innumerable innuendos, some news, and we take your calls.

Leo delves into the need for each of us to break whatever negative bonds we each are burdened by.  He does some news and takes your calls.

Richard Rhodes, author of the magisterial Pulitzer Prize winning Making of the Automatic Bomb and Dark Sun and Arsenals of Folly visits New Capital Show to talk about the past, present, and future of nuclear weapons.  As he works to complete his final volume of his history quartet on the subject, Rhodes indicates that we are on the verge of major reductions in these infernal weapons, and he states the case that we have wasted vast amounts of money for decades "over deterring" - an amount that probably approaches $20 trillion when adjusted for inflation into today's dollars.   

Leo discusses the meme going around that Obama is trying to take on too much too soon at one time - and dismisses it as nonsense.  Some news items and calls round out this fast-paced episode, with callers demanding a longer New Capital Show.  Are you listening KPFT management?  Probably not.

Geoff Berg hosts this week's The New Capital Show, fresh off his new show "Partisan Gridlock," which airs Wednesday night's at 10:00pm on KPFT.  Geoff's guest, Leo Gold (remote on vacation), gives an in-depth explanation of AIG's hold on the US Government and why it hasn't been allowed to fail, despite its audacious actions including the recent and incredulous Bonus fiasco.

VISIT: Partisan Gridlock

Personal finance expert Manisha Thakor (right) visits to discuss her book On My Own Two Feet and talk about advice for gurls, boyz and everyone else.  Leo also brings up Tom Friedman's article that speculates if 2008 was the year that markets and mother nature said "no mas" and David Leonhardt's article about looting, which is what it appears Wall Street started doing to the public treasury many years ago.

Leo hosts Terri Thomas to discuss this year's Earth Day 5K to be held at Discovery Green Park on April 11"th.  Leo does some news, talks about our economic situation, and takes your calls.

VIEW: Mothers for Clean Air Website

Leo discusses President Obama's speech to Congress and his just-released budget.  Is this new budget and direction proof that things are changing in ways we (The New Capital Show) approve?  Overall, Leo thinks so.  It may not be perfect, but we're making progress.  And sometimes, that's the best you can do.

Leo delves into the nightmare Robert Alan Stanford and Bernard L. Madoff perpetrated upon their clients (allegedly). We do some news and take your calls.

Randall Morton drops by and gives our listeners a rundown of what's in store this year at the Progressive Forum, including Larry Wilmore from the "The Daily Show" who will be here this February 25"th. For tickets and information, including upcoming speakers this year, see Progressive Forum Website.

Leo also notes that Houston will finally be having an official Earth Day event at Discovery Green and encourages you to keep Saturday Aprill 11th marked on your calendar. Earth Day Houston will be presented by GHASP/Mothers for Clean Air at Jones Lawn, Andrea & Bill White Promenade, Anheuser Busch Stage and Fondren Performance Space from 9:00am to 6:00pm. See Discovery Green Event Calendar website for more information (search for April 11, 2009). Admission is Free.

Today's show covers the economic crisis, which Leo declares is not a financial crisis but instead an investment crisis. He is uncertain whether this stimulus package will result in projects that will last a hundred years and provide returns or simply be a fiasco. But at least the Country is on track to grappling with investment decisions with a discipline that is being forced on us by the realities of economics. We do some news and take your calls.