Political Economy category archive
This New Gilded Age 0
At the Washington Monthly, Diana Moss explains that the trusts–the ones Teddy Roosevelt tried to bust–are back. A snippet:
Running Ruining the Government like a Business
0
My old Philly DL friend Noz points out that Trump’s tariffs may not be by any means the most harmful thing he does to the economy. Here’s how he opens his post:
The whole article is worthy of a look.
The Privatization Scam 0
At the Portland Press-Herald, Ann Arsenault Shultz debunks de bunk.
Transfer of Wealth, Republican Style 0
Michael in Norfolk deconstructs the double-talk.
The Chaos Agency 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Courtney Beard takes a look at what the DOGE wrecking ball is likely to mean for psychological research. The outlook is not good.
She makes three main points; follow the link a detailed exploration of each.
- Most of our best psychological treatments have been developed with federal funding.
- Without federal funding, we cannot train the next generation of talented psychological researchers.
- Without federal funding, we cannot develop new psychosical treatments.
Aside:
I suspect I’m not the only one who thinks the “E” in “DOGE” actually stands for “emaciation.”
The Disinformation Superhighway 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Gina Simmons Schneider reminds us that
Follow the link for some tools and techniques to protect yourself from poison on the disinformation superhighway.
Market Farces 0
Numbers Gaming 0
Congressional Republicans are designing a poke for their pig.
Much more at the link.
DOGE Bull, One More Time 0
Kevin D. Williamson calls out the DOGE bull. Here’s a bit from his article (emphasis added):
Now, there’s stuff in Williamson’s screed that I don’t agree with, mostly some of the generalizations that he makes about how stuff should work. Nevertheless, given said disagreements, he has a much clearer notion of what governance should be than does the current federal administration. And, after all, there’s only one person I agree with all the time, and he’s typing these letters right now . . . .
Trumponomics 0
At the Portland Press Herald, Vitoria Hugo-Vidal argues that it’s time to stock up against the impending economic chaos. A snippet:
Genius at Work 0
PoliticalProf has a couple of thoughts about Donald Trump’s unilateral (that is, in the absence of Congressional action) attempt to impose tariffs on our friends and allies. He notes, among other things, that
Yeah, Right.
The Crypto Con 0
Jacob Silverman talks with Sam and Emma about the growing threat of greater US government involvement in crypto, with state and local governments pondering active investments in the scam-centric industry, and how a Trump presidency will likely expedite that.
Why Did Trump Win? 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Nilanjana Dasgupta tries offers some thoughts. I don’t know that I agree with everything she says, but I do think her piece is a worth-while read. Keep in mind that she is discussing voters’ perceptions of reality, not reality itself.
Here’s a bit of her piece:
The social class gap in opportunity isn’t recent. It has been widening since neoliberalism became the dominant ideology in the 1980s, shaping political and economic policies. A good society, according to neoliberalism, is one that privatizes public resources and property, privileges free market and trade, reduces government spending on social safety nets, and minimizes regulation of businesses (Harvey, 2005). Decades of neoliberal policies have been associated with yawning inequalities in income, health, and education, crushing middle- and working-class people whose pent-up despair and rage was recognized and used by Trump.
Missing from the analysis and, indeed, from Trump voters’ perspectives, is another crucial fact. Donald Trump’s track record of keeping his wor–oh, never mind.
Aside:
The irony is that the neoliberalism she refers to leans to the right and, indeed, has served as cover for Republicans’ gutting many of the programs instituted by Democrats from FDR to LBJ.
This New Gilded Age 0
Via the Majority Report, a business professor argues that “income inequality is out of control,” then Sam and the crew discuss his remarks.
Afterthought:
We are reaping the harvest of Reagan’s trickle-on economics.
This New Gilded Age 0
Thom follows the money.