Political Economy category archive
“History Does Not Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes’* 0
At the Idaho State Journal, Kim Shinkoskey listens to current events and hears four rhymmes from the past. Here’s one of them; follow the link for the others and for his reasoning.
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*Mark Twain.
This New Gilded Age 2
At the Portland Press-Herald, James McGuire argues that the increasing concentration of great wealth in few hands is harming the polity. A snippet:
Meanwhile, those who shape policy often live entirely insulated from its consequences. They do not rely on public transportation, wait weeks for medical appointments or wonder whether the heat can stay on through winter. They speak easily about “belt tightening” and “market discipline” because they will never feel the belt or the discipline themselves.
Methinks he makes some good points.
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
Thom decodes de code.
This New Gilded Age 0
Robert Reich explains the five ways to become a billionaire. They may not be what you (or Horatio Alger) might expect.
- First, exploit a monopoly.
- A second way to make more than a billion is to get insider information that’s unavailable to other investors.
- A third way to make more than a billion is to buy off politicians who will change the rules of the “free market” in your favor.
- The fourth way to make more than a billion is to extort big investors.
- The fifth way to make more than a billion is to get the money from rich parents or relatives.
Follow the link for a detailed discussion of each one.
How Stuff Works: Prevarication Proliferation 0
David explores techniques for planting lies and watching them grow.
This New Gilded Age 0
VIa Boston.com, we learn that the kids are starting to feel that the American dream of the possibility of upward mobility through hard work is but a memory. A snippet:
In 1991, the typical first-time homebuyer was 28 years old. This year, that buyer was 40, according to the National Association of Realtors.
The Republican Health Care Plan:
“You’re on Your Own, Buddy”
0
Sam and the crew discuss the Republican nothingburger.
Aside:
If you wonder why the Party of the New Secesh is so determined to destroy the Affordable Care Act, dubbed “Obamnacare” by the Republican Party, I think the answer is quite simple.
Barrack Obama is not white.
And he is a Democrat.
Every time the Party of the New Secesh hear the word, “Obamacare”–a word which they coined, mind you–it reminds them that a not-white Democrat crafted a somewhat successful plan to make America’s health care you-can-hardly-call-it-a system a little fairer, and it drives them nuts.
They just want to make it go away.
But that’s just my take.
This New Gilded Age 0
The Trump maladministration launches plans to stiff national park employees of their honorably-eaarned wages.
Who Was That Mascaraed Man? 0
Why, didn’t you recognize him? It was the Man Without a Clue.
The Gaslight Pipeline 0
David parses the Trump maladministration’s doubletalk on tariffs, while noting the authoritarian aspect of expecting persons to believe stuff when their own day-to-day experiences are contrary thereunto.
Trumplednomics 0
University of Michigan economist Justin Wolfers runs the numbers. Ring of Fire’s Jerrod Zisser reports.