Political Economy category archive
War and Mongers of War 0
Mary Trump looks at what Donald Trump’s (undeclared, unplanned, and unthoughtout) war of choice on Iran is costing American citizens and America’s credibility.
The Business Man President 0
Shorter Michael in Norfolk: Yeah. Right.
Republican Thought Police 0
Farron points out that the Trump maladministration can’t handle the truth, so it wants to make it to go away.
This New Gilded Age 0
Theft of labor. It’s a thing.
The Climates They Are a-Changing . . . 0
. . . and the Trump maladministration is all for the day when Richmond, Virginia, will once more be a beachfront.
I fear for my grandchildren.
Smoot-Hawley Redux 0
Farron discusses how much Trump’s tariffs are costing American consumers.
I think those folks who claim that Donald Trump truly doesn’t understand how tariffs work may be onto something.
“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.