A handful of friends reacted to my last post by telling me they thought I'd taken a hard hook to the right. I guess that would actually be a slice – unless you’re left-handed, which I am, but I don’t play that way. Some thought it was great, others not so much. In either case, … Continue reading Cliffhanger II – Did I Turn Into a Right Wingnut?
Category: Economy
Cliffhanger – Part. . .(I Don’t Know, I Lost Count)
I'm back after a break, and I'm afraid I'm going political again. I try very hard to be non-partisan here, to focus on facts, underlying causes and solutions that might actually work, to bash systems rather than people. Today, I’m going to allow myself a partisan moment, although in this case I don't think it's … Continue reading Cliffhanger – Part. . .(I Don’t Know, I Lost Count)
Disingenuous
A week ago, I described hearing an economist put the cart before the horse. I happened to see his name in yesterday’s newspaper, right next to the phrase “Nobel Prize winner.” Oops. Undeterred, however, I’d like to describe another case of an economist getting it, if not backward, then at least sideways. A few weeks … Continue reading Disingenuous
Economists, Carts and Horses
In the two weeks since my last post, I’ve learned a couple of things. Someone in Serbia likes my blog. It's been viewed recently in the Netherlands and Bulgaria (I think it was Bulgaria - calling my Cyrillic rusty would be an insult to rust). Also, someone found me by searching Google for “surplus hip … Continue reading Economists, Carts and Horses
Healthcare Solved – Really!
I’ll get to healthcare in a minute, but before that, a couple of digressions, which by now you should expect from me: First, my daughter Julia, who graduated from high school in May (a year early, no less) is now on Day 5 of her Latin American adventure. She will be in San Pedro Sula, … Continue reading Healthcare Solved – Really!
Libor 2 – What Should Actually Scare You
Two posts in one week – not my normal style. I promise not to inflict this on you again. After my post on Libor the other day, my friend Bill eloquently busted my chops. If you haven’t read his comment, you should. He made an eloquent case that the ends never justify the means, and … Continue reading Libor 2 – What Should Actually Scare You
Little White Libor
The big problem with the Libor rate fixing scandal is that no one seems to be able to figure out who the victims were. Barclay’s has been fined $450 million and had to fire its top three executives. Four other big European Banks are now in the spotlight, and it won’t be long before Citi, … Continue reading Little White Libor
Maytag Repairmen and Ponzi Schemes
Last week, I met my friend Jeff Bishop for early morning coffee at our local Starbucks. Jeff has a remarkable talent for making other people feel better about, well, pretty much everything. I’m tempted to say that he should bottle it and sell it. However, while that would make him wealthy, it also would make him … Continue reading Maytag Repairmen and Ponzi Schemes
Long Showers and Racist Rants
I have a radio in my bathroom. It's tuned to NPR, which I generally find informative and reasonably balanced. I listen to it while taking showers that I can best describe as environmentally unfriendly in their duration. You now know far more about me than you ever wanted to, but it’s important for context. Last … Continue reading Long Showers and Racist Rants
Angels and Pinheads
Today, the National Bureau of Economic Research announced that the recession that began in December of 2007 officially ended in June of 2009, some 14 months ago. I’m sure relieved to hear that. I’ll bet you are too. According to the Wall Street Journal, the NBER goes on to “warn” that any future downturn would … Continue reading Angels and Pinheads
Carp Diem 