A week or two ago, CNN published a column by Republican consultant and pundit Alex Castellanos in which he got the upcoming election right. Obama, he said, squandered 20 years of New Democrat centrism and led like an Old Democrat. He left it to Bill Clinton to remind America what a centrist Democrat looks like, … Continue reading Choose Your Pet
Living My Pledge
Those of you who’ve been reading my posts for a while may recall my pledge, but for newer readers, here it is: I never make up the things I post here. Why? Because I’m just not that good. In the spirit of that pledge, here’s a screen shot of the search terms that have been … Continue reading Living My Pledge
Would My Healthcare Solution Work (and Other Bits of Unfairness)
In the two weeks or so since I proposed a simple, comprehensive fix to the healthcare mess (see previous post), I’ve been given three reasons why it wouldn’t work. It’s politically implausible, either because it involves too much common sense or because it would gore the ox of a large, well-entrenched industry. I’ve lived inside … Continue reading Would My Healthcare Solution Work (and Other Bits of Unfairness)
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!
Sleeping Our Way to Lower Healthcare Costs
When I say sleeping, I actually mean sleeping. But first, a story: A few years ago, I spent some time working with a company that had attempted, with less success than they would have liked, to turn around and operate failing public schools on a for-profit basis. Leaving aside basic business model issues, neither they … Continue reading Sleeping Our Way to Lower Healthcare Costs
2.5 More Random Thoughts
OK, I’m not even going to try to apologize for the short interval between my last post and this one. A few quick thoughts, one that I should have included in my last post, one that’s an update on an item mentioned there, and one that’s new. Should have mentioned last time: One of the … Continue reading 2.5 More Random Thoughts
Random Thoughts – From Pleasure Centers to (Wannabe) Presidents
OK, I know I promised that I wouldn't post more than once a week. I'm far too polite to say "Bite me." I had these thoughts rattling around in my head, and they had to go somewhere. Harvard on pleasure centers Every week, I get an email newsletter called HBS Working Knowledge from my graduate … Continue reading Random Thoughts – From Pleasure Centers to (Wannabe) Presidents
Sacred Texts and Shotguns
A couple of weekends ago, my friend Tim Padgett took me out to shoot sporting clays. This is roughly a cross between skeet shooting and golf. You walk through the woods and stop at 14 stations, each of which has two hidden trap machines that toss clay targets in the air. You get three or … Continue reading Sacred Texts and Shotguns
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
Carp Diem 