Recently in Economy Category

If any further proof was needed that the answer to that question is "not no but hell no" here goes. President Obama hurt the Wepublican senators wittle fee-fees in his press conference:"The Republicans were stung by Obama's Wednesday press conference, when he unfavorably compared GOP lawmakers to his school-age daughters, who he said get their homework done on time." Actually, that is unfair--to the president's daughters. Republicans have a ways to go before they reach...

From The Hill yesterday:"The White House, seeking an agreement to raise the nation's $14.3 trillion debt ceiling by Aug. 2, on Monday said it would not insist that any deal include an end to former President George W. Bush's controversial tax rates on the wealthy...The White House said the president is pushing the GOP to agree to eliminate some tax breaks for businesses and loopholes for wealthier taxpayers, but is not seeking to eliminate the...

Astrogirlkel got the ball rolling a few days and I've struggled to figure out where to go with it. She talked about patriotism and how it seems to be manifesting itself these days. I watched the Jon Stewart vs. Chris Wallace discussion (another blog post) and Stewart referenced the fact that FoxNews viewers were the least informed among those polled. Before we get too far into that little debate I thought we should look at...

Extreme conservative House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has pulled out of the ongoing debt ceiling talks in Washington.Republican Senator John Kyl of Arizona--who has a problem with facts--has also left these talks.It appears that additional stimulus  and possible tax increases for those most able to pay may be on the table as needed steps to help the economy.What a welcome difference from the Republican strategy of working to keep the economy from recovering in order to hurt President Obama politically.I'm wary of all sides...

Going back to yesterday, the question of what the financial sector is so unhappy about, and the complete lunacy of catering to the interests of Wall Street over Main Street. Financial sector profits have skyrocketed:"After rising like the Phoenix, the financial industry now accounts for about 30% of all operating profits. That's an amazing share given that the sector accounts for less than 10% of the value added in the economy."On the other hand, take...

Consider this a cautionary tale for other folks out there that aren't quite as road wise as we should be. If you have been reading my blog posts for awhile you know I am officially out of the education business. At least I am for the time being. So, I took another job that will pay me about half as much as I made in public education. Naturally, there is room for advancement, but the...

FDR, 1936:  "We had to struggle with the old enemies of peace--business and financial monopoly, speculation, reckless banking, class antagonism, sectionalism, war profiteering. They had begun to consider the Government of the United States as a mere appendage to their own affairs. We know now that Government by organized money is just as dangerous as Government by organized mob. Never before in all our history have these forces been so united against one candidate as...

I've made an observation about myself lately, and a friend mentioned this morning that what I'm going through might be described as a mid-life crisis. No, I haven't gone out and bought a little red convertible nor have I scheduled any cosmetic procedures nor broken off any long-term relationship to attach myself to someone 20 years my junior. I have instead come to the realization that I'm finally imposing the boundaries and filters that should...

Think back to when you were a child. You saw something in the store that you wanted and mom and dad said no. They told you that if you wanted it you were going to have to pay for it. Depending on your particular situation, you may have taken on a paper route, lemonade stand, or mowed lawns. Along with those were the stories your parents told you when they were young. My grandfather was...

Given that the political elites are wringing their collective hands about what to do regarding spending, debt, and deficits, never mind these poll numbers:56% believe creating jobs, rather than spending cuts is the more important priority for the federal government right now....and these poll numbers:62% believe the government should focus on creating jobs, even if it means increasing the deficit in the short-term.Instead of "gangs" and "commissions" made up of current and former politicians as...