Our federalist government has been in its death throes for a long time. Some attribute the beginning of the end to the seventeenth amendment, which transferred the election of senators from state legislatures to popular vote, thus depriving state legislatures of much of their power to influence federal policies. A bulwark against the encroachment of [...]
Category Archive for 'Economics'
Famed Economist Arthur Laffer shares his concerns with the rest of us. People can also change the timing of when they earn and receive their income in response to government policies. According to a 2004 U.S. Treasury report, “high income taxpayers accelerated the receipt of wages and year-end bonuses from 1993 to 1992—over $15 billion—in [...]
They Are both Wrong
Posted in Economics on Jun 21st, 2010
47% believe President Bush is to blame for the economy while 45% blame President Obama. I think it would be wiser to blame the Federal Reserve and crazy tax, trade, and policies misallocating resources by distorting the markets, pushing us to rely on foreign energy sources, and building a debt based service economy. Then again [...]
Market Endorses Frank Pledge
Posted in Economics, Regulation on May 26th, 2010
The market had been sliding in reaction to the Senate financial reform bill, but House Democrat Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank became an hero of the Wall Street types with a pledge to keep the house provision on derivatives. Rep. Frank is right, I noted a similar concern that it seemed to be poorly drafted and did [...]
The Right to Fleece Preserved
Posted in Economics, Regulation on May 20th, 2010
We can all breath a sigh of relief. The right to fleece credit card consumers with sky high rates has been preserved. This is a positive for Delaware and South Dakota which have no limits on interest rates. This policy has attracted many credit card companies and tens of thousands of jobs. I support the [...]
The recession is over, Thank GOD. The problem is the recovery is anemic. A typical recovery has over 5% growth, we are not there. The real question is why not? First the good news. The economy grew at an estimated annualized 3.2% rate last quarter. The bad news is that was a drop from last [...]
Buffet and Company Unhappy with Dem Version of Financial Reform
Posted in Economics on Apr 26th, 2010
The Blanche Lincoln version of derrivative regulation would be a windfall to investment houses and harm companies who used them wisely to limit risk. They would be hit right when they may have started recovering for hundreds of billions collectively. Which party is the party of Wall Street over mainstreet? From the Wall Street Journal: [...]
The Fall of the House of Finance: More Sarbanes Oxley on the Way by Fay Voshell
Posted in Economics, Guest Posts, Regulation on Apr 21st, 2010
Some time ago, I was sitting in my opthamologist’s office and chanced on a magazine I’d never heard of–Stocks, Futures and Options. In it was an interview with George Friedman, who noted the financial elite have lost all credibility. He added the political elite have stepped in to the vacuum. He also said the government [...]
A ground breaking study on the relationship of debt to economic growth will be published next month. It is authored by University of Maryland’s own Carmen M. Reinhart and Harvard’s Kenneth S. Rogoff. It is the reason that we are concerned about the increased addition of debt. Our old path had no impact on the [...]
Look to Asia Not Europe
Posted in Economics on Apr 1st, 2010
If you want to understand how to build a prosperous economy, there are more examples in Asia which has rebounded quicker from the recession. Asia moved away from state socialism. Europe moved toward it. Which is working better America?
Low Carbon equals High Cost
Posted in Economics, Environment, Stuff on Mar 27th, 2010
Proud of its historical status as the first of the original 13 colonies to ratify the Constitution, Delaware has certainly earned the right to proudly display our first-state motto anywhere and everywhere we can fit it. Recently Delaware signed another historic pact with many of those same states – this one, aimed at implementing a [...]
Green Jobs Vs. Red Tape
Posted in Economics, Environment, Guest Opinion, Guest Posts, Regulation on Feb 18th, 2010
by Shaun Fink As this year unfolds, we will hear a lot of talk about creating new “green” jobs to contribute to our state economy. In advance of the cacophony, let’s examine exactly what we are talking about when we use the term “green” before the word “jobs”. As neat and packaged as the [...]
It should be a slam dunk for Time’s man of the year to be reconfirmed for a second term, but it appears that liberals and conservatives agree on at least one thing, there needs to be a growth agenda that is bigger than Wall Street. Moderates are not rocking the boat as usual. Republican Senators [...]
The Pusillanimous need not apply
Posted in Americanism, Deficit, Economics, Energy, Entitlements on Jan 4th, 2010
America is at a point of decision. Some say that we are a power in decline just like Rome of old. The case for decline pretty strong. We have gone from surplus to huge deficits in a decade. We have gone from almost of a third of the world’s GDP to less than a quarter. We have [...]
The Dollar Has Failed
Posted in Economics, International on Dec 17th, 2009
So declared the Oil states in the Arabian Gulf as they announced a new regional currency. It will be tied to a global market basket of currencies. The administration is too busy trying to take over the private sector to do its job. All hail the ruling regime. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar are [...]
Is attacking CRA wise?
Posted in Economics, National GOP, Regulation on Oct 29th, 2009
There is an attack on the Community Reinvestment act led by Republicans. It is blamed for everything from collapsing the financial system to the ACORN scandal. Leftwingers say there is no problem and Republicans are racists for having a problem with it. The left is so far out that even when they raise valid points, [...]
Warnings about the future
Posted in Economics on Oct 17th, 2009
A new book the End of Money and the Future of Civilization is worth considering this weekend. These guys make me feel like an optimist.
Why the market is better than government
Posted in Economics on Oct 7th, 2009
Here is another example of why the market is better than government.
ASPIRE in Ignorance
Posted in Deficit, Economics, Entitlements, Spending on Oct 6th, 2009
How would you like to get $500 just for being born? That is what ASPIRE or the “America Saving for Personal Investment, Retirement, and Education” act would do if enacted. It would provide every person born in America with a $500 savings account. Sounds great right? How about when you stack that $500 up next [...]
CARPER Won’t Read Text of Health Bill
Posted in Delaware Democrats, Economics, Election 2008-President, Healthcare, Open Government, Spending, Stuff, Taxes, Tom Carper, Universal Healthcare on Oct 2nd, 2009
Delaware’s very own senior U.S. Senator Tom Carper admits that he has no intention of reading the actual legislative text of the upcoming Health Care Bill. Carper calls legislative language gibberish and states that he can’t comprehend this type of language. Carper also “questioned whether anybody could read the actual legislative text and credibly claim [...]
Who is Killing the Dollar?
Posted in Economics on Sep 24th, 2009
The American Dollar is endangered. Lose Money and long term unprecedented debt plans are threating to make last century the only American century. No wonder the Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire is no longer taught in high school history. We don’t want to hear bad news. The good news it that it is [...]
Is it finally time for a real stimulus bill
Posted in Economics on Aug 27th, 2009
After the fiasco in February, the term stimulus bill is a dirty word. Yet, the recent CBO projections sustained high unemployment and larger deficits makes me think that a proper stimulus bill would be an investment. The projected deficit is up by two million million (trillion) dollars before new programs are taken into account because [...]
Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke has been nominated for a second term. He has a 99% chance of confirmation allowing for a heart attack or complete collapse of the economy. That does not mean he should not be asked to justify a few policies. The Federal Reserve is paying interest on excess reserves [...]
Levin and the New Isolationism
Posted in Economics, National Dems, Taxes on Aug 11th, 2009
Some in the administration and the Senate would put America behind a wall of taxation is the new isolationism. The excuse is trying to prevent people from being able to hide income off shore. The truth is the largest forms of tax evasion are local. What this is doing is locking American investors out of [...]
John McCain Please Wake UP
Posted in Economics, Environment, McCain, National Dems, National GOP on Aug 3rd, 2009
Senator McCain who liked a Cap and Trade deal for carbon is opposing a 2 billion dollar rebate for “cash for clunkers”. Now this money is coming from reallocating the stimulus funds which is not working too well to a program which is working. What is the problem? Cash for clunkers is a conservative/libertarian idea. [...]
Presidential Press Conference Non-Post
Posted in Budget, Competition, Economics, Healthcare, National GOP, Obama, Stuff on Jul 22nd, 2009
Hi everyone, OPEN THREAD This is the post I am not going to do about the President’s Press Conference tonight. After my head exploded I am finding it hard to prepare a real post. Perhaps someone with more cranial fortitude will come along and do a full write up on the event. Till then go [...]
Governor Sarah Palin blasts Cap and Tax
Posted in Economics, Energy, Sarah Palin on Jul 14th, 2009
Governor Sarah Palin wrote on the dangers of the Cap and Trade proposal in the Washington Post today. I am deeply concerned about President Obama’s cap-and-trade energy plan, and I believe it is an enormous threat to our economy. It would undermine our recovery over the short term and would inflict permanent damage. American prosperity [...]
Lessons from the Lost Decade Pt. 3 Protecting Yourself
Posted in Economics on Jul 9th, 2009
What if the policy makers don’t make the right decisions? How can we protect ourselves? The first lesson has to be avoid excessive debt. Outside of the home, I am not a big believer in debt. If you can’t pay your credit cards off in two months, you have a problem. It is better not [...]
Lessons from the Lost Decade Pt. 2–Americans Take Heed
Posted in Economics on Jul 7th, 2009
What are the policy do’s and don’t’s of which we need an awareness. I want to put a particular emphasis on lesson 5 of the Japanese scholars, “Until the focus of disease is removed by surgery, no macroeconomic medicine will be effective.” Do work with other nations to allow an increase in money supply without [...]
60% say No to another Stimulus Bill
Posted in Budget, Economics, Polls, economy on Jul 7th, 2009
60% of voters surveyed oppose a new federal stimulus bill. This may explain the administration’s reluctance in asking for another one. They are leaving it up to “outside adviser” economist Laura Tyson to float it. Voters are divided into three camps about the first one. 31% say that it hurt the economy, 30% say that [...]








