Do We Need Tariffs To Attack Foreign Trade Problems?
U.S. Trade Balance as a percent of GDP and Trade Policies from 1895 to 2015 Wikimedia Commons / James4 The plot above is highly suggestive of what has caused our … Read More
Category: Political Issues
Ideas about the role of government in society, its relationship to citizens, and about how much power the government should be given.
How Probable Is a Trade War With China?
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump pose for a photo with Chinese President Xi Jingping and his wife, Mrs. Peng Liyuan, Thursday, April 6, 2017, at the entrance … Read More
Is Trump Killing the Liberal World Order?
A NATO naval fleet including warships from five nations. In four descending columns, from left to right: ITS Maestrale (F 570), De Grasse (D 612); USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74), … Read More
Western Elites Still Stunned By Populist Revolts
Faces of American Populism: On the Left, Bernie Sanders Wikimedia Commons / Gage Skidmore On the Right, Donald Trump Wikimedia Commons / Gage Skidmore Western elites … Read More
Donald Trump’s Stupidity About Foreign Trade
Bethlehem Steel (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania facility pictured) was one of the world’s largest manufacturers of steel before its closure in 2003. Wikimedia Commons / Jschnalzer By now, you have almost certainly … Read More
The Great Irish Economic Experiment with Capitalism
Ten-year moving time-averages of Northern EU countries’ GDP growth rates. All have currently fallen below 2% growth, with the exception of the Republic of Ireland, which in 2016 had 4.2% ten-year moving average … Read More
The Economic Decay of the West
Romans during the Decadence by Thomas Couture. Is the West retracing the steps of the ancient Romans? Wikimedia Commons / Thomas Couture (1815-1879) I often get the feeling my fellow … Read More
Does a Falling Stock Market Presage Recession?
The trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in the age of the internet. Note all the computer monitors. Wikimedia Commons / Ryan Lawler In case you have … Read More
American Economic Conditions Building Up Steam!
The Bulls of the market are getting set to charge! Photo Credit: Charging Bull — NYC via photopin (license)/ Sam Valadi The first estimate for fourth quarter 2017 U.S. GDP growth, released … Read More
A New Paradigm for Democratic Government Coming?
The Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773. American colonists dressed as native Americans are making clear to the English their contempt for British dirigiste policies. Wikimedia Commons / Nathaniel … Read More
The Structure of Social Revolutions
Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix (1798-1863), a romantic representation of the French Revolution of 1830. Wikimedia Commons / Louvre Museum All around us across the entire planet, human … Read More
Imagining the American Future
Freeimages.com / Julia Borysewicz Recently a friend asked me, “What do you think life and economics will be like in 100 and 200 years, if no catastrophe derails the progress of … Read More
Can Hauser’s Law Be Repealed?
Hauser’s Curve Image Credit: Wikimedia commons/Sugar-Baby-Love American progressives want a much bigger government with greater powers, while neoliberals (usually mislabeled “conservatives”) passionately want a greatly smaller, … Read More
How Persuadable Are Neoliberal And Progressive Minds?
The labyrinth connections of persuasion (c) Can Stock Photo / focalpoint The more things change, the more they stay the same. — Translation of a French epigram by Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr: “Plus … Read More
Progressive Mendacity on Tax Reform
Vice President Mike Pence, as President of the Senate, announces final passage of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act in the Senate, 51-48. Screen shot of Right Side Broadcasting Network … Read More
How Neoliberals Should Respond To Progressives
A 1795 view of political debates that could pass for today! Wikimedia Commons / Issac Cruikshank (1756-1811) This essay is a cri de coeur from yours truly about what I see … Read More
Taxes and Hauser’s Law
Hauser’s Curve Image Credit: Wikimedia commons/Sugar-Baby-Love With a Republican tax bill having passed both houses of Congress and certain to be signed by the President, taxes … Read More
Why U.S. Populism Flummoxes Progressives
Two faces of American populism Left: Sen. Bernie Sanders(I-VT) during campaign event in Phoenix, Az. Wikimedia Commons/Gage Skidmore Right: Donald Trump during 2016 presidential campaign event. Wikimedia Commons/Gage Skidmore American … Read More
An Out-Of-Control Government Agency
Former CFPB director Richard Cordray testifying before a congressional committee. Screenshot from a Youtube video produced by CNN Money No sooner do I write a post about the dangers of … Read More
A Big Trump Success: Deconstruction of The Regulatory State
President Trump signs executive order in his first 10 days of office to curb government regulations. NBC News / Carlos Barria / Reuters One huge Trump achievement only marginally commented … Read More
Even More Lies Progressives Tell To Themselves!
A progressive regarding the world. Be careful what you buy from him! (c) Can Stock Photo / ezumeimages In my last essay I was only able to cover two of … Read More
More Lies Progressives Tell To Themselves
A neoliberal view of progressives. The cricket of course is a neoliberal. Pinocchio from the 1940 Walt Disney movie In my last post I outlined what I thought was the … Read More
The Lies Progressives Tell (Especially To Themselves!)
Violence between UC Berkeley students and Trump supporters on March 2, 2017 Screen capture from Fox News Youtube post Over the past nine years the offenses progressives have made against … Read More
The Progressive Overton Window
Hitler and Hermann Göring saluting at a 1928 Nazi Party rally in Nuremberg. This is the current progressive view of present day Republicans and “Conservatives”. Source: National Archives Collection of … Read More
Should The U.S. Senate Scrap Their Filibuster Rules?
The United States Senate in session in their chamber in the U.S. Capitol building. Image Credit: CDM.me Every now and then, President Donald Trump urges the U.S. Senate to get … Read More
The Unraveling of America
Antifa combatants fighting with Trump supporters at Berkeley, California on August 27, 2017. Youtube screenshot / The Red Elephants The United States of America is unraveling as a society, in … Read More
What Democrats Are Ignoring About Russia
Vladimir Putin, President (for life?) of the Russian Federation DailyPnut.com While Democrats continue to obsess over imaginary connections between Donald Trump and the Russian Federation, they seem to pay little … Read More
Problems For The Sovereign American People
An 1846 painting by George Caleb Bingham showing a collection of voters before a polling place. A polling judge is administering an oath to a voter. Wikimedia Commons / George … Read More
Major Problems for the Democratic Party
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), together with Democratic Senate and House leaders, announcing their “Better Deal” at Berryville, VA on July 24, 2017. Screenshot from Newsy coverage. Having taken a quick … Read More
Major Problems for the Republican Party
The U.S. Senate voting NO on repeal of Obamacare on July 27, 2017. Screenshot of ABC News coverage. Everywhere the leaders of the two major American political parties look, insuperable … Read More