Expenditure cuts carry a significant risk of increasing the frequency of riots, anti-government demonstrations, general strikes, political assassinations, and attempts at revolutionary overthrow of the established order. While these are low- probability events in normal years, they become much more common as austerity measures are implemented From Austerity and Social Protest Amazing timing for the… Continue reading Austerity and Social Protest
Poll Shows Negative View of Tea Party on the Rise
The percentage of people with an unfavorable view of the Tea Party in a New York Times/CBS News Poll this week was higher than it has been since the first time the question was asked, in April 2010. Forty percent of those polled this week characterized their view as “not favorable,” compared with 18 percent… Continue reading Poll Shows Negative View of Tea Party on the Rise
Michele Bachmann Repeatedly Sought Stimulus, EPA, Other Government Funds
A Freedom of Information Act request filed by The Huffington Post with three separate federal agencies reveals that on at least 16 separate occasions, Bachmann petitioned the federal government for direct financial help or aid. A large chunk of those requests were for funds set aside through President Obama’s stimulus program, which Bachmann once labeled… Continue reading Michele Bachmann Repeatedly Sought Stimulus, EPA, Other Government Funds
Keynes v. Hayek Debate
The Keynes v. Hayek BBC debate at the LSE which pits Lord Robert Skidelsky and Duncan Weldon arguing for Keynes against George Selgin and Jamie Whyte arguing for Hayek is now available in an online podcast. From Keynes v. Hayek Debate — Marginal Revolution Going to listen to this on way in to work.
Romney Irked By Democrats’ Prepared Attacks
“It is disgraceful that President Obama’s campaign has launched his re-election with the stated goal to ‘kill’ his opponent with an onslaught of negative and personal attacks,” Romney said in a statement. From Romney Irked By Democrats’ Prepared Attacks No fair, he is fighting back! Googling “romney attacks obama” returns 57k hits. “obama attacks romney”… Continue reading Romney Irked By Democrats’ Prepared Attacks
Adventures in tea-party cognitive dissonance
If we decided to build a couple of new carriers, thousands of workers would be hired for the shipyards. Thousands of employees would be hired for the steel mills that would provide the steel for the hull and various sub contractors would hire thousands. Do you know what that means? It means they would receive paychecks and… Continue reading Adventures in tea-party cognitive dissonance
Life in the Liquidity Trap
The Wall Street Journal is now admitting that we are in a liquidity trap. This is something the Keynesian have been saying for the past two and a half years. At that same time; the Journal Op-Ed pages have been warning about inflation and interest rates while hyping gold.
When do the Job Creators arrive?
Government was cut without raising taxes. Taxes are at a 50 year low. The size of local and state governments are rapidly dropping. Enforcement of regulations is reaching a record low. Regulatory costs are near a 50 year low. This is just about everything the GOP has wanted for 30 years now. So when do… Continue reading When do the Job Creators arrive?
Putin says U.S. is parasite on global economy
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused the United States Monday of living beyond its means “like a parasite” on the global economy and said dollar dominance was a threat to the financial markets. From Putin says U.S. is parasite on global economy | Reuters Putin is an awful proto-despot that is holding back both political… Continue reading Putin says U.S. is parasite on global economy
Medicaid Spending In New York State
If you have a program that delivers services, and the expense of providing the services seems disproportionate to the benefits, and if the reason the expense seems disproportionate is something that unionized public workers have gotten out of the political process, then it’s easy to get conservatives hopping mad about it. But if you have… Continue reading Medicaid Spending In New York State