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Archive for July 2011

Weak GDP: an economy on edge

Thumbnail : Weak GDP: an economy on edge

The latest gross domestic product (GDP) data shows the US economy’s recovery has come to a virtual stop. GDP grew at an annual rate of less than 1 percent in the first half of 2011. Revised government data show that the recession was deeper – and the recovery has been weaker – than previously thought. GDP […]

Tea Party: maybe crazy, definitely winning

In her Sunday New York Times column on the debt ceiling business, Maureen Dowd points out the many ways in which the Tea Party is succeeding: Consider what the towel-snapping Tea Party crazies have already accomplished. They’ve changed the entire discussion. They’ve neutralized the White House. They’ve whipped their leadership into submission. They’ve taken taxes and […]

This week’s articles of note

“An un-American response to the Oslo attack,” Salon, by Glenn Greenwald “Behind economic hard times, fear of the new,” Washington Post, by Robert Samuelson “Stinger: James O’Keefe’s greatest hits,” New York Times Magazine, by Zev Chafets “When patents attack,” NPR: This American Life, by Alex Blumberg and Laura Sydell “Amy Winehouse: the final interview,” The […]

Where the debt comes from

Thumbnail : Where the debt comes from

As Congress dithers over extending the debt ceiling, the New York Times has published a useful chart that indicates when the current $14.3 trillion debt originated, as well as who holds the debt. The chart shows that $6.1 trillion of the total, or about 43 percent, resulted from actions during the George W. Bush administration, the most of any […]

Debt ceiling debate: bad political theatre

Thumbnail : Debt ceiling debate: bad political theatre

Even more than the Eurozone crisis, the debt discussion in the US shines a harsh light on the dysfunctional nature of the modern political class. Read my spiked article in full here.

This week’s articles of note

“What if the government defaults?” Slate, by Simon Johnson “Mastering the machine: how Ray Dalio built the world’s richest and strangest hedge fund,” The New Yorker, by John Cassidy “Why America’s young and restless will abandon cities for suburbs,” Fortune, by Joel Kotkin “The world is not overpopulated,” Real Clear Science, by Alex B. Berezow […]

Debt ceiling talks: dysfunctional political class on display

There are two economic crises roiling the markets: the Eurozone rescue and the US debt ceiling negotiations. Although ostensibly economic in nature, both are essentially political crises as well. Of the two, it is more understandable why the European nations face difficulties: the Eurozone is a monetary union, not a fiscal or political union, and there are the […]

The New York Times and Murdoch

Thumbnail : <i>The New York Times</i> and Murdoch

Day by day, another shoe drops in the story from Britain concerning the phone-hacking scandal and Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation. The latest news is that the head of Scotland Yard has resigned, and former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks has been arrested for questioning. It’s newsworthy, but the hyped-up outrage is all out […]

Back to posting

Sorry for the hiatus. The day job and moving house have got in the way. Service is resumed.

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