Here's something that we can all agree on:

The economy sucks.

 Agreed?

Now that we are on the same page, let's take a closer look at this problem.

If the economy is so bad, who among us is really hurting?

Everybody?

You say everybody is hurting?  How are the giant multi-national… Read full post »

The Real Ronald Reagan:

Increased the size of the government:

• Government at all levels increased during the Reagan presidency
• Increased government spending to 22.4% of GDP, making the government sector a large part of economic growth

Created massive public debt:

• In dollar terms, the public
… Read full post »

Does anybody in Washington really want to solve our nation’s problems, or does everybody actually prefer partisan gridlock to their Constitutional duties?

I have this idea for a tax plan that I believe would solve many economic problems. Perhaps somebody can find something inherently wrong w… Read full post »

Thomas Jefferson, in writing the Declaration of Independence in 1776, set down the ideals:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Hap… Read full post »

This question has been raised recently in a political campaign setting. A constitutional amendment requiring anybody running for President to have at least three years experience in business has been suggested.

This is my response, from an economist’s point of view:

Private business and th… Read full post »

I have been treated for numerous serious health issues in the past few years. This has involved several different doctors from several different areas of specialty, as well as the use of different facilities. I wanted to write about my experiences, but I wanted to do so in… Read full post »

A. What are the goals of the education system?

Think about that question for a little bit.  The question actually is very important.  How do we know what we are doing right?  How do we know what we are doing wrong?  How do we know if we are moving in the… Read full post »

How long do you have to ignore facts before they go away?

Well, actually, they never will go away. About the best you can do is isolate yourself from them. You can quit listening to the people who keep bringing them up. Instead, you can just listen to… Read full post »

How a self-described progressive decides which side of an issue to support:

"I need to analyze the issue. First, I have to consider all of the consequences of the options, and then pick the side that makes the most sense based on a thorough cost/benefit analysis. Which side, from a… Read full post »

Why not "let them keep their own money" or "let them keep what they have earned"? 

It is most definitely redistribution to give more to the wealthy through changes in tax and other laws. It is not about “letting them keep their own money”, or “what they have earned”.… Read full post »

Without the influence of big money in politics, government could never be a threat to personal freedom in a republic.

Wake up! Corporatism, wealth redistribution to the rich, and undemocratic campaign finance laws are the biggest threats we face.

The current Supreme Court is wrong:

Corporations are N… Read full post »

I cry for my country.

I cry because so many people, purely for political gain, choose to watch others suffer and die.

I cry because these same people, when the problems become too big to ignore, choose to pass the blame onto the victims and advocate for more of what caused the problems… Read full post »

Crude oil is a commodity that is traded in global markets. The prices are determined by supply and demand in the global economy. The United States produces and supplies 8.91% of the world's oil supply [Wikipedia, "List of countries by oil production"] and consumes 22.6%… Read full post »

The issue of regulation vs. deregulation is usually presented as an argument over social benefits and private costs.  Those in favor of regulation can find plenty of specific examples of the social benefits of regulation; those opposed to regulation can cite specific examples of excessive privat… Read full post »

Value added: The total sales of a firm less purchases of inputs from other firms.

 The above definition comes directly from the Oxford Dictionary of Economics, 3rd Edition, copyright 2009.

This is a clear-cut definition of what the term 'value added' means in economics.  It is strictly a nu… Read full post »

Raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans, or on corporate America. Something being discussed everyday as a major campaign issue. You hear candidates say things such as "if you raise taxes on job creators, it will destroy the economy". At the same time, those who are making such claims… Read full post »