Relevant and even prescient commentary on news, politics and the economy.

RFK Jr. blames the victims

Oops! Poor RFK Jr. He’s had to tiptoe back his attacks on childhood vaccines in the face of a measles outbreak in Texas. What’s a poor anti-vaxxer to do. Well, since vaccine denialists can never be wrong, they can only be wronged, Kennedy blames the victims: “In later comments, Kennedy suggested that severe symptoms mainly […]

True pricing: effects on competition

One of Economist David Zetland’s students. True pricing: effects on competition – The one-handed economist Sarah writes* Although Trump has once again pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement, American firms still face consequences in EU markets. Numerous countries are still committed to non-legally binding climate targets, but the EU demands full adherence […]

The (totally contradictory) Big Picture

Scenes from Friday’s jobs report: the (totally contradictory) Big Picture  – by New Deal democrat There is no important economic data today, so let’s take a closer look at some of the noteworthy items from Friday’s jobs report. I’ll start out with the Establishment Survey side and then turn to the Household Survey side. Goods […]

The paradox of economic competition

written by Felix, one of Economist David Zetland’s students. as shown on the The one-handed economist Economists have long defended the benefits of fair competition, explaining that it makes markets more efficient, increases innovation, and generates more benefits for consumers. It’s therefore surprising to see a lack of competition in academic economics, where the same […]

Constitutional Interregnum

Sunday March 9th The “Constitutional Interregnum”  – by New Deal democrat Is there anything that can be done with a President who has the support of 1/3+ one member of the Senate?  Since he can’t be impeached and convicted, which requires 2/3’s of the Senate, and as of last July per the Supreme Court he is […]

Know Nothings

“The New Know Nothings’ wrecking ball” – by Merrill Goozner GoozNews Pictures from this weekend’s Stand up for Science at the Lincoln Memorial sent me scrambling for the history books. Thousands turned out to protest the cuts in science funding ordered by the New Know Nothings: A president who declares global warming a hoax; a […]

Duck and cover

President Musk’s superpower is that elected officials (Trump, GOP Congressmen) can just claim to be out of the loop and cede the staffing of government and the power of the purse to an unelected billionaire. I can’t think of another example of such an egregious failure of Constitutional government in the US. All the historical […]

The branding of Medicaid

Let’s call Medicaid by its real name. “While 80 million Americans are insured through Medicaid, many people don’t think of themselves as “on Medicaid” — even when they are. “Why? Because Medicaid is not branded as Medicaid in most states. If you tell a patient in South Carolina they might lose Medicaid, their eyes may […]

USMAC Exempts Certain Items Coming out of Mexico and Canada

It must be fun to play the crowd, making them think what a tough guy the president is. Did he (being Trump) not know there was a trade agreement with Mexico? Something called the USMCA Agreement? Of course, he did. Of course, much of the US population do not realize this exists and has existed […]