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

Prices and unemployment – Up. The rest of the economy adjusting downward

Some old guy handed over a damaged economy in January. The economy was definitely in a failure mode. The economy is heading into very bad weather. Brace yourselves. “Prices and unemployment are heading up. Everything else is going down,” Robert Reich Today, the Federal Reserve decided to leave interest rates where they are, at 4.25 […]

Confirmation of Bisignano by Senate GOP Greenlights ‘DOGE Dismantling Social Security’

Republicans chose the worse alternative for strengthening Social Security. Instead Bisignano will be implementer of Social Security’s demise. Democrats need t really step back and do whatever is necessary to block this appointment. More recently than the April 14 commentary by Nancy Altman is this later article on Social Security. Although Trump says nothing will […]

Trump: Americans Who Died in War Are ‘Losers’ and ‘Suckers’

Being XMilitary (Sgt. E-5 USMC) does not give me a pulpit from which to demean those who were not involved in the late sixties. I think at times those who fled the country to avoid military service were brave. More than likely, they would never be able to return to the US and they gave […]

State Contributions to Federal Revenue

“Which states contribute the most and least to federal revenue?” USAFacts All states—and their taxpayers—send money to federal coffers. The government distributes much of this back to states, but some receive more money than they contributed. This shapes how money flows through Social Security, Medicaid, and infrastructure projects nationwide.   Source: IRS, USASpending.gov – Get the data – […]

SNAP Funding Cuts Would Harm Children and the Economy

The Snap cuts coming from a rather large president who over eats, just seems wrong to me. But, with this Snidely Whiplash as the President, one can be certain cuts will occur where they should not occur. My apology to Snidely, I meant Trump. Right now? Pres. Trump is thinking of cutting back on the […]

“Moving Pictures” Book Review

A book review by David Zetland, The one-handed economist. Sometimes you just want the answer Review: “Moving Pictures” This 1990 book is the 10th in the 42-book Discworld series by Terry Prachett. I’m only “reviewing” it here because Prachett has so many wonderful perspectives. The plot of the book is the (re-)discovery of cinema at Holy […]

Heathcare Insurance Companies Abandoning Medicare Advantage redux

There are changes coming to the Medicare market place and Medicare Advantage. Healthcare Insurance companies are leaving the Medicare Advantage market. “Market exits by Humana, Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare will collectively affect nearly 70% of those 1.8 million individuals.” The remainder of the 1.8 million will be looking at new plans with the same insurance provider. […]

Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts Did Not Pay for Itself. Congress will Still look for Spending Cuts

Can Trump cut Government spending even more? Yes, he probably could. It would be detrimental to the United States citizens. It appears we concerns about spending exceeding tax receipts in 2025 and creating deficits. There is a solution to all of this. Passed under Reconciliation, Trumps Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was to pay for […]