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

Comet in the sky in the early morning in AZ

“Comet of the century” will be visible for first time in 80,000 years. Here’s how to glimpse it (msn.com) The passing of a comet can bring feelings of either dread or wonder. A mysterious celestial event known as the Star of Bethlehem. It was said to have accompanied the birth of Jesus Christ. It could […]

The political season, a (one-sided) return to sanity, and the need for a landslide

By Infidel753 Infidel753 By traditional assessment, in a US election year, early September is when the broad American public starts turning its attention to the choice looming in early November.  To those readers blessed to live in normal countries, where campaigning is limited by law to just three or four weeks before an election, a […]

Bar semiconductor producers who receive government subsidies from stock buybacks

Subscriber to Reich’s column so I steal a commentary now and then. Funds given to Semiconductor corporations are being used to buy back stocks rather than invest in new capabilities and facilities. In 2010, we took hits on pricing by as much as a 20% increase in pricing. A take it or leave it proposal. […]

UH-OH: The slowest mail in the country is in key swing states, NBC investigation finds . . .

by Steve Hutkins Save the Post Office In 2020, when the United States Postal Service began an ambitious plan to modernize and consolidate services in the middle of the pandemic. Its slow service wound up disenfranchising tens of thousands of voters whose ballots never made it to their elections offices in time. Four years later – by […]

The 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act 

by Bill Gale EconoFact The 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA) was the most sweeping realignment of the U.S. tax code in over three decades. It lowered tax rates, simplified taxes, raised the government debt, and was regressive, benefitting people who are well off more than the middle-class and the poor. Many provisions of the TCJA expire […]

Relevance without the noise

by Merrill Goozner GoozNews The 2022 Washburn fire nearly reached Grizzly Giant, the giant sequoia thought to be somewhere between 2000 and 3000 years old. Only the heroic efforts of park rangers and firefighters saved the tree: But the fire’s aftermath could be seen throughout the southern portion of the park. Started by man, exacerbated […]

Oklahoma Attorney General Suing Pharma Mfgrs and PBMs

Bit of an Introduction ; The above chart shows the extent of the consolidation of PBMs which also portays the growing lack of competition. The chart comes from the Oklahoma petition filed in the Cleveland County District Court. Cleveland County is the fifth fastest-growing county, encompassing vibrant communities such as the southern part of Oklahoma […]

Overdoses, the Economy, and Politics

September 19, 2024 Letters from an American “Democracy depends on at least two healthy political parties that can compete for voters on a level playing field. Although the men who wrote the Constitution hated the idea of political parties, they quickly figured out the party’s tie voters to the mechanics of Congress and the presidency.” […]