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

Shareholders agree with Corporate’s Recent Efforts

A large number of stockholders are supporting Costco’s most recent efforts. Costco shareholders on Thursday soundly rejected a conservative think tank’s proposal requesting a report on the risks of maintaining diversity and inclusion initiatives, even as other companies back down. Costco said that an “overwhelming margin” of 98% of shares voted against the measure, according to […]

The Last Institutionalist President

Joe Biden  – by New Deal democrat Over 5 years ago, I looked at the 500-year history of the Roman Republic. In my penultimate discussion of its downfall, I wrote: “By 78 BC the Republic was dead on its feet. Virtually all of its norms of office-holding had been swept away. Political mobs using violence to get […]

The conflict between preventing harm and winning elections

When is it okay to “heighten the contradictions”, to allow bad things to happen for the sake of instigating political change?  I’ve been noodling on this problem for decades without making much progress, and Trump’s victory has forced me to dig in once again.  This is my current thinking, for what it’s worth.  Democrats have […]

O Canada

Canada here we come California, Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts to the United States of MAGA: “Canada here we come.” The Civil War is over; the South finally won (in their minds, it was never going to be over until they did). In the halftime, they corrupted a dozen […]

the meaning of the word “oligarchy” spiked

January 16, 2025 In his final address to the nation last night, President Joe Biden issued a warning that “an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power, and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead.” It is not […]

It is a Friday, Something Different, and a bit of History Passing By

Wayback Machine: In 68 I left on a jet plane, a Boeing 707 to San Diego. A few busses were waiting for us. They took us to Recruit Depot for a rude awakening. Written by John Denver in 1967, “Leaven on a Jet Plane” was also sung by Peter, Paul, and Mary. We were in […]

Real retail sales remain positive for the economy, but suggest further slowing in employment gains

 – by New Deal democrat Since I posted earlier about why I follow jobless claims so closely, let me briefly restate why I pay a lot of attention to real retail sales. Retail sales have been tracked for over 75 years. When they are lower YoY, that has historically been a good (not perfect) indicator […]