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

Will DOGE be an exercise in futility?

The smirking faces of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have joined the smirking face of Donald Trump in threatening to burn down government in order to save it. What they’re announcing sure sounds bad to me (eliminate a third of federal spending, including cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid). Over at eatingpolicy.com, Jennifer Pahlka […]

Funding Public Goods Problematic??? Blame the Tax-Dodging Billionaire

So, what are nepo babies or nepotism babies? The second name gives the meaning away. A person who gains success or opportunities through familial connections. Especially a child of a famous parent (such as an actor, musician, entrepreneur, or politician), Merriam Webster. Some Examples. There are tax implications benefiting them as explained by Common Dreams author Julia […]

Looking at Five Long Leading Indicators

 – by New Deal democrat I haven’t “officially” updated my take on the long leading indicators – those that forecast a recession at least one year beforehand – in almost two years. That’s because the hurricane force tailwind of the supply-side deflationary unlinking of the global supply chain completely swamped everything else. So if I […]

From the Middle Out and Bottom Up

Over my 40 something years, I spent much of my time in career in Supply Chain or certain aspects of manufacturing in different industries. The discipline I knew, learned, and was certified in could and was used by me to streamline what companies were doing at the time to their benefit of lowering costs or […]

The business model of modern universities

I’m seeing people attacking universities, particularly private universities, for accumulating large endowments while allowing their graduates to accrue education loans that saddle them with debt for years or decades and cannot normally be discharged by bankruptcy. Why aren’t these universities the lenders? Setting aside the question of whether it is in the national interest to […]

Healthcare in the United States

The uninsured numbers dropped since the advent of the ACA. Lower costs would have been available if one Congressional Rep from Michigan had not interfered. I will find that information and add it. Still 26 million uninsured in the US. The State of Health Insurance in America, Econofact, Mark Shepard The Issue: Universal access to […]

Capital Gains: Realization

Capital Gains: Realization Does Not Matter – by Steve Roth Wealth Economics You’re looking at your asset portfolio and decide to sell or buy some ETF shares. Click. The transaction is a dollar-for-dollar asset swap between you and your counterparty, at current market prices: M assets (bank deposits) in exchange for ETF assets, and vice versa. Equal […]

KFF Health News’ Yearlong Study of How Government Decisions Undermine Black Americans Health

Getting needed and proper healthcare is a task in the USA. A task in the richest global nation when getting healthcare should not be in the United States. Even if the care is available, it may come at a cost which prevents a person from getting care. The programs which can help a person get […]

Why is This Commentary BS?

DOGE today, gone tomorrow “With a little more than a month until Inauguration Day, one of the most fascinating parts of the new administration isn’t being led by President-elect Donald Trump. The Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has arguably garnered more attention than Trump’s plans for tax cuts, tariffs, and immigration. Co-heads Elon Musk […]