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

Lying about Economics

Economist Robert Reich offers up his opinion on JD Vance’s BS claims of tariffs not raising prices. Vance also wishes the tariffs brought a significant number of jobs to or were created in the US. Wrong on both accounts. Did this guy really go to Yale? Vance’s Trumped-Up Economics Today, Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance […]

New Medicaid Rule Gives Hospitals Greater Market Power

Increasing profits far above actual costs. Think Medicare Advantage as compared to Medicare. Over the past 20 years, the prices of hospital services have grown faster than any other sector of the US economy. Unfortunately, the federal government recently issued a regulation intending to address underpayment of hospitals by Medicaid. However, the new rule could push hospital prices […]

Population Growth, What the Revision to the Jobs Data Means

New Deal democrat talked about the issues of the difference in Household and Establishment population numbers here and here (Bonddad Blog) and also on Angry Bear. I also added some detail in two separate posts also. Accordingly, New Deal democrat; “A big current issue with the Household Survey is whether, by relying on Census estimates, […]

Molten salt nuclear reactors still not ready for prime time

If the world is to decarbonize energy without a major economic collapse, nuclear power must be part of the picture. Solar and wind energy generation are growing world-wide, but both will always have to deal with the intermittency problem. Batteries and hydroelectric storage can address some of this, but alternative energy sources must be available […]

When does Putin finally say “enough is enough?”

Or does he? Economist Tom Palley has an interesting piece up at his site of the same name. Subtitled; Economics for Democratic and Open Societies. I did not post all of it as Tom Palley raises the question early on in his commentary. When does Russia Putin finally says “enough is enough” as they are […]

New Deal democrats Weekly Indicators August 19-23 . . . Progress?

Weekly Indicators for August 19 – 23 at Seeking Alpha  – by New Deal democrat My “Weekly Indicators” post is up at Seeking Alpha. This week, for the first time in several years, the number of long leading indicators improved just enough for me to move the rating from “negative” to “neutral.” And the short leading indicators […]

Older Civilizations had ways to counter the urban heat island effect

I had studied architecture in the Chicago high school I attended and found the idea of drafting homes and buildings with the other features to be interesting. Why(?) is another story. What interfered with my going further into the interest was “not ready for college,” a war-time US, and probably the lack of maturity then. […]

Warren Taking on CNBC Host Joe Kernen on Price Gouging

Goldratt’s “The Goal” talks about throughput at any cost (if need be). More or less a business novel preaching insightful truth. Productivity is the act of bringing a company closer towards its goal. If the company’s goal is to make money, then we should focus on increasing throughput, decreasing inventory, and decreasing operational expenses. At […]

New and existing home sales for July: the rebalancing is underway

 – by New Deal democrat I figured this month I would report on new and existing home sales at the same time, since they have been reported only one day apart. I have been looking for a rebalancing of the market between the two, which means *relatively* more existing vs. new home sales, firming in new […]

The false dichotomy of climate change remediation

The false dichotomy of climate change remediation Years ago, I had a Facebook friend from my hometown who was a big enthusiast of molten salt nuclear reactor technology. He wasn’t a scientist or engineer, but his dad had worked on MSRs in the ‘60s, and he fetishized his dad’s memory. As some point, I mentioned […]