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

Who has the right to leaked water?

by David Zetland (re posted from Aguanomics) Who has the right to leaked water? SM sent this question a few months ago: My thesis is about conjunctive water use and the hydrologic externalities that arise from a change in water use (e.g., increased irrigation efficiency or canal lining). I am focusing in the canal seepage/lining […]

Is natural gas the next ethanol?

(Dan here) Ceres has published a recent report on growing corn for ethanol costs-relating to water use, where corn is grown, and why. The report includes the impact on global food prices. David Zetland at Aguanomics points us to a growing concern about the increasing use of natural gas (and fracking). Is natural gas the next […]

Tea Party Seizes House Financial Reins: and so Reigns

Quick take on how things are shaking out in House Leadership including Committees: Paul Ryan: from Budget to Ways and Means Tom Price: to Budget Jeb Hensarling: to Financial Services Hal Rogers: maintains House Appropriations Let’s just say that none of those guys seems like champions of the New Deal or likely members of any […]

Why Income Redistribution Doesn’t Hurt Growth

Mark Thoma at MoneyWatch points to : Why income redistribution doesn’t hurt growth, by Mark Thoma: Thomas Piketty’s book “Capital in the Twenty-First Century” documents the increase in inequality in recent decades, and it has rekindled an old debate about the effects of income redistribution on economic growth. Until recently, most economists believed there’s a trade-off between […]

Mukasy V US Constitution

Former attorney general Michael Mukasy said “”Whether you impeach somebody doesn’t depend on whether they violate the law,” Mukasey said. “”The president can stay within his lawful powers and still commit an impeachable offense. …” He totally rejects opposes and declares his contempt for the US Constition which says “The President, Vice President and all […]

Republicans say they killed the bill that would lower interest on existing student loans because it does nothing to cure cancer … er, it does nothing to lower college costs and therefore reduce borrowing. Or cure cancer.

Republicans said the bill wouldn’t have done anything to lower education costs or reduce borrowing, and they accused Democrats of playing politics by highlighting an issue that was bound to fail. — Senate Republicans block student loan bill, Erica Werner, Associated Press, today The bill, written and sponsored by Elizabeth Warren, would allowed borrowers, including those […]