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

Elections in Eastern Europe

Asia is a world apart from Europe or North America. I am curious as to what people are thinking about in Asia when they view the news from either country. I have traveled extensively in Thailand and China as well as Europe. Much of the time, I was there for weeks. There are always questions […]

What Autocrats do

I have been watching this bill “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” slither through the House and move to the Senate. What is occurring here is, Trump trying to kill all opposition to be in control. Or another power play with Republicans backing him up. too afraid of Trump, they are looking the other way as […]

Defaulting Into Medicare Advantage Rather than Traditional Medicare Coverage

A bit of an explanation for this Health Affairs article. Today when you are eligible for Medicare Coverage, you are placed in Traditional Medicare. What would or could happen if every new enrollee were to be placed in Medicare Advantage instead of Traditional Medicare Coverage? The discussion centers on a two-year period in the beginning […]

On Distribution

Part I of II Was wealth that brought us this far.  The wealthy say that it was them, but it wasn’t.  It was wealth.  Those first surpluses after the climate stabilized were the genesis of civilization, of the modern world.  Gave mankind more time to think, to make better tools.  Gave us democracy and the […]

Double Checking Foreign Students Coming to America to Study

Pretty much in the past, potential students from foreign countries were allowed admission to US universities as long as they qualified and could get a student visa, such as the F-1 visa. Potential students must first be admitted to an accredited US educational institution and obtain an I-20 form (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student […]

New Deal democrats Weekly Indicators for May 26 – 30

 – by New Deal democrat My “Weekly Indicators” post is up at Seeking Alpha. As I wrote about here this week, the supply chain effects of the tariffs have finally bled through to rail shipments, and probably trucking as well. Meanwhile, despite all the uncretainty, as we saw yesterday with the personal income and spending report, consumers […]

Talking Healthcare Insurance and One State

What occurred over the last few days in our household was a review of our Medicare Supplemental healthcare insurance (backs up Medicare). We have Plan N which is a good plan. We pay the Part B deductible (if needed) of Medicare which is $257 this year. The rest of Part A and B costs are […]

Decreasing the Population by Cutting Medicaid

At least people talking around the internet do not have to guess what their senator thinks about Medicaid healthcare. One was bold enough and not afraid of elections to say it out in the open. ” for Heaven Sakes” is the right answer. Giving up your healthcare and joining them in not accepting government sponsored […]