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

Tech Bleg

Trying to upgrade an iMac from 10.4.11 to something in the 10.6.x range, but can’t seem to find any way to transition to 10.5.x (which is, apparently, required before 10.6.4 can be installed). Apple presents files, but no instructions. Anyone done this? Or should I just keep treating 10.4.11 as something like Windows Vista–an OS […]

Markets and the ACA: Why the Supreme Court Will Uphold the ACA

by Beverly Mann The link to the ACA litigation blog article I discuss is here . ‘Markets’ and the ACA: Why the Supreme Court Will Uphold the ACA In my post last week about the activity/inactivity canard on which the challengers to the constitutionality of the ACA claim, I wrote: In his [blog] post, [high-profile […]

Monetary Policy. I’m not only not feeling it, I’m dehydrating because of it.

by Daniel Becker Continuing my prior post suggesting that what ever monetary policy has done, it has not reached that vast majority nor has it addressed what is the main issue, I viewed this chart by Mike Kimel and thought: Perfect!Then comes Ken Houghton linking to this article with it’s chart. What do they have […]

Telling the Right Story, or Economists Catching Up Round One

Anyone who was in the MBS market and not working for a primary originator can tell you that the MBS securitization market ended around Halloween 2006. (Those of us who were at places with origination go a few more months, but had no flow by February.) Only economists were fooled by what I’ve been calling […]

There’s a reason they talk about 2 August: What the Republican Mainstream Hath Wrought

Reuters reports that the mainstream Republican Party has decided to jump the shark admit it is insane: David Frum, a former speechwriter for President George W. Bush and a Republican advocate for raising the debt limit, said he holds regular question-and-answer sessions with Republican congressman over a beer. “I have yet to meet one Republican […]

The Medicare Sky Is Falling

by run75441 “The Medicare Sky Is Falling” Chicken Little, Courtesy of “EW.Com Entertainment Weekly” A recently released Medicare Trustees report detailing the insolvency of Medicare HI has been used by conservatives and supporting news media to call again for an overhaul or privatization of Medicare to save healthcare for those on Medicare. “The gravest threat […]

Some People Call Me Mau-rice

It’s not that the data is different; it’s the interpretation. For instance, Brad DeLong’s What Obama Needs to Do is three(or four) fine suggestions, one point (2) that hasn’t worked yet but bears repeating, and a moment (5) of hope that really does required Congressional action, as Stan Collender noted today. But the three good […]

House Republicans propose Social Security opt-out

It was bound to happen… House Republicans propose Social Security opt-out by Pete Kasperowicz – House Republicans on Friday introduced legislation that would allow workers to partially opt out of Social Security immediately, and fully opt out after 15 years. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-NY), who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, and several other Republicans […]

Predicting Recessions, The Great Stagnation, and Will There Be a Double Dip?

by Mike Kimel Predicting Recessions, The Great Stagnation, and Will There Be a Double Dip? There’s a lot of talk about a double dip recession these days. I don’t think there’s a precise definition of a double dip recession, but I think if there was it would be something like this: “a recession, followed by […]