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

‘Ruthless’ bankruptcies

The NYT has a story on what look to be ‘ruthless’ bankruptcies in store for companies who sought or were forced to take too much leveraged debt: American companies currently have more than $1.7 trillion in S.&P.-rated bonds and loans maturing from 2011 to 2014. The total debt load coming due will climb steadily over […]

Proxy Voting 101

Rdan here…The following post is the first of a possible four concerning shareholders, that magic group of owners of publicly traded companies which is invoked as beneficiaries of actions and policies by company officers and Boards. While many readers are well versed in shareholder doings, we also have readers less versed in how this is […]

This idea was lifted from an e-mail exchange with Noni Mausa this morning. The following well seasoned joke reminds me of political communications among the people who write the copy for our leaders: A carpet layer had just finished installing carpet for a lady. He stepped out for a smoke, only to realize he’d lost […]

Chinese Yuan

The economic headline this morning is that China has agreed to allow the yuan to appreciate. The announcement is being credited with about a 1% higher opening for the stock market and numerous pundits are claiming this will make a significant difference. But this has happened before and it had little impact. From 2004 to […]

Presidents, the Tax Burden and Corruption – Explaining Economic Growth

by Mike Kimel This post appeared in the Presimetrics blog. Presidents, the Tax Burden and Corruption – Explaining Economic Growth One of the topics we cover in Presimetrics is the relationship between the tax burden (i.e., the share of income going to taxes) and economic growth. As shown also in a recent post, Presidents who […]

Medicare Fee Ordeal- Continued

Tom aka Rusty Rustbelt Medicare Fee Ordeal – Continued As of Friday the Senate has passed a six (6) month patch to counter the Sustained Growth Rate formula cuts directed at most physicians. The average for all physicians was a 21% cut, with changes ranging from primary care (+6%) to cardiology (-42%). The House will […]

Peanut Butter Regulations

by Rusty Rustbelt PEANUT BUTTER REGULATIONS Watching people spread peanut butter is interesting. I am a semi-neurotic peanut butter spreader, I try to cover most of the bread and try to get the thickness close to even, but I am not a perfectionist-neurotic spreader. There are also slap-and-eat messy spreaders. Having dealt with a wide […]

Younger v. Harris ‘Doctrine’

by Beverly Mannoriginally posted at The Annarborist A Blueprint for Avoiding the Younger v. Harris ‘Doctrine’ In Some Cases The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit last month enjoined a Pennsylvania county prosecutor’s office from indicting teenage girls who had sued in federal court because their county’s prosecutor was threatening “sexting” indictments unless […]