The title is a warning to me. The claim that “this time it’s different” is supposed to be typical of bubbles, but I write it meaning it. I think that this huge increase in the relative price of housing is different. In the past such an increase has been a reliable sign of a bubble. […]
– by New Deal democrat December consumer prices indicate that we are leaving the immediate post-covid era and seeing a rebalancing of sectors, as sectors that declined sharply in the past several years rebound. As in November, the only two categories of “hot” numbers showing price increases of 4.0% a year or more are two […]
Briefly: I did not have much of a chance to dive into to this last night. Just briefly reviewing it. The case is covering preventative care as determined by the US Preventive Services Task Force (PSTF). The PSTF currently requires insurers to cover “more than 50 preventive services.” This includes “screenings to detect lung, cervical, and colorectal […]
As Biden’s presidency winds down, I have tried to collect my thoughts on his presidency, on what went right and (mostly) what went wrong, and why. I want to confess up front that I do not follow “inside the White House” reporting very closely (I have not read any books on the Biden White House, […]
Steve Early and Suzanne Gordon have been advocating for veterans, the VA, and VA healthcare well beyond my introduction to them years ago. Steve had helped me early on and gave me a contact to use if needed. If Suzanne and Steve are writing about it, it is an issue. I know the Washington pols […]
Kevin Drum has a post up at jabberwocking.com about Trump’s proposed “External Revenue Service.” This agency, which would duplicate the work currently done by Customs and Border Protection, would allegedly be responsible for collecting tariffs from exporting countries. Only that’s not how tariffs work—they’re collected from US importers, who in turn pass them on to […]
Producer prices join the parade of yellow flags – by New Deal democrat I generally don’t pay too much attention to producer prices, but there are a couple of exceptions. One exception is that sometimes producer prices lead consumer prices by a number of months. That hasn’t been the case recently. But the other exception […]
There is evidence that a higher minimum wage causes a lower suicide rate. I would not have guessed this: “Suicide is often connected to financial stress, so it makes sense that increasing income might reduce the risk of suicide. A recent study funded by NIMHD found that every $1 increase in the minimum wage of […]
When I was in first grade, we had daily bible readings. Each child was allowed a turn to read a verse or two from their bible. This was in a public school. The problem of how to manage verses from, e.g., Muslim or Hindu children was solved by the fact that in East Tennessee there […]
It is a thought of the cost of healthcare and people skipping it due to cost. I suspect the number in this report for 2022 – 2024 are lower. Lower only because of President Biden’s healthcare adjustments to the ACA plans making it less costly for families. People were out of work and would have […]