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

The World without Us

Review: The World without Us by The one-handed economist one-handed-economist.com I just read this 2007 book by Alan Weisman, and it’s encouraging — not because it gives me any hope for humans but for the Earth. Weisman goes on a tour of human impact (and destruction), looking at one problem (plastics, pollution, biodiversity, etc.) or place (the […]

Oklahoma Attorney General Suing Pharma Mfgrs and PBMs

Bit of an Introduction ; The above chart shows the extent of the consolidation of PBMs which also portays the growing lack of competition. The chart comes from the Oklahoma petition filed in the Cleveland County District Court. Cleveland County is the fifth fastest-growing county, encompassing vibrant communities such as the southern part of Oklahoma […]

Short Story on Tupperware

I am confident many of our moms had Tupperware in the house. High density molded soft plastic which could withstand cold temperature and some degree of heat coming from hot water. Came with lids which could seal food within the container and also burp them to release some air and create a tighter seal. A […]

Quick and Dirty Economic Indicator Says: Not Even Close to Recession

 – by New Deal democrat There are some economic and financial indicators that aren’t classic leading or lagging indicators. Rather, they are “over-sensitive” in one direction or another. Two good examples are heavy truck sales and the unemployment rate: they are over-sensitive to the downside: they lead going in to recessions, but lag coming out. […]

Overdoses, the Economy, and Politics

September 19, 2024 Letters from an American “Democracy depends on at least two healthy political parties that can compete for voters on a level playing field. Although the men who wrote the Constitution hated the idea of political parties, they quickly figured out the party’s tie voters to the mechanics of Congress and the presidency.” […]

Avoiding Microplastics

Purity is impossible, and half measures feel better than nothing but also are a failure. This is in regard to Microplastics which are next to impossible to avoid. And it’s all expensive. If a family is expecting a baby and wants, reasonably, to buy plastic-free baby products. Given everything humanity is learning about the possible […]

Jim, this is nothing like before. These guys are ahead of us.

These guys are ahead of us. What Scared Ford’s CEO in China, WSJ Jim Farley had just returned from China. What the Ford Motor chief executive found during the May visit made him anxious: The local automakers were pulling away in the electric-vehicle race.  In an early-morning call with fellow board member John Thornton, an exasperated Farley unloaded.  The […]

Important mixed messages from jobless claims this week

 – by New Deal democrat You may recall that last week I wrote that beginning this week and for the next 6+ months, initial claims would be up against some very tough comparisons from 2023 and would be the ultimate true test of whether there has been unresolved post-pandemic seasonality in the numbers. Well, this […]

SARS-CoV-2 and the Wuhan wet market

Endless online vitriol has been spilt promoting the idea that the COVID-19 pandemic was somehow either (a) an engineered pathogen or (b) a virus that escaped from a research facility. While those allegations served the interests of the Trump Administration, the actual, you know, scientific data supporting them was non-existant. Now, years later, the sorts […]

Trump Ripping on His Man USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy

Some Information U.S. Presidents can not remove the Postmaster General. So, Louis is safe if that is what people and the author of this piece seems to think Biden can do. “The Postmaster General is selected and appointed by the Board of Governors of the Postal Service, which is appointed by the president. The Postmaster […]