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

What is Going on at Angry Bear

With the passing of my friend Daniel Crawford, I have had to take on new responsibilities. Angry Bear will continue like it has for the last 20 years. Retired Prof. Joel Eissenberg has joined with me is writing at Angry Bear. There will be more new writers joining us with new topics. I am losing […]

July retail sales: gas and vehicle sales continue to dominate the trend

July retail sales: gas and vehicle sales continue to dominate the trend  – by New Deal democrat As always, real retail sales tell us a great deal about what is happening in the consumer economy. July continued the recent trend since gas prices started declining over a year ago. Nominally retail sales increased 0.7%. Since […]

Open Thread August 15, 2023 The Inflation Reduction Act – real climate change policy?

Briefly, Josh Bivens: “Put simply, the IRA puts the U.S. on a path where meeting its global climate change  commitments is within reach. The commitments which would provide a genuine chance at securing a livable planet for future generations if they are kept. At the beginning of August 2022, there was no such path to secure this […]

The Big Story: a 100+ year near-record decline in commodity prices is enabling continued record wage growth and employment

This is the Big Story: a 100+ year near-record decline in commodity prices is enabling continued record wage growth and employment  – by New Deal democrat No important economic data today, so let me elaborate on the matter of “immaculate disinflation,” i.e., the decline in inflation without a decline in growth. I’m going to argue […]

The world’s infrastructure was built for a climate no longer existing

A portion of an article about climate impacting global civilianization as presented in Foreign Policy. I believe it lays bare how threatened we are everywhere due to a failure to react to even slight variations in global climate. On even a micro-level we see Montana communities pushing back on court rulings on polluting the environment. […]

Judge Decides in Favor of 16 Young Activists

Something positive finally happened and it involves younger people in age from 5 years old to 22 years old as the plaintiffs challenging the state of Montana. Their complaint alleged Montana’s pro-fossil fuel policies contribute to climate change. If you have not rad comments, you will also find commenter ltr discussing this case. Been too […]

Corporate influence in the contracting and practice of medicine

This article is about ER Dr. Ming Lin. He is calling attention to the influence of large corporations such as Envision, TeamHealth in the contracting and management practice of medicine (ERs, etc.) and the detrimental effects it has on physicians, healthcare workers, and patients. He paid the price for calling attention by losing his job. […]

July producer prices: economic tailwind weakens, but still in place

Missed this analysis on Friday. July producer prices: economic tailwind weakens, but still in place  – by New Deal democrat Normally I don’t pay too much attention to the producer price index, but because the steep decline in producer prices has been such a boon to businesses, and a big tailwind for the economy as […]

The Convenience Industrial Scam called Recycling

I have known of Lloyd for over a decade and have read his commentary a number of times when he was writing at Treehugger. A parting of the ways came about for Lloyd and other Treehugger writers. Lloyd has his own substack and is presenting his views on recycling, conservation of resources, etc. It is […]