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

Trump on China: speak loudly and carry a tiny stick

Xi’s China is so far defying gravity. Despite its history of despotic autocratic party rule, Xi has managed to govern in a way that has promoted economic strength while projecting international resilience. Xi has kept his eye on the ball, while Trump has kept one eye on the mirror and the other on Fox News, […]

Number of US Students in College Decreases as Political Views Discourage Foreign Students

This is a rambling commentary pulling from an Angry Bear writer and two articles. I believe I have it all in order. Most recently Joel discussed Academia with an eye on colleges, “The end of the golden age for academia.” As he points out: “Recent months have brought terminations of 120 staff members at Boston […]

Snake oil and the Trump White House

Trump brought the RFK Jr snake oil road show to the White House. “Yesterday, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s traveling medicine show made a stop at the White House, where President Trump was the featured barker at an off-the-rails press conference. Taking unscientific aim at vaccines and unsubstantiated links between Tylenol and autism, the […]

Threats to US Labor Force

As is typical, Republicans support Tr__p and Dems and Independents see less in Tr__p to support, Overall job approval comes in at 40%. If one believes that is low, I believe it will be even lower in the future as Tr__p continues to play with on and off and changing tariff rates. The masked law […]

Do Tariffs have a Purpose Other Than Enriching Trump?

Traditionally, tariffs have been used to protect domestic industry, particularly agriculture and labor-intensive manufacturing. Trump has argued that his tariffs will return manufacturing to the United States and further that they will raise revenue helping offset the $3.4 trillion increase the tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations will add to the debt over the […]

Vortex

Stable genius, me arse.  Veritable idiot, more like.  And, a neanderthal.  Abysmally ignorant of state craft, of economics, of finance, of trade, of government, of science, of history, … of anything other than his own own oral anal.  From anal to oral, gut to mouth, sixteen and more hours a day.  But for Fred and […]

A Couple of Economist Views on Tariffs

First, my opinion. If anybody thinks this is not holding Trade with the US hostage until the other country concedes, they are crazy. Trump is obviously flexing our muscle to gain political advantage and a venue in which to brag. The only thing a tariff will do is protect an industry for a short period […]