Happy Memorial Day
Many thanks to everyone who has served our country and given “the last full measure of devotion.”
Month: May 2009
Happy to pay taxes
The Peoria Journal Star has an interesting letter-to-the-editor today: I am proud to pay my taxes. After all, I am gainfully employed and earned the money, which generated the levying of those taxes. I have a roof over my head, and a pillow for it at night. I have sufficient food for my sustenance, a […]
Economic culture matters
Economics is a very technical subject, but it’s also a human enterprise, which means that people and their values and their behaviors – that is, culture and ethics – underlie everything. The New York Times has an interesting article on how Norway has avoided much of the world’s economic meltdown. First off, the country is […]
Crafting a household-centered bailout
I’ve pretty much been on board with the idea that we need to save the financial system in order to help re-start the economy. I’m not happy with many of the specifics (I generally think the existing financial players are getting too many breaks), but I’m willing to see the government do something to keep […]
And a little Great Recession humor
For your enjoyment, a new Broadway musical: “Worst Slide Story.”
Medicare, Social Security, and Deficits as far as the eye can see
Okay, so this is bad. The Great Recession is whacking years off the life of Medicare and Social Security. Medicare remains the major problem, however. Health care costs are growing so fast that paying for medical services is going to severely damage the federal budget going forward. That’s why Obama is pushing so hard for […]
Karl Rove in Peoria
So, Karl Rove came to Peoria to speak. I applaud everyone who turned out to protest. What was most interesting to me is, though, is this: I moved here about a year-and-a-half ago. I have read the Peoria Journal Star almost every day, including the stories and columns by the designated political reporters. But I […]
The Miniature Earth
In a previous post, I said I am for globalization – for a further interconnectedness among the people of earth. This short presentation highlights some of my concerns.
The “banks”
The New York Times has a good article on community banks and how they largely stayed away from all of the financial destruction – oh, I mean “innovation” – that brought down the country’s biggest banks. It’s important when we talk about “Wall Street” and “the banks” to know exactly whom and what behaviors we’re […]
Economic patriotism
Conservatives spend a lot of time belly-aching about “patriotism.” (Actually, they’ve been pretty effective at it and have pretty much owned the word. More work for liberals to do…) But what counts as patriotic is not that simple, especially in a globalized economic age. The bailouts of the auto industry being managed by the Obama […]
Bill Poorman 