Economy

John Mauldin on "The New Normal"

There is a new term being thrown about in the financial media and press almost as often as Green Shoots. A commentator citing the existence of economic Green Shoots is usually extrapolating positive data points that would ordinarily be de minimus to make the case that they are the first signs of Spring, coming up…

OK, So Where's That Crime Uptick?

Remember back in the September ’08 to March ’09 period when every day you’d read stories about people stocking up on safes and guns?    There were stories about police forces in major cities drilling to be ready for mass unrest. The prevailing wisdom was that as the recession built in intensity and joblessness trended toward 10%,…

Perspective

When a resolute young fellow steps up to the great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers. Ralph Waldo Emerson Thanks to all for the kind wishes…

Arnie's Choice

Here’s another bad economic joke that’s not really a joke… Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger: The economy in Kalee-Fornee-A is so bad… Audience: “How Bad Is It?” Arnold: It’s so bad that I announced last night that I had to either lay off 51,000 teachers or release 40,000 prisoners to balance the budget. From Bloomberg: California’s budget…

When Its Time To Raise Rates, Will Bernanke Have The Stones?

An article in Bloomberg raises some very interesting questions and I though I’d open up the discussion on these three: 1.  Since Bernanke has clearly chosen Keynes over Friedman, pumping in liquidity with the belief that inflation will be held in check, will this “end in tears” as Fed historian Dr. Allan Meltzer believes? 2. …

Seeeck And Tired: The French Awaken from their Wine and Cheese Stupor

[vodpod id=Groupvideo.2299314&w=425&h=350&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26] You know its goin’ down when the riots in Paris start.  The French practically invented the modern-day civil unrest/ revolution in the streets thing…and I know because I saw it in a Broadway musical! As fires were lit and shop windows smashed soon after 8pm last night, riot police unleashed rounds of tear…