This is excellent from Foreign Policy (hat tip to Paul Kedrosky): “Those who think Asia’s gains in hard power will inevitably lead to its geopolitical dominance might also want to look at another crucial ingredient of clout: ideas. Pax Americana was made possible not only by the overwhelming economic and military might of the United […]
READ MORERussia: An Uninvestable Country
Ikea said Tuesday that it was suspending further investment in Russia, apparently because of pervasive corruption and demands for bribes. The announcement came after a rare statement by Ikea’s 83-year-old founder in a radio interview that Ikea had decided not to solve problems by slipping money under the table. Kudos to Ikea for standing up […]
READ MOREPoor don’t just get poorer and rich don’t get richer
This is a great post from Carpe Diem showing that it is patently false that the poor get poorer and the rich get richer: A Treasury Department study of the 1996–2005 period used IRS income tax data to discern considerable mobility: more than 55% of taxpayers moved to a different income quintile. More than half […]
READ MOREThe Health Care “Cost Conundrum”
I recommend this article on why health care costs are so much higher in some places of the country and yet health care outcomes aren’t any better. Here is a snippet: “Yet in 2006 Medicare expenditures (our best approximation of over-all spending patterns) in El Paso were $7,504 per enrollee—half as much as in McAllen. […]
READ MOREWhy is he in charge?
The New York Times profiles Brian Deese, the 31 year old in charge of dismantling GM. Brian Deese represents what I think is a big problem in th Obama administration: No one really has any business experience or has experience operating in the business world. This will come back to bite Obama, the economy and […]
READ MORECould America’s Jews Be Similar to Germany’s Jews before Hitler?
I read a wonderful newsletter every month called the Gloom, Boom and Doom Report, written by Marc Faber. (Gloom, Boom and Doom report I highly recommend it. Marc Faber if you don’t know is a great investor, market commentator and newsletter writer. Some of his highlights include calling the 1987 crash, the recent housing bubble […]
READ MOREPoodle sends former French Prime Minister to hospital
You just can’t make this stuff up: Former French President Jacques Chirac was rushed to a hospital after being mauled by his pet dog who is being treated for depression, in a dramatic incident that rattled the ex-president’s wife. Poodle Mauls Chirac
READ MORECommunism and Dissent
Want another affirmation as to how lucky we are to live in America? Check out the following from the New York times reporting that China cut out parts of Obama’s speech: At one point, Obama said earlier generations ”faced down communism and fascism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring […]
READ MOREWhy the Big Three Shouldn’t Be Bailed Out
This is an excellent blog post from Mark Perry’s Carpe Diem blog on how Honda is actually expanding in this country: Honda expands
READ MOREDoes Socialism Help Nature Kill and Hurt People?
This is an excellent blog post from Will Wilkinson’ blog, The Fly Bottle. It discusses what few people are talking about in regards to the Burma natural disaster: the helping hand that socialism gives to killing people, destroying homes and hurting a country. Check it out: Socialism hurts
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