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Lowering the Bar on Lowering the Deficit
It’s a sign of how out of hand the situation is when a trillion-dollar deficit is seen as an improvement.
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The Only Thing to be Sure of is Uncertainty
What can we expect out of the economy in the near future? That’s a great question, but no one has a good answer. The top economic and financial minds gathered recently at the high-powered World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Here’s the takeaway from the Associated Press. “The outlook for the US economy is unusually…
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Looking for a fun way to follow the State of the Union? BINGO!
You feel like it is your duty as a conscientious American to watch tonight’s State of the Union address at 9 pm EST, but you don’t relish the prospect of spending about an hour listening to the president talk about things he has already discussed for the most part or watching lawmakers selectively applaud at his…
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A Balanced Look at a Balanced Budget Amendment
The growing concern about America’s mounting national debt and the inability of our elected leaders to adequately address it has led to many calls for a balanced budget amendment (BBA) to the U.S. Constitution. Given our current fiscal problems, the attractiveness of requiring federal spending and revenue to balance each year is obvious and no…
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My Declaration for the Fourth
Amid the cook-outs and fireworks this weekend, it is easy to forget the real reason we celebrate the Fourth of July. It is because 235 years ago the Continental Congress adopted a radical document stating that it was necessary for the 13 American colonies to severe their bonds to the British Empire in order for…
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The Bulge We Should Be Worried About
All the talk about the bulge in Rep. Anthony Weiner’s pants is distracting from the real bulge we should be worried about — our bulging national debt. Without action, our debt will hit unprecedented heights. Under realistic assumptions, public debt is projected to reach over 120% of GDP by 2030 and over 180% by 2040.…
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Friday Policy Haiku – Taxing
Extend; repeal them/ Tax cuts for the rich; middle/ Need reform, not rage
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Vacation and Vacating
August is a relatively calm time to reflect before the stormy months ahead. Congress is currently in recess, the president is on vacation. By contrast, the period after Labor Day will be marked with shrill posturing in Washington and heated campaigning throughout the country ahead of the November election. I recently had my vacation with…
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Friday Policy Haiku (Saturday Edition) — The Gulf
Oil is gone, or not/ Reform now; no need for change/ No answers, just blame