Category Archives: Economics

Single-payer or die, or death by single-payer?

Posted on March 26, 2009 by

A few weeks ago in the New Yorker, Atul Gawande discussed the many paths to universal coverage in European countries, single-payer being but one of them. He begins by noting that the battle lines for health reform have formed between … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Health, Politics | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

I see you! I see what you did there!

Posted on March 24, 2009 by

I’m not quite sure why I haven’t found this reported more widely, especially given the fuss that was going on last week, but apparently everyone’s favorite family insurer, AIG, is changing their name. MSNBC: Workmen rolled up their sleeves at … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Media, Politics | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

You can save it, Rat Face!

Posted on March 19, 2009 by

Duke University basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, upon learning that Barack Obama had picked his team to be bounced from the NCAA Tournament in the Elite Eight: Somebody said that we’re not in President Obama’s Final Four, and as much as … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Politics, Scandal, Sport | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

AIG BONUS OUTRAGE!!!!!!1111

Posted on March 19, 2009 by

Don’t really care. What I care about is this.

Posted in Economics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

You cannot be serious

Posted on March 11, 2009 by

Boston Globe: The federal agency that insures bank deposits, which is asking for emergency powers to borrow up to $500 billion to take over failed banks, is facing a potential major shortfall in part because it collected no insurance premiums … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Let’s do health care

Posted on March 5, 2009 by

Discussing health care ad nauseum can produce ennui, if not malaise. Let’s blog about it, anyway! After all, health care is a Big Deal, especially as President Obama kicks off an effort to deal with expanding coverage and reducing costs. … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Oooh, scary: Employee Free Choice Act

Posted on March 3, 2009 by

An amusing SEIU ad.

Posted in Economics, Politics | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Well, that’s too bad.

Posted on February 27, 2009 by

USA Today: Citigroup has struck a deal that allows it to shore up a key financial measure while giving the government up to a 36% stake in the beleaguered bank, vs. 8% now. The deal is the government’s third major … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Class Warfare

Posted on February 1, 2009 by

5 notes on recent events. 1. Biden to Labor: Welcome Back.  I’m not sure what the Middle Class Task Force will accomplish, but the language and tone are remarkable. Obama: I also believe that we have to reverse many of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cities, Economics, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Your Day in Porn

Posted on January 7, 2009 by

Who doesn’t love Larry Flynt? He’s trucking to Washington, along with “Girls Gone Wild” founder Joe Francis, to ask Congress for a $5 billion bailout for the porn industry. Says Flynt, With all this economic misery and people losing all … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Scandal | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments