And look, there’s $40 off…
That $134.99 is pretty faint, shouldn’t it be bolder so you will better appreciate the $40 savings
Category Archives: Economics
Who increased the debt in three very similar graphs.
Who increased the debt in three very similar graphs. – Holy Krap!.
Very interesting, especially the inflation adjusted numbers.
The Distributional Effect of Tax Cuts — A Brief Note
The Distributional Effect of Tax Cuts — A Brief Note – NYTimes.com.
Something to remember when you have a discussion on taxes and fairness.
Thoughts on class warfare. –
Given that we are supposedly a classless society, I think we are losing the battles.
Econ 101
I am going through a self-teaching guide for Economics (Slavin, 1st edition, 1988).
Very interesting so far, but it is strange to see references to the Soviet Union and the strong Japanese economy.
Economics is the study of the allocation of the scarce means of production toward the satisfaction of human wants.
The basic questions of economics are :
- What goods shall we produce?
- How shall we produce the goods?
- For whom are the goods produced?
The scarce means of production (resources) are: Land, Labor, Capital, and Entrepreneurial Ability.
Note: Labor is work. Capital is not money, it is the infrastructure needed to support the production and distribution of goods. Entrepreneurial Ability is the skill to organize the Land, Labor and Capital into a profit-making endeavor.
Human wants are unlimited relative to the resources available.
——————————
The initial discussion of Adam Smith’s invisible hand explains that people are more efficient when producing for their self-interests rather than for the public good. If people are allowed to produce for their own selfish interests then by-and-by the public good will be met as well. I wonder if we will get into a discussion of the Commons?
Up to chapter 5 so far. Looking forward to the rest.
I am Published!
I am a published author! at least a writer…
The Colorado Springs Independent published my response to an earlier letter.
For some reason my WordPress isn’t letting me add the links where they should be.
http://www.csindy.com/colorado/letters/Content?oid=2334442
http://www.csindy.com/colorado/letters/Content?oid=2306503
Congressional Budget Office warns of debt explosion
Congressional Budget Office warns of debt explosion – The Washington Post.
So raise taxes. Across the board. Let everyone share the pain of keeping a military deployed on multiple fronts.
These Republicans seem to forget that when a household runs into budget problems the option of increasing income is also on the table, not just reducing expenses. Sometimes you have to do both.
Painful truth of debt crisis
Selling US Short
Short finance – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
I often get the feeling that Republicans are trying to short the United States. Something about their attitude that a nation is like a corporation. So it is in their interest to lower the overall value of the US so they can make a profit.
Of course, a nation is not a corporation, it does not have stock, it has people, and selling them short will quickly lower the value of the nation.
Profits soar as oil companies victimized again by high gas prices
Daily Kos: Profits soar as oil companies victimized again by high gas prices.
Such a great headline.
Historical National Health Expenditure Data
Historical National Health Expenditure Data.
What I was actually trying to put together was a comparison of the US Health Care Costs with the payroll income. My idea is that we have $2.5T annual health care and $6.5T payroll – Health Care is 38%of payroll.
Of that $2.5T I don’t know how much is for basic health care, as opposed to advanced or elective health care. We set up a Medicare or National Health Service that covers all Americans with basic health care. Put in a payroll tax of 20% that covers Health Care and SSA. With employers matching the payroll tax, and the taxes being dedicated to health and SSA and off the federal books, we should be able to manage the costs without involving the federal budget. The States get out of the Medicaid business and folks can move from state to state without worrying about their coverage.
Of course the big problem is to determine what is ‘basic’ health care. Are heart transplants basic or advanced? Let a panel of medical professionals and former health insurance executives determine what we will cover with our system and go from there. The insurance companies can stay around to cover the advanced and elective medical needs.
PS – Since a 20% payroll tax will put a big drag on a lot of take-home pay packets, I would suggest that personal income taxes only be applied on income above the median household income, ~$50K . And then only gradually progressive.