Monthly Archives: March 2012

Scalia worries about broccoli?

Posted on March 27, 2012 by jackgoldstone

In today’s oral arguments regarding the constitutionality of the health care mandate, Justice Scalia used an analogy to question the validity of the mandate to purchase health insurance.  He said “It may well be that everybody needs health care sooner … Continue reading →

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The High Court and Health Care

Posted on March 26, 2012 by jackgoldstone

It will be months before the Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of the Affordable Health Care Act, knows to its foes as “Obamacare.”  But with the opening of oral arguments today, the debate has heated up. Opponents of the … Continue reading →

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Is Romney picking up steam?

Posted on March 21, 2012 by jackgoldstone

The Media want to annoint Romney the de facto nominee, as does the Republican Establishment, so they can get on with the race against Obama.  But Santorum hangs in there.  To me, a 47-35% percent win in Illinois is not … Continue reading →

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Over and Out in Afghanistan?

Posted on March 17, 2012 by jackgoldstone

When the U.S. first engaged in Afghanistan, I was optimistic.  I wrote one of the very first essays arguing that if the US were to fight in Afghanistan, we would NOT get bogged down like the Russians.  After all, we … Continue reading →

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Should we Party like its 2008?

Posted on March 16, 2012 by jackgoldstone

One thing we should have learned in 2008 is that the stock market is NOT driven by rational estimates of future performance in the real economy, but rather — as George Soros and George Akerlof have argued — by animal spirits … Continue reading →

Posted in The Global Economy | Leave a comment

Shakespeare — by any other name? The authorship controversy and the Stratford Monument

Posted on March 11, 2012 by jackgoldstone

The world is often so depressing that I comfort myself with fiction — and of course like everyone I have enjoyed Shakespeare’s work as some of the finest in any language. I also like movies (some of them), and recently enjoyed … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments

China’s Trade DEFICIT — that’s right, deficit

Posted on March 10, 2012 by jackgoldstone

Last month China had a trade deficit of $31.5 billion.  That is not a large sum, but if sustained for a year it would lead to an annual deficit of over one-third of a trillion US dollars.  The monthly deficit was China’s largest … Continue reading →

Posted in The Global Economy | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Austerity or Adjustment? Paths to our Economic Future

Posted on March 9, 2012 by jackgoldstone

Greece’s embrace of partial default is being heralded as a triumph.  And if avoiding rampant disaster can be hailed as a victory, so it is!     Although it remains to be seen what will follow in regard to credit default swaps … Continue reading →

Posted in The Global Economy | 2 Comments

Who will help Syria’s opposition?

Posted on March 6, 2012 by jackgoldstone

Senator McCain has boldly called for NATO to do in Syria as it did in Libya; utilize air power to create safe havens for the opposition.  While this is a step in the right direction, I think McCain goes to … Continue reading →

Posted in The Middle East Revolts | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Tax the Rich — really, seriously.

Posted on March 2, 2012 by jackgoldstone

“François Hollande, the Socialist challenger for the French presidency, has launched a surprise offensive against top earners, proposing a marginal tax rate of 75 per cent on incomes above €1m a year – a level far in excess of top … Continue reading →

Posted in U.S. Politics | 2 Comments