Propaganda: repetition and fear
A propaganda film about propaganda. Learn how the powers that be use argumentum ad metum (the appeal to fear) and constant repetition to subtly manipulate your emotions. Be sure to…
- Closed System
- Competition
- Complexity
- Culture Divide
- Current Events
- Debt Ceiling
- Economic Policy
- Economic Theory
- Federal Budget
- Game Theory
- Inflation
- Interdependency
- Keynesianism
- Legal Theory
- Marxism
- Motivation
- National Debt
- Notable Quotables
- Perpetuity
- Political Theory
- Poverty
- Systems Theory
- Wealth
- Zero-sum
Occupy Wall Street demands are vaguely familiar
The protestors on Wall Street known as ‘Occupy Wall Street’ have recently been identified by a list of demands evidently posted by one of their followers. Though there are no…
The social contract question
Granted we are social animals and engaged in a social contract, why does Warren assume that the factory owner isn’t putting forth his part of the bargain? Is it assumed…
A theory about the poor’s aversion to welfare
(The Economist) Instead of opposing redistribution because people expect to make it to the top of the economic ladder, the authors of the new paper argue that people don’t like…
Solving the problem by adding to it and making it worse
(The New York Times) There is something you should know about the deal to cut federal spending that President Obama signed into law on Tuesday: It does not actually reduce federal…
The math behind economies of scale
(TED) Physicist Geoffrey West has found that simple, mathematical laws govern the properties of cities — that wealth, crime rate, walking speed and many other aspects of a city can…
The debt ceiling as a perpetual soufflé
As Veronique de Rugy explains, the debt ceiling was initiated in the U.S. in 1917 as a way to ensure responsibility in congress. Since then, government has raised it nearly…
This may bring my presidency down, but I will not yield on this.
President Barack Obama on the negotiations for short term extension of the debt ceiling. (Dow Jones)- President Barack Obama threatened to veto any short- term extension of the debt ceiling,…
An ethical case for ‘Loser Pays’
In a recent article, Gozmodo reports of an independent artist that was charged with copyright infringement, and was forced to settle for tens of thousands of dollars, even though he…
Planned economy or planned destruction?
The more things change, the more they stay the same. This cartoon was published in the Chicago Tribune in 1934.
Does regulation have to come from the state?
In recent years, the great debate has focused on the role of regulation, how much of it there should be, and whether it does what it should in the economic…
Is Distributism the answer?
In John C. Médaille’s book, Toward a Truly Free Market, the argument is made that the modern system is a self-perpetuating cycle that can only lead to more regulation and…
Intervention affects the economy even more when the intervention stops
(New York Times) Among the people anxiously waiting to hear if Congress can reach a budget deal are front desk clerks at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park, manufacturing…
How does adding debt prevent us from default?
Geithner’s suggestion is to raise the amount of debt the borrower can take in. But that only allows the borrower to get further in the hole, and end up owing more every year. If the borrower can’t pay off the debt as it stands, what is to say that he will be able to do so when the debt is more than his income?
A kindred spirit in effort to slay the Juggernaut
Released in 2009, Chris Martenson’s video seminar ‘Crash Course’ provides an excellent analysis of our predicament. Expanding the talk into what he calls “the Three ‘E’s”, this seminar is comprehensive…
Civility In Politics–Is It Possible to Agree to Disagree?
In response to a CBS interview about the supposed ‘enmity’ prevalent throughout talk radio, President Obama urged politically-minded individuals to take the high road in debate, suggesting that neither side…
Adding to the Problem In Order to Solve It
(Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Tuesday ordered a government-wide review of regulations with the goal of eliminating those that hurt job creation and make the economy less competitive. http://www.cnbc.com/id/41131176/Obama_Wants_to_Shed_Rules_That_Hurt_Job_Growth…