September 2006
5 posts
Political Notes from the Heartland
I’ve spent much of the past two weeks in the Heartland – Houston, Dallas, and then north into Oklahoma, St. Paul, Minnesota, and Allentown, Pa. – giving talks, and talking with lots of people. It was a free-floating focus group whose scientific value is probably questionable – after all, the audiences picked me and I picked the people I wanted to talk with – but I heard several themes over and...
A Few Hundred Super Novas
Bill Clinton wrapped up his second annual tycoon-fest today with commitments worth $7.3 billion to combat illness, poverty, religious and ethnic conflict and climate change, from 215 do-gooding tycoons. Last year’s event scored more commitments — over 300 in all — but last year’s pledges weren’t as big, totaling just $2.5 billion. I think it’s wonderful that the...
The Future of American Auto Making
Once it gets through its latest round of job cuts, Ford will have fewer American workers than Toyota. General Motors has become a shadow of its former self. The only car on its drawing board that has a chance of big sales will be built in South Korea. Meanwhile, Chrysler is swimming in red ink and planning major plant closings. By the way, Chrysler is now part of Daimler-Chrysler, headquartered in...
House of Ill-Repute
Dems are on the way to retaking the House, but what will they actually inherit? Recent polls show just one in four Americans thinks Congress is doing a good job. That’s not surprising considering the stench of corruption that emanates from the legislative body, especially the House. The surprising thing to me is the Republicans aren’t taking the public’s “kick the rascals...
A High-Wire Hobsian's Choice
The business press continuously leaves out the big picture and gives readers nothing but tiny pixels. Last week was a good example. Data galore but no useful analysis about where we are or where the economy is headed. The big news is the Fed now has all the information it’s gonna get before it has to decide on September 20 whether to raise interest rates to keep inflation under control and risk...
