Obama’s first term was consistently hindered, by a deliberate strategy of obstruction from Congressional Republicans. Will a second term be any better?
As we consider the Presidential candidates, it is also important to consider the Legislative branch — Congress. Presidents have only executive and veto authority, and must rely on Congress & the Senate to actually write & pass laws. Continue reading
Many moderates, and Republicans, are concerned about the current (and growing) US debt. As America finds itself post- financial crisis, winding down two wars, debts exceeding $14 trillion dollars — let’s ask where this came from? Continue reading
Since the financial crisis broke in 2008, there has been economic confusion as to what policies, if any, will help US and European economies recover.
Spending cuts, or ‘austerity’, have been strongly advocated; by Republicans in the US, by Britain’s Conservatives, and by Germany. This school of thought believes that ‘confidence’ must be restored, for growth to resume.
Yet historical experience shows a different picture. Continue reading
Friday brought two numbers that should have everyone in Washington saying, “My God, what have we done?”
One of these numbers was zero — the number of jobs created in August. The other was two — the interest rate on 10-year U.S. bonds, almost as low as this rate has ever gone. Taken together, these numbers almost scream that the inside-the-Beltway crowd has been worrying about the wrong things, and inflicting grievous harm as a result. Continue reading