Economics & Political Systems

A Kim-Less Christmas

Editor’s note: A version of this article first appeared at American Thinker. This past Christmas, the people of North Korea were without their messiah. That is, their self-anointed messiah. For a sense of just how bad was Kim Jong-Il, I … Continue reading

On Vaclav Havel—and Chris Hitchens

Editor’s note: This article first appeared at The American Spectator today. Vaclav Havel is dead. Among other forces and powers, he is among the seven individuals most responsible for peacefully ending the Cold War; the great liberators who brought freedom … Continue reading

Happy Bill of Rights Day

An estimated 4.5 million young people will vote for the first time in the 2012 presidential election. Is this a good or bad thing? The popular answer is that it is indeed good. Many people think that the very act … Continue reading

The Marcellus Shale Boom

Marcellus Shale is becoming a household name, from discussions around kitchen tables to town halls with (sometimes) angry citizens. Endless media coverage, economic analysis, geological prediction, business maneuvers and political debate encompass this complex topic. Even the experts concede that … Continue reading

Green Fiascoes and Boondoggles

A barrage of news headlines on the Solyndra scandal continue to remind us that President Obama made green jobs one of his administration’s priorities. Those headlines also reveal this initiative to have been a costly mistake. The bankruptcy of Solyndra, … Continue reading

Short-Lived Euphoria in Europe

Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011, was a giddy day for European politicians and global investors. European Union officials announced a plan for addressing the EU’s worst financial problems. There would be a partial write-down of Greek sovereign debt—a 50 percent haircut … Continue reading

We’ve Been ZIRPed

It isn’t easy to earn interest income these days. Interest rates on government T-bills, banks’ savings accounts, and certificates of deposit are microscopic. You can blame our government and central bank. They have “ZIRPed” millions of American savers. Here are … Continue reading