Category Archives: Business

Did Obama Help or Hinder the Recovery? Dueling Campaign Narratives

Posted on Thursday, February 9, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Today, I came across a variation of the employment chart below in an Obama campaign ad. In this ad, the old adage holds: There are “lies, damned lies, and statistics.” In this campaign season, this truism will likely apply to … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Finance and Economics, Leadership, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 29 Comments

Catching a Falling Knife: The Hazards of California Real Estate

Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

When I returned to the San Francisco Bay Area in July 2006, real estate prices were absurd. At the time, I had also saddled myself with a massive amount of school loans. That said, no-doc loans were all the rage, … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, California, Finance and Economics, Investing, Mathematics, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Is Fracking Causing the Mystery Disease in Le Roy, New York?

Posted on Saturday, February 4, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Today, I learned that eighteen individuals in LeRoy, New York have been suffering inexplicably from a strange neurological disorder that caused them to develop “uncontrollable twitching and verbal tics.” No one seems to be able to explain the root cause … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Energy Security | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Bush vs. Obama: Unemployment (January 2012 Jobs Data)

Posted on Friday, February 3, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Update: Click here for the most recent jobs statistics. On the first Friday of every month, I update the unemployment numbers so that I can compare the unemployment rate under President George W. Bush with the unemployment rate under President Obama at that … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Finance and Economics, Media, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , , | 130 Comments

The Disadvantages of Growing up Wealthy

Posted on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Now that I have your attention, I think it is fair to state up front that there really are few disadvantages to growing up wealthy. You never have to worry about finding a job or joining the military to pay … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Finance and Economics, Leadership, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 17 Comments

Marginal Tax Rates And Recessions

Posted on Sunday, January 29, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

A Reflections of a Rational Republican reader suggested that I attempt to debunk or challenge the notion from two posts (see “Rich Peoples Taxes Have Little to Do with Job Creation” and “The Myth of the Lower Marginal Tax Rates“) … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Finance and Economics, Policy, Politics, Taxes | Tagged , , , , , , | 32 Comments

Why I Will Not Vote for Newt Gingrich

Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Earlier this year I was spellbound by Newt Gingrich’s gift for debating. I was also fascinated by his skills as a brilliant political wonk. Nevertheless, when he attacked the very foundations of capitalism by levying charges of class warfare against … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Finance and Economics, Leadership, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , , | 30 Comments

Why Business Leaders Think America’s Economy Is Ailing

Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Last October I was among nearly 10,000 Harvard Business School alumni who completed an in-depth survey on American competitiveness. Harvard Business School released the results of this survey last week, and they are fascinating.

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Posted in Business, Education, Finance and Economics, Healthcare, Leadership, Policy, Politics, Taxes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Private Equity: A Force for Good, or Evil?

Posted on Sunday, January 15, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney has been under a lot of pressure recently because of his private equity experience. Much of this negative media attention stems from certain assumptions about the nature of the private equity industry — assumptions that reflect … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Finance and Economics, Investing, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Are Liberals More Educated Than Conservatives?

Posted on Saturday, January 14, 2012 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Update: Click here for the most recent statistics. A surprising amount of anti-conservative bigotry on the web asserts that conservatives are inherently less intelligent than liberals. Admittedly, some prominent conservatives make statements that go against the mainstream scientific consensus on topics such as … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Education, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 259 Comments