Category Archives: Finance and Economics

Labor Day Tribute: Why Unions Suck

Posted on Monday, September 5, 2011 by Chris Ladd

In the 1930’s, when workers in San Antonio forced by the Depression into degrading pay and conditions organized to improve their plight, they set in motion a series of unintended consequences.  Their labor union, organized by authentic Communists, aimed to … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Finance and Economics, Policy, Politics, Socialism, Taxes | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Huntsman’s Jobs Plan a Good Start

Posted on Sunday, September 4, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Last week, the Huntsman campaign released an alternative to the President’s soon-to-be-released jobs plan. The plan includes four broad components including: 1) tax reform, 2) regulatory reform, 3) energy independence, and 4) free trade. I broadly agree with most of Huntsman’s proposed policies. … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Clean Energy, Clean Tech, Climate Change, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, Nuclear Power, Peak Oil, Policy, Politics, Smart grid, Taxes, Technology, Unions | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The San Antonio Pecan Workers’ Strike of 1938

Posted on Sunday, September 4, 2011 by Chris Ladd

In the early 20th century, San Antonio had become the center of a modestly lucrative industry – pecan processing.  Prior to the Depression, the business had started taking steps toward mechanization, but the country’s economic collapse began to reverse that … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Finance and Economics, Policy, Politics, Socialism, Technology, Unions | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bush vs. Obama: Unemployment (August 2011 Jobs Data)

Posted on Friday, September 2, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Update: Click here for the most recent jobs statistics. As is customary on this site, 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 … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Finance and Economics, Media, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , | 26 Comments

Bush vs. Obama: Housing Starts

Posted on Thursday, September 1, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Since comparisons between Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama appear to be very popular these days, I have added yet another chart to the mix. During the Bush’s second term, housing starts fell off a cliff. While they seem to have … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Finance and Economics, Policy, Politics, Taxes | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Solyndra: Another One Bites the Dust

Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

After receiving a $535 million loan from the federal government, and about $1 billion in venture capital financing, California-based manufacturer Solyndra suspended manufacturing operations today, and laid off 1,100 employees. It also announced its plans to file for bankruptcy protection. … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, California, Clean Energy, Clean Tech, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, Policy, Politics, Solar, Taxes, Technology | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Ron Paul’s “Galveston Model” for a New America

Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 by Chris Ladd

After Ron Paul complained that the news media wasn’t taking him seriously, he seized an opportunity over the weekend to demonstrate exactly why that is.  He went on a Hurricane Irene-inspired mini-rant, explaining that when it comes to disaster management, … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Finance and Economics, Policy, Politics, Taxes | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Proving Obama Is a Failed President

Posted on Monday, August 29, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Last week, Jonathan Alter at Bloomberg posed a tantalizing question: “you think Obama’s been a bad president? Prove it.” More specifically, he issues the following challenge to Obama-doubters: “Your mission, Jim (and readers named something else), should you decide to … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Clean Energy, Clean Tech, Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, Healthcare, International Security, Leadership, Media, Nuclear proliferation, Peak Oil, Policy, Politics, Unions, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Could Michele Bachmann Really Bring Back $2 Gasoline?

Posted on Sunday, August 28, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Earlier this month, Republican presidential hopeful Representative Michele Bachmann boldly declared, “Under President Bachmann you will see gasoline come down below $2 per gallon again…That will happen.” She suggested she could achieve this goal by allowing more aggressive U.S. oil … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Clean Energy, Clean Tech, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, Peak Oil, Policy, Politics, Taxes, Technology | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Rising Inequality and Associative Mating

Posted on Friday, August 26, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

One theory I have dabbled with about rising inequality in the United States is related to the concept of natural selection. Smart people marry other smart people and have smart children. One might argue that this pattern has been constant … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Education, Finance and Economics, Mathematics, Policy, Politics | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments