Category Archives: Finance and Economics

Petroleum Prices and Peak Oil: Edging Towards a New Normal

Posted on Saturday, February 26, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

“The beatings will continue until morale improves.” — Unknown Today I filled up my fuel-efficient Toyota with 11.24 gallons of fuel at $3.80 a gallon. And it’s only February. I shudder to imagine what prices will be by the time … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Clean Energy, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, International Security, Investing, Policy, Politics, Predictions | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Architecture of Anarchy

Posted on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

“Civilization and anarchy are only seven meals apart” — Spanish proverb Instability is a positive feedback loop driven by weather, energy and food prices, currency fluctuations, repression, and demography. Adverse weather conditions, in tandem with high energy prices and a … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, Clean Energy, Climate Change, Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, Food Security, International Security, Investing, Middle East, Policy, Politics, Predictions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Great Famine of 2011: Food, Fossil Fuels, and Fragmentation

Posted on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

“Our people take pride in the fact that they are blessed with great leaders from generation to generation” — High-level North Korean official on Kim Jong Un succession Poor Weather Reduces Crop Yields; Reduced Crop Yields Lead to Increased Prices… … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, China, Clean Energy, Climate Change, Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, International Security, Investing, Middle East, Policy, Politics, Predictions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

February 21, 2011 Edition of Anything Goes Carnival of Politics is Up!

Posted on Monday, February 21, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

theSaltyBlogger is hosting the February 21, 2011 edition of the Anything Goes Carnival of Politics, and features my blog post on “Four Pillars of Spending Cuts for Deficit Reduction,” which provides recommendations for budget cuts to reduce the deficit.

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Posted in Business, Defense, Finance and Economics, Healthcare, Policy, Politics, Social Security | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rallying Against the Red Menace

Posted on Sunday, February 20, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

“If you’re going to negotiate, you’ve got to have something to offer. We don’t.” — Governor Scott Walker I have avoided posting my thoughts about the recent protests in Wisconsin, because my personal reaction has been so visceral that I … Continue reading →

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

Storms Scare Saudis

Posted on Saturday, February 19, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Earlier this month, I warned that the Egyptian revolution would have broader implications far beyond Egypt’s borders. I said the most dangerous consequence of this revolt would be the spread of this revolution to other Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, … Continue reading →

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Posted in Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, International Security, Investing, Middle East, Policy, Politics, Predictions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Climate Chain Reaction: From Egypt to North Korea

Posted on Friday, February 18, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

With poor harvests last year in Russia, Canada, and Ukraine, a recent heat wave in Argentina, and floods in Australia that destroyed much of that nation’s wheat crop, agricultural commodity prices have sharply increased over the past year. The rising … Continue reading →

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Posted in China, Climate Change, Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, International Security, Middle East, Policy, Predictions | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Felling Pharaohs: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid (Part II)

Posted on Friday, February 4, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Shortly after the ignominious French 1954 defeat at Dien Bien Phu in Vietnam, President Eisenhower introduced the concept of Domino Theory to describe the significance of Vietnam falling under Communist influence. He warned that one Communist victory could initiate a … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, China, Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, International Security, Investing, Politics, Predictions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Felling Pharaohs: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid (Part I)

Posted on Thursday, February 3, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Arab Discontent Abounds… Since unrest began in Tunisia in early 2011, news outlets have reported unrest or threats of unrest in eight Arab nations including Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen, comprising a combined population of over … Continue reading →

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Posted in Business, China, Defense, Energy Security, Finance and Economics, International Security, Investing, Politics, Predictions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

46th Carnival of Divided Government is Up!

Posted on Thursday, February 3, 2011 by Sean Patrick Hazlett

Divided We Stand United We Fall is hosting the 46th Carnival of Divided Government and features my blog post on “Think You Can Make Money Investing When Your Party is in Power? Guess Again” on making investment decisions based on which … Continue reading →

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