Many economic ‘experts’ seem puzzled why the U.S and world economy remain in a funk. Most seem ‘surprised’ by ‘unexpected’ poor economic reports when released. Are they really baffled or is this merely public relations nonsense?

In Debt Limit Analysis we step aside the finger pointing and fear mongering dominating Washington and the nation and present resources for the reader that if reviewed puts the issue into context and provides insight into the options available to the Treasury in the event this is no agreement to raise the debt ceiling by Aug 2. Clearly because the Treasury will be able to prioritize the bills that need to be paid the government will not shut down nor go into completed default. Here we present a legal perspective of the authority vested in the President...

As the chances for a compromise over budget reductions and the raising of the debt ceiling looks less likely let’s pull this bogeyman out of the closet and take a look at this situation and gain an informed perspective. The Bipartisan Policy Center has prepared an informative and easy to understand analysis...

Is the crisis atmosphere over rising of the debt ceiling providing an opportunity for political and perhaps corporate strategist to attempt achieving some alternative objective? It’s no secret that many Republicans have wanted to kill Social Security and Medicare since their inception and while ending them in one grand move seems rather remote attempting to gradually chip away at them however seems more likely. I suggested in Endless Wars and Debts and taxes to pay for them that conservatives hate these programs because they believe they create freeloaders plus believe people should fend for themselves…

America’s companies are ambassadors representing our nation and the American people around the world. With crap like this occurring is it any wonder why so many people don’t like us?

What association do you make with the word ‘entitlement’? Is it negative or positive? Conservative opinion shapers can exploit the negative connotation many people make with ‘entitlement’ and frame Social Security and Medicare in a negative misleading manner while at the same time accurately describe them as entitlements. Seldom mentioned, however, is that Social Security and Medicare are ‘earned’ entitlements based on legislative arrangements and requirements with taxpayers. The premise behind the conservative’s agenda for these programs is the belief that people are better equipped to plan their own future and don’t need the government’s assistance. Whether that is true is a matter of opinion. The historical record doesn’t bear this out. It’s part of their ‘selective’ less government motif and perhaps part of a corporate serving agenda as well.

As policy makers bicker over the budget and increasing the debt ceiling let’s take a look at our nation’s financial condition. In recent years I have begun questioning how much debt is simply too much even for the U.S government… Are you familiar with the term normalcy bias? It is a mental state we often “enter when facing a disaster.” It “causes people to underestimate both the possibility of a disaster occurring and its possible effects,” causing most of us to be inadequately prepared. I suspect to a degree normalcy bias with the economy is at play in clenching this ‘faith based notion’ in the U.S. credit system all together.

If you carefully inspect your home plus the stores you shop at you’ll find them loaded with American brand name imports from clothing to Christmas and Easter decorations to electronic components and nearly everything in between right down to G.E light bulbs. This includes many of America’s most darling Wall Street companies from Apple to HP and even Ford and Chevy. ABC News with Diane Sawyer recently reported on this in a series Made in America and their revelations have taken some folks by surprise. Perhaps some of us have been buying our goods with eyes wide shut...

As Congress members return this week from recess the battle over the budget will soon begin. Obama wants to raise taxes on the wealthy by repealing the Bush era tax cuts and close some tax loopholes. The GOP refuses to consider any tax revenue increases at all. But given our dire budget situation shouldn’t everyone and every corporation be paying their fair share for the good of the nation? Following the same rationale of ‘support our troops’, what is our patriotic duties with respect to our nation’s financial well-being?