^{Cross posted on
The Economic Populist -
A Community Site for Economics Freaks and Geeks}

Failure in war can be a bad thing.  Failure in business can be a personal loss, and in some instances a detriment to the economy.  With the recent calamity hitting the two largest mortgage lenders, not to mention other large American business concerns, it seems to a select few that failure is indeed a viable and good option.

A gamble with very high stakes is being openly promoted by adherents to a free-market orthodoxy.  These individuals, gaming on anger and the perceived loss of utility of these given enterprises, are pushing the public onto this wager.

Call it a positive effect on the falling US Dollar.  Along with an increase activity by domestic manufacturers, foreign companies are now expanding their operations here in the US.  Now, yes I understand that ultimately the money goes back overseas, but they are hiring folks who needed jobs.  To me, that last part is what counts.

What can I say, I like this guy. No, I'm not crazy, nor have I suddenly sold out to the gang at Swindlers' Inc (aka the current Republican Party).

There's a real good piece on Daily Kos today about how the GOP is "screwed" with an incoming election of Barack Obama.  Honestly, I'd love to believe that, but we've heard this before.  Indeed, we seem to be counting our chickens before they hatch.  

Now you may be asking, Budweiser?  What's all this then?  I thought you handled manufacturing stuff, you know gears, plastics and metal thingies? Yes we do, but here is something to keep in mind as to why food is also covered.  When they (being the mainstream media) has a manufacturing story, sometimes they include that little nugget "yet America is still the largest manufacturer."  Sounds crazy, I mean look around in stores, it seems like everything is made in China.  Yet, this often-used tidbit is used because when this country calculates manufacturing, processed foods gets included.  Yes..that's right, those chicken nuggets and mac 'n' cheese microwavable meals are considered "domestic manufacturing." And you know what else is also?  Beer!

With all the news about Tony Snow, a man who should be getting a lot more attention died today, Dr. Michael DeBakey, seems to be being pushed aside by the mainstream media.  Dr. Michael DeBakey was a pioneer in the field of cardiovascular surgery. A wonderful man who helped everyone from the poor for free to the rich and powerful.  So while you all lament (and I guess rightfully so) about the former White House Press Secretary, please take time to think about a man who actually did save lives.

A little story passed by the radar of most folks this past week.  A piece of news that really shows the US reaching a watershed moment.  What is this oh so awesome thing?  Well it isn't awesome, in fact, it isn't good at all.  Investors are starting to reject government securities.

(UPDATE NOTE: New economic data released, see below!)

The Democrats are finally going after McCain's jugular.  That is, his economic policies.  Oh sure, we all know he's Mister War, and that is one of his weak links too.  But the economy, in particular the jobs situation, that will help propel Barack Obama into the White House.

Every year I attend a BBQ held by a friend of the family.  Her name is Deborah and sadly is a big-time Republican, though oddly enough not so much a conservative (well socially at least).  Now her late father and my father go way back, fought together in North Africa in WW2, so these people are practically family. Well, as mentioned, she holds an Independence Day BBQ cook out every year, and my father goes out of respect... and a free meal. Outside of me, sometimes, he's the only other non-Republican at these things.

Why oh why does this man irritate me so?  Now don't get me wrong, John Stossel is probably a nice man.  But for a man who can garner audiences, he is "dangerous" (well not really, but the guy's on TV and he is on the ra-ra free market Right's side promulgating this crap) with his half ass grasp on our economy.   Recently, on Daily Kos's evil twin, he wrote up a piece on how the economy really isn't doing bad.  That it was all media hype.

Right after the Ohio Democratic Primaries ended, I remember watching the talking heads on both CNN and MSNBC (I refuse to watch Faux News for electoral coverage).  As everyone knows, Hillary Clinton won that state with 54% of the vote.  The talking heads went on to say how if Hillary didn't get the nomination, that the blue-collar hard hats (sometimes known as "Reagan Democrats") would go for John McCain.  And of course, Pat Buchanan, politics' Archie Bunker, said it was inconceivable that blue-collar workers would vote for Obama in November. On CNN, you had one of Hillary's supporters, Lanny Davis saying Ohio was much in doubt should Barack take the nomination.

Some interesting stuff happening in the manufacturing sector.  The US Dollar, despite the President's claim today that he wants a strong currency, continues to drop.  Rising material costs, be it ore or petroleum, has had some unintended consequences.  We noted here last week, that many businesses are starting to take a second look at the US given the rise in transportation costs.

A fresh face in politics they said.  Young and smart, they tried to make him out to be a great reformer.  Hell, at one point, the gang at Swindlers' Inc tried to paint him as a GOP Barack Obama (which we pointed out here on Daily Kos.)!  

There is nothing wrong with being a skeptic.  When it comes to investing or trading, it sometimes pays to be a contrarian.  Religion and God?  I'm an agnostic.  Believing what the government tells me?  Pfft...not with the GOP in charge! But sometimes, skepticism can turn into stupidity, and when it comes to not believing in climate change, that is such a case.  Today the Associated Press had a story that should open the eyes to many conservative skeptics of climate change!

You just knew this was going to happen eventually.  The skyrocketing price of petroleum soon reaching the $200 level as our astute Jerome a Paris noted, has not only caused pain at the pump.  It has also started to hit the foundations of the whole way manufacturing done.  The whole mad free trade system is starting to buckle.

Today I thought I was actually going to have a day where something wouldn't piss me off. Well the FISA thing ended that notion, but also something else I read in the news.

Oh this can't be good.  The Financial Times is reporting this morning that the Pentagon is claiming it can't seem to locate "sensitive" parts for building nuclear weapons.