Sushi for Fraud
Economy / Politics / Regulation

Sushi for Fraud

On March 29, 2013 the Southern District Court of New York issued a judicial decision that fundamentally altered the foundations of the world economy – and no one noticed. The case in question was an anti-trust suit brought against Bank of America as a part of the ongoing fallout from the Libor manipulation scandal, but … Continue reading

The Government is Making Money Off Students; Is that a Good Thing?
Economy / U.S. Domestic Policy

The Government is Making Money Off Students; Is that a Good Thing?

The last thing anyone expects the government to do is make money. Every day congressional lawmakers lament budget deficits, and the inability of the federal government to cover its spending with tax revenue is a perennial issue. But while Washington continues to struggle with the debt, there are a few government-affiliated organizations that are actually … Continue reading

The Farm Bill: Convenient Coalition or Market Manipulation?
America / Fiscal policy / Tax / U.S. Senate

The Farm Bill: Convenient Coalition or Market Manipulation?

In early June, a coalition of urban and rural politicians in the Senate banded together to pass the Farm bill, a legislative piece that distributes welfare benefits to an unlikely pair: wealthy agro-businesses and the inner-city poor. Although widely popular among constituents, a common sense look at the bill reveals serious flaws. The Senate’s version … Continue reading

Regulations: Another Front in the War Between the Branches
Economy / Regulation

Regulations: Another Front in the War Between the Branches

While politics and partisanship are the primary forces driving the discord in Washington today, it is power that will ultimately determine the outcome of such conflict. In our government, power is shared between branches, which in times of divided government like the present, essentially means shared between parties. With each side empowered to block the … Continue reading

What Women Want
Economy / Politics

What Women Want

I am not Mel Gibson and you, presumably, are not Helen Hunt (Helen, if you do read this, you’re awesome).  But the movie starring these two actors – in which Gibson’s character falls, hits his head, and is suddenly able to hear women’s thoughts – is unfortunately reminiscent of a current policy debate. On Wednesday, … Continue reading

Apple Employs Tax Tricks
Economy / Tax / Taxes

Apple Employs Tax Tricks

Last week was a big week on the hill, with many high profile hearings. One such hearing that was followed closely was the investigation of Apple. Apple has been accused of evading taxes, but they have apparently found a loophole in the corporate tax code. Apple set up subsidiary accounts in Ireland for its international … Continue reading