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Economy

Economic Daily Outlook

MONDAY, APRIL 16, 2012   ECONOMICS: GOP and Dem lawmakers race hand in hand toward a fiscal cliff http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/domestic-taxes/221557-racing-hand-in-hand-toward-a-fiscal-cliff Republicans and Democrats are hurtling toward a fiscal cliff, and neither side wants to take the plunge. In less than nine months, Bush-era tax rates are scheduled to expire, hiking rates for the middle class as … Continue reading

Politics

Every Woman is Valuable

Hilary Rosen has been in the news recently because she said Mitt Romney’s wife, Ann Romney, had “never worked a day in her life” because she chose to be a stay at home mother.[1]  Choosing to stay home and raise a family might not bring in the financial or status gain as a paid career, … Continue reading

Constitution / Economy / Fiscal policy / Politics

Swiss-tested, Keynes-approved: Switzerland’s debt brake as a model for the U.S.

By Will Portman Critics of a balanced budget amendment (BBA), such as the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), argue that a BBA would “mandate perverse actions in the face of recessions” and thus “aggravate recessions.” And they’ve got a point — at least about a BBA that would mandate that the budget be balanced … Continue reading

Economy

Buffett Rule: #FAIL

“So we have a consensus. Nobody likes the Buffett Rule,” said Howard Gleckman, resident fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center and moderator of a forum today on whether the rich should pay higher taxes. The event’s expert panelists may not have agreed on what our tax code should look like, but they did agree … Continue reading

America / Foreign Policy

Another Example of Why the United States Will Never “Win” Its War on Drugs

The United States is most assuredly not winning the war on drugs. Anyone who tells you otherwise is woefully uninformed or playing politics. The most recent example of how badly the United States is losing this war can be evidenced by its decision to adopt counter-measures to the Mexican drug cartels’ newspaper advertisement campaign. I … Continue reading

Economy

Economic Daily Outlook

THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2012   ECONOMICS: Treasury Faulted in Effort to Relieve Homeowners http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/business/economy/treasury-department-faulted-in-effort-to-relieve-homeowners.html A fund to support homeowners in the communities hit hardest by the collapse of the housing bubble has disbursed just 3 percent of its budget and aided only 30,640 homeowners in the two years since its creation, according to a report … Continue reading

Uncategorized

Open Letter to Álvaro Uribe

Mr. Uribe, first and foremost I must respectfully express my gratitude for what you and your policies have done for my country of birth. Once on the verge of being deemed a “failed state,” Colombia is now a safer and more prosperous country.  Your Democratic Security initiative and other policies laid the groundwork for Colombian … Continue reading

Economy

Economic Daily Outlook

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 2012   ECONOMICS: Obama Goes on Offensive Over Taxes on Wealthy http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/11/us/politics/obama-to-make-case-for-buffett-rule.html All but certain now that his Republican opponent will be Mitt Romney, President Obama has made his proposed “Buffett Rule” minimum tax for the wealthiest Americans like Mr. Romney a centerpiece of his re-election campaign, defying the political risk of … Continue reading