Laffer Throws a Curve at California

Written by Gary North on June 15, 2012

Arthur Laffer has proposed a new tax code for California. California is a continuing disaster zone: high unemployment, exodus of high-income people (Laffer was one), massive deficits, and slow economic growth. California is an anti-business state. But start-up businesses create jobs. In California, there are few new jobs. The climate is nice; the business climate […]

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Ding Dong Goes Your Pension

Written by Gary North on April 16, 2012

Ding Dongs are made by Hostess, which also makes Twinkies. It has filed for bankruptcy. It has now asked the union to take a shot in the head: radically reduced pension fund contributions from the company: from over $100 million a year to $25 million. If the union says no, the bankruptcy court will decide […]

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Feds Spend $133 Million to save $280,000 a Year (Maybe)

Written by Gary North on April 11, 2012

The U.S. government is spending $133,000,000 to renovate a government office building in Portland, Oregon. It will make the building “green.” It will plant shade trees — 18 stories of shade trees. The savings are officially estimated to be $280,000 a year. A critical story in the American Spectator reports that this will take 475 […]

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The $4.4 Trillion Pension Fund Bust

Written by Gary North on April 3, 2012

State and local governments already owe $4.4 trillion in pensions fund obligations. This is growing daily. The one sector of America that is dominated by unions is government. Unions have disappeared in the rest of the economy. There can be no doubt that state and local governments will not be able to pay all of […]

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“Back of the Line, Dummy!” Hidden Law Shafts Small Investors.

Written by Gary North on December 7, 2011

When a big firm like MF Global goes under, taking investors’ funds with it, the investors will probably not get paid. The people of the other side of derivatives (futures) contracts will. Recently Bank of America transferred a bunch of derivatives into their banking arm.  “A bunch” means somewhere around $80 trillion worth. Now pay […]

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