October 9, 2008
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Away (from blogging — the writing, not the reading) and the economy, and especially the stock markets, continues in free fall.
Everyone is on edge, if not downright frantic, because if you’re too young to be that concerned about your retirement account and pension, you very well might be looking over your shoulder for economy-related pink slips.
The presidential campaign continues its free fall, from idealism and straight talk to Republican distortions and lies, and increasingly strident (and quite rapid, altogether a nice improvement over the “gentlemanly” Kerry debacle) Democratic responses.
And chanting relentlessly about Bill Ayers to mad-dog mobs (did Sarah Palin bring out every last one of this country’s rednecks?) while 401Ks keep decaying and mortgages keep resetting is making ordinary, moderate people downright angry.
Fiddling while Rome burns, indeed.
My approach to the meltdown? I just don’t look at my funds.
If you’re not spending it tomorrow, why make yourself crazy? If you live long enough, you’ll see the markets come back. And I’m not retiring until my 90th birthday.
Of course those now living off of their pensions and especially their IRAs and 401Ks have a right to be furious with the criminal class of plutocrats running (yeah, and ruining) this country’s biggest financial institutions. And the Republican politicians who made the world safe for their crimes.
I can imagine some really juicy show trials come January.
Meanwhile, I’m reading lots of good stuff, enough so that this past week I find myself rather tongue-tied as a result.
So, rather than fight to get the words out, here’s a laundry list of worthwhile reading.
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Economic depression, Economy, McCain, Obama, Politics, Presidential election, progressive, Recession | Tagged: $700 billion Wall St. bailout, BlogExplosion, Carly Fiorino, Economy, First Door on the Left, McCain, Meg Whitman, Obama, Political Realm, progressive, Recession, The 12 Angry Men Blog, The Coyote's Byte, Tom Paine.common sense, Warren Buffet, Washington Interns Gone Bad | 
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Posted by mudge
September 8, 2008
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As some observers have noted after the two conventions, there were lots of distractions, lots of words, but not much in the way of substance.
Especially regarding this nation’s number one concern.
Iraq, you ask?
That’s so 2007.
No, it’s the economy — rather, the very dangerous state of the economy.
Our Republican friends, plutocrats, or plutocrat wannabe’s, don’t believe we have a problem. McCain is and has always been insulated from the real world by, first, years as a Naval officer, where the pay might not be royal but subsidized expenses are low; then years as a prisoner of war, where the cost of living takes on an entirely ugly but non-financial meaning; then many more years as a Senator, married to wealth, a combination as isolated from the real world as it gets. He relies on his good buddy and close advisor on topics economic, former colleague Phil Gramm of Texas, who believes we’re all whiners.
The Democrats talked a spectacularly good ball game, but had little substantive to offer us.
Even so, based on their track record, one has to believe that the Democrats are more likely to get it than the Republicans, who have spent the last eight years aiding and abetting the liars and thieves on Wall Street and beyond.
Meanwhile, the news, and its import, is grim and becoming even more so.
The Power of De
Op-Ed Columnist | By PAUL KRUGMAN | Published: September 7, 2008
Save the home lenders, save the world? If only it were that simple.
The just-announced federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the giant mortgage lenders, was certainly the right thing to do — and it was done fairly well, too. The plan will sustain institutions that play a crucial role in the economy, while holding down taxpayer costs by more or less cleaning out the stockholders.
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2 Comments | Economic depression, Economy, McCain, Obama, Politics, Presidential election, Recession | Tagged: Barack Obama, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Great Depression, John McCain, Paul Krugman, Recession, Sarah Palin | Permalink
Posted by mudge
August 30, 2008
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Seldom are the battle lines as clear as they are in election season 2008.
Establishment conservative versus up from the streets progressive.
Moneyed comfort (via marriage) vs. up from food stamps, self-made comfort.
Explosive, short-fused temper vs. articulate, Ivy League erudition.
Chiseled in stone libertarian capitalism vs. government as proper societal safety net capitalism.
Bomb first, ask questions later approach to foreign affairs vs. talk first, inclusive globalism.
Pandering to the women’s vote with a barely qualified vice presidential choice vs. persuading women that progressive positions trump empty symbols (Sarah Palin is this generation’s Dan Quayle) every time.
The marketplace is the proper solution to the crisis in health care vs. too many families forego medical care because health insurance is out of reach and this must end.
There’s no problem with the economy that ceasing whining won’t cure vs. the last eight years have been economically unpleasant for nearly everyone who has less than $5,000,000 a year in income, and downright catastrophic for far too many working people.
NYTimes economist Paul Krugman put it very well:
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1 Comment | Government, Health, McCain, Obama, Politics, Presidential election, progressive, Recession | Tagged: Democrats, health care, health insurance, infrastructure osteoporosis, McCain-Palin, medical insurance, Obama-Biden, Recession, Republicans | Permalink
Posted by mudge
August 23, 2008
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MUDGE’s Musings
As I begin it’s near the nominal end of a summer Saturday; normally I might have had the opportunity to create some kind of post much earlier, but today was not normal, but that’s acceptable. Today was a beautiful day, and it had very little to do with the weather.
Disposed of the usual Saturday morning errand, grocery shopping, in reasonable fashion although closer to noon, having slept in somewhat later than is common.
Picked up MUDGElet No. 3 at his studio in his grandmother’s basement, took him to lunch at a sandwich shop on the way north to my favorite annual outdoor art fair. Mrs. MUDGE had determined that she was going to pass on the opportunity, due to the 90/90 (degrees Fahrenheit/percent humidity) weather, and the dire state of our discretionary art budget, and I was glad of the company.
We didn’t spend a long time there, but he especially enjoyed our stroll up and down one small section of what usually is a sprawling affair spread across several suburban downtown streets and parking areas.
Distressed economy note: fewer exhibitors, and many fewer members of the visual art loving public today (in previous years this particular event has been wall-to-wall people), but those in attendance appeared to be having a good time.
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Leave a Comment » | Blogging, Economy, Life, Recession | Tagged: art fair, beagle, Blogging, Economy, granddog, Life, Recession | Permalink
Posted by mudge
July 31, 2008
![dreamstime_4341351_thumb[1]](https://mudge.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/dreamstime-4341351-thumb1-thumb.jpg?w=398&h=267)
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MUDGE’s Musings
We observe the first anniversary of the tragic collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis (August 1, 2007) with some sadness, and furious anger.
Sadness due to the thirteen lives lost, and 100+ injured.
Anger because the danger embodied in this country’s aging and dilapidated bridges, highways, levees and schools is criminally no closer to alleviation than 366 days ago.
Meanwhile, the economy is faltering: banks are failing, foreclosures are at record highs (three million empty houses!), the ranks of under- and unemployed growing apace.
What is it going to take to repair this country’s infrastructure osteoporosis?
What is it going to take to kick start the economy, to get people working and once again able to meet their mortgage obligations, perhaps even afford that $4.299/gallon gasoline?
It’s going to take a liberal quantity of bold.
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15 Comments | Afghanistan, Economic depression, Economy, Education, Government, History, Iraq occupation, McCain, Obama, Politics, Presidential election, Recession | Tagged: Afghanistan, bridges, crumbling infrastructure, Economic depression, Economy, Education, FDR, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Government, History, Iraq occuption, levees, McCain, New Deal, No Child Left Behind, Obama, Politics, Presidential election, Recession, roads, schools | Permalink
Posted by mudge
July 21, 2008
MUDGE’s Musings
Frank Rich of the NYTimes eviscerated John McCain over both his supposed area of expertise, military affairs, as well as Sen. McCain’s admitted area of weakness, matters economic. It wasn’t pretty.
It’s the Economic Stupidity, Stupid
Op-Ed Columnist | By FRANK RICH | Published: July 20, 2008
THE best thing to happen to John McCain was for the three network anchors to leave him in the dust this week while they chase Barack Obama on his global Lollapalooza tour. Were voters forced to actually focus on Mr. McCain’s response to our spiraling economic crisis at home, the prospect of his ascension to the Oval Office could set off a panic that would make the IndyMac Bank bust in Pasadena look as merry as the Rose Bowl.
“In a time of war,” Mr. McCain said last week, “the commander in chief doesn’t get a learning curve.” Fair enough, but he imparted this wisdom in a speech that was almost a year behind Mr. Obama in recognizing Afghanistan as the central front in the war against Al Qaeda. Given that it took the deadliest Taliban suicide bombing in Kabul since 9/11 to get Mr. McCain’s attention, you have to wonder if even General Custer’s learning curve was faster than his.
Mr. McCain still doesn’t understand that we can’t send troops to Afghanistan unless they’re shifted from Iraq. But simple math, to put it charitably, has never been his forte. When it comes to the central front of American anxiety — the economy — his learning curve has flat-lined.
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3 Comments | Afghanistan, Economy, Iraq occupation, McCain, Politics, Presidential election, Recession, War | Tagged: Afghanistan, Carly Fiorino, Economy, Frank Rich, Iraq, John McCain, Michael Bloomberg, Phil Gramm, Recession, vice president | Permalink
Posted by mudge
July 18, 2008
MUDGE’S Musings
Can anyone still doubt our national (perhaps global?) economic distress? Runs on the banks. A tank of gas edging toward Benjamin territory. Someone you know (or mayhaps many someones you know) out of work and/or looking. Or giving up looking. Starbucks (Starbucks!) closing 600 stores.
Let’s have a show of hands: How many of you (U.S.) readers believe that this Spring’s tax refund “stimulus” could have been an order of magnitude larger (that’s 10 times), and still not been enough? Two orders (that’s times 100)? 
It doesn’t go away, our concern with the dire state of the economy.
Paul Krugman, economics professor and columnist of the NYTimes has been consistent in identifying our present financial dismay, and he has some grim news — it’s not going to get better very quickly.
L-ish Economic Prospects
By PAUL KRUGMAN | Published: July 18, 2008
Home prices are in free fall. Unemployment is rising. Consumer confidence is plumbing depths not seen since 1980. When will it all end?
The answer is, probably not until 2010 or later. Barack Obama, take notice.
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1 Comment | Economy, Obama, Politics, Presidential election, Recession | Tagged: bank failures, Barack Obama, economic stimulus, gas prices, housing values, Paul Krugman, Recession, Starbucks, unemployment | Permalink
Posted by mudge
July 8, 2008
MUDGE’s Musings
We’ve spent the past month or so watching the candidates come off their primary paces, attempting to rejigger their respective approaches to the general election, and taking some hits for the resulting adjustments.
The mishandled wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been top of mind for many voters since the pointless charade of “Mission Accomplished!”
Paul Krugman reminds us, however, of another paramount issue in this election, the economy, and what its dire condition means to John McCain.
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3 Comments | Economy, McCain, Politics, Presidential election, Recession | Tagged: Bush, Economy, John McCain, Paul Krugman, Recession | Permalink
Posted by mudge
July 3, 2008
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MUDGE’s Musings
We begin this Independence Day celebration in the U.S. with a rather gloomy attitude.
We’re still losing good men and women to the misguided and mishandled Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Fuel and food prices seem to be climbing as we watch. Once my monthly bills from ExxonMobil, my gasoline purveyor of choice (the reason why this is so is worthy of a post of its own — soon!) were under $100. Now, maintaining the same or less driving, as I try to mitigate the costs of commuting with more days working from home, I’m relieved if that bill is under $200.
What we hear of the economy (job losses, inflation rate) and its thermometer (the Dow Jones Industrial Average) is disturbing. Aren’t we officially in recession?
Every one of us knows someone, or more than one, job-seeking.
And the news from the world outside our parochial boundaries is not much better. War news from Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan remains grim. The president of Zimbabwe, certain that he’d lose in a fair election, murdered thousands of opposition supporters, and sent his opponent fleeing to the Netherlands embassy for shelter. Israel seems to be seriously considering a preemptory attack on Iran’s nuclear bomb facilities. Gazprom, the Russian petroleum/natural gas giant, has its sights set on becoming the largest corporation in the world before long. How can any of that be good by any measure?
Well, a couple of chieftains at the Federal Reserve Bank have decided to show us a glass half full version of the part of the story they influence, the economy. And, it makes for some attention-grabbing reading.
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1 Comment | Economy, Recession | Tagged: Afghanistan, EBay, Economy, Federal Reserve Bank, Fourth of July, gas prices, Gazprom, health care, Independence Day, inflation, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Pakistan, Recession, safety, stock market, Zimbabwe | Permalink
Posted by mudge
May 30, 2008
MUDGE’s Musings
Oil prices. A very hot, very sticky, very crude topic. We’ll look at four versions of reality.
MUDGE‘s reality: $4.259/gallon at his neighborhood Shell.
From the mosaic, we can hope that some kind of truth emerges.
No question that we are living in interesting times.
Oil spill no. 1. How high is up?
$200 a barrel petroleum. If you think your world is changing around you, buckle up.
![theamerican[4]](https://mudge.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/theamerican4.jpg?w=396&h=92)
Will Oil Really Hit $200 a Barrel?
Rudi Dornbusch, the renowned economist, once said that he did not understand how Mexico’s central bank board members could make the same mistakes time after time. Looking at the ongoing frenzy in the global oil market, one appreciates what Dornbusch meant. Once again, many market participants appear to believe that oil prices can only go up. It seems that the painful lessons of the 2001 dot-com bust have been forgotten, as have the lessons of the much more recent U.S. housing crash.
In their state of forgetfulness, many pension funds and insurance companies have built up very large open positions in the oil futures market. These positions are now estimated to total over $200 billion, roughly the equivalent of a full year of Chinese oil demand. They have contributed to the recent spectacular run-up in oil prices.
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Leave a Comment » | China, Economic depression, Economy, India, Politics, Presidential election | Tagged: "May you live in interesting times", $200/barrel, Casablanca, China, criminomics, economics, high prices, India, Obama, oil, Pacer, petroleum, Prius, Recession, Tata Motors, Thomas Friedman, Vietnam | Permalink
Posted by mudge
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Left-handed Complement 