New restrictions on natural gas use in Washington State were signed into law by Gov. Jay Inlsee in April 2024 (see story here). Democrats, Republicans, progressives, and the building trades council (a mouthpiece for developers) disagree on what the law means. It’s confusing, because after fail[...]
Archive for the ‘Economics’ Category
May 21st, 2024 - 7:14 pm § in Economics, Environment
Why Washington’s natural gas law won’t save the planet
Alabama law punishes employers friendly to unions
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (photo, left) signed a law penalizing employers in her state who accept unions, Huffington Post reported on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 (read story here). It yanks state economic incentives, grants, loans, and tax credits away from any company that recognizes a union instead of forci[...]
GOP veep hopeful wants to eliminate no-fault divorce
Ben Carson (photo, left), a celebrity surgeon turned failed politician (see bio here) and possible 2024 Trump running mate, wants to end no-fault divorce, NBC News reported on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 (read story here). “For the sake of families,” he says. His shtick is that if divorcing is eas[...]
What’s with sky-high home prices?
Young adults starting out can’t buy houses in Washington (or in a lot of other places). A Seattle Times article (here) of May 12, 2024, says two-thirds of Washington’s under-35 adults are renting, and in King County three-fourths are, many because they can’t afford starter homes. T[...]
May 9th, 2024 - 9:54 pm § in Biden, China, Democrats, Donald Trump, Economics, Politics, Republicans
Is Biden or Trump worse for inflation?
Polls show inflation is a top concern of voters, and could decide the 2024 election. If you chose a candidate based on that issue, who would you go with, Biden or Trump? Here are 5 reasons why Trump might be the worst pick: 1. Trump favors tariffs. Trump claims tariffs would be paid by China [&hel[...]
Is corporate greed the real cause of inflation?
Not all of it, but fattening bottom lines has played a role. It’s basic economics that when supply and demand are out of balance, prices will rise or fall until they’re in balance again. They teach that in college-level Economics 101 classes. The pandemic created supply bottlenecks and s[...]
Employers steal more $$$ than criminals
I was surprised to read that in the U.S., workers “have an estimated $50bn-plus stolen from them every year, … surpassing all robberies, burglaries and motor vehicle thefts combined,” the Guardian said on Thursday, June 15, 2023 (read story here). I knew wage theft was a problem, a[...]
Boomers vs. Millennials
“Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill every time.” Supposedly that’s an ancient Greek proverb. I don’t know if it is, but if it’s been around that long, there might be something to it. Anyway, there’s a common perception that old people are taking a[...]
June 11th, 2023 - 11:44 pm § in America, Biden, Christianity, Democrats, Donald Trump, Economics, Law and Courts, Politics, Racism, Religion, Republicans
What’s at stake in Trump’s trial
Now that he’s been indicted, Trump is entitled to a presumption of innocence, and a fair trial. Those are bedrock principles of the U.S. legal system. Trump “has a lot at stake” in the case, a New York Times writer says. “He could, in theory, go to prison for years.” Bu[...]
The commercial real estate crisis
The commercial real estate sector is in trouble for two big reasons: High vacancy rates, and falling property values. Nationally, about 18% of America’s office space lacks tenants. There may have been some overbuilding, but this is primarily due to the switch to working from home. The pandemic[...]