Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Can the US Adjust Sensibly to a Multipolar World?

The US channels Nora Desmond.

2:00PM Water Cooler 5/4/2023

~ Today’s Water Cooler ~

“All I Want Is a Future”

“The future is already here. It’s just not very evenly distributed.” But what we can see is not pretty.

Links 5/4/2023

Is There Motive Behind the Fed Making Such a Mess of the US Bank Wobbles?

The Fed seems awfully indifferent to the (so far) low level bank crisis it has created.

What is Section 4 of the 14th Amendment, “The Validity of the Public Debt of the United States?”

As the Republicans are digging on raising the debt ceilings, the idea of a constitutional challenge is starting to get traction.

Is This the Beginning of the End for Gasoline?

While the arrival of what is probably peak gasoline is good news, there’s a long way to go in reducing its use.

2:00PM Water Cooler 5/3/2023

~ Today’s Water Cooler ~

Respectful Persuasion Is a Relay Race, Not a Solo Sprint – 3 Keys to Putting It in Practice

Can stereotypically pushy and intolerant American learn to rely a bit more on persuasion?

Links 5/3/2023

Erdogan Makes Comeback in Turkish Polls. Opposition Sends Mixed Signals on Russia.

Erdogan and his opponent Kilicdaroglu are virtually tied ahead of the May 14 election that could have enormous implications for the New Cold War.

Big Banks Must Become Globally Resolvable – or Significantly ‘Smaller’

Sadly, coming up with a way to resolve big international banks is a non-starter. The answer is very strict regulation. But that would be work.

Covid: The Poor People’s Pandemic

Liz Theoharis, co-chair of Poor People’s Campaign, indicts how Biden is abusing the needy by ending pandemic emergency programs.

2:00PM Water Cooler 5/2/2023

~ Today’s Water Cooler ~

When a Storm Dumped Two Feet of Water on My City, I Learned Something Gratifying About My Neighbors

An in-depth account of being caught in a major flood and dealing with becoming a water evacuee.