Sadly, finacialization is still very much with us, even though policy-makers know better by now.
Saturday, December 27, 2025
Some Additional Comments on Russia’s Ukraine Surprise
Attempting to clear up some fuzzy press reporting on the overly dynamic Russia/Urkaine situation.
Wall Street Journal Mystified By Public’s Sour Mood Despite “Booming” Economy
Americans are not happy despite a not at all bad economy leaving most with higher savings and pay than pre-Covid.
5 Commodities That Could Explode As The Ukraine Crisis Escalates
A look at the commodities that are most vulnerable to reduced supply from Russia.
2:00PM Water Cooler 2/22/2022
~ Today’s Water Cooler ~
Does Limited US Shale Spending Guarantee Higher Energy Prices?
Reduced shale investment is set to lead to sustained higher prices. That’s good for the planet but hard on budgets.
Will Fresh US-EU Sanctions Hurt the EU More Than Russia?
The sanctions could end up causing more pain to U.S. allies in Europe than Russia itself, which will probably use this opportunity to take another step closer to autarky.
“What Would Russian Recognition of Separatist Territories in Ukraine Mean?”
Interestingly, a writer at openDemocracy noticed that last week, the Russian parliament gave Putin the green light to recognize Ukraine’s breakaway areas of Donbass and Luhansk. Despite that development, and the West supposedly having clever Russia experts, I don’t see any evidence that our military-intel apparatus or our Russia watchers gamed out this possibility. Mark […]
Why Is New York’s Bail Reform So Controversial?
How is bail reform working? A review of New York City’s program and that of some states.
2:00PM Water Cooler 2/21/2022
~ Today’s Water Cooler ~
Shareholder Activism: Icahn Targets McDonald’s Pig Pens
Carl Icahn seeks to force McDonald’s 2012 pledge to cease to use gestation crate to confine pregnant pigs within a decade.
Banning the Promotion of Soft Drinks Could be More Effective Than a Sugar Tax
Banning sales promotions of sugary drinks could lead people to cut back on their consumption.
