We’re nearing the fifth anniversary of the financial crisis. Over the past five years, so many people in the United States have been arguing about inflation even though we have (probably) been in a state of deflation. And, the arguments about inflation have started from the point that all inflation is bad. A little inflation… [Read More]
Blog
Category: Political Discourse
The blogger/Etsy/food truck economy
The picture is a slice of (poorly done) DIY culture, a shirt I made to help promote Chicago on the Cheap. In recent years, my business has shifted toward blogging and away from writing for publications. Back in 1997, Dan Pink published an article in Fast Company called “Free Agent Nation“. It was later expanded… [Read More]
Capitalism is eating itself
I’m a bit of a lefty, albeit one with a traditional education. I used to think that the flaw in capitalism was that its natural outgrowth was monopoly, but it’s not. Companies have a great way of screwing up. Sometimes this is due to the effect of disruptive technologies (Eastman Kodak); other times due to… [Read More]
Does every trade group need a legislative action group?
Yesterday, I visited the NeoCon 2013 trade show in Chicago. It’s an exposition of office furniture manufacturers, and there were a ton of gorgeous fabrics, clever furniture styles, and basic equipment on display. I was looking for story ideas, potential sources, and, well, just to see what I could see. (I love going to trade… [Read More]
The seven per cent problem
Illinois is mired in pension debts. Most states have them, but we have them worse. Accountants look at three main numbers when they calculate pension obligations: the number of years that people will be receiving a pension; the size of the pension payments; and the investment returns. Part of the problem is that people are… [Read More]
