Jason Collins and Tim Tebow: Is It Courageous To Come Out of The Closet?

Does ‘coming out of the closet’ if you’re gay show courage? Probably not; as many, many have over the past few decades preceded you and it has become politically popular to support that ‘right’. In the same vein it is hardly courageous or ‘hero status’ to profess your religious preferences particularly if they’ve been predominant in your culture for... [Read more]

Same Sex Marriage: How To ‘Weaponize’ a Cause

“You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it’s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.” Rahm Emanuel If you look around your kitchen and garage you’ll find chemicals and appliances that are used every day that can be ‘weaponized’ into a smoke bomb, flame thrower or even worse. Obviously that wasn’t the original intent... [Read more]

The Procrustes Bed of Centralized Government Policies

“You don’t become completely free by just avoiding to be a slave; you also need to avoid becoming a master.” Nassim Taleb In Greek Mythology, Procrustes (who’s name means ‘The Stretcher’) the son of Poseidon, lured weary travelers from Athens to Eleusis to stay with him where he would fit them to his iron bed. He would stretch those too short to fit his bed and amputate the... [Read more]

Federal Reserve Issues Consent Order to Citigroup

Federal Reserve announces Consent Order against Citigroup, addressing their deficiencies and corrective measures.   NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby ordered that, before the filing of any notices, or taking of any testimony or adjudication of or finding on any issues of fact or law herein, and without this Order constituting an admission or denial by Citigroup of any allegation made or implied... [Read more]

Federal Reserve (FOMC) Reports Inflation Stable and Growth Moderate

Federal Reserve releases information highlighting their January FOMC meeting. They see moderate growth with the goal of ‘maximum employment with price stability’. Fed will maintain fed funds rate 0-.25% as long as unemployment remains over 6.5% and report projects inflation stable over next couple years in a 2% range. The committee also has decided to, “continue purchasing additional... [Read more]

Eurozone Decision Causes Cyprus Bank Run and Holiday: What Could Be Next?

Banks and the financial systems around the globe are still recovering from the banking/real estate crisis of 2008 and many banks particularly in Europe suffered losses and levels of insolvency, could this weekend’s ‘mini-emergency’ in the small island of Cyprus and their banks be another fire starter? The Eurozone in conjunction with the IMF for the first time required a depositor... [Read more]

Federal Power to Kill Americans: Arbitrary vs Constitutional Limitations

“Do you want a government run by majority rule or a government restrained by its own documents?” Senator Rand Paul The President last week was challenged by Congress to be specific in its ‘Drone Policy’ and other military permissible actions on US soil. Through Attorney General Eric Holder, he admitted it was ‘inappropriate’ and after Senator Rand Paul’s 13... [Read more]

Federal Reserve Growth of Domestic Nonfinancial Debt Report 2012

Federal Reserve just released their ‘Flow of Funds Accounts of the United States’ for the last quarter of 2012. The report measures increases in total domestic debt, including debt of the federal government. Total Domestic Non financial debt increased by almost 150% from the 3rd quarter and 28% from 2011 4th quarter. Within the debt category are: Households, Businesses, State and Local... [Read more]

Sequestration: Will Less Government Lead To a Recession?

As the President and Congress face Sequestration, an imposed cut on spending increases of roughly 2% which would amount to $42 billion in FY 2013 according to the CBO (Congressional Budget Office). Most would agree that cutting 2% out of their home budget is no fun, as evenings out and other discretionary spending would suffer but it wouldn’t warrant the reactions coming from the Media, the... [Read more]

Federal Reserve Revisits ‘Too Big To Fail’

Jerome Powell, board member of the Federal Reserve teed up his speech on ‘too big to fail’ At the Institute of International Bankers 2013 Washington Conference, Washington, D.C. on March 4, 2013 by saying, “In broad terms, these reforms (Dodd-Frank) seek to eliminate the expectation of bailouts in two ways–by significantly reducing the likelihood of systemic firm failures,... [Read more]