Economic Jitters Are Back as Debt Soars to $18T
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on October 16th, 2014 11:08 pm by HL
Economic Jitters Are Back as Debt Soars to $18T
Conrad Black, NY Sun
The wobbling of the stock market, jitters about deflation in Europe, and the sharp decline in the price of oil have renewed doubts about the believability of the economic recovery from the tremendous strains of 2008 and 2009. These were inevitable after the official response in the United States was to increase the accumulated national debt of the country from $10 trillion — where it had arrived, in 2009, after 233 years of American independence — to $18 trillion less than six years later.
This Election Is Tied, & GOP May Try to Steal It
Rachel Maddow, MSNBC
Rachel Maddow points out that with less than three weeks to go before the midterm elections, and with some states already early voting, polls are showing statistical ties in several high profile races, increasing the danger of cheating.
Will the FCC Try to Tackle the Redskins?
George Will, Washington Post
Wretched excess by government can be beneficial if it startles people into wholesome disgust and deepened distrust and it prompts judicial rebukes that enlarge freedom. So let’s hope the Federal Communications Commission embraces the formal petition inciting it to deny licenses to broadcasters who use the word “Redskins” when reporting on the Washington Redskins.
October’s Wild Ride Isn’t Over Yet
Mohamed El-Erian, Bloomberg
The first half of October and particularly the last five days and today have been brutal for investors who had bought into the notion of the low-volatility “Goldilocks” economy and markets. They have experienced large losses on their highly correlated positions in different asset classes. Indeed, with the exception of government bonds — a generally unappreciated asset class until recently — they have found few if any shelters from the storm. And the market choppiness is likely to continue for what many will feel is an uncomfortably long period of time.