Connecting the Dots

Those worried about the Fed’s so-called “independence” from politics are a little late. The US presidents, who nominate its board members, long ago put political loyalty high on the qualification list.

Finding more and better-trained workers is the top challenge for many US business owners. They say current workers can’t produce enough to meet growth objectives.

Gasoline prices have been strong this summer, though they’re still below last May’s peak, when the national average was near $3 a gallon.

A penny saved is a penny earned, goes the old saying… but that’s not true. In today’s world, a penny saved is better than a penny earned.

“Information overload” used to describe the amount of news available to us. Now the term is woefully inadequate. We are not just overloaded, but inundated.

President Trump likes to call the Russia investigation a “witch hunt.” Yet he also thinks your car endangers US national security. Yes, your car, the one in your garage right now. It is the enemy.

Economists disagree about job automation: Some see imminent doom, others think we can adjust. There’s not a lot in-between.

Americans may be bitterly divided on everything else, but we all agree on one thing: We love our dogs. Our cats, too, plus a few other companion species. We’ve made them part of the family.

According to the dictionary, “welfare” is a word that describes our health, happiness, and fortunes. But in the US, it usually refers to government support, which many consider shameful. No one wants to be “on” welfare.

We’re in a trade war. No, we’re not. Yes, we are, but it won’t be so bad.

Those who call economics “the dismal science” are half right. It is indeed dismal (“dingy and unwelcoming”) to think about, except for dweebs like me.

Some things you just don’t question. For American workers, Social Security is one of them. You pay into it your whole career, and you expect to get paid when you retire. No politician dares say you won’t.