Some random items of interest:
- YouTube. Sir James Goldsmith from 1994. What I really liked is his belief that an economy is merely a tool (like a government) for the improvement of society. It doesn't have any value unless it works for us by improving our lot (which, given that we have lower median incomes today than in the mid seventies, it isn't). This is in direct contrast to the dogmatic belief prevalent today, that the market is more important than society.
- David Graeber. Debt: The first five thousand years.
- Fraudonomics.
- Haven't seen a good article/paper on Arizona's new immigration enforcement law. In short, welcome to societal fragmentation.
- Taibi on Goldman's demise culls this gem that reflects market-derived ethics. "More and more leverage in the system," he [Goldman's Fabrice Tourre] wrote. "The whole building is about to collapse anytime now. . . . Only potential survivor, the fabulous Fab . . . standing in the middle of all these complex, highly leveraged, exotic trades he created!"
- "The enormous budget squeeze of 2009 saw revenues fail to cover entitlement spending and interest for the first time." Gene Steuerle.