Category Archives: Fiscal Policy

A Spender’s Memoir

Posted on July 6, 2011 by Jim Wheeler

Consumers know that it is psychologically easier to spend with plastic than it is with cash.  Cash seems more real, does it not?  Why is that?  I would say that the difference is the time factor.  With cash, the money … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Fiscal Policy, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Ice Bergs and Ice Cubes

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Jim Wheeler

The financial crisis in healthcare dwarfs all other federal budget problems.  It is an iceberg, and the ship of state is headed right for it.  The ACA does not do enough to rein in medical costs that continue to outpace … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiscal Policy, Medicare, Medicine | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Uncle Sam’s Protection Racket

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Jim Wheeler

George Will, that persistently pedantic pundit of politics, now chooses in today’s Joplin Globe (3/14/11) to peruse the constitutionality of mandatory health insurance, i.e., the Affordable healthCare Act, a.k.a., ObamaCare.  I enjoy watching George on television, but his writing, not … Continue reading →

Posted in Federal Government, Fiscal Policy, Health, Medicare, Obamacare | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Budget Geometry

Posted on March 12, 2011 by Jim Wheeler

As old Senator Everett Dirkson once famously and sarcastically said, “A billion here, a billion there, and first thing you know, you’re talking real money!” In these times of budgetary crisis, I wondered if there’s a better way for us … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiscal Policy, Government size, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

An Economic Conversation

Posted on January 21, 2011 by Jim Wheeler

Having been inspired by my recent trip into the past in the time machine left to me by my distant ancestor, Dr. Wells, I recently resolved to test its functions for traveling into the Floyd’s house was a modest, well, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Federal Government, Fiscal Policy, Government size, Government waste, Humor, Medicare | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Wisdom and Tough Love

Posted on December 13, 2010 by Jim Wheeler

Anson Burlingame’s latest post, “Intoxicated by Government”,  prompts me to reply with a post of my own, wherein I can access more writing tools than on just a comment. Anson addresses the age-old conundrum of the relationship between the government … Continue reading →

Posted in charity, Economics, Ethics / Morality, Fiscal Policy, Personal Finance | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

How Gratifying!

Posted on November 27, 2010 by Jim Wheeler

In today’s (11/27/10) Globe, Morton Kondracke likens the imminent entitlement-debt crisis to the Cold War and muses that to combat it President Obama will need to “scare the hell out of the American people”, like Harry Truman did in 1947.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Education, Ethics / Morality, Fiscal Policy, Personal Finance, Philosophy, Sociology | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

OCCAM’S RAZOR vs. Jehad

Posted on November 12, 2010 by Jim Wheeler

Today’s Joplin Globe editorial (11/12/10) on “National Security” opines that in combating Islamic jihad, military power in the form of a “war on terror” has “. . . not worked to the degree necessary.”  Instead, the editorialist suggests that, “If … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy / War, Islam, Politics, Religion, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Please, Stop Me Before I Do It Again!

Posted on November 4, 2010 by Jim Wheeler

Today’s (11/04/10) Joplin Globe is right about San Francisco and Happy Meals.  The junk food is outrageously fattening and bad for kids, but I have to agree that making government (San Francisco) tell a company (McDonald’s) what not to market … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiscal Policy, Government waste, Local government, Medicine, Taxes | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Flip That Bank!

Posted on October 26, 2010 by Jim Wheeler

In political blogging about the Great Recession it is a common thread to find someone or something to blame.  Amidst all the mud-slinging and counter-arguing the easiest thing for the beleaguered voter to do is to blame the president.  He … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Federal Government, Fiscal Policy | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments