CJR: Peggy Noonan loses it on the IRS story.
The Economist: Microcredit—Put to the test.
FT: US deficit falls faster than expected.
“The better picture has also shifted the deadline by which the US needs to raise its borrowing limit to avoid a default on its debt from August until October or even November, the CBO said.” Oh joy, more time for Benghazi and the IRS.
CJR: Untangling Obamacare — What’s behind the rate increases?
What does a 100% increase sound like to you? Subsidies will soften the blow … I remain maximally skeptical.
CSM: Did the IRS illegally target the Tea Party? Seven questions answered.
Some needed background.
TomDispatch: David Vine, ‘Baseworld Profiteering.’
Private contractors are the big winners.
FT: The cost of hand-to-mouth living.
NY Times: Suicide Rate Rises Sharply in U.S.
“The boomers had great expectations for what their life might look like, but I think perhaps it hasn’t panned out that way.” We also remember how it was, perhaps, and despair of it ever being that fine again.
The Atlantic: How Oil Made Working Class North Dakota a Whole Lot Richer.
This, in the current economy, is why it’s terribly hard to push an environmental agenda (or even a clear public health agenda).
Later: Speaking of public health …
Naked Capitalism: The Climate Crisis in Three Easy Charts.
Later: Not everyone agrees with the above.
CJR: Untangling Obamacare—Rate shock!?
“In her remarks admitting rate increases would be coming, Sebelius said she is ‘a believer in the market strategies that will minimize the rate impact.’” The more I learn about it, the more I expect a swift kick in the wallet. Esp. when anyone mentions “market strategies” as an ameliorating influence.
Guardian.UK: Louisiana counts the cost of teaching creationism – in reputation and dollars.
“With the New Orleans Medical Corridor poised for tremendous growth, this law also profoundly impacts our ability to fill jobs in the cutting-edge science fields with students educated in our state’s public schools.” Ah, the effects of religious Lysenkoism in America. That’ll drive us to the top of the world stage, surely. As a laughingstock.
Atlantic: Can This Graph Change Your Opinion About Income Inequality and Taxes?
Do parse the last paragraphs. Even with incontrovertible proof, people remain fact-averse. The best narrative, the most attractive story — repeated 24/7 and framed as ‘given’ hardens into social myth, and wins.
HuffPo: GOP Census Bill Would Eliminate America’s Economic Indicators.
Surprised noone’s thought of it yet … just cut the GOP itself. Probably save us and future generations billions of dollars.
The Economist/Buttonwood: Apple’s bond issue—Pity the taxpayer.
USA Today: GOP presses its agenda on ‘mommy blog’ sites.
“The $20,000 ad buy, running on sites including Ikeafans.com and MarthaStewart.com through Friday …” Those are ‘mommyblogs’?
NY Times: C.I.A. Delivers Cash to Afghan Leader’s Office.
We’ve known this is a terrible idea for almost a decade now. And yet it continues.
Rolling Stone: The Biggest Price-Fixing Scandal Ever.
Guardian.UK: Fracking firms should offer sweeteners to locals, say MPs.
What the industry usually tries first is getting communities reliant on cash to children’s issues … schools, transportation, etc. Nobody votes against kids, right? The only thing that might even be more effective would be supporting shelter kittens and pound puppies …
Politico: Lawmakers, aides may get Obamacare exemption.
“There is concern in some quarters that the provision requiring lawmakers and staffers to join the exchanges, if it isn’t revised, could lead to a “brain drain” on Capitol Hill, as several sources close to the talks put it. The problem stems from whether members and aides set to enter the exchanges would have their health insurance premiums subsidized by their employer — in this case, the federal government. If not, aides and lawmakers in both parties fear that staffers — especially low-paid junior aides — could be hit with thousands of dollars in new health care costs, prompting them to seek jobs elsewhere.”
CJR: The Chained CPI in people terms.
Good. Read.
NY Times: Furloughs Caused 1,200 Flight Delays on Monday, F.A.A. Says.
You’ll recall, I hope, that the FAA postponed closing control towers [previous link on dm!] just a couple of weeks ago. Congress is merely annoyed that they have to deal with the realities of the sequester. The air traffic situation was going to force their hands, whenever it hit.
ShortFormBlog: The AP’s erroneous tweet about explosions at the White House.
Linked for the illustrative chart. Talk about knee-jerk reactions!
