Any day is a bad day to encounter a scammer, but something about April and tax time seems to flush them to the surface like worms after a hard spring rain.   I was reminded of this when my phone rang yesterday.  Because of crank calls, I make it a habit to let my phone ring through

In a February blog, I mentioned an economic idea beloved by the far left called Modern Monetary Theory. (MMT)  It posits that  a  country with its own currency needn’t worry about accumulating debt because it can print money to pay off its interest.  Sounding too good to be true

Cultural differences can have humorous consequences. Others may be surprising.  Still others depict differences that are endearing, as does the video on  same-sex marriage I encountered one cultural difference I never forgot was while traveling by train somewhere in east Africa.  A

Was it madness or was there method in it?  That is a question political historians far into the future will ponder as they assess the conduct of America’s 45th President.  Several months ago, I raised the potential for his madness on a local talk show, comparing Donald Trump’s p

The man I succeeded in public office liked to say, “Figures lie and liars figure.”  I won’t speak about liars but figures can be slippery. After 8 years of grappling with a county budget, I gained a healthy understanding that numbers have a plasticity.  Many assumptions are bu

I admit it.  Some mornings, I dedicate time to cursing my computer.  Overnight, some dark magic has rendered my passwords useless or an old blog has risen from the grave to republish itself on Facebook.  On those days, I call my guru.  Usually, he’s good at sorting out the probl

As voters wake up to the high cost of universal health care and what it may mean to their current coverage, it’s time to take a hard look at the plight of the superrich. They may not  worry about healthcare but they have money woes, too.  Americans may not realize it, but British

If  voters are to understand the Democratic debates in the next election, they will need to understand a “new economics” that is beloved by the political left: Modern Monetary Theory, affectionately known as MMT.  I think of it as Money Magic Trick. And it isn’t new.  The the

One institution noted for providing quality health care to the poor in this country is the criminal justice system. A recent footnote in The Week tells the story of a man who robbed a bank precisely because he needed urgent care. (“Medicare for All,” The Week, Feb/ 15. 2019, pg. 6

I was wandering around the cosmetic section at Macy’s the other day, looking for an eyeliner.  I’d just seen a test edition of a new series of “Just Read It” and noted I looked as pale as a curtain sheer.  After 4 years of co-hosting the 10 minute book review program on YouT