Japanese Debt Downgraded

Curtis Miller, a student in one of my ECON 1010 classes sent me this article from BBC News regarding Japan's government debt rating.  Could we be headed in the same direction?  Read and decide for yourself.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12533405

Food for Thought

Here's an interesting take on the traditional economic tradeoff of "guns or butter".  Brian Kennedy, President of the Claremont Institute spoke last month at Hillsdale College's Kirby Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship in Washington, D.C.  In the speech, Mr. Kennedy takes on radical Islam, China and Russia as current threats to our American way of life.

http://www.hillsdale.edu/images/userImages/mvanderwei/Page_6907/Imprimis_Jan11.pdf

Karl Rove on the Budget 2012

This is an opinion piece in today's Wall Street Journal by Karl Rove, former aide to George W. Bush.  You may find it helpful in contrasting what you are hearing in other media regarding President Obama's 2012 budget.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703373404576148334016891372.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEADTop

The Budget, Real Reform or More of the Same?

President Obama just released his proposed budget for fiscal year 2012.  Is he serious about cutting spending, or is this just more spending disguised as "investment"?  Here is an article from the Wall Street Journal.  Read it and come to your own conclusions.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704081604576144724223994258.html?mod=WSJ_hp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsSecond

GM Employee Bonuses--Too Much, Too Soon?

GM has appproved bonuses to 45,000 hourly workers of $4,000 each.  This article discusses the details.  Is this a wise decision right now considering the extensive bailout given by the taxpayers?  You read and decide.

http://www.comcast.net/articles/finance/20110214/US.General.Motors.Bonuses/

New Job Numbers

Even though unemployment dropped last week to 9.0%, Dilbert (or his pointy-haired boss) puts it in perspective.

Judge Declares Healthcare Law Unconstitutional

A federal judge in Florida hears the case filed by 26 states against the Healthcare law and declares it unconstitutional.  It looks like it is bound for the Supreme Court.
Read about it here:

http://blogs.forbes.com/davidwhelan/2011/01/31/breaking-news-florida-judge-rules-against-obamacare-individual-mandate-unconstitutional/