2011

Great graphic from the Economist. Note that 7 of the 10 are government-run. Amazing WalMart employs almost as many as the People’s Liberation Army. Gives new meaning to the “Human Wave Theory.”

Below are two messages from Franklin Roosevelt, proposing the Social Security program and signing it into law. The main points to note in the text deal with the purpose and funding of Social Security and unemployment insurance i.e. the why…

At issue was the planned increase in the euro rescue fund to 780 billion euros from the present 440 billion.

Hoover: "In the larger view the major forces of the depression now lie outside of the United States, and our recuperation has been retarded by the unwarranted degree of fear and apprehension created by these outside forces."

Greece needs to default too. The right thing to have happen is for Greece to default in a hard restructuring as part of a comprehensive credible plan. The goal is to right the ship by getting all of the biggest debtors within the Maastricht…

Shortseller Jim Chanos was on CNBC talking about the markets and the economy. The gist of his comments was that there still isn't a lot he would go long on. He did say he is long casinos in China but in general he remains short. Video…

Cash-strapped lawyer 'Carla' turns to exotic dancing to pay her debts | Mail Online "'I work with war widows, a nurse, a med student, women who have had to go to work to save their home…

Market cautiously optimistic amid hopes of China bond purchases and Merkel, Sarkozy conference. Moody’s downgrades two French banks; EUR resilient off the back of potential policy response. Brazilian retail sales stronger than expected;…

That was the question that RT's Lauren Lyster was asking last night. My short answer is not necessarily. The long answer is that policy makers have a lot of ways to continue the ball rolling. They can allow Greece to default and…

After posting the Jim Bianco article on getting defensive, I traded e-mails with Jim on recessions and earnings volatility. Here’s what he had to say after I showed him the article