Economy

Great Depression bread line

Magaziner’s propensity to pander is too dangerous for him ever to be trusted to be governor.

By Justin Katz | November 30, 2021 |

Difficult as it may be to believe, the general treasurer of Rhode Island, Democrat Seth Magaziner, proposes to address the inflation wrought by the policies of Democrat White House occupant, Joe Biden, by — get this — flooding the market with easy cash and imposing price controls. Each of Magaziner’s suggestions can be debated on…

A water drop and ripples

Is Omicron an escape hatch for Biden’s disastrous policies?

By Justin Katz | November 29, 2021 |

I’m not ready to endorse Sundance’s theory on The Conservative Treehouse, but it provides an interesting perspective by which to judge events going forward: The near horizon looks pretty clear. Gasoline will keep rising fast and will cost $6 to $7/gal before next spring. There is no way under current Joe Biden policy to avoid this,…

A water drop and ripples

More Taxes on NatGas thanks to……

By Marc Comtois | November 19, 2021 |

As winter nears here in the Northeast, it sure is nice to know that part of the just-passed-the-House “Build Back Better” plan is a tax increase on natural gas. As  Eric Boehm of Reason reports: Buried inside the “Build Back Better” plan that cleared the House of Representatives on Friday morning is a new tax…

A lighted for hire sign at night

Today’s employment press release from the RI Dept. of Labor and Training is not a good sign.

By Justin Katz | November 18, 2021 |

The RI Department of Labor and Training’s headline for monthly employment data tells some of the bad story: “Rhode Island-Based Jobs Fell by 2,100 from September; October Unemployment Rate Increases to 5.4 Percent“: Total nonfarm payroll employment in Rhode Island totaled 479,200 in October, reflecting a loss of 2,100 jobs from the revised September job…

Homeless man "seeking human kindness"

Who thought it was a good idea to throw $36 million dollars at the government of Woonsocket?

By Justin Katz | November 17, 2021 |

With that question, I mean Woonsocket as representative of municipal governments generally. The city is in the midst of the process of figuring out how to spend the $36 million dollars the federal government will send its way as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).  You’ll recall that the purpose of the act…

A water drop and ripples

St. Paul rent control is a good reminder for RI progressives to think before they act.

By Justin Katz | November 17, 2021 |

Even before it goes into effect, a new rent-control law in St. Paul, Minnesota, is backfiring: “Less than 24 hours after St. Paul voters approved one of the country’s most stringent rent control policies, Nicolle Goodman’s phone started to ring,” the Star-Tribune reports. “Developers were calling to tell the city’s director of planning and economic…

Jennifer Granholm laughs

Granholm’s Guffawing Aside, Why Only Non-American Oil to Ease the “Global Energy Crisis”?

By Monique Chartier | November 15, 2021 |

As you have undoubtedly noticed, the price of gasoline has risen sharply since January and heating bills are expected to jump by as much as 54% this winter. The cause is Economics 101: inadequate supply is driving up price.  In fact, one of President Biden’s senior energy advisors has acknowledged this and called on non-American…

A water drop and ripples

Our supply chain problems are more complicated than an easy fix will solve.

By Justin Katz | November 11, 2021 |

Stephen Green shares a truck driver’s explanation of just how slow the problem will be to solve.  Green sums up the problem well, with this: We’ve over-invested in red tape, under-invested in infrastructure, and taught at least two generations of young people that jobs like trucking are somehow beneath them. The government can try to…

COVID-driven unemployment in RI by income

Conveniently, the RI comfortable made out pretty well during COVID lockdowns.

By Justin Katz | November 10, 2021 |

The past decade or so has been remarkable in the degree to which events have shed light on ideas and principles that used to be opaque and abstract.  Yesterday, I observed how radicals took advantage of the education system’s vulnerability to accelerate their plans, which begins to fill in explanatory pieces of the puzzle. Although…

A Waterfire performer

Fighting Wars Against Everything from Cancer to Economic Ignorance

By John Loughlin | October 30, 2021 |

Dr. Tim Shafman discusses breast cancer in women and men, Ed Cabral announces a special Waterfire to honor veterans, Attorney Mark Smith talks about the Second Amendment, and former Trump White House economic advisor Peter Navarro presents his new book.