http://www.economicsjunkie.com True Economics Applied in the Real World Mon, 06 Feb 2012 01:00:14 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Related posts:Ahmadinejad Re-Elected in Iran – Unrest on the Streets Iran – A Declaration of Independence Iran Votes – World Watches http://www.economicsjunkie.com/does-irans-president-want-to-wipe-israel-off-the-map-or-deny-the-holocaust/ My favorite part in an interesting article titled Are the Polar Ice Caps Melting?: Perhaps the most significant factor to consider is the following report (excerpted) from the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) American consul at Norway, George Ifft: The Arctic seems to be warming up. Reports from fishermen, seal ... http://www.economicsjunkie.com/global-warming-alarmism-are-the-polar-ice-caps-melting/ I'll be commenting on the following statements, posted by a writer on the New York Times in a blog post titled Nobody Understands Debt: Deficit-worriers portray a future in which we’re impoverished by the need to pay back money we’ve been borrowing. They see America as being like a family that ... http://www.economicsjunkie.com/who-understands-debt/ The ACLU writes President Obama Signs Indefinite Detention Bill Into Law: “President Obama's action today is a blight on his legacy because he will forever be known as the president who signed indefinite detention without charge or trial into law,” said Anthony D. Romero, ACLU executive director. “The statute is particularly ... http://www.economicsjunkie.com/aclu-obama-will-forever-be-known-as-the-president-who-signed-indefinite-detention-without-charge-or-trial-into-law-why-obamas-presidency-has-been-a-great-success/ Bitcoin Money writes BTC/USD Finishes 2011 Up 1,473%: The last trade for 2011 at the leading Bitcoin exchange was at the rate of $4.72 USD. For the year, Bitcoin’s exchange rate rose from $0.30 — a 1,473% increase. For the fourth quarter, the exchange rate dropped from $5.14 — ... http://www.economicsjunkie.com/bitcoin-usd-finishes-2011-up-1473-percent/ Imagine your average neighborhood mafia: A scary armed group of people who plan, organize, and undertake regular extortion runs (meaning money raised by means of threat or use of aggression) at local businesses, in exchange for the "protection" they afford them. Now imagine this mafia allowing the people of its district ... http://www.economicsjunkie.com/the-mafia-vs-the-state/ Lenin's NEP was an instructive chapter in economic history: Allowing some private ventures, the NEP allowed small animal businesses or smoke shops, for instance, to reopen for private profit. (...) Rather than repossess all goods produced, the Soviet government took only a small percentage of goods. This left the peasants with a marketable ... http://www.economicsjunkie.com/lenins-new-economic-policy-nep/ Here are Mish's predictions for 2012: Severe European Recession as the sovereign debt crisis escalates: Austerity measures in Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal plunges all of Europe into a major recession. Spain and Portugal will follow Greece into an outright depression. Political Crisis in Europe: French President Sarkozy loses ... http://www.economicsjunkie.com/mish-max-keiser-economic-political-predictions-for-2012/ China's massive real estate bust has only just begun to unravel. In light of that, it's interesting to see the Chinese leadership take the exact opposite view to the US government's regarding housing prices: China’s leaders affirmed they will stick next year with a campaign to bring down property prices even as ... http://www.economicsjunkie.com/chinese-government-determined-to-let-housing-prices-fall/ Merkozy plans are dead on arrival as a A rebellion by Finland, the Netherlands and Ireland is threatening to torpedo the Brussels summit plans: Hours before leaders arrived in Brussels , the Finnish parliament ruled that treaty changes proposed for the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) were “unconstitutional”. The summit was further put ... http://www.economicsjunkie.com/finland-netherlands-and-irelend-thwart-franco-german-plans-new-euro-accord-to-include-23-countries-for-now/