Posted on February 9th, 2012 by Matthew Feeney
Yesterday I attended a debate hosted by the American Enterprise Institute and the America’s Future Foundation with the timely named motion, “Are Libertarians Part of the Conservative Movement?” Speaking for the case that libertarianism is a distinct political philosophy from conservatism was Matt Welch, editor in chief at Reason. Speaking for the case that libertarians [...]
Filed under: Conservatism, Culture, Economics, libertarianism, Politics
Posted on February 7th, 2012 by Matthew Feeney
The European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes has told a Dutch newspaper that the Euro would survive a Greek exit from the currency. The announcement comes during a strike endorsed by two of Greek’s largest public sector unions. The Greek government has been seeking foreign investment and additional funds from the IMF, EU and the ECB. [...]
Filed under: Economics, Europe, Politics, World
Posted on February 6th, 2012 by Matthew Feeney
Today the President signed an executive order freezing all Iranian government assets held or traded in the U.S. This order is the latest in a series of sanctions that have been placed on Iran by the European community and the U.S. The new sanctions include blocks on the Iranian central bank. The move comes quickly [...]
Filed under: Economics, Foreign policy, Politics, World
Posted on February 2nd, 2012 by Matthew Feeney
It was reported today that Greece needs an extra 15 billion euros in order to bring its debt down to a workable level. Greece is currently in negotiations with private investors, which could end in a deal that could reduce the Greek debt burden by up to 100 billion euros. It was hoped that a [...]
Filed under: Economics, Europe, Politics, World
Posted on January 25th, 2012 by Matthew Feeney
Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel, is talking sense. On the eve of her speech to Davos delegates Merkel has hinted that she will resist the IMF’s calls for a further 500 billion euro injection for bailout funds to struggling eurozone nations. In an interview with six European newspapers Merkel said, “It makes no sense if we [...]
Filed under: Decentralism, Economics, Europe, Politics, World
Posted on January 23rd, 2012 by Matthew Feeney
According to Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, 500 billion more euros in rescue funds are needed in order to avoid a “1930s moment” characterized by high inflation and unemployment. The comments come soon after talks between Greece and its creditors were adjourned on Friday. Considering last week’s downgrade of the Eurozone’s [...]
Filed under: Economics, Europe, Politics, World
Posted on January 18th, 2012 by Matthew Feeney
There has been more bad news out of Europe today. On top of the downgrades of several eurozone countries and the EFSF bailout fund, Germany today announced that it has lowered its growth forecasts for 2012 from 1% to 0.7%. Throughout the euro crisis Germany has been central to the bailouts of struggling countries, contributing [...]
Filed under: Conservatism, Economics, Politics, Trade, World
Posted on January 18th, 2012 by Jordan Bloom
The moral claim for intellectual property – that an inventor has the exclusive right to the application of a certain idea in the form of a monopoly granted by the state – has long been on shaky ground. Reductio ad absurdum, where would the monopoly stop? When the inventor dies? 70 years afterward, as current [...]
Filed under: Decentralism, Economics, Ideas, Law, liberties, Technology
Posted on January 16th, 2012 by Patrick J. Buchanan
“They’re vultures that are sitting out there on the tree limb, waiting for a company to get sick, and then they swoop in … eat the carcass … and … leave the skeleton.” So Rick Perry colorfully characterized the private equity firm Bain Capital, once run by Mitt Romney. How did Bain prosper? Says Perry: [...]
Filed under: Economics, Election, Politics
Posted on January 13th, 2012 by Matthew Feeney
Today France confirmed that the ratings agency Standard and Poor’s has downgraded its rating from AAA to AA+, while Germany and the Netherlands have reportedly escaped downgrades. It is rumored that a total of up to eleven countries face downgrade. Rumors earlier today prompted a fall in world stock markets with the FTSE 100 down 0.5% [...]
Filed under: Economics, Europe
