Economy and Business
Derailing the Dynasty Train
Don't feel bad if you were busy and missed the buzz around the new book, Capital in the Twenty-First Century. It's not every day that a 685-page book about wealth inequality written by a French economist lands on best-seller lists next to Danielle Steele's steamy new...
An American Banking Revolution Awaits
Vermonters aren't like the rest of us: They live in a small state with a flinty history and a legendary suspicion of outsiders. That independent streak gained luster when 15 Vermont towns voted earlier this year to reinforce this independent tradition by approving a...
Don’t Weep for Pfizer
Gosh, you've got to feel sorry for Pfizer. The poor drug giant has to pay taxes in our country, so it's leaving. When I say "poor" drug giant, I don't mean Pfizer is broke or in the poor house. No, no, the pill peddler is incredibly rich, hauling in some $50 billion a...
The Common Sense Tax
It's nothing new for Wall Street to work every possible angle so it can squeeze additional profits out of trades. It's the job of lawmakers and regulators to make sure that Wall Street does not rip off investors or endanger the financial system's stability. Perhaps...
Close Loopholes, Fix Potholes
America has an infrastructure crisis. We see signs of it every day: We hit bone-jarring potholes as we drive. We face long detours as bridges are closed for emergency repairs. When water mains break, businesses must temporarily close and homeowners have to boil their...
Happy Times in Hedge Fund America
Pharrell Williams should be happy. The singer has had the world's hottest pop single over the past six months. His Happy has been topping the charts everywhere, from the United States to Bulgaria. If this bouncy ditty keeps selling, Williams might even end 2014 as...
Psssst, Wanna Buy My Corporation?
Where's Charles Dickens when we need him? The novelist, who laid bare the shame of gross income inequality in 19th century England, came up with some perfect names for his more despicable characters, including Scrooge, Mr. Tulkinghorn, and Miss Havisham. So I'm...
When Corporations Get Too Big to Tax
Wouldn't it be nice if the government paid you on Tax Day? I'm not referring to getting a tax refund because you overpaid the federal government or a safety-net benefit labeled as a tax refund under the "Earned Income Tax Credit" rules. I mean an actual payment from...
Devaluing Work and Workers
The Great Recession leveled a blow to the middle and working classes from which they haven't yet recovered. Given that labor's pay and prestige in America peaked in the 1960s, this isn't exactly new. Still, it's time that all our leaders took this challenge more...
Occupying the Koch Brothers’ Lobby
The gabillionaire Koch brothers feel entitled to occupy the people's elections, barging in with sacks full of corporate cash. So, how would the brothers feel if the people barged into their political affairs? To find out, a few citizens recently paid a visit to Koch...
