You May Have Missed This

Again, our country -- with Republicans controlling the United States House of Representatives -- finds itself embroiled in a church-state issue.

Quotation for Today

"If I were looking for effective management of a project, a company or a country, this is exactly the kind of management I would not want to have.  Bain partners think the profits they made are a sign of their brilliance. It's not brilliance. It's lurking around the corner and mugging somebody."


David Foster

Le Figaro.fr - Politician Compares Mrs. Merkel to Bismarck

Arnaud Montebourg, a French politician, compares the policies of Mrs. Angela Merkel (Chancellor, Federal Republic of Germany) to those of Bismarck.  Montebourg's comments seem to have caused a bit of a brouhaha in France.

Is U.S. Trade Policy A Debacle?

Yes, and as the story on the other side of the break highlights, the U.S. trade debacle can negatively impact mature and budding industries, equally.

Predators in the Schoolhouse

The for-profit corporate octopuses are thrusting their arms into the education waters in new and unseemly ways. 

Thought for Today

"Indeed, work — once the pathway to a rising standard of living — has become for many a route to downward mobility."

"Been Down So Long ... ." Editorial. The New York Times 2 December 2011, online edition.

Le Figaro.fr News - EU to sanction Iran

Two excerpts from an article (in french language) published in Le Figaro-fr describe the EU plans for concerted action against the financial and oil industries of Iran. There is not a unified position among the EU members as to what, if any action should be taken against Iran -- national interests come into play.

Quotation for Today

"A joint liability for others' debts is not acceptable."

Mrs. Angela Merkel

Quotation for Today

“The bigwigs of the corporations knew this, but they figured we’re going to make billions out of it, so who cares? The government is going to bail us out. And the problem loans will be out of here, maybe even overseas.”  


James Theckston

L'affaire Iran - A Call for Action

As a result of the Iranian "students" taking over the British embassy in Tehran, an international effort to take action against Iran seems to be building up a full head of steam.