“We consider our economic system to be based on free markets. The “free” in free markets means a free exchange based on the known merits of the goods or services involved. Government intervention or private coercion that affects the exchange, or distorts the known merits of the goods and services involved, degrades the free market. [...]
“Still, given the choice between essential but expensive items being affordable on the one hand, and owning lots of mass-produced stuff on the other, many of us in the middle class would prefer the greater affordability of essential items. What we have been conditioned not to realize is that there are choices to be made. [...]
Continue reading about “Maximizing freeloading – ahem, investments”
“Much of what has gone wrong can be traced to information being distorted or hidden in order to accomplish the goals of corporations, politicians and special interest groups. Information as feedback is the key component for keeping our economic, political and cultural systems in balance. Keeping a system in balance through feedback is known as [...]
“This longitudinal perspective from the house on Emerson Street grounds what corporate media tells us about our current economy with the way things were a few decades ago. We can find out about the stock market virtually any time of every day. Where do we turn for an up to date indicator of housing costs [...]
“The economic pursuit of happiness has grown more elusive for the middle class. My father bought the house on Emerson Street for $4000. That was almost double his annual income as a salesman for specialty advertising, and he was the sole breadwinner for the family. The day Pop made his last mortgage payment was truly [...]
Continue reading about “Too many dollars chasing too few goods.”
“The title Systems out of Balance suggests that we have problems to address. These problems align with losing our balance with three social systems. We have an economic system of greed in this country; these essays promote merit as an alternative. We have a political system of authoritarianism; these essays promote wisdom. We have a [...]