Econ Dogma 5: Specialization

“The man whose life is spent in performing a few simple operations… generally becomes stupid and ignorant as it is possible for the human creature to become.”

Econ Dogma 4: Government

The solution to corruption in government is not to privatize the public sector, but to actively pursue our rights to be represented

Econ Dogma 2: Hard Work

In economics textbooks, for example, the worker who puts maximum effort is referred to as the “ethical” worker, and the one who puts minimum effort (just short of getting fired) is referred to as the “unethical” worker. You have to appreciate the carefully crafted language of indoctrination here. For what is maximum effort but working 80 hours a week in a sweatshop in Asia?

Econ Dogma 1: Credit Cards

This is part 1 of the series “Econ Dogma.” In each part, an economic concept that has been injected into the conventional realm as “fact” shall be challenged.

Why Democratic Socialism is the Answer (2)

There is nothing wrong with the profit motive in and of itself. We usually do something to gain something, and money is just a unit of exchange for the something we want to gain.

Why Democratic Socialism is the Answer (1)

Government or Corporation? Who is more reliable, effective, trustworthy, and efficient to run our industries?

Democracy Without Economic Independence is Worthless

The Egyptian military, with US green light, got rid of Mubarak for precisely the same reason they sent the police and thugs that killed over 300 and injured thousands last week — to allow for the economy to run again.

In other words, the disposing of Mubarak is just another solution, as undesirable as it may be, to re-open banks and have business run as usual.

Factories, banks, real state, and other businesses are still owned by the same corrupt leaders, with the fate of the Mubarak family stock still unknown.

World Economy Class is in session folks!

Late-night, pre-suhoor web-surfing precocity, engenders some curious findings. Back when my family and I traveled to Syria last month, I was reminded of an observation my mother made about the standard of living in Syria comparatively to the states. It turned out that an extended family member, who worked at a bank in Syria, made less monthly than what a housekeeper who comes by my mother’s residence once a week gets paid. I also remembered hearing that Kuwait has the highest GDP in the world. So I wondered, what is “the gulf” of wealth between the Arab world’s richest and poorest nations. See what you can glean from these numbers and figures:

Qatar’s GDP 2009 estimate:
- Per capita $68,871 (some figures have it at $86,008)
Syria’s GDP 2009 estimate
- Per capita $2,579

Israel Destroyed Palestinian Food Factory — in Self-Defense?

In the recent AP article “Gaza’s economy in tatters, can it be rebuilt?,” the reported shows an implicit disbelief for the Israeli line about its targets in the Gaza Strip. The articles quotes Israeli military spokeswoman Maj. Avital Leibovich to the effect that the Israeli military would never ever intentionally target Palestinian businesses. Any destroyed [...]

Somewhere in the distance, there’s seven new people born

Seven people are dead in a Los Angeles suburb today: mother, father, and five babies. When Bob Dylan’s Ballad of Hollis Brown comes on the album in my car, I change it quick to the next song. It expresses a reality that holds too much gravity for me to listen to for entertainment. That reality [...]