Bruins Goalie Tim Thomas Blocks Obama
You had a front-row seat to a sensational block by Boston Bruins MVP goalie Tim Thomas. He chose not to meet the president, reasoning:
Your Right to Work
Ayn Rand’s Producers and Our Food Stamp Boom
Producers, you deserve to keep every penny you earn. But as more and more of your profits go to the government, you can’t help feeling sapped out. Much of that feeling comes from knowing the money is misspent and could do more good in your hands. You respect money. That respect impels you to make [...]
States Where You’re Stuck Paying the Bill
For some states, the recession has been in the rearview mirror for a long time now. That’s certainly the case in North Dakota, where the unemployment rate is the lowest in the country at 3.4%. Oil and gas from the Bakken formation help, but as I’ve written, North Dakota ranks third in associate-degree-and-above educational attainment [...]
Increasing Real Estate Costs
Your Kids May Fund Payroll Tax Cut Extension
You’ve got to love how lawmakers wheel and deal during the holidays while the rest of us are trying to enjoy them. Lost in the 11th-hour payroll tax cut extension is how it will be funded. It will be paid by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac which, last time I checked, are in conservatorship and [...]
2012 Stock Market and RI Pensions
Your Town Owes What?
Your credit score gives you a pretty good idea about your money habits. Cities and towns get scored by Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, or Fitch. All three completely missed the real-estate crash. So tell me again, how are we supposed to believe their ratings? The agencies’ lack of credibility makes it even more important that [...]
The RIP Map
Despite all the praise heaped on State Treasurer Gina Raimondo for temporarily freezing COLAs, nothing was done about the 7.5% assumed rate of return on Rhode Island’s pension fund assets, retirees double dipping with two state pensions, or those collecting disability while running 5k’s on weekends. Sure, more time may have been put up on [...]
Putting Rhode Island on the Map
