The Exquisite Contrarian

Jim Jubak presents the case that just like any government, including the US — and perhaps more than most — China probably runs its balance sheet through “budget magicians” who don’t want to show you that “China is indeed broke.” More: New evidence indicates China may be Bankrupt / The Christian Science Monitor.

Are we finally in a recovery? Who’s “we,” kemosabe? Big global companies, Wall Street, and high-income Americans who hold their savings in financial instruments are clearly doing better. As to the rest of us – small businesses along Main Streets, and middle and lower-income Americans – forget it. Read more: This recovery is a sham .

If you’re right leaning don’t get distracted by Keillor’s early paragraph about health care.  This is a great read that takes the pulse of America while reminding everyone that we need to pull ourselves together while pulling ourselves up. Here we go: Recombobulate America.

“Our government doesn’t work anymore, or perhaps more accurately, when it does, it works for special interests and not the American people,” said Mr Gross. “When special interests, even singular citizens, write a cheque, it represents a perversion of democracy, not the exercise of the First Amendment.” Pretty ominous words from a highly respected bonds [...]