The old adage that ‘figures don’t lie, but liars can figure’ is never more true than when economic problems dominate our nation’s politics. That is why the Internet could improve the level of political discourse in our nation, if only…
We’ve lost some banks, but plenty of choices remain
Every week, the FDIC closes a few banks around the country. In Minnesota, six have been closed so far this year, equal to the number closed in all of 2009. Pinehurst Bank in St. Paul, which was closed May 21,…
How do U.S. incomes compare? It varies
Humans are inherently competitive and some people always want to know how their country compares to others in per-capita income. The problem is that such ‘Who’s No. 1?’ comparisons are not simple because they depend on exchange rates. These prices…
Nonprofits’ suit shows tradeoffs
This particular lawsuit involves “structured investment vehicles” that held subprime mortgages that eventually went bust. Other disputes have involved nonprofits and local governments that borrowed money via “auction rate securities.” But they all involve nearly identical issues. Just what role…