Does ‘consumer spending’ really help the economy?

February 28, 2017 – Lee Friday …… Retail sales figures are announced and discussed on a regular basis by business reporters in the mainstream media. The conventional view is that rising sales i.e. more consumer spending is a symptom of a healthy economy. However, this view is a symptom of economic ignorance. Continue reading →

Does CIBC CEO Victor Dodig believe in free trade, or just the illusion of free trade

February 24, 2017 – Lee Friday …… Many countries negotiate Free Trade ‘Agreements’, but this is a misnomer. If politicians wanted genuine free trade, such agreements would be redundant. It is important to remember that countries do not trade with each other, individuals do. Politicians enact these agreements on behalf of specific individuals within special interest groups, not on behalf of consumers. Continue reading →

Burglars flee when 78-year-old woman confronts them with a gun

February 20, 2017 – Lee Friday …… As she was preparing to take a nap, 78 year old Elaine Stiehl heard a noise. She grabbed her gun, opened the bedroom door, and saw two burglars. When the two men saw Elaine, or more precisely, when they saw her gun, they concluded it would be in their best interests to depart the scene post-haste. Continue reading →

New cars are too expensive, by at least threefold. You can thank the government for that.

February 16, 2017 – Lee Friday …… Government regulations require cars to have numerous safety features. These are not options, they are mandatory. This substantially increases the cost of a car, the cost of repairs, and the cost of insurance. There would be much less demand for car loans if the cars were not so darned expensive. Who are the real beneficiaries of these regulations? Continue reading →