Tidbits from the Daily Reckoning: It has been a great year for stocks – if you ignore the currency in which they are calibrated. It has been a great year for real estate, too…subject to the same objection. In fact, it has been the best year ever for real estate – ever in history. * [...]

In the NYT, Brooks “argues” with Oakeshott: We can’t know how Oakeshott would have judged the decision to go to war in Iraq, but it is impossible not to see the warnings entailed in his writings. Be aware of what you do not know. Do not go charging off to remake a society when you [...]

It’s not “democracy,” “freedom,” Larry Flynt, or even a hundred years of imperialist adventures…..it’s, it’s…..Fruitcakes! Who can blame ‘em? Thanks, RB.

Some fun anecdotes in response to Gary North’s blog post and article on “buying American”: First of all, UAWism is a religious euphoria here in Detroit. Those guys typically have bumper stickers that say, “Real Americans Buy Real Cars.” And the UAW’ers never go anywhere without their union jackets, telling us all which “local” they [...]

Here’s the scary crowd responding to my post today on our “volunteer army.” And no, I did not make this letter up, so that it appears to be coming from a 4th grader. And no, I did not touch the grammar, spelling, punctuation, or otherwise………..I think this letter is from a full-blown adult, probably an [...]

Some folks have written me, asking me about corporate scalawags, failures, and the accounting scandals. I hope to eventually finish the new section of my website to reflect a resource center for such writings and information. But with my busy season coming up (my have-no-life season), it’s tough to get it done. Here’s some advice [...]

An interesting look at Wal-Mart: Steve Dobbins has been bearing the brunt of that switch. He’s president and CEO of Carolina Mills, a 75-year-old North Carolina company that supplies thread, yarn, and textile finishing to apparel makers–half of which supply Wal-Mart. Carolina Mills grew steadily until 2000. But in the past three years, as its [...]

What a disappointing list from Money Magazine. Many of these places ranked high are chic communities, of course, but the cost of living makes them anything but the “best places to live.” Look at the median home prices on this list. Look at the “increase since 1990″ column, and see the effects of the housing [...]

Over the last 12 months, consumers racked up a record amount of personal debt, and with it record numbers of personal bankruptcies and foreclosures. And experts on personal debt and the economy say consumers will continue to spend. “The consumer has been the hedonist of last resort,” said Alan Levenson, chief economist for T. Rowe [...]