How The Past Can Devour The Future
The stock market has hit record highs and public pension funds are reporting record levels of capital, yet public pension costs keep growing, leaving some observers puzzled. A new book by French economist Thomas Piketty helps clear up the confusion. In his book, Capital in the 21st Century, Piketty explains that capital is wealth derived […]
Dude, Growing Marijuana Uses 200 Times More Water Than Fracking!
Intent on ignoring facts and spreading hysteria, ideological opponents of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, have seized on the state’s drought as an excuse to demand a moratorium. Never mind that fracking doesn’t even use much water. Now, scientists with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are warning that streams harboring endangered salmon and steelhead […]
Tim Draper vs. Southern California
To reiterate, I like the idea of the 6 Californias campaign because of the conversation it could spark about the state’s size, and our need to decentralize power from Sacramento. (I’m discounting the idea of California as six states because it won’t happen – voters are almost certain to turn it down and even if […]
Taxes, Jobs and Patriotism
What does it mean to be a “patriotic” American? I ask that question because there has been so much hullabaloo in recent weeks about American businesses leaving the U.S. and setting up factories overseas. This week, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew questioned whether these U.S. corporations are putting America first. “What we need,” Mr. Lew lectured, […]