Richard W. Rahn

Inflation is a deadly problem, and unpredictable changes in the inflation rate (currency debasement) make it an even more deadly hazard to future economic well-being by increasing the risk of any investment and other economic activities.

President Biden often acts as if inflation came from the tooth fairy (or “greedy businessmen”) rather than as a result of the actions and policies of his own government.

Greece, Argentina, and the old Soviet Union had governments that were Ponzi schemes that eventually went bust. A Ponzi scheme, named after the swindler Charles Ponzi (1882-1949), is an investment fraud that pays existing investors with funds collected from new investors — often with the promise of high returns.

The U.S. and other rich countries are increasingly funding their government debts by sucking savings from those in poorer countries. This is starving much of the world of needed investment capital while enabling Americans to consume more at little cost. The International Monetary Fund has forecast global economic growth of only 2.5% this year, with the U.S. and China accounting for much of that growth, while Europe, Japan and most of Africa will barely show any growth at all. Much of the world's population is getting poorer.

Monday, April 1, 2024 OPINION: “Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods.” — H.L. Mencken

Many advocates of diversity, equity and inclusion programs fail to understand that lowering standards or forcing career choices that do not make the best use of everyone's talents makes the problem worse. A prospective employer interviewing a woman of color and recent Harvard graduate will almost certainly wonder if this person is exceptional or a product of affirmative action. The mere thought diminishes the value of all Harvard degrees and the institution itself.

Why do the smartest people in the world (at least in their own minds) keep getting surprised? This past week, the most common measure of inflation rose, even though official Washington (the Fed, Biden Treasury, White House) told us it would fall. Inflation is often defined in the press as too much money chasing too few goods. So, the solution seems simple — reduce the supply of money, increase the supply of goods and services, or both.

The way to stop NPR’s taxpayer rape and misinformation machine is to prohibit its affiliates from providing any taxpayer funding for it.

They have learned nothing! As I write this, Columbia University and others continue in chaos, depriving serious students of what they have paid for. Many have forgotten, if they ever knew, that President Dwight Eisenhower (aka “Ike”) also served as president of Columbia University from 1948 to 1953 after serving as supreme commander of Allied forces in Europe during World War II and before serving as our commander in chief from 1953 to 1961.

Do you just whine about problems, or do you try to solve them? For decades, many people complained and demanded that the government do something about automobile air pollution.