Economic recovery and expansion don’t depend on the Federal Reserve running monetary policy. This vision more closely resembles fantasy than sound economics. The Federal Open Market Committee statement released on June 10 featured an understandably sober assessment of the economy, along with a pledge to keep the federal funds rate near zero: “The ongoing public […]
I’ve always believed that when the going gets tough, the tough get writing — sometimes about writing. While there are no doubt prolific columnists who crank out compelling copy as if they’re making sausage, don’t count me among them. I’m more like Sisyphus, the mythical Greek guy condemned to forever roll a boulder up a […]
There’s so much going on I’m at a point where I don’t want to write this column. Then again, I’ve had a hard time writing the past several columns. It’s not because of what I see happening in the world. That’s easy. So many bad actors, so little space. It’s because of what I think […]
There’s encouraging and discouraging news about the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on businesses in the latest economic indicators and survey results. As is usually the case with complex and changing situations, it’s a mix that requires a more nuanced consideration. It’s not necessarily rocket science, but more like common sense. If the implications weren’t […]
Yep, I’m about to do something I rarely do in my columns: lump Democrats and Republicans together. But as I roll, some in a good way, some in a bad way. Despite all the political and social ills I’ve lived through in my almost 59 trips around the sun, I’ve always maintained one belief: 99 […]
I’ve always considered myself a good listener. I’m a listener by trade, in fact. A big part of my job is to pose questions and listen to the answers. It’s crucial not only in accurately gathering and reporting information, but also discerning when even more important information might be available for the asking. I long […]
In the middle of a pandemic, rarely is anything identified as a teaching moment. After this virus crisis is positioned in the rearview mirror, however, there will be an acknowledgment of lessons learned. Coronavirus has affected every segment of society in the United States and around the world. Schools were as ill-equipped to cope with […]
by Marilyn M. Barnewall Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has publicly admitted — to his credit — the statistics he was given by health authorities are wrong. About 33 percent fewer Coloradans have been stricken with COVID-19 than reported. Given the statistics for the West Slope, it’s evident why a lot of people think closing down […]
Every city in America faces risks in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Many cities are cutting budgets and hunkering down. Perhaps the number of coronavirus cases in their cities warrants this move. Top-tier cities have taken a hit to their allure as restaurants, museums and other cultural amenities close. As we look across the […]
I once worked for a weekly agricultural journal in Oregon. Along with cows and plows, I occasionally covered the State Legislature. I used to joke — and, to be honest, also complain — the boredom of covering long committee hearings was interrupted only by the tedium. The exception was covering a House committee chaired by […]