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Category Archives: Housekeeping

Housekeeping: (Jury) Duty Calls!

30 Wednesday Mar 2022

Posted by Alan Tonelson in Housekeeping, Uncategorized

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civic duty, civil law, courts, Housekeeping, jury duty, justice, law enforcement

Just a short note to say that I’ll be taking a (sort of forced) leave of absence through Friday and possibly Monday because I’ve been selected to serve on a jury here in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

The trial will be a civil (as opposed to criminal) proceeding; I probably shouldn’t say anything specific about the substance, but it’s surely OK to note that it deals with issues I’ve written about more than once on RealityChek. In fact, to the extent I can, I’m hoping to blog about this experience – a first ever for me.

The timing’s a little unfortunate, since tomorrow the federal government will be releasing its latest report on the Federal Reserve’s favored measure of inflation, and on Friday we’ll get the latest jobs numbers. In fact, today I was going to post on the trade highlights of the new (and final, for now) data on fourth quarter, 2021 and full-year 2021 U.S. economic growth. But I unexpectedly spent 11 hours (you read that right) participating in the Zoom-ed selection process, and even more surprisingly was chosen to serve.

I aim to start catching up on these developments over the weekend, since they’ll mark important milestones in the economy’s journey through the CCP Virus pandemic and (possible) aftermath. Today’s trade results alone contained some pretty startling record and multi-decade worsts. But that goal will surely take a few days to achieve itself.

So I hope everyone has a great rest of the week and I’ll look forward to resuming normal RealityChek operations ASAP. Till then, though – (jury) duty calls!

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Im-Politic: Can Biden Really Solve the “Root Causes” Behind His Border Crisis?

23 Friday Apr 2021

Posted by Alan Tonelson in Housekeeping

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Biden, Border Crisis, border security, CAFTA, Central America, Central America Free Trade Agreement, Colbert I. King, Cold War, Donald Trump, El Salvador, foreign aid, George W. Bush, globalism, Guatemala, Honduras, Im-Politic, immigrants, Immigration, Jorge Castaneda, Kamala Harris, Lawence E. Harrison, migrants, Northern Triangle, race to the bottom, Trade, Washington Post

One of the time-honored practices – and myths – behind globalist U.S. foreign policies has been its faith that turmoil in various parts of the world that allegedly threatens American interests can be either eliminated or reduced to manageable levels with enough foreign aid. The idea is that such assistance will address the social and economic problems thought to be mainly to blame for the instability. So it’s no surprise that the globalist Biden administration has decided that aid programs are the keys to bringing immigration from Central America under control – though not of course right away.

As stated by Vice President Kamala Harris upon being tasked by President Biden to oversee U.S. effort to turn the counties of the region’s “Northern Triangle” into places whose populations won’t be determined to leave, the United States “must address the root causes that cause people to make the trek” northward.

That’s why I sure hope she reads Colbert I. King’s column in Tuesday’s Washington Post before she rolls up her sleeves too far. For as the author notes, the Biden administration plan to turn the Northern Triangle countries (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) from clearly failed states into (reasonable) success stories isn’t exactly new in its essentials.

And especially in recent years, when conditions in the region ostensibly worsened dramatically, and therefore fueled especially big migrants flows, there’s been no shortage of U.S. aid, especially considering the tiny size of the three economies.

As King details,

“Congress appropriated more than $3.6 billion to fund a Strategy for Engagement in Central America program between 2016 and 2021. The money was supposed to strengthen rule of law, improve the administration of justice, promote economic prosperity, prevent violence and combat gangs, and empower youth and women.

“>In fiscal 2021 alone, U.S. funding amounted to $505.9 million.

“>Between 2013 and 2018, The U.S. Agriculture Department allocated $407 million to Central America to provide school meals, nutritional programs for women, infants and children, and to train and provide technical assistance to improve agricultural productivity.

“>The Obama administration asked for money to help the region in fiscal 2016, and Congress appropriated $750 million, requiring the countries to improve border security, combat corruption and address human rights concerns.”

Then the author – properly – proceeds to ask “What happened to it all?” And what can the Biden administration do to make sure that the $4 billion it plans to spend in the region will work any better if Congress approves this sum?

Moreover, the case against more Central America aid as a Border Crisis game changer is actually stronger than King describes. Because Washington has not only been pouring money into the region for decades. It’s also granted these three Central American countries (and their regional neighbors) tariff cuts and other trade-related assistance aimed at enabling them to export their way to prosperity.

Indeed, as then President George W. Bush declared while lobbying for passage of the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) – which was eventually expanded to include the Dominican Republic,

“People have got to understand that by promoting policy that will help generate wealth in Central America, we’re promoting policy that will mean someone is less–more likely to stay at home to find a job. If you’re concerned about immigration to this country, then you must understand that CAFTA and the benefits of CAFTA will help create new opportunity in Central American countries, which will mean someone will be able to find good work at home, somebody will be able to provide for their family at home, as opposed to having to make the long trip to the United States. CAFTA is good immigration policy as well as good trade policy.”

Critics can reasonably argue that these U.S. programs failed to achieve their immigration aims because they were poorly designed. On the aid front, it’s true that too much of the assistance provided by the United States during the Cold War was military or other security assistance that largely helped corrupt governments repress their own people – and fight rebels labeled as tools of the Soviet Union and Cuba.

When it comes to trade, globalist U.S. Presidents did Central America no favors, either. For CAFTA simply plunged the region into a frantic race to the bottom in wages and worker safety that had been sparked by the decision to free up trade indiscriminately with all the very low-income countries (including China, India, and Bangladesh) that also produced the apparel products that have represented Central America’s best hope for prospering via globalization.

At the same time, significant U.S. assistance for Central America continued after the Cold War’s end, and more was targeted at economic development. And the Biden administration has said nothing about U.S. trade policy reforms that actually would give the Northern Triangle – or the rest of Central America for that matter, or Mexico – major legs up on non-Western Hemisphere competitors.

All of which could support the conclusion that no amount of aid or trade breaks can make Central America successful. A globalist administration will be particularly loathe to accept this admittedly depressing proposition, but there’s abundant evidence in its favor. The work of development economist Lawrence E. Harrison, to cite one leading example, has compellingly argued that some counties – and entire regions – simply don’t have what it takes to achieve economic success because of the cultures they’ve evolved.

At the same time, as my friend – and noted political scientist and former Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castaneda – has argued, the Central American economies are so small that enough smartly spent U.S. money might be able to overcome even these deep-rooted obstacles.

I can’t say that I know the answer. But the analyses of King, Harrison, and Castaneda all point to the overarching conclusion that the kind of business-as-usual version of the address-the-root-causes of Central America’s failings being contemplated by the Biden administration can’t possibly stem the migrant flow. Moreover, until genuinely promising plans are developed, there will be no substitute for re-securing the border by reinstating the type of Trump-ian controls that minimize the strength of the U.S. magnets that influence migrant flows as surely as the problems of sending countries.

 

Housekeeping: Happy Third Birthday to RealityChek!

03 Saturday Jun 2017

Posted by Alan Tonelson in Housekeeping

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Tags

Housekeeping


How the time does fly!  I can hardly believe that I’m sitting here at the keyboard to announce that today marks the third anniversary of the first substantive blog posted on RealityChek!

I’m sorry to report that there’s still “so much nonsense out there, and so little time” – if not more of the former!  But I did want to make sure again to say thank you to everyone who’s decided that dropping by here occasionally, or even more often, is worth their while.  Special thanks to those who have taken the time to comment, and to everyone who’s decided to register a “Like” or to follow.

I’m doing the best I can to keep up with your questions, criticisms, and observations, and hope that my performance on this score has improved somewhat.  But I also want to make sure that the Likers and followers know that they’re greatly appreciated, too.

As regulars here are aware, feedback is always welcome.  If anything, the nation (and world?) have gotten more polarized over these last three years, and it’s also increasingly clear to me that the subjects of these posts can evoke strong reactions among readers.  Therefore, I’m as interested as ever to hear from you, and to know how passionately you may feel in favor or against something I’ve written.  If you want to employ more than a little snark along the way to make your point, please feel free!  I’ve been known to take this tack myself.  And if you run across material you think I may not have seen, it’s always great to get these heads-ups

But if at all possible, please try to be specific and concrete with criticisms in particular. And be sure to leave the profanity at home, along with the name-calling. Because if you don’t, you won’t be welcome any more.  It’s not that I’m thin-skinned. It’s just that if you need these kinds of crutches to express yourself, you’re clearly not qualified to participate in constructive, informative debate.  And therefore, you’re wasting everyone’s time.

One of the most rewarding aspects of blogging here for the last three years has been the number of acquaintances and real friends I’ve made.  They’ve reinforced my belief that, for all the bilge that’s infected our public life, individuals of intelligence (of all kinds), quality, and good will still abound.  So many of you have taught me a great deal, and led me to look anew at any number of issues.  In large measure, these posts are an attempt at least partly to return the favor.

 

 

 

Housekeeping: Happy Birthday to Us!

03 Wednesday Jun 2015

Posted by Alan Tonelson in Housekeeping

≈ 1 Comment

How the time does fly!  Today is the first anniversary of my first substantive blog here on RealityChek.  I’d put up a short introductory post the day before. But the rubber really hit the road with last June 3’s offering on how America’s Big Box retailers were starting to feel the pain of the job offshoring they’d encouraged for so long — which turned out to involve firing and driving down the wages of much of their customer base.

It’s been a great experience so far, and you readers have been such a big part of it. I’m very grateful to everyone who has dropped by to sample the wares here, and even more appreciative of those who have become followers, regulars, and semi-regulars.

Your comments and questions have been particularly valued. I know that I’ve struggled to respond promptly to all of them, but it’s been challenging keeping up with the correspondence while trying to post two items per weekday – and more often than not succeeding! Obviously there’s room for improvement on this front, but I hope you agree with my decision to prioritize researching and writing up original content.

There’s also obviously room for improvement on the tech front, and in that vein, I’m pleased to report that my new position on the Henry George School board of trustees is soon likely to bring along some badly needed assistance in that vein. So please be a little more patient with RealityChek’s technological primitiveness and spartan – at best! – aesthetic.

In the meantime, I hope you’ll spread the word about the blog, and I’ll keep doing my best to deliver the best available analysis and information on a wide range of policy topics. Here’s to a great second year for all of us!

Housekeeping: Holiday Greetings!

25 Thursday Dec 2014

Posted by Alan Tonelson in Housekeeping

≈ Leave a comment

Best wishes to all readers and followers for the holiday season and the New Year, and I hope everyone has enjoyed reading RealityChek at least as much as I have creating and producing it.  All comments and questions have been deeply appreciated, and thanks for your patience when I haven’t been able to respond as quickly as I’d like.

This coming year, I hope to make the blog more visually appealing and exciting, and more reader-friendly.  If you have suggestions — and especially if you have technical expertise to offer — I’d be very grateful.  And of course, feel free to spread the word about RealityChek far and wide!

In the meantime, again, please accept my gratitude for your interest and support, and I promise to keep doing my best to make your visits to RealityChek worth your while.

 

Blogs I Follow

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  • Protecting U.S. Workers
  • Marc to Market
  • Alastair Winter
  • Smaulgld
  • Reclaim the American Dream
  • Mickey Kaus
  • David Stockman's Contra Corner
  • Washington Decoded
  • Upon Closer inspection
  • Keep America At Work
  • Sober Look
  • Credit Writedowns
  • GubbmintCheese
  • VoxEU.org: Recent Articles
  • Michael Pettis' CHINA FINANCIAL MARKETS
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  • George Magnus

(What’s Left Of) Our Economy

  • (What's Left of) Our Economy
  • Following Up
  • Glad I Didn't Say That!
  • Golden Oldies
  • Guest Posts
  • Housekeeping
  • Housekeeping
  • Im-Politic
  • In the News
  • Making News
  • Our So-Called Foreign Policy
  • The Snide World of Sports
  • Those Stubborn Facts
  • Uncategorized

Our So-Called Foreign Policy

  • (What's Left of) Our Economy
  • Following Up
  • Glad I Didn't Say That!
  • Golden Oldies
  • Guest Posts
  • Housekeeping
  • Housekeeping
  • Im-Politic
  • In the News
  • Making News
  • Our So-Called Foreign Policy
  • The Snide World of Sports
  • Those Stubborn Facts
  • Uncategorized

Im-Politic

  • (What's Left of) Our Economy
  • Following Up
  • Glad I Didn't Say That!
  • Golden Oldies
  • Guest Posts
  • Housekeeping
  • Housekeeping
  • Im-Politic
  • In the News
  • Making News
  • Our So-Called Foreign Policy
  • The Snide World of Sports
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Signs of the Apocalypse

  • (What's Left of) Our Economy
  • Following Up
  • Glad I Didn't Say That!
  • Golden Oldies
  • Guest Posts
  • Housekeeping
  • Housekeeping
  • Im-Politic
  • In the News
  • Making News
  • Our So-Called Foreign Policy
  • The Snide World of Sports
  • Those Stubborn Facts
  • Uncategorized

The Brighter Side

  • (What's Left of) Our Economy
  • Following Up
  • Glad I Didn't Say That!
  • Golden Oldies
  • Guest Posts
  • Housekeeping
  • Housekeeping
  • Im-Politic
  • In the News
  • Making News
  • Our So-Called Foreign Policy
  • The Snide World of Sports
  • Those Stubborn Facts
  • Uncategorized

Those Stubborn Facts

  • (What's Left of) Our Economy
  • Following Up
  • Glad I Didn't Say That!
  • Golden Oldies
  • Guest Posts
  • Housekeeping
  • Housekeeping
  • Im-Politic
  • In the News
  • Making News
  • Our So-Called Foreign Policy
  • The Snide World of Sports
  • Those Stubborn Facts
  • Uncategorized

The Snide World of Sports

  • (What's Left of) Our Economy
  • Following Up
  • Glad I Didn't Say That!
  • Golden Oldies
  • Guest Posts
  • Housekeeping
  • Housekeeping
  • Im-Politic
  • In the News
  • Making News
  • Our So-Called Foreign Policy
  • The Snide World of Sports
  • Those Stubborn Facts
  • Uncategorized

Guest Posts

  • (What's Left of) Our Economy
  • Following Up
  • Glad I Didn't Say That!
  • Golden Oldies
  • Guest Posts
  • Housekeeping
  • Housekeeping
  • Im-Politic
  • In the News
  • Making News
  • Our So-Called Foreign Policy
  • The Snide World of Sports
  • Those Stubborn Facts
  • Uncategorized

Blog at WordPress.com.

Current Thoughts on Trade

Terence P. Stewart

Protecting U.S. Workers

Marc to Market

So Much Nonsense Out There, So Little Time....

Alastair Winter

Chief Economist at Daniel Stewart & Co - Trying to make sense of Global Markets, Macroeconomics & Politics

Smaulgld

Real Estate + Economics + Gold + Silver

Reclaim the American Dream

So Much Nonsense Out There, So Little Time....

Mickey Kaus

Kausfiles

David Stockman's Contra Corner

Washington Decoded

So Much Nonsense Out There, So Little Time....

Upon Closer inspection

Keep America At Work

Sober Look

So Much Nonsense Out There, So Little Time....

Credit Writedowns

Finance, Economics and Markets

GubbmintCheese

So Much Nonsense Out There, So Little Time....

VoxEU.org: Recent Articles

So Much Nonsense Out There, So Little Time....

Michael Pettis' CHINA FINANCIAL MARKETS

RSS

So Much Nonsense Out There, So Little Time....

George Magnus

So Much Nonsense Out There, So Little Time....

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