The Freedom Factory

In a sluggish economy, bartering is becoming an increasingly popular alternative to cash for businesses and individuals. Indeed, the practice of our pre-currency forefathers is coming back with such a vengeance that there are several websites dedicated to facilitating the practice. [Just like the kind great-great-great grandma used]. Continue Reading

Politicians love to preach about the virtues of an industrial base. They do it for three reasons: Industrial firms are great sources of subsidies and political patronage, such patronage buys support from organized labor union voting blocks, and it actually does make sense for countries to produce real things of value. Since WWII America’s industry has steadily declined as a percentage of GDP, but the winds of change are blowing. Continue Reading

This article is dedicated to the growing segment of American society that is awakening to the ideas that we are increasingly overworked and overtaxed. My goal is to determine an effective tax burden on the average middle-class American. I will leave it to the reader to judge relative severity of the burden as measured against associated “benefits” to which he is “entitled” from the system. Continue Reading

Since I, along with most people, am feeling thrifty, I searched high and low for thrifty tips. Here are some of my favorite  websites dedicated to saving a few more pennies. Continue Reading

In this, the winter of our economic discontent, it’s not surprising to see the number of people who are finding an opportunity to reinvent. Sure, sometimes it has more to do with just an itching to try something new than anything. But more often than not, this decision is terror-driven or security-driven. Ether way, once you get past the sheer panic of OH MY GOD! WHAT AM I GONNA DO NOW, you just may find yourself in a perfect position to try something new. Continue Reading

Sen. Rockefeller proposes bill that would give government sweeping powers to control, monitor, and regulate the Internet, ACLU demands public schools stop blocking gay web sites on public computers, Rep. Jane Harman calls incriminating NSA wiretap “abuse of power,” National Service legislation signed into law that will cost $6 billion over 5 years by hiring “paid volunteers,” government will need to issue $2.4 trillion in new Treasury securities in 2009 to meet budget shortfalls and bailout program requirements, and U.S. to give another $5.5 billion to automakers… Continue Reading

Rep. Jane Harman exchanged favors for power-aided Israeli lobbyists accused of espionage, top government investigator says that bank bailouts are open to fraud, Obama tells Cabinet to cut spending by 0.02%, U.S. Treasury estimates it has lost $900 million of taxpayer money from holding $301 billion in Citigroup junk assets, Russian tariffs take toll on U.S. companies, and could the U.S. be headed for a Russian-style economic collapse circa 1998? Continue Reading

U.S. Treasury Dept. considers converting loans to equity ownership in major U.S. banks…is this a backdoor to nationalization? Congressional push-back to Obama’s revenue raising plans is leaving $1 trillion gap in budget, Obama set to take on credit card companies for charging interest rates that he considers too high, the U.S. Energy Secretary warns that some Caribbean islands will disappear because of Global Warming, and China issues another condemnation of U.S. economic policies…threatens to diversify currency reserves out of USD… Continue Reading

President Obama pushes ratification of gun trafficking treaty, housing market continues to crash-new home starts down 11% and foreclosures jumping 17%, Senate to call panel to investigate illegal NSA domestic spying, Obama unveils plan to spend another $13 billion and build high speed trains (it’s a down payment), Democrats attack Texas Gov. Perry over secession comments at tea party, Freedom Watch sues dictator Hugo Chavez for acts of terrorism and human rights violations, and a bit of good news: mystery donors give $45 million to universities… Continue Reading

Intelligence officials say NSA exceeding legal limits on domestic spying-intercepting private e-mails and phone calls, 43% of Americans pay no taxes or actually receive money from government (i.e. receive your money!), consumer prices mixed, nationwide anti-tax protests blast bailouts and big government, Obama vows to simplify the tax code, America has its first “Border Czar,” White House pushes for new government health insurance, Federal Reserve actually considers telling the public what it’s doing, central bank claims recession may be ending soon, Homeland Security labels returning war vets as “right-wing terrorists,” and Texas governor rallies tea partiers with states’ rights agenda… Continue Reading