Business & Economics
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Spending Watch
Spending Watch: The Unpleasant Arithmetic of a California Wealth Tax
Spending Watch: The Unpleasant Arithmetic of a California Wealth Tax Wayne Winegarden October 2025 A just proposed initiative to impose a one-time wealth tax on billionaires summarizes why California has fallen from the fourth to the fifth largest economy in the world. State policymakers continually view the private sector as ...
Business & Economics
Basel Accord’s expanded banking rules could tank Trump’s economy — unless he acts fast
Since Congress passed President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” this summer, strong real-GDP growth has combined with minimal inflation, boosting American prosperity. But one potential misstep could end this decisive, action-oriented administration’s hope of making the American economy great again — while losing the midterm elections and Republican control ...
Blog
Ronald Reagan Opposed Tariffs – And For Good Reason
Having worked with Dr. Laffer for several years, I heard him explain the tenets of supply-side economics, or “the five pillars of prosperity” many times. These policies are (1) a low-rate broad-based flat tax; (2) a moderate level of government spending to ensure that the benefits from the government program ...
Blog
Is Declining Homeownership Driving Support for Democratic Socialism?
My previous post “On young Americans and their Growing Acceptance of Socialism” connected the popularity of democratic socialism among Americans aged 18 – 39 to inequality. Inequality concerns are not the only factor driving Gen Z’s embrace of democratic socialism. Gen Z’s growing support for democratic socialism is occurring along ...
Blog
It Was A Cruel, Cruel Summer For California Teens
California has a jobs problem. It’s not only failing to create them, it’s been destroying existing ones. Unemployment sits at 5.5%, the worst among the states. Only in the District of Columbia is the situation more grim. The jobless rate in the nation’s capital is 6%. This isn’t due to a run of bad luck. It’s the greasy residue of poor public policy ...
Blog
The Gordon Chang Report–“Keep Out, China!”: Trump Resurrects the Monroe Doctrine
READ THE PDF “Keep Out, China!”: Trump Resurrects the Monroe Doctrine “Murder.” That’s how Colombian President Gustavo Petro, in comments to the BBC late last month, termed recent U.S. airstrikes on small drug boats in the Caribbean Sea. He also called the attacks an “act of tyranny.” Petro said America’s ...
Blog
San Diego Banned Digital-Only Coupons. Then The Deals Went Away.
Last week, another “first in the nation” law took effect in the City of San Diego. There’s usually a reason no one decides to jump in front of California to grab “first in the nation” honors for themselves – it is a bad idea. Such is the case with San ...
Blog
Government Shutdown Threatens Billions in IPO Funding
The federal government has been shut down since October 1 because of a funding disagreement between Democrats and Republicans in Washington. Though a deal could theoretically be struck at any moment, there does not appear to be any end in sight. Only services deemed essential are permitted through the shutdown, which means ...
Blog
Learn about the impact of the latest refinery fire
How Much Will Gas Prices Rise After So Cal Refinery Fire?
Producing 269,000 barrels a day of useful fossil fuels, the El Segundo facility is second in the state only to Marathon’s Los Angeles refinery, which puts out 365,000 barrels a day, good for 22.5% of state’s capacity. The Chevron site provides 20% of motor vehicle fuel in California and 40% of the ...
Blog
Spending Watch
California’s FY2025-26 Budget Failed to Address the State’s Long-term Financial Risks
California’s FY2025-26 Budget Failed to Address the State’s Long-term Financial Risks Wayne Winegarden October 2025 Politicians too often assume that California’s fiscal health is synonymous with the state of its annual budget. When revenue growth is strong, the state is allegedly in a sound fiscal position. It is only when ...
Spending Watch
Spending Watch: The Unpleasant Arithmetic of a California Wealth Tax
Spending Watch: The Unpleasant Arithmetic of a California Wealth Tax Wayne Winegarden October 2025 A just proposed initiative to impose a one-time wealth tax on billionaires summarizes why California has fallen from the fourth to the fifth largest economy in the world. State policymakers continually view the private sector as ...
Basel Accord’s expanded banking rules could tank Trump’s economy — unless he acts fast
Since Congress passed President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” this summer, strong real-GDP growth has combined with minimal inflation, boosting American prosperity. But one potential misstep could end this decisive, action-oriented administration’s hope of making the American economy great again — while losing the midterm elections and Republican control ...
Ronald Reagan Opposed Tariffs – And For Good Reason
Having worked with Dr. Laffer for several years, I heard him explain the tenets of supply-side economics, or “the five pillars of prosperity” many times. These policies are (1) a low-rate broad-based flat tax; (2) a moderate level of government spending to ensure that the benefits from the government program ...
Is Declining Homeownership Driving Support for Democratic Socialism?
My previous post “On young Americans and their Growing Acceptance of Socialism” connected the popularity of democratic socialism among Americans aged 18 – 39 to inequality. Inequality concerns are not the only factor driving Gen Z’s embrace of democratic socialism. Gen Z’s growing support for democratic socialism is occurring along ...
It Was A Cruel, Cruel Summer For California Teens
California has a jobs problem. It’s not only failing to create them, it’s been destroying existing ones. Unemployment sits at 5.5%, the worst among the states. Only in the District of Columbia is the situation more grim. The jobless rate in the nation’s capital is 6%. This isn’t due to a run of bad luck. It’s the greasy residue of poor public policy ...
The Gordon Chang Report–“Keep Out, China!”: Trump Resurrects the Monroe Doctrine
READ THE PDF “Keep Out, China!”: Trump Resurrects the Monroe Doctrine “Murder.” That’s how Colombian President Gustavo Petro, in comments to the BBC late last month, termed recent U.S. airstrikes on small drug boats in the Caribbean Sea. He also called the attacks an “act of tyranny.” Petro said America’s ...
San Diego Banned Digital-Only Coupons. Then The Deals Went Away.
Last week, another “first in the nation” law took effect in the City of San Diego. There’s usually a reason no one decides to jump in front of California to grab “first in the nation” honors for themselves – it is a bad idea. Such is the case with San ...
Government Shutdown Threatens Billions in IPO Funding
The federal government has been shut down since October 1 because of a funding disagreement between Democrats and Republicans in Washington. Though a deal could theoretically be struck at any moment, there does not appear to be any end in sight. Only services deemed essential are permitted through the shutdown, which means ...
Learn about the impact of the latest refinery fire
How Much Will Gas Prices Rise After So Cal Refinery Fire?
Producing 269,000 barrels a day of useful fossil fuels, the El Segundo facility is second in the state only to Marathon’s Los Angeles refinery, which puts out 365,000 barrels a day, good for 22.5% of state’s capacity. The Chevron site provides 20% of motor vehicle fuel in California and 40% of the ...
Spending Watch
California’s FY2025-26 Budget Failed to Address the State’s Long-term Financial Risks
California’s FY2025-26 Budget Failed to Address the State’s Long-term Financial Risks Wayne Winegarden October 2025 Politicians too often assume that California’s fiscal health is synonymous with the state of its annual budget. When revenue growth is strong, the state is allegedly in a sound fiscal position. It is only when ...
