Economics

Who Really Has Produced the Most Jobs?

February 2, 2021

Why has the U.S. economy fared so much better under Democratic presidents than Republicans? The New York Times offers data proving what many of you have periodically read over the years. During Democratic administrations far more jobs have been created than under Republican presidents. Is that a coincidence? Not when the data cover Franklin Roosevelt…

Read More

Airport Taxi

July 9, 2015

Mark didn’t like late night arrivals at any airport especially in Mexico City where some people get hyper when they see a gringo. He should’ve been ready when a young man rushed up and in Spanish said, “Here, Señor, come with me.” “Where?” “To a place with no lines and low taxi fares.” “Taxis are…

Read More

White Heat

March 21, 2014

angry old men crave war and dissolution

Read More

Slots

August 20, 2013

Sarah didn’t enjoy husband, family, or friends and had no interests save gambling and was happy to live near casino she rushed to three, four, five times weekly and pushed credit card into slots she played hours, stopping only to curse rigged system. She said this was best part of life so didn’t mind burning…

Read More

Ocean View

March 16, 2013

From patio on highest hill endless ocean rolls green back onto hill. Other way city sits in smog. Damn four story house next door ruins view, owners say. Not bad, I note, three in ravine. Suppose we’re lucky to live here fifty years. Used to be in tract house below.

Read More

Black Friday Binge

November 28, 2012

I love Black Friday, MY favorite event of year. After stuffing myself Thanksgiving Day I’m ready to stand in A crowd of cold shoppers. We feel like Christmas is about here, panting, pushing, and groaning, and finally cheer when through glass we see them coming to open THE store. I’m A pretty big guy, almost…

Read More

Savings

July 17, 2012

Pushing hand between armrest and cushion of ragged sofa, I searched for unknown artifacts and pulled out faded savings pass book revealing thirty years ago had opened account with hundred dollars, inauspicious total for man in twenties. Two weeks later I needed ninety dollars. That happens when make few hundred monthly. I still rebuilt balance…

Read More

Executive Confusion

July 15, 2012

New executives understand little about business yet often rudely give nonsensical orders to experienced professionals. Pros are quite upset but executives proclaim way of future. They never actually learned any way but no matter since all have special degree authorizing to transform ignorance into arrogance. Expect more problems until system changes. It will change when…

Read More

Enforcement

May 22, 2012

money men who rage against crime appreciate stylish new gallows on wall street

Read More

Iron Women

April 15, 2012

iron curtain lifted and shoved into bones of women looking west

Read More

Profile of a Suit

March 15, 2012

if he bombs pollutes and steals he’ll be wearing a suit

Read More

State of the Union

January 26, 2012

This story is from the collection “Obama on Edge”

Read More

Amiri Baraka Clears Mind

January 14, 2012

decades ago when poet amiri baraka’s surname jones rebuked for obscenity by langston hughes in essay “that boy leroi” now almost eighty on stage with fiftyish daughter at hammer museum and can’t remember abstract impressionist painter who dripped jackson pollock she said and the mexican muralist my man diego rivera she said baraka generally lucid…

Read More

Concerned Citizen

January 9, 2012

eli constantly rails online denouncing greedy bemoaning hungry as shoves more food into belly

Read More

Trickle Down

December 28, 2011

This story appears in the collection “In Other Hands”

Read More

Executive Prowess

November 7, 2011

executives eat wallow and dump in your face

Read More

Wall Street Bonus

November 6, 2011

This story is from the collection “Obama on Edge”

Read More

Arnold Schwarzenegger Must be President

May 23, 2011

I know many of you believe I failed as Governor of California and am now indisputably a cur since I fathered a child, now age thirteen, with a member of my domestic household staff. You sympathize with my wife, Maria Shriver, because she long endured my infidelities and didn’t learn of this one until recently,…

Read More

CEOs Jailed, The Rolling Stones Take Over

April 21, 2011

Until recently I would’ve simply fired all criminal CEOs and unholy underlings who preside over multi-billion-dollar annual losses yet reward themselves millions in bonuses, which, in a sane world, would be extra money paid for jobs especially well done. These brigands have so severely damaged us that a fortnight ago more than ninety percent of…

Read More

Politicians Condemn Your Debt, Deepen Theirs

March 13, 2005

I wasn’t looking for anything controversial, just a few quick early-morning facts before I began work.  I suppose I should have been reading an almanac instead of a newspaper, for on one page an article explained why many people are sinking in credit card debt and on the other side a headline announced the United…

Read More