Peter Murmann

Eduardo Porter in the NY Times gives a good overview of the relative taxation level in different countries. What he is leaving out is that the US at least twice as much on military expenditures than the other industrialized countries. There is something to be said for universal health care systems. When my son developed a [Read More]

There is a correlation between population size and medals won. But India is the puzzle. Britain did well, which seems to suggest that having the games at homes leads to better performance.

No longer can anyone claim the two presidential tickets are not offering stark contrasts. Now a real debate about the future of government can take place. John Dickerson reports in Slate. Someone Is Going To Be Very Disappointed By the Ryan VP Pick Rejoice! It’s Ryan! Conservatives are thrilled by Romney’s VP pick. So are Democrats. [Read More]

The economist lays out well what the issues facing the next president are. It will be interesting to see who they will endorse before the election. The presidential campaign: Another fine mess A useful debate has begun about America’s biggest domestic challenge, but it is comically shallow AMID all the name-calling in America’s presidential campaign, a serious subject [Read More]

David Brooks is providing the best possible interpretations what Republican intentions are all about. Instead of picking Spain and Greece he could have cited the Northern European countries which have been quite successful in reforming their welfare states. He notes correctly that Barak Obama outlined a very different position that economics policies will bring new [Read More]

The internet today is removing barriers between people living in different places. The railroads were one of the technologies (telegraph and telephone were others) that this for 19th century.  The Writer’s Almanac reports: The First Transcontinental Railroad was completed on this date in 1869. The project had been discussed since the 1830’s when Europeans were [Read More]

I could never imagine that sea currents are strong enough to wash a motorbike across the entire Pacific Ocean. Read this amazing story. TOKYO (AP)—It must have been a wild ride. Japanese media say a Harley-Davidson motorcycle lost in last year’s tsunami has washed up on a Canadian island about 6,400 kilometers (4,000 miles) away. The rusted [Read More]