Here a VAT, etc., part three

October 3, 2016

See the update at the foot of the story. In the first and second stories in this series, I described how the international trading system is stacked against US manufacturing workers, and that much of it is our own fault. Or more accurately, it is because we want it that way. The neo-liberal elites who […]

by Steve Timmer

Here a VAT, etc., part two

October 2, 2016

Now with an update at the foot of the story. (10/3) And a second update. (10/4) In an earlier story, I wrote about value added taxes everywhere but the US, and how they can disadvantage US business. There is much more to this story, of course. One of the first thing we must realize is what […]

by Steve Timmer

Here a VAT; there a VAT; everywhere a VAT VAT

September 30, 2016

I had an animated conversation with someone recently about value added taxes, arising in part out of Donald Trump’s mention of them in the recent debate as a disadvantage to the United States. My conversation partner said VAT was neutral, since everyone selling in a market pays them. I said that’s true as far as […]

by Steve Timmer

Brian, is there lint in that media navel?

September 22, 2016

He don’t need no stinkin’ badges

by Steve Timmer

It’ll probably be moot, anyway

September 20, 2016

Update 9/25: (If you haven’t read the original story, you might want to scroll down and do that first, before reading this update.) There was a hearing on Sandra Grazzini-Rucki’s petition last Thursday. Her attorney Michelle MacDonald explained to the court that her client was indisposed and could not be there, having been hauled off […]

by Steve Timmer

It’s a puzzle

September 13, 2016

The Minnesota Court of Appeals issued a decision yesterday in the case of Range Development Company of Chisholm v. Star Tribune. (It would be interesting to check sometime to see if the plaintiff here is a beneficiary of the IRRRB’s largess. I imagine it is.) It was of interest to me because it involves newspapers, the […]

by Steve Timmer

Equity will not stoop to pick up pins

September 11, 2016

Update, 9/12: The Court went with the laches argument. One of the great things about law school (and there are many; I loved law school) was being introduced to equitable maxims. There is a pithy and often funny equitable maxim for almost any proposition you could advance. I think they stand as a stalwart defense […]

by Steve Timmer

Let the sun shine in

September 8, 2016

There have been multiple calls recently for some sunshine on the PolyMet permitting process before the Department of Natural Resources. Sunshine would take the form of appointing an administrative law judge from the Office of Administrative Hearings who would hold hearings on the permit to mine. A record would be made — a public record — and […]

by Steve Timmer

Leave the Clintons alone, or the AIDS kid gets it

August 30, 2016

The headline is harsh, I recognize. But it is only a shorter, somewhat editorialized version of the op-ed piece in the Strib, written by Sharon Schmickle, a former reporter at the paper. Don’t dismantle the Clinton Foundation, Schmickle pleads; it does good work. And she quotes the entirely impartial Donna Shalala: Shalala says that only the Clintons can do […]

by Steve Timmer

The Fifteen Dollar minimum wage

August 29, 2016

This is a cross post from the professor’s blog, Schultz’s Take. The case is set to be heard in the Minnesota Supreme Court tomorrow. After the story, I have a few observations. Steve – o O o – The decision to place the $15 minimum wage on the ballot in Minneapolis is up to the […]

by David Schultz

The dog in the manger

August 21, 2016

And the guy who wants to bunk in with him

by Steve Timmer

Noor or Kahn? a reprise

August 7, 2016

There is nothing new under the sun

by Steve Timmer