Gongol.com Archives: March 2017

March 5, 2017

Sound, sober analysis of the unsupported accusations of bad wiretapping

The Economist is a voice of reason, as usual

"There's a lack of management, and a lack of strategy."

Still in the chaos phase at the White House, it would appear

Even to shrink the Federal government, you must staff the Federal government

Reports the editorial board of the New York Times: "President Trump has appointed fewer than three dozen of the top 1,000 officials he needs to run the federal government." That's a serious problem. Even if it is accepted as an end goal to reduce the size and scope of government, it is malpractice to leave vast numbers of positions unfilled. Any orderly winding-down of government activity would still require that skilled hands be at the controls so that essential functions could be cherry-picked from among the non-essential, and to ensure that responsibilities be handed off where appropriate. Even the Civil Aeronautics Board (one of the few Federal agencies ever to be abolished) had to be wound down statutorily, not just left unstaffed.

Reasons to expect more rate hikes rather than fewer in 2017

The Federal Reserve could be more aggressive than previously expected. One reason that nobody seems to admit out loud (even if it's clearly on everyone's minds): The impact of what could be inflationary (and yet economically contractionary) fiscal policies initiated by the White House.

Maps that offer unconventional perspectives

How we represent our world in pictures does have an effect on how we perceive it

One-paragraph book review: "The Samsung Way"

A necessary profile of a company that has evolved dramatically in modern times