Crusty Conundrum
A famous economic fable by Henry Hazlitt is the Broken Window Fallacy where folks believe that there is economic stimulus achieved by breaking the window of a baker shop forcing the owner to replace the glass. The Crusty Conundrum is my foray into economic fallacies…
Our story starts at the Ché Pizza Parlor, a new age pizza parlor in that they make socially responsible pizza and deliver them in hybrid compact cars. One day the owner was in a pinch when one of her delivery persons called off to go protest something. You see Ché Pizza provided its employees with “social justice” time much like traditional employers provided vacation or leave time. Left with no other options the owner donned her cap and started to make deliveries.
was written over thirty years ago yet addresses many of today’s problems. Written by Milton and Rose Friedman is “A Personal Statement” by two excellent economists and “unravel the mysteries of economics for the man or woman in the street (Wall Street or Main Street).” That quote from the book cover may be a little cheesy, but the Friedmans cover a variety of economic topics in an interesting and understandable manner.
As we wait to see if we get health care shoved up our posterior a subtopic is how the electorate will react to those who voted to stick it to us. I got this note from a friend:
Many years ago I was fortunate to be invited on a school trip to Gettysburg National Military Park. That trip sparked a love affair with the city and the Civil War. If you are from below the Mason-Dixon line you would call it the War Between the States. A favorite book about that era is The Killer Angels which was the basis of a favorite movie, 
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Earlier in the month in my posting, Groundswell, I provided a case that there is a true 
If you asked my family, they may describe my relationship with Costco as a special one. I do most of the grocery shopping for our family and I do most of it at Costco. I have belonged to our local store since it opened many years ago and even have a favorite parking spot (though I rarely get it). My youngest often goes with me and we enjoy snack-shopping (being fed lots of samples while we shop) and having lunch together after we shop. My chili recipe ingredients starts with two big packs of Costco ground chuck, a big pack of red peppers, a huge can of whole tomatoes, and a huge can of tomato paste (I should explain that we have a huge freezer and this recipe makes enough for about ten meals).
The begining of this Longfellow poem was used by Lord Christopher Moncton to end his address at Bethel University last week. I had never heard that poem before, but Lord Monckton told the audience that it was also used by Winston Churchill in an address to FDR as we entered World War II. It shows the deep love, respect, and hope that our country represents to many in the world. Lord Monckton also said these touching words: