Category Archives: Economics

The meaning of money: Buddhism

Posted on April 3, 2023 by odeboyz

The dollar bill is only a dollar bill, as opposed to a bookmark, because the United States Treasury so designates it. Buddhist Philosophy (p. 27). Oxford University Press. Kindle Edition. Buddhists believe that nothing has any meaning outside a specific … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Oliver Bullough ~ Butler to the World: How Britain became the servant of tycoons, tax dodgers, kleptocrats and criminals (2023)

Posted on March 27, 2023 by odeboyz

The ‘City of London’ is short-hand for financial wizardry and is, allegedly, the ‘powerhouse’ of Britain. What the ‘City’ wants the ‘City’ gets in terms of legislation and government assistance. They are free-market warriors until things go sour. Once the … Continue reading →

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Bertrand Russell on saving money: 1932

Posted on March 16, 2023 by odeboyz

One of the commonest things to do with savings is to lend them to some government. In view of the fact that the bulk of the expenditure of most civilized governments consists in payments for past wars and preparation for … Continue reading →

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Jacob Rees-Mogg: Selected Quotes

Posted on February 27, 2023 by odeboyz

On Paid Holidays and other employment benefits TUC’s Nicola Smith: “Paid holiday, paid rest breaks, rights for time off if you’ve got kids and your kids are unwell, protection from discrimination when you’re pregnant”….  “I [Rees-Mogg] don’t support all these … Continue reading →

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Rishi ‘Robin Hood’ Sunak strikes again

Posted on January 16, 2023 by odeboyz
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Britain’s Fantasy Economics 1530-2016: a short history

Posted on December 8, 2022 by odeboyz

British governments from Henry VIII to David Cameron funded unaffordable aspirations by using other people’s money. This tactic is increasingly difficult to achieve as time passes. British politicians, nonetheless, are addicted to sources of revenue which are unconventional. They believe … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Patrick Radden Keefe ~ Empire of Pain: The secret history of the Sackler Dynasty (2021)

Posted on December 1, 2022 by odeboyz

The concept of legal drug-pushing has been a feature of USA medicine for at least thirty years. Prescription drugs are allegedly tightly controlled but Keefe demonstrates the system was perverted. The corruption was orchestrated by the Sackler Family but other … Continue reading →

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How to be generous at Christmas

Posted on November 24, 2022 by odeboyz

“showing a readiness to give more of something, especially money, than is strictly necessary or expected”1 Generous gifts at Christmas are a balancing act between social duty, economics and expectations. In the definition (above) ‘more’ is important. A generous person … Continue reading →

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21st Century quasi-slave labour in Asia

Posted on October 27, 2022 by odeboyz

While poor urban children are still treated as slaves or indentured labor, some of their fathers remain little more than draught animals. The rickshaw has always been a notorious emblem of the degradation of labor in Asia. Invented in Japan … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Mike Davis ~ Planet of Slums (2006)

Posted on September 19, 2022 by odeboyz

For a smug Westerner like me this book is a punch in the face. Britain is currently, September 2022, obsessed by massive increases in energy bills. I too whine and demand support from the government to maintain my entitlements. Clearly, … Continue reading →

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