Government Ownership of the Means of Production

A core principle of Marxism—the socialist system upon which is founded the more authoritarian political systems of communism and progressive fascism—is government ownership of the means of production. This economic policy, aimed as a dagger at capitalism, happens to be the avant garde economic policy position taken a couple of times now by the Trump administration. It is the same position advocated in the larger context by the self-described communist candidate, Zohran Mamdani, who is running for mayor of New York City.

The Jobs Numbers Have Been Fake All Along

The Bureau of Labor Statistics this morning released new revised benchmark payroll totals used for estimating employment in the United States. The new revisions adjusted payrolls, for the year-long period ending in March 2025, downward by 911,000. That’s the largest downward revision on record, and the biggest since 2009, in the midst of the Great Recession. (The final figures for the period are due early next year.) 

Of Tomatoes and Tariffs

Are tomatoes a fruit or a vegetable? While some may have different answers to this mostly lighthearted question, at one point in time it was taken up by the United States Supreme Court. Despite its seemingly amusing aspects, the story of Nix v. Hedden is one which has implications for those concerned with big government and the challenges of reform, while also providing a unique window into late-nineteenth century American politics.