Americans like to think of their country as different from those run by military regimes. They are only fooling themselves. Ever since the federal government was converted into a national-security state after World War II (without a constitutional amendment authorizing the conversion), it has been the Pentagon, the CIA, and the NSA that have run the government, just like in countries governed by military dictatorships.

Aston Martin, “the noble company that’s been at death’s door more times in its long history than most”, in the words of one elegant British sporting journal, is going through one of the very best periods of its storied 105-year history, with a public offering being organized to crown a profitable run that has saved the day—yet again. In 2016, the carmaker, now based at sleek new Warwickshire digs a far cry from the leaky-roof “cottage” where it was camped out most of its life, hit record profits when just a year prior the company had reported close to $100 million in losses.

The actual negotiations could easily run right up to the deadline in March 2019, when Britain is due to leave. If no agreement is forthcoming by that date, both sides might agree to extend negotiations, but that only seems likely if there is a good prospect of an agreement. Otherwise, Britain leaves and falls back on WTO trading rules, or does away with tariffs altogether. This is seen by the EU negotiators as a threat to Britain, believing it is Britain which is running out of time.

Since Trump’s reduction of the corporate tax to 21%, workers across the country have been rejoicing. Companies like Wal-Mart, Apple, Bank of America, and many more have announced firm wide bonuses and minimum wage raises. To most, the tax cuts appear to be a clear success. However, some commentators, such as Dr. Veronique de Rugy at Reason, are saying not so fast.

While the world stresses about #metoo, Trump’s tweets, and other cultural nonsense, the latest Grant’s Interest Rate Observer is blunt about “the most consequential prices in capitalism — interest rates…” Rates are “stuck under the bureaucratic thumb.” There is no mystery or debate, “It’s as plain as meatloaf that something is wrong with credit.”

In November 2017, Spaniards learned that the US Secretary of Commerce had decided to tax the import of black olives — between 2.31 and 7.25 percent — because these were being sold below market price. That is, the Trump administration decided the Spaniards were guilty of “dumping“ olives.

We’ve heard many excuses from the Venezuelan state: “private property can’t not be protected under such a system,” and “schools of economics will close because we won’t need economists to control monetary policy,” and “we tried that in the past,” and “our currency is a national symbol,” and “it destroys jobs!” Many have been the sophisms spread by Venezuelan “intellectuals” and politicians over decades to demonize what should be one of the most natural market processes of a society: monetary freedom, o

For many years, property owners with vacant buildings in London, Ontario have applied for a 30 percent rebate on their property taxes. However, City Council decided to cut the rebate in half for 2018, then eliminate it entirely at year’s end.

It’s a new year and that means we are in for another year of the same rehashed political partisanship disguised as sound economic analysis.