Not long ago, I sat down and had a chat with the financial advisor we have access to through work. I've always been wary of financial advisors because they oftentimes give advice based on what will make them money but because ours has a fiduciary responsibility, I decided to see what he had to say. The conversation was a bit worrisome because although I'm on the right track … [Read more...]
Animal Welfare is Smart Business in ‘The Humane Economy’
I'm a vegetarian. I wasn't always and I admit I still miss beef jerky and roast beef, but after reading Eating Animals and The Food Revolution, I knew I couldn't do it anymore. I could give you a list of emotional arguments about why I made this choice but as a fan of the mantra facts, not feelings, I'll encourage you to read The Humane Economy, instead. Because The Humane … [Read more...]
‘Saving Capitalism’ is Comprehensive and Approachable
When I was in grad school I had to take a few economics classes and the one thing that was drilled into our heads was that, practically speaking, there's no such thing as a free market. That's because the market we know exists within the confines of laws and regulations. It sparked some great discussions but the concept that a free market doesn't exist in real life … [Read more...]
‘The Thank You Economy’ and Why Manners Matter
In the town where I was born there was this great, locally owned Ace Hardware store. It was owned by the same family for as long as I could remember and they knew everyone and everything that was happening in town. My grandparents were frequent customers because they lived a few doors down and while I don't know that they were all friends, they certainly had a sense of … [Read more...]
Elizabeth Warren on the Power of Banks (Book Review)
In 2012, Elizabeth Warren burst onto the scene by winning a highly contested congressional race in Massachusetts. Her victory was part of the country's most expensive race, as well as the race that saw Massachusetts' highest voter turnout ever. Before this, however, Warren was quite active within the beltway as an advocate for consumer financial protections and as a … [Read more...]