Come the Dawn

Posted on 19 September 2011 by Erik Hare | 14 Comments

You wake up in the middle of the night for no apparent reason. There are simply too many things going through your mind to be able to sleep through the quiet hours of the night. A trip to the kitchen and a few moments staring out the window at a dark and peaceful world aren’t quite enough. The stillness envelopes you and your world as a threat, not a moment of peace warm in bed.

Nothing really changes at that time of night – it’s always up to the next morning to make something happen. Welcome to a new kind of Morning in America, the day after a sleepless night.

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The Next Economy

Posted on 16 September 2011 by Erik Hare | 28 Comments

The economy is in transition. Many of you think we’re headed straight downward, but there’s always a chance that better times lie ahead. But what will the next economy look like? Barataria has always taken a punt on this, stating that no one can possibly know what the Free Market™ will do. But over time a few trends have become clear and we can be sure that a few changes are coming.

Why does this matter? Because the sooner we can prepare for the next economy the sooner we can master it – and make the next business cycle one of prosperity for everyone. There is work to do, but we have only started to do it.

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The Gig Economy

Posted on 14 September 2011 by Erik Hare | 20 Comments

You wake up, go to work, put in your 8 hours and go home. If that is the numbing grind you want to break out of, you might want to consider yourself lucky. Millions of Americans have taken on a series of part-time jobs that add up to something like a living as they juggle their schedules. But for an uncounted many, work comes one assignment at a time as they scramble constantly to find the next small job that will take them to the next mortgage payment or even the next meal. These are the millions of workers in the Gig Economy.

How many? It may be as much as a third of the workforce, but no one is really sure. Uncertainty defines this trend from the daily routine right up to the future of the economy as a whole. Managing any aspect of this emerging world is made much more difficult as a result.

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A Spirit, not an Event

Posted on 12 September 2011 by Erik Hare | 12 Comments

The tenth anniversary of 9/11 was nearly impossible to avoid. Coverage of remembrances dominated the news, special features dotted the cable teevee lineup, and star spangled displays opened a season of NFL football. The most pressing moments for me, however, were the questions of my kids who were too young on that day to remember it. The stories that washed over the nation have come to them as small sprays from a quieted tide that still runs a bit angry at times.

Like many news events, clarity came through their eyes. It has to, after all, since much of this will define their generation. There is a unity that will also never be forgotten.

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American Jobs Act

Posted on 9 September 2011 by Erik Hare | 19 Comments

President Obama says of his “American Jobs Act” that “There should be nothing controversial about this piece of legislation. Everything in here is the kind of proposal that’s been supported by both Democrats and Republicans.” That seems like a very fair statement on the face of it. There’s nothing about this package that is particularly new or bold in any way at all – it represents a minimal effort to create jobs.

The latest proposal is almost certainly what Obama thought he could get passed more than what the economy really needs. Let’s see if even that is possible before we get too excited.

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