One of the most important swing states in American politics is Ohio.  It’s been almost half a century—when John F. Kennedy was elected in 1960—since anyone became President of the United States without winning the vote in the Buckeye State. 1  In the 2008 election, Ohio cast 20 electoral votes, the seventh highest number of... »

Back in 1987, I was working retail for a company that was then a major foreign exchange and precious metals dealer.  A non-descript man entered the office with his family.  The man, who was wearing a flannel shirt one might use for garden work, asked me what our price to buy gold was.  I... »

It’s in vogue for commentators to warn that the booming federal deficit will cause hyperinflation.  However, these commentators rarely acknowledge counterbalancing forces that make this scenario—out of control inflation far beyond run-of-the-mill price increases—unlikely. The first flaw in these alarmist arguments is the presumption that the budget deficit the United States is now running is... »