Random Ramblings from Doctor Webb

Doc doesn't have a personal physician right now thanks to an overly zealous medical board in the state of California (hey, everyone has a few bad days now and then), but I do have my own doctor nonetheless. And that would be Dr. Joe Webb, the economist/researcher extraordinaire over at What They Think.  Dr. Joe opines on the latest economic research about the printing industry, in particular, and the economy, in general.

One of Dr. Joe's latest is an interesting read, whether you're in the printing industry or not.

I'm often asked what would turn the economy around quickly. Several things would need to occur almost in lockstep. Briefly, an end to baseline budgeting for the government, a freeze on Federal spending at 2008 current dollar levels, a cut in Federal income tax rates by 10 percentage points for each tier, all coordinated with the Fed as they increase their interest rates to at least 3%. Don't hold your breath. We're in for another six or eight years of this stuff if things just loosely follow historical precedent, and it might last longer than that.

Don't think that a repeal of Obamacare will do it either. The big question if that process happens will be what will replace it, so replacing it would be extremely contentious, and might result in a solution that is more like moving around deck chairs than anything else.

Dr. Joe chimes in on the postal service, on the Super Committee and the iPad, among other things. So Doc recommends the doctor.