No one present at next week’s swearing-in ceremony of Barack Obama as president is supposed to pay a dime to attend the event. But some attendees may be paying thousands of dollars for the privilege.
politics
Election’s Over: Time to Buy a Gun!
President Barack Obama has been referred to as “salesman of the year” for the gun industry. The nickname is likely to stick around, considering that gun sales are expected to rise like a speeding bullet now that he’s been reelected.
Relief at the Pump Is Here: Biggest Drop in Gas Prices in Years
Around the country over the past week, gas prices have been dropping nearly 2¢ per day, on average. At this pace, by next summer, gas will be free!
Save Big Bird! Will Romney’s Threats Wind Up Boosting PBS Fundraising?
Mitt Romney’s comment directed at PBS during a presidential debate could present an opportunity for public broadcast to reach out to donors
Voting for Beer? Odd Election-Related Marketing Promotions
What do coffee, cookies, beer, airline flights, and organic tea have to do with the upcoming presidential election? Nothing whatsoever, really. But nowadays any major event—even one that’s potentially alienating, like the 2012 …
Should Mitt Romney Embrace His Rich-Guy Image?
Evidently feeling that our political discourse is not silly enough yet, the kind folks at National Review have given us a cover story arguing that Mitt Romney needs to fully embrace his inner Thurston Howell. And that he should …
From Chick-fil-A to Amazon, Why Companies Take a Stand on Social Issues
Last week, billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie pledged $2.5 million to help pass a referendum on same-sex marriage in Washington State. With the donation, the Bezoses became the largest public financial …
Must Be an Election Year: Bullets Are Flying Off the Shelves
Another election is approaching and it’s no coincidence that 2012 is shaping up to be a huge year for sales of bullets and guns. President Obama is even being referred to as “salesman of the year.”
Stop Fighting Over Interest Rates — There’s a Better Way For Congress To Fix the Student Debt Crisis
Interest rates on federal subsidized Stafford loans were cut from 6.8% to 3.4% during the current economic downturn. This “temporary” reduction is scheduled to expire this summer, halfway through an election year. With
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How to Get a Photo with Newt Gingrich for Free
This week, the increasingly desperate-looking presidential candidate Newt Gingrich began charging $50 a pop to anyone wishing to have a photograph taken with him. Starting on Monday in Delaware, supporters who wanted to pose with …
$4 Mark for Gas Could Be Reality in Nine States & D.C. This Week
Gas prices have soared in 2012. The national average is currently $3.80—up 50¢ since the beginning of the year, and a rise of 30¢ over the last month. There are now four states where the average gallon of regular has passed …
Curious CapitalistEconomy & Policy
Three Economic Lessons Imported From Turkey
I just returned from a week in Istanbul, where I was reporting a piece on what Turkey’s burgeoning contemporary art scene tells us about where the country is headed politically (you can look for that in our upcoming style and …