Some Interesting Articles on the Web (August 10, 2014)

Argentina:

“Argentina: Unresolved debts.” Financial Times article by Benedict Mander, Elaine Moore and John Paul Rathbone.

“Argentina’s Griesafault.” Post at Project Syndicate by Joseph E. Stiglitz and Martin Guzman.

“Argentina files legal action against the US at The Hague over debt default.” Reuters article in The Guardian.

“Argentina Sues U.S. in International Court of Justice Over Debt Dispute.” Wall Street Journal article by Ken Parks.

“Argentina CDS holders await auction detail.” International Financing Review article by Helen Bartholomew.

The CIA and the Senate Intelligence Committee Report on “Enhanced Interrogation Techniques”:

“C.I.A. Hires Yossarian to Censor Torture Report.” Andrew Rosenthal blog post for The New York Times.

Miscellaneous:

“The Latest Obamacare ‘Glitch’ Isn't a Glitch At All—and It’s Democrats’ Fault.” New Republic article by Brian Beutler.

“Paying Ransoms, Europe Bankrolls Qaeda Terror.” New York Times article by Rukmini Callimachi posted on July 29.

“Inequality Is a Drag.” Paul Krugman column in The New York Times.

“No, America Is Not Turning Libertarian.” Jonathan Chait of New York magazine.

“Obama Is on a Pro-Labor Roll: The president just signed the most important workers’ rights reform of the past 20 years.” Emily Bazelon writing for Slate.

“Washington: Less Red Ink.” A 1983 Milton Friedman article in support of a balanced budget amendment. In this article, he writes that he is more concerned about the level of spending than how it is financed.

“…I have written repeatedly that while I would prefer that the budget be balanced, I would rather have government spend $500 billion and run a deficit of $100 billion than have it spend $800 billion with a balanced budget. It matters greatly how the budget is balanced, whether by cutting spending or by raising taxes.

“In my eyes, the chief merit of the amendment recommended by the Senate Judiciary Committee is precisely that it does limit spending…”

As one listens or participates in debates on “entitlements,” other government spending, and taxes, one should keep in mind what the real issue is for many people, the appropriate role and size of the federal government.