On the economy etc

A couple of interesting pieces from the US NCPA Daily Digest today;

This one describes another massive waste of money targeted at the poor - subsidies for energy use in low income homes (that'd be a favourite for the Greens on the back of the ETS no doubt).

And the second describes the obvious and less obvious effects of persistent unemployment.

Loosely related to the US service sector continuing to stumble along, have you noticed how many retailers here are literally giving stuff away? I ventured into a shop I normally wouldn't simply because they had a sign in the window that nothing was over $19-95 (and no, it wasn't the Two Dollar shop). Yesterday, at the Warehouse, I purchased a good quality (Wiltshire) can opener for less than half price and had a further item entered 'free'. I was expecting to pay full price for each.

Seems to me that many retailers are desperate to generate cash flow. Or the wholesalers are throwing stuff at them at ridiculous prices.