Discussions on how to save the Euro union are partly focused on the idea of issuing Euro-wide bonds, backed by the union as a whole, which would take advantage of the economic strengths of German and other core countries. France’s new President Hollande has proposed this, supported by the IMF and others, but the Germans remain strongly opposed. Euro-wide bonds are likely necessary but are not sufficient to hold the Euro union together.

Washington Post columnist correctly notes that OECD nations provide equal or better health care but at a fraction of the cost paid by the US. But he then ignores the obvious conclusion — that we should adopt one of their proven systems — and instead claims that an unproven and unlikely scheme using vouchers to private insurers would work.

Looks like the dictum, “Work hard and get ahead,” is another myth gone bust, along with the other pretty bubbles that make up the American Dream.

A new three-year study deflates the notion of social mobility in the United States. Because the gap between the wealthiest and poorest is larger in the United States than in 30 other developed nations, our ability to improve our economic status is less than that of the United Kingdom.