Economics and Investing:

Roberta X provided a link to the USA National Gas Price Heat Map. You will note that some divisions in price ranges follow state lines. These are created by differences in state gas taxes, rather than production and transportation costs. California is mostly mapped in red and Wyoming is mostly green because of what goes on inside state capitols rather than what goes on in oil fields and refineries. And it is no coincidence that the states with the big, pretentious, and intrusive governments are in the midst of budget crises. (California, for example is nearing default.) These same states have high taxes, annual vehicle inspections, civilian disarmament (“gun control”) laws, restrictive zoning, expensive building permits, and on and on. Vote with your feet, folks. Move away from bureaucratic tyranny and toward freedom.

Brett G. sent us this item: Economists worried about U.S. inflation: survey

FBI Raids Three Hedge Funds. From what I’ve heard, discussion of basic market research has been labeled “collusion” and “insider trading”. Unfortunately, public officials in the U.S. are presently out for blood, and logic is being ignored. This situation will likely get worse before its gets better. Some have argued that the insider trading laws are fundamentally flawed.

Items from The Economatrix:

Stocks Mixed as Ireland Bailout, FBI Probe Weigh  

Treasurys Rally After Government Raises $35Billion  

Dying With Debt: A Dirty Little Retirement Secret  

Silver Sales to Surge as Investors Seek Protection, Perth Mint Forecasts  

Dollar to Become World’s Weakest Currency, JP Morgan Says