http://ycharts.com/indicators/real_gdp_growth Real GDP significantly below your 2.9% figure. We ain't getting the growth, so we don't have any turnover in the money. It's sitting in bonds, and corporate bank accounts.

I disagree with your comparison of China/Taiwan and US/Cuba. The Chinese are an oppressive communist power and Taiwan is a capitalist society. It's the reverse with the US and Cuba. If Cuba wasn't a communist state, it wouldn't be in the shape its in. The US embargo has nothing to do with their lack of prosperity. If the embargo was ended, would Cuba be in statistically significantly better shape? Or would the surplus from added trade go into the pockets of the dictator and his friends? I agree, the embargo at this point is a stalemate. It's more political than anything else. But ending the stalemate won't bring economic efficiency in Cuba, and it won't raise standards of living there.

I would like to see studies of govt run education, and voucher education to see what happens.

The idea of a Basic Income Guarantee is running around the internet now. http://pointsandfigures.com/2013/12/15/basic-income-guarantee-capitalism-limits/ Would love to see you guys weigh in on a United States basic income guarantee.

My perception of you as a judge is a strict constructionist when it comes to Constitutional law. (I might be incorrect, and please accept my apologies if I am wrong). My question is this: As a judge, would you be activist from the bench to discourage patent troll activity?

I disagree Chris. There really is only one tangible way to measure the success/failure of college and that is how you do financially. I agree, you should learn something-and I'd like to see data adjusted for majors, prestige of schools etc. But it' s plain. Go and graduate, do better. In the Recession/Depression, college grads were not unemployed as much as non college grads.

interesting as traditionally the SEC is a rules based regulator, while the CFTC uses principles. The CFTC has a less fragmented marketplace that is more robust, and creates more equality among its users. It might be better to throw all the rules out-since they have been lobbied-and all the discretion out since it's lobbied and offer up the entire place to a wild west marketplace with the players setting the rules through their actions and interactions.

I seriously have been a trader for a billion years. David is right. Ping me if you want more in depth analysis. There may be a lot we can do together.

I think that Prof Delong misses the broader point. It was the govt response to the downturn. Bailing out banks, car companies, cash for clunkers, and passing a massive stimulus was the problem. On that Friedman and he would disagree.