great education in economics

The last two weeks have been unavoidable opportunities to get familiar with economics -- and what a learning curve it has been:

• witnessing partisan politics in action,

with late night, backroom deals and public hand-wringing and arm-twisting,

• the so-called "urgent" $700 billion bailout,
  

• the historic stock market plummet after the rescue bailout was a done deal
  

• Add to that, the excitement and distress in international markets;
  

• commodity prices dropping the limit day after day

(of great concern in this county where agriculture is the main industry.)

• And crude oil --
  

prices on crude oil falling so fast local gas stations post new, lower prices daily.

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We have discussed the workings of USA capitalism, especially methods of raising capital, the stock exchange, commodities markets, and proper use of credit; of globalization and its effects on our daily life; and looked for opportunities to cut personal expenditures . . .