Monday Mashup: Economic Stories of Relevance - Q2 2011 to today (May 2026)
The Economic Stories of Relevance articles from the second quarter of 2011 consist of a series of curated news summaries published between April and June 2011, detailing a period of profound economic instability in the United States. The reports highlight a struggling labor market characterized by high unemployment and a shift toward part-time work, alongside a housing market collapse that surpassed Great Depression levels. Multiple articles examine government and corporate corruption, specifically targeting the lack of prosecutions for financial crisis participants and the unsustainable national debt. Additional focus is placed on rising inflation for basic goods like food and fuel, which pressured middle-class households already living paycheck to paycheck. Critics within the text, such as Ron Paul and John Williams, warn of a looming currency crisis and the erosion of individual liberties through expanded federal powers. Ultimately, the collection paints a grim portrait of a nation facing systemic financial decay, widening wealth inequality, and a global shift away from American economic dominance.