Would shifting attitudes surprise Reagan? (Getty Images)

Government spending, in general, isn’t popular with the average American, but a new poll indicates that support for specific cuts for most programs is lower now than in 1980.
Harris Interactive’s latest flashback poll looks at views about government spending now, compared with 1980. The main question asked, “In [...]

For the past year, I have been predicting (wrongly) that the art market will correct. It defied the financial odds in part because the crisis hadn’t reached the super-rich and because a fresh wave of oligarchs and Middle Eastern sheiks hoisted their bidding paddles to save the day.

Gerhard Richter’s “Claudius” displayed at Christie’s auction house [...]

The last time we looked at our Private Jet Index, jet sales were hitting some mild headwinds.

Now, the ride is getting rougher.
According to the newly released September numbers, prepared for us by Jay Duckson, president of Central Business Jets Inc., private jet owners are selling their planes in increasing numbers.

The American public’s mood is among the darkest in the past 40 years as voters remain pessimistic about their personal financial state and blame everyone within range for the financial crisis.
The latest Journal/NBC News poll shows voters’ economic worries boosting Sen. Barack Obama as he widens his lead over Sen. John McCain, 49% to 43%. [...]

With investors getting clobbered by financial markets, it’s no surprise they’re blaming their financial advisors. But the wealthy aren’t just getting mad, they’re getting even — by pulling their money and moving it to different firms.
According to a new survey from Prince & Assoc., 81 percent of investors with $1 million or more in [...]

Reuters reports that the use of melamine is “rampant among farmers and feed-ingredient manufacturers”. The words of Sun Erwu,a feedmill owner in Hebei province, which is at the centre of the milk powder scandal, are enough to send tingles down our spine, and raise questions over what is happening to the entire food chain in [...]

Concert promoting “The Color of Love” at twocities gallery this Friday
We’re big fans of the music Steve and Jasmine have done on this album, which we’ve had the privilege of listening to in pre-release form. All the music on there is fantastic, and it’s a surprise that such simple instrumentation can still create the range [...]

Dan Harris of China Law Blog brings us an interesting take on the new pay deal Wal-Mart struck on Friday with the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) in Quanzhou, Shenyang, and Shenzhen. As reported by Forbes, the U.S. retailer operates more than 100 of its namesake stores throughout China and employs 48,589 people. [...]

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said it’s unlikely Congress could act on legislation that would significantly boost the Federal Reserve’s powers to monitor the broad U.S. financial system.

Paulson

“It would be optimum to have that kind of legislation this year, but it would be very difficult,” Paulson said in response to a question after a speech [...]