The spirit of the season is upon us. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday at our backs, rounding out those holiday wish lists for loved ones will consume the collective American conscious. With all of these efforts brought about by the desire to bring a smile to someone’s face, the wonder and awe of the Christmas season is truly something to be thankful for. But as chestnuts are roasting on my open fire, peppermint snow mocha’s cease to leave my hand and mistletoe is strategically placed around my home, I would be remiss if I failed to do the right thing: confront the deadweight loss of Christmas.

The Group of 20 (G20) met in Scotland over the weekend, bringing together central bankers and financiers of nineteen countries, and the European Union (EU). The collection of nations constitute 80% of world trade and two-thirds of the world’s population. (1) Discussions of “re-balancing” the world economy have taken place over the last few months by members of the G20; those sentiments continued this weekend in St. Andrews, but apparently only in general terms. (2)

Social costs are not being reduced by the bailout, they’re being dispersed: to the taxpayer, to everyone who earns or saves the U.S. dollar and to unborn generations of Americans.

While lawmakers rush to “fix” current economic problems, Ron Paul asks us to consider why we’re here in the first place.

An intriguing question comes to mind: why do so many people, hate math so much? We can rattle off some of those reasons: they’re not good at it; they don’t have a numbers mind; they’re more of a musical person (genius of rhythm); and many more. There are plenty of acceptable reasons not to be proficient in math. Strangely, in our society, dismissing math as a skill one should learn, is tolerated. In fact, it’s fashionable.

With a failed dollar we’d have far more church-going citizens eager to stockpile communion crackers. And for the altruistic of the local tribes, the communion crackers might end up back in the offering basket.

Credit, please stop masquerading as capital. Real capital comes from savings. A person or a government lives within their means, pays their expenses, burns through some money just for fun, and has some cash left over. The remaining sums are called savings. Savings then can be invested, stuffed in a mattress, or used as canvases to turn Andrew Jackson’s sideburns into a chin strap beard. Meet capital.

Mr. Geithner paid his back taxes from 2001-2004, paid the interest, but did not pay the penalty fee. That was waived by the IRS, the organization Geithner now runs as Treasury Secretary. This has business owners and employees alike wondering, “Can I get a piece of the ‘Geithner Rule?’”