Many grocery stores, nudged by government legislation and environmental concerns, now charge 5 cents for each plastic bag used to pack groceries. But the side effect may be the creation of a health hazard.

“We are in the midst of a sea change in U.S. hegemonic influence in political, financial and economic spheres. American financial, economic and political power has peaked,” writes Sherry Cooper, chief economist with the BMO Financial Group (as quoted in Jeff Sanford’s column). Really? Is it all that bad?