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Friday, August 31, 2012

Chasing Swingers, Not Specifics

Chasing Swingers, Not Specifics:

Because it is effectively all white, the GOP is compelled to send out a revolving door of minority pols and businessmen to affirm the party’s nonexistent multiracial bona fides. Because it denies women’s reproductive rights and fears their sexuality, it must trot out a phalanx of female officials. Because it seeks to deport undocumented immigrants brought here as children, it must affirm the nation’s immigrant roots. Because its economic policies favor the rich, every speaker must assure listeners that his parents or her grandparents or their great-uncle twice removed once hauled coal without a bucket in the world’s dankest mine. And because Mitt Romney is a private-equity guy more comfortable with numbers than people, we must hear—from his lips and dozens of others—that he’s been a great dad, grandpa, husband, son, co-worker, neighbor, sports fan, and uncle.

Thomas Kuhn: the man who changed the way the world looked at science | Science | The Observer

Thomas Kuhn: the man who changed the way the world looked at science | Science | The Observer

Who Wears the Pants in This Economy?

Who Wears the Pants in This Economy? - NYTimes.com

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Stimulus thinking: Adventures in tea-party cognitive dissonance

Stimulus thinking: Adventures in tea-party cognitive dissonance | The Economist

why politicians lie



Because they can:
Fact-Checkers Are No Match For Romney and Ryan:

" Asked about the controversy later, Bush's press secretary, Peter Teeley, made a stunning statement. "You can say anything you want during a debate, and 80 million people hear it." And what if reporters then wrote stories demonstrating that the candidate had lied? "So what?" Teeley responded. "'Maybe 200 people read it or 2,000 or 20,000."

China in Revolt

China in Revolt | Jacobin

Six Degrees of Separation from a Chinese Reality in Cozy Waltham,

Six Degrees of Separation from a Chinese Reality in Cozy Waltham, MA | Balding's World

"China is Okay" by Stephen S. Roach | Project Syndicate

A stopped clock is right twice a day.
When China bounces back Roach will be correct.

"China is Okay" by Stephen S. Roach | Project Syndicate

Gordon on Growth

The Grumpy Economist: Gordon on Growth

Noahpinion: American growth could be higher than the pessimists think!

Noahpinion: American growth could be higher than the pessimists think!

Republicans can end 15 years of US stupidity - FT.com

Copywriter wrote the wrong headline. Should read "Republicans are responsible for 15 years of US stupidity"

Republicans can end 15 years of US stupidity - FT.com

Friday, August 24, 2012

Another Chinese bridge collapses

The comments are amazing. About evenly split (if I interpret the snark correctly) between those that believe that the level of regulation in China trumps the US and those that do not.

Another Chinese bridge collapses

World Trade Center Rebuild - The Truth About the World Trade Center

World Trade Center Rebuild - The Truth About the World Trade Center - Esquire

China Bridge Collapse Raises Infrastructure Concerns

China Bridge Collapse Raises Infrastructure Concerns - NYTimes.com

Galt, Gold and Gold - NYTimes.com

Galt, Gold and Gold - NYTimes.com:

"This last point is important. In pushing for draconian cuts in Medicaid, food stamps and other programs that aid the needy, Mr. Ryan isn’t just looking for ways to save money. He’s also, quite explicitly, trying to make life harder for the poor — for their own good. In March, explaining his cuts in aid for the unfortunate, he declared, “We don’t want to turn the safety net into a hammock that lulls able-bodied people into lives of dependency and complacency, that drains them of their will and their incentive to make the most of their lives.”

Romney’s Management Fee Conversions

No end to greed and crony capitalism.

Romney’s Management Fee Conversions � A Taxing Blog

Monday, August 20, 2012

David Leonhardt's List of Causes of Inequality is Too Short | Beat the Press

David Leonhardt's List of Causes of Inequality is Too Short | Beat the Press

Peter Orszag Questions Private Health Insurance Competition. So Where Was He During the ACA Debate? | FDL Action

Single payer works.

Peter Orszag Questions Private Health Insurance Competition. So Where Was He During the ACA Debate? | FDL Action

As a Harvard Alum, I Apologize - James Fallows

As a Harvard Alum, I Apologize - James Fallows - The Atlantic

Golf: Augusta National Invites Condoleezza Rice, Darla Moore to Join

"Filed in the better late than never, but shocking is a headline in 2012 "file.

Golf: Augusta National Invites Condoleezza Rice, Darla Moore to Join - WSJ.com

The Great Factor Substitution,

No, productivity growth is good. It is about how that benefit is distributed.

The Great Factor Substitution, Arnold Kling | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty

Romney's Race-Based Initiative

Romney's Race-Based Initiative:

Obama too. The campaign is about race

"the fate of his campaign hinges in part on his vote share among working-class whites. Obama lost this group by 18 percent in 2008, but they turned on Democrats by 30 points in 2010, handing Republicans control of the House. If Obama gets around 38 percent of the white vote in 2012, he should hold his spot in the White House."

Immigration and Skilled Workers : The New Yorker

Immigration and Skilled Workers : The New Yorker

Niall, the British Empire is over. Accept it.

Noahpinion: Niall, the British Empire is over. Accept it.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Small Government or Smallish-Sort-of-Mediumish-Nicer-Better Government | The Baseline Scenario

Small Government or Smallish-Sort-of-Mediumish-Nicer-Better Government | The Baseline Scenario:

 In the longer term, Democrats should be worried, because Romney and Ryan have the better debating position. Their position is simple and superficially compelling: Government is bad. (Cf. the DMV—it’s state, not federal, and the one in Massachusetts works very well, but whatever; BATF; EPA; IRS; whatever agency your audience happens to dislike. Compare to Apple as if all private sector businesses were like Apple.) Government infringes on individual liberty. Cut down the government and we will have (a) more liberty, (b) more economic growth, and (c) lower taxes.

Striking Caterpillar Workers Ratify Contract Offer - NYTimes.com

Striking Caterpillar Workers Ratify Contract Offer - NYTimes.com:

What is wrong with America:

"The compensation of its chief executive, Douglas R. Oberhelman, increased by 60 percent in 2011, to $16.9 million."

Friday, August 17, 2012

Does America Get the Campaigns It Deserves?

Does America Get the Campaigns It Deserves?:

" If you're an undecided voter who could actually be swayed to change your vote by a TV ad about some stupid thing one of the candidates said, then let's be honest: you're kind of an imbecile."

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Steve Sailer's iSteve Blog: A Ryder Cup for basketball?

Steve Sailer's iSteve Blog: A Ryder Cup for basketball?

If You're Looking for a Job, Get Out of Your Own Way - John Lees - Harvard Business Review

If You're Looking for a Job, Get Out of Your Own Way - John Lees - Harvard Business Review

on Translation

David Bellos, Arthur Goldhammer, and Lydia Davis on Translation : The New Yorker

The benefits of learning a second language

The benefits of learning a second language

The Romney Files: From Bain to Boston to White House Bid |

The Romney Files: From Bain to Boston to White House Bid | The Big Picture

“Budget Hero” – Public Media’s Most Despicable Financial Propaganda | The Big Picture

“Budget Hero” – Public Media’s Most Despicable Financial Propaganda | The Big Picture

Amid Insider Trading Inquiry, Tiger Asia Calls It Quits -


One reason why hedge fund returns have stalled; insider trading is now prosecuted.

Amid Insider Trading Inquiry, Tiger Asia Calls It Quits - NYTimes.com

A Kalashnikov Factory in Russia Survives on Sales to U.S. Gun Owners - NYTimes.com

A Kalashnikov Factory in Russia Survives on Sales to U.S. Gun Owners - NYTimes.com:


"American hunters" Perfect for shooting rabbits.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Guide to raising your hand in class

Guide to raising your hand in class | The Incidental Economist

When Did the GOP Lose Touch With Reality?

When Did the GOP Lose Touch With Reality?:

" This past summer, the GOP nearly forced America to the verge of default just to score a point in a budget debate. In the throes of the worst economic crisis since the Depression, Republican politicians demand massive budget cuts and shrug off the concerns of the unemployed. In the face of evidence of dwindling upward mobility and long-stagnating middle-class wages, my party’s economic ideas sometimes seem to have shrunk to just one: more tax cuts for the very highest earners. When I entered Republican politics, during an earlier period of malaise, in the late seventies and early eighties, the movement got most of the big questions—crime, inflation, the Cold War—right. This time, the party is getting the big questions disastrously wrong."

Looks Like Ryan: Mitt's Romney's Vice-Presidential Pick

Looks Like Ryan: Mitt's Romney's Vice-Presidential Pick : The New Yorker

The Degree and Origin of Foreign Language Competence,

The Degree and Origin of Foreign Language Competence, Bryan Caplan | EconLog | Library of Economics and Liberty:

It was tough.

"To get your kids in the "speak a foreign language very well/ learned it in the childhood home" box, you typically need to speak to them in that foreign language almost exclusively.� Unless you strongly prefer to speak that foreign language, that's a heavy burden."

ataxingmatter: Romney's tax returns--what we do know (Part VI)

ataxingmatter: Romney's tax returns--what we do know (Part VI)

Down With Shareholder Value

Down With Shareholder Value - NYTimes.com

Tuesday, August 07, 2012

The sports of yesteryear

Daily chart Olympics: The sports of yesteryear | The Economist

Inflation?

TheMoneyIllusion � Inflation?

Brad DeLong: Things Wrong with Hassett, Hubbard, Mankiw, and Taylor, "The Romney Program for Economic Recovery, Growth, and Jobs"

Brad DeLong: Things Wrong with Hassett, Hubbard, Mankiw, and Taylor, "The Romney Program for Economic Recovery, Growth, and Jobs"

Mars Rover Should Not Get So Much Attention, Say Higgs-Boson Scientists : The New Yorker

Mars Rover Should Not Get So Much Attention, Say Higgs-Boson Scientists : The New Yorker

Can Hospital Chains Improve the Medical Industry?

Can Hospital Chains Improve the Medical Industry? : The New Yorker

Google Googles 'Higher Yield,' Finds Auto Bonds -

Sign of the apocalypse: All those smart guys at google cannot find stuff to invest in. So they buy bonds.
Where are our driverless cars?

Google Googles 'Higher Yield,' Finds Auto Bonds - WSJ.com

Single Tree Kills Power in Greenwich

In the richest town in America, infrastructure is still neglected.

Single Tree Kills Power in Greenwich - NYTimes.com