Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
A very special welcome to WFM from Apple Far From Tree. Thanks for helping to stir up the pot a bit. The "Why Everyone Hates Republicans but Eventually Marries One" link is a fascinating read.
As you mentioned, it was your initial "job loss" chart that inspired this blog. It seems that nothing gets the troops motivated like some good old-fashioned data that shows how Obama is steering things in the right direction, So I thought I would post this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/8626041.stm
As you mentioned, it was your initial "job loss" chart that inspired this blog. It seems that nothing gets the troops motivated like some good old-fashioned data that shows how Obama is steering things in the right direction, So I thought I would post this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/8626041.stm
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Why Everyone Hates Republicans, Yet Eventually Everyone Marries One
An interesting article from a funny source:
http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/2010/03/30/the-democrats-are-doomed-or-how-a-big-tent-can-be-too-big/
I'll get off my 3 post soapbox now.
http://blog.okcupid.com/index.php/2010/03/30/the-democrats-are-doomed-or-how-a-big-tent-can-be-too-big/
I'll get off my 3 post soapbox now.
Statistics on statistics: "Did you know?"
I almost forgot to say something about that graph, and graphs and statistics in general.
Did you know that the average person has one testicle and one ovary? Amazing!!!
Did you know that the average person has one testicle and one ovary? Amazing!!!
Just your friendly neighborhood socialist checking in
Hey everyone,
I'm a friend of Son's from Andover. I'm also the guy who posted that jobs graph which Son pulled from Facebook that seems to have started this whole internet conflict. Good times!
I haven't read any of the prior comments yet, so I'll catch up on the family drama after I post this, but I wanted to stir up the H2O a little with this article:
http://money.cnn.com/2010/04/13/markets/markets_newyork/index.htm
While G.W. Bush (a P.A. alum!) DID start the bank bailout, which might be credited for the recovery that Obama pushed along, he also massively drove up the war debt and initiated the $1 trillion prescription drugs for seniors plan, and continued Clinton's decidedly "liberal" "housing for all" policy that led to the subprime crisis.
The same Clinton who, of course, repealed Glass-Steagall.
Because of these two guys, I have no idea if I'm a Democrat or a Republican!
As for my qualifications to talk turkey: they are meager, but there was an economics professor at Andover, Dr. Strudwick, who was certainly the best economics teacher I have ever had....by a long shot. He taught me about the New Deal, corporate welfare/socialism, why the lottery is really a tax on poor people, how paying people to dig ditches and fill them up again effects the economy, and so many other things that I feel I could do a credible (but very poor) job as Fed Chief or Treasury Secretary. I at least know the forest from the trees! Andover was a fantastic education, and college and grad school were such anti-climactic letdowns that I am going to make my kids justify going to either before I spend a dime on them. At least if they have the privilege of attending Andover first.
I would be rude if I didn't end this post by thanking "Father" for graciously letting us use his property in western New Jersey for an Andover graduation party which was as fun as parties get. Do I remember most of it? Not really......and that's what made it so fun.
Thanks for letting me in on this debate!
-WFM
P.S., I am back to being an official resident of The Jerz Dawg (as I call N.J. these days), so if any of you are around, we can put up fisticuffs when things get heated.
I'm a friend of Son's from Andover. I'm also the guy who posted that jobs graph which Son pulled from Facebook that seems to have started this whole internet conflict. Good times!
I haven't read any of the prior comments yet, so I'll catch up on the family drama after I post this, but I wanted to stir up the H2O a little with this article:
http://money.cnn.com/2010/04/13/markets/markets_newyork/index.htm
While G.W. Bush (a P.A. alum!) DID start the bank bailout, which might be credited for the recovery that Obama pushed along, he also massively drove up the war debt and initiated the $1 trillion prescription drugs for seniors plan, and continued Clinton's decidedly "liberal" "housing for all" policy that led to the subprime crisis.
The same Clinton who, of course, repealed Glass-Steagall.
Because of these two guys, I have no idea if I'm a Democrat or a Republican!
As for my qualifications to talk turkey: they are meager, but there was an economics professor at Andover, Dr. Strudwick, who was certainly the best economics teacher I have ever had....by a long shot. He taught me about the New Deal, corporate welfare/socialism, why the lottery is really a tax on poor people, how paying people to dig ditches and fill them up again effects the economy, and so many other things that I feel I could do a credible (but very poor) job as Fed Chief or Treasury Secretary. I at least know the forest from the trees! Andover was a fantastic education, and college and grad school were such anti-climactic letdowns that I am going to make my kids justify going to either before I spend a dime on them. At least if they have the privilege of attending Andover first.
I would be rude if I didn't end this post by thanking "Father" for graciously letting us use his property in western New Jersey for an Andover graduation party which was as fun as parties get. Do I remember most of it? Not really......and that's what made it so fun.
Thanks for letting me in on this debate!
-WFM
P.S., I am back to being an official resident of The Jerz Dawg (as I call N.J. these days), so if any of you are around, we can put up fisticuffs when things get heated.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Equally Guilty
Youngest Daughter,
Please don't misinterpret my statements - they were not meant to blame Obama and praise Republicans for their now nonexistent "fiscal conservatism." If you read my first post, you would know that I don't consider myself a Republican, at least as the party stands now, for I believe it has moved far from its roots of small government and personal freedoms - the principles of the Constitution.
In fact, everyone in the government is equally guilty. You'll notice that the selection of bad estimates I provided were from all different periods, both under Republican and Democratic control. My point is simple - the government tends to drastically underestimate the costs of its projects. Thus, you have actually strengthened my point, so I thank you. I will certainly add your example of the Bush administration being off by a factor of 39 to my list of evidence opposed to the health care estimates.
Regardless, it's all unsustainable, and we will pay the price eventually. While we're talking about unfunded liabilities of government programs, how about the $107 Trillion of unfunded Social Security liabilities, a number which is actually growing (grew $5 Trillion last year) or the $89 Trillion in unfunded Medicare liabilities. It's all absolutely ludicrous, and it amazes me that people seem to shrug these issues off.
Our problems are not linked any particular policy, or person, or party - it is a more fundamental flaw in our philosophy regarding government and it's role in society. Each new leader and new policy simply fouls up the situation worse than it was going off of flawed principles, trying to legislate away our problems.
I hope that I'm wrong and the situation is not this dismal, but I can't make myself believe it. Only time will tell
-- John Galt
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