Saturday, April 30, 2011
Gas Prices
It's annoying that our press will obsess about this issue which, while real, has no short term policy response. So, basically, fretting about something nobody can do anything about.
Friday, April 29, 2011
SUPERBUS
Reader t sent this article in about a Cleveland BRT-type system.
I've got nothing against BRT, and it certainly has the potential to have some of the benefits of rail at less cost, but the problem with BRT in practice is that there are always ways of doing it cheaper. So you start with the light rail line plan. That's too expensive. So, ok, you consider a full BRT plan with fully dedicated lanes, signal priority, etc. But then some politically connected people start complaining about the loss of a lane for automobiles in their neighborhood. Suddenly...you don't have dedicated lanes throughout the route. And, then, well, those electronic arrival signs get the axe due to more budget concerns. The point is, it's really easy to go from "cheaper version of light rail" to "just another bus system" as the process goes on.
I've got nothing against BRT, and it certainly has the potential to have some of the benefits of rail at less cost, but the problem with BRT in practice is that there are always ways of doing it cheaper. So you start with the light rail line plan. That's too expensive. So, ok, you consider a full BRT plan with fully dedicated lanes, signal priority, etc. But then some politically connected people start complaining about the loss of a lane for automobiles in their neighborhood. Suddenly...you don't have dedicated lanes throughout the route. And, then, well, those electronic arrival signs get the axe due to more budget concerns. The point is, it's really easy to go from "cheaper version of light rail" to "just another bus system" as the process goes on.
HAMP'd
As I've said many times, if the economy fails to turn around sufficiently in time for the election it will in large part due to the failure of HAMP. It was bad in that it screwed a lot of individuals and failed to help enough, but it was also bad because it failed to help the macroeconomy.
Fixing The Problems Everyone Pointed Out At The Time
I don't know why so many architects design buildings that do not accommodate people in a pleasing way and do their best to ignore their surroundings.
Even In The Most Hellish Of Urban Hellholes
Mandated parking minimums lead to ugly empty parking lots.
Won't Sink In
I'm kind of reminded of the Bush Social Security privatization plan, which aside from everything else that was wrong with it would have had a couple of trillion in transition costs. It was difficult for this little fact to ever sink in.
Liquid Sky
Sadly, this kind of petty official insanity is always gonna happen. It's easy to enforce a stupid rule. It's hard to exercise judgment. Simpler to train staff to stupidly enforce the stupid rule.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Almost Like There's Some Sort Of Conspiracy...
Enjoy your public school system while you still have it.
The Philadelphia school district may have to cut 3,800 positions in order to close a $600 million deficit. Another proposal to make up for the loss of almost $300 million in state funds this year includes eliminating free transportation to and from school.
That means no busing or free SEPTA transpasses for any students except those in special education students and those attending charter schools.
That's because state law requires the district to provide transportation to and from charter schools. But students who attend public and parochial schools next year could have to pay their own way.
Galtian Overlord Fail
Yes I'm on repeat...but the economy doesn't have to be like this. The people in charge have the knowledge, power, and ability to fix things. They have chosen not to.
A Man A Plan A Canal Panama
No the afterbirthers will never quit.
I don't think it's true of him either, but the case that John McCain doesn't qualify as a natural born citizen is actually a bit stronger. There's at least a real argument there, while with Obama it's that he's black.
I don't think it's true of him either, but the case that John McCain doesn't qualify as a natural born citizen is actually a bit stronger. There's at least a real argument there, while with Obama it's that he's black.
Lighting Taxpayer Money On Fire
This is going to be a giant FAIL.
The Christie administration, lenders and a new developer have reached a deal to revive the vast Xanadu entertainment and retail complex, which sits forlorn and unfinished along a stretch of New Jersey highway after having burned through two owners and $1.9 billion, people involved in the negotiations said Thursday.
...
The new developer, the Triple Five group, will invest more than $1 billion in the seven-year-old project. And Gov. Chris Christie has agreed to provide low-interest financing and to forgo most sales tax revenue for a period of time, according to those involved in the negotiations, who declined to be named because they did not want to be seen as upstaging the governor.
8 Is Late
I'm thinking about the problems of my local orchestra, but this applies generally to other similar artistic endeavors. I don't have kids, work at home, and live in the city within easy distance of theaters/orchestra/etc... and I find the standard 8 o'clock start time - which means home by 11ish - to be a bit late. I'm curious if earlier starting times for such events would more appealing for people, especially the work in the city but need to commute back to the burbs crowd who might be more likely to stick around after work.
Gonna Go Back In Time
It's just ridiculous to assume that a doctor would remember a baby that was born several decades ago, even a mixed race black kid with a funny name born in Hawaii in 1961.
Overhead Wires Are Worse Than Hitler
Yglesias:
I was fascinated when I came across people, mostly West Coast transplants on the East Coast, who hated overhead wires intensely. Some people raised in places where they're all buried find them bizarre and hideous.
Though it's hard to comprehend (at link) how adding some solar panels to an existing pole/wire network would be so disturbing.
It would be interesting to see if people actually preferred a pastoral view free of the accoutrements of electrification but I doubt anyone actually prefers that. Instead, the customary interjections of technology into the suburban landscape are normalized while any deviation from the postwar pattern is anathematized. Had people 100 years ago had this attitude, I suppose nobody would have telephone service or electricity at all.
I was fascinated when I came across people, mostly West Coast transplants on the East Coast, who hated overhead wires intensely. Some people raised in places where they're all buried find them bizarre and hideous.
Though it's hard to comprehend (at link) how adding some solar panels to an existing pole/wire network would be so disturbing.
Democrats Are Always Othered
Bill Clinton was a big white southern Bubba and he was also given the treatment. Obviously it's something the Right pushes, but frankly it starts with Maureen "Democrats are women except for Democratic women who are men" Dowd. They are not like you is the message that our press sends loudly every presidential campaign.
I don't give Saint McCain credit for much, but it does seem like he really did tamp down those impulses in his campaign. 2008 was not nearly as ugly as it could have been.
Onward to 2012...
I don't give Saint McCain credit for much, but it does seem like he really did tamp down those impulses in his campaign. 2008 was not nearly as ugly as it could have been.
Onward to 2012...
Galtian Overlord Fail
I spent several years thinking of creative new ways to write "George Bush sucks." Now I spend my days thinking of new and creative ways to write that our Galtian overlords don't care about unemployment and are obsessed with nonexistent inflation.
You Could Try 12th, 13th, 15th, Or 16th
I get that major road closures are disruptive, and certainly worth telling newspaper readers about, but does it really make sense to devote the lede paragraphs of an article about a street festival to the disruption to drivers?
It's not as if Broad St. is the only route through town. For your North/South driving needs, you can go to one of the many parallel roads on the street grid. It really isn't a big deal.
At 1 p.m. Friday, cars, pedestrians, and bicyclists with any common sense will have to take a detour through the heart of Center City to make way for a 200-ton crane that will lumber onto Broad Street between Locust and Pine.
Once the crane is in position, a chandelier-type contraption, recently shipped here from France, will be suspended from it. Then, at sundown, a troupe of 18 aerialists from Lyons will be lifted 100 feet into the air and, hanging from the chandelier, will practice their routine, playing twinkly music and spinning in circles.
Passersby who get to see this preview of Saturday's performance by Le Compagnie Transe Express are likely to be transfixed. Anyone in a hurry trying to drive down the Avenue of the Arts, however, is bound to be less amused. And beginning at 1 a.m. Saturday, it's going to get worse. The street closing will expand, detouring all traffic along Broad between Chestnut and Lombard.
It's not as if Broad St. is the only route through town. For your North/South driving needs, you can go to one of the many parallel roads on the street grid. It really isn't a big deal.
Galtian Overlord Fail
A 1 percent inflation target is, well, nuts. I don't know if this is what Bernanke wants or if it's the only way he can keep the lunatics who fear zombie unicorns at bay, but a 1% inflation target essentially neuters the Fed, making any traditional expansionary monetary policy extremely difficult.
Slow growth, low inflation, high unemployment. Heckuva job Galtian Overlords.
Slow growth, low inflation, high unemployment. Heckuva job Galtian Overlords.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Awesome
Thanks for electing an evil Republican governor...
In a pre-School Reform Commission budget briefing, Philadelphia School District Chief Financial Officer Michael Masch said that to close a $629 million budget gap, the district will lose about 16 percent of its workforce - 3,820 jobs. That includes a reduction of 1,260 teaching jobs, or about 12 percent of the teaching force. It's not yet clear how many layoffs that will mean.
The district will also lose full-day kindergarten. It's going to a half-day program, as was in place years ago. Kindergarten is actually not mandated by the state - though everyone offers it, Pennsylvania doesn't require children to attend school until age 7 in Philadelphia, and even older in the rest of the state. That doesn't mean that cutting K is a good idea, but it's possible because it's not required.
Better Press
I hoped to be proved fucking wrong, as usual, but judging from people on the twitter Helicopter Ben is getting questions about oil, gas prices, inflation, and only one about whether the Fed can do more about jobs.
...and as for the answer basically...Not Gonna Do It.
...and as for the answer basically...Not Gonna Do It.
ZOMG
The virgin eyes of suburbanites are being destroyed by boobies.
Norristown isn't even really a suburb, it's a satellite city, not that it really matters. Suburban innocence lost...
...odd, I swear when I read that earlier there was something about 'appealing to suburbanites' or similar in the article. Anyway, point is just dumb framing of something.
Far from Center City or Off-Broadway or any of the places where you'd most expect it, an experiment in the avant-garde is under way in gritty, workaday Norristown.
There in the county seat not necessarily known for its edgy cultural offerings, theatergoers are being exposed to full frontal nudity.
Everyone involved concedes that while that sort of thing wouldn't rate a mention in New York, for Norristown, it is different.
Norristown isn't even really a suburb, it's a satellite city, not that it really matters. Suburban innocence lost...
...odd, I swear when I read that earlier there was something about 'appealing to suburbanites' or similar in the article. Anyway, point is just dumb framing of something.
LEAVE REPUBLICANS ALOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONE
I'm not sure if supposedly mainstream reporters don't, for example, understand that old people won't actually be able to get health care with a $15,000 voucher, if they really just don't give a shit about old people getting health care, or if they just think it's impolite to point out that Republicans don't want old people to have health care. I don't get it.
Bernanke Presser
The questions should focus on "why the hell do we have so much unemployment and why aren't you doing more about it," but my guess is they'll be more along the lines of "will the deficit steal my bicycle" and "ZOMG INFLATION!!!!!!!?!?!!?"
Freak Show
On the twitter machine Chris Bowers wrote, "if you are too young to know what politics was like in the 1990's, today gives you a pretty good taste." I do think people forget just how crazy and stupid our national news media were then. It was truly insane. Literally any claim about the Clintons would be aired.
We've had some insanity since, and certainly the consequences of that insanity have sometimes been worse (Iraq war), but we really haven't matched the sheer lunacy of the Clinton era.
We've had some insanity since, and certainly the consequences of that insanity have sometimes been worse (Iraq war), but we really haven't matched the sheer lunacy of the Clinton era.
The Yurps Would Kill My Daughter
Nice to see that little Rick Santorum is still the despicable human he always was.
ICE
Hopefully they do stop deporting people who have been here since they were little kids and don't have any ties to their country of birth.
Better Than Ezra
Ezra Klein, 2007
PPACA my ass.
Medicine may be hard, but health insurance is simple. The rest of the world's industrialized nations have already figured it out, and done so without leaving 45 million of their countrymen uninsured and 16 million or so underinsured, and without letting costs spiral into the stratosphere and severely threaten their national economies.
Even better, these successes are not secret, and the mechanisms not unknown. Ask health researchers what should be done, and they will sigh and suggest something akin to what France or Germany does. Ask them what they think can be done, and their desperation to evade the opposition of the insurance industry and the pharmaceutical industry and conservatives and manufacturers and all the rest will leave them stammering out buzzwords and workarounds, regional purchasing alliances and health savings accounts. The subject's famed complexity is a function of the forces protecting the status quo, not the issue itself.
PPACA my ass.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
What Do They Cover Again?
Not my town, but if I were a DC rseident looking for information about today's election I'd be a bit peeved that it barely registers on the WaPo's site.
There is a big picture of Trump, so there's that.
There is a big picture of Trump, so there's that.
Pop Talk
Steve Simels, NYMary, Will Bunch & Charles Pierce join Susie Madrak to talk music tonight at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. Listen in to Virtually Speaking.
Could be a hot one!
- C. Truth
Could be a hot one!
- C. Truth
Is He A Dumbass Or Does He Just Play One On The Teevee
I'd don't really like meeting politicians, except for the seemingly few who are willing and able to stop being "on" and act like normal human beings, but I've met a bunch over the years and what I'm almost always struck by is that they come across as being a lot more intelligent than I would have expected. I don't mean that I assume all politicians are dumb, I mean that our political discourse is often so dumb that people operating within its confines usually sound pretty damn dumb.
So, no, I don't know if they actually think spending caps are a good idea, and are therefore idiots, or if they're just dancing.
So, no, I don't know if they actually think spending caps are a good idea, and are therefore idiots, or if they're just dancing.
We Subsidize Giant Oil Companies
It's something so absurd that it's hard to believe it's true. I do credit the administration for seeing "high gas prices" as an opportunity to point this out.
DNR
One thing I think is often forgotten is that when you're healthy and 40 the idea of taking extreme measures to save your life is a bit unpleasant sounding, but when you're facing death at 75 your attitude about such things can change...
He Who Dies With The Least SexyTime Wins
I don't think Douthat's concept of hell is "gun to the head" morality, it's about everyone else being punished for being naughty, and him getting the grand reward for being nice. He doesn't emphasize hell as something we should believe in to prompt us to do the right thing, he just needs to know that someone is keeping record of all of the times he rejected Chunky Reese Witherspoon's advances and rewards him accordingly.
Austerity Forever
I'm not sure what it will take for our Galtian Overlords to recognize that you can't shrink your way to prosperity.
Shuck
Susie Madrak finds a Pentagon paper (via digby).
The report says Americans are overreacting to Islamic extremism, underinvesting in their youth, and failing to embrace the sense of competition and opportunity that made America a world power. The United States has been increasingly consumed by seeing the world through the lens of threat, while failing to understand that influence, competitiveness, and innovation are the key to advancing American interests in the modern world.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Watch Out Duke Boys
Haley Barbour not running for president provides a reminder that politics in America has changed. For a long time the archetype of the American politician was the big boisterous Barbourous southern guy. Not anymore.
The Price Is Too Damn High
Can't find the original article, but came across this while surfing the tubes for some information about orchestra ticket prices.
That's from 2005. It looks like the cheapest per seat subscription price for the coming year is $15, which isn't too bad (seats are high up, but they're fine), they do have community rush tickets for every show, and also a good student ticket program. So it isn't all bad. But, yes, for the most part the ticket prices are too high. Even if we assume they're set correctly at a current year revenue maximizing level, it's probably smart to set them a bit lower than that if doing so can attract some new customers...
Given the escalation of ticket prices for orchestral concerts in the last few decades, plus the expanding number of entertainment options, the mystery in classical music is why times aren't even tougher than they are. Quite by accident a couple of months ago, I came across a routine Philadelphia Orchestra press release from Nov. 23, 1975, announcing a subscription program. Tickets were listed at $2, $3.50, $4, $4.50, $5, $7, $7.50, $8 - with the top ticket price a big $8.50. A complete listing for the season shows the highest ticket for a regular subscription concert was $10.50. Converted into 2005 dollars, that would mean the top ticket price to hear the Philadelphia Orchestra today should be $39.33.
Of course, it's not. The highest ticket price next season will be $122 - an escalation three times the inflation rate.
That's from 2005. It looks like the cheapest per seat subscription price for the coming year is $15, which isn't too bad (seats are high up, but they're fine), they do have community rush tickets for every show, and also a good student ticket program. So it isn't all bad. But, yes, for the most part the ticket prices are too high. Even if we assume they're set correctly at a current year revenue maximizing level, it's probably smart to set them a bit lower than that if doing so can attract some new customers...
Maybe I'll Vote For Him
Sadly, Romney can't gaffe us into actual peacetime, but if he wants to run as the peace candidate...
Modern America
Someone on NPR regarding Gitmo detainees (rough quote):
You had the difficulty of determining who was telling the truth and who was just trying to win a happy meal.
Getting Sick Will Impoverish You, Too
I get that relatively wealthy celebrity journalists have a bit more financial wiggle room than most of the rest of us, but they don't seem to realize that one serious illness can bankrupt just about anyone.
Chunky Reese Witherspoon In Hell
I think we all construct our basic worldview, consciously or not, to some degree based on 'how we want things to be', but I actually don't want people who fuck more than I approve of or who were raised in a different ethnic-religious tradition than I was to experience an afterlife of eternal suffering and damnation. So I guess Ross and I want the universe to work a bit differently.
Secularism is Anti-Christ
One somewhat annoying thing about being a secular atheist in this country is that we don't actually get credit from religious people for fighting for their freedom to believe and worship any way they want. Our mere existence seems to give religious leaders something to do other than fight with each other. If we went away, they'd get back to persecuting each other.
Optimism!
CNBC today:
WSJ, July 2009:
Marketwatch, April 2010:
FT, Feb. 2009
Bloomberg, March 2009:
Four Years Later, Housing Market Shows Signs of Life
WSJ, July 2009:
Signs of Life in the Housing Market
Marketwatch, April 2010:
Signs of life in the zombie housing market?
FT, Feb. 2009
US housing market shows signs of life
Bloomberg, March 2009:
Signs of Life from the Real Estate Market
Morning Thread
Benjamin Franklin's sister did not live a charmed life.
"She had one child after another; her husband, a saddler named Edward Mecom, grew ill, and may have lost his mind, as, most certainly, did two of her sons. She struggled, and failed, to keep them out of debtors’ prison, the almshouse, asylums. She took in boarders; she sewed bonnets. She had not a moment’s rest."
Poor Jane's Almanac
Link to the NY Times.
"She had one child after another; her husband, a saddler named Edward Mecom, grew ill, and may have lost his mind, as, most certainly, did two of her sons. She struggled, and failed, to keep them out of debtors’ prison, the almshouse, asylums. She took in boarders; she sewed bonnets. She had not a moment’s rest."
Poor Jane's Almanac
Link to the NY Times.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
But Since We're Not Building Many Of Them
Truly the "cheapest" way to improve access to quality for transit to people is to build more stuff where there is transit. Some places we don't because of basic nimbyism. Some places we don't because of the conflict between park-n-ride lots and TOD. Some places we don't because limiting the supply of housing in desirable areas keeps housing prices of existing houses high.
As I've written before, I think concerns about the negative impact of urban gentrification are often overstated, but the one concern I do have is if poor people are increasingly pushed out of areas with decent transit access. Hasn't yet happened here in the urban hellhole, but in another 20 years?
As I've written before, I think concerns about the negative impact of urban gentrification are often overstated, but the one concern I do have is if poor people are increasingly pushed out of areas with decent transit access. Hasn't yet happened here in the urban hellhole, but in another 20 years?
SUPERTRAINS To Nowhere
We certainly build roads to nowhere, or almost nowhere anyway, and the building of those roads spurs development along them. We're unlikely to go back to building trains to nowhere at any scale as a means of spurring development, at best we can perhaps try to preserve rights of way.
Sunday Bobbleheads
This Week has a bunch of people on to talk about Jesus, though strangely no Catholics.
Face the Nation has 2 Dems and 3 Republicans, accurately reflecting the current power balance in Washington.
Meet the Press has a conservative Democrat, and an ultra-conservative Republican.
Document the atrocities!
Face the Nation has 2 Dems and 3 Republicans, accurately reflecting the current power balance in Washington.
Meet the Press has a conservative Democrat, and an ultra-conservative Republican.
Document the atrocities!
i(i-1)
NYT Ethicist on paywall ethics.
Best part, re the "the letters" she gets:
They all come from New York Times loyalists, who say that quality journalism is worth paying for.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Assholes
In regard to this, normally these assholes go after imagined deadbeats on unemployment and single mothers who should be punished for their sins. Now they're decided even foster kids are responsible for their situations in life and shouldn't get any more of those "generous" handouts.
Our Bastards
Yes, this is part of the media painting the great Saint McCain as heroic no matter what he does, but it's also part of the media's willingness to follow along with whoever our government designates as the official Hitler of the week. That Gadhafi has gone from Hitler, to trusted ally and recipient of lovely arms shipments, and then back to Hitler so fast is interesting but not surprising.
Wanker of the Year Nominee
State Sen. Bruce Casswell
"Under a new budget proposal from State Sen. Bruce Casswell, children in the state’s foster care system would be allowed to purchase clothing only in used clothing stores.
Casswell, a Republican representing Branch, Hillsdale, Lenawee and St. Joseph counties, made the proposal this week, reports Michigan Public Radio."
Maybe Wanker of the Decade?
"Under a new budget proposal from State Sen. Bruce Casswell, children in the state’s foster care system would be allowed to purchase clothing only in used clothing stores.
Casswell, a Republican representing Branch, Hillsdale, Lenawee and St. Joseph counties, made the proposal this week, reports Michigan Public Radio."
Maybe Wanker of the Decade?
Friday, April 22, 2011
Rough day at the office
We had a solar panel blowout and sunlight leaked out everywhere. Crews are still trying to contain it now, but large amounts of sunlight have already been released and will probably get into the water supply.
Enjoy the weekend.
Enjoy the weekend.
Backlash
The problem is that there are not enough Democrats who are unapologetically outspoken in favor of women's rights. This is, in part, because DC-based consultants tell candidates to shut the fuck up about it. Yes, informed voters know that Team D is the party to vote for if you care about that issue, and except for some assholes in the House it's basically true, but abortion is one of those issues that a lot of not very political people will bother to vote on if someone shows some leadership.
Birther America
I don't know if that many Republicans are really birthers, or if they just like giving asshole answers to pollsters, but if the NYT paid to ask the question then it's a bit puzzling why they'd send it down the memory hole.
Jobs
Yes I'm repeating myself on the off chance that somebody might hear me, but nobody cares about the deficit. When the economy is bad they hear about the deficit, at least when Democrats are in power, and they relate the two, but they don't actually care about it.
We've massive long term unemployment. Millions of people chucked out of their homes. Entire communities being destroyed. There are real problems to be fixed, and they haven't been.
We've massive long term unemployment. Millions of people chucked out of their homes. Entire communities being destroyed. There are real problems to be fixed, and they haven't been.
More Privacy
As my quote in the article makes clear, I really don't think the "truth" of Trig Palin's birth is any of our business. Or, to put it completely bluntly, if the often unstated theory that Palin was covering up her daughter's pregnancy was true, it really wouldn't be any of our business. There aren't ever entirely clear lines with this stuff, and I'm not claiming I am the final authority on where they should be, but this violation of privacy of her then-young daughter over something which allegedly happened before she was running for president would tell us... what?
The Trig Truther rumors were swirling right about the time that...the news of Bristol's actual pregnancy was released. In fact I got a couple of emails from people in Alaska saying, in effect, "ignore this Trig crap, but Bristol is actually pregnant." So if the point is Palin is a big "family values" hypocrite, or something, because of the actions of her daughter, well, we got that story anyway.
In the post-Lewinsky period I thought that basically any sex-related scandal was fair game for any members of the GOP. They'd opened the door. I still think a giant gulf between what you preach and what you practice makes certain things fair game. Gay anti-gay politicians should be outed, and those who cast stones shouldn't be surprised if they get hit with a few, too. Sex scandals we will always have with us, and in the age of the internet there's no way for the supposedly responsible press to suppress them. But ultimately I'm all for leaning more in the direction that... it's just none of our business.
The Trig Truther rumors were swirling right about the time that...the news of Bristol's actual pregnancy was released. In fact I got a couple of emails from people in Alaska saying, in effect, "ignore this Trig crap, but Bristol is actually pregnant." So if the point is Palin is a big "family values" hypocrite, or something, because of the actions of her daughter, well, we got that story anyway.
In the post-Lewinsky period I thought that basically any sex-related scandal was fair game for any members of the GOP. They'd opened the door. I still think a giant gulf between what you preach and what you practice makes certain things fair game. Gay anti-gay politicians should be outed, and those who cast stones shouldn't be surprised if they get hit with a few, too. Sex scandals we will always have with us, and in the age of the internet there's no way for the supposedly responsible press to suppress them. But ultimately I'm all for leaning more in the direction that... it's just none of our business.
Happy Charles Krauthammer Day
I'd be more on the mood for celebrating, except he still has his job and hundreds of thousands of people are dead.
Water
One thing I've long been a little curious about is the potential for a region of the US to run out of water. Scare stories pop up here and there, sometimes linked to a specific drought, sometimes told as a long term structural story, but I never have enough knowledge to make any judgments on the claims.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Or Maybe Canada?
Some people say the Washington Post editorial board is basically a murderous cult hellbent on taxing poor people to pay for the murder of others abroad.
Some people.
Some people.
It Wasn't That Long Ago
Clinton passed a tax increase to reduce the deficit. He was rewarded for his efforts by Democrats being destroyed in subsequent elections and eventual impeachment. The tax increase, combined with a booming economy, led to the US government having a surplus. At this point, the greatest threat to the union was suddenly...a budget surplus. This, of course, could only be remedied by massive tax cuts for rich people.
There's no point in worrying about budgets 5 years from now. You can't control future Congresses.
There's no point in worrying about budgets 5 years from now. You can't control future Congresses.
About That No Fly Zone
The twitter machine tells me "Pres. Obama approves use of drones in Libya; missions are starting, says Defense Sec. Gates - Reuters."
All We Have To Do Is Change The Name From War To Peace
This is truly dumb. The Republicans want to destroy Medicare and replace it with something else entirely which is nothing like Medicare. That they keep calling it "Medicare" does not change the fact that it is not, in fact, Medicare.
More Day Games
Still when there are afternoon games I it seems that there are actually a lot of apparent baseball game attendees who are wandering around the hellhole before or after games, that fans are making a day of it in the city. Unlike football and its 3 home games per year or whatever, with 80ish games per year baseball stadiums do have the potential to actually bring some cash into the city if people linger.
Same Everywhere
I know there are needier individuals than relatively well-paid orchestra musicians, but here we have another example of rich incompetent Galtian overlords fucking everything up and then trying fix things by screwing the help.
Word Salad
I guess I can be comforted by the fact that the uncustomarily high level of gibberish suggests that maybe he doesn't actually believe this crap.
So those were all investments that we made in the first two years. Now, the economy is now growing. It’s not growing quite as fast as we would like, because after a financial crisis, typically there’s a bigger drag on the economy for a longer period of time. But it is growing. And over the last year and a half we’ve seen almost 2 million jobs created in the private sector.
Because this recession came at a time when we were already deeply in debt and it made the debt worse, if we don’t have a serious plan to tackle the debt and the deficit, that could actually end up being a bigger drag on the economy than anything else. If the markets start feeling that we’re not serious about the problem, and if you start seeing investors feel uncertain about the future, then they could pull back right at the time when the economy is taking off.
So you’re right that it’s tricky. Folks around here are used to the hills in San Francisco, and you’ve driven -- I don’t know if they still have clutch cars around here. Anybody every driven a clutch car? (Laughter.) I mean, you got to sort of tap and -- well, that’s sort of what we faced in terms of the economy, right? We got to hit the accelerator, but we’ve got to also make sure that we don’t gun it; we can’t let the car slip backwards. And so what we’re trying to do then is put together a debt and deficit plan that doesn’t slash spending so drastically that we can’t still make investments in education, that we can’t still make investments in infrastructure -- all of which would help the economy grow.
In December, we passed a targeted tax cut for business investment, as well as the payroll tax that has a stimulus effect that helps to grow the economy. We can do those things and still grow the economy while having a plan in place to reduce the deficit, first by 2015, and then over the long term. So I think we can do both, but it does require the balanced approach that I was talking about.
If all we’re doing is spending cuts and we’re not discriminating about it, if we’re using a machete instead of a scalpel and we’re cutting out things that create jobs, then the deficit could actually get worse because we could slip back into another recession.
Something to read
The Management Myth (via)
I'm actually pretty grumpy, and sad about Sarah Jane, but, alternatively, there is always tickling a penguin.
Signed,
Not Atrios
I'm actually pretty grumpy, and sad about Sarah Jane, but, alternatively, there is always tickling a penguin.
Signed,
Not Atrios
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Nothing To See Here
Move along folks.
CANTON, Pa. - Operators have lost control of a natural gas well in rural northern Pennsylvania, leading to a spill of fluids used in the drilling process.
Bradford County emergency officials say thousands of gallons of tainted water have spilled from a Chesapeake Energy Corp. well site near Canton since early Wednesday.
Losing It
Occasional reminder that the Social Security retirement age is already increasing to 67 under current law.
Minor point, but often seems to be "forgotten" in the debate.
A lot of people are pretty old in terms of capabilities at 67. Some people not. But very few able to do a physically taxing job well at that age very well.
Minor point, but often seems to be "forgotten" in the debate.
A lot of people are pretty old in terms of capabilities at 67. Some people not. But very few able to do a physically taxing job well at that age very well.
Shock Polls
To the surprise of no one not working for the Washington Post editorial page, people like Medicare and like taxing rich people. But this does not matter, as our betters know that Medicare is evil and rich people have sensitive feefees and will go Galt if we make them pay taxes. So it will be courage, not hypocrisy, which explains the sudden lack of importance of opinion polls.
Really Unpopular Complicated Expensive Technological Solutions For A Nonexistent Problem
I continue to be amazed at these idiocies.
Or you could, you, just increase the damn gas tax. Is there some possible future where gas mileage in cars has increased so much, or electric cars are a significant portion of the fleet, when it ceases to be a viable funding mechanism? Sure, but we're nowhere near that. What we are in is in situation where politicians think that they can't raise the gas tax but think that they can add on an entirely new, expensive, and invasive systems for collecting more money that voters will just love.
Also, too, if you really are desperate to institute a mileage tax for no good reason that I can see, you can just have someone check the odometer at an annual inspection.
Aside from revenue collection, the gas tax has the additional benefit of encouraging people to drive cars with better mileage, along with charging more for heavier vehicles which do more damage to the roads. It's a pretty good tax!
Falling gas tax revenue from more fuel-efficient vehicles has driven the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to look for volunteers to experiment with technology that could lead to new ways of paying for highways.
About 500 urban and rural motorists will begin testing gear in July that contains GPS links to track distances traveled.
The experiment underscores Minnesota's need for new sources of revenue to pay for highway construction and maintenance.
Or you could, you, just increase the damn gas tax. Is there some possible future where gas mileage in cars has increased so much, or electric cars are a significant portion of the fleet, when it ceases to be a viable funding mechanism? Sure, but we're nowhere near that. What we are in is in situation where politicians think that they can't raise the gas tax but think that they can add on an entirely new, expensive, and invasive systems for collecting more money that voters will just love.
Also, too, if you really are desperate to institute a mileage tax for no good reason that I can see, you can just have someone check the odometer at an annual inspection.
Aside from revenue collection, the gas tax has the additional benefit of encouraging people to drive cars with better mileage, along with charging more for heavier vehicles which do more damage to the roads. It's a pretty good tax!
Mysteries
15 months or so after the pivot, I still have no idea why we're talking about "the deficit" instead of "jobs."
THE TRAIN WILL KILL US ALL
I will never understand the extreme concern with safety given that trains travel in a completely predictable manner unlike, you know, cars.
Some activists have expressed concerns about the rail line running through some South L.A. neighborhoods at street level where many school kids cross. Metro workers say they’re putting the system through its precautionary paces during the testing phase and they’re visiting schools, churches and businesses to discuss safety.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Another Occasional Reminder
I know nobody listens to me, but for those engaged in finding the Grand Bargain here are a few points:
1) There is no such a thing as a grand bargain. You cannot tie the hands of future Congresses. That a deal has been struck does not mean that other lawmakers will not continue to fight for their priorities.
2) Republicans care only about tax cuts for rich people. They will not agree to anything which increases taxes on rich people. At "best" they'll agree to things like getting rid of the mortgage interest deduction, something which in dollar terms benefits rich people a lot, but in "this matters to me" terms benefits middle and upper middle class people a lot.
3) Putting Social Security into some CBO or Trustee scored actuarial balance will not stop Republicans and the Washington Post from trying to gut it even more. They gave away the game when they asserted that the Trust Fund is a fantasy. In other words, prefunding future benefits is just a way to tax poor people instead of rich people, and they have no intention of honoring that deal if they can manage to not do it.
1) There is no such a thing as a grand bargain. You cannot tie the hands of future Congresses. That a deal has been struck does not mean that other lawmakers will not continue to fight for their priorities.
2) Republicans care only about tax cuts for rich people. They will not agree to anything which increases taxes on rich people. At "best" they'll agree to things like getting rid of the mortgage interest deduction, something which in dollar terms benefits rich people a lot, but in "this matters to me" terms benefits middle and upper middle class people a lot.
3) Putting Social Security into some CBO or Trustee scored actuarial balance will not stop Republicans and the Washington Post from trying to gut it even more. They gave away the game when they asserted that the Trust Fund is a fantasy. In other words, prefunding future benefits is just a way to tax poor people instead of rich people, and they have no intention of honoring that deal if they can manage to not do it.
Stuck On Stupid
Yes it all gets to be depressing after awhile. "We" obsess about fake problems, and completely ignore real ones. The freak show is always front and center in our politics.
And Nobody Cares About The Deficit
Only wealthy pundits with cushy jobs have the luxury to worry about abstract problems that may not even really be problems.
...oops, link fixed, though who amongst us does not love cat playing with dolphin.
...oops, link fixed, though who amongst us does not love cat playing with dolphin.
Occasional Reminder
The powers that be have decided that legitimate but unnecessary concerns about short term modest inflation and illegitimate concerns about runaway inflation necessitate widespread mass unemployment and human suffering, even though it could be fairly easily solved by a big helicopter drop of cash by Ben or by Treasury borrowing at record low interest rates and using that money to, say, build a nice trolley for my neighborhood.
And no one is concerned with "the cost of borrowing by the government." They're concerned about their book, but that's their problem.
And no one is concerned with "the cost of borrowing by the government." They're concerned about their book, but that's their problem.
Stupid
In an ideal world (though not reality) it's possible the ratings agencies would have deeper knowledge and understanding of the things they were rating than everyone else. That is, after all, why they supposedly exist. But, no, they don't have any deeper understanding of the fiscal situation of the US than anyone else. It's reasonable to ask just what their agenda is...
Suddenly It's Real
I've long believed people largely underestimate the marginal costs of driving, as most costs are perceived as being fixed. You buy a car, buy insurance, and then you put gas in the tank and that's the only perceived marginal cost. And even that isn't perceived correctly, as you buy gas (generally) a tank at a time and there isn't a perfect perception of how much each mile actually costs you. How many people have actually done the calculation of, "my 30 mile round trip daily commute costs me $X?" But in reality more driving=more depreciation=more maintenance, and a chunk of your insurance bill should be more closely tied to how much you actually drive. Also, too, free parking. I'm not saying driving should cost more, I'm saying it would be better if people had a better perception of the actual cost per mile.
And, at $5/gallon in a 20mpg car, that round trip commute will cost you $7.50
And, at $5/gallon in a 20mpg car, that round trip commute will cost you $7.50
Nasty
Realize norms in the UK are a bit different than here, but I don't remember current PMs being so nasty to former ones.
Meanwhile, Cameron's plan to shrink their way to prosperity is going swimmingly.
Cameron said Brown may not be a suitable contender to replace Dominique Strauss-Khan, because of his views on what needs to be done to sort out Britain's public finances. During Brown's premiership, Britain's borrowings mushroomed in the wake of the financial crisis and the ensuing recession.
The Prime Minister said the next chief must be someone who "understands the dangers of excessive debt," and suggested the IMF should look to emerging economies in India, China or South Asia for a candidate, instead of a "washed up politician."
Meanwhile, Cameron's plan to shrink their way to prosperity is going swimmingly.
Funny
For the records, liberals never got annoyed at Ann Coulter's latest attempt to top herself to piss off liberals, we got annoyed at the mainstream media touting her as A Very Serious Person.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Is This True?
Yglesias:
Or I guess the question is more "how true?" And, no, country mice, this isn't about you. Enjoy the great outdoors! But at some point given various policy choices a tipping point was hit. Auto-centric development necessitated even more auto-centric development, to the point where there were no other considerations. I don't think reversing it is easy, and I don't think everybody wants to live in Manhattan or even South Philly, but inner ring suburbs exist in which walkability and the automobile manage to coexist fairly well. In fact, they're also quite pricey in some metro areas reflecting their popularity. Anyway, the point is, it isn't just illegal to build Manhattan anywhere (even in Manhattan), and illegal to build South Philly anywhere (even in South Philly), it's also illegal to build at the design and density of older suburbs just about everywhere.
But in a level playing field market place you’d see less of a price differential, and urbanism would be both more common and more “normal,” though still a bit of a minority taste.
Or I guess the question is more "how true?" And, no, country mice, this isn't about you. Enjoy the great outdoors! But at some point given various policy choices a tipping point was hit. Auto-centric development necessitated even more auto-centric development, to the point where there were no other considerations. I don't think reversing it is easy, and I don't think everybody wants to live in Manhattan or even South Philly, but inner ring suburbs exist in which walkability and the automobile manage to coexist fairly well. In fact, they're also quite pricey in some metro areas reflecting their popularity. Anyway, the point is, it isn't just illegal to build Manhattan anywhere (even in Manhattan), and illegal to build South Philly anywhere (even in South Philly), it's also illegal to build at the design and density of older suburbs just about everywhere.
Gas Prices
Despite what some readers might think, I'm not cheering for rising gas prices. I would love to have a modest increase in the gas tax, though that's something which is obviously much less likely to happen when gas prices are high.
But Layman's point is correct, that in most of the country there is complete dependence on gas. A few more people can use the park-n-ride, carpool, etc... but short term at least, demand for gas is highly inelastic.
Even in my metro area, while the transit is pretty good (if not cheap) for people who commute into the city, it's pretty abysmal otherwise. There isn't all that much that can be done, given the way the area has been developed. And regional rail ridership is at record levels, which means those peak trains are pretty full.
But Layman's point is correct, that in most of the country there is complete dependence on gas. A few more people can use the park-n-ride, carpool, etc... but short term at least, demand for gas is highly inelastic.
Even in my metro area, while the transit is pretty good (if not cheap) for people who commute into the city, it's pretty abysmal otherwise. There isn't all that much that can be done, given the way the area has been developed. And regional rail ridership is at record levels, which means those peak trains are pretty full.
Good Enough For The New York Times
I do wonder where Douthat gets his numbers, but in his world we're all a lot richer than we actually are. There's other wrongish stuff in the article but as if often the case with him, he builds wrong on top of wrong and it's not clear what he's actually saying. He also talks about "inflation and bracket creep" but most parts of the tax code (including brackets) adjust with inflation automatically.
Nothing Is The Best Plan
And now, more than ever, we must really hope that Congress can't get anything done.
Grifters
Of course during the 90s Ralph Reed was on my teevee all the time, as the networks made him their spokesperson for Jesus.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Lunch Thread
And an opportunity to wish for a very happy 80th birthday to Gert! Thanks for reading!
...what would a birthday be without cake.
...what would a birthday be without cake.
Make It Fun
At one level the orchestra declaring bankruptcy is just about bad management trying to screw the workers for their own mistakes, but they do have a legitimate attendance problem. I can't remember where I read this, but some columnist described the way concertgoers were treated as something like "problems to be managed." Some of the ushers are, frankly, complete assholes. And shutting down all intermission concession services above the ground floor (no I don't know why) makes it impossible for anybody not in the orchestra level seats to get a drink or a nibble.
Also, too, ticket prices are too high.
Also, too, ticket prices are too high.
Sunday Bobbleheads
This Week has Geithner and a roundtable of 4 Republican House teabaggers (no, really).
Meet the Press has Saint Alan Greenspan, Mike Lee, Granholm
Face the Nation has Mark Warner and Paul Ryan.
Don't document the atrocities. Go out and play instead.
Meet the Press has Saint Alan Greenspan, Mike Lee, Granholm
Face the Nation has Mark Warner and Paul Ryan.
Don't document the atrocities. Go out and play instead.
Morning Thread
No room at the inn. The Salvation Army has run out of room at their family shelter and are sending families to the woods after giving them a tent. When they do have space available, the mother and father must be married. I wonder if the couple have to produce a marriage certificate.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Keep On Fracking
Tasty.
I get that rich assholes can insulate themselves from many of the negative consequences of their desired policies, but lawmakers' kids in Pennsyltucky probably can't escape this stuff.
WASHINGTON — Oil and gas companies injected hundreds of millions of gallons of hazardous or carcinogenic chemicals into wells in more than 13 states from 2005 to 2009, according to an investigation by Congressional Democrats.
I get that rich assholes can insulate themselves from many of the negative consequences of their desired policies, but lawmakers' kids in Pennsyltucky probably can't escape this stuff.
Can We Have A Do Over?
In my state, as in many others, voters managed to forget that Republicans are complete assholes when they voted in November. Though, probably as in other states, we can blame the Dem candidate for failing to adequately remind voters that Republicans usually are complete assholes.
BK
Well my local symphony is going into bankruptcy. Obviously it'd be impossible for me to know much about the situation, but from the perspective of a customer they seem to have some serious management problems.
Too Big
I don't know enough about this area or the specifics of the project to have any opinion - the local concerns might be completely justified - but it is part of a general pattern of developments being rejected because they're 'too big.' Mixed use developments have to have a certain critical mass, a certain amount of locally generated demand, to thrive, and since the biggest concern, stated or unstated, is generally traffic, if it's big enough you can actually reduce the amount of traffic because not everyone will drive.
Though, as I said, for all I know this is a horrible plan.
Though, as I said, for all I know this is a horrible plan.
Freedom Bomb Shortage
Does anyone have any idea what the goal is?
The shortage of European munitions, along with the limited number of aircraft available, has raised doubts among some officials about whether the United States can continue to avoid returning to the air campaign if Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi hangs on to power for several more months.
U.S. strike aircraft that participated in the early stage of the operation, before the United States relinquished command to NATO and assumed what President Obama called a “supporting” role, have remained in the theater “on 12-hour standby” with crews “constantly briefed on the current situation,” a NATO official said.
Atrios Is a Nerdy Nerd Train Nerd
We knew that already, but the appearance of a botched film based on a stupid book is just the icing on the statist cake.
(Post refers to/makes fun of Ann Althouse; no link given, for tedious reasons. Hey you! Don't watch that! Watch this! This is the heavy heavy monster sound! Etc.)
Finally, a way to get liberals to abandon their romantic obsession with high-speed trains. It's the "Atlas Shrugged" movie! Roger Ebert haaaaates it and mocks the obsession with trains:Indeed. The case for investment in high-speed rail has now been utterly destroyed by a shitty Ayn Rand film adaptation. Stupid liberals!
"Yes, although airplanes exist in this future, trains are where it’s at. When I was 6, my Aunt Martha brought me to Chicago to attend the great Railroad Fair of 1948, at which the nation’s rail companies celebrated the wonders that were on the way. They didn’t quite foresee mass air transportation. Atlas Shrugged seems to buy into the fair’s glowing vision of the future of trains. Rarely, perhaps never, has television news covered the laying of new railroad track with the breathless urgency of the news channels shown in this movie."
Thank you, Roger Ebert! I agree. We have planes now. To be enthusiastic about trains is to be like your Aunt Martha, really fossilized.
(Post refers to/makes fun of Ann Althouse; no link given, for tedious reasons. Hey you! Don't watch that! Watch this! This is the heavy heavy monster sound! Etc.)
Friday, April 15, 2011
Trolling My Own Blog
Who's worse, parents of toddlers or urban dog owners?*
*i keed i keed, but the comments on the article are good enough to poop on.
*i keed i keed, but the comments on the article are good enough to poop on.
Discipline
I'm actually surprised that no Democrats voted to kill Medicare. You'd think it'd be a an obvious vote, but some of them aren't too bright (or serve different masters than those we like to assume).
Losing It
Just picking up on what some people are talking about in the comments, one reason we take care of old people (income support, medicare) is that they're increasingly unable to take care of themselves as they age. Physical and mental limitations grow, as does the potential to be increasingly out of step with contemporary society (how do those computers work again?). Things need to be simple. Give them a medicare card, give them health care.
Peacocking
"Spending caps" are ways for absurd senators to pat themselves on the back for "being serious" while leaving the mess for other people to clean up.
I Don't Care Where You Live
Reading some of the comments at this post... My point was not "shared walls are awesome you must all live in dense places with shared walls." My point was just... shared walls aren't necessarily the horror some people imagine them to be.
Friday Crustacean Blogging
Um, ew?
Cymothoa exigua, or the tongue-eating louse, is a parasitic crustacean of the family Cymothoidae. It tends to be 3 to 4 centimetres (1.2 to 1.6 in) long. This parasite enters through the gills, and then attaches itself at the base of the spotted rose snapper's (Lutjanus guttatus) tongue. It extracts blood through the claws on its front, causing the tongue to atrophy from lack of blood. The parasite then replaces the fish's tongue by attaching its own body to the muscles of the tongue stub. The fish is able to use the parasite just like a normal tongue. It appears that the parasite does not cause any other damage to the host fish.[1] Once C. exigua replaces the tongue, some feed on the host's blood and many others feed on fish mucus. This is the only known case of a parasite functionally replacing a host organ.
Lunch
It's not too big a jump to conclude that the lack of an invitation from Obama for lunch was a detail fed to Brooksy by Ryan.
The point being, when they aren't obsessed with making life impossible for poor and old people, they're obsessing about their social calendar.
Really weird people.
The point being, when they aren't obsessed with making life impossible for poor and old people, they're obsessing about their social calendar.
Really weird people.
First Cup of Coffee
I dunno. They keep reminding me that you can't be so afraid to lose that you don't try. What do you think? Discuss.
Signed,
Not Atrios
Signed,
Not Atrios
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Everybody Forgets Philly
While my local transit authority is hilarious flawed, it certainly provides more comprehensive service than most of these places...
Stay Classy, Rusty
So awesome.
Rush: Obama's Base Are "Walking Human Debris" Who Get "Orgasm" From "Savag[ing] Us" Since They "Can't Find Willing Mates"
Bigger Can Be Fine
This class size post isn't about college education, but as a mostly unrelated point I will say that as someone who taught both at big schools with big auditorium classes (250 students) and smaller classes, depending on the subject matter large classroom sizes can be perfectly fine. Some learning requires a greater degree of discussion and interaction (and having TA sections can provide this), and probably some types of students benefit more from that type of learning, but some subjects can be taught perfectly well to large classes.
To relate it a bit more to the linked post, in small liberal arts colleges where small class size is part of what they're selling at a premium to students, there can be an odd tension. Obviously those colleges also face resource constraints, so there's pressure for class sizes to be larger, but smaller class sizes can improve their statistics for the stupid college ranking systems. I've seen friends at such institutions deal with "3 students are to few but 8 are too many" issues with their courses.
To relate it a bit more to the linked post, in small liberal arts colleges where small class size is part of what they're selling at a premium to students, there can be an odd tension. Obviously those colleges also face resource constraints, so there's pressure for class sizes to be larger, but smaller class sizes can improve their statistics for the stupid college ranking systems. I've seen friends at such institutions deal with "3 students are to few but 8 are too many" issues with their courses.
Why Does Everybody Own Their Own Lawnmower?
I know there is a fairly obvious answer to this question. There's a cost of organizing and coordination. But, yet, in the aggregate an immense amount of money is likely wasted because of this coordination failure. Surely there could be just one lawnmower for every 10 households (I just made that number up of course), there could be a modest hourly rental fee, with a weekend premium, and an online reservation system.
But, okay, yes, there is a genuine cost to organizing such a system, and maybe lawnmowers don't cost all that much. Still in my time in the burbs I don't remember anyone ever simply suggesting sharing a lawnmower between two neighboring households, a rather simple arrangement.
Along those lines, apparently The Market likes ZipCar.
But, okay, yes, there is a genuine cost to organizing such a system, and maybe lawnmowers don't cost all that much. Still in my time in the burbs I don't remember anyone ever simply suggesting sharing a lawnmower between two neighboring households, a rather simple arrangement.
Along those lines, apparently The Market likes ZipCar.
More
I think the "Look Forward" approach to everything let too many voters forget just who it was who shit the bed. I get the desire to not dwell on the past, but people should know. They can't rely on our press to tell them.
Housing
I've said a few times that it's hard to see how the economy turns around before the housing market is fixed.
First-quarter economic growth will be lower than most people expect because of continued problems in the housing market, Pimco Chief Executive Mohamed El-Erian told CNBC Thursday.
"I think people are going to be surprised that the first quarter, which was initially thought to be a four percent quarter, may end up two percent or below," he said.
Good morning, campers!
I'm curious - has the buzz changed, any? I mean, it's not really usual for the NYT to tell the truth about the damage tax cuts for the rich do to the economy.
(I realize it is usual for Obama to make nice-sounding promises when he's campaigning - and then break them - but I have to admit that to the extent that he omitted to praise the Republicans while ranting against the crazy left, Obama's speech was a refreshing change.)
Also: Toles, but I'm used to him often getting to the meat.
Signed,
Not Atrios
(I realize it is usual for Obama to make nice-sounding promises when he's campaigning - and then break them - but I have to admit that to the extent that he omitted to praise the Republicans while ranting against the crazy left, Obama's speech was a refreshing change.)
Also: Toles, but I'm used to him often getting to the meat.
Signed,
Not Atrios
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Shared Walls Don't Have To Be So Bad
I certainly get - and share! - privacy as one thing that people want in their abode, but it's also the case that so much crappy construction has led to people thinking that shared walls are inevitably paper thin. I almost never hear anything from my neighbors through the walls. I admit if they had a noisy barking dog it would be a problem, but that would be a problem if we had ten feet of air between the buildings too.
Progress
We shouldn't be talking about the deficit at all, we should be talking about borrowing cheap money and spending it on SUPERTRAINS, sewer repair, massive subsidies to the blogger-industrial complex, etc. But the speech at least did, for the first time in awhile, draw some distinctions other than 'not quite as evil as the other guys,' which is something. Though, of course, ultimately it's the legislation that matters.
Paratransit Is Going To Be Expensive
I don't know how universal this trend is, but suburbs are not well-equipped to provide transit services for those who can't drive.
Now, half a century later, suburban communities designed around the autombile are facing difficult questions.
What happens when many residents can no longer get behind the wheel?
Who will bear the costs of getting them to groceries, to doctors and to a host of other places?
"As they age, they need more services, and those suburbs are not designed for more services," said McIlwain, of the Urban Land Institute.
And Plan B?
I hope the administration's relative optimism about the economy going forward proves to be correct, and that I'm just a nattering nabob, but I do wish someone deep in the White House dungeons is contemplating a Plan B, as in what if come November, or January, or whenever, it becomes clear that the unemployment situation is not getting better.
Crazy Governors
One thing I couldn't have predicted was that we'd have all of these nutty Republican governors all over the place actively rejecting mostly free federal money for worthwhile projects. I thought they'd be the ones putting pressure on their states' federal representatives to bring in more money during the recession, instead of actively opposing it.
Weird people.
Weird people.
Freaking Out
Was writing a post about this, but instead I'll just open it up for discussion...
THE EMAIL was from a wigged-out mom I know well.
She was appalled that the city's campaign to reduce sexually transmitted diseases allows kids as young as 11 to get free condoms via mail-order from the Public Health Department. Eleven!
All We Really Need To Do Is Nothing
It's why all of the deficit peacockery and trolling is so maddening. All we have to do is get rid of the Bush tax cuts.
No one really cares about the deficit. Republicans use it as an excuse to implement their agenda. When there's no deficit, the answer is tax cuts for rich people When there's a big deficit, the answer is tax cuts for rich people and screwing poor people.
No one really cares about the deficit. Republicans use it as an excuse to implement their agenda. When there's no deficit, the answer is tax cuts for rich people When there's a big deficit, the answer is tax cuts for rich people and screwing poor people.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Repeal It
Hopefully NJ does repeal their rental tax on carshare vehicles. Good or bad, the point of rental car taxes is to soak tourists, and carshare taxes will mostly hit local residents. And especially for a place like Hoboken, which is trying to reduce the number of cars, it's counterproductive.
Killing People Is The Point
To understand gun nuts, you have to understand that the whole point is killing people. They all have vigilante/self-defense fantasies. By "gun nuts" I don't mean all people who have guns, or all people who hunt, I mean true gun nuts. The obsessed. The NRA's base.
A Very Serious Plan That Moves The Conversation Forward That The Left Should Embrace
For the millionth time, the Ryan plan isn't a deficit reduction plan, it's a cut tax on rich people plan. And of course it is, because nobody cares about the deficit, and most of the people who claim to just care about cutting taxes on rich people. The deficit talk is just a way to sucker gullible beltway scribes into writing nice things about it.
All Those Freeloaders
These kinds of lies are particularly pernicious as they really do convince gullible people that half the population is just freeloading off their work and income.
It's Always A Day Away
Ezra Klein on the twitter machine:
WH is telling me that Wed's speech will not primarily be an endorsement of Simpson-Bowles, and "this will make more sense tomorrow."
Commodity
Even if the government doesn't get into the "running health care" business which obviously they're not like to do any time this millenium, I think opportunity still exists for the federal government to encourage the creation and operation of basic primary care clinics, with a very clear set of services performed and prices attached to those services. What I envision isn't so different from what Walgreens and similar offer, though with more comprehensive care (actual doctors in addition to nurse practioners). People often need pretty basic primary care semi-urgently, requiring immediate but fairly trivial attention from a health care provider. Sure some people are wedded to their doctor, but it isn't so awesome when the next appointment is in 3 days. The feds wouldn't have to run clinics, just have guidelines, standards, some inspection oversight, and a stamp of approval.
...I realize urgent care clinics already exist, what I'm suggesting is standardizing them, creating a standard that they could choose to conform to in exchange for a nice little logo blessing them. The point is to create transparency and simplicity. Pricing in medicine can be a mess, and when your child is sick is not the moment when you want to do a lot of comparison shopping.
...I realize urgent care clinics already exist, what I'm suggesting is standardizing them, creating a standard that they could choose to conform to in exchange for a nice little logo blessing them. The point is to create transparency and simplicity. Pricing in medicine can be a mess, and when your child is sick is not the moment when you want to do a lot of comparison shopping.
Winning The Future Through Sewer Repair
Just my occasional reminder that there are practically limitless infrastructure needs that should be addressed and this would have the added bonus of boosting employment.
So Much For That
The closest thing the Obama administration had to a Mars, Bitches! Sputnik plan was high speed rail.
Oh well.
Oh well.
Pelosi For For President
Obviously the "they're just doing what they want to do" argument is a compelling one, but leaving aside what their real policy desires are, the politics are completely idiotic. Republicans propose destroying Medicare, Dems should say "no." Obviously we don't know for sure what's going to be said, but anything other than "Republicans want to destroy Medicare and we don't" is political incompetence.
...here's a sunnier sounding take. I guess we should just wait until tomorrow.
...here's a sunnier sounding take. I guess we should just wait until tomorrow.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Nothing To See Here Folks
I admit a terabecquerel sounds pretty tasty.
TOKYO: Japan may raise the severity of its nuclear accident to seven - the top level on an international scale - from five, the Kyodo news agency reported on Tuesday, as workers battled to contain the crisis.
Kyodo said preliminary figures from the country's Nuclear Safety Commission revealed the battered Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant had released up to 10,000 terabecquerels of radioactive materials per hour for several hours.
Just For Me
Mittens is running! Mittens is running!
And there was much rejoicing throughout the liberal land.
And there was much rejoicing throughout the liberal land.
And The Sun Comes Out In The Urban Hellhole
Some nice weather for a change. Noticing all the people out and about is a reminder of the slow and steady change here since I arrived. Suddenly there's a lot of foot traffic in many more places.
Don't dodge too many bullets these days, but do have to watch out for the bricks.
Don't dodge too many bullets these days, but do have to watch out for the bricks.
Punching Hippies Might Feel Good, But...
As Digby suggests, it's somewhat of a mystery why centrists fail to understand that The Left can be useful as something other than punching bag. When the only acceptable discourse is between The New Republic and The Free Republic, what you're going to get is basically a solidly Republican outcome. TNR-type folks don't have to agree with The Left, they just have to position themselves in the middle instead of chasing us out of the room.
No Saviors
I certainly think that there are some especially talented people out there who are capable of things that mere mortals like the rest of us probably can't, but generally the idea that you just have to find that one special person, especially an outsider, to solve the "problem" is really misguided.
Poorer Than We've Ever Been
And, similarly, we cannot possibly afford to maintain the basic standard of living we've been accustomed to.
America, Fuck Yeah!
America, Fuck Yeah!
That Can't Do Spirit
I've commented on this before (as with most things), but I continue to be amazed at the completely pervasive can't do spirit that seems to have gripped the country. Maybe we need to win a hockey game against the Soviets or something to bounce back.
And The Actual Game Has Changed
Recently I've heard quite a bit about how the digital divide is shrinking because increasingly people have access to the mobile internet. I'm someone who a few years ago thought digital divide concerns were somewhat overstated, as the internet was not yet really necessary for full participation in the economy. I don't think I was wrong in that assessment then, but increasingly access to the internet is necessary.
Along those lines, most mobile devices ("smart" phones etc.) give you access to the internet in some sense, but not necessarily in the full sense that people increasingly need. Useful for the twitter and punching up the weather, not so useful for uploading your resume.
Along those lines, most mobile devices ("smart" phones etc.) give you access to the internet in some sense, but not necessarily in the full sense that people increasingly need. Useful for the twitter and punching up the weather, not so useful for uploading your resume.
Game Is Not What They Say It Is
Nothing that's going on in Washington has anything to do with the deficit. People concerned with the deficit would be concerned with jobs. Also, too, nobody cares about the deficit.
Morning
It appears all the serious people believe the unemployment situation has been solved.
I suspect they're wrong.
I suspect they're wrong.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Media media
Virtually Speaking will have Stuart Zechman and Jay Rosen talking about how the press are co-conspirators with the Third Way types. 9:00 PM Eastern.
I'm looking forward to that one.
Signed,
Not Atrios
I'm looking forward to that one.
Signed,
Not Atrios
Also, Freedom Bombs Kill Innocent People
A point John's been hitting on is that certain Very Serious People think it's very shrill and impolite to point out that government policies have consequences. One thing which confuses me is the number of political junkies who seem to care deeply about policy in some abstract sense, but who are unconcerned with and oblivious to the actual consequences of those policies. Well, except maybe the consequences of the top marginal tax rate on their tax bills.
Frightened Of The Bus Terminal
I found the recurring theme of scary bus terminal in this article about Megabus and other similar street-side pickup inter-city bus carriers to be a bit weird.
Maybe this is just a company exec. trying to a spin a negative into a positive, but are bus terminals in major cities so scary and horrible that having no shelter or amenities while you wait is preferable? I mean, I've been in bus terminals and for whatever reason they aren't always the greatest places in the universe, but...
Moser says a quarter of Megabus's passengers are unaccompanied women. In surveys the company conducted before its Chicago launch, women consistently said they were excited by the prospect of not having to drive or park downtown and of visiting the city at a price that left them with more money to spend on shopping or theater or meals. But this group also proved especially averse to the idea of a bus depot. For them and others, a street-side stop transformed the bus into an entirely different mode of travel. "Would I want my daughter or my wife in a bus terminal by themselves? I'd say no," Moser says. "We're creating new bus customers and a different demographic."
Maybe this is just a company exec. trying to a spin a negative into a positive, but are bus terminals in major cities so scary and horrible that having no shelter or amenities while you wait is preferable? I mean, I've been in bus terminals and for whatever reason they aren't always the greatest places in the universe, but...
It's Always 1995
Apparently Obama is going to give his pre-compromise deficit reduction plan on Wednesday.
Hasn't anyone told them unemployment is 8.8%?
Hasn't anyone told them unemployment is 8.8%?
It's All Clear Now
Now we know why it's so vital to cut SocialSecurityMedicareAndMedicaid:
So there's more money left over for Kaplan. Reported, to their credit, in the Post.
Along the way, The Post Co.’s reliance on federal student loan money grew. By the end of 2010, more than 90 percent of revenue at Kaplan’s biggest division and nearly a third of The Post Co.’s revenue overall came from the U.S. government.
So there's more money left over for Kaplan. Reported, to their credit, in the Post.
Sunday Bobbleheads
Face the Nation has Schumer and Sessions.
Meet the Press has Plouffe, Paul Ryan, and Tim Shriver.
This Week has Plouffe, Mike Pence, and Jim Van Hollen.
All the ladies must be doing laundry or something.
Document the atrocities!
Meet the Press has Plouffe, Paul Ryan, and Tim Shriver.
This Week has Plouffe, Mike Pence, and Jim Van Hollen.
All the ladies must be doing laundry or something.
Document the atrocities!
Saturday, April 09, 2011
All Spending Is Good Spending
At least from the perspective of the economy and unemployment. This isn't true in normal times, but we are not in normal times. If we can't act think of anything better to do with the money, we should be paying people to dig holes and other people to fill them up again. Or, perhaps, in more modern terms, pay people to build freedom bombs and other people to conduct controlled explosions of them. There are better or worse ways to spend money, but it still the case that if you cut spending on basically anything it will be a drag on the economy.
Since Nobody Else Is Saying It
The way to reduce the deficit is to increase the number of jobs.
And, yes, I know, nobody actually cares about the deficit.
And, yes, I know, nobody actually cares about the deficit.
Late Night Conspiracy Unmasking
Hey, remember how two, three years ago Wall Street shysters got trillions in taxpayer cash so that the nation's economy would only crater and not violently explode? And remember how then the bastards who did it were let off without even a warning not to do it again?
Who even suspected, in those innocent days, Goldman Sachs was all along just fronting for the real crooks -- namely, teachers' unions?
Thank God we are finally holding Adult Conversations about the Economy. I mean, damn, otherwise our leaders might just do something self-serving, shortsighted, and stupid.
Dodged a bullet there!
MAS. Well, mas.
(You do sort of have to admire the party discipline here -- the boss has a tear-stained pink tie, cripes, what will you come up with... hallelujah, a watermelon cravat!
For fuck's sake.)
Who even suspected, in those innocent days, Goldman Sachs was all along just fronting for the real crooks -- namely, teachers' unions?
Thank God we are finally holding Adult Conversations about the Economy. I mean, damn, otherwise our leaders might just do something self-serving, shortsighted, and stupid.
Dodged a bullet there!
MAS. Well, mas.
(You do sort of have to admire the party discipline here -- the boss has a tear-stained pink tie, cripes, what will you come up with... hallelujah, a watermelon cravat!
For fuck's sake.)
Friday, April 08, 2011
Nobody Goes There Anymore, It's Too Crowded
Amtrak on the NE corridor at least has really become too pricey. It's ok if you buy tickets sufficiently in advance, but otherwise...
Wee Suggestion
Perhaps learn Russian before coming the Queen of All Russia?
or at least French.
"There may be some truth in that," Black says, all but admitting that for a manager like her, with no professional experience in education, heading America's largest public school system was above her capabilities. "It was like having to learn Russian in a weekend -- and then give speeches in Russian and speak Russian in budget committee and City Council meetings."
or at least French.
Stay Classy, Rusty
So awesome.
LIMBAUGH: You are very, very shrewd. You are exactly right. There's absolutely - we've got Obamacare out there. There's no way any of these alle -- it was like Jesse Jackson says, this is a return to the Civil War. Have you heard that?
I have a - Theo, thanks for the call. If the troops are not paid by their commander in chief - I have a question. If the troops still engage in battle, if they go to war and execute the orders issued by their commanders, if the troops are thus not paid by their commander in chief, are they his slaves? What would you call it? Can those serving in the military just walk off the job? I don't think so. So if Obama does not sign the bill to pay his troops, then it sounds sort of like forced labor to me. I mean, it's one thing, folks - and we can all agree on this - it's one thing to have to pick cotton. But to be forced to risk your life overseas without being paid, that's the worst kind of forced labor to me. Are you kidding me? How can the president of the United States, on the eve of the anniversary of the Civil War, the 150th anniversary, threaten to withhold payment to Americans who not only risk their lives for their country but are required by law to serve or face court martial after they volunteered. I believe desertion in wartime is still a capital offense. But if these wars are just kinetic military operations, maybe an unpaid warrior who walks off the job only gets jail time. Because we're not at war, the regime won't say so. These are just military actions.
But I think the Reverend Jackson might want to rethink his Civil War analogy. I mean, it's getting ludicrous. Eleanor Holmes Norton claiming this is the same thing as bombing innocent civilians. Jesse Jackson says the government shutdown would be a return to the Civil War. If the president refuses to fund the troops, if the commander in chief refuses to pay the troops - and congressman Jim Moran in Virginia tells a voter who wants to know why the troops aren't being paid to shut up and sit down, and if these guys expect these troops to stay on the job, it sure sounds like Obama has more in common with President Jefferson Davis than he does with President Lincoln.
Lies And The Lying Liars
On the Senate floor John Kyl just lied to America and informed us all that 90% of what Planned Parenthood does is abortion.
This, you know, isn't true, but whatevs.
This, you know, isn't true, but whatevs.
Snap!
The relationship between Jersey yahoos and their hero Springsteen is always pretty funny due to his politics.
In 2004 I went to the Springsteen and friends MoveOn concert. There were two guys in front of me, obviously tremendous fans, belting out all the lyrics and air guitaring their way through every song. But it was obvious they'd made a deal that once Bruce started on the evil liberal politics stuff they'd protest. So at some point during the show Bruce made a very milquetoast nod to the politics and they folded their arms and turned their backs through the next song. Born to Run.
In 2004 I went to the Springsteen and friends MoveOn concert. There were two guys in front of me, obviously tremendous fans, belting out all the lyrics and air guitaring their way through every song. But it was obvious they'd made a deal that once Bruce started on the evil liberal politics stuff they'd protest. So at some point during the show Bruce made a very milquetoast nod to the politics and they folded their arms and turned their backs through the next song. Born to Run.
Actual Adults
At least my urban hellhole rulers understand that public health issues require a public response.
It's 2011, I shouldn't still be pleasantly surprised by this stuff. I think the country as a whole has become a bit smarter about sex, but our elite discourse about it has regressed quite a bit.
It's 2011, I shouldn't still be pleasantly surprised by this stuff. I think the country as a whole has become a bit smarter about sex, but our elite discourse about it has regressed quite a bit.
What It's All About Then
The internets are telling me the Republicans are going to shut down the government because they don't believe there should be any health care for lady parts.
Nancy
It's not just Krugman, although he's posted a pretty thorough debunking of Ryan's "budget" "proposal"--even putting a version into today's dead tree edition. This is not a real proposal; Ryan admits in his interview with Jay Newton-Small that this budget cannot pass.
So what this "voodoo economics, with an extra dose of fantasy, and a large helping of mean-spiritedness" [Krugman] is really intended to be is an iteration of Bush's SS privatization plan--meant to have Mark Halperin et al force the Democrats to concede the principle that Medicare must be gutted, and then shift the discussion to one over the numerical details: the means test, the vouchers' value, and the allowable rate of increase of the vouchers. And do keep in mind that there is much sympathy among the Democratic elite for this approach, of moving seniors onto the insurance exchanges. Oh, and to permanently take taxing the top income decile off the table.
But, remember Speaker Pelosi. Atrios reminds us that her response to W's SS privatization gambit was simple.
"Never. Is that good for you?"
As E.D. Kain points out, same here. There's no need to respond to this claptrap.
But let's be fair: There's no way this plan passes the Senate.
No, but let's say Conrad passes a budget...
But you'd be miles apart...
Yeah, yeah. You've got a good read on the situation.
So what this "voodoo economics, with an extra dose of fantasy, and a large helping of mean-spiritedness" [Krugman] is really intended to be is an iteration of Bush's SS privatization plan--meant to have Mark Halperin et al force the Democrats to concede the principle that Medicare must be gutted, and then shift the discussion to one over the numerical details: the means test, the vouchers' value, and the allowable rate of increase of the vouchers. And do keep in mind that there is much sympathy among the Democratic elite for this approach, of moving seniors onto the insurance exchanges. Oh, and to permanently take taxing the top income decile off the table.
But, remember Speaker Pelosi. Atrios reminds us that her response to W's SS privatization gambit was simple.
"Never. Is that good for you?"
As E.D. Kain points out, same here. There's no need to respond to this claptrap.
A lot of people are saying things like “The ball is in Obama’s court” and what-have-you. The problem is that the ball has never really left the Republican court. Until Republicans agree to tax increases, why should Democrats agree to spending cuts? Why should Democrats take Republicans seriously at all if Republicans are completely unwilling to repeal the Bush tax cuts?
No, the ball is still in the GOP’s court. When they come up with a serious proposal – when they realize that politics is the art of compromise – then we can say the ball is in Obama and the Democrats’ court. Until then, well, the math doesn’t work.