April 2010
1 post
Clemson removes trash cans from classrooms,...
jessarmentrout:
abbyolin:
A friend of mine who is currently working on his PhD in Economics here at Clemson recently posted the following note on Facebook regarding the University’s current week-long recycling push. I found it to be both entertaining and thought-provoking. Also, it made me appreciate my beloved Econ department even more than I did before. Enjoy:
Yesterday, a gang of...
January 2010
1 post
Link Round-up: Brown/Coakley Race
Josh already posted some thoughts about the Scott Brown victory in Massachusetts last night, but here are some links for what other people around the interwebs are saying.
Notes From the Massachusetts Senate Race, Reason Magazine
Little Guy Sends Message to Washington: Drop Dead, Washington Examiner
The People’s Seat, The American Spectator
Post Partisan: Washington Post writers weigh in...
November 2009
1 post
October 2009
6 posts
Death of the Media As We Know It?
Megan McArdle has an interesting new assessment of the state of the media industry:
I think we’re witnessing the end of the newspaper business, full stop, not the end of the newspaper business as we know it. The economics just aren’t there. At some point, industries enter a death spiral: too few consumers raises their average costs, meaning they eventually have to pass price...
White House Eases Stance on Medical Marijuana
For once, it seems as though the Obama administration may be getting something right. Let the “thank goodnesses,” and “it’s about time’s” abound!
Via the Wall Street Journal:
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration won’t seek to arrest medical-marijuana users and suppliers as long as they closely conform to state laws.
Under a new policy spelled...
"What it Feels Like to be a Libertarian."
Associate Professor of Business at Georgetown, John Hasnas, wrote this wonderful essay a while back about well, what it feels like to be a libertarian. I can’t help but wonder, was Hasnas actually looking into my soul when he wrote this?? Ok, probably not, but his insights are spot-on.
Some snippets:
I’ll tell you. It feels bad. Being a libertarian means living with an almost unendurable...
More Krugman Kraziness
Paul Krugman has an interesting new column today in the New York Times. His arguments goes something sorta like this: Conservatives oppose Obama’s policies because they…don’t like Obama and want him to fail. How does Krugman know this? Because some conservatives expressed happiness at the fact Chicago didn’t win the bid for the Olmypics. And that, by the way, only proves...
September 2009
15 posts
William Safire, RIP
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the passing of Nixon speechwriter and conservative New York Times columnist, William Safire, who died today at the age of 79.
I don’t have much to say about Safire, except in my extensive research into Nixon’s presidency, I was very much impressed with the tact and cleverness with which Safire put together speeches. He was also a refreshing...
Bill Clinton recalls the "vast right wing...
On Meet the Press on Sunday, former president Bill Clinton offered his two-sense on current affairs.
When asked if a “vast right-wing conspiracy” still existed in the U.S., Clinton said this:
“Oh, you bet. Sure it is. It’s not as strong as it was, because America’s changed demographically, but it’s as virulent as it was,” the former president replied.
...
WatchIf you, like me, have an irrational hate of celebrities who speak out for political causes, you’ll love this new fake PSA from celebrities who are “defending” health insurance executives. And by “love” I do mean, of course, “despise.”
First of all, the satirical video isn’t funny at all (considering it comes from a website called “Funny or...
Obama: It's for your own good!
Obama did some defending of his health care policy over the weekend on various talk shows. One appearance in particular, sticks out. Yes, the t-word was discussed.
Via the Wall Street Journal:
Appearing on ABC’s “This Week,” Mr. Obama was asked by host George Stephanopoulos about the “individual mandate.” Under Max Baucus’s Senate bill that Mr. Obama...
The Atlantic's Megan McArdle on Rotten Subsidies... →
WatchJon Stewart Slams ACORN!
Stewart has joined the voices of those outraged at the organization ACORN, which was caught on tape giving advice to two investigative journalists on how to start a prostitution ring.
“Where were the real reporters on this story…Where the hell were you?” Stewart asked. “You’re telling me that two kids from the cast of High School Musical 3 can break this...
Ezra Klein is confused, and government-run...
Ezra Klein over at WaPo is confused about a few things. So, I would like to clarify.
When it comes to the proabably, already over-hyped Joe Wilson shout of “You Lie!” during Obama’s speech, Klein is baffled as to why two Democratic lawmakers are throwing him a line:
But for reasons I won’t pretend to understand, Max Baucus and Kent Conrad seem intent on throwing him a...
Decaffeinated coffee is the devil's blend.
A little ode to my addiction. Originally by Alexandra-the-great:
No one can understand what I am about to elaborate upon untill s/he drinks of coffee’s frothy goodness…so if you are a coffee virgin, don’t bother going on… The use of coffee has become greatly extended. It has diffused itself among the mass of people and has become a considerable ingredient in their daily sustenance. For example, I...
Remembering 9/11
Today is the 8th anniversary of the attacks on September 11, 2009.
I won’t pretend I have some profound insights to offer, or great words to say to commemorate the day. However I will say the only thing I can say, and actualy do-and that is that I will never forget what happened on that fateful day, nor will I forget the men and women who lost their lives in that horrific event.
I will...
Sometimes the truth hurts
alexandra-the-great:
the problem with America is stupidity. I’m not saying there should be a capital punsishment for stupidity, but why don’t we just take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself?
Michael Moore Hates Capitalism. What Else is New?
Radley Balko at The Agitator sums it up best:
So for consistency’s sake, Michael Moore’s new film won’t be advertised, marketed, or otherwise promoted by crass capitalist machinations, right?
And I assume we’ll all be able to see it for free?
Heh, I doubt it. Hypocritical much, Michael?
Obama speaks to The Children.
Apparently a North Carolina 4th grader wasn’t too impressed with President Obama’s speech today. Well that’s a relief. Good to know that the speech didn’t totally brainwash The Children, right?
Via Reason:
On September 8th, 2009, I watched President Obama give his speech. Some kids got a note from their parents and got to do fun stuff instead. I was very jealous. I...
More on the Krugman-Nixon craziness
My ol’ boss over at Reason, Nick Gillespie commented on Krugman’s crazy column over at Reason’s blog, Hit & Run. His analysis of course, is much better than mine. Definitely worth a read. Here’s a little snippet:
The proximate cause of Krugman’s Nixostalgia is the current health-care reform debate, during which various voters and officials have, my god,...
August 2009
6 posts
Krugman Gets in Touch with his Inner Republican...
In today’s New York Times, columnist and econoblogger Paul Krugman manages to string together the following words:
In fact, surveying current politics, I find myself missing Richard Nixon…But the Nixon era was a time in which leading figures in both parties were capable of speaking rationally about policy, and in which policy decisions weren’t as warped by corporate cash as they are...
John Zmirak on college ratings by U.S. News &...
Via TownHall.com:
Here’s an irony for you: Each year, the most prestigious universities in America—some of them founded long before our country—are ranked to great fanfare by the staff of a third-tier news magazine that has actually stopped its print edition. Its college ranking is pretty much all that’s left of U.S. News and World Report—which is really a shame, since its reporting...
What is the foundation of your economic beliefs? →
Some pretty important questions everyone should be asking right now. And by everyone, I mean especially the incompetents in Congress.