The curious task of economics is to demonstrate to men how little they really know about what they imagine they can design. – F.A. Hayek
Posted in Environment, Politics, ethical foundations on Dec 1st, 2011
Another honest mistake I am sure. Some background from the original “hide the decline” from Steve McIntyre here Despite relatively little centennial variability, Briffa’s reconstruction had a noticeable decline in the late 20th century, despite warmer temperatures. In these early articles [e.g. Briffa 1998], the decline was not hidden. For most analysts, the seemingly unavoidable question [...]
Posted in Environment, Methodology, Politics on Nov 16th, 2011
Sometimes it is extremely rewarding to get into the details and nitty gritty of an issue and other times it is pure torture and wheel spinning. For an example of the former, one can do no better then AW Montford’s incredible reconstruction (pardon the pun for those of you in the know) of the events [...]
It is serially infuriating reading what amounts to “journalism” anymore. In an AP article on the decision of the Supreme Court to hear the ObamaCare cases, the author claims, “in America, a nation disdainful of big government and historically unable to guarantee affordable basic coverage to all its citizens.” People like me are disdainful of [...]
Posted in Flotsam and Jetsam, Methodology, Politics on Nov 8th, 2011
Some of you may be familiar with the work of the Economic Policy Institute -the organization that “Works for People Who Work for a Living.” You can imagine what that euphemism means. It means higher minimum wages, free health care for everybody, lots and lots of union jobs, and so forth. But don’t I work [...]
Posted in Economic Illiteracy, Economics Problems, Politics on Nov 2nd, 2011
In an OpEd in tomorrow’s WSJ, Democratic Senate Candidate Jeff Greene tells us we should listen to the message of OWS folks. I may agree with him, but not when he pulls out the boilerplate arguments: … These policies, and deregulation, created the environment for widespread defaults as well as predatory lending, exotic mortgage derivatives, [...]
Posted in Institutions, Politics on Oct 22nd, 2011
Casual readers might think I am a plain ‘ol Republican, and I can see why you might think so. But if you had to ask me what the top three egregious acts of our current political system are, at least one of them is wholly supported and perpetuated by the right – and that is [...]
Posted in Politics on Oct 19th, 2011
From Reihan Salam: But consider how much time and energy mainstream news outlets — or for that matter ideological media, on the left and right — devote to issues surrounding the taxation of high earners as compared to the social and economic impact of mass incarceration.
Posted in Politics on Oct 7th, 2011
Regular readers understand the contempt with which I hold the political class and those who elevate them to the status of gods. Many of the “attacks” I present here serve to lower the status of that class. Isn’t it perhaps plausible that rather than tearing the political class to pieces it would serve everyone’s interest [...]
Posted in Politics on Oct 1st, 2011
Let us accept the premise that having a minimum wage is “good” on whatever grounds you want to wish this. When I am in Congress I will introduce legislation that requires two things: That the minimum wage and the poverty line move together, and have a direct, clear relationship to one another. So, if the [...]
Posted in Classical Liberalism, Politics, Taxation on Sep 23rd, 2011
I’ve finally tired of hearing poorly thought out arguments for why the rich should pay more in taxes than everyone else. So as to not make any one post run on too long, let’s do these as a series of short posts. Let me say at the outset that: I understand that nothing I will [...]
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