For a long time I’ve argued that incentives matter. That when faced with choices and consequences, folks tend, with a sufficiently large population, to choice in their own self-interests. I don’t find this strange, immoral or even counter to our nature. We are animals and have, over time, evolved into creatures that have learned to [...]
Author Archives: pino
A Matter of Perspective
In light of the past week’s hammering in the stock market, and in what I figure to be an interesting day in the market as the nation absorbs the impact of the credit rating downgrade, I thought it would be worthwhile to note that all may not be lost.
The Dow has certainly been beaten down, no question. And with it, we assume, our financial fortunes. Now, clearly, I have no indication as to the individual portfolios of any person, but there is a sense, at least as of a month ago, that the nation may not be as bad off as it appears.
Barack Obama: Arab Attitudes
So. Barack Obama.
I know what I think of him and I know, or think I do, what other Americans think of him. I know that conservatives abhor his handling of the economy and of the social issues of the day. I know that liberals congratulate him on the health care, the social programs and tose same social issues of the day.
Its clear that America is split.
But how about the rest of the world. Or, more specifically, the Arab world? How is Obama doing compared to THEIR expectations.
Let’s check.
Thought Experiment
Jun 20
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Okay, okay. For a second, close your eyes and follow along. Wait. Doesn’t work in this medium. Read this and THEN close your eyes and think through the scenarios. Or whatever. Consider dinner. Fine dining at a fancy schmancy restaurant. Over the course there will be 1000 people served. They can come in tables of [...]
Drill Baby Drill
Jun 6
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Three words. Two if you don’t count ‘em twice. But they’re pretty powerful. On each side, Left and Right, those words elicit emotion. On one, it brings to mind an independence. On an ability to depend on one’s self for the requisite needs. On the other, it brings to mind ugly environmental dangers, global warming [...]
Big Oil: Profits and Taxes
Big Oil.
We love, LOVE, to hate Big Oil.
As we’re paying more and more at the pump, and as we continue to flounder in this post recession economy, it’s hard to look at the Big Oil companies , their profits and think anything other than greed.
But is that fair? Let’s check.
The Middle Class – Part III
May 9
My last post in this space demonstrated that the Middle Class in America has gotten larger, not smaller, over time. I made the point that more and more people are making more and more money even as we keep the dollar values locked into 2008 values: In 1967 [earliest data available] 83.7% of the families [...]
Books Were Once Reproduced By Hand
Apr 18
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Staggering. No other word can be substituted. Except maybe mind numbing. But that’s two words. Often times politicians make arguments or defenses to explain away the vote or the legislation they’re crafting. They attempt to throw up a field of confusion that they hope will do just that; remove doubt surrounding their position. Much of [...]
The Middle Class – Part I
Apr 11
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For a long time now I’ve been interested in “The Middle Class”, or as I call it, The Big MC™ What it is, what it means and how it’s been used over the years. My fascination comes from two sources; my own personal experience and then the use of The Big MC in today’s Liberal [...]
Mommy’s Home!
Mar 30
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In the news last week was the surprise acquisition of T-Mobile by AT&T. NEW YORK/FRANKFURT, March 20 (Reuters) – AT&T Inc (T.N) struck a $39 billion deal to buy Deutsche Telekom AG’s (DTEGn.DE) T-Mobile USA, to create a new U.S. mobile market leader and bolster its constrained network against a near insatiable appetite for videos [...]
Impact of Minimum Wage
Mar 21
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The minimum wage debate is an old favorite. Another very visible and clear line of disagreement between conservatives and liberals. There are those on one side that feel we should increase the minimum wage to a level that better represents a living wage. Other, myself included, feel that wages are best left to the negotiations [...]
Did Sexist Men Make Education Better?
I’m gonna be upfront here. Don’t read this if you are faint of heart or can’t handle true things. There are gonna be things called facts strewn about and they may hurt.
I’m just sayin’.
I remember awhile back tellin’ my wife that I thought she was one of the reasons that our education system isn’t doing as well as we would like.
She looked at me and asked “Why?”
I said, “Because you are a woman.”
I had to walk home, but I have my reasons.
I Got Beer, Bourbon And Cigars…..Mind If I Join Ya?
Mar 14
It’s an old and worn out line, but I’ll use it anyway… I wasn’t born in North Carolina, but I got here just as fast as I could! I fully buy into the idea that North Carolina is truly God’s country. And while that’s true, if God wants to get away from it all, he [...]
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