It's truly laughable to me to hear some of these criticisms from people on health care reform. "Oooh, someone will choose your coverage and you'll have wait times." Someone chooses my coverage and I have wait times now. "Well, it'll hurt the insurance industry and they won;t be allowed to adjust to the market." If these folks were more concerned with serving the market over serving their executives, we wouldn't have this problem now would we?
Come on folks, this is common sense. If people understood how much they are taxed on their average paycheck due to deductions from their health care premiums (and I don't care if it goes to a corporation instead of the government, if it comes out of my paycheck, it's a TAX), combined with the extra taxes that are required to pay for the health care of police, fire, teachers, and other public employees, it becomes quite clear that public health care will SAVE MONEY. It also takes out the uncertainty of having coverage dropped or premiums jacked, which distorts business and consumer decisions. And oh yeah, it means elected officials are the ones accountable for how the health care ystem works, not for-profit corporations. When it comes to necessities, it's big government > big corporate any day of the week.
Didn't they teach this to these free marketers about how people and firms make decisions. You know, some time around week 3 of Econ 101?
Obama was elected because he took liberal positions on war, corporations and inequality, and religious fundamentalism. Listening to those who won't work with you is not the way to go, and if he stays on this route, he will lose folks like me, which he needs a lot more than any back-stabbing corporate.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Visit to the Rust Belt
Went to a fun wedding last weekend in Hammond/ Whiting, Indiana. It's always nice to see good people get the celebration they deserve.
It was quite remarkable to drive along Highway 41 in Hammond. Seemed like the land that time forgot. Most of the signs were from 20-25 years ago, with no real changes in sight. The relics of the past, with the small lawns and tight streets, are very intriguing, and reminiscent of parts of Milwaukee. Reminds you that a lot of these problems didn't just start when Bear Stearns died, and it makes me wonder if we ever get any version of it back. Having a society based on consumption ain't such a good thing when there's no income and future prospects to consume.
I've been getting this wary feeling that these "green shoots" will be short-lived, and that people get impatient that a long-term problem hasn't been solved in a few months. This country's dumb enough not to see the big picture that an economy based on Ponzi schemes and other bullshit takes a long time to dig out from. If this country does have the sack to take it, we'll come out a lot better, but if we go for the cheap laugh, we are jacked.
Maybe it's the prospects that I see in our state and local budgets, but the second punch is coming in the form of lost services and the needed raise in taxes. Again, maybe it makes things leaner and meaner by 2012, but will the average doofus have the patience to get it.
Then again, I will take one comparison with the last time this country had double-digit unemployment- a killer year from the Milwaukee Brewers. Obviously it's still early, but I like this start, and if J.J Hardy and Corey Hart start hitting, or another starter can get added, this could be a lot of fun. And a lot more interesting and entertaining than some other things that I waste too much time on.
It was quite remarkable to drive along Highway 41 in Hammond. Seemed like the land that time forgot. Most of the signs were from 20-25 years ago, with no real changes in sight. The relics of the past, with the small lawns and tight streets, are very intriguing, and reminiscent of parts of Milwaukee. Reminds you that a lot of these problems didn't just start when Bear Stearns died, and it makes me wonder if we ever get any version of it back. Having a society based on consumption ain't such a good thing when there's no income and future prospects to consume.
I've been getting this wary feeling that these "green shoots" will be short-lived, and that people get impatient that a long-term problem hasn't been solved in a few months. This country's dumb enough not to see the big picture that an economy based on Ponzi schemes and other bullshit takes a long time to dig out from. If this country does have the sack to take it, we'll come out a lot better, but if we go for the cheap laugh, we are jacked.
Maybe it's the prospects that I see in our state and local budgets, but the second punch is coming in the form of lost services and the needed raise in taxes. Again, maybe it makes things leaner and meaner by 2012, but will the average doofus have the patience to get it.
Then again, I will take one comparison with the last time this country had double-digit unemployment- a killer year from the Milwaukee Brewers. Obviously it's still early, but I like this start, and if J.J Hardy and Corey Hart start hitting, or another starter can get added, this could be a lot of fun. And a lot more interesting and entertaining than some other things that I waste too much time on.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Green shoot? Try still shot
Sorry, but for all the happy talk from the Wall Street douches on TYV, I remain unconvinced that renewed prosperity is just around the corner. Since when is 605,000 more jobs lost (including revisions of previous months) a good thing? Because it's not 700,000? Get this down below 500,000, and maybe I'll start thinking that things might be bottoming. Everything else is cosmetic window-dressing, but indicative of the biggest "change" that Obama has installed- hope that things might get better, instead of remain rigged and destroyed.
And I don't believe for a second that banks are all solid- how can they be when debtors still aren't getting paid, and defaults and job losses continuing. I'll still stay tuned.
Given Wisconsin's budget problems, I'll gladly accept all the FIBs coming up to Miller Park on a non-holiday weekend. Sadly, I don't think it'll be enough to help things in the near future, although if we can pick and choose our furlough dates for the rest of the year, I can make do with it. particularly if it can fall during some midweek Brewer day game in August :P.
And I don't believe for a second that banks are all solid- how can they be when debtors still aren't getting paid, and defaults and job losses continuing. I'll still stay tuned.
Given Wisconsin's budget problems, I'll gladly accept all the FIBs coming up to Miller Park on a non-holiday weekend. Sadly, I don't think it'll be enough to help things in the near future, although if we can pick and choose our furlough dates for the rest of the year, I can make do with it. particularly if it can fall during some midweek Brewer day game in August :P.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Not out of the Woods
Am I the only one who isn't exactly thrilled to see the panic go away from our current situation. Oh, I believe the crazy freefall has stopped and that we aren't heading for ruin. But I still don't see enough stabilization in the banks, because while they are being propped up for the time being, the lack of borrowing capaibilities and bank balances still seem to be around. And while the drops may be slowing, the rebounds aren't happening, and so we're crawling around on the floor.
Yes, we've gone a in a good way from where we were at the start of this year, but half-measures and flatline numbers won't get people their jobs abck. And we're not even adding the mess that state and local finances will still have after this one-time assistance from the stimulus package. If national health care, entitlement reform, or some other big change in handling future liabilities is not addressed, this will continue to be a big albatross for government and allocation of tax resources. It's worth keeping an eye on.
And I see no reason for any near-term growth in the real world until job losses drop to something less than 300- 400,000 a month, and fewer than 100,000 mew jobless claims being filed a day. That hasn't come close to happening yet. And until it does, don't fall for the irrational exuberance, and keep playing it safe and smart.
At least you got 70-degree weather coming by the end of the week, so I'll be taking the small victories when I can, and taking advantage of that $2 "any beer you want" Happy Hour at Bar Louie.
Yes, we've gone a in a good way from where we were at the start of this year, but half-measures and flatline numbers won't get people their jobs abck. And we're not even adding the mess that state and local finances will still have after this one-time assistance from the stimulus package. If national health care, entitlement reform, or some other big change in handling future liabilities is not addressed, this will continue to be a big albatross for government and allocation of tax resources. It's worth keeping an eye on.
And I see no reason for any near-term growth in the real world until job losses drop to something less than 300- 400,000 a month, and fewer than 100,000 mew jobless claims being filed a day. That hasn't come close to happening yet. And until it does, don't fall for the irrational exuberance, and keep playing it safe and smart.
At least you got 70-degree weather coming by the end of the week, so I'll be taking the small victories when I can, and taking advantage of that $2 "any beer you want" Happy Hour at Bar Louie.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Kick em back
Just a quick note on how the bitter white male crowd is trying to take down Obama and blunt all the enthusiasm around his presidency (a lot of which is media-generated because they're lazy and it's an easy subject to deal with. I was in Vegas last weekend and was glad not to have to care about it).
Hey losers. We're not the ones who think of Obama as the Messiah- you do, because you're so shallow that you think we view "our guy" as an idol. But that's what separates us from you. We recognize greatness and achievement, but do not get blinded by it. We can sense when things will turn around for the better (as they did once Dubya jumped on that helicopter and got the fuck out of my government), but we also know that we can't wait for it to happen. And we recognize that nothing will turn around economically in the near future, because corporate a-holes have wrecked it beyond recognition right now, and it'll take a lot of work to even get us back to sustainability, let alone steady growth.
Obama has already stepped up strong by renouncing the Bush's Administration SOP and told the world that we're going to be better than the neocon bastards that represented our country. Then backed it up through closing Gitmo, suspending all Bush-imposed regulations, and removing the gag rule. These are layups, to be sure, but the fact that the obvious was done is alreadfy an improvement over what we had.
Now, let's get to the stimulus package. A bit too heavy on highways over transit and aid to local governments, both of which would help roads because transit will reduce their usage and because local governments are broke and need the money to deal with delayed road maintenance. But it's geared toward spending and work, instead of the GOPpers' tired call of "tax cuts". Are GOPpers so stupid to think that the failed strategy of trusting businesses and rich folks to do anything other than helping themselves will somehow change when their already-low giveaways...ERRR...tax rates are lowered even more? People need work and wages, two things that they haven't been getting recently, and I don't think care if they get 72cents of that last dollar, or 75.
Lots of work to do, but a decent start for the new president. And what the jealous Viagra addicts don't understand is that the "Change" Obama represents is a change back to making solutions based out of reality, a change back to competence being a requirement of getting a job in government instead of ideological affirmative action. It also means a culture of respect and desire to achieve, instead of the laziness, selfishness and division the characterized the mid-2000s. Forget the economy, those items in themselves are change we all should believe in.
Oh, and to paraphrase Road House, the Dems need to know when it's time not to be nice, and kick back when the children start complaining (as no doubt they will). Make these whiners know their place, and maybe they'll recognize that they'll have to try being an adult to solve problems. Or they'll be marginalized into the insignificant shriveldicks that most already recognize them to be. Either way, it's a big win for the country.
Hey losers. We're not the ones who think of Obama as the Messiah- you do, because you're so shallow that you think we view "our guy" as an idol. But that's what separates us from you. We recognize greatness and achievement, but do not get blinded by it. We can sense when things will turn around for the better (as they did once Dubya jumped on that helicopter and got the fuck out of my government), but we also know that we can't wait for it to happen. And we recognize that nothing will turn around economically in the near future, because corporate a-holes have wrecked it beyond recognition right now, and it'll take a lot of work to even get us back to sustainability, let alone steady growth.
Obama has already stepped up strong by renouncing the Bush's Administration SOP and told the world that we're going to be better than the neocon bastards that represented our country. Then backed it up through closing Gitmo, suspending all Bush-imposed regulations, and removing the gag rule. These are layups, to be sure, but the fact that the obvious was done is alreadfy an improvement over what we had.
Now, let's get to the stimulus package. A bit too heavy on highways over transit and aid to local governments, both of which would help roads because transit will reduce their usage and because local governments are broke and need the money to deal with delayed road maintenance. But it's geared toward spending and work, instead of the GOPpers' tired call of "tax cuts". Are GOPpers so stupid to think that the failed strategy of trusting businesses and rich folks to do anything other than helping themselves will somehow change when their already-low giveaways...ERRR...tax rates are lowered even more? People need work and wages, two things that they haven't been getting recently, and I don't think care if they get 72cents of that last dollar, or 75.
Lots of work to do, but a decent start for the new president. And what the jealous Viagra addicts don't understand is that the "Change" Obama represents is a change back to making solutions based out of reality, a change back to competence being a requirement of getting a job in government instead of ideological affirmative action. It also means a culture of respect and desire to achieve, instead of the laziness, selfishness and division the characterized the mid-2000s. Forget the economy, those items in themselves are change we all should believe in.
Oh, and to paraphrase Road House, the Dems need to know when it's time not to be nice, and kick back when the children start complaining (as no doubt they will). Make these whiners know their place, and maybe they'll recognize that they'll have to try being an adult to solve problems. Or they'll be marginalized into the insignificant shriveldicks that most already recognize them to be. Either way, it's a big win for the country.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
In Need of Stimulation
As I prepare to see UW get its biggest test of the Big Ten season (against Purdue), a few quick hits on the new New Deal.
The real problem right now in the country is that no benefits from the alleged growth of 2001-2007 ever trickled their way down to vast majority of real people. So once the reality of "we're screwed and broke," sunk in, starting with the oil spikes this summer (which we can tell now were clearly caused by investor douchebag speculation more than any demand increase or supply cutback). So the answer is to get people back to a point where they think they will 1. Have a job, 2. Have that job be paid something and 3. Make it worthwhile to invest, because there's a better economic situation to look forward to in the future.
This is why the stimulus has to be spending and infrastructure based. Businesses will not look out for the right thing and hire folks because it might work out. They're more concerned with cutting ther losses and keeping their investors afloat- real workers come much later. And government is the best agent for pushing these new jobs in a certain direction, which is why green technology has to be a centerpiece. Once green technology is installed and shown to work, this will encourage others to take the risks to move that direction themselves, and the establishment of these projects gives the base to lead to economy-of-scale savings and advantages.
If there's something we've learned in the last 30 years of supply-side silliness, it's that corporations should never be expected to do the right thing. These are cold-blooded organizations that are designed to MAKE MONEY, and they will do it by any means necessary. This is why we have governments and law enforcement in the first place, becasue we understand that individuals do not always do the right thing, and that their mistakes have major impacts on other individuals, particular if the screw-ups sign your paychecks. You gotta have government go Warren G and Nate Dogg, and be the Regulators.
Oh, and if you're reading this Barack/ Axelrod- throw a few million Milwaukee's way. Our Mayor was smart enough to back you early, and we're freezing here. Help some of your Upper Midwest urban brothers out!
Edit: Disregard my ripping of Ben Sheets in my September post. Hey Benny- you're getting no bites, and the Crew needs a No 1 starter. Why not come back to Milwaukee for 1 year at $12 million and prove you can be healthy. If it works out, you get your multi-year paycheck and the Crew gets a big bonus at the top of its rotation, and might just be contender again. In econ, we call this a mutually beneficial exchange.
The real problem right now in the country is that no benefits from the alleged growth of 2001-2007 ever trickled their way down to vast majority of real people. So once the reality of "we're screwed and broke," sunk in, starting with the oil spikes this summer (which we can tell now were clearly caused by investor douchebag speculation more than any demand increase or supply cutback). So the answer is to get people back to a point where they think they will 1. Have a job, 2. Have that job be paid something and 3. Make it worthwhile to invest, because there's a better economic situation to look forward to in the future.
This is why the stimulus has to be spending and infrastructure based. Businesses will not look out for the right thing and hire folks because it might work out. They're more concerned with cutting ther losses and keeping their investors afloat- real workers come much later. And government is the best agent for pushing these new jobs in a certain direction, which is why green technology has to be a centerpiece. Once green technology is installed and shown to work, this will encourage others to take the risks to move that direction themselves, and the establishment of these projects gives the base to lead to economy-of-scale savings and advantages.
If there's something we've learned in the last 30 years of supply-side silliness, it's that corporations should never be expected to do the right thing. These are cold-blooded organizations that are designed to MAKE MONEY, and they will do it by any means necessary. This is why we have governments and law enforcement in the first place, becasue we understand that individuals do not always do the right thing, and that their mistakes have major impacts on other individuals, particular if the screw-ups sign your paychecks. You gotta have government go Warren G and Nate Dogg, and be the Regulators.
Oh, and if you're reading this Barack/ Axelrod- throw a few million Milwaukee's way. Our Mayor was smart enough to back you early, and we're freezing here. Help some of your Upper Midwest urban brothers out!
Edit: Disregard my ripping of Ben Sheets in my September post. Hey Benny- you're getting no bites, and the Crew needs a No 1 starter. Why not come back to Milwaukee for 1 year at $12 million and prove you can be healthy. If it works out, you get your multi-year paycheck and the Crew gets a big bonus at the top of its rotation, and might just be contender again. In econ, we call this a mutually beneficial exchange.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
YES WE DID!
God, that was a CRUSHING by Obama. Maybe people actually have the sack to get it in America after all. I'm still occasionally yelling when I see him called "President-elect." Now, let's get to hammering these deregulation, tax-cutting fools and bring some reponsibility and growth back to this economy.
To paraphrase Frederick Douglass, "Verily, the work does not end with the abolition of (Bush and the Republicans) but only begins. (Supply-side and simialr foolishness) has been the great hindrance. It has stood athwart the pathway of knowledge and progress, dreading nothing so much as the enlightenment of (Americans). This old and grim obstacle removed, and jets of heavenly light will speedily illumine the land long covered with darkness, cruelty and crime."
Or as Winston Wolf would say, "let's not start sucking each other's dicks yet." Lot of work to clean up, and I have the utmost confidence Barack can get a group together that will do just that. Unfortunately, we still probably have a million more job losses to fight through in the next year or so. Hang on tight.
To paraphrase Frederick Douglass, "Verily, the work does not end with the abolition of (Bush and the Republicans) but only begins. (Supply-side and simialr foolishness) has been the great hindrance. It has stood athwart the pathway of knowledge and progress, dreading nothing so much as the enlightenment of (Americans). This old and grim obstacle removed, and jets of heavenly light will speedily illumine the land long covered with darkness, cruelty and crime."
Or as Winston Wolf would say, "let's not start sucking each other's dicks yet." Lot of work to clean up, and I have the utmost confidence Barack can get a group together that will do just that. Unfortunately, we still probably have a million more job losses to fight through in the next year or so. Hang on tight.
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