U.S. 2012 Election

[a_majoor]

No, most are force fed the party line and any attempt to examine the system and propose/introduce changes result in being shouted down with cries of "American style health care". There is no informed debate on the subject because a lot of people benefit from the system the way it is and these rent seekers have created large and powerful special interest groups which has been able to stifle debate, innovation and change, while extracting an ever larger piece of the economic pie.

Notice the patient is not represented here; they are now simply pawns in the system used as hostages to extract more funds or pawns to promote "new" initiatives by politicians.

 

[a_majoor]

Back to the election in the United States, here is some data that could well be used to impact not only the Presidential election but also many of the downline elections as well. Given that the real (U3) unemployment rate is over 10%, this isn't "much" of an improvement, but it shows the way ahead:

http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/07/07/Unemployment-Rate-Dropped-In-Every-State-That-Elected-A-Republican-Gov-In-2010

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPPED IN EVERY STATE THAT ELECTED A REPUBLICAN GOV. IN 2010

by TONY LEE  8 Jul 2012, 6:24 AM PDT

In 2010, influenced by the Tea Party and its focus on fiscal issues, 17 states elected Republican governors. And, according to an Examiner.com analysis, every one of those states saw a drop in their unemployment rates since January of 2011. Furthermore, the average drop in the unemployment rate in these states was 1.35%, compared to the national decline of .9%, which means, according to the analysis, that the job market in these Republican states is improving 50% faster than the national rate.

Since January of 2011, here is how much the unemployment rate declined in each of the 17 states that elected Republican governors in 2010, according to the Examiner:

Kansas - 6.9% to 6.1% = a decline of 0.8%
Maine - 8.0% to 7.4% = a decline of 0.6%
Michigan - 10.9% to 8.5% = a decline of 2.4%
New Mexico - 7.7% to 6.7% = a decline of 1.0%
Oklahoma - 6.2% to 4.8% = a decline of 1.4%
Pennsylvania - 8.0% to 7.4% = a decline of 0.6%
Tennessee - 9.5% to 7.9% = a decline of 1.6%
Wisconsin - 7.7% to 6.8% = a decline of 0.9%
Wyoming - 6.3% to 5.2% = a decline of 1.1%
Alabama - 9.3% to 7.4% = a decline of 1.9%
Georgia - 10.1% to 8.9% = a decline of 1.2%
South Carolina - 10.6% to 9.1% = a decline of 1.5%
South Dakota - 5.0% to 4.3% = a decline of 0.7%
Florida - 10.9% to 8.6% = a decline of 2.3%
Nevada - 13.8% to 11.6% = a decline of 2.2%
Iowa - 6.1% to 5.1% = a decline of 1.0%
Ohio - 9.0% to 7.3% = a decline of 1.7%

On the other hand, the unemployment rate in states that elected Democrats in 2010 dropped, on average, as much as the national rate decline and, in some states such as New York, the unemployment rate has risen since January of 2011.
This is yet another example of how the so-called “blue state” model is not working. 

 

[cupper]

Another example of how Romney travels in circles that reinforces that he is out of touch with the working and middle class.

Romney Donors Out in Force in Hamptons

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/romney-donors-out-in-force-in-hamptons/?hp

This is the best bit from whole story:

A few cars back, Ted Conklin, the owner of the American Hotel in Sag Habor, N.Y., long a favorite of the well-off and well-known in the Hamptons, could barely contain his displeasure with Mr. Obama. “He is a socialist. His idea is find a problem that doesn’t exist and get government to intervene,” Mr. Conklin said from inside a gold-colored Mercedes as his wife, Carol Simmons, nodded in agreement.

Ms. Simmons paused to highlight what she said was her husband’s generous spirit: “Tell them who’s on your yacht this weekend! Tell him!”

Over Mr. Conklin’s objections, Ms. Simmons disclosed that a major executive from Miramax, the movie company, was on the 75-foot yacht, because, she said, there were no rooms left at the hotel.

:facepalm:

 

[tomahawk6]

The Romney bashing is hard to fathom.  Mr Obama had zero executive experience before becoming President. Romney has alot of successful executive experience that might prove useful in digging the country out of recession/depression.

 

[aesop081]

  Certainly it is the way most see things around here 

If by most you mean the "ill-informed/ill-educated/sheep-brained", then yes.

 

[Bird_Gunner45]

Another example of how Romney travels in circles that reinforces that he is out of touch with the working and middle class.

Romney Donors Out in Force in Hamptons

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/romney-donors-out-in-force-in-hamptons/?hp

This is the best bit from whole story:

:facepalm:

At what point in US history did being rich and successful become something to be ashamed of? Mr Romney is rich, but so is Mr. Obama.  Perhaps they should get that Joe the Plumber guy to run... he isn't rich, and he's in tune with the common man!

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Another example of how Romney travels in circles that reinforces that he is out of touch with the working and middle class.

Romney Donors Out in Force in Hamptons

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/romney-donors-out-in-force-in-hamptons/?hp

This is the best bit from whole story:

:facepalm:

You're shitting me right? With all those disconnected Hollywood actors, actresses, film directors and studio owners that not only support Obama by shill for him and make grand documentaries about him? All those 'entertainers'?

You pull this one example of someone with money, who is allowed to vote and have an opinion also, to say Romney doesn't know the working class and is disconnected?

Your arse is a star, buddy boy.

 

[cupper]

You're shitting me right? With all those disconnected Hollywood actors, actresses, film directors and studio owners that not only support Obama by shill for him and make grand documentaries about him? All those 'entertainers'?

You pull this one example of someone with money, who is allowed to vote and have an opinion also, to say Romney doesn't know the working class and is disconnected?

Your arse is a star, buddy boy.

There is nothing wrong with being successful. He doesn't even need to apologize for it.

But do not try and sell the man as being able to understand the plight of the working man, that he is just like the working class guy he's trying to curry a vote from.

When the narrative from the other side is that billionaires are trying to buy the election, this does not help, and may indeed hurt the credibility.

 

[cupper]

And when a lobby group of your own calls you out for not doing enough, time to rethink your approach.

House Farm Bill cuts don’t go nearly far enough

http://rstreet.org/news-release/house-farm-bill-cuts-dont-go-nearly-far-enough/

“For all of their tea party bluster, the House Republicans have proposed a wasteful, big government program that disrupts the private market, spends billions of taxpayer dollars that we don’t have and harms the environment,” R Street President Eli Lehrer said. “If Republicans are serious about cutting government, they need to start from scratch.”

 

[cupper]

And another example of the conservative echo chamber turning significant members of the right away.

Who Needs Posner When You Have Mises and Hayek?

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-06/who-needs-posner-when-you-have-mises-and-hayek-.html

Of course, conservatives will tell you they care a lot about intellectual grounding. These days, they especially love Austrian economists, such as Friedrich Hayek and Ludwig von Mises. I have a whole bookshelf dedicated to duplicate copies of Austrian economics books that conservative and libertarian organizations have given to me for free. I have four copies of The Road to Serfdom, which is like Dianetics for libertarians.

There are two big reasons today's right loves the Austrians. One is that Austrian economists reject empirical analysis, and instead believe that you can reach conclusions about correct economic policies from a priori principles. It's philosophy dressed up as economics; with the Austrians, there is never any risk that real-world events will interfere with your ideology.

 

[cupper]

Your arse is a star, buddy boy.

It may be a star, but unfortunately my wife has laid claim to it. :nana:

 

[Redeye]

And another example of the conservative echo chamber turning significant members of the right away.

Who Needs Posner When You Have Mises and Hayek?

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-06/who-needs-posner-when-you-have-mises-and-hayek-.html

Wow. That one highlighted statement pretty much sums up why most economists from across their spectrum of views dismiss Austrian economics.

 

[Infanteer]

And another example of the conservative echo chamber turning significant members of the right away.

Who Needs Posner When You Have Mises and Hayek?

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-06/who-needs-posner-when-you-have-mises-and-hayek-.html

Wow. That one highlighted statement pretty much sums up why most economists from across their spectrum of views dismiss Austrian economics.

Actually, the blog post kind of sucked.  The responses by "Pater Tenebrarum" et al were much better as a discussion pieces

 

[Brad Sallows]

"Romney Donors Out in Force in Hamptons"

How is that newsworthy compared to "Obama Donors Out in Force in Switzerland"?

 

[Brad Sallows]

"One is that Austrian economists reject empirical analysis, and instead believe that you can reach conclusions about correct economic policies from a priori principles. It's philosophy dressed up as economics; with the Austrians, there is never any risk that real-world events will interfere with your ideology."

Ironically, scientists and engineers are extraordinarily fond of reasoning from first principles.  Empirical analysis is how hypotheses are tested and refined.  Should I interpret this to mean the non-Austrians have no desire whatsoever to have a science of economics?

Absent a working discipline of psycho-history, the empiricists are just wankers looking over very small pieces of a whole.  I don't think we are in imminent danger of any first-rank minds joining the ranks of economists to give us psycho-history.  They learn just about enough math to deal with their simple empiricism, and retreat from the really hard stuff with relief.  And they certainly are never going to find correct answers if they disregard common sense human behaviour.

 

[a_majoor]

Of course we can add empirical evidence to the mix;  the observed causes of the 2008 economic collapse were misallocation of economic resources due to low interest rates and perverse incentives (such as the supposition that GSE's had implicit government backing).

Which fits very closely with the Austrian economic model.

 

[cupper]

Ironically, scientists and engineers are extraordinarily fond of reasoning from first principles.  Empirical analysis is how hypotheses are tested and refined.

Historically Engineers tended to build on the work of scientists. And more engineering knowledge has been learned from failure analysis than theoretical developments. Scientists seem to have a need to figure out why something works the way it does. Engineers just have a need to figure out how to make it work better.

If you don't agree, just look at the technology that was in place before the advent of most of the mathematics that are used to develope explain first principles.

 

[Edward Campbell]

Historically Engineers tended to build on the work of scientists. And more engineering knowledge has been learned from failure analysis than theoretical developments. Scientists seem to have a need to figure out why something works the way it does. Engineers just have a need to figure out how to make it work better.

If you don't agree, just look at the technology that was in place before the advent of most of the mathematics that are used to develope explain first principles.

Yep!

 

[Brad Sallows]

Yes, yes, I've heard all that before in first year university.  None of it deflects the point: start with first principles (axioms) to obtain the most comprehensive theory.  That which is not understood can not be reliably predicted.

 

[a_majoor]

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha.........

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/obama-administration-takes-credit-inspiring-lexus-hybrid-suv-which-began-production

Obama Administration Takes Credit for Inspiring Lexus Hybrid SUV--Which Began Production in 2004
By Eric Scheiner
July 9, 2012
Subscribe to Eric Scheiner's posts

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

(CNSNews.com) -The Obama administration is taking credit for inspiring Lexus to create a hybrid SUV--even though the automobile company began the well-publicized production of its RX 400h SUV hybrid in 2004--four full years before Obama was elected.

A timeline of the auto company's history, posted on its website, says: "2004-The first production SUV hybrid, the RX 400h, debuts with Lexus Hybrid Drive. U.S. Lexus sales reach two million."

Lexus first announced it would market the RX 400h hybrid SUV at a press conference at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mich., on Jan. 6, 2004.

"The new RX 400h re-defines the midsize luxury SUV market while raising awareness and acceptance of hybrid gas-electric vehicles among luxury car and SUV buyers," Denny Clements, Lexus group vice president and general manager, said at the SUV's 2004 roll out. "This is truly a breakthrough in terms of hybrid gas-electric powertrains because, for the first time, it adds a new performance dimension to the traditional hybrid advantages of high mileage and low emissions."

Despite the fact that the RX 400h premiered in 2004, Obama administration Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood expressed a different vision of history when he and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson were discussing vehicle fuel standards at the Aspen Ideas Festival on July 3.

“I don’t think the car manufacturers would be manufacturing the cars they are manufacturing today as hybrids, if it weren’t for what the president did in signing the executive order and what Lisa and I have done over the last three and half years about developing C.A.F.E. (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards for automobiles and light trucks that will get 54.4 miles per gallon by 2025."

“I think we jump started the ability," said LaHood. "When you see now a Lexus hybrid, no one would have ever predicted that 2 years ago. Every car manufacturer is getting into hybrid. I think we jump started those opportunities."

It was widely reported that pre-orders for the Lexus RX 400h SUV were high, and the vehicle was widely available for sale in 2005. The company made it's first hybrid sedan, the GS 450h, available in 2006.

President Obama signed the order for the federal government to raise fuel standards for cars and trucks in May 20, 2010.

According to his biography on the Department of Transportation web site, Ray LaHood became the 16th Secretary of Transportation on January 23, 2009. Before that LaHood was a Republican member of the House of Representatives from Illinois.

George W Bush will stop at nothing........