Liberal Talk Radio

If you’re someone who studied economics [like me!], then chances are, you’ve probably taken at least a class or two about the monetary crises of the ’70s. For the rest of you … did you know? Richard Nixon was responsible for the first major inflationary event of the ’70s? ‘Tis true. He took us off [...]

A new study purports to demonstrate that in many cases, wealthy individuals are incentivized to use public transit: An interesting snippet: Alternatively, if Wrich * F < C then some rich people will take public transportation. In this case, a four ring city can be one outcome. In the inner ring, the rich take public [...]

The ridiculous thing about the “stimulus” package that President Bush and the Congress is proposing is that it we have to borrow to pay for it. The idea of an $800 tax rebate is being bandied about. But since we’re already in debt, that cash is going on Uncle Sam’s credit card, which is all [...]

Don’t look now, but President Bush (Remember that guy?) is going to give his last(?) State of the Union address on Monday. With all the economic turmoil today, it’s pretty clear what he’s going to talk about, but the real question is just how little coverage it will get with the Democratic primary in South [...]

Giuliani the statesman: Rudolph W. Giuliani likens himself to a boxer who never takes a punch without swinging back. As mayor, he made the vengeful roundhouse an instrument of government, clipping anyone who crossed him. In August 1997, James Schillaci, a rough-hewn chauffeur from the Bronx, dialed Mayor Giuliani’s radio program on WABC-AM to complain [...]

Having used the iPhone interface for Facebook for a few months now, I’m convinced that smart phones are the natural environment for FB and its applications. So it makes perfect sense to me that Nokia is making a deal to put Facebook prominently on all of its phones. In fact, I’d go even farther. Having [...]

I finally got around to seeing Sicko last night, and I’d like to second the Professor’s enthusiastic review from last summer. I was initially skeptical about what I’d heard about the detour to Cuba, but it was really powerful stuff. And showing a poor, communist country treating 9/11 rescue volunteers better than our own government [...]

In the Cascade Mountains, plans are underway to tap underground volcanoes as a source of energy. Why? One reason for the growing interest in geothermal in the Cascades is a requirement that, by 2020, 15 percent of the energy used by Washington state’s major utilities come from renewable sources. California and Oregon have similar requirements.

The caucuses and primaries kick off in Nevada and South Carolina.  We’ll look at the state of the presidential race and how the recent economic outlook may change the game.   Links Mentioned:  Frank Rich on Romney’s newfound populism … Bob Herbert on stagnating wages … Details on McCain’s win.

If you need any more evidence that economic impact studies around sports arenas are full of crap, read this hilarious Seattle Times article. The Sonics were for economic development before they were aganst it. (via Postman)