2. The case for economic optimism despite gloomy headlines, from "heartland economist" Jim Paulsen of Wells Capital Management in Minneapolis.
3. Photos: The 25 best skylines in the world. (ht/Craig Newmark)
4. Iowa consumers benefit from lower natural gas prices and utility rates.
5. Sunday Washington Post article on the U-VA Kerfuffle: Ousted President Teresa Sullivan Has Hired a Lawyer, and the Board Has Hired a PR Firm. That's not a good sign.
6. Small businesses that make machines and components for other
manufacturers are experiencing an upswing that could be a sign of things
to come for the broader economy.
"Sunday Washington Post article on the U-VA Kerfuffle: Ousted President Teresa Sullivan Has Hired a Lawyer, and the Board Has Hired a PR Firm. That's not a good sign."
ReplyDeleteit is if you are a news reporter.
"1. Robert Samuelson in today's Washington Post: "President Obama committed a colossal error of judgment in making health-care “reform” a centerpiece of his first term.""...
ReplyDeleteNow I like Robert Samuelson, he's no dummy regardless of how its defined...
I don't remember if Samuelson addressed the flaws in ObamaCare before this particular article to any extent but i think a lot of folks were hip to the idea the ObamaCare was a MAJOR error of judgement back in '09 and '10...
I think that error in judgement was reaffirmed by Pelosi's wise words...
I agree with Robert Samuelson's analysis of the ECONOMICS of Obamacare. But it remains to be seen whether, in pursuing the health care bill, Obama was correct about the politics.
ReplyDeleteOne scenario that is still viable is that the SCOTUS strikes down the individual mandate, but that Obama still manages to win re-election. If that should happen, I think it would be difficult to argue that, in pursuing the health care legislation, Obama had made a poor decision with regard to HIS OWN political career.
juandos: "I think that error in judgement was reaffirmed by Pelosi's wise words..."
ReplyDeleteI know those words and that hideous image are permanently seared into my memory. As I age and I forget things, I'm confident *that* memory will remain clear and sharp even after I forget the name of that woman who has lived with me for so long I can't remember when she wasn't here.
The word is "wife". Now I remember.
Her name is...wait...it will come to me in a minute.
Yes, it was bad judgment -- as it was in 1993 when Bill and Hillary tried to jump on it -- but it's utterly predictable. Government run health care has been a totem for the left for so long that the minute they have control of government they start behaving like dogs in heat. They were in such a hurry they even forgot to address the severability issue -- something very routine in most legislation. Speaker Pelosi was right when she said that we'd have to pass the bill to see what's in it. She probably didn't even know.
ReplyDeletearb: "I agree with Robert Samuelson's analysis of the ECONOMICS of Obamacare. But it remains to be seen whether, in pursuing the health care bill, Obama was correct about the politics."
ReplyDelete"One scenario that is still viable is that the SCOTUS strikes down the individual mandate, but that Obama still manages to win re-election. If that should happen, I think it would be difficult to argue that, in pursuing the health care legislation, Obama had made a poor decision with regard to HIS OWN political career."
Absolutely. Whether Obamacare sticks or not doesn't much matter to the political success of the Divider In Chief.
He can say he has tried to do something for the little people, and he will gain votes because of it.
Scott Drum: "..that the minute they have control of government they start behaving like dogs in heat."
ReplyDeleteI assume this is a reference to the Stainer-In-Chief. :)
"I think it would be difficult to argue that, in pursuing the health care legislation, Obama had made a poor decision with regard to HIS OWN political career"...
ReplyDeleteActually arbitrage it would more of an indictment on the collective stupity of the electorate...
"Her name is...wait...it will come to me in a minute"...
ReplyDeleteron h even in the throes of full blown dementia if someone whispered the words to you, "vile, hideous, hag" you would immediately remember who that was...:-)
ReplyDelete6. Small businesses that make machines and components for other manufacturers are experiencing an upswing that could be a sign of things to come for the broader economy.
While there are a few reasons why one would rather work for their larger customers. First of all, the smaller one doesn't have the resources to fully respect their employees, opting to use forms that express contempt. Second of all, the small business is more unstable - where swings in cost are more likely to be taken out on the workforce. Finally, the small businesses are more willing to use HR/talent acquisition as political weapon, versus an apolitical/business-focused approach.
"First of all, the smaller one doesn't have the resources to fully respect their employees, opting to use forms that express contempt."
ReplyDeleteAnd that contempt obviously comes in the form of not hiring people like sethstorm who think the world owes them a living.
Juandos,
ReplyDeleteDon’t get me started on the “collective stupidity of the electorate”.
(Not enough hours in the day)
ReplyDeleteAnd that contempt obviously comes in the form of not hiring people like sethstorm who think the world owes them a living.
Nope. Businesses think they're the Almighty and Unquestionable, where smaller ones express it through politicized HR practices.
Why does business think that the world owes them everything under the sun under threat of departure or hiring in bad faith? If it were to apply to me and others, it would also apply to businesses. If one gives such an entitlement to business, one must give it to workers.
"ron h even in the throes of full blown dementia if someone whispered the words to you, "vile, hideous, hag" you would immediately remember who that was...:-)"
ReplyDeleteYou're right, of course, it's that powerful an image.
Paul: "And that contempt obviously comes in the form of not hiring people like sethstorm who think the world owes them a living."
ReplyDeleteI think that's called good business judgement.
"Why does business think that the world owes them everything under the sun under threat of departure or hiring in bad faith?"...
ReplyDeleteStill pissing into the wind, eh sethstorm?
Isn't the massive case of diaper rash starting to get to you?
I suppose that is why Thai fishing fleets use slave labor, and why american fish companies buy from them.
ReplyDelete