Just for the record I do not believe Churchill has the academic or research abilities to be a professor.
Do I think CU made plagiarism an excuse to fire him. I doubt it. Most likely he drew a lot of attention to himself. He has every right to say what he wants though he is incredibly wrong. Free speech does not mean you censor those who disagree with you.
Still the guy should not be a professor. CU had the right to fire him. Why they hired him in the first place should be the question everyone is asking.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Thoughts on Ireland
Since most are just getting over their St. Patrick's Day hang over I thought I would bring a little perspective on Irish politics.
I tend to have strong nationalist sympathies. I spend my day listening to Irish rebel songs and watching Michael Collins.
With the recent violence in Northern Ireland however I think these Real and Continuity IRA thugs are dangerous. I am particularly worried that Unionist terrorists will now be back in business and blame things on the IRA (which they have done during The Troubles).
This renewed violence is very counterproductive. Ireland needs to focus on the future in not the past. Catholic population grows much faster than the protestant one. The Republic of Ireland has become an economic force (though no one has a solid economy at the moment). Belfast needs to stop with the moaning and nostalgia of the past.
Ireland will be united in my life time. The English have done enough killing. The Irish have killed enough of each other during the civil war and The Troubles it is time to move on.
I tend to have strong nationalist sympathies. I spend my day listening to Irish rebel songs and watching Michael Collins.
With the recent violence in Northern Ireland however I think these Real and Continuity IRA thugs are dangerous. I am particularly worried that Unionist terrorists will now be back in business and blame things on the IRA (which they have done during The Troubles).
This renewed violence is very counterproductive. Ireland needs to focus on the future in not the past. Catholic population grows much faster than the protestant one. The Republic of Ireland has become an economic force (though no one has a solid economy at the moment). Belfast needs to stop with the moaning and nostalgia of the past.
Ireland will be united in my life time. The English have done enough killing. The Irish have killed enough of each other during the civil war and The Troubles it is time to move on.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Mike May running for Governor? Plus Republican musings
Reuters is reporting that Mitt Romney has endorse House Minority Leader Michael May for governor in 2010.
In addition, Muhammad Ali Hasan has also been a strong supporter of Mike May.
Republicans really do have a shot at many Colorado races in 2010. I think Gov. Ritter has been a bit of a dispointment. It pains me to say it because I've met with him numerous times and he is a really good person but his administration has been a disappointment.
With Bennet being a surprise nomination for senator and his difficult decision on the Employee Free Choice Act Republicans are really going to target Colorado.
I also have a feeling that Republicans have a good bench in Hasan and Josh Penry. Both are very talented. Penry will be governor or senator someday and Hasan is considering running against Cary Kennedy for State Treasurer. Hasan has a good shot Kennedy is not much of a campaigner and he's got the ability to grab moderates and Democrats. He's the kind of person who thinks outside the box and is not hyper-partisan.
As for the Republicans nationally however, they need a lot of work. Minority Whip Eric Cantor looked really good on Meet the Press. Unfortunately, its hard to take the Republicans too seriously right now when it comes to fiscal issues. They say one thing and do another.
When it comes to foreign and social policy Republicans are just wrong almost on all levels. American needs more diplomacy and less interference in our day-to-day lives.
With social policy Republicans don't understand that just because something is not illegal does not mean the government endorses it. I don't personally endorse prostitution or drug legalization but prohibition is just bad government policy.
Same with homosexuality. In fact there is nothing wrong with gay marriage or being gay. I understand the objects some people have but allowing gays to marry or just be gay does not mean you endorse your lifestyle. You are in fact only endorsing freedom and personal choice.
Not to mention Republicans are in-fighting and don't have a clear message or platform right now.
In addition, Muhammad Ali Hasan has also been a strong supporter of Mike May.
Republicans really do have a shot at many Colorado races in 2010. I think Gov. Ritter has been a bit of a dispointment. It pains me to say it because I've met with him numerous times and he is a really good person but his administration has been a disappointment.
With Bennet being a surprise nomination for senator and his difficult decision on the Employee Free Choice Act Republicans are really going to target Colorado.
I also have a feeling that Republicans have a good bench in Hasan and Josh Penry. Both are very talented. Penry will be governor or senator someday and Hasan is considering running against Cary Kennedy for State Treasurer. Hasan has a good shot Kennedy is not much of a campaigner and he's got the ability to grab moderates and Democrats. He's the kind of person who thinks outside the box and is not hyper-partisan.
As for the Republicans nationally however, they need a lot of work. Minority Whip Eric Cantor looked really good on Meet the Press. Unfortunately, its hard to take the Republicans too seriously right now when it comes to fiscal issues. They say one thing and do another.
When it comes to foreign and social policy Republicans are just wrong almost on all levels. American needs more diplomacy and less interference in our day-to-day lives.
With social policy Republicans don't understand that just because something is not illegal does not mean the government endorses it. I don't personally endorse prostitution or drug legalization but prohibition is just bad government policy.
Same with homosexuality. In fact there is nothing wrong with gay marriage or being gay. I understand the objects some people have but allowing gays to marry or just be gay does not mean you endorse your lifestyle. You are in fact only endorsing freedom and personal choice.
Not to mention Republicans are in-fighting and don't have a clear message or platform right now.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Cramer v. Stewart
Jon Stewart did a very good job on nailing Jim Cramer to the wall last night. I haven't gotten a chance to see the whole interview yet but Cramer looked like a guy who brought a knife to a gun fight.
To his credit though Cramer took it like a man. I've never been a huge fan of Cramer I always thought he was way too over the top. But at the same time he strikes me a more honest than a lot of other guys.
I will be curious to see if his show changes at all. I would really like to see some hard hitting financial news on CNBC that includes some investigative journalism.
After going back and seeing the full interview and looking back at some Daily Show episodes I'll give a more full analysis.
To his credit though Cramer took it like a man. I've never been a huge fan of Cramer I always thought he was way too over the top. But at the same time he strikes me a more honest than a lot of other guys.
I will be curious to see if his show changes at all. I would really like to see some hard hitting financial news on CNBC that includes some investigative journalism.
After going back and seeing the full interview and looking back at some Daily Show episodes I'll give a more full analysis.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Small v Big Minds
Fivethirtyeight had a pretty good piece on the Republican use of the term Democrat Party rather than Democratic Party.
Being a former government worker I usually don't subscribe myself to the whole public service, honor, serving your country stuff. Politics is a dog-eat-dog world and the faster you realize that the better you are.
Still there should be some proper rules when it comes to discourse and calling your opponent by the correct terminalogy should be one of them.
Its like calling everyone who disagrees with you a Nazi. All it does is demean yourself and reduce impact of really Nazis.
As a I am Russian Orthodox it is personally insulting when someone uses the term Nazi or Communist. Nazis and Leninists are evil. More Russians died at the hands of the Nazis than anyone group of people in any war in human history. Communists (which are actually Leninist) slaughtered priests and destroyed a church that's still trying to find itself.
Anyway, sorry about the rant. The point is Republicans use of the term "Democrat Party" makes the Democratic Party look more patrician and separates themselves from the general population. Basically the Republicans use the term to separate the Democrats from their base.
Being a former government worker I usually don't subscribe myself to the whole public service, honor, serving your country stuff. Politics is a dog-eat-dog world and the faster you realize that the better you are.
Still there should be some proper rules when it comes to discourse and calling your opponent by the correct terminalogy should be one of them.
Its like calling everyone who disagrees with you a Nazi. All it does is demean yourself and reduce impact of really Nazis.
As a I am Russian Orthodox it is personally insulting when someone uses the term Nazi or Communist. Nazis and Leninists are evil. More Russians died at the hands of the Nazis than anyone group of people in any war in human history. Communists (which are actually Leninist) slaughtered priests and destroyed a church that's still trying to find itself.
Anyway, sorry about the rant. The point is Republicans use of the term "Democrat Party" makes the Democratic Party look more patrician and separates themselves from the general population. Basically the Republicans use the term to separate the Democrats from their base.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Latest economics column
The economic clouds are gathering. The storm is approaching to level a devastating disaster not only on America but the world. Soup kitchens will have lines going around the block. Now a once roaring decade has closed with financial turmoil and the aftermath is perhaps a decade or more of misery.
If you are confused whether this is 2008 or 1932 you are not alone. In 1932 the United States had to choose between two equally bad candidates Herbert Hoover and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In 2008, did America again have a choice between two equally bad candidates? The history still hasn’t been written. Yet, the truth is we have yet to hit the depression everyone has been panicking about. The current economic climate is not just "a mental recession" as one foolish adviser to Sen. John McCain said. The recession is very real. However, it is time for the media's and the fatalist’s view of the economy to come to an end. The fact is we know what caused the depression and though the current solutions are not perfect, the economy will bottom out and turn around much sooner than we expect.
There are a whole host of reasons why the Great Depression occurred, yet what many of us fail to realize is during that horrible period people were learning what happened and how to avoid another depression. The economists now know why the Depression was so long and so devastating: government intervention in the economy.
Let's look at a massive government expansion program - the New Deal. Five years into Franklin Roosevelt's presidency the unemployment rate was still at a scary 19 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is admittedly better than 24.9 percent in 1933, the first year of Roosevelt's presidency, but that means there are thousands and thousands of willing workers who still could not find jobs.
Unfortunately, Roosevelt made a massive blunder during the New Deal named the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA). This allowed business owners with government support to act as cartels, brush away antitrust laws, set price floors and raise wages. In some cases, economists put the wages 25 percent higher than they otherwise would have been. Most people would think there is nothing wrong with raising wages, however, this act of legislation was only beneficial to those lucky enough to have a job in 1933.
The main economic problem with the NIRA is business worked with the government in setting prices and wages too high. When employing high wage workers, businesses have to cut back on the number of jobs available and that is exactly what happened. Two economists, Harold Cole and Lee Ohanian, demonstrated through economics that Roosevelt prolonged the Depression not shortened it.
The fact is unemployment did not reach adequate levels until 1942, after the United States joined the Allies in World War II. Roosevelt thought excessive competition among businesses was causing Americans to work less. When the NIRA allowed for businesses to fix the wages of workers it reduced competition between employers to provide jobs. The politicians and populists fail to understand that when the labor market is restricted employers stop hiring employees. Competition is the workers friend not the enemy.
Not only did the New Deal not end the Depression but Americans worked less. Cole and Ohanian wrote, "Total hours worked per adult, including government employees, were 18% below their 1929 level between 1930-32, but were 23% lower on average during the New Deal (1933-39). Private hours worked were even lower after FDR took office, averaging 27% below their 1929 level, compared to 18% lower between 1930-32."
This does not mean that Herbert Hoover could have ended the Depression either. He raised taxes and tariffs because he thought the national debt was more important than unemployment. By raising tariffs this reduced trade and isolated Europe from the United States. When trade decreases there are less jobs because there are no goods and services being exchanged, therefore less workers are needed.
For those of you who thought there was little choice between Obama and McCain, you should look to 1932 when the only choices were: making the Depression longer with Hoover's high taxes and tariffs or Roosevelt's restrictions on prices and wages. We all should be thankful that employment hasn't hit 25 percent and that we did not have to choose between two evils of equal magnitude. A depression is still far away thanks to our grandparents’ efforts. But it is time for a more realistic and pragmatic approach to fixing the economic crisis and it is called letting the free market work.
If you are confused whether this is 2008 or 1932 you are not alone. In 1932 the United States had to choose between two equally bad candidates Herbert Hoover and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In 2008, did America again have a choice between two equally bad candidates? The history still hasn’t been written. Yet, the truth is we have yet to hit the depression everyone has been panicking about. The current economic climate is not just "a mental recession" as one foolish adviser to Sen. John McCain said. The recession is very real. However, it is time for the media's and the fatalist’s view of the economy to come to an end. The fact is we know what caused the depression and though the current solutions are not perfect, the economy will bottom out and turn around much sooner than we expect.
There are a whole host of reasons why the Great Depression occurred, yet what many of us fail to realize is during that horrible period people were learning what happened and how to avoid another depression. The economists now know why the Depression was so long and so devastating: government intervention in the economy.
Let's look at a massive government expansion program - the New Deal. Five years into Franklin Roosevelt's presidency the unemployment rate was still at a scary 19 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is admittedly better than 24.9 percent in 1933, the first year of Roosevelt's presidency, but that means there are thousands and thousands of willing workers who still could not find jobs.
Unfortunately, Roosevelt made a massive blunder during the New Deal named the National Industrial Recovery Act (NIRA). This allowed business owners with government support to act as cartels, brush away antitrust laws, set price floors and raise wages. In some cases, economists put the wages 25 percent higher than they otherwise would have been. Most people would think there is nothing wrong with raising wages, however, this act of legislation was only beneficial to those lucky enough to have a job in 1933.
The main economic problem with the NIRA is business worked with the government in setting prices and wages too high. When employing high wage workers, businesses have to cut back on the number of jobs available and that is exactly what happened. Two economists, Harold Cole and Lee Ohanian, demonstrated through economics that Roosevelt prolonged the Depression not shortened it.
The fact is unemployment did not reach adequate levels until 1942, after the United States joined the Allies in World War II. Roosevelt thought excessive competition among businesses was causing Americans to work less. When the NIRA allowed for businesses to fix the wages of workers it reduced competition between employers to provide jobs. The politicians and populists fail to understand that when the labor market is restricted employers stop hiring employees. Competition is the workers friend not the enemy.
Not only did the New Deal not end the Depression but Americans worked less. Cole and Ohanian wrote, "Total hours worked per adult, including government employees, were 18% below their 1929 level between 1930-32, but were 23% lower on average during the New Deal (1933-39). Private hours worked were even lower after FDR took office, averaging 27% below their 1929 level, compared to 18% lower between 1930-32."
This does not mean that Herbert Hoover could have ended the Depression either. He raised taxes and tariffs because he thought the national debt was more important than unemployment. By raising tariffs this reduced trade and isolated Europe from the United States. When trade decreases there are less jobs because there are no goods and services being exchanged, therefore less workers are needed.
For those of you who thought there was little choice between Obama and McCain, you should look to 1932 when the only choices were: making the Depression longer with Hoover's high taxes and tariffs or Roosevelt's restrictions on prices and wages. We all should be thankful that employment hasn't hit 25 percent and that we did not have to choose between two evils of equal magnitude. A depression is still far away thanks to our grandparents’ efforts. But it is time for a more realistic and pragmatic approach to fixing the economic crisis and it is called letting the free market work.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Kathleen Sebelius HHS
Obama would be better served by not nominating Kathleen Sebelius to become Secretary of Health and Human services.
Reason? Democrats in Kansas are precious. Senator Sebelius is better than Secretary Sebelius. Democrats are likely to pick up at least two more senate seats in the upcoming election especially with Sebelius.
Too bad Daschle turned out to be a failure for Obama because he really was the best person to push health care reform.
By the way, whatever happened to Sanjay Gupta? Oh yeah he supposedly accepted the Surgeon General job and nobody has noticed.
Reason? Democrats in Kansas are precious. Senator Sebelius is better than Secretary Sebelius. Democrats are likely to pick up at least two more senate seats in the upcoming election especially with Sebelius.
Too bad Daschle turned out to be a failure for Obama because he really was the best person to push health care reform.
By the way, whatever happened to Sanjay Gupta? Oh yeah he supposedly accepted the Surgeon General job and nobody has noticed.
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