Archive for January, 2009
Stimulation
The House of Representatives was the field for quite a bit of political maneuvering over the past week. House Democrats (along with President Obama’s new administration) penned a massive stimulus bill to the tune of $800 Billion. It was split as one third tax cuts and two thirds government spending. Together, the goal is to get people working again on useful projects. It’s funded 100% through government debt (like everything else these days) but at least we might have a few new bridges to show for it.
House Republicans were indignant that the stimulus plan would include so much government spending. In the world of Republican politics, any amount of spending is too much and any amount of tax cuts is too little. (Unless of course you’re spending that money on war-related goods and services, in which case no limit need apply.)
The Republican argument goes that the stimulus is needed NOW, so projects like road repair and bridge building are too slow. Tax cuts, on the other hand, are relatively quick to implement.
The watchword in this whole discussion is jobs. With unemployment nearing the dreaded double-digit mark, politicians are desperate to get people back to work. This is where the tax-cuts-only idea starts to drift.
If I’m a business owner and my tax bill goes down, that difference falls straight to the bottom line. I have no incentive to turn around and hire more workers with my new found riches. Add to that the fact that most businesses are already watching inventory pile up and it’s clear that money is not the limiting factor on employment–the fact of the matter is that there’s just not as much work to be done.
Which brings us back to spending: large infrastructure projects require large workforces. While it’s true that some planning is required before boots hit the ground, it’s as close to a guarantee of job creation as you can get.
Could it be that the Republicans opposed the spending bill due to deep-rooted ideology and not a fair read of the goals and methods therein? Gasp!
To be fair, the House Democrats also packed in some other spending on basic human services and such, which isn’t technically a stimulus to the economy. That said, I would rather see our citizenry clothed and fed than on the starving and in rags.
Try as he may to bring a few moderate Republicans to his side, Obama watched as the House voted straight down the party lines on the stimulus package. Maybe we’re not ready for change just yet.
Filed under politics : Comments (3) : Jan 30th, 2009
Are we getting stupider?
Fantastic article in Wired by Clive Thompson. It’s only a page and well worth your time.
Filed under culture, technology : Comments (3) : Jan 24th, 2009
President Obama!
With open arms and a jubilant showing of support, our nation (and much of the world) welcomed President Barack Obama to the White House. What a stark contrast from 2001.
Some of my favorite lines from President Obama’s first address as president, with emphasis mine:
Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.
Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
The nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous.
The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.
We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, and nonbelievers. (Hey, that’s me!)
America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words; with hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come; let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.
We all know how difficult the years ahead will be. There is no easy path back to the easy prosperity of the 1990s. Here’s to banding together, all of us united, to rebuild America.
Filed under Uncategorized : Comments (2) : Jan 20th, 2009
Yes We Can (Really.)
I listened to an interview on NPR will will.i.am regarding Obama’s election. They focused on his now-famous “Yes We Can” video that became a bit of a Youtube sensation. I posted it here months ago but I think it’s worth another look:
In the years since Obama first announced his candidacy (and the months since the speech in question) the global outlook has dimmed considerably. We’re deep in to the Second Great Depression, much of the Middle East is at war, and climate change looms as a growing threat to billions of people world wide.
The chips are stacked against us. Now, more than ever, we need a president who can inspire. The change that 52% of us voted for is not going to come easy, cheap, or quickly. It’s going to take sacrifice in a way that most of us aren’t used to. Especially now, we need to come together as a united people.
Yes We Can.
Filed under politics : Comments (0) : Jan 18th, 2009
Great example of data design
Nicholas Feltron is a graphic designer who publishes personal annual reports. While the data therein is interesting enough, what I really like is the presentation. It reminds me somewhat of a good infoporn section from WIRED magazine.
Another classic example of thoughtful data presentation is Charles Minard’s map of Napoleon’s ill-fated invasion of Russia in 1812. He artfully combines the size of the army, the temperature, and basic geography of the invasion and subsequent retreat. Splendid design!
Filed under culture, sites i like : Comments (1) : Jan 13th, 2009
