"Most economists would argue that the only long-term solution to poverty is figuring out a way to dramatically increase the human capital of the poor through some combination of better schools, better parenting, and convincing kids to stay in school and to work hard in school. Stable housing is no doubt an input to helping disadvantaged children achieve their potential. A number of studies have shown that kids who switch schools suffer a setback academically.
So — both for reasons of basic human decency and helping the long term prospects of the poor — affordable housing seems like a worthwhile objective."
From Freakonomics (the blog)
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Populism
David Brooks' op-ed today:
"Second, there is a big debate under way over the sources of middle-class economic anxiety. Some populists emphasize the destructive forces of globalization, outsourcing and predatory capitalism. These people say we need radical labor market reforms to give the working class a chance. But the populists are going to have to grapple with the Goldin, Katz and Heckman research, which powerfully buttresses the arguments of those who emphasize human capital policies. It’s not globalization or immigration or computers per se that widen inequality. It’s the skills gap. Boosting educational attainment at the bottom is more promising than trying to reorganize the global economy."
Populism like any party has it's progressives and its reactionaries, and there are plenty of them who would agree with Brooks. Certainly the little soc reading I've done on the subject arrived at this conclusion long before Brooks and the campaign came around.
"Second, there is a big debate under way over the sources of middle-class economic anxiety. Some populists emphasize the destructive forces of globalization, outsourcing and predatory capitalism. These people say we need radical labor market reforms to give the working class a chance. But the populists are going to have to grapple with the Goldin, Katz and Heckman research, which powerfully buttresses the arguments of those who emphasize human capital policies. It’s not globalization or immigration or computers per se that widen inequality. It’s the skills gap. Boosting educational attainment at the bottom is more promising than trying to reorganize the global economy."
Populism like any party has it's progressives and its reactionaries, and there are plenty of them who would agree with Brooks. Certainly the little soc reading I've done on the subject arrived at this conclusion long before Brooks and the campaign came around.
Haven't posted in a while...
Brian: You are a news junkie But it's cool; I read the blurbs you put up. Sent at 2:00 PM on Tuesday
me: yeah, i started putting them up on a blog instead of in gmail
Brian: Is this the same girls-only spain blog? Sent at 2:02 PM on Tuesday
me: lol well yes actually, we keep up-to-date on why john mccain sucks, how the dow is doing, and who got laid recently jk
Brian: McCain got laid? ha
me: ha if so, poor cindy mccaini don't know which would be worse, being cheated on or having to sleep with john mccain
Brian: Hm. Blog it.
me: yeah, i started putting them up on a blog instead of in gmail
Brian: Is this the same girls-only spain blog? Sent at 2:02 PM on Tuesday
me: lol well yes actually, we keep up-to-date on why john mccain sucks, how the dow is doing, and who got laid recently jk
Brian: McCain got laid? ha
me: ha if so, poor cindy mccaini don't know which would be worse, being cheated on or having to sleep with john mccain
Brian: Hm. Blog it.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Property Value
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/10/nyregion/10towns.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5087&em&en=6ac84f72e23d5d35&ex=1215921600
“BACK before we lost our collective minds and began shrieking with horror at the thought of kids having fun on their own (as in not part of an official league or otherwise organized activity), they used to do things like find a vacant field, turn it into a makeshift diamond and spend glorious hours in the summer sun,” the local newspaper, Greenwich Time, wrote in an editorial in support of the youths on Wednesday."
...
"The field had 40 people last weekend for a Wiffle tournament, which is something no one bargained on when they bought their houses."
While there are probably very valid reasons to shut down the field, we seem to have a problem accepting the fact that when we buy a house, we are going to get a lot we didn't bargain for. We don't necessarily purchase the right for future certainty along with the property deed, and it's typical American arrogance to think that we are entitled control over all eventualities. Now I'm about to become a homeowner and we'll see how quickly I change my tune.
“BACK before we lost our collective minds and began shrieking with horror at the thought of kids having fun on their own (as in not part of an official league or otherwise organized activity), they used to do things like find a vacant field, turn it into a makeshift diamond and spend glorious hours in the summer sun,” the local newspaper, Greenwich Time, wrote in an editorial in support of the youths on Wednesday."
...
"The field had 40 people last weekend for a Wiffle tournament, which is something no one bargained on when they bought their houses."
While there are probably very valid reasons to shut down the field, we seem to have a problem accepting the fact that when we buy a house, we are going to get a lot we didn't bargain for. We don't necessarily purchase the right for future certainty along with the property deed, and it's typical American arrogance to think that we are entitled control over all eventualities. Now I'm about to become a homeowner and we'll see how quickly I change my tune.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Hostages Freed in Columbia
"Senator John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, released a statement that said Mr. Uribe and Mr. Santos had briefed him about the operation on Tuesday night, during his visit to Colombia."
What is John McCain doing being briefed about these things? Gee, the timing works out really nicely for him.
Full article from nytimes.com
What is John McCain doing being briefed about these things? Gee, the timing works out really nicely for him.
Full article from nytimes.com
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Bob Herbert
"One of the starkest examples of U.S. priorities came during the eruption of looting that followed the fall of Baghdad. With violence and chaos all about, American troops were ordered to protect one particularly treasured target — the Iraqi Oil Ministry. As David Rieff wrote in The Times Magazine in November 2003:
“This decision to protect only the Oil Ministry — not the National Museum, not the National Library, not the Health Ministry — probably did more than anything else to convince Iraqis uneasy with the occupation that the United States was in Iraq only for the oil.”
How convenient that the peculiar perspective of the oil-obsessed Bush administration can now be put to use advising the Iraqi government on its contracts with big oil."
“This decision to protect only the Oil Ministry — not the National Museum, not the National Library, not the Health Ministry — probably did more than anything else to convince Iraqis uneasy with the occupation that the United States was in Iraq only for the oil.”
How convenient that the peculiar perspective of the oil-obsessed Bush administration can now be put to use advising the Iraqi government on its contracts with big oil."
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