Bloomberg’s Plan for Addressing Economic Inequality: not a wealth tax A bit ago (Jan 8, 2020), the New York Times described Michael Bloomberg’s plan1 for addressing the income and wealth inequality in the United States that has been a constant topic of discussion by Democratic candidates. Briefly, as with the robber barons of Teddy Roosevelt’s age, […] [Read More...]
Events at Davos, a Child Meets a Scholar (in that Order)
Seriously, I would not fit there; but, I am smart enough to keep my mouth shut, listen, and learn. Apparently Trump is not. Commenting on Elon Musk: “I was worried about him, because he’s one of our great geniuses, and we have to protect our genius,” Trump said of Musk. “You know, we have to […] [Read More...]
Majority Say Senate Should Remove Trump
EMichael: I don’t understand why people have such a hard time believing that there is no such thing as an “independent” voter. Sure, a lot of people register as an independent, but that certainly does not mean they vote for one party or the other depending on the candidates and/or circumstances. Plenty of studies have […] [Read More...]
CRS: Social Security: What Would Happen If the Trust Funds Ran Out?
(Dan here…reposted due to discussion in a previous thread) CRS: Social Security: What Would Happen If the Trust Funds Ran Out? Bruce Webb | July 21, 2015 Very interesting paper that I missed in real time. Social Security: What Would Happen If the Trust Funds Ran Out? Almost everyone who addresses this question assumes that the answer […] [Read More...]
Jayapal and Sanders’ Single Payer Bills – Part One
I have exchanged emails with Kip Sullivan several times and believe he has the clearest explanation on Single Payer. I have found him to be a good source for the two Single Payer bills in Congress today. Unfortunately, it is a long explanation and it can not be summed up on one page or in […] [Read More...]
News and Words that Caught My Eye this Week
“Teacher of the Year‘ kneels during college football championship attended by Trump,”ABC News, January 16, 2020 During a ceremony honoring the 2019 “Teachers of the Year,” one in particular stood out. The honoree from Minnesota, Kelly Holstine, chose to kneel during the national anthem at the NCAA football championship game on Monday, where the ceremony […] [Read More...]
Dan Shaviro (NYU) and Tim Smeeding (WISC) on NPR’s Detroit Today Show
Dan Shaviro (NYU) and Tim Smeeding (WISC) on NPR’s Detroit Today Show For those of you who may not have the opportunity to tune into Stephen Henderson’s radio program Detroit Today on NPR, it might be useful to have a short summary of the January 9 discussion of the “wealth gap” from that program. Background Tax lawyers […] [Read More...]
Open thread Jan.15, 2020
BlackRock now needs to use its voting clout to fuel sustainable investing
It’s good news the world’s largest asset manager aims to change how it invests but actions will speak louder than wordsBlackRock’s conversion to sustainable investing comes late in the day and may have been motivated, in part, by founder and chief executive Larry Fink’s fear that the “greenwasher” label would stick. Activists were banging on BlackRock’s door. Fink’s treaties on the importance of companies having a “purpose” had become tired. Even some clients were saying BlackRock’s claim to be “engaging” on climate issues was feeble.So let’s not imagine that the world’s largest asset manager, with almost $7tn under its roof, has suddenly become a pace-setter. In the eyes of many big European fund management houses, most of Fink’s declarations on Tuesday will have sounded … [Read More...]
Preventing Surprise Medical Bills
The idea I have is not to be surprised. I am a careful patient who asks a lot of questions and also advocate for myself. I have refused treatment when they use drugs which may threaten my health further (Heparin). I am also not well liked by the bloodsuckers who come in to draw blood […] [Read More...]
Old Vet on The Passion of Immigration
(Dan here…this is a post from 2007 by Old Vet, a regular at Angry Bear during this time period. Pre Trump. Peter Dorman reminded me of Old Vet, and Mike Kimel dared me to put this Old Vet post up. Here it is.) Old Vet on The Passion of Immigration November 19, 2007 This post […] [Read More...]
State Capacity and Liberalism
State Capacity and Liberalism Tyler Cowen has a post up on State Capacity Libertarianism. I’m not so interested in the “libertarian” part of his argument, which is mostly aimed at persuading libertarians to accept some role for government beyond enforcing contracts and protecting property rights. But liberals (as in progressives) have good reason to think […] [Read More...]
Forward Creeping Excessmass Wins The War On Christmas
Forward Creeping Excessmass Wins The War On Christmas “Excessmass” is a term neologized in a column in the late 1990s in the Wall Street Journal (sorry, unable to find precise date) by my JMU colleague, Bill Wood. A devout Brethren, he was and remains disgusted by the crass commercialism associated with the Christmas holiday in […] [Read More...]