You have clearly stated what other try to obscure. The facts can't be hidden because most of us live them daily.
The problem is we fail to believe our lying eyes and look for an easy, quick solution. Then we become disolusioned when the lies of the leaders we support don't improve our lives. Rather than face the truth we run out looking for another quick fix.
Corbin, one piece of advice that I think you’ll really like: when you talk about building infrastructure and public works, emphasize that all the parts of the construction have to come from domestic manufacturing sources. That one policy, linked to a massive buildout of infrastructure, will rebuild the manufacturing sector and create millions of good factory jobs. I lay this out at GreenNewDealPlan.org which also has links to various of my writings on the subject. Keep up the good work
We need to start calling Yglesias et al what they are: Extreme Centrists. They think they're reasonable, rational moderates, but the end result of their proposals is extremism.
And, BTW, focusing on bringing down inflation is so wonkily elitist, in that it implies that slowing the rate of price increases -- from their current unaffordable levels -- will somehow make prices affordable.
I like and want to believe in your message. But the case also has to be made that this change to a massive public investment is not going to break the banks of the middle class tax payer, or lead to an unrecoverable debt spiral. If we can't SHOW why that won't happen, this plan will continue to be pushed aside and scoffed at.
Red state people have deliberately, if largely unconsciously, voted us down the river. Their own welfare will have to be shoved down their throats. They will never willingly become partners in building an integrated, responsible, sustainable economy. They've been utterly co-opted.
Wanna eliminate poverty? Eliminate Wealth. Install Sustainability, at the Needs Level. No human Needs more than a safe, comfortable roof, good, clean, safe food, clean aire n water, much less pollutions and toxic waste.
Wealth drives over-consumption. It creates the idiotic, unsustainable parasitism we now writhe around in daily. Wealth defines poverty and suffering and low-quality existence AT the wealth level. The uberrich are drowning in their own filth. They cannot escape what they have created. Their jets are filled with plastics and toxins. Their mansions reek of pollution and garish slovenliness. No wealth, no poverty.
Prudent frugality is much, much more intelligent than austerity. Austerity is just the punishment the weak wealthy subject their consumer minions to accept. A kind of sick, twisted blame game a massive hoarder would gaslight its victims with.
Wanna take/make/consume/trash something? Anything? Then mandate one-to-one, real time mitigation. Take one tree weighing 2000 lbs, and shading X sq. ft.? Plant a ton of new trees now. Wanna tear up a desert mountain for some mineral? Surround that hole with hills covered with trees, shrubs and ground covers, then fill the hole with water and make a lake for wildlife or storage for irrigation. Too toxic? Do not dig the hole. do without. Yup. Do without. Now that is AUSTERITY. Humans, especially at the top, are lazy, inefficient, wasteful beings. No conscience, No awareness. Just Hoarding, on steroids. Second worst mental illness on the planet. Right behind environmental destruction. What intelligence shits in its own nest?
Another superb piece, Corbin. Someday soon, I wonder if you could do an explainer on sectoral balances, explaining what government deficits really are, and exposing the bad faith "pay-for" question for what it is.
The very basis of any "austerity" program is based on outdated and damaging economics. We are in an era of a floating fiat currency - ie no gold standard, and the way that soft currency functions is just plain different than the textbooks say. Look at what is happening to Labour in the UK by adopting progressive austerity - they are on the verge of handing over power to reform UK and Farage. Terrible economics, and even worse politics. Thanks for the take-down Corbin.
The robots are more of an excuse than a real problem. Most of the tasks that CAN be robotized were already robotized by 1960. We kept people employed then, we could do it now if we wanted to. Offshoring moved factories to lower-tech places at first, with more people working. The people were earning far less, so it was cheaper.
You have clearly stated what other try to obscure. The facts can't be hidden because most of us live them daily.
The problem is we fail to believe our lying eyes and look for an easy, quick solution. Then we become disolusioned when the lies of the leaders we support don't improve our lives. Rather than face the truth we run out looking for another quick fix.
You should Run!
brilliance once again. thank you.
Austerity is a great way to achieve irrelevance.
Corbin, one piece of advice that I think you’ll really like: when you talk about building infrastructure and public works, emphasize that all the parts of the construction have to come from domestic manufacturing sources. That one policy, linked to a massive buildout of infrastructure, will rebuild the manufacturing sector and create millions of good factory jobs. I lay this out at GreenNewDealPlan.org which also has links to various of my writings on the subject. Keep up the good work
Corbin, if you add a one time “buy me a coffee,” or whatever, I’d pitch in,, can only afford so many subscriptions, but I rotate around
We need to start calling Yglesias et al what they are: Extreme Centrists. They think they're reasonable, rational moderates, but the end result of their proposals is extremism.
And, BTW, focusing on bringing down inflation is so wonkily elitist, in that it implies that slowing the rate of price increases -- from their current unaffordable levels -- will somehow make prices affordable.
I like and want to believe in your message. But the case also has to be made that this change to a massive public investment is not going to break the banks of the middle class tax payer, or lead to an unrecoverable debt spiral. If we can't SHOW why that won't happen, this plan will continue to be pushed aside and scoffed at.
Red state people have deliberately, if largely unconsciously, voted us down the river. Their own welfare will have to be shoved down their throats. They will never willingly become partners in building an integrated, responsible, sustainable economy. They've been utterly co-opted.
https://harpers.org/archive/2008/08/the-wrecking-crew/
Wanna eliminate poverty? Eliminate Wealth. Install Sustainability, at the Needs Level. No human Needs more than a safe, comfortable roof, good, clean, safe food, clean aire n water, much less pollutions and toxic waste.
Wealth drives over-consumption. It creates the idiotic, unsustainable parasitism we now writhe around in daily. Wealth defines poverty and suffering and low-quality existence AT the wealth level. The uberrich are drowning in their own filth. They cannot escape what they have created. Their jets are filled with plastics and toxins. Their mansions reek of pollution and garish slovenliness. No wealth, no poverty.
Prudent frugality is much, much more intelligent than austerity. Austerity is just the punishment the weak wealthy subject their consumer minions to accept. A kind of sick, twisted blame game a massive hoarder would gaslight its victims with.
Wanna take/make/consume/trash something? Anything? Then mandate one-to-one, real time mitigation. Take one tree weighing 2000 lbs, and shading X sq. ft.? Plant a ton of new trees now. Wanna tear up a desert mountain for some mineral? Surround that hole with hills covered with trees, shrubs and ground covers, then fill the hole with water and make a lake for wildlife or storage for irrigation. Too toxic? Do not dig the hole. do without. Yup. Do without. Now that is AUSTERITY. Humans, especially at the top, are lazy, inefficient, wasteful beings. No conscience, No awareness. Just Hoarding, on steroids. Second worst mental illness on the planet. Right behind environmental destruction. What intelligence shits in its own nest?
You’re absolutely right. Spread the word!
Thanks!
Another superb piece, Corbin. Someday soon, I wonder if you could do an explainer on sectoral balances, explaining what government deficits really are, and exposing the bad faith "pay-for" question for what it is.
The very basis of any "austerity" program is based on outdated and damaging economics. We are in an era of a floating fiat currency - ie no gold standard, and the way that soft currency functions is just plain different than the textbooks say. Look at what is happening to Labour in the UK by adopting progressive austerity - they are on the verge of handing over power to reform UK and Farage. Terrible economics, and even worse politics. Thanks for the take-down Corbin.
The robots are more of an excuse than a real problem. Most of the tasks that CAN be robotized were already robotized by 1960. We kept people employed then, we could do it now if we wanted to. Offshoring moved factories to lower-tech places at first, with more people working. The people were earning far less, so it was cheaper.