Economics as a Science: A Bad Example

Yes, the old Keynesian Phillips curve was abandoned in the face of evidence. But while real business cycle theory has indeed been “invalidated by reality”, as far as I can tell it’s still going strong in freshwater departments. The point is that while economics certainly did have some of the characteristics of a science three… Continue reading Economics as a Science: A Bad Example

Triumph of the flat-earth Republicans

It is possible to understand how people might disagree that climate change is a threat to public health (we’ll all just start farming wheat in Siberia or northern Canada) or that humans are the main cause of rising temperatures (sunspots! natural variation!). But I still find it confounding that 31 Republicans are willing to deny,… Continue reading Triumph of the flat-earth Republicans

Is Thomas F. Steyer the anti-Koch?

For years, Mr. Steyer, a billionaire San Francisco hedge fund manager, assiduously maintained a low profile while becoming a major donor to Democratic candidates. That changed in 2010 when he led the successful fight to defeat Proposition 23, a California ballot measure backed by two Texas oil companies and a company controlled by Charles G.… Continue reading Is Thomas F. Steyer the anti-Koch?

Glenn Beck versus James O’Keefe

Increasingly unpopular television clown and radio revivalist Glenn Beck confused folks on the left and right recently when his “news” website The Blaze published a thorough and fair debunking of the recent NPR “sting” video produced by youthful video prankster and unprincipled conservative smear artist James O’Keefe. From Glenn Beck versus James O’Keefe It’s like… Continue reading Glenn Beck versus James O’Keefe

Green Development? Not in My (Liberal) Backyard

Park Slope, Brooklyn. Cape Cod, Mass. Berkeley, Calif. Three famously progressive places, right? The yin to the Tea Party yang. But just try putting a bike lane or some wind turbines in their lines of sight. From NYTimes.com A must read article.

Wis. Dems Claim 45 Percent Of Needed Signatures For Recalls | TPMDC

In the latest development in Wisconsin, after the passage of Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s new law curtailing public employee unions, state Democrats claim that they have reached 45% of their goal for petition signatures to recall eight Republican state Senators From TPMDC Walker is safe until the end of the year, assuming they don’t try… Continue reading Wis. Dems Claim 45 Percent Of Needed Signatures For Recalls | TPMDC

GOP’s Continuing Resolution Cuts Funding for National Weather Service, FEMA

Back in February 2009, Republicans found a lot of risible spending in the stimulus bill. In his response to the State of the Union, Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., derided the stimulus for including “$140 million for something called volcano monitoring.” The gripe was mostly that the funding, mostly for U.S. Geological Survey upkeep, wasn’t stimulative.… Continue reading GOP’s Continuing Resolution Cuts Funding for National Weather Service, FEMA