News

Krugman hits one out of the park:

But this argument applies just as much to the rich as to the poor. And strange to say, you never do find conservatives arguing that we shouldn't worry about higher tax rates on the rich, because they'll just work harder to be able to afford those luxury goods; or that a higher inheritance tax probably expands work effort, because it would force the Paris Hiltons of this world to go out and get real jobs.

Funny how that works.

Best line of the young New Year so far goes to Matthew Yglesias (writing about Mitt Romney):

There's a sense that a lot of us have that our public policy ought to be aiming to produce large gains for everyone. You often hear that for one reason or another the United States "can't afford" this or that. We "can't afford" to pay people Social Security benefits. We "can't afford" to build high-speed trains. We "can't afford" to give everyone early childhood education. But why can't we afford this stuff? Are we a poor country? No, we're not. We're one of the richest countries that's ever existed. Are we a poorer country than we used to be? No, we're not. But a very large share of the gains we've made over the past three decades have gone to a relatively small number of people. If the gains had been broadly shared, then the burden of paying for that basic infrastructure and public services would have to be very broadly shared. But the gains have been very concentrated, and so if we're going to afford that stuff, a large share of the revenue has to come from the people who've gotten the money.

That's not envy, that's math.

Hungary's Constitutional Revolution

Jamie Dimon recently:

"Acting like everyone who's been successful is bad and that everyone who is rich is bad -- I just don't get it,"

This is not what "everyone", let alone anyone is saying. What they are saying is that rich people are not paying taxes at the same rate as most other people, for many reasons. Defending yourself or your industry in this way makes you look like a petulant ass.

I didn't know who Dimon was until 2008, and when I first saw him on TV when the crisis started he seemed like one guy who sort of got it. But he isn't. They (the bankers) can not see themselves from the outside, and why would they want to? It is hard to look at yourself honestly - but when your a complete disaster it is even worse.

I don't watch TV really (only clips on the web), so I don't know whether and how a lot of this stuff is reported in the mainstream media (if that term even applies anymore). But I have a feeling that most people just really have no idea what has happened in the last few years, or if they care.

So it looks like I will be going to Shanghai with some friends from Florence. I started a blog about it where I am going to note all my planning and then report for the 2 weeks I am there: Two Weeks In Shanghai

Holy crap time for my monthly post... where does the time go? A very busy month I guess, mostly with work. We are stretched too thin around here. Can't believe it is almost May and another school year is almost over. That's all I got - :)

Not sure what finally possessed me to do this, but I starting putting some work up the Saatchi site - Anthony Finta. So I am out - I am an artist.