Under Obamacare, you can quit your dead-end job and work for yourself. Conservatives hate that

The always dependable wingnut blogger Jim Hoft supplies us with our sample headline here. It’s usually the case that Hoft is only useful for pointing and laughing at for his clumsy and transparent attempts at propaganda. But in this case, he’s pretty much representative of the new rightwing take on this latest turn of Obamcare events:

Washington Post: Count Polly Lower among those who quit their jobs because of the health-care law.

It happened in September, when her boss abruptly changed her job description. She went from doing payroll, which she liked, to working on her boss’s schedule, which she loathed. At another time, she might have had to grit her teeth and accept the new position because she needed the health benefits.

But with the health-care law soon to take effect, she simply resigned — and hasn’t looked back.

“It was wonderful. It was very freeing,” said Lower, 56, of Bourbon, Ind., who is now babysitting her 5-year-old granddaughter full time. With the help of federal subsidies that kicked in Jan. 1, she is paying less than $500 a month for health coverage for herself and her husband.

Obviously, Lower isn’t “living off the government teat,” as Hoft puts it, because you can’t eat healthcare and insurance won’t pay the rent. What she was able to do was quit a job she hated with a lousy employer and find a better way to pay the bills. While it’s not a very ambitious or long-term business plan, she has become an entrepreneur .

Turns out conservatives hate that.

And why wouldn’t they? These are the same people who think asking for more than the minimum wage makes you some sort of freeloader. These are the sort of people who mock workers for drawing a paycheck. These are the people who think reducing income inequality is a form of class warfare.

Want to quit your soul-crushing, dream-smashing job and start your own business — or even take some time off to get a better education or just find a job better suited to your skills?

Not if conservatives have anything to say about it.

It’s never been clearer that the right isn’t about what’s good for working people — i.e., the vast majority of Americans. It’s about what’s good for employers. It’s about cheap labor and few rights for workers. And now wage slavery. That can’t figure out how to make being trapped in a dead-end job look good, so they — like Hoft — try to make being able to leave that job look bad.

And since the best they can come up with is chuckleheaded spin worthy of Jim Hoft, they’re not going to have a lot of luck.

A disincentive to be a wage slave

School vouchers a waste of taxpayer money

Politico: Ever since the administration filed suit to freeze Louisiana’s school voucher program, high-ranking Republicans have pummeled President Barack Obama for trapping poor kids in failing public schools.

The entire House leadership sent a letter of protest. Majority Leader Eric Cantor blistered the president for denying poor kids “a way into a brighter future.” And Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal accused him of “ripping low-income minority students out of good schools” that could “help them achieve their dreams.”

But behind the outrage is an inconvenient truth: Taxpayers across the U.S. will soon be spending $1 billion a year to help families pay private school tuition — and there’s little evidence that the investment yields academic gains.

In Milwaukee, just 13 percent of voucher students scored proficient in math and 11 percent made the bar in reading this spring. That’s worse on both counts than students in the city’s public schools. In Cleveland, voucher students in most grades performed worse than their peers in public schools in math, though they did better in reading.

Private school vouchers have always been a scam. They’ve allowed Republican governors to hand out taxpayer money without any real accountability, while undermining public school teachers unions. It’s never been about helping students.

And as always, a privatization scheme has turned out to be a bad idea. It costs more and delivers less — as any thinking person would predict. Government is a not-for-profit, meaning it can operate a school at cost. Businesses are for-profit, meaning they can’t. As I’ll continue to point out until the last conservative finally understands math, cost + profit > cost. Privatization has to be either more expensive or less efficient/effective. In many cases, as we see here, it’s both.

It’s simple math. Of course, if enough people get school vouchers, everyone will suck so hard at math that they won’t be able to see the problem. After all, here’s the sort of “education” these indoctrination centers are providing:

[A]cross Louisiana, many of the most popular private schools for voucher students posted miserable scores in math, reading, science and social studies this spring, with fewer than half their voucher students achieving even basic proficiency and fewer than 2 percent demonstrating mastery. Seven schools did so badly, state Superintendent John White barred them from accepting new voucher students — though the state agreed to keep paying tuition for the more than 200 voucher students already enrolled, if they chose to stay.

Nationwide, many schools participating in voucher programs infuse religion through their curriculum. Zack Kopplin, a student activist who favors rigorous science education, has found more than 300 voucher schools across the U.S. that teach the biblical story of creation as science; some also instruct children that the world is just several thousand years old and use textbooks describing the Loch Ness Monster as a living dinosaur. Parents at one such school in Louisiana received a newsletter calling secular scientists “sinful men.”

Shut it down. For good.

If Walmart doesn’t open DC store, so what?

ThinkProgress’ Bryce Covert tackles the story about a Washington DC living wage bill and Walmart’s threat to halt construction of a new store if it goes through. First off, there’s no question that Walmart can and should pay a living wage. Many Walmart employees rely on food stamps to make ends meet, meaning Walmart’s getting a free ride on the backs of the taxpayers. In addition, Walmart claims to be a “job creator," but according to Covert, "[T]he evidence from past cases paints a different picture: Walmart destroys as many jobs as it creates and doesn’t stimulate local businesses."

The showdown between DC and the largest private employer in the country closely mirrors one that took place between it and the city of Chicago in 2006. That city had also proposed a living wage law, but after Walmart threatened to abandon plans to open up stores the mayor vetoed it.

The lessons from the fallout of that battle have implications for DC. After the Walmart opened up on the west side of Chicago, economist Joseph Persky of the University of Illinois Chicago and his colleagues conducted a rigorous study of the impact on employment by going door to door for three annual surveys. They talked to businesses in the area that had overlapping product lines with the giant retailer before and after the opening. The study found that businesses in the immediate proximity of Walmart had about a 40 percent chance of closing in the two years following the opening. The chance of closing decreased the further away a business was from Walmart. These figures are likely conservative, the authors write, as they weren’t able to look into how many new businesses failed to open thanks to Walmart. But a different study of Florida found that the company’s entrance suppressed new business openings.

This didn’t just mean losing area businesses, but also losing jobs. The researchers estimated that nearly 300 jobs were lost after Walmart opened. The company asserts that it employed 426 workers at its store, 310 of whom were “sales associates,” many of which were probably full-time positions. Therefore, the researchers gave a generous estimate that just 320 full-time jobs were created – just about equal to the number of jobs destroyed by the store opening up.

Bottom line: Walmart’s predatory business model guarantees that no new jobs are created. And their poor treatment of their workers guarantees that the jobs that shift to Walmart actually pay worse. The result is a paycut for workers and a hit to the local economy. The idea that Walmart — or any retailer for that matter — “creates" jobs is BS. Demand ceates jobs, retailers merely respond to demand. And low wages reduce demand.

So, if Walmart tells DC they’ll pull out if the city passes a living wage ordinance, the city should say, “Good riddance." They’re better off without them anyway.

[photo via Wikimedia Commons]

MI prosecutor determines Fox contributor picked fight, then claimed he was attacked

Lansing State Journal:

Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III said he won’t file criminal charges after reviewing unedited video showing events that led to a Fox News contributor being punched during December’s right-to-work demonstrations.

Steven Crowder filed a police report following the Dec. 11 incident at the Capitol, which Michigan State Police had referred to Dunnings’ office for review. The fight occurred amid generally peaceful demonstrations involving more than 10,000 people who had gathered in Lansing that day as lawmakers voted on a package of bills that ban requiring union dues as a condition of employment.

Dunnings said today the first video his office reviewed had been edited. After reviewing an unedited clip, he decided to not pursue the case.

“It’s pretty clear the person that they wanted to charge was acting in self-defense,” Dunnings said of the union member who apparently slugged Crowder.

Crowder posted a heavily edited video of the altercation, which made it seem as if he’d been attacked out of the blue by Fox News patented “union thugs.” Needless to say, Crowder accompanied the video with a pocketful of victim cards. But a second, less dishonest video completely undermined his story.

Crowder said on Twitter later day that he suffered a minor cut to the forehead and a chipped tooth after being “sucker-punched” four times.However, unedited footage shows that the union member who apparently punched Crowder appeared to have been pushed to the ground seconds before the brawl.

It’s unclear who pushed the union member. Crowder was standing nearby and appears to throw his hands up in the air in a gesture of innocence after the man fell, the video shows.

If you see someone fall over, you don’t immediately claim you’re innocent unless you’re not. He might as well have shouted, “Wasn’t me!” He also provided the prosecutor with the dishonestly-edited version of the incident, which you would only do if you had something to hide. Both videos are at the link.

If you ever thought that maybe Fox News wasn’t really a propaganda outfit, that they were simply a conservative-leaning network in a mirror opposite mold of MSNBC, you can disabuse yourself of those notions. This “news” outfit was actively engaged in making pro-union people look bad, by trying (and succeeding) to incite them to violence. By all appearances, Crowder attacked a man to get him to take a swing at him.

One thing’s for sure, you’re probably not going to see this story on Fox News

Wall Street just got a big raise, now how about Main Street?

Raw Story:

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said Thursday that after witnessing Wall Street reach all-time highs this week, it’s time to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.

“This week, we saw something quite remarkable, the stock market soaring to record heights. At the same time, we see productivity keeping pace,” Pelosi said during a Thursday briefing at the Capitol, according to The Hill. “But we don’t see income for America’s middle class rising. In fact, it’s been about the same as since the end of the Clinton years.”

Pelosi’s proposal overshoots a similar one by President Barack Obama, who suggested raising the minimum wage to $9 an hour from the current rate of $7.25, which translates to just $15,080 a year for a full-time employee.

A House Democratic aide told Raw Story that Pelosi asked for more than Obama did because she wants to see working people receive a livable wage, not just a small raise. “The economy is recovering, corporate profits are rising, but wages for lower-income folks are stagnating,” the aide said. “So there’s a strong case to be made for a wage that will help people raise families.”

“If we are going to honor our commitment to the middle class, we have to reflect that intention in our public policy,” Pelosi told reporters.

While Pelosi’s $10.10 is better than the President’s $9.00 minimum wage, it’s still a little bit short of where it should be. Had the minimum wage kept pace with inflation over the years, it would be at $10.59. A living wage would be great. A fair wage would be even better.

“Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Rep. George Miller (D-CA) said Tuesday they are proposing legislation to raise the minimum wage and peg it to the rate of inflation, which they say would better ensure working class Americans don’t fall behind the curb as corporate and Wall Street keep the lion’s share of profits for themselves,” the report tells us.

Want to reduce the deficit? Stop shipping jobs overseas

[via The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare]

Wisconsin GOP appears to have no stomach for further fights with labor

ThinkProgress:

Wisconsin Republicans claim they have no interest in following Michigan’s lead by pursuing passage of union-busting “right-to-work” legislation: it appears they have decided table their own version of the same bill. Though famously anti-union Governor Scott Walker (R) won’t say whether or not he’d support a Michigan style bill, incoming State Assembly speaker Robin Vos has said no such legislation will be brought up for consideration in the forthcoming term:

However, a spokeswoman for Assembly Speaker-elect Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said Assembly Republicans don’t have plans to restrict private-sector unions in Wisconsin when the Legislature reconvenes Jan. 7.

“Right-to-work legislation is not something that is being pursued this session in the Assembly,” Vos spokeswoman Kit Beyer said. “That folder has been put away.”

It’s important not to give Walker and co. too much credit: Walker’s refusal to comment on right-to-work is a step backwards from his previous pledge to “do everything in my power to make sure [right to work] isn’t there.” Michigan Governor Rick Snyder (R) similarly opposed right-to-work before ramrodding it through the current lame duck session.

I’m thinking this is probably the real deal. Republicans can probably stand one battle royale per session and a boneheaded move to eliminate same day voter registration will probably be that.

Still, I could be wrong. Wouldn’t be the first time.

[image source]

Chrysler workers get big holiday bonus

Detroit News:

Chrysler Group LLC’s 26,000 U.S. factory workers will be receiving $1,750 bonus checks on Dec. 21 — the second half of their bonus for signing the contract between the company and the United Auto Workers in 2011.

While workers at General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. received their full signing bonuses up front, Chrysler workers only received half of their $3,500 last year. The rest was payable when the company, which went bankrupt in 2009, achieved “sustained profitability” for four consecutive quarters.

The $381 million third-quarter profit that Chrysler reported in October represented the third straight quarter of profits for the company. Fourth quarter results are not due out until January. But Chrysler said Friday it is waiving the requirement and paying the bonuses now.

[…]

“We appreciate [CEO Sergio Marchionne] and Chrysler’s willingness to recognize the contributions of our members at this time of the year,” said UAW Vice President General Holiefield, head of the union’s Chrysler division, adding that the money will help a lot of other people besides Chrysler workers.

“It doesn’t just benefit them,” he said. “They will spend that money in their communities, providing a well-needed boost to local economies.”

Was it just weeks ago that Mitt Romney was saying the auto bailout left Chrysler in such shambles that it was forced to move some production jobs overseas?

Why yes. Yes it was.

Americans demand commie Twinkies

Politico:

A new White House petition wants President Obama to nationalize the “Twinkie industry,” saving the popular junk food from possible extinction.

“We the undersigned, hereby request Barack Obama to immediately Nationalize the Twinkie industry and prevent our nation from losing her sweet creamy center,” a petition on the White House “We the People” website requests.

Hostess Brands Inc. — maker of the Twinkie, the Ding Dong and Wonder Bread — is preparing to shutter operations amid a labor strike and rising costs. Unionized workers rejected a major pay and benefit cut, sparking the latest strike.

On a more serious note, the demise of Hostess is being blamed on Bain-style vulture capitalism. “What’s happening with Hostess Brands is a microcosm of what’s wrong with America, as Bain-style Wall Street vultures make themselves rich by making America poor. Crony capitalism and consistently poor management drove Hostess into the ground, but its workers are paying the price,” said AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka.

The charge is not made out of the blue. ThinkProgress reports that “While the company was filing for bankruptcy, for the second time, earlier this year, it actually tripled its CEO’s pay, and increased other executives’ compensation by as much as 80 percent.” So an iconic American brand goes under while top execs walk away richer than ever.

Pres. Obama's closing argument

[via Talking Points Memo]

Another CEO tries to bully employees into voting for Romney

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Mike White, the chairman and owner of Rite-Hite, a major Milwaukee manufacturer of industrial equipment, told employees in an email this week that all employees “should understand the personal consequences to them of having our tax rates increase dramatically if President Obama is re-elected, forcing taxpayers to fund President Obama’s future deficits and social programs (including Obamacare), which require bigger government.”

The email stunned some employees. One employee said he felt threatened by the email. “It’s a good company, but for this to come out, it’s absurd,” the employee said.

The employee said even supervisors were surprised by the tone of the email.

White, a Summerfest board member and village trustee in the Village of River Hills, did not return several calls requesting comment. The firm employs an estimated 1,400 people worldwide.

In his email, White said neither he nor the company wanted to “prejudice any employee for their political views and totally respect your right to vote as you choose. I am simply trying to present the facts as I know them and to protect the business you have helped build! Please think carefully about your vote on Nov. 6.”

»READ MORE»

Specifics on the Wisconsin decision striking down Walker's union-buster

Wisconsin State Journal:

A Dane County judge on Friday struck down the controversial 2011 collective bargaining law because he said it violates the Wisconsin and U.S. constitutions' guarantees of free speech and freedom of association.

Ruling in a lawsuit brought by Madison Teachers Inc. and a union representing public workers in Milwaukee, Circuit Judge Juan B. Colas said in a 27-page decision that sections of the law "single out and encumber the rights of those employees who choose union membership and representation solely because of that association and therefore infringe upon the rights of free speech and association" guaranteed by the state and federal constitutions.

Colas also ruled that the law violates the constitutional equal protection clause by creating separate classes of state workers who are treated differently and unequally under the law.

The first part is pretty well explained. The second part -- "that the law violates the constitutional equal protection clause by creating separate classes of state workers who are treated differently and unequally under the law" -- would seem to be a miscalculation on Walker's part. He excluded police and firefighters, hoping (unrealistically, it turned out) that he could leave these popular unions out of the firestorm he knew he was going to create. It was a completely political decision.

But in the eyes of the equal protection clause, that distinction is politically convenient nonsense. People have rights regardless of which union they belong to. By trying to play his "divide and conquer" game with public unions, Walker created "special unions" that were exempt from his law. That's not so constitutionally kosher.

Stories to Watch: 3/18/11

I posted earlier about a judge's decision temporarily blocking Gov. Walker's union-buster. But I failed to mention that the move was absolutely, positively, without question the very worst thing ever! Dear sweet Jesus, save us!!

At least, according to the wingnut blogosphere. I apologize for neglecting to report the fact that it's the end of the freakin' world. Now here's the news...


Are we on the brink of war with Libya?


The GOP's small government philosophy in action: have an abortion, get an automatic audit from the IRS. Just to be clear, it's small government for corporations and the wealthy, but a big ol' honkin', intrusive government for you. Huzzah for liberty!


The Japanese government finally admits that radiation leaking from a damaged nuclear plant is deadly. The plant's chief breaks down in tears at the news. The Japanese PM leaves out the sugar-coating, telling his nation, "We will rebuild Japan from scratch. In our history, this small island nation has made miraculous economic growth thanks to the efforts of all Japanese citizens. That is how Japan was built."


Paul Krugman states the obvious: Washington in general and Republicans in particular have given up on the unemployed.


Meanwhile, Minnesota Republican want to make it illegal for people on public assistance to carry cash. You think I'm exaggerating -- I'm not.


Rep. Anthony Weiner makes Shelly Bachmann look like an idiot. Not really much for shooting at the moving targets, is he? Still, always fun to watch.


Finally, a new poll shows that most Americans support marriage equality.

News Roundup for 2/16/11

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker

-Headline of the day-
"Union Protests Continue, Teachers Call In Sick Opposing WI Gov's Proposals."

Wisconsin's Scott Walker continues his quest to become America's worst governor as protesters basically invade the Capitol building in protest of his plan to dismantle most public employee unions. Schools are shutting down, traffic to the capitol square is nonexistent and Walker's support in the state is dropping like a stone.

So Scott's solution? Reiterate his threat to call out the National Guard, who -- at this point -- would probably grab signs and join in the marching.

Seeing his young governorship crumbling around his ears, Walker went all Baghdad Bob, claiming the protests numbering in the tens of thousands weren't significant, because there are "about 5.5 million people in the state." So I guess if you aren't actually out there with the firefighters, the teachers, the university employees, and the public works guys, you're totally, 100% behind Scott Walker.

You know, it's that sort of finger-on-the-pulse-of-the-people thinking that got Gov. Walker where he is today -- hiding under his desk, drinking heavily, and wishing everyone would just go away. (Talking Points Memo)


-2nd amendment remedy-
Stephen Colbert breaks down a new bill being proposed by Arizona state senator and Second Amendment hero Ron Gould.

So, to sum up, if you're a really, really stupid person and you hurt someone with a gun, you'd be golden. (Comedy Central)


-Bonus HotD-
"Barack Obama plays hardball with veto threat."

And so the Newt-Gringrichification of John Boehner begins... (Politico)

Bringing Manufacturing Back

In a Politico op-ed titled, "Save American manufacturing," the Institute for America’s Future's Robert Borosage writes that Democrats are working to bring manufacturing back.

When they return in September, the Democratic majority plans to push a legislative agenda that takes the first steps toward reviving U.S. manufacturing. Specific elements are still being determined but are likely to include new tax incentives for creating jobs, subsidies and tax credits for investment in renewable energy and a tougher stance on trade -- probably featuring a challenge to Chinese currency manipulation.

Politically, the power of this message was foreshadowed in the Pennsylvania special election for Rep. John Murtha's seat. Mark Critz, the Democratic candidate, won an upset in a conservative, white, ethnic district, with a campaign attacking the free-trade policies of his businessman opponent.

Democratic leaders were also electrified by a Mark Mellman poll for the Alliance for American Manufacturing, which showed that large majorities believe manufacturing is the most important industry for our economy and national security and support action to revive it. Two-thirds of Democrats, Republicans and independents reject the view that "high-tech and services" industries can replace manufacturing in a strong U.S. economy.

Ignoring the optimistic note of a continuing dem majority in both houses (although I don't believe it's misplaced), that first paragraph has a lot going for it, although the "tax incentives for creating jobs" hits me as a little iffy. If it's just a tax credit for hiring someone, I don't think it's going to do anything. In order for tax incentives to increase employment they must do at least one of the following (let me know if you think of any more. I'm not shooting for comprehensive here):

1. Incentivize branching out into a new industry/market.
2. Incentivize buying American-made products/components.
3. Incentivize using American services.

Anything else is giving a tax credit to hire someone for busy-work, which ain't gonna happen. In terms of new industries and markets, there's renewable energy. I know the aforementioned polling shows people skeptical of "high-tech" industries, but we need to show people that renewables aren't some mysterious, scientific mumbo-jumbo -- it's pretty damned low-tech. I think it's a mistake to portray it as anything other than simple... Which it is.

Still, without manufacturing, we're a nation of middlemen and bankers, producing nothing of actual value and dependent on other countries to take advantage of our services. Global free trade has turned out to be a disaster for the American middle class and someone really needs to beat it to death with a good old American-made claw hammer. I'll take "a tougher stance on trade," but I'd rather have a brutal, bloody execution.

I remain skeptical as to whether Borosage has a good grasp of Democratic plans. I'll believe it when I see it. But if it happens, it needs to be done right.

McCaskill Calls DeMint 'Nuts'

I'm not sure Claire's 100% right here. While I have no doubt that Sen. Jim DeMint is nuts, I think a big part of this is his love for grandstanding. On CNN's State of the Union today, DeMint tried to weasel out of responsibility for holding up the confirmation of President Obama's nominee to head the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Erroll Southers. Called on it, his argument that unions are evil seems a little stupid, given the consequences.

Hey Jim, you know who else was unionized and practiced collective bargaining? The first responders to the World Trade Center on 9/11. In other words, union members have done one helluva lot more for the nation than you ever have or ever will, you self-important empty suit. Didn't really interfere with their ability to do their jobs and give their lives for the safety of others, did it?

You might also notice that, at the end, DeMint basically lies about holding up Southers. According to The Hill:

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) has held up the nomination of Erroll Southers to head the TSA, which handles security at the nation’s airports. Reid spokesman Jim Manley labeled DeMint’s hold on Southers as “outrageous” Tuesday as Democrats sought to cast Republicans as a party obstructing tighter security at airports.

DeMint has held up the nomination because of concerns about the unionization of TSA workers, but he also linked his effort to the attempted terror attack in Detroit.

That attack is a “perfect example of why the Obama administration should not unionize the TSA and allow our airline security decisions to be dictated by union bosses," DeMint said in a statement.

DeMint said that if TSA workers were unionized under Southers, “union bosses” would have the power to delay further security improvements to airports.

“I hope this incident will lead the president to rethink this policy and put the interests of American travelers ahead of organized labor,” DeMint said.

You're holding up the nomination, Jim. You can't pretend you're not now that it's become bad politics for you. Decisions have consequences -- live with yours.

Griper Blade: The Grandstanding Old Party

Now that the stimulus has passed, you might think the time for Republican grandstanding was over. Thing is, you'd be wrong for thinking that. It's out of Congress's hands and into the those of the states -- and it's there that some Republican governors are using it to make political hay. They're doing this by pretending to reject the stimulus funds for their states.

But this is only a sham rejection -- they're making a big deal about rejecting a tiny portion, as if these drops in the bucket amounted to some sort of real savings. Case in point, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.

Associated Press:

Gov. Bobby Jindal says he doesn't want Louisiana to tap into $98 million in stimulus money for expanding unemployment benefits for people who wouldn't normally be eligible to receive them.

The federal stimulus package would cover the benefits for a period of time, but the Jindal administration says it requires a permanent change in state law that would force businesses to pay higher taxes once the federal dollars run out.

Jindal said Friday that he doesn't support that change, which is tied to $32.8 million in stimulus cash. Without that change, the state also can't access a separate $65.6 million pool of unemployment money in the stimulus bill.

The problem here is that all that stuff about a "permanent change" isn't actually true. The stimulus would've funded the program for three years, at which point he could've phased it out. Last time I checked, "permanent" wasn't synonymous with "three years." In pretending to both misunderstand the bill and stand up for Louisiana's businesses, Jindal is throwing away benefits for 25,000 of his taxpayers. Keeping people broke is a hell of an economic recovery plan. Louisiana is allocated nearly $8 billion in the bill, Jindal's turning down $98 million. For every dollar of stimulus he accepts, he'll turn down roughly $0.01.

Yeah, that's a real profile in courage... [CLICK TO READ FULL POST]

Griper Blade: Putting the 'Party' Back into the Republican Party

Being in opposition, after eight years of a Republican presidency and 12 years of GOP rule in Congress, suits many of them just fine. It's not that they were glad to lose. There are a lot of indignities involved in being the minority, and a pretty small minority at that. But talk to Republican lawmakers and insiders these days, and they speak as if an enormous weight has been lifted from their shoulders. Some of that weight was named George W. Bush, but in a larger sense, Republicans are relieved to be free of the burden of running things.
-Byron York, DC Examiner (via Political Wire)

"We weren’t very happy with the results of the election, and on through the inaugural, but I guarantee you, I’ve never seen the spirit of Republicans as high as it was at the GOP retreat,” Arizona Rep. John Shadegg told the Examiner's York. "When we held our guys together [on the House stimulus vote], that had people extremely excited. Then there were the ongoing scandals with Democratic tax cheats, and I think Republicans are beginning to say, ‘Ah, there could be some fun in the minority.'"

The joy is felt in the Senate, as well. "I’m much happier,” said Sen. Jim DeMint. “Our message was so muddled with Bush in the White House, often going the big-spending approach, that we could not define ourselves in any other way.”

Joy! Republicans don't have to worry about "the burden of running things" anymore. They're free to dick around and have fun. Of course, the problem with this new Republican happiness is that they're still Representatives and Senators -- their job is still to govern. "The burden of running things" is still squarely on their shoulders, as much as they seem to believe that it's not. And I'm not sure if their constituencies would approve of many of their ideas of "fun."... [CLICK TO READ FULL POST]

Griper Blade: Zero Sum BS

If you follow politics, you've probably seen the argument. You're reading a blog post or a comment thread or a discussion on an online forum and you see words that go something like "capitalism isn't a zero sum game." What this means is that, when we're talking about wealth, there isn't a limited amount and it isn't possible for one person or one group of people to collect it all. Wealth is created all the time -- if it weren't, a growing population would've ruined capitalism with Malthusian cannibalism long before the system of capitalism even had a name. The "zero sum game" argument is generally used defensively when someone's complaining that such-and-such a gazillionaire is making way too much money. Since wealth creation isn't a "zero sum game," we're told, it's ridiculous to say that this gazillionaire is living high on the hog at the expense of all of the non-gazillionaires among us.

But this "zero sum game" argument is only partially true. At this moment in time, there's only X dollars worth of wealth in the world. It's not an unlimited amount. It is, therefore, most definitely a zero sum game. It won't be eventually, but we live in the now. If you buy something, you're generally not going to get that money back -- eat lunch at a restaurant and someone is cash richer because you've become slightly cash poorer. At any given moment, the contents of your wallet is a fixed sum. It's possible for someone else to take it all.

This reality works both ways and a post by Dean Baker at his American Prospect blog demonstrates that. Baker is a media critic who follows economic reporting (we need a lot more of this, by the way) and his response to a Washington Post article about the market and the economy is much more interesting than the article itself... [CLICK TO READ FULL POST]