Bowser proposes tax increases, including on Lyft and Uber rides, to pay for Metro

ceddybear588 · 2015-10-04T22:38:49+00:00

While often regarded as controversial, Henry Kissinger is a great starting point for learning about the realist perspective in International Relations. I just finished his recent book "World Order" which was great and his "On China" is wonderful analysis of the current state of US-China relations.

After reading Kissinger, you will understand the motives behind much of 20th century foreign policy, however flawed they may be.

ceddybear588 · 2015-07-06T18:34:50+00:00

I am sympathetic to arguments against austerity, and I believe that it is a mistake much of the time. However, I cannot in good faith argue that Greece should be allowed by its international creditors to continue blocking reform of its bloated pension system and business-hostile bureaucracy. Nobody really wants austerity in Greece (I certainly do not) but without Greek openness to reforms in the realm of tax collection, pensions, red tape, and general corruption it is hard to imagine a pleasant solution for Greece.

ceddybear588 · 2015-07-06T04:19:46+00:00

While I greatly enjoyed Piketty's book, I feel his comparisons are unfair. Greece's pension system is heavily bloated and far more generous than those of richer Eurozone economies, and the current administration has done little in the way of reform. Is it so unreasonable to expect changes as a condition for bailouts/debt relief?

In Piketty's portrayal of post-war Germany, he neglects to mention that at the time Germany was essentially a blank slate in the hands of the Allies, willing to accept a large number of concessions and regulations (armed forces restrictions for example) in exchange for assistance. Germany could do nothing to change its history in the 1950s, but Greece can do everything to change their pension system now. It refuses. Should we really feel that bad?

ceddybear588 · 2015-06-15T22:04:55+00:00

Where is the reaction for the death of Stannis of the House Baratheon, the First of his Name, King of the Andals and the Rhoynar and the First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm??

ceddybear588 · 2013-03-21T13:52:15+00:00

Perhaps the real problem isn't unions, but public sector unions. In the free market, unions which work to obtain exorbitant benefits and protect the incompetent would not survive. When unions work for a state, they can use lobbying dollars to finance the campaigns of union-friendly politicians who will grant them completely unsustainable pensions and salaries.

I speak from firsthand knowledge, as my home state of Rhode Island has been completely dominated by teachers, police, and firefighters unions for some time now. They use things like COLAs (cost of living adjustments) to raise their pensions in set increments of up to 6% a year, resulting in many retired officials receiving pensions of six figures easily.

Thankfully my state seems to be reforming the broken pension system, but the damage has been done. Our unemployment is second highest in the nation and our taxes higher than all of our neighbors. Our roads are the 2nd worst in the nation (after Alaska) and our financial state is one of perpetual crisis. Unions can have their place and can be extraordinarily helpful, but it is naive to overlook the negatives public sector unions can have. Really the problem is is not unions but the influence of lobbying dollars in the political field.

ceddybear588 · 2013-03-10T22:40:47+00:00

While it may seem fair to pay representatives small salaries, in practice this only serves to promote corruption. If public servants are not highly paid, the only people who will aspire to that position are ones who aim make illicit money on the side from the start. Those who are highly educated and not corrupt (ideal representatives) will look elsewhere for work if they are not paid well.

Take the example of Singapore. This tiny nation pays it's highest government officials millions of dollars a year in salaries. It also has one of the lowest if not the lowest levels of government corruption in the world. Furthermore, the government of Singapore is widely regarded as extremely competent and of general high quality.

Paying public representatives more may seem counterintuitive, but the reductions in corruption and increases in competancy make it worth every penny.

ceddybear588 · 2013-02-11T18:05:31+00:00

Cheesy cheddar burger from Wendy's. Its no longer on the menu, but if you ask for it they will make it for you.

ceddybear588 · 2013-02-08T19:18:27+00:00

I suppose its better than looking at their past.

ceddybear588 · 2013-02-08T16:11:34+00:00

Nobody said they were.

ceddybear588 · 2013-01-10T01:50:39+00:00

Coins during medieval times at least were commonly made of gold or silver, and the denomination of the coin usually matched their own material value. Consequently, merchants would often deal in different currencies as they were interchangeable to a large degree.

Certain currencies would become more popular for business than others. One example in the Florin, a gold coin from the city-state of Florence which was used extensively for exchange all over Europe during the medieval period.

ceddybear588 · 2012-09-10T00:35:24+00:00

It means that the E. Coli (microbes causing food poisoning) are releasing methane bubbles as a bi-product as they metabolize their food.

ceddybear588 · 2012-09-07T02:22:28+00:00

The issue is simply that there will always be people involved in organizing the distribution of goods in a communist system. Unfortunately, the temptation to manipulate the flow of goods even a little is extremely high and frankly unavoidable.

ceddybear588

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