Take the question of helping the unemployed in the middle of a deep slump. What Democrats believe is what textbook economics says: that when the economy is deeply depressed, extending unemployment benefits not only helps those in need, it also reduces unemployment. That’s because the economy’s problem right now is lack of sufficient demand, and cash-strapped unemployed workers are likely to spend their benefits. In fact, the Congressional Budget Office says that aid to the unemployed is one of the most effective forms of economic stimulus, as measured by jobs created per dollar of outlay.
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Now, the House has already passed a bill that, by exempting the assets of couples up to $7 million, would leave 99.75 percent of estates tax-free. But that doesn’t seem to be enough for Mr. Kyl; he’s willing to hold up desperately needed aid to the unemployed on behalf of the remaining 0.25 percent. That’s a very clear statement of priorities.
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Someday, somehow, we as a nation will once again find ourselves living on the same planet. But for now, we aren’t. And that’s just the way it is.
via Op-Ed Columnist – Senator Bunning’s Universe – NYTimes.com. Krugman taking it old school at the state of American politics.
The Brooklyn District Attorney's said Monday that ACORN employees caught on tape advising conservative videographers James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles did not commit a crime. That's right, the video that was used as evidence to halt federal funding to ACORN and nearly led to the community organization's collapse doesn't actually contain criminal activity.
via Brooklyn DA clears ACORN in video scandal – Feministing. In case you cared.
In some ways, LAX is us. We are the United States of Deferred Maintenance. China is the People’s Republic of Deferred Gratification. They save, invest and build. We spend, borrow and patch.
via Op-Ed Columnist – A Word From the Wise – NYTimes.com. Friedman once again on the US stumbling on the way to building a 21st century economy.
Folks were tweeting 5,000 times a day in 2007. By 2008, that number was 300,000, and by 2009 it had grown to 2.5 million per day. Tweets grew 1,400% last year to 35 million per day. Today, we are seeing 50 million tweets per day—that's an average of 600 tweets per second.
via Twitter Blog: Measuring Tweets. Absolutely insane and I’m helping out.
What may be the most controversial part of the declassified plan is a discussion of a need for the government to define its role in protecting private critical infrastructure networks. Critical infrastructure includes the electrical grid, telecommunication networks, internet service providers, the banking and financial industry, and others.
via U.S. Declassifies Part of Secret Cybersecurity Plan | Threat Level | Wired.com. Is it necessary for the government to protect the civilian infrastructure, probably though the details will be the sticking point.
