The Democratic Party's Real Problem
Talk about depressing.
Who is better informed about the policy choices facing the country—liberals, conservatives or libertarians? According to a Zogby International survey that I write about in the May issue of Econ Journal Watch, the answer is unequivocal: The left flunks Econ 101.
How many can you get right? Just agree or disagree:
- Restrictions on housing development make housing less affordable.
- Mandatory licensing of professional services increases the prices of those services.
- Overall, the standard of living is higher today than it was 30 years ago.
- Rent control leads to housing shortages.
- A company with the largest market share is a monopoly.
- Third World workers working for American companies overseas are being exploited.
- Free trade leads to unemployment.
- Minimum wage laws raise unemployment.
Answers: 1. Agree; 2. Agree; 3. Agree; 4. Agree; 5. Disagree; 6. Disagree; 7. Disagree; 8. Agree
The total oil spilled so far, 36.8 million gallons based on the common estimate of 800,000 gallons per day, is about 10 percent of the total oil consumed by the U.S. in a single day: 377 million gallons.
Gaga just keeps getting better. Machine gun bras? So hot right now!
Imagining Life Without Oil
The New York Times reports today on the “peak oil” movement, a group of people who, not unlike Y2K alarmists before them, are preparing their pantries and their lives to be ready should our oil-based economy collapse.
“Our whole economy depends on greater and greater energy supplies, and that just isn’t possible,” he said. “I wish I could say we’ll quietly accept having many millions of people unemployed, their homes foreclosed. But it’s hard to see the whole country transitioning to a low-energy future without people becoming angry. There’s going to be quite a bit of social turmoil on the way down.”
Though it’s prudent to imagine and plan for a future without the black stuff, I can’t help but think these people are a little crazy for abandoning the dollar for silver and gold and expecting that small home gardens will sustain them through significant economic and social unrest.
Five Years Later
As a senior in high school, I stumbled into a job at the Apple Store Southdale that would carry me through college and into the real world. Along the way, I watched as Apple grew it’s stock price from below $40 to beyond $240, launched some of the most amazing products to my communities, and, most importantly, worked with some of the most capable and fun people imaginable.
As much as I loved working seven days a week, juggling a full-time and part-time job for the past year was a struggle. I have immense respect for workers who manage the constraints of two jobs out of necessity. It certainly isn’t an easy task, even when the part-time job is a fun hobby.
I can wholeheartedly say: working at Apple was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It’s incredibly difficult to say goodbye.
Do you create anything, or just criticize others work and belittle their motivations?
Devastating photos of the animals affected by the oil spill.
