Pepper sprayed for public safety.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

In the bathroom at the bar they've hung the funny pages. Reading Family Circus I feel strongly that you have the comedic chops to replace the late Mr Keene.

Perhaps I know best why it is man alone who laughs;
he alone suffers so deeply that he had to invent laughter.

[sebastian_dangerfield]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

Note for the record, I'm mentioned on the moth front page blog twice in the last few months, meaning I'm now firmly second place of socks here as to wit, and fame, assuming we can now discount 80s punk bands.

'80s punk band trumps all else by miles. When prose can score one "boy band ass," you may re-evaluate the rankings.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Just when you thought the whole Catholic-Church-abuse-of-young-boys thing couldn't get worse, it does.

[Adder]

But do you think Obama understood what the kid signed to him or just that he recognized that he was being signed to and responded generically?

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Did the Krugman insurgency fail?

I recognize that I may be the only person on the board who really cares about this stuff, apart from Sebby perhaps, but I do think it is incredibly important and relevant.

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

Did the Krugman insurgency fail?

I recognize that I may be the only person on the board who really cares about this stuff, apart from Sebby perhaps, but I do think it is incredibly important and relevant.

Nah.

Countercyclical economic policy is the most rational and effective way to deal with crises both before and after they occur, but virtually impossible to implement politically. When there is no crisis, it's nearly impossible to raise revenues, cut spending or increase interest rates, because no one sees the need to inflict any pain. When there is a crisis, it's nearly impossible to raise spending to sustain demand because everyone starts screaming about deficits, whether or not they understand the numbers and their relevance. Everyone, however, will always accept a tax cut (for themselves) at any time. And that is why human beings are doomed to suffer, just like those poor kids in Family Circus.

PS - Hank is a giant racist.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by ironweed

Nah.

Countercyclical economic policy is the most rational and effective way to deal with crises both before and after they occur, but virtually impossible to implement politically. When there is no crisis, it's nearly impossible to raise revenues, cut spending or increase interest rates, because no one sees the need to inflict any pain. When there is a crisis, it's nearly impossible to raise spending to sustain demand because everyone starts screaming about deficits, whether or not they understand the numbers and their relevance. Everyone, however, will always accept a tax cut (for themselves) at any time. And that is why human beings are doomed to suffer, just like those poor kids in Family Circus.

PS - Hank is a giant racist.

In defense of Hank, he's not that fat. And kind of short.

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

In defense of Hank, he's not that fat. And kind of short.

I was referring to the size of his racism. Which is gigantic.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by ironweed

Countercyclical economic policy is the most rational and effective way to deal with crises both before and after they occur, but virtually impossible to implement politically. When there is no crisis, it's nearly impossible to raise revenues, cut spending or increase interest rates, because no one sees the need to inflict any pain. When there is a crisis, it's nearly impossible to raise spending to sustain demand because everyone starts screaming about deficits, whether or not they understand the numbers and their relevance. Everyone, however, will always accept a tax cut (for themselves) at any time. And that is why human beings are doomed to suffer, just like those poor kids in Family Circus.

I think you have identified a problem not with economic policy but with our political system. It is often not that hard to run deficits -- you can do it for a war (or two), or tax cuts for the rich, e.g. What is really hard to do is to enact big policy that will benefit lots of people a little.

Part of the reason it was hard is that a lot of economists essentially whored themselves out to parochial interests and forgot what they knew. They gave air cover to their side. These people should be called on it, and shamed.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by ironweed

I was referring to the size of his racism. Which is gigantic.

I would call it more "fervid" or "zealous". After all, "Hank", "size" and "gigantic" really don't belong together in the same sentance, do they?

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by ironweed

I was referring to the size of his racism. Which is gigantic.

I probably do have more thoughts about race day to day than you do, but that's because there are black people and asian people and hispanic people in my life, and you and ggg and adder live in protected lily white suburbs.

[Adder]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

I probably do have more thoughts about race day to day than you do, but that's because there are black people and asian people and hispanic people in my life, and you and ggg and adder live in protected lily white suburbs.

I do not live in the suburbs. You should delete your hateful comments suggesting otherwise, you ignorant slut.

Originally Posted by Tyrone Slothrop

I think you have identified a problem not with economic policy but with our political system. It is often not that hard to run deficits -- you can do it for a war (or two), or tax cuts for the rich, e.g. What is really hard to do is to enact big policy that will benefit lots of people a little.

Part of the reason it was hard is that a lot of economists essentially whored themselves out to parochial interests and forgot what they knew. They gave air cover to their side. These people should be called on it, and shamed.

I am all for shaming parochial turncoat economists, but I am not sure they are capable of feeling the stinging whip of my scorn, given the fact that the highest degree I possess is an honorary JD from Florida Coastal.

Plus also I think it's hard to talk about macroeconomic policy without acknowledging political problems, or at least that Sebby wouldn't want us to.

[Not Bob]

Originally Posted by ironweed

Plus also I think it's hard to talk about macroeconomic policy without acknowledging political problems, or at least that Sebby wouldn't want us to.

Before Bob Seger sold out to The Man he had it figured out.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Dahlia Lithwick wrote this for Hank.