Politics

[mdwest]

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I guess after all the bluster, the Democrats blinked.

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Schumer is right. A shutdown would have been a gift to Trump and the Rs…

All the bluster was nothing more than political posturing…

 

[WAB]

I don't disagree with the bulk of it.
But I'm going to point out for posterity that when it comes to being whiny, the ultra-controversial statement I posted which seems to have ruffled some feathers is:

Some make it.
An awful lot of hard working people, probably numbering in the majority, do not.

Heaven forbid. And it's hardly controversial.

And the American exceptionalism aside, the more realistic take is that America got to where it is because most of continential Europe was wiped out twice in twenty years, and for good measure the developed Asia was cleaned out once in the 20th century.

Habitual late arrivals to the conflict(s), after a healthy and profitable initial period of selling to both sides.

Little to do with individual risk taking. But that makes for a feel-good story, for sure.

I totally disagree. Any rudimentary study of economics will show clearly why the US has outperformed other countries. It’s all about the utilization of dispersed knowledge in society. The US has the greatest personal freedoms, and hence most effectively utilizes the knowledge of its citizens in driving an optimal outcome. Central control, as exhibited to a greater or lesser extent across all Asian and European countries, utilizes a much smaller subset of said knowledge and results in a less optimal outcome, I.e. less wealth generation. Economics is pretty basic at its roots. Read Hayek and von Mises if you want a better sense of it.

 

[OxfordTheCat]

I totally disagree. Any rudimentary study of economics will show clearly why the US has outperformed other countries. It’s all about the utilization of dispersed knowledge in society. The US has the greatest personal freedoms, and hence most effectively utilizes the knowledge of its citizens in driving an optimal outcome. Central control, as exhibited to a greater or lesser extent across all Asian and European countries, utilizes a much smaller subset of said knowledge and results in a less optimal outcome one, I.e. less wealth generation. Economics is pretty basis at its roots. Read Hayek and von Mises if you want a better sense of it.

It's about having a tremendous base of natural resources, free from European continental strife, and initially a population foundationally raised in new structured public education that was specifically designed to feed in literate workers to manufacturing when the industrial revolution really got rolling.

... Coupled with being in a position to pounce on devasted continental Europe in the first half of the twentieth century.

Hayek and von Mises are interesting reading and thought experiments, but there is a reason Austrians fell quickly out of favour. The grand theories aren't supported by the real unifying and underlying basics of economics - statistical data.

At least in my take.

 

[OxfordTheCat]

Quasi related, but we broached the subject: I'm not sure I've actually heard of any big AI related insights when it comes to economic modelling or theory.

Cursory Google indicates its being leveraged as you might expect. But I'm kind of surprised we haven't seen any big revelations.

In my work it's prohibited, as the data safety can't be guaranteed, but I know Deloitte has an in house model that they're utilising.

 

[WAB]

It's about having a tremendous base of natural resources, free from European continental strife, and initially a population foundationally raised in new structured public education that was specifically designed to feed in literate workers to manufacturing when the industrial revolution really got rolling.

... Coupled with being in a position to pounce on devasted continental Europe in the first half of the twentieth century.

Hayek and von Mises are interesting reading and thought experiments, but there is a reason Austrians fell quickly out of favour. The grand theories aren't supported by the real unifying and underlying basics of economics - statistical data.

At least in my take.

Again, I completely disagree with you. If your thesis were correct, Canada should have outperformed the US.

Let’s take it to a different level. Charles Koch deployed the principles of Austrian economics in the leadership and management of his enterprises. These principles have driven what is likely the most astounding private company success story in history. These principles work.

 

[OxfordTheCat]

Again, I completely disagree with you. If your thesis were correct, Canada should have outperformed the US.

Let’s take it to a different level. Charles Koch deployed the principles of Austrian economics in the leadership and management of his enterprises. These principles have driven what is likely the most astounding private company success story in history. These principles work.

I mean, that's a pretty big over simplification. And Canada has had considerable geographic disadvantages to overcome - winter is certainly much more manageable in the modern era, but it's still no picnic. Canada's population in 1812 is 200k, compared to the US's ~7.5m. Pretty significant head start as the industrial revolution hits.

I'll bite on Koch, as you seem pretty adamant. Have a book recommendation?

 

[Brent in Az]

Dem Rep Raul Grijalva is dead at 77. His district was a south tucson barrio area

 

[Wheels]

I'll bite on Koch, as you seem pretty adamant. Have a book recommendation?

A good high school friend became a business unit manager, I think he was over one of 13 divisions, for Koch before leaving to buy his own company. Required reading was Charles Koch's book on "Market based Management". The friend gave me a copy and it was good however I don't remember the name and a cursory glance through the business section of my library didn't turn it up. You can probably find it on the internet or @WAB can tell us.

I am sure @WAB can provide much better information than this but I would probably start here.

 

[WAB]

I mean, that's a pretty big over simplification. And Canada has had considerable geographic disadvantages to overcome - winter is certainly much more manageable in the modern era, but it's still no picnic. Canada's population in 1812 is 200k, compared to the US's ~7.5m. Pretty significant head start as the industrial revolution hits.

I'll bite on Koch, as you seem pretty adamant. Have a book recommendation?

Market Based Management or the Science of Success by Charles Koch.

 

[BJH65]

My dad and I were talking about a cousin of mine some time ago. How he had never made anything of himself, just living off of family money. My dad's comment: "He has a government worker mentality; he has to be told what to do and never wants to take a risk"

Perhaps some type of enabling as well? Without any “family money” that perhaps removed any incentive, there could have been a different outcome maybe? Our wonderful parents, long since departed now, provided food, clothing and shelter for the three of us but relatively very little financial aid (zero in my case), but what they did provide far more important than money was lots of love, encouragement and a wonderful upbringing.

We all have to follow our own bent. We all cannot be successful entrepreneurs, Fortune 500 executives, general officers and doctors to name a few (I’m describing some AH members ), nor is success necessarily measured by one’s acquired wealth, rather I choose to believe success can be measured by the positive impact you have on people’s lives in your chosen profession doing something you enjoy and of course the impact you have on your children.

I chose a career in civil service, law enforcement to be exact. I’m also not a risk taker financially, and I realized early on a didn’t have the aptitude or desire for business, so the military and law enforcement were a great fit for me. I guess I had a government worker mentality. No financial risk taking, but extremely challenging mentally and physical risks of course. I’m very proud of that service although I didn’t reap huge financial rewards, but many non financial rewards, the positive impact one can have on other fellow human beings is something I will always find hugely rewarding.

What I love about America is everyone still has the ability to be successful through hard work and perseverance. The only roadblocks are self imposed.

 

[OxfordTheCat]

Market Based Management or the Science of Success by Charles Koch.

A good high school friend became a business unit manager, I think he was over one of 13 divisions, for Koch before leaving to buy his own company. Required reading was Charles Koch's book on "Market based Management". The friend gave me a copy and it was good however I don't remember the name and a cursory glance through the business section of my library didn't turn it up. You can probably find it on the internet or @WAB can tell us.

I am sure @WAB can provide much better information than this but I would probably start here.

Had a quick Google. Looks interesting enough!
Thanks. Amazon will provide tomorrow.

 

[Scott CWO]

In theory..yes. But in theory communism works, too..

The American way is still very heavily dependant on what you’re born into, which is what influences your upbringing. From their it’s pretty much set unfortunately.

I disagree. I see and hear of people rise above their upbringing often. I have dozens of clients that started with nothing or less and have successful businesses and kids. There's a member of my extended family that has had three completely different careers in one lifetime without a college education. He got slapped down twice through no fault of his own but didn't cry about it. Dusted himself off and started another business through hard work and determination with no investors. He is successful now and set to retire but likes to work too much to stop.

Of my two daughters and two sons, one daughter got on the wrong track as a teenager while the other three excelled. She is crazy smart but applied it in the wrong direction for a while. We eventually had to cut her off and she suffered her way through menial jobs for a while after dropping out of college with no money or future. She finally saw the light, went back to college on her own and got straight A's (4.0 GPA). She then excelled as a CNA and worked and went to college at the same time to get her Surgical Technologist Associate Degree. She then worked in the OR and became their best ST so they offered to pay for more college so she could be a Surgical Nurse. She now runs the OR three days a week working three twelve-hour shifts Tuesday - Thursday in the most prestigious orthopedic surgery clinic in Denver. The most experienced doctor at the clinic just had a personal surgery where he went under the knife and he requested her to be the surgical nurse in charge of the OR while he was being operated on. She did this all through hard work. I didn't give her another dime.

You can still work your way up the ladder in the USA. The opportunities are here waiting. Why do you think so many foreigners want to come here? Most that come here do succeed.

 

[Scott CWO]

Dem Rep Raul Grijalva is dead at 77. His district was a south tucson barrio area

The biggest anti-hunter in the Congress. I cannot say I am overwhelmed with grief.

 

[ActionBob]

I don't disagree with the bulk of it.
But I'm going to point out for posterity that when it comes to being whiny, the ultra-controversial statement I posted which seems to have ruffled some feathers is:

Some make it.
An awful lot of hard working people, probably numbering in the majority, do not.

Heaven forbid. And it's hardly controversial.

And the American exceptionalism aside, the more realistic take is that America got to where it is because most of continential Europe was wiped out twice in twenty years, and for good measure the developed Asia was cleaned out once in the 20th century.

Habitual late arrivals to the conflict(s), after a healthy and profitable initial period of selling to both sides. And an industrial juggernaut by the time it all wrapped up and it's time to rebuild.

Little to do with individual risk taking. But that makes for a feel-good story, for sure.

WTH it's not our fault the Europeans can't get along with each other and start wars that devastated their continent!

It is also worth noting that we got droves of largely uneducated immigrants from Europe and Asia. And we are largely a country of hybrids from intermarried base stock of European and other throw aways.

And yet here we are

 

[1dirthawker]

Some make it.
An awful lot of hard working people, probably numbering in the majority, do not.

for what its worth, even our poor and middle class are in the top 5% in the world for income and of course opportunities. many of the people (in this country) that don't do well......choose poorly.

i know that I'm related to a couple, does not make me want to run out and save em. i am not what i consider well to do, but, i am retired, paid for house and vehicles and live a life that i would not trade with anyone. i am blessed. blessed to live in the US, blessed to have had 2 parents that showed me the way and blessed with friends and family that care.

most of those blessings boil down to making good choices again and again. i am not particularly smart or driven, but i am persistent.

 

[Woodcarver]

Hi WAB.

There's that word 'believe' again. You won't hear me using 'believe' with respect to consuming scientific reporting.

I accept that you've had an unsatisfactory experience with some aspects of science on the climate issue. I believe that you feel the way you've described. However, putting up the shutters is not the way to ensure you're as well informed as you would want to be. You know that science is not a 'one and done' process. It's iterative. It takes a growing body of research to form clearer views, particularly when studying dynamic and complex subjects.

I'm confident that your strong background in science causes you to remain more open minded than you suggest. For my part, I will keep looking at the research on climate as it builds our knowledge and understanding. Trust me, I would like nothing more than to see a trend in results showing that temperatures are remaining relatively stable and that the 'blip' we're experiencing is not anthropogenic.

You really need to read this article; with that open mind you referenced. It explains why Al Gore and the angry Swedish teenager have any audience at all. It also explains why the scientists that propagate the myth you have swallowed, hook line and sinker, gets so much air time in MSM, and those that don't get ostracized. Only catastrophic events and dire predictions get funding. Hey! Somebody go put a cork in that volcano, it's not adhering to the script!

https://aarontuttleweather.com/2019/04/09/why-the-weather-is-hyped-dramatized-and-politicized/

 

[Certus]

Genuinely curious what you mean by "born into." Education opens virtually every single door in this country. I'll grant you that it is more difficult to appreciate that in a home devoid of books or intellectual curiosity. Notice, I said nothing about wealth. But the child, adolescent, young adult also has a responsibility to apply themselves. Do so, and there is a world of opportunity, hang out in the parking lot - and not so much.

By that I mean that people tend to follow professions that occur in the family - doctors to doctors etc (or similar professions), military to military, trades to trades.

Yes, I know you didn’t mention wealth but what you said before it tends to not occur as frequently in poorer households as well (lack of books, creativity inspiring things etc). Makes it significantly harder when your parents aren’t pushing you to strive for more.
I’m aware some poorer households are lifestyle choice (drink/smoke/gamble etc) and just laziness. Like you said, push hard and you can go places, but without encouragement for the child the motivation is often lacking.

Ah I didn’t realise my post would be interpreted as wealth @sgt_zim I mean sure being born into wealth certainly helps one be wealthy, ha!

 

[Fastrig]

It amazing how many people in america that make poor decisions.

It is, but what is truly amazing is how many in America don't and excel because of their decisions and hard work....no other place on this rock provides for that like the US