tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413935813892441553.post8481381801998068563..comments2024-03-20T02:13:42.947-05:00Comments on real economics: Real economics updateJonathan Larsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05217670446743983955noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413935813892441553.post-64168878980428402042011-08-20T11:01:57.391-05:002011-08-20T11:01:57.391-05:00I have been in a huddle recently with some Europea...I have been in a huddle recently with some Europeans who are interested in organizing a conference on science, technology, and public policy. I offered to give a speech with emphasis on my three favorite big-project guys--Henry Ford, von Braun, and Bob Noyce. Just the THOUGHT of such titans frightened my potential audience who just wanted to tweak some bureaucracy somewhere.<br /><br />Even so, I am not convinced the giants are gone forever. Hope not!Jonathan Larsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05217670446743983955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413935813892441553.post-44347281118301060392011-08-20T10:24:10.464-05:002011-08-20T10:24:10.464-05:00But, lest I be viewed as too harsh, hasty, and req...But, lest I be viewed as too harsh, hasty, and request purity from Mr Lahood...I just reviewed this balancing piece posted here--<br />http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/08/14/1006750/-Frederick-Douglass:-The-activist-who-would-not-grow-up<br /><br /> "Viewed from the genuine abolition ground, Mr. Lincoln seemed tardy, cold, dull, and indifferent; but measuring him by the sentiment of his country, a sentiment he was bound as a statesman to consult, he was swift, zealous, radical, and determined. [. . .]<br /><br /><br />That was Frederick Douglass, the indefatigable activist, judging Abraham Lincoln, the politician and statesman. The activist does not "grow up," is not "reasonable," and does not justify political compromise. The politician does. Sometimes more than he should, for his own political sake."Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05252804186064393926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413935813892441553.post-64143538471439759382011-08-20T09:51:18.574-05:002011-08-20T09:51:18.574-05:00Argh. So even the few infrastructure spending dea...Argh. So even the few infrastructure spending deals that do get off the ground are rife with incompetence and corruption. And then the blame is put on gubmint with a renewed call to privitize...when of course all rail was private until it collapsed into Amtrak less than 50 years ago.<br /><br />The problem isn't govt or private...it is people, american people, who have fallen into corruption and can't get up. This fall of america is a culture battle, it is a personal failing of people who are unable to overcome their inner demons.<br /><br />Which isn't all that surprising given the professions, ethics groups, churches and religions they looked to for moral and ethical foundation themselves have become co-opted and corrupt.<br /><br />This goes beyond politics, economics, capitalism, business, etc...beyond any institution of thought to strike simply and directly at mankind's inability to do good consistently and at large scale.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05252804186064393926noreply@blogger.com