With the upcoming election, the choices being proffered generally revolve around 2 economic models. The Republicans are doubling down on their trickle-down economics, rebranded as "job creators". The Democrats are proposing a more bottom-up approach, assuming that creating jobs in the public sector will result in more jobs in the private sector as those new workers spend their paychecks.

But there are other differences besides economics, and one in particular plays into both economic models: energy. The Republicans are clinging to the old-school polluting technologies of oil and coal. They reason that more drilling will mean more jobs in the private sector and cheaper gas at home (which could stimulate the economy). I've written before why gas prices won't go down (hint: refinery capacity). There is also the Keystone pipeline project with the new jobs created working on that bit of infrastructure ranging between a few hundred and tens of thousands, depending on who you talk to (and who you believe).
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65 comments (Latest Comment: 08/04/2012 01:43:35 by livingonli)

There's a seminal scene in the 1987 movie "Wall St." where character Gordon Gekko says "Greed is good... greed works". The message he is trying to deliver is that greed drives the desire to succeed and overcomes the "weakness" of empathy that might cause one to have second thoughts about a business decision that hurts others.

It seems strikingly apt when looking back on the arc of Mitt Romney's career. Empathy is a handicap in the business of making money from other people's work and pain. The numbers on the page are what matter, not the lives of the those who worked hard to build a dream, only to have the life sucked out of it by corporate vampires looking for a quick buck.
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52 comments (Latest Comment: 08/02/2012 01:23:12 by TriSec)

I strongly suggest this be read.... The article is even more scathing than the cover that accompanies it....
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63 comments (Latest Comment: 07/31/2012 03:16:51 by Will in Chicago)

Good Morning.

You all know of my lifelong involvement with the Boy Scouts of America. You're probably aware that the highest award a scout can earn is the rank of Eagle. Of course, you know that the Eagle is the symbol of these United States.

These are all connected...throughout much of my adult Scouting career, I've answered many queries if I'm an Eagle; and always the answer is a definitive NO. I've gone out of my way to correct everyone at every turn who thinks that I am. Like most Scouters, I also have a vast collection of memorabilia, whether it's hats, pins, patches, or mugs, and with a lone exception, none of the things I have even have so much as a feather on them of the said Eagle. (The only exception is the Eagle Patrol patch that I have on my jacket; it represents my days as a member of the Aquila District staff. Aquila being a constellation called "The Eagle".)
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3 comments (Latest Comment: 07/29/2012 13:38:41 by velveeta jones)

Senate Dems were able to pass a tax package yesterday. It's going to be interesting to see what happens now that it goes to the House. In an unusual move, this bill originated in the Senate. TPM states: How did this happen at all? Mitch McConnell got the ball rolling.
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56 comments (Latest Comment: 07/27/2012 02:07:42 by livingonli)