After yesterday’s grocery delivery, I’m quite pooped, but still going. I’m current with replies, and tomorrow appears routine.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:14 (average 4:35). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From NY Times: Right now, a sustainable deficit would be around $460 billion. The actual deficit is bigger than that. But according to new estimates by the budget office, half of our current deficit reflects the effects of a still-depressed economy. The “cyclically adjusted” deficit — what the deficit would be if we were near full employment — is only about $423 billion, which puts it in the sustainable range; next year the budget office expects that number to fall to just $172 billion. And that’s why budget office projections show the nation’s debt position more or less stable over the next decade.
So we do not, repeat do not, face any kind of deficit crisis either now or for years to come.
There are, of course, longer-term fiscal issues: rising health costs and an aging population will put the budget under growing pressure over the course of the 2020s. But I have yet to see any coherent explanation of why these longer-run concerns should determine budget policy right now. And as I said, given the needs of the economy, the deficit is currently too small.
Put it this way: Smart fiscal policy involves having the government spend when the private sector won’t, supporting the economy when it is weak and reducing debt only when it is strong. Yet the cyclically adjusted deficit as a share of G.D.P. is currently about what it was in 2006, at the height of the housing boom — and it is headed down.
Click through for the rest of Krugman’s editorial on what Republicans don’t want you to know.
From The Guardian: New York City took a step closer to having its first female and openly gay mayor on Sunday with the formal announcement that strongly tipped Democrat Christine Quinn will run for the post.
The city council speaker and veteran of New York politics confirmed her intention via a tweet and released a video in which she vowed to fight for middle- and working-class New Yorkers.
An early favourite to get the Democratic nomination for the mayoralty, she is also expected to get the backing of Republican-turned-independent mayor Michael Bloomberg.
She sounds like she may be an improvement.
From UPI: U.S. House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan says his budget blueprint will promote repealing President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law.
Oh my! What a surprise!
Cartoon:
15 Responses to “Open Thread–3/11/2013”
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2:50 I would have been faster if I was hungry, but I just ate.
3:25 I am hungry but I don't like white bread!
3:10 And I don't eat ham or cheese. It took me extra time to get it out of the sandwich.
Dang! Monster Mashed!
lol they are all on crack or is it herion Jeb Bush is a Paul Ryan barbie doll ARRGGHHHHH Thanks Tom. Love the cartoon
Thanks Mama. 🙂
Puzzle — 3:25 I am hungry but I don't like white bread!
NY Times — Well, it seems as usual that the Republican/Teabaggers are taking things out of context.
These yahoos really need a lesson in economics and quit playing the part of economic terrorists!
The Guardian — So Michael Bloomberg is retiring. May the best WOMAN win the NY mayoralty race!
UPI — Will this count as repeal #34? I'm sorry, but what a bunch of ass wipes! I think half the nation would faint if these single-minded baffoons ever thought about the welfare of everyday Americans.
Cartoon — May the Bush house of cards come tumbling down never to be rebuilt again!
I would have diobe it faster on rye (burp!)
If they paid attention to economics, they could not protect the 1%.
LOL!
It's all kabuki.
Amen!
Ugghh! on all counts! There was at least before the sequester – hope for the deficit's continued down trend – but seems the tea-baggers really believe in austerity – whils I can't remember it working
As a NY'er – I have many reservations about MS Quinn's attempt to become the Mayor – more through rumor – but also in some of her stances – she's very "conservative" most "pro-banks" and seems to be very silent on issues of natural gas that is making the city go es under developmenthaywire – we have two major pipelines under development – of which the Keystone dwarfs their attention – while the health and concern of residents may never be addressed – most of the residents here are still totally ignorant of the fact that this "new fracked" gas isn't at all like the gas we already have feeding into our buildings — the propagandized frack gas is being touted as the New Green Gas — and our city is being retro-fitted to take this in – while the radon content is not sustainable for most apartments in NYC, due to the lack of ventilation for most! These are issues that Ms. Quinn has really side-stepped – and leads me to suspect there's a greater voice from Wall St that dictates our politics than we "ignorant" NY'ers may think! – Yeah – she might be better than Bloomberg on a lot of "issues", but when it comes to the big bucks – she seems to mirror a lot of what we've had!
It hasn't.
Lee, I'll defer to your knowlege of the local scene. Whom should we support, and it has to be someone that has a reasonable chance to win.
PS- I can't imagine another Bush – that's a nightmare!
Indeed it is!
I had to laugh when Jon Stewart had a short on Rand Paul's filibuster on his 07/03/13 show. Apparently Paul spoke for some 12 hours with some help, including from McTurtle. McTurtle asked:
"The administration should answer another question. Does the administration take the view that a drone strike on a US citizen on US soil would be an appropriate use of that weapon?"
As Jon said, McTurtle shouldn't be allowed to jump in on the "administration trampling the constitution train" because he had no problem, saying nothing, when Bush suspended habeas corpus and had the the Attorney General sign off on warrantless wiretaps.
It was a funny sement.
Forgot to add,
I also must admit, although I am not a violent person (really!), I found myself saying as McTurtle asked the question "Only if it is aimed at you."
I am not a violent person either, but what sets us apart from the rught is that when tempted, we opt not to act.