Off To A Conference
Lynne Kiesling Off to the annual conference of the International Society for New Institutional Economics. Back Sunday. Mike’s gonna hafta pick up my slack!
September 2004
Mandatory Helmet Law In Chicago?
Lynne Kiesling Chicago has a well-earned reputation for cultivating busybody politicians. One of the busybodiest current aldermen is Ed Burke (14th ward), who has proposed a mandatory helmet law for motorcycles. Now, while I think wearing a helmet while driving a motorized small vehicle in traffic with other, larger vehicles is the epitome of common …
Say “Good Bye, Lenin!” For German Unity Day
Michael Giberson Haven?t made plans for German Unity Day (October 3) yet? I recommend a viewing of ?Good Bye, Lenin!? – funny, humane look at the reunification of Germany from the perspectives of an East Berlin family. Erica Abeel, Film Journal International, said, “The film’s take on filial love is fresh and affecting. Its political …
Jeff Jarvis’ Issues 2004: Energy
Lynne Kiesling Jeff Jarvis is writing a series called Issues 2004, and his post on energy policy from Monday tackles a lot of important questions and offers some recommendations. In addition, the comments on his post include a lot of good insights and thoughts. Here are my thoughts. Jeff starts with his memories of the …
Jane Galt’s Good Post On Smart Growth
Lynne Kiesling Urban planning, sprawl, “smart growth”, and land use are issues that touch on the core issues that I find captivating. Thus I am always pleased to find thorough, logical discussions and analyses. Jane Galt’s post from Monday on smart growth is a good general discussion of the topic. I also found the comments …
Arizona Electric Ratepayers Take Notice:
Michael Giberson Platt?s POWER reports that Arizona Public Service Company (APS) has reached an agreement with ?merchant generators and others? that would allow the company ? the largest regulated public utility in Arizona ? to purchase five power plants from an unregulated corporate affiliate, Pinnacle West Energy Corp. (PWEC). Both APS and PWEC are subsidiaries …
How Do I Love Jon Stewart, Let Me Count The Ways …
Lynne Kiesling This transcript at Wonkette of Stewart’s appearance on the O’Reilly Factor reveals a lot about both men. And it’s a very entertaining read … according to O’Reilly, I’m a stoned slacker who is intoxicated while watching the Daily Show (or at least the probability of this being so is approximately 0.87). Anyone who …
How Do I Love Jon Stewart, Let Me Count The Ways … Read More »
$50 Oil, Yikes!
Lynne Kiesling Oil futures passed $50/barrel overnight, largely based on low US inventories and the anticipation of unrest in Nigeria, which could disrupt supply. The Wall Street Journal has a slug of articles today about oil prices, fuel efficiency, how natural gas prices are increasing the costs of exploiting Canada’s oil sands, etc. The best …
Is The Governor Of California Doing Enough?
Michael Giberson In my rather simplified understanding of the world, the reason for regulation of electric utilities is to protect consumers from monopoly power. So how does this reason explode into such an intertwining of government and business, that the economic fate of over 35 million people depends upon the decisions of a single man? …
Bastiat’s Broken Window Fallacy
Lynne Kiesling Wow, I am really glad that Mike and Tyler both posted about that ridiculously stupid USA Today story! One doesn’t need to be an economist to recognize that the broken window fallacy is just that, fallacious. This type of argument is one of my biggest pet peeves, and I actually said to the …