Economists widely believe themselves to be social scientists. And gosh-darn rigorous scientists at that - I mean just look at all that esoteric math! Why, why it looks just like physics! (well, 19th century physics at least). As everybody knows, real scientists observe things. They observe nature, experiments, phenomena.Economists are supposed to observe and … Continue reading Economists For Sale
Wisconsin
Finally Clarity on Wisconsin’s Real Objective: Bust Unions
Menzie Chinn reports more dispatches from Wisconsin, this time on recent Congressional testimony by Wisconsin's Governor Scott Walker. It's clear the union-busting efforting in Wisconsin is NOT about the state budget or saving money. It's ideological. It's opposition to unions period. The budget is and was irrelevant. It was pure propaganda by Walker and the Wisconsin … Continue reading Finally Clarity on Wisconsin’s Real Objective: Bust Unions
Wisconsin Increasingly Looks Like Bizarro World
A couple items from Wisconsin. Menzie Chinn points out how governor Scott Walker, who claims a deficit to be the compelling reason for eliminating collective bargaining rights for public workers, also thinks the way to save money is to have government ignore cost vs. benefit analyses when making decisions. Actually, Walker doesn't even want the … Continue reading Wisconsin Increasingly Looks Like Bizarro World
Shock Doctrine and Wisconsin and Michigan
Author Naomi Klein wrote a book a few years ago called Shock Doctrine. It is a powerful antidote to the pro-free markets, pro-globalization stories of authors such as Daniel Yergin and Stanislaw who wrote Commanding Heights. I wish Shock Doctrine were a full-length video to juxtaposition against Commanding Heights. In the book, Klein documents how … Continue reading Shock Doctrine and Wisconsin and Michigan
How Come Conservatives Only Hate Some “Unions”?
Michael Perelman writes an excellent post on the roots of the current conservative efforts to roll-back collective bargaining rights for public workers. (See the Michael's full post after the 'more" button). Namely, the target right now is public sector workers but the effort is the same effort that traces back to the 1960's as concerted … Continue reading How Come Conservatives Only Hate Some “Unions”?
Shock Doctrine, Neo-liberalism, and Current Events
Primarily for my Comp Systems and Political Economy students (this is part one): As previously noted here, the events in Madison, Wisconsin are not unique. There appears to be a concerted effort to roll-back collective bargaining rights for many workers and roll-back social programs all because of a supposed "fiscal crisis"- the idea that government … Continue reading Shock Doctrine, Neo-liberalism, and Current Events
Michigan IS Wisconsin – Just Different Tactics
Rick Snyder, Michigan governor, claims "Michigan is not Wisconsin". People take this to mean Snyder doesn't want to bust unions. That's wrong. What Snyder means is he's going to use a different strategy than Walker in Wisconsin. Walker is a bare-knuckle street fighter. Snyder hires a hit-man. Snyder smiles, tells you what you want to … Continue reading Michigan IS Wisconsin – Just Different Tactics
Wisconsin Rolls On (Over Workers)
In the dead of the night Republicans in Wisconsin vote to end collective bargaining rights of unions who were not supportive of Governor Walker's election. The state assembly (the lower house of the legislature) has acted while the Senate is adjourned. The Senate has been unable to convene for lack of a quorum. However, this … Continue reading Wisconsin Rolls On (Over Workers)
Where’s Obama?
The President is missing. Could we get the candidate back? The concerted effort to eliminate collective bargaining rights has spread well beyond Wisconsin. So have the protests. Reports have protests in 38 state capitols this week, including even Montana. Heck, even the protesters in Cairo are expressing support and solidarity with the workers in Wisconsin. … Continue reading Where’s Obama?
Prank Phone Call Reveals the Real Wisconsin Governor
Governor Scott Walker in Wisconsin gets totally pranked and reveals a lot. No, it's not about the money. It's about busting the unions and he'll lie if he has to. From Yves Smith, the author of Econned and a blogger extrordinaire at naked capitalism : The Beast’s “David Koch” Speaks to Wisconsin Governor Walker I … Continue reading Prank Phone Call Reveals the Real Wisconsin Governor
EconProph 