[Vision2020] Horrendous News For The GOP

[Kenneth Marcy]

On 3/8/2013 2:27 PM, Tom Hansen wrote:
> Exactly, Joe.
>
> The Republicans have been looking for something . . . ANYTHING . . . 
> to blame on President Obama, especially the economy.
>
> Surprise!  Surprise!
>
> Blue-collars and no-collars are happier as jobs have been increasing.

Some housing prices have been on the increase, which represents a form 
of wealth recovery for some, incentive for new construction for others, 
and perhaps a bit of a challenge for first-time home buyers, for whom 
loan qualification and down payment requirements are now stricter than 
in not-so-long-ago years.

> White-collars are happier as the Dow continues to set records day 
> after day.

Remember that automated trading tends to disassociate market activities 
from economic activities.

The post World War II financialization of the American economy is no 
small part of our collective troubles.

Factoid: During the week 25 Feb to 1 Mar, 2013, 30.5 percent of NYSE 
average daily volume of 1,733.5 million shares, or 529.1 million program 
shares traded per day, was accomplished by programmed trading.  To the 
extent that represents net profit-taking without reinvestment, that's 
like a vacuum cleaner Hoovering resources out of the economy.

> With November 2014 only 20 months away . . .

Interesting elections-related material for thought . . .

Gerrymandering Explained
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mky11UJb9AY

The Shortest-Split-line Algorithm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUS9uvYyn3A

Multiple Party Gerrymandering
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR2DfpjIuXo

Mixed-member Proportional Representation Explained
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT0I-sdoSXU

Our system of elections does not have to be as horrible as it is 
currently.  Examining alternatives is a prerequisite step to reforms 
bettering our democratic franchise.


Ken
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