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Ms. Swanson, <br><br>
Since the work by Mr. Peterson was completed as a consulting project, I
fail to see why you would denigrate his services because he accepted a
fee for his work. Do you use similar references for all professional
folks who earn fees for providing services - e.g., lawyers, accountants,
dentists, doctors?<br><br>
Asserting that his presentation was "totally biased" is a
rather serious indictment. Fortunately, because the work was
completed under the protocols of academic research, it will be relatively
easy to determine whether there was a significant and/or persistent bias
introduced in his model.<br><br>
Since you posted on a public forum, please enlighten us as to your
assessment of his model. There are a number of issues that you
might have concerns about, including<br><br>
<ul>
<li>Are his assumptions inappropriate?
<li>Is his econometric model predisposed to an outcome?
<li>Does he exclude relevant variables?
<li>Does he include irrelevant variables?
<li>Does the model suffer from multi-collinearity?
<li>Does the model suffer from auto-correlation?
<li>Does he fail to properly interpret the research findings
<li>Did he fail to note potential shortcomings or limitations of his
work?
</ul>Again, please provide some rationale for your assertion of bias - my
instincts suggest that unless you can point to specific elements of bias
that you are invoking the "I don't like the message, so let's kill
the messenger" strategy. <br><br>
Your charge that Mr Peterson behaved as a "smart alec" is
interesting. I don't know exactly what you mean by that. But
I was not at the Moscow Chamber session and have no first-hand knowledge
of that presentation.<br><br>
However, I have heard Steve present on numerous occasions and I have
always known him to be polite, knowledgeable, forthright and willing to
answer questions related to his research. Perhaps you could expand
on your assertion of "smart alec"?<br><br>
Finally, since you did not offer any additional comments on my
contributions to understanding Barry Lynn's writings, am I to assume that
you agree with me that Mr. Lynn is advancing an agenda of returning the
US economy to a more highly-regulated by government state (e.g.,
pre-Reagan era)? And as you ponder that, are you willing to have
the US banking industry return to the level and type of regulation that
existed before the Reagan era?<br><br>
<br><br>
At 10:23 PM 9/6/2006, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><font size=2 color="#000080">Mr.
Harkins,<br>
<br>
A deeper meaning of Hack: Economist for Hire.<br>
<br>
After Steve Peterson’s totally biased and smart alec presentation to the
Chamber of Commerce on August 23, I think he earned the title and lost
credibility. I hope he can manage to be a bit more objective when
he presents “Why is Moscow Growing” to the City Council later this
month. <br>
<br>
B. J. Swanson<br>
<br>
<hr>
<div align="center"></font></div>
<font face="Tahoma" size=2><b>From:</b> Jeff Harkins
[<a href="mailto:jeffh@moscow.com" eudora="autourl">
mailto:jeffh@moscow.com</a>] <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 06, 2006 10:07 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> bjswan@moscow.com; vision2020@moscow.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Vision2020] Wal-Mart impact studies<br>
</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times"> <br>
Ms. Swanson, <br>
One final point - please explain the reference to "The Hack"
inserted between Steve and Peterson. What exactly are you
attempting to say with that moniker? Is it just simple name calling or do
you have a deeper meaning in mind?<br><br>
<br>
At 06:27 AM 9/6/2006, you wrote:<br><br>
Steve,<br><br>
Thanks for posting. I hope Jeff Harkins and Steve "The
Hack" Peterson read<br>
it, too. Here's the link:<br><br>
<a href="http://www.harpers.org/BreakingTheChain.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.harpers.org/BreakingTheChain.html</a><br><br>
B. J. Swanson<br><br>
------------------<br><br>
-----Original Message-----<br>
From: vision2020-bounces@moscow.com [
<a href="mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com" eudora="autourl">
mailto:vision2020-bounces@moscow.com</a>]<br>
On Behalf Of Stephen Cooke<br>
Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 2:17 PM<br>
To: vision2020@moscow.com<br>
Subject: [Vision2020] Wal-Mart impact studies<br><br>
fyi,<br>
SCC<br><br>
Barry C. Lynn<br>
"Breaking the Chain: The Anti-Trust Case Against Wal Mart:"
Harper's Mag.<br>
(July '06). <br><br>
<br>
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