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Ms Swanson, <br><br>
Pay careful attention to the details of my previous post, please - if it
is not clear to you, let me help - an assumption is generally described
as " ... to take for granted; to suppose something to be a fact
(Webster's 3rd Collegiate Edition).<br><br>
I found your description of Mr. Peterson's presentation
"interesting". Note my direct statement:<br><br>
<i>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>
</i>Rather than assume anything, I asked you to clarify. You have not
done that. Interestingly, since our original posts I have chatted with
several people who were at the presentation. Their comments were
most positive about Steve's presentation - professional, humorous,
informative were terms used to describe his presentation.<br><br>
It is curious that you chose to attack me for asking you to explain
"smart-alec". I did not make that claim - you did.
All I did was ask you to explain your use of the term. What,
exactly, did he say or do that provoked your attack on him?<br><br>
I am curious about your claim that Steve was hired to do a
"pro-Wal-Mart" job. How do you know this? What
evidence can you offer that the arrangement was to support a particular
outcome? It sounds you have leapt to an unfounded assertion again -
not all that different from your labeling Mr. Peterson a "hack"
for accepting a fee for his work.<br><br>
And, there you go again - attacking my previous post as "a
long-winded" essay. I used about 140 words in the post on
Lynn. Another of your, what appear to be, irresponsible shrieks
from the balcony.<br><br>
I am also puzzled by your statement the "they won't release the data
used in his presentation". I had no trouble finding the "Key
Findings" (3 pages) or the "Executive Summary" (25 pages)
at the Moscow Chamber of Commerce website. While perusing the Executive
Summary, the methodology and references are clearly cited. The
report is predominantly descriptive in nature and the sources are
properly cited. It does not appear that the "Main Technical
Report" has, as yet, been released. However, if you have
difficulty following any of the threads, I am confident that you can
contact Steve or post your questions here.<br><br>
I will inquire about the release of the "Main Technical Report"
- which I would presume would be under the control of the Moscow Chamber
of Commerce."<br><br>
<br><br>
At 07:40 AM 9/8/2006, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><font size=2 color="#0000FF">Mr.
Harkins,<br>
</font> <br>
<font size=2 color="#0000FF">I attended Steve Peterson's presentation to
the Chamber. I expected an objective presentation. It was
not. I believe many others were disappointed including Bill Parks
who expressed dismay about the bias during the meeting. I'm
wondering why Steve or the Chamber didn't disclose that he was hired to
do a pro-Wal-Mart job and why they won't release the data used in his
presentation after he publicly announced that he would. <br>
</font> <br>
<font size=2 color="#0000FF">I also find it amazing that you express an
opinion on something you didn't attend. That makes me wonder about
your other assumptions. Like your assumption that I agree with you
because I didn't respond to your long winded essay. Wrong
again. <br>
</font> <br>
<font size=2 color="#0000FF">B. J. Swanson<br>
</font> <br>
<hr>
<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> Thursday, September 07, 2006 9:09 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> bjswan@moscow.com; vision2020@moscow.com<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Vision2020] Wal-Mart impact studies<br>
</font><br>
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 Petersons 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>
</font><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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