Gee...what could be in this box...?
TA DA!!!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Great Wall of Chinese Debt
So they're coming for us, apparently. And if we don't fix the budget soon, American won't be able to finance a cell phone.
Here is an interesting article with a nice info-graphic regarding the debt. (apparently the graphic was not available in the online article)
Also, here's an article from The New York Times with the ex-head of the FDIC putting into perspective how much better off than the rest of the world we are.
Japan is still sifting through the rubble of it's tsunami and nuclear crisis. European nations that might be better off will still struggle because of the Euro. The failing nations in the Euro zone will have a negative impact on all the countries, and they have little leeway to manipulate their money supply individually.
Comparatively, the US was looking pretty good till this debt ceiling issue came along. Only a third of our debt is foreign owned. Not so bad, in all reality.
So...do we extend the debt ceiling? Do we cut spending? Do we raise taxes?
Well, it's a mess we shouldn't have gotten ourselves into, granted, but if we are currently borrowing money to pay money we owe. But at least people will still invest currency with us, and the plan is to get our situation straightened out once we level off of this economic slump. If we don't allow ourselves more money to borrow now, then we can't keep paying. We'll default. Then less people will give us money, because we aren't good for it. Doesn't sound good.
Should we cut spending? Hrm, fiscal responsibility always is the best option, but we're hurting right now. I'm no economist, but here's a quick lesson in economics. GDP has 4 main factors: consumption, investment government spending, and exports minus imports. If we cut, say, $4 trillion from the spending budget, then that yellow bar up there just gets longer, because our GDP got a lot smaller. Yeah, we could use the money to pay back China and Co., but that wouldn't help out the folks here at home. Some of that government spending is recovered through taxes on the earnings, anyhow. How much depends on tax rates...
So that...should we raise taxes? Lordy lord. Well, honey, all I can say is that money don't grow on trees.
Here is an interesting article with a nice info-graphic regarding the debt. (apparently the graphic was not available in the online article)
Also, here's an article from The New York Times with the ex-head of the FDIC putting into perspective how much better off than the rest of the world we are.
Japan is still sifting through the rubble of it's tsunami and nuclear crisis. European nations that might be better off will still struggle because of the Euro. The failing nations in the Euro zone will have a negative impact on all the countries, and they have little leeway to manipulate their money supply individually.
Comparatively, the US was looking pretty good till this debt ceiling issue came along. Only a third of our debt is foreign owned. Not so bad, in all reality.
So...do we extend the debt ceiling? Do we cut spending? Do we raise taxes?
Well, it's a mess we shouldn't have gotten ourselves into, granted, but if we are currently borrowing money to pay money we owe. But at least people will still invest currency with us, and the plan is to get our situation straightened out once we level off of this economic slump. If we don't allow ourselves more money to borrow now, then we can't keep paying. We'll default. Then less people will give us money, because we aren't good for it. Doesn't sound good.
Should we cut spending? Hrm, fiscal responsibility always is the best option, but we're hurting right now. I'm no economist, but here's a quick lesson in economics. GDP has 4 main factors: consumption, investment government spending, and exports minus imports. If we cut, say, $4 trillion from the spending budget, then that yellow bar up there just gets longer, because our GDP got a lot smaller. Yeah, we could use the money to pay back China and Co., but that wouldn't help out the folks here at home. Some of that government spending is recovered through taxes on the earnings, anyhow. How much depends on tax rates...
So that...should we raise taxes? Lordy lord. Well, honey, all I can say is that money don't grow on trees.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Colbert vs. Daily Show
I love both of these programs. They feed me the important current events I need to know and then make me laugh the dire edge right off of them. In fact, my dream date doesn't have anything to with a cabana in the Casbah or a liquored up stripper and a pocketful of $1,000 bills. My dream date would be sitting on a nice sofa with a lovely lady, eating Lay's potato chips sprayed with the flavor of the month, and mutually laughing our asses off.
But which one is better? I mean, if you have children, you have to pick a favorite....right?
Colbert gets my inheritance. Here are some of my arguments. Rebuff them if you must.
Sharp, witty satire vs. sharp, witty impersonations: Colbert's show delivers nonstop ridicule to the rest of the mainstream media and politics all while convincingly taking their stances. This is the ultimate nerd dream. Beating up the bully without having to actually punch him in his fat nose. Stewart delivers the same satire, but often delivered in skits and vocal impersonations. This is usually a hit, but when it often misses, I feel like I should have a 13 year old sitting next to me to explain the joke.
Verbal creativity vs. touching monologues: Stewart sometimes diverts the news into a serious, level-headed ideologue. Much, much appreciated. But when he does this, the show ends, or just leads into a chummy interview with a washed up actor. Note that Colbert serves as the comic relief. This is why his show come after, not before. The writers for Colbert never fail to deliver. Oftentimes, the verbal wit is so fresh and unique that I realize a few seconds later, "did I just miss a PUN?!" instead of "How do I feel about this crossroads in national values." Laughing at my shortcomings in silly word-play is much more refreshing than laughing at my shortcomings in vested interest in national political issues.
Good cop vs. bad cop: Stewart treats all his guests with respect and due courtesy. Yawn. We all know some of them don't deserve it, and we already know what they're going to say before they say it. Sure, sometimes he dominates the conversation to face them against their ideological oppositions, but generally he just lets them rant on. Colbert on the other hand....well, if you've seen one interview, that's enough. Sure, Obama came to Stewart's show. But we all know we would've rather seen him face off with Colbert.
But which one is better? I mean, if you have children, you have to pick a favorite....right?
Colbert gets my inheritance. Here are some of my arguments. Rebuff them if you must.
Sharp, witty satire vs. sharp, witty impersonations: Colbert's show delivers nonstop ridicule to the rest of the mainstream media and politics all while convincingly taking their stances. This is the ultimate nerd dream. Beating up the bully without having to actually punch him in his fat nose. Stewart delivers the same satire, but often delivered in skits and vocal impersonations. This is usually a hit, but when it often misses, I feel like I should have a 13 year old sitting next to me to explain the joke.
Verbal creativity vs. touching monologues: Stewart sometimes diverts the news into a serious, level-headed ideologue. Much, much appreciated. But when he does this, the show ends, or just leads into a chummy interview with a washed up actor. Note that Colbert serves as the comic relief. This is why his show come after, not before. The writers for Colbert never fail to deliver. Oftentimes, the verbal wit is so fresh and unique that I realize a few seconds later, "did I just miss a PUN?!" instead of "How do I feel about this crossroads in national values." Laughing at my shortcomings in silly word-play is much more refreshing than laughing at my shortcomings in vested interest in national political issues.
Good cop vs. bad cop: Stewart treats all his guests with respect and due courtesy. Yawn. We all know some of them don't deserve it, and we already know what they're going to say before they say it. Sure, sometimes he dominates the conversation to face them against their ideological oppositions, but generally he just lets them rant on. Colbert on the other hand....well, if you've seen one interview, that's enough. Sure, Obama came to Stewart's show. But we all know we would've rather seen him face off with Colbert.
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